64 Of The Best TV Shows To Stream On Peacock In December
We hope you love the shows and movies we recommend! Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of revenue or other compensation from the links on this page. Oh, and FYI: Platform, prices, and other availability details are accurate as of time of posting.
1.30 Rock (2006–13)
Really, there’s no better way to start a Peacock must-watch TV list than with 30 Rock, a sitcom about the fictional behind-the-scenes workings of NBC. If the show were airing today, you can be sure there’d be a whole season arc about the creation of NBCUniversal’s streaming platform and its place on it. The show, created by Saturday Night Live legend Tina Fey, saw Fey continue her dominance at the network as Liz Lemon, the head writer of an NBC sketch comedy show (a real stretch for her). With funny people and stars-in-their-own-right Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski rounding out the cast, the satirical look at the world of TV is still perfect for tickling the funny bone.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
2.A.P. Bio (2018–)
If you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and looking for something to watch during the off-season, then might I suggest A.P. Bio? Starring Always Sunny’s Glenn Howerton (the lasciviously deplorable Dennis), this NBC sitcom moved directly to Peacock for its third season and debuts its fourth there this month. Howerton plays a similarly narcissistic character in Jack Griffin, only this time he’s at a high school instead of Paddy’s Pub. Jack, a disgraced Harvard philosophy professor, is now managing a class of teenagers while fending off the school principal (Patton Oswalt) and his secretary (Girls5eva’s Paula Pell). Unlike Always Sunny, though, this irreverent comedy somehow also manages to be just a little sweet.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
3.The A-Team (1983–87)
The A-Team is really going all out in the badass department. First, you've got the show's premise — that these special forces members are tried and convicted for false crimes. They then ESCAPE PRISON (very badass) and go on the run both as soldiers of fortune (like, in a good way, though) but also to try to exonerate themselves. Second, they can manage to build cars and planes out of seemingly nothing. Third, they've got the famous catchphrase "I love it when a plan comes together." But mostly, they've just got the coolest nicknames. Hannibal. Faceman. Howling Mad. B.A. (or Bad Attitude). Can you even imagine if you were cool enough to have your friends call you any of those? And while the whole cast is great, Mr. T as B.A. steals the show and is impressive to watch (especially if you're a fan of Rocky III).
Watch it on Peacock for free.
4.The Affair (2014–19)
As it turns out, extramarital affairs are messy. Don’t believe me? Watch Noah (Dominic West) and Alison (Ruth Wilson) attempt to have one on the aptly named The Affair. We get to see the pair maneuver their covert relationship and their individual marriages (to Maura Tierney and Joshua Jackson), but the show’s true brilliance is in showing us the same affair from both Noah's and Alison’s perspectives. The episodes are bifurcated with viewers seeing largely the same events from both vantage points, often to greatly different effect, as two people never remember the event in exactly the same way. Later seasons throw in even more perspectives, flash-forwards, and a few murder plotlines to keep things spicy.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
5.The Amber Ruffin Show (2020–)
In a late-night landscape too often dominated by straight, white, cisgender males, this talk show, helmed by Late Night With Seth Meyers writer Amber Ruffin, is a breath of fresh air. The Peacock original, which began airing during the pandemic and releases new episodes weekly, sees Ruffin taking over the late-night desk for half-hour episodes packed with monologues, sketches, and jokes. And while some of her counterparts like to steer clear of sticky topics, Ruffin dives into issues such as race, police brutality, and gender with a potent combination of ingenious humor and sharp cultural criticism. The half-hour show is currently sitting on a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and we’re hoping the success is parlayed into more fresh voices entering the late-night space.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
6.American Ninja Warrior (2009–)
As the saying goes, “Those who can’t do...sit on their couch and offer critiques of impossibly superhuman individuals competing on the world’s most rigorous obstacle course.” Or maybe I'm the only one who watches the lithe gods attempt to cross the spinning log while shouting advice at the TV screen. The popular obstacle course game show pits America’s fittest individuals against one another as they race to complete extremely difficult physical tasks in hopes of becoming the season’s “American Ninja Warrior.” While I (a full-grown adult) was once caught upside down on a ropes course and had to be rescued by a high school student working there, I am fairly confident whenever I watch that I would win the title. Season 12 just dropped on Peacock for your viewing/critiquing pleasure, and American Ninja Warrior Junior has episodes added regularly as well.
Watch seasons 12 and 13 on Peacock for free.
7.Bates Motel (2013–17)
If there is a show that the world is SLEEPING ON, it is Bates Motel. This prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic Psycho was buzzy during its first season on A&E before inexplicably fading into obscurity. Now all five near-perfect seasons are available for streaming, and you owe it to yourself and Norma Bates’s corpse to binge this stunner. The Good Doctor’s Freddie Highmore and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga star as the creepily incestuous Norman and Norma Bates, who attempt to escape a life full of secrets by moving to White Pine Bay and buying the Bates Motel. My childhood crush Max Thieriot and should–have–been–Oscar–nominated–for–Sound of Metal Olivia Cooke are also in the ensemble. It’s a whirling, creepy, murderous drive to ruin as we near the events of the movie (and a groundbreaking appearance by Rihanna).
Watch it on Peacock for free.
8.Battlestar Galactica (2004–09)
The Battlestar Galactica franchise has spawned several television shows, miniseries, and movies since its creation in the late ’70s, but the iteration held in highest regard is Ronald D. Moore’s early-'00s show. The Sci-Fi Channel original follows the small remnant of the human race after an attack from an android race called the Cylons destroys the vast majority of the human population. The remainder (and their one military ship, the Battlestar Galactica) are off to find the fabled Earth while also trying not to be picked off by the Cylons. One of the great modern sci-fi classics, Battlestar is a must-watch for anyone caught up on Star Trek and The Mandalorian.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
9.Below Deck (2013–)
These people are MESSY. So, so, so, so messy. Each season of this drama-laced reality show (and its spinoffs) chronicles the journey of a superyacht and its crew as they slip from port to port with a host of über-wealthy vacationers on board. The young, hot, promiscuous, and often not-great-at-their-jobs crew members are always one step away from getting fired or sleeping with a passenger (often both), and we’re along for the ride. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a drunk-out-of-their-mind billionaire get into a shouting match with a horny Australian deckhand. If you want to witness a hot-mess express, climb aboard.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
10.The Blacklist (2013–)
We love a “Bad guy helps the good guys fight bad guys” storyline. We love a brusque anti-hero with a heart of gold. We love a reformed villain. And all of that is at the center of James Spader’s NBC procedural The Blacklist. Spader, famous for television roles on The Practice and Boston Legal, plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, a military officer turned criminal extraordinaire who turns himself in to the police under the condition that he work with the FBI to capture a list of dangerous criminals (the blacklist) and be given total immunity. With eight seasons wrapped and a ninth coming in the fall, the show is a great crime binge for fans of Law & Order or Criminal Minds. Also, fans of New Amsterdam can get a taste of Ryan Eggold pre-scrubs in the first five seasons of the show.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
11.Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–)
Another of the SNL-darling-helmed Peacock offerings, this sitcom starring the Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg follows a fictional police precinct in Brooklyn. Not since The Andy Griffith Show has there been a show about law enforcement that’s so charming. The bubbly, lighthearted Samberg leads the way as his team somehow solves cases while also making viewers laugh out loud. Andre Braugher’s Raymond Holt (an unapologetically openly gay Black police chief) and In the Heights’ Stephanie Beatriz also ramp up the energy of the show. The series, which originally aired on Fox before being rescued by NBC, is airing its eighth season, so now is the perfect time to catch up.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
12.The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78)
A woman? Helming a variety show? In the ‘60s? Unheard of. Or so was the thought before Carol Burnett exercised a contractual loophole in her contract with CBS to land a variety show of her own. The Carol Burnett Show, of course, went on to run for 11 seasons as a massive success, launching Burnett into stardom (and an iconic role as Miss Hannigan), obliterating the sexist idea that no one wants to watch women be funny. Each week, Burnett and her ensemble, featuring Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway, would act, sing, and improvise to the guffaws of viewers everywhere. The show's list of guest stars is also a who’s who, with Lucille Ball, Liza Minnelli, my beloved Carl Reiner, and countless others showing up. And every costume is designed by Bob Mackie. I mean, come on. You gotta watch.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
13.Cheers (1982–93)
Due at least in part to the success of The Good Place and Ted Danson’s charm on it, Cheers seems to be having a resurgence. The '80s sitcom with Danson as the lead focuses on a Boston bar (aptly named “Cheers”). The cast, including A-listers Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson, is a bevy of the bar’s employees and patrons who spend the show’s 11 humorous seasons and nearly 300 episodes drinking, gossiping, and falling in and out of love. While certain moments from the show don’t quite hold up to today’s scrutiny (the treatment of women can be rough), watching a group of friends hang out at a bar for some 100-plus hours is oddly comforting. If you’re looking for a lengthy binge, this might be just the ticket.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
14.*Christmas in Rockefeller Center (2021)
Kevin McCallister taught us all that loving Christmas means loving Christmas trees and the biggest, brightest, most spectacular one around is in Rockefeller Center. The annual tree lighting extravaganza will air this year on Peacock so that streamers who decide not to brave the crowds on 5th Avenue can still catch the big event. It will be hosted by the Today anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker, and will include performances from Norah Jones, Alessia Cara, and Carrie Underwood, among others. No New York Christmas celebration would be complete without the Radio City Rockettes, who will also be in attendance to high-kick you some holiday cheer.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
15.Covert Affairs (2010–14)
The older sister in Cheaper by the Dozen and Ugly Betty’s nerdy boyfriend team up in the CIA to solve crimes. That is the way I would have billed Covert Affairs when it premiered if I were trying to hook you. Now I would just say Piper Perabo goes undercover as a Smithsonian employee with the help of her blind handler (played by Christopher Gorham) to help defend America. The fizzy spy thriller, which originally aired on USA, is akin to Alias as Perabo and her team jet around the globe donning disguises, solving mysteries, and generally kicking ass. I would also just like to take a minute to praise Christopher Gorham, who is a delight here but is also SO FUN on the one-season wonder Harper’s Island, which is a juicy whodunit that apparently only I watched.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
16.Dan Brown's the Lost Symbol (2021–)
If you're a fan of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series or the Tom Hanks film adaptations, including The Da Vinci Code, you are in luck. There's plenty more code breaking, artifact researching, and heart-racing reading of ancient manuscripts in this new Peacock original. Ashley Zukerman (whom you may recognize as the political analyst Shiv has an affair with on Succession) has taken the mantle from Hanks and is racing against the clock to solve a mystery before his professor is murdered by an evil tattooed man. The book and show have heavy National Treasure energy as the plot circles the Freemasons and old American lore. The show's a fun ride (especially if you love a treasure hunt as much as I do) and could easily extend beyond the Brown books, should it be a hit. After all, every city has some underground tunnel to crawl through.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
17.Deadly Class (2019)
Gone too soon, but not forgotten. This one-season wonder may have lasted only 10 episodes, but what a fun, weapon-wielding romp it was. Based on a comic book series, this Syfy show followed Marcus Lopez Arguello (Benjamin Wadsworth) as the newest recruit to King’s Dominion, a private academy that trains assassins. Set in the 1980s, the show is rife with citrus-stained costumes and big hair, while the hit man angle offers plenty of fast-paced, highly choreographed fight sequences (with swords!). Benedict Wong (of the MCU and soon to make an appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) stars as the school's headmaster, while Lana Condor trades in her To All the Boys sweetness for some kickass action scenes. Where’s the petition to bring it back?
Watch it on Peacock for free.
18.Deal or No Deal (2005–09)
I’m getting a call from the banker. He is offering you the chance to watch hundreds of episodes of Deal or No Deal for free if you sign up for Peacock. Just call me Howie Mandel, the fist-bumping host of the iconic briefcase-centric game show. Every episode, at least one contestant joins Mandel and 26 models (including Meghan Markle for a season) in matching dresses with briefcases. Contestants pick a case with a dollar amount inside and then proceed to knock out the other 25 cases one by one to slowly reveal the amount they’ve selected. The only catch is that the banker will call periodically and try to fend off the contestant with an amount of money somewhere between the minimum and maximum left in the remaining cases. It is an oddly satisfying show to watch, and the models’ 2007-era dresses are fashion moments to behold. Why not throw it on?
Watch it on Peacock for free.
19.Downton Abbey (2010–15)
Just because your grandmother loves Downton doesn’t mean you can’t too. The British ITV show, which was transplanted to PBS in the US and now finds a home on Peacock, is a delight on an English-countryside afternoon. The definition of a “comfort watch,” the sweeping historical drama follows the Crawley family, who are living on a palatial Yorkshire estate, along with their dozens of domestic servants. While the drama is sometimes mildly significant and a little soapy (“Is this your long-lost cousin returned home from war disfigured?”), it never veers into something too taxing and often resides in the pleasantly mundane (“Who will be tonight’s second footman?”). Maggie Smith is the scene-stealing matriarch, and Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary is always a treasure. If you don’t watch it, you should at least download the score on Spotify.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
20.Dr. Death (2021)
Not to be confused with Jack Kevorkian, the euthanasia proponent (whom I originally thought this show was about), Peacock’s original miniseries Dr. Death is actually about Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a narcissistic neurosurgeon who maimed and killed dozens of patients because he was a horrible doctor with a massive ego. In the show, Joshua Jackson (Mr. Jodie Turner-Smith to you) plays this Dr. Death on a rampage at the hospital as his fellow surgeons and local law enforcement attempt to stop him. The cast is rounded out nicely by Meryl Streep’s daughter Grace Gummer, Mr. Robot alum Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, and AnnaSophia Robb (deflated and sans the violet face). All eight episodes dropped on the streamer, so the binge is waiting for you.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
21.Everybody Hates Chris (2005–09)
Everybody might hate Chris, but they certainly don’t hate this show. Created by Chris Rock and based on his life as a teenager, the show parodies other sitcoms and stars a predominantly Black cast, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews and The Walking Dead’s Tyler James Williams in the titular role. Created for Fox, then moved to UPN, and finally settling at the CW, the show had a hard time finding a home before becoming a success and being syndicated on Nick at Nite (where the cool kids find their favorite sitcoms). A zippy comedy just waiting for you to enjoy.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
22.Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
I don’t know why I find Patricia Heaton endlessly hilarious, but I do. The Middle is one of the greatest comedies of our generation, IMHO. I watched every episode of the ill-fated Carol’s Second Act. And of course, Heaton’s breakthrough moment was playing Ray Romano’s wife in Everybody Love Raymond. The sitcom follows Ray and his family through everyday events for nine seasons, with Heaton, Brad Garrett, and the late greats Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle rounding out the cast. Some people may dislike the multi-camera, live-studio-audience approach to sitcoms, but I find that era endearing. Fingers crossed that Peacock gives us another Patricia Heaton show soon.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
23.Face Off (2011–18)
One year on Christmas break at my grandma’s house in Florida, I was channel-surfing and stumbled upon an episode of Face Off. Some seven hours later, I stumbled out of my fake-blood-induced reverie, having polished off a full season (with commercials) in a cable marathon. The show is that engaging. Each season, a handful of contestants are pitted against one another to create movie makeup masterpieces and are eliminated one by one on the path to glory. Whether it's werewolves, zombies, or old-age makeup, the creations are breathtaking and leave you craving another episode just to see what the artists will dream up next.
Watch seasons 9–13 on Peacock for free.
24.Frasier (1993–2004)
When Cheers came to a close in 1993, the show’s creators decided to try their hand at a spinoff, a feat oft attempted, and usually to disastrous results. In the case of Frasier, however, the spinoff stuck around for 11 years, cementing itself as a sitcom classic and perhaps even overshadowing its predecessor. Following Kelsey Grammer’s psychiatrist, Frasier Crane, back to Seattle, where he takes up a new gig as a radio advice-show host, the comedy centered on Frasier’s relationship with his father and brother. Between Frasier and Cheers, you’ve got 22 seasons to watch, so get cracking.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
25.Friday Night Lights (2006–11)
If you grew up in a small town (and especially a small town in the South, and ESPECIALLY a small town in Texas), then you KNOW how important high school football is to the community. And such is the backdrop to this sports drama about high school football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife, Tami (Connie Britton). Over its five seasons, the team roster evolved and gave the world a number of rising stars, including Jesse Plemons (Mr. Kirsten Dunst to you), Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther’s Killmonger), and Jurnee Smollett (of the recently — unjustly — canceled Lovecraft Country). Even if you’ve never touched a football in your life, you’ll get sucked into the small-town drama, I swear.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
26.Frogger (2021–)
Perhaps you have played the '80s arcade game Frogger or one of its many iterations in the amphibian's four-decade-long life cycle, but you have never seen the game like this. This Peacock original has blown up the pixilated crocodiles, cars, and lily pads and made human contestants the frog, hopping from one to another. In something akin to Wipeout or Floor Is Lava, a series of contestants race across a number of obstacles, with the fastest frog going home with a gold fanny pack full of cash. Comedians Damon Wayans Jr. (New Girl) and Kyle Brandt (Good Morning Football) host and comment as the Frogger hopefuls are systematically destroyed in the harsh obstacles and sent flying into the water.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
27.George Lopez (2002–07)
I know this may be surprising to you, but the show George Lopez, does, in fact, star George Lopez, and his character’s name is — you guessed it — George Lopez. A classic family sitcom with a Latino twist (something frustratingly rare back in the early '00s), the comedy revolves around Lopez and his fictional family. Another Nick at Nite staple, the show ran for six seasons before it hit syndication, and it's a bit of light, frothy viewing that pairs perfectly with your work-from-home lunch hour or the half hour before you go to bed.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
28.Girls5eva (2021–)
One of Peacock’s recent forays into original content (and already renewed for a second season), this musical comedy follows the four surviving members of a '90s girl group who reunite when their one-hit wonder is sampled on the track of a popular rapper. The cast is really an all-hits, no-misses lineup, with Broadway singer Sara Bareilles joined by Michelle Williams’ bestie and celeb multi-hyphenate Busy Philipps, A.P. Bio’s Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry (of Hamilton and Waves fame). Oh, and the fifth member of the group is played by Ashley Park, whom you should definitely know from either the Mean Girls musical soundtrack or her stint as the boozy and song-belting bestie of Emily in Emily in Paris. Oh, and Bowen Yang makes an appearance, as does Tina Fey (PLAYING DOLLY PARTON).
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
29.Good Timing With Jo Firestone (2021)
It is often said that people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. Perhaps those fears swap order the older you get, though, because the group of senior citizens in this new comedy special certainly know how to tell a joke. New York resident funny woman Jo Firestone is here to make you laugh (and perhaps shed a tear) in her new heartwarming special. Firestone decided to share the limelight with 16 senior citizens as the special follows her teaching them in a comedy workshop. After they spend time honing jokes and telling stories, we get to watch as the crew take the stage for the first time, bringing down the house with their wry wit and charming tales. Perhaps inspiration for you to sign up for some stand-up classes as well.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
30.Hart to Heart (2021–)
Kevin Hart may not have hosted the Oscars, but he is the host of a new talk show. The Peacock original sees the Jumanji star sipping on wine and chatting one-on-one with A-list guests in extended interviews. Episodes drop each week on Thursday, and the guests so far have included previous best-of-both-worlds-having, but now singularly worlded Miley Cyrus, voice of Princess Fiona Cameron Diaz, and Miss Turnblad's agent, John Travolta. He also rubs elbows with talk show hosts Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and Kelly Clarkson in what I like to classify as host-versus-host matchups. With so many big names already having entered Hart's lavish wooden set, we're excited to see who will be next.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
31.Hell's Kitchen (2005–)
COME ON, YOU DONKEYS! If you are averse to profanity, thrown pans, or undercooked beef Wellington (a dish that I have attempted to try in New York City, but it seems to only be on the HK menu), this might not be the show for you. If, however, you’d like to watch a handful of chefs duke it out for a job at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants and also watch a number of them cry and attempt to serve raw beef Wellington along the way, then I’ve got the show for you. No matter how many times the dinner service goes awry, I still can’t take my eyes off the screen. And please, if anyone would like to cook me beef Wellington, slide into my DMs. I’ve been waiting 20 seasons to try it.
Watch seasons 1–6 and 8–18 on Peacock for free.
32.Heroes (2006–10)
Save the cheerleader, save the world. Or so the slogan of NBC’s superhero drama Heroes told us. Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe skyrocketed the success of superhero properties, this Tim Kring–helmed show followed an ensemble cast of ordinary people (including Hayden Panettiere’s indestructible cheerleader) who awaken to find they have supernatural abilities. They then band together to, in fact, save the world. Greg Grunberg is a mind reader, Masi Oka can manipulate space and time, and of course, Milo Ventimiglia can mimic the abilities of others. While the series was eventually canceled because of declining ratings, the first season scooped up plenty of awards, and the show is still a cult classic.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
33.Keeping Up With the Kardashians (2007–21)
Say what you want about the Kardashian-Jenners, but the family has managed to become an entertainment dynasty second only to the Knowles-Carters. KUWTK is a piece of modern performance art, and I will not abide the naysayers. To watch Kris mom-age her way to the top is what these 20 seasons are about, and the sprinkled commentary of Kourtney and Scott Disick is the icing on the cake. The early seasons, where the clan are finding their footing, are especially provocative, but really — go watch this show, and you will constantly remember wild tabloid stories that had somehow become dislodged from your brain, only to come back in a dopamine rush.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
34.Kenan (2021–)
After 18 years stealing scenes on Saturday Night Live, Kenan Thompson finally landed his own NBC sitcom, aptly named Kenan (I can only assume he was inspired by the inventive George Lopez). Recently renewed for a second season, the comedy follows Kenan and his two daughters as he works as a morning show host and tries to move on after the death of his wife. Thompson is joined by Chris Redd, another SNL funnyman, who plays his brother, and Don Johnson (aka Dakota Johnson’s dad) as his father-in-law. Catch up now before Season 2 arrives.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
35.Law & Order (1990–)
Really, if you’re looking for law and/or order, you’ve come to the right place. This franchise has been an NBC staple since 1990, and Peacock is bursting at the seams with episodes of the original series and its many spinoffs. We’ve got Special Victims Unit. We’ve got Organized Crime. We’ve got Criminal Intent. The franchise has aired over 1,000 episodes since its creation, and you can watch a lot of them here. So if you’d like to see every Broadway star of the past three decades play a corpse, cop, or cocaine dealer, then have I got months of bingeing for you.
Watch some seasons on Peacock for free and others with a Premium membership.
36.Leave It to Beaver (1957–63)
While Peacock is certainly well stocked with more recent offerings, it also features a number of stone-cold classics, like this '50s black-and-white OG sitcom. I grew up watching the same 10 Beaver episodes from a DVD pack my mom dug out of the Walmart $5 bin, so it’s nice to see the full lineup now available without having to change DVDs. This iconic show follows the Cleaver family (June, Ward, Wally, and Beaver) as they navigate everyday suburban life during the mid-century. The plots are simple and fun, the outfits are inspiring, and the whole thing will have you hankering for a slice of apple pie.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
37.Married...With Children (1987–97)
Prior to his stint as the patriarch of the Pritchett family on Modern Family, Ed O'Neill spent 10 years as the sitcom dad of the Bundy clan on this '90s staple. A blue-collar family living in Chicago, the Bundys spend most episodes bumbling around, scheming, and ultimately shooting themselves in the foot. O'Neill's Al leads the way as a washed-up football star turned shoe salesperson who is always looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. His big-haired wife, Peggy (Sons of Anarchy''s Katey Sagal), is along for the ride, and the kids are played by David Faustino and Christina Applegate (who would obviously go on to star in Samantha Who?, Dead to Me, and this awkward interview with Jenny McCarthy). A departure from the witty repartee of Modern Family, but a messy, fun jumble of a sitcom nonetheless.
Watch it on Peacock with a premium membership.
38.*Miami Vice (1984-90)
It's your standard detective procedural but with a whole lot of '80s flair! Don Johnson (Dakota Johnson's dad, who you may also know from Watchmen and Knives Out) and Philip Michael Thomas star as Sonny and Rico, a pair of Miami undercover police detectives who zig zag around the city each week solving crimes. There's a lot of corpses and even more t-shirt/blazer combinations. Whereas newer crime shows make a meal out of grotesque kills and vats of blood, this classic is much tamer, so if you're looking to solve a mystery that doesn't give you nightmares for weeks on end, this might be the one for you.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
39.Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles (2006–)
I, as a freelance writer, am obviously well acquainted with the world of high-end real estate (because I totally own several high-end estates myself). But for you plebs out there who don’t have the inside scoop (like me), you can get a peek into the mansions, high-rises, and bungalows of billionaires on this reality TV show. The cameras follow a handful of LA real estate moguls as they attempt to sell massive properties (like mine) to the über rich (like me). The square footage and prices will leave you slack-jawed, and the property porn will have you coming back for more.
Watch seasons 5–12 on Peacock for free.
40.Modern Family (2009–20)
I adore Modern Family, and I do not care who knows! The comedy masterpiece, which ran for 11 seasons over on ABC, racked up 22 Emmy wins and 75 nominations. Following the Pritchett clan around Los Angeles for a decade, the show, which started as edgy (a gay couple kissing on prime time!), became a bit repetitive for some people, but I call that comforting. Sure, you know Cam and Mitchell are going to bicker, or that Jay is going to talk about closets, but the predictability is just as soothing as the jokes are funny. The adult cast doesn’t include a dud, Sarah Hyland is comic gold, and the episodes where Elizabeth Banks pops up are always spectacular. Whenever I’m down, I just flip on a Halloween or Valentine's Day episode and laugh away my troubles.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
41.Mr. Mercedes (2017–19)
My lord and savior Stephen King never ceases to dish out content ready-made for film and television, and nowhere is that clearer than in the detective series based on his trilogy of novels featuring Bill Hodges. The series follows the retired detective, played by Mad-Eye Moody/clocktower hater Brendan Gleeson, as he enters into a cat-and-mouse game with Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway). The supporting cast, including Emmy winners Jharrel Jerome, Holland Taylor, and Mary-Louise Parker, is solid, and if you were fans of HBO’s The Outsider, you’ll find a tie-in here in the character of Holly Gibney (here played by Justine Lupe instead of Cynthia Erivo). The fate of a fourth season for the show — which was originally made for the now-defunct AT&T channel Audience — hangs in the balance, but the first three are worth a watch in and of themselves.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
42.The Munsters (1964–66)
Another black-and-white classic sitcom, The Munsters is often overlooked in favor of The Addams Family, which has retained more cultural cachet. This comedy about a monster family who move to the US from Transylvania, however, brings a level of goofiness that its more macabre competitor doesn’t deliver. The family includes a Frankenstein dad, vampire mom, and werewolf son, but the real comic gold comes with Marilyn Munster, the family’s attractive teenage niece who is branded the ugly duckling by her terrifying relatives. Watching the family magnanimously treat her kindly as a charity case never gets old.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
43.Murder, She Wrote (1984–96)
With 12 seasons, 264 episodes, and four TV movies, Murder, She Wrote is one of the most successful television shows in history. Following Jessica Fletcher (Bedknobs and Broomsticks star Angela Lansbury), a mystery novelist and amateur detective, the show watches the older woman solve mysteries in Cabot Cove, Maine. The definition of a cozy mystery, the show is never gruesome, even as Cabot Cove racks up a homicide count high enough to send any normal citizen running for the hills.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
44.The Office (2005–13)
What more is there to say about The Office than what has already been said? The ultra-popular sitcom is a modern-day classic that’s spawned podcasts, conventions, merch lines, and a horde of die-hard fans. A mockumentary set in a run-of-the-mill office in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the comedy ran for nine seasons and launched the careers of many A-list comedians. Steve Carell (The Morning Show), John Krasinski (A Quiet Place), Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Zach Woods (Silicon Valley) all rose to fame at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, and if you’d like to watch Jim and Pam’s wedding another dozen times, you can, right here on Peacock.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
45.One of Us Is Lying (2021–)
In this twisted version of Gossip Girl, dear old GG ends up dead in the first episode. Bayview High is starting a new year of school, and the local gossipmonger/blogger Simon is threatening to expose four members of his class on his drama-thirsty website. Unfortunately for Simon, he doesn't live long enough to share the dirt he's dug up. Instantly, attention is thrown onto the four people he was sharing detention with when he mysteriously died. Did one of them murder their classmate to keep their secrets? You'll have to watch this Peacock original, based on the bestselling young adult novel, if you want to find out. And as the title declares, someone isn't telling the truth.
Watch it for Peacock for free.
46.Parenthood (2010–15)
Families are messy. Families are sad. Families are dramatic. Families are hilarious. That is what you will learn from Parenthood if you haven’t figured it out in real life already. The show follows the sprawling Braverman clan, led by Zeek and Camille (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia), as the family maneuvers the highs and lows of life. Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, and Dax Shepard take the leads as the adult children, with plenty of children swirling on the periphery. The show is a more grounded version of This Is Us and also gave us the iconic friendship between Miles Heizer and Mae Whitman, which is the gift that keeps on giving.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
47.Paris in Love (2021)
For a long time, Paris Hilton seemed to be oscillating between internet punching bag and meme. She'd been a successful reality TV star/party girl who failed to launch a career as an actor or a singer (although "Stars Are Blind" is a certifiable bop). It was cool to hate Hilton. But now the tides are turning, and all the mean internet trolls are having to give credit where credit is due. If you aren't a fan of hers, then you need to go watch her documentary This Is Paris, where you get a behind-the-scenes look at just how intelligent the "dumb blonde" really is. Her new Peacock docuseries continues this journey of redeeming the pop culture icon, following her as she plans her wedding to investor Carter Reum. It's a fun romp of a reality show with plenty of great Paris Hilton content. For Real Housewives fans, the show also has some vintage Kathy Hilton for you as a cherry on top.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
48.Parks and Recreation (2009–15)
And while we’re discussing NBC mockumentaries, we might as well mention this Amy Poehler–helmed vehicle. The sitcom, which centers on the Parks and Recreation Department (duh) of Pawnee, Indiana, is another ensemble comedy of office politics (only this time, those include actual politics). Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt are all famous now but were largely unknowns when the show originally aired. Oh, and it’s fun to rewatch now because Leslie Knope’s crush on Joe Biden (and his eventual cameo) is extra special.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
49.Pride (2021)
For much of the LGBTQ community, pride is extremely important. It’s the time set aside every year to celebrate being queer, to remember the brave trailblazers who came before us, and to continue the fight for justice. In their new docuseries, filmmakers Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa travel the globe, stopping at a number of pride celebrations to learn about queer history and what this special time means for people around the world. With pit stops in New York to learn about ball culture; in Calgary, Alberta, to understand more about those two-spirited individuals; and in Palm Springs, California, to see the LGBTQ retirement mecca, the duo provide viewers with plenty of insight into the queer world.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
50.Psych (2006–14)
So let’s say you were REALLY good at observing your surroundings, and you also had a photographic memory. Do you think you’d be able to pass yourself off as a crime scene psychic? Thus is the premise of this USA Network comedic detective procedural. In each episode, Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) and his friend Gus (Dulé Hill) are tasked with solving a crime, supposedly through mysterious psychic powers but actually through good old-fashioned detective work. The show has developed such a cult following that it's already spawned two spinoff films, and Psych 3 is coming to Peacock in the near future.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
51.Queer Eye (2003–07)
Long before Antoni was teaching people how to pit an avocado over on the Netflix reboot, the original Fab Five were changing the lives of straight men everywhere on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (later shortened). Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia, Jai Rodriguez, and Carson Kressley descended upon straight men in order to make their lives better through a barrage of makeovers, life tips, and witty one-liners. And while more and more people (including Matt Damon) seem to accept queer individuals now, that was certainly not the case when Bravo launched the show in 2003. Queer Eye was many people’s first interaction with gay men in media, and the groundbreaking show is still available for you to watch (although I’m not sure how well their fashion advice holds up in 2021).
Watch it on Peacock for free.
52.Ray Donovan (2013–20)
Ray Donovan is a fixer. That means that if one of his wealthy celebrity clients needs something unsavory taken care of, they pay him to make their problem go away. Thus is the premise of this Showtime crime drama featuring Liev Schreiber in the lead role. In each season, Ray must balance his increasingly dangerous profession with his increasingly fragile family life as his wife, father, and children feel the repercussions of what he does. The show was canceled after seven seasons, but a feature-length film is in the works to wrap up the story.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
53.The Real Housewives (2006–)
Since the inception of The Real Housewives of Orange County back in 2006, this reality franchise has become a dynastic institution followed with cultlike devotion by many. The original series’ success caused Bravo to launch spinoffs in New York, Atlanta, New Jersey, DC, Beverly Hills, Miami, Maryland, Dallas, and Salt Lake City (many of which, including a new season of Orange County, are now available to stream on Peacock). Watch middle-aged women squabble over summer home arrangements, skinny-dip, and flip tables to your heart’s content. And now all of your favorites, including Kenya, Teresa, Ramona, and Luann, are headed to Turks and Caicos on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip for what is sure to be a low-key, drama-free vacation.
Watch the main series on Peacock with a Premium membership and The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip for free.
54.Rutherford Falls (2021–)
Another example of Peacock’s blossoming roster of original programming, this delightful sitcom was recently renewed for a second season. In the first season, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms, who recently starred in the fabulous Together, Together), a descendant of Rutherford Fall’s founders, becomes locked in a heated yet entertaining battle with his best friend, Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), a member of the Minishonka Nation, regarding the removal of a statue dedicated to Nathan’s ancestor. The witty show tackles issues surrounding Native American rights in a way that most sitcoms wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole, and navigates them deftly and with lighthearted spunk. Can’t wait to see the cast shine in a whole new season.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
55.*Sanford and Son (1972-77)
As with every show created in the 1970s, plenty of problematic content pops up in a 2021 rewatch. That is especially true when a core tenet of the show is tackling race relations head on. But despite cringe stereotypes, this popular NBC comedy offers viewers a revolutionary television show that dared to put African-Americans at the front and center, navigating issues of race and prejudice on a weekly basis. The cantankerous Fred and his long suffering son Lamont run a salvage yard, but often are more concerned with get rich quick schemes than they are with their work. The result is a laugh-out-loud sitcom that often seems shockingly modern as it looks at issues we're still sorting through all these years later.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership.
56.Saturday Night Live (1975–)
SNL is an American institution. Good luck finding someone who hasn’t seen one of the thousands of sketches the show has churned out over the past four and a half decades. The Lorne Michaels–helmed sketch comedy show has created viral sketches (“Wayne’s World”), quotable lines (“More cowbell!”), and instantly recognizable characters (David S. Pumpkin, anyone?). Perhaps most notable is the constant stream of iconic comedians whom the show has catapulted to stardom. From Chevy Chase and John Belushi to Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler to Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon, there’s hardly a season without some soon-to-be A-lister in the ranks. Watch all 46 seasons in a row, or pop in and out of your favorite sketches. They’re all waiting for you, and new episodes of Season 47 are now dropping weekly.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
57.Saved by the Bell (2020–)
While the original NBC sitcom is great (and also available on Peacock), I’d like to highlight the streamer’s reboot of the franchise that launched last year (and was recently renewed for a second season). Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is now the governor of California, and after he closes too many low-income high schools, the famed Bayside High gets a batch of working-class students who will have to navigate the usual posh high schoolers already in attendance. Many of the original cast members (including Mario Lopez) are back, but it’s the new cast members — including transgender actor Josie Totah, who plays the queen bee cheerleader — who steal the show. Season 2 is dropping new episodes weekly now so you can get your Bayside fix.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
58.Smother (2021–)
If you, like me, love a British or Irish accent, love a windy coastline, and love an unsolved murder, then you need to check out this Irish thriller. In the vein of Broadchurch and The Killing, the drama follows Val Ahern (Dervla Kirwan) and her family after her husband is found dead at the bottom of a cliff following a family party. Obviously, Val is going to investigate, and obviously, some of the people closest to her are hiding something. *GASP* Also, the first season is only six episodes long, so if bingeing the entirety of SNL or Cheers seems daunting, this might be more up your alley.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
59.Suits (2011–19)
Let’s be clear: While this law procedural is certainly entertaining, builds upon a genius premise (a law school dropout dupes his way into a New York law firm and has to fake it), and stars a fizzy cast — including Patrick J. Adams (Hardy from Pretty Little Liars) and Gina Torres (forever Anna Espinosa to me) — the real draw is seven seasons' worth of the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle. Before Prince Harry’s boo ditched acting for a tumultuous life as a member of the royal family (where she was either “silent or silenced”), she played paralegal Rachel Zane on this show. If you’d like to watch the prequel to a royal fairy tale, here’s your chance.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
60.Superstore (2015–21)
In this house, we stan America Ferrera. From The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to How to Train Your Dragon and, of course, the legendary Ugly Betty, she has been a bright light on our screens. Her most recent sitcom endeavor, Superstore, is no different. The hilarious ensemble comedy focuses on the employees of a Walmart-type store called Cloud 9 in St. Louis. America plays an associate climbing the ranks of the big-box chain, and the cast is filled out with the likes of Ben Feldman (whom you may remember for cutting off his nipple in Mad Men) and Nico Santos (of Crazy Rich Asians fame). The jury is still out as to whether this series made me want to shop more or less at Walmart.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
61.We Are Lady Parts (2021–)
A recent addition to Peacock, this British sitcom comes to the US by way of Channel 4. The six-episode season (i.e., a great binge for this weekend) follows an all-female Muslim punk rock band and is sitting on a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Oh, and did I mention that there is plenty of music involved (we love a musical!)? The actors even play their own instruments! Another refreshing dose of representation, this show will leave you nodding your head in more ways than one.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
62.Weeds (2005–12)
Mary-Louise Parker’s dramedy about selling marijuana has finally made its way over to Peacock. Parker plays Botwin, a widow and single mother who starts dealing pot in order to support her family. The Emmy-winning show in the crime-family vein of The Sopranos or Breaking Bad was an instant success, but unlike its contemporaries, it throws in plenty of humor to even out the dramatic antihero plotlines. Elizabeth Perkins is perfect as their neighbor Celia, and with half-hour episodes, it’s a breeze to binge.
Watch it on Peacock for free.
63.Yellowstone (2018–)
Taylor Sheridan knows how to craft a story, whether as the writer of Sicario, Wind River, the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water, or his television series Yellowstone. The writer, producer, and director returns to the modern West for this show, originally aired on Paramount Network and starring Kevin Costner (no stranger to a Western himself). Set at the border of a Native American reservation, a sprawling cattle ranch, and a new land development, the show focuses on the drama that ensues among the competing forces. A fourth season is on its way, and not to be reductive, but if you are a dad or want to watch a show with your dad, look no further.
Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership.
64.Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020–21)
This musical dramedy may have been canceled after just 25 episodes, but what a glorious 25 they were. Jane Levy plays THE Zoey, a software developer who has the ability to hear people’s thoughts as songs (think Twilight’s Edward but less pale and more dance breaks). Every episode, therefore, contains multiple musical moments, and the cast includes vocalists like Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) and Alex Newell (Glee). Mary Steenburgen (who wrote “Glasgow,” which I’ve listened to approximately 7,000 times) is also in the cast. RIP to Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. You were briefly on our screens but are forever in our hearts (and on Peacock).
Watch it on Peacock for free.
* Denotes title (or season) has been newly added to Peacock for December
Sign up for Peacock Premium for $4.99 a month or Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99 a month after a seven-day free trial.
