There are plenty of times when we come home from work, tired from having made too many decisions, and just want to sit down in front of the TV to watch something that takes our minds off everything else. The very thought of having to actively pay attention to something or follow along with a complex storyline sounds truly awful at the end of a long day. Does this sound familiar to you? Happily, the people atNetflixare very sympathetic to this thought process.
On the streaming service, you will find a “Casual Viewing” category, which features humorous 30-minute shows that will thoroughly entertain you while requiring little to no thought. The characters and storylines are set up so that if you miss an episode or two, you will easily be able to catch right back up. Most of these series deal with typical character tropes and comedic situations, but that is what makes them such an easy watch.
Whether you need a casual viewing binge session or you want to spend some time in the evening laughing at the screen, check out the top 20 half-hour shows on Netflix.
20Grace & Frankie (2015-2022)
Running Time: 25–35 Minutes
Grace and Frankie
From the co-creator ofFriendscomes the cheeky comedy series,Grace and Frankie, which puts Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin together as new friends, who find themselves in a very unusual situation. Within the first episode, their husbands ask for a divorce and admit they have been in love with each other for quite some time. The two polar-opposite women then move in together and practically start their lives all over again rather than retire and enjoy a slow-paced life like they always imagined.
Why It’s Easy to Watch
With such a shock factor at the very beginning of this light-hearted series, audiences can imagine just how stressful getting back into the swing of things can be for the ladies. They try new things, they sometimes fail, but in the end, they always have one another’s support to keep them going — perfectlessons from our elders. The hilarious antics and ideas continue to grow over the five seasons, and you find yourself wanting to know just how much the two women can get away with at their mature age.
19My Wife and Kids (2001-2005)
Running Time: 30 Minutes
My Wife and Kids
My Wife and Kidswas recently added to Netflix, and fans cannot be happier. The nostalgic sitcom features Damon Wayans as Michael Kyle, a kind and caring husband and father, who is a bit dramatic just about every moment of every day. Michael and his wife, Janet (Tisha Campbell-Martin), do their absolute best to raise their three children, but oftentimes, the sass overpowers everyone’s judgment and hilarious arguments ensue.
While Michael is technically the head of the family, he often acts like a fourth child, and Janet is a sympathetic but no-nonsense mother who makes sure all of her kids know who therealhead of the household is. The children play the standard stereotypes, wherein the teenagers get on everyone’s last nerve and the youngest is Michael’s little princess. The episodes are predictable, making the overall storyline easy to follow, and plenty of the conversations and situations will have you belly-laughing.
18Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Running Time: 22–24 Minutes
After a decade of making a name for himself as a stand-up comedian, Jerry Seinfeld was approached with an idea to create a sitcom based on his real-life experiences. As any hilarious performer would do, Seinfeld took the deal and brought his best friend and fellow comedian, Larry David, along for the ride. The two managed to create nine successfulseasons ofSeinfeld, depicting Seinfeld as a fictional version of himself with three good friends.
The show proudly accepts the description “it’s a show about nothing” as it just hilariously highlights the run-of-the-mill mundane life events we all experience with our own friends and family. Just about anyone can relate to the situations Jerry finds himself in, and that is the beauty of the series; it’s a show for the average person about an average guy.
17Young Sheldon (2017-2024)
Running Time: 18–21 Minutes
Young Sheldon
Over the course of 12 seasons, fans fell in love with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) onThe Big Bang Theory, so when it was announced that a spin-off prequel series would highlight the young genius' upbringing, everyone was excited. Parsons was actually the one to pitch the idea, and given that parts of his childhood were already established throughoutTBBT, the producers were immediately on board.
Since most viewers had already seenTBBT, they had a pretty good grasp on what to expect out of the characters. Sheldon (Iain Armitage), as a young man, is equal parts obnoxious and adorable, and his siblings often feel left out because most of everyone’s attention lands on Sheldon. Sheldon’s parents (Lance Barber and Zoe Perry) and MeeMaw (Annie Potts) just add to all the fun. It’s a nostalgic sitcom with fantastic one-liners and hilarious shenanigans, but overall, the relatable situations are just fun and easy to watch.
Related:Every Big Bang Theory Plotline Young Sheldon Needs to Address in the Final Season
16Emily in Paris (2020-Present)
Running Time: 24–38 Minutes
Emily in Paris
Netflix’s Emily In Paris is a comedy series starring Lily Collins as Emily Cooper, a college graduate who travels from Chicago to Paris when she lands a one-in-a-lifetime job opportunity that allows her to enjoy French culture and glamour while she overhauls a local marketing firm. From the mind of Beverly Hills 90210 and Sex and the City creator Darren Star, Emily In Paris takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the cultural differences between the United States and France.
It seems like every 20-something-year-old wants to travel, leave their home behind, and just explore the world before they feel like they need to settle down with life. For Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) inEmily in Paris, the idea of settling down with her career happily involves travel,specifically to Paris. Emily has the pleasure of moving to one of the most romantic cities in the world while she works for an elite marketing team that deals with fashion and high-profile clients.
Emily is the cliché American searching for the next big opportunity in a foreign city. Audiences watch her fumble over herself as she struggles to get the hang of French culture, but, of course, she eventually finds her footing. From a back-and-forth love interest to all the snarky remarks made by her co-workers, the storyline really is light and fun.
15The Upshaws (2021-Present)
Running Time: 25–29 Minutes
Wanda Sykes is a comedic genius, so fans were ecstatic when they found out she was co-creating and starring in thethe Black-focused sitcomThe Upshaws. Sykes plays Lucretia, the older sister of Regina (Kim FIelds), who does not take any time when it comes to speaking her mind or putting her brother-in-law, Bennie (Mike Epps), in his place.
The entire Netflix series is like any other standard sitcom with relationship troubles, family struggles, and a whole lot of laughs. Bennie often finds himself as the butt of the joke when he really is just trying to do right by all of his children. Even when Lucretia and he get nasty with their words, audiences can still feel the love in the air as everyone always forgives and comes together to support one another.
14Mr. Iglesias (2019-2020)
Running Time: 26–32 Minutes
Mr. Iglesias
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is hilarious on the stage, on the screen, and just about anywhere else you can find him. InMr. Iglesias, Fluffy plays a high school history teacher that wants to help his students succeed. While the series only lasted two seasons, the writing is absolutely brilliant, and some fans are convinced that Fluffy just showed up on set wearing whatever he found in his closet — including khaki shorts — and just started going through his lines with the cameras rolling.
Fluffy is a natural at bringing audiences into his world, even when he is playing a fictional character. He does his fun voices, he interacts with everyone in the room like there is not even a camera nearby, and the episodes just feel genuine. There is no in-depth analysis of this sitcom needed; it is just about a wholesome teacher trying to do right by his kids despite all odds against them.
13That ’90s Show (2023)
Running Time: 21–30 Minutes
Read Our Review
Just when we thought we had seen the last of Red (Kurtwood Smith), Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp), and all the teens that practically grew up in their basement, Netflix decided a sequel series was needed with a new batch of rambunctious kids. InThat ’90s Show, Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon) drop their teenage daughter off at Red and Kitty’s to stay for the summer, and she immediately finds friends to hang out with for the season.
If you have already seenThat ’70s Showand have any inkling of what life was like for a teenager in the ’90s, then you can definitely sayThat ’90s Showis super easy to watch. Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia, much like her parents did back in the day, spends time in the basement with her eccentric group of friends, and, like typical teenagers, they deal with relationships and just try to enjoy each day of their summer vacation.
Related:That ’90s Show: 10 Ways to Make It Feel More Like the ’90s
12Fuller House (2016-2020)
Running Time: 25–36 Minutes
Fuller House
20 years after we said goodbye to the Tanners and everyone, the gang came right back to the same set to feature the girls all grown up and raising their own kids. InFuller House, D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure) is the primary focus as she has moved back into her childhood home to raise her three sons after becoming a widow. Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) joins her big sister to help with anything she may need, and the ever-annoying Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) moves in with her daughter because there is no way she’s missing out on all the fun.
Even though the sitcom received mixed reviews, plenty of fans still adored seeing most of the actors,aside from the Olsen twins, fromFull Housereprise their roles. The storylines are rather predictable and cute at times, and there are plenty of jokes to go around. Overall, the nostalgic feel of the sitcom makes for an easy show to watch.
11Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)
Running Time: 22–31 Minutes
Never Have I Ever
Created byThe Office’s Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher,Never Have I Everis loosely based on Kaling’s childhood. The story follows Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) as she navigates all the ups and downs that come with high school. After losing her father, Devi struggles with her own identity and deciding who or even what she wants in life. After some realizations and a lot of complicated relationships, she eventually makes it to college and successfully has a plan for herself.
As manycoming-of-age TV showstend to lean towards the more dramatic or supernatural side of things,Never Have I Evertakes on a more comedic approach, which feels fresh and fun. Devi is an Indian-American girl, but that is not the sole focus of her story. She gets put into relatable situations where she gains friends, loses them, gets confused with boys, and ultimately just wants someone to tell her what to do with her life. This is something too many of us can fully understand as we enjoy watching Devi go through the inevitable process.
