The 30 best shows on Peacock

30 Rock (2006–2013)

One of the best not-so-inside jokes ever broadcast, 30 Rock is a perfectly executed satire of NBC by NBC, poking fun at Saturday Night Live specifically through various hijinks that go into making the in-universe variety show, The Girlie Show.

The result is one of the most universally beloved and awarded comedies of the 21st century, as EW’s critic writes, “With its dense thick slabs of topical references and absurdist non sequiturs, 30 Rock sometimes seems like a late-night Adult Swim cartoon show come to life on prime-time.” Instantly accessible and infinitely rewarding upon rewatch, this will always be our streaming comfort food. —Chris Snellgrove

Where to watch 30 Rock: Peacock

EW grade: A

Cast: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Alec Baldwin

America’s Got Talent (2006–present)

America has spoken, and the verdict is… we’ve got talent! For 21 seasons so far, America’s Got Talent has provided a platform for some of the country’s most gifted entertainers, with viewers and the show’s judges — currently Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Simon Cowell — working together to select each season’s winner.

The show helped bring exposure to comedians like Melissa Villaseñor, dance groups like Jabbawockeez, and any number of musicians, magicians, and niche performance acts. You may have caught some of the show’s Golden Buzzer clips online, but the full episodes are just as compelling. Season 21 is the only season available to stream on the platform. —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch America’s Got Talent: Peacock

Cast: Howie Mandel, Mel B, Sofía Vergara, Simon Cowell

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

New York City crime has met its match in the 99th Precinct. Under the guidance of Capt. Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), the team of detectives that make up Brooklyn’s Nine-Nine squad are determined to make the city’s streets safe again — and have fun while doing it.

A procedural that manages to find the funny in policing, while also providing a surprisingly self-aware commentary on the systemic issues associated with modern law enforcement, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a goofy sitcom that gets smarter and more nuanced as the seasons progress. And if you need more convincing about the show’s charm, there’s no better argument than this iconic cover of a beloved Backstreet Boys song. —I.G.

Where to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Peacock

Cast: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio

Bupkis (2023)

Bupkis feels like an experiment to see what would happen if someone made a Pete Davidson show for people who hate his guts. It’s a heightened and stylized take on the comedian’s life that manages to be entertaining regardless of your opinion of him (especially because he’s usually the punchline).

As EW’s critic put it in their review, “Bolstered by a phenomenal ensemble cast and suffused with unexpected emotion, Bupkis is a millennial Curb Your Enthusiasm — minus the sneering misanthropy.” The series is short and rarely sweet, but its mixture of gut-punching laughs and insightful observations about the human condition will likely win you over. —C.S.

Where to watch Bupkis: Peacock

EW grade: B+

Cast: Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, Joe Pesci, Philip Ettinger, Brad Garrett

Charmed (1998–2006)

While the later reboot was more spill than spell, the OG Charmed series still has plenty of the magic that made it a staple of supernatural programming in a Buffy-dominated world. It starred Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, and Alyssa Milano as witchy sisters whose uncanny abilities helped them keep demons and other evil forces at bay.

Doherty left after season 3, and Rose McGowan was brought in as a replacement amid gossip that the offscreen fights were wilder than the onscreen ones. Doherty died in July 2024 from breast cancer, but her legacy lives on through Charmed. —C.S.

Where to watch Charmed: Peacock

Cast: Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, Brian Krause

Community (2009–2015)

Community, the sitcom about a local community college’s study group, is one of the best ensemble comedy offerings to emerge from the 2010s. Created by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty), the show follows Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a disgraced lawyer who returns to school after the state bar learns that he lied about his undergraduate degree. Jeff meets Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) and, in an effort to seduce her, creates a fake study group and invites her to join.

The result is the most eccentric collection of students to ever assemble in a community college library. Jeff and Britta are joined by an overachiever (Alison Brie), a former high-school athlete (Donald Glover), a film fanatic (Danny Pudi), a Christian mom (Yvette Nicole Brown), and a millionaire boomer (Chevy Chase). —I.G.

Where to watch Community: Peacock

Cast: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie

Downton Abbey (2010–2015)

Period drama Downton Abbey follows the lives of those in the titular estate, and the cast is led by amazing talents like Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, and the delightful Maggie Smith. History buffs will enjoy seeing how real events affect our fictional characters, and vintage fashion enthusiasts will love the immaculate costuming.

Even if you don’t know much about times past, it’s a wonderful feel-good show that EW’s critic noted for its “appealing optimism” and tales involving “responsibility, redemption, [and] collective destiny.” Come for high tea and stay for all the tea-spilling. —C.S.

Where to watch Downton Abbey: Peacock

EW grade: B

Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle

Dr. Death (2021–2023)

The physicians in Dr. Death view the Hippocratic Oath as more of a suggestion than a hard-and-fast rule. An American true crime anthology series based on the Wondery podcast by the same name, Dr. Death follows the real-life stories of two doctors who preyed upon their vulnerable patients. 

Season 1 centers on Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson), the charming American surgeon who injured more than 30 of his patients during the course of his medical practice. Season 2 moves viewers to Europe to follow Italian surgeon and medical researcher Paolo Macchiarini (Édgar Ramírez), whose unauthorized experiments on his patients became his undoing. EW’s review advises that the series “begins with the dread level at a 10 and just keeps cranking it higher.” —I.G.

Where to watch Dr. Death: Peacock

EW grade: A–

Cast: Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, AnnaSophia Robb

Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009)

Now that Everybody Still Hates Chris is a Comedy Central animated series, it’s time to revisit the live-action original. A sitcom loosely inspired by Chris Rock’s life, Everybody Hates Chris tells the story of Chris, a 1980s teenager living with his loving family in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

The show aired for four seasons, starting on UPN and ending on The CW, and was beloved by both audiences and critics for its writing, performances, and general vibe. Abbott Elementary fans will recognize a young Tyler James Williams in his role as Chris, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine lovers will want to tune in to see Terry Crews as Chris’ overworked father, Julius. —I.G.

Where to watch Everybody Hates Chris: Peacock

Cast: Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim

The Fall (2013–2016)

There’s a serial killer hunting young professional women in Northern Ireland, and the only one capable of taking him down is Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson), a highly skilled investigator and behavioral profiler who won’t stop until she wiggles her way inside her target’s head. The serial killer in question is identified from the beginning of the show: Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) is a bereavement counselor, husband, and father to two young children, and the mental deterioration and desperation that overtakes him throughout the show’s three seasons is terrifying to behold. Set in Belfast, The Fall is a game of cat and mouse for its two leads — but as to who’s hunting who, it’s anyone’s guess. —I.G.

Where to watch The Fall: Peacock

EW grade: A

Cast: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, Aisling Franciosi, John Lynch, Sarah Beattie

Girls5eva (2022–2024)

Fans of 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will love this offering from the Tina Fey/Robert Carlock producing universe: Girls5eva. A girl group that peaked when it became a one-hit wonder around the turn of the millennium, the show follows the remaining four members as they reunite as middle-aged women to pursue a second shot at stardom and personal fulfillment.

Originally made for Peacock, Girls5eva moved to Netflix for its third season. A clever look at the music industry and second acts, EW’s former critic writes, “[T]he show celebrates the characters’ self-nostalgia but also undercuts it. They are horrified by their old lyrics, so full of obvious wish fulfillment by sleazy males looking to attract an unabashedly sleazy nation. Can they rewrite their own story by writing their own hit song?” —I.G.

Where to watch Girls5eva: Peacock

EW grade: B+

Cast: Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell

The Good Place (2016–2020)

Michael Schur’s fantasy sitcom, The Good Place, boasts one of the best season 1 finales in the history of TV. But before you get there, you spend 12 episodes learning about Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a newly dead woman from Phoenix.

After first being hit by a bunch of shopping carts and then finished off by a truck advertising erectile dysfunction pills, Eleanor ends up in a version of Heaven called the “Good Place.” But she knows she doesn’t belong, and she spends season 1 trying to disguise her inherently selfish nature and learn from the other Good Place dwellers how to be a more ethical person. Ted Danson stars as the Good Place’s architect, and D’Arcy Carden is a treat as Janet, an AI-esque (woman-presenting) entity who assists the residents. Finish the first season and you’ll want to binge the next three immediately. —I.G.

Where to watch The Good Place: Peacock

EW grade: B

Cast: Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D’Arcy Carden, Ted Danson

House of Villains (2023–present)

Who is the biggest villain in America? The possibilities are endless, but narrow the options down to just reality stars, and there’s still a deep bench to choose from. E!’s House of Villains takes this premise and puts it into action, curating a group of reality personalities from across different franchises — including from shows like Big Brother, Survivor, The Challenge, The Bachelor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and more — and isolating them in a house to battle each other for a $200,000 prize and the title of America’s Ultimate Supervillain. If you love watching the camera-hungriest people on television compete for cash and screen time, with commentary from host Joel McHale, you’ll love House of Villains. Season 3 is available to stream in its entirety. —I.G.

Where to watch House of Villains: Peacock

Cast: Joel McHale

The Kids in the Hall (1988–1995)

Now that all things 1990s are back in style, it’s time to check out the Canadian sketch series The Kids in the Hall. With an absurdist, surreal comedic flair that shares stylistic overlap with Monty Python and Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave, the show stars the five members of the eponymous sketch comedy troupe, and aired for five seasons on both CBC in Canada and HBO and CBS in the States.

The Kids in the Hall has been cited by many a comic as a formative artistic influence. In 2022, the group revived the series for Amazon Prime Video, but if you’re looking for an entry point, Peacock has the original five seasons available to binge. —I.G.

Where to watch The Kids in the Hall: Peacock

Cast: Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)

In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. On NBC, these stories serve as the basis for Special Victims Unit, the most beloved of all the Law & Order spinoffs. A procedural told using “ripped from the headlines” style storytelling, SVU has endured for more than a quarter of a century because of its cast of characters.

Led by Det. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), a devoted public servant whose traumatic past makes her a fierce advocate for her work, her co-workers, and the survivors she seeks to help, the SVU squad battles predators, corruption, bureaucracy, and more, but always manages to make the audience feel that — at least in this world — victims and survivors are worth fighting for. Season 28 premieres on Oct. 8. —I.G.

Where to watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Peacock

Cast: Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd

Love Island USA (2019–present)

A dating show take on musical chairs, the contestants featured on Love Island USA must couple up or risk getting kicked out of paradise. The dominating reality show in America today follows 30-ish contestants — or islanders, as they’re known on the show — as they’re released in an isolated, tropical location to forge connections and create drama. The most compatible pair makes it to the end of the season and takes home the $100,000 cash prize.

Of course, the path to victory is never straight: The islanders must survive recouplings, challenges, and surprise eliminations. The contestants are guided by Ariana Madix, a survivor of her own dramatic and public uncoupling on Vanderpump Rules, and the perfect host for this American interpretation of a U.K. favorite. Season 8 is now available to stream in its entirety. —I.G.

Where to watch Love Island USA: Peacock

Cast: Ariana Madix

The Middle (2009–2017)

A sitcom in the style of Roseanne or Home Improvement, The Middle is the story of a family stuck in the middle: of the country, of the class system, of their lives. The Hecks (led by sitcom reliables Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn) are a lower-middle-class family living in Orson, Ind., and doing their best to get by.

The show premiered at the height of a recession, and feelings of economic stress and instability make for some of the show’s funniest — and most relatable — fodder. The Middle never quite got the attention it deserved when it was on the air, but with nine seasons available to watch, the show is an investment worthy of your time and attention. —I.G.

Where to watch The Middle: Peacock

Cast: Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher, Atticus Shaffer

Modern Family (2009–2020)

Modern Family brought viewers more than a decade of sitcom gold, and all 11 seasons and 250 episodes are currently available to stream on Peacock. Showcasing three types of families — nuclear, blended, and same-sex — the series follows patriarch Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill), his adult children (Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and their partners and children as they navigate the interpersonal dynamics required to maintain a functioning modern family.

In a notable departure from most long-running series, Modern Family remains consistently good all the way until the end. Addressing the sitcom’s last episode, EW’s TV critic writes, “Modern Family never stopped being funny, and the finale was comfortingly consistent with the series as a whole: A snappy, smart, and unabashedly sentimental celebration of the folks we love (and sometimes hate) the most.” —I.G.

Where to watch Modern Family: Peacock

EW grade: B+

Cast: Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Mrs. Davis (2023)

It’s delightfully difficult to tell newcomers exactly what this show is about, though EW’s critic believes “Mrs. Davis is better experienced than explained.” Yes, for those who opt into this tale of Betty Gilpin as a nun seeking the Holy Grail to defeat a looming AI (the titular Mrs. Davis), this experience is truly singular.

It’s like you put Doctor Who and The Da Vinci Code into a stew and then sprinkled in some later-season Westworld for flavor. We’d argue that even if you hated all three, you’d like a taste of the sci-fi screwball comedy meal that is Mrs. Davis. —C.S.

Where to watch Mrs. Davis: Peacock

EW grade: B+

Cast: Betty Gilpin, Jake McDorman, Andy McQueen

The Munsters (1964–1966)

There’s been a recent resurgence of genre fans who prefer shows with delightfully gothic aesthetics that never get too scary. If that’s your bag, then you’ll love The Munsters; it’s the grandfather of “cozy horror,” and not just because the cast includes Al Lewis playing Grandpa. Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Beverly Owen, and more enliven this suburban satire by way of classic creature features. EW’s writer described how the short-lived series “went on to become a cultural icon for its wacky premise as a typical family sitcom that replaced humans with monsters.”

These lighthearted laughs are great fun, but be warned: After streaming, you might get dragged into the ancient discourse of whether this show is better than The Addams Family. —C.S.

Where to watch The Munsters: Peacock

Cast: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest

New Girl (2011–2018)

If you erase all the twee and “simply adorkable” branding, New Girl is an optimistic sitcom about chosen families and finding love in your 30s. Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess Day, a quirky teacher who moves into an L.A. loft with three men following a breakup. The roommates become family as they guide each other through love, loss, and what to text. 

With seven seasons — six offering upwards of 20 episodes apiece— New Girl boasts the duration and comedic consistency required to recommend it as a potential comfort show. Yes, some of the outfits and sensibilities feel dated, but give it 10 years and they’ll be nostalgic. In the meantime, New Girl is an earnest contender for the role of your evergreen sitcom obsession. —I.G. 

Where to watch New Girl: Peacock

Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone

The Office (2005–2013)

In the early days of Peacock, The Office was more than its most popular show; it was also the primary reason to subscribe to the streaming service, which offered enticing extended episodes. The series sees paper company workers mixing not-so-serious business and personal affairs while operating under an incompetent but endearing boss (played to perfection by Steve Carell).

Much of the humor comes from the low-hum absurdity that ensues, with EW’s critic writing that, “in the history of the workplace sitcom, never have the professional stakes been lower than at Scranton, Pa.’s Dunder Mifflin, where the only objective is pushing paper. Literally.” —C.S.

Where to watch The Office: Peacock

EW grade: A–

Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak

Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)

Parks and Recreation hails from the creators of The Office with a similar premise: We follow the government employees of a small-town Parks and Rec department as they handle city problems in tandem with their own issues. Rather than recycling its predecessor’s jokes, this series (which EW’s critic praises for “the performances, the attitude, and the atmosphere”) trades Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell) incompetence for Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poehler) relentless optimism, dishing out humor and heart in equal measure. —C.S.

Where to watch Parks and Recreation: Peacock

EW grade: A

Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza

Poker Face (2023–2025)

While some doubted you could update the Columbo formula for modern viewers, Peacock offers something new in the form of Poker Face from Knives Out mastermind Rian Johnson. It stars Natasha Lyonne as a woman with a borderline supernatural ability to tell whether someone is lying. She must go on the run after angering a casino boss, and when she’s not dodging Benjamin Bratt’s security guard, she’s solving mystery-of-the-week dilemmas featuring colorful characters.

But no character is more fascinating than hers, with EW’s critic insisting that the show is “charming because it’s Lyonne: ashy voice, molten hair, [and] general affect of a kid who wants to be a crazy old coot.” —C.S.

Where to watch Poker Face: Peacock

EW grade: A

Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, Adrien Brody

Ponies (2026)

Ponies was cancelled after only one season, but it’s so worth a watch. This thriller follows Bea and Twila (Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson), two American women who become CIA operatives in 1970s Moscow after losing their spy husbands under unexplained circumstances. (The show is named for a fictional intelligence acronym meaning “persons of no interest.”)

Fans of period spy shows like The Americans will enjoy Ponies for its misdirection and narrative twists, but Ponies maintains a lighter tone, balancing out the show’s danger with frequent moments of lightness and camaraderie between the two stars. A critical hit that never found its audience, season 1 unfolds over eight episodes and can be completed in under eight hours. —I.G.

Where to watch Ponies: Peacock

Cast: Emilia Clarke, Haley Lu Richardson, Adrian Lester, Artjom Gilz, Nicholas Podany

Saturday Night Live (1975–present)

At some point, a series stops being an occasional treat and becomes a regular part of your media diet. This is the case with Saturday Night Live, a show that has reached the highest highs and lowest lows of hilarity for more than half a century. The current cast includes Kenan Thompson, Marcello Hernández, and more, but in the early days, the ensemble featured the likes of comedy legends Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi. Season 52 began on Sept. 26. —C.S.

Where to watch Saturday Night Live: Peacock

Cast: Michael Che, Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson, Mikey Day, Chloe Fineman

St. Denis Medical (2023–present)

Consider making the sitcom St. Denis Medical your new comfort show. This mockumentary-style series is set in a struggling Oregon hospital where the overworked staff does its best to cater to the quirky patients that frequent the titular medical center. A tonal successor to shows like Scrubs, St. Denis Medical differs by centering the show’s nurses, rather than its doctors.

The ensemble cast is packed with comedy veterans, including Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), who stars as frenetic hospital executive director Joyce Henderson, and Allison Tolman (Fargo), who plays Alex, a supervising nurse in search of some work/life balance. Season 3 premieres Nov. 2, leaving you plenty of time to binge the show’s first 36 episodes. —I.G.

Where to watch St. Denis Medical: Peacock

Cast: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper

Top Chef (2006–present)

There are certain things in life you shouldn’t do while hungry, and watching Top Chef is one of them. An American reality cooking competition that is still broadcasting after almost two decades on air, Top Chef showcases some of the best professional chefs working right now as they battle it out in a series of culinary and elimination challenges to see who will survive to take home the title. 

If catching up on the past 23 seasons isn’t enough to keep you busy, the franchise also offers 10 spinoffs, plus international adaptations. Whether you’re watching for pleasure or to pick up cooking tips, you can’t go wrong with a dash of Top Chef. Season 23 wrapped on June 8, and the show has been renewed for season 24. —I.G.

Where to watch Top Chef: Peacock

Cast: Padma Lakshmi

The Traitors (2023–present)

Reality television’s finest descend on a castle in the Scottish Highlands to engage in a battle of Traitors versus the Faithful. Select members of the cast are secretly designated as Traitors, and it’s their job to meet every night and choose a member of the Faithful to murder. At the same time, the Faithful are trying to uncover the Traitors amongst their ranks and banish them from the game.

At the end of the competition, if all the Traitors have been eliminated, the Faithful split the prize money. But if the Traitors have outwitted the Faithful and remain in the game, they win the game and keep the cash. Another European export, The Traitors is based on the Dutch series De Verraders. Alan Cumming hosts a cast made up of favorites from the Bravo Universe, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge, Survivor, and more. An all-civilian version of the show called The Traitors: New Blood premiered on Sept. 17. —I.G.

Where to watch The Traitors: Peacock

Cast: Alan Cumming

We Are Lady Parts (2021–2024)

Equal parts killer mixtape and excellent sitcom, We Are Lady Parts follows the ups and downs of an all-female Muslim punk band based out of the U.K. It’s a comedy where the punks put the “riot” back in “laugh riot,” and we love the combination of cultural and interpersonal humor, especially after the band recruits a new guitarist who needs to embrace a bit of rebellion.

In addition to their acting talents, the band also comes equipped with serious musical chops. As EW’s TV critic writes, “The entire ensemble, all of whom play their own instruments, are natural performers, and there’s a joyful energy to their jam sessions.” —C.S.

Where to watch We Are Lady Parts: Peacock

EW grade: B+

Cast: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse