If you’re hunting for shows like Modern Family to fill the gap left by eleven seasons of ensemble sitcom comfort, the options are better than you might think. The family sitcom has become rarer over the past decade or so, but the ones that have landed tend to land properly, and there’s a decent back catalogue to work through.
Here’s a run through the best of them, from broad comedies to the sort of drama that will have you crying into your biscuits.
The comedies closest to the Modern Family mould
Abbott Elementary (2021–) is probably the sharpest recent heir to the throne. Quinta Brunson’s mockumentary is set in a school rather than a home, but the ensemble functions as its own goofy tight-knit family, and the show inherited Modern Family‘s ratings crown on ABC. The 2022 Emmy win for Sheryl Lee Ralph became a viral moment in its own right. Stream it on Hulu and HBO Max.
Life in Pieces (2015–2019) is possibly the most structurally similar show on this list. A large extended California family, headed by Dianne Wiest and James Brolin, with each episode split into four distinct stories following different members. The stories often (but don’t always) dovetail. It gets around the logistical awkwardness of a huge cast needing constant reasons to be in the same room. Clever format. Stream it on Hulu.
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) predates Modern Family and takes a less sentimental approach (this is a working-class, thoroughly chaotic household) but the warmth underneath the chaos is the same. The recent follow-up miniseries, Life’s Still Unfair, is the rare revival that actually hits the mark. Stream it on Hulu.
The Middle (2009–2018) ran for nine remarkably consistent seasons without any particular storytelling gimmick. Frankie and Mike Heck (Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn) raise a family in fictional Orson, Indiana, and the show sits somewhere between Malcolm in the Middle‘s chaotic energy and Modern Family‘s more sentimental leanings. Stream it on Peacock and Prime Video.
Shows like Modern Family with a bit more on their minds
Black-ish (2014–2022) follows Dre (Anthony Anderson) and his wife (Tracee Ellis Ross) as successful Black parents navigating life in the wealthy suburbs while trying to stay true to their cultural identities. Anthony Anderson narrates in a not-quite-mockumentary style that echoes Modern Family‘s format. It also spawned an impressive spin-off universe: Grown-ish originated as a backdoor pilot episode featuring Yara Shahidi’s character Zoey heading to college, according to Deadline, while Mixed-ish centres on a young Bow and her biracial family in the 1980s, per Wikipedia’s Black-ish entry. Jenifer Lewis as grandmother Ruby steals scenes throughout the main series. Stream Black-ish on Netflix and Hulu.
Kim’s Convenience (2016–2021) follows a Korean-Canadian family running a convenience store in Toronto. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon play the traditionally minded parents; Simu Liu plays son Jung; Andrea Bang plays daughter Janet. The show deals with the pressures facing immigrant families without ever letting the comedy slip. Stream it on Peacock.
One Day at a Time (2017–2020), inspired by Norman Lear’s 1975 sitcom of the same name, centres on a Latinx family led by Justina Machado as an Army Nurse Corps veteran adjusting to civilian life and single motherhood. Rita Moreno as her mother is a force of nature. The show also spotlighted a lesbian daughter and her non-binary love interest. Stream it on Netflix.
Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020) is less a family-at-home sitcom and more a survival comedy: the once-wealthy Rose family, defrauded by a business manager, ends up stuck in a run-down small town trying to rebuild. Eugene and Daniel Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and Annie Murphy lead a cast of Canadian comedy talent that makes the whole thing look effortless. Stream it on Hulu and HBO Max.
Parenthood (2010–2015) and This Is Us (2016–2022) are both worth flagging for viewers who don’t need everything to be a laugh. Parenthood sits in comedy-drama territory, following the extended Braverman family in Berkeley across six seasons. This Is Us is a proper drama, Dan Fogelman’s multigenerational Pearson family story crosses decades and keeps the tissues industry going. Both are streaming now on Paramount+ and Hulu respectively. Go in with your eyes open on the latter: it is, legendarily, one of the most tear-jerking shows of the past decade.
That’s a solid list to be getting on with. Start with Abbott Elementary if you want something that feels current; start with Schitt’s Creek if you want something that feels like a warm bath. Either way, the gap Modern Family left is fillable.
