The 25 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 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 (read the review)

Cast: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, Alec Baldwin

Angelyne (2022)

Angelyne is a “love letter” to a local legend disguised as a documentary. It follows the story of the titular Los Angeles woman whose name, appearance, and phone number began mysteriously appearing on billboards across the city. Emmy Rossum plays the lady in question, and Alex Karpovsky stars as the journalist who uncovers her real identity — and motives — decades later.

The result is a fresh drop in the unreliable narrator bucket, as “Angelyne's flashbacks weave together facts with slippery strands of memory and regret, blending real events with literal flights of fancy,” says EW’s critic. —C.S.

Where to watch Angelyne: Peacock

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Emmy Rossum, Hamish Linklater, Philip Ettinger, Charlie Rowe, Alex Karpovsky, Martin Freeman, Molly Ephraim, Lukas Gage, Michael Angarano

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine trades the melodrama and violence of police procedurals for a comedy that embraces wacky humor (think of it as Police Academy–meets–The Office, and you’ve got the right idea). Andy Samberg’s detective brings the madcap humor of his SNL days to the precinct, and he’s surrounded by an eclectic ensemble that elevates his brand of rubber-faced jokes into modern sitcom gold. As EW’s critic wonders, “An irreverent comedy about the limits of irreverence? Now, there’s an arresting premise for a next-generation hot fuzz.” —C.S.

Where to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Peacock

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

Cast: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher

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+ (read the review)

Cast: Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, Joe Pesci

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.

As EW previously reported, “The original show became infamous for on-set tension between Doherty and Milano, but the latter has said their relationship is in a better place these days.” That’s for the best, as these syndicated siblings are always much stronger fighting against the villain of the week rather than amongst each other. —C.S.

Where to watch Charmed: Peacock

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

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.

What results 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). While the series was admittedly stronger before the departure of two key cast members, Community’s originality and weirdness shine throughout the show’s six seasons. —Ilana Gordon

Where to watch Community: Peacock

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Cast: Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Ken Jeong, Chevy Chase, Jim Rash

Dateline NBC (1992–present)

Dateline NBC eventually became the grandfather of true crime once the show shifted away from general news and more into deep dives of human depravity. Various big names in journalism have brought the show to life over the years, including Katie Couric and Tom Brokaw, but it owes much of its current success and cult status to correspondent Keith Morrison.

His calm voice and various gestures have thrilled generations of fans (including SNL icon Bill Hader, whose imitation of Morrison has become almost as famous as the man himself.) —C.S.

Where to watch Dateline NBC: Peacock

Cast: Lester Holt, Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison, Dennis Murphy

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 (read the review)

Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Siobhan Finneran, Maggie Smith

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. Described as “part medical drama, part mystery, part Catch Me If You Can thriller,” 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– (read the review)

Cast: Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, AnnaSophia Robb, Édgar Ramírez, Mandy Moore, Ashley Madekwe, Gustaf Hammarsten, Luke Kirby

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, Vincent Martella

House (2004–2012)

Just when we were convinced there was no new gold to be mined from medical dramas, House came along and blew us all away. Hugh Laurie plays the titular doctor, a cantankerous crank whose brilliant diagnoses don’t always make up for his miserable bedside manner. Accordingly, he clashes with everyone from his boss to his team in the teaching hospital where they work.

As EW’s critic wrote after the series wrapped, the protagonist managed to enter “the pantheon of great TV grumps…somewhere between Archie Bunker and Tony Soprano.” It’s the last kind of character that you’d expect to see as a television doctor, and the contrast between his salty sawbones and everyone around him makes for excellent entertainment. —C.S.

Where to watch House: Peacock

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

Cast: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer

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 (1999present)

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 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. —I.G.

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

Cast: Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd, Stephanie March, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, Diane Neal

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. In reviewing 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+ (read the review)

Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Jeremy Maguire, Reid Ewing

Monk (2002–2009)

It can be tough to find police procedurals that counterbalance grim subjects with heart, soul, and comedic charm. Fortunately, we’ll always have Monk, the quirky cop dramedy in which Tony Shalhoub plays a private eye contending with severe OCD after his wife’s death. As any Wings fans can attest, Shalhoub knows how to be funny, but this performance is more nuanced than you might expect.

EW’s writer insists that Shalhoub “doesn’t overplay Monk’s OCD symptoms for cheap laughs; instead, he subtly conveys the quiet misery of a man who’s trapped in vicious cycles of irrational behavior” while “shifting between scenes of pathos and physical comedy, he renders Monk as an endearingly original hero.” —C.S.

Where to watch Monk: Peacock

Cast: Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard

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+ (read the review)

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, Butch Patrick

Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)

When playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” he basically preluded Angela Lansbury’s character in the iconic television show Murder, She Wrote. Here, she plays a mystery writer–turned–amateur detective, and her ability to solve crimes in Cabot Cove helps inform her own killer fiction.

Between the great premise and Lansbury’s excellent performance (earning four Golden Globes and 12 Emmy nods), audiences were left with something more than another crime show. Rather, the work helped define the entire genre. —C.S.

Where to watch Murder, She Wrote: Peacock

Cast: Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom

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– (read the review)

Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling

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 praised for “the performances, the attitude, and the atmosphere”) trades Steve Carrell’s incompetence for Amy Poehler’s relentless optimism, dishing out humor and heart in equal measure. —C.S.

Where to watch Parks and Recreation: Peacock

EW grade: A (read the review)

Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe

Poker Face (2023–present)

While some doubted you could update the Columbo formula for modern viewers, Peacock offered 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 (read the review)

Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, Adrien Brody

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 nearly half a century. In addition to rotating celebrity guest hosts like Timothée Chalamet, the current cast is rounded out by Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Heidi Gardner, and more; but in the early days, the ensemble featured the likes of comedy legends Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi.

This bygone era was rough around the edges, both on and offscreen. As EW previously reported, Chase alleges that Belushi once stole his vial of cocaine when the future Christmas Vacation star was playing piano. It’s an absurd story, but it also highlights the reason to stream any given season: You never know what’s going to happen, which is the perfect recipe for laughs. Season 50 kicked off in September. —C.S.

Where to watch Saturday Night Live: Peacock

Cast: Michael Che, Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson, Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner

Superstore (2015–2019)

For those who've worked in retail, you know the value of having enjoyable co-workers to help you power through those long shifts, filled with overwrought customers and back-breaking tasks that call for some major vent sessions in the break room. And nobody gets this struggle more than the crew at Cloud 9, a fluorescent-lit megastore in St. Louis, where you can find everything from milk to lingerie to...guns.

Starring America Ferrera and Ben Feldman, along with a lovable ensemble, NBC's Superstore is an irresistibly bingeable comfort show that perfectly captures the everyday seesaw of customer service. While it didn't garner the exact hype as other aforementioned workplace comedies, EW's critic couldn't help but sing its praises, noting: "On paper, it's a no-concept throwback: People work together, laughs ensue. But creator Justin Spitzer has evolved a classical setup into a vitally modern American tale, exuding Must See TV warmth and chilly downward-mobility anxiety." —James Mercadante

Where to watch Superstore: Peacock

EW grade: A– (read the review)

Cast: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Sakura, Mark McKinney, Kaliko Kauahi

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. 

The show has been renewed for Season 22, but if catching up on the past 21 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. —I.G.

Where to watch Top Chef: Peacock

Cast: Padma Lakshmi

We Are Lady Parts (2021–present)

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+ (read the review)

Cast: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, Aiysha Hart, Zaqi Ismail, David Avery, Shobu Kapoor, Sofia Barclay