25 remarkable shows about friendship in 2023

Summary

Shows like Living Single, Baby Daddy, and Friends From College capture the same close-knit group dynamic as Friends, showcasing friendships and personal journeys.

Coupling, England's version of Friends, follows a familiar pattern with three men and three women exploring romantic entanglements while incorporating adult humor. Both Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Happy Endings showcase delightful ensemble casts and entertaining plotlines, providing a quirky sense of comedy akin to the camaraderie displayed in Friends.

Despite being off the air for years, fans are still on the lookout for shows similar to Friends that can recreate the nostalgic essence of one of the most beloved TV series of all time. Every day, millions of people continue to tune in to watch reruns, in addition to those who stream the show online. Friends continues to attract new fans and has had enough influence to inspire networks to develop more series in the same vein.

Throughout its run, Friends remained an enormous success, culminating in its iconic finale. Although it is unlikely that any sitcom will reach the same level of popularity that Friends enjoyed during its time of television dominance, there are some exceptional shows that capture a similar atmosphere. These shows have existed since the early days of television, portraying a tight-knit group of friends relying on each other to navigate life's challenges. Whether these friends are co-workers, neighbors with an open-door policy, or longtime companions, there is always a sense of delight in immersing oneself in a series like Friends.

25. Living Single (1993)

Watch Living Single on Hulu and Max.

Living Single, a trailblazing show that aired before Friends, served as the inspiration for similar sitcoms. The reunion show that aired on Max even addressed this connection. This groundbreaking show debuted a year prior to Friends and centered around a group of Black friends, with the unique twist of mostly female friendships. Set in a Brooklyn brownstone, Living Single delves into the intertwined personal and professional lives of four young women. With its five-season run coinciding almost concurrently with Friends, Living Single enjoyed significant success.

24. Baby Daddy (2012)

Stream on Hulu

Although several characters in Friends become parents throughout the show, their role as parents is not heavily emphasized. If it had been, perhaps we would have seen more storylines like those in Baby Daddy. This series revolves around a young man in his twenties who experiences a life-altering change when a woman he had a one-night-stand with unexpectedly leaves their daughter at his doorstep to pursue her acting career. He, along with his brother and two best friends, come together to raise the child. While the series does share similarities with Three Men And A Baby, its essence lies in the love and strong bond between the core characters as they navigate adulthood. This theme can also be seen in Friends, as some characters have connections dating back to their childhood.

23. Friends From College (2017)

Watch Friends From College on Netflix. This show takes a different spin on friendships and romantic relationships compared to Friends. Instead of being in their twenties and thirties, this group of friends is in their forties. Their strong bond goes way back to their college days at Harvard. Set in modern-day New York, the series stars Keegan-Michael Key and Cobie Smulders, known for their impeccable comedic timing. Alongside the humor, the show delves into various career paths and complicated romantic entanglements within the friend group. One example is two individuals who have been having an on-and-off affair since college, despite being in committed relationships with other people. While Friends From College brings more drama than Friends, it still captures a similar essence.

22. Coupling (2000)

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Critics have dubbed Coupling as England's response to Friends. Although set in England, the show shares many similarities with Friends, but with a more mature sense of humor. Created by Stephen Moffat, known for Doctor Who, Coupling adopts a similar formula to Friends, revolving around a close-knit group of three men and three women whose lives are consumed by their romantic pursuits and sometimes purely physical relationships. The show's brief success led to winning the Best TV Comedy award at the 2003 British Comedy Awards, international airing on BBC America, and even Greek and American remakes.

21. Young And Hungry (2014)

If fans are particularly drawn to Monica's character in Friends, with her culinary career and search for love with Chandler, then Young and Hungry is an ideal series to fill that Friends-shaped void. While it lacks a large cast, it compensates with fantastic comedic performances from Emily Osment and Aimee Carrero. Osment plays Gabi, an aspiring chef who is hired to be a personal chef for a tech entrepreneur, but things become complicated after they have a one-night stand. Carrero plays Gabi's best friend, who accompanies her to California after college and is pursuing a career in the business world. The show is reminiscent of Friends in terms of Monica and Rachel's struggle to break into their desired industries.

20. Go On (2012)

Stream the TV show "Go On" on Roku and Vudu. This NBC series, starring Matthew Perry, is often compared to "Friends" because of Perry's role as Chandler. However, "Go On" focuses heavily on friendship as Perry's character, Ryan, leans on a new group of friends during a difficult time in his life. After struggling to cope with the death of his wife, Ryan's boss insists he attends grief counseling. To maintain his job as a sportscaster, Ryan reluctantly attends and discovers a diverse group of individuals at the support group. Together, they support one another, finding humor in the midst of their shared human experiences. Additionally, Courtney Cox makes a guest appearance on the show.

19. Cougar Town (2009)

Stream on Hulu

Following their success on Friends, the cast members ventured into other TV shows and movies. For fans of Courteney Cox, her next show, the hilarious Cougar Town, is worth checking out. Similar to Friends, Cougar Town revolves around a close-knit group of friends who support each other in navigating life's challenges on a daily basis. While Friends portrayed young friends finding their paths in the world, Cougar Town focuses on the lives of older friends, with the term "cougar" referring to the series' older female characters who are actively searching for love. The show stars Cox, Busy Phillips, and Christa Miller.

18. Episodes (2011)

Stream on Showtime

Following the conclusion of Friends, Matt LeBlanc embarked on a quest to secure his next venture. This led him from the spinoff Joey to the exceptional and highly captivating series called Episodes. While LeBlanc did not achieve the same level of success with Joey as he did with Friends, his performance in Episodes was truly remarkable. This sitcom, which aired on Showtime in the United States, featured LeBlanc portraying a fictionalized version of himself - a wealthy, charismatic, and conceited actor who reluctantly accepts a leading role in a show but grapples with maintaining professionalism.

17. Golden Girls (1985)

Watch The Golden Girls on Hulu, a series that can be compared to Friends with its iconic theme song that declares: "Thank you for being a friend." While Friends revolves around a group of young individuals who rely on each other, The Golden Girls depicts the essence of friendship in later stages of life. Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty portray seniors who maintain an unwavering bond amidst challenges that could strain the relationships of younger generations. This show serves as an inspiration for female friendships of all ages.

16. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Stream on Peacock

Imagine if the characters from Friends took on the roles of cops and the show had a hilarious twist on police procedurals instead of the usual sitcom format. That's exactly what you'll find in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Similar to Friends, this series brings together a lovable group of characters, engaging multi-episode storylines, and a wonderfully quirky sense of humor that never crosses any boundaries. While it may be a workplace comedy set in a police precinct, the bond between these cops is just as strong as the friendship shared by Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe.

15. Broad City (2014)

Stream Broad City on Hulu and Paramount+.

Centered around two twenty-something best friends, Broad City offers a fresh take on the classic Friends formula with a more intimate group. Created and starring real-life best friends Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, the show follows the hilariously named Ilana and Abbi as they navigate life in New York City. Combining the relatable city life of Friends with the freedom of cable television, Broad City's five seasons and 50 episodes provide non-stop laughter while staying true to the unbreakable bond of friendship.

14. Happy Endings (2011)

Watch Happy Endings on Hulu, a 2011 series that aired on ABC. Similar to Friends, it follows the lives of six friends as they navigate adulthood, life, and romance in Chicago. Just like Friends, their hilarious and awkward relationships with each other add more complexity to their lives. The series begins with a dramatic moment where one member leaves another at the altar, causing the entire group to reassess their friendships and the dynamics of their relationships. Happy Endings ran for two seasons.

13. The Office (2005)

Stream on Peacock

The Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin's hilarious antics commenced shortly after the conclusion of the Friends series. Leading the show is Steve Carell as the regional manager, Michael Scott, accompanied by Rainn Wilson's intense assistant, Dwight Schrute, and the captivating on-off couple, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly, portrayed by John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer. Similar to Friends, The Office delivers a multitude of uproarious episodes featuring endearing characters, relatable scenarios, and a perfectly cast ensemble.

12. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005)

If viewers appreciate shows like Friends because of its depiction of a tight-knit group of friends embarking on humorous and unconventional escapades in the city while playfully mocking each other, then they will absolutely adore It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In contrast to meeting at a coffee shop, these characters gather at Paddy's Pub, an Irish bar which they own. Although It's Always Sunny possesses a noticeably darker tone than Friends, avid fans of the latter will undoubtedly find delight in the former.

11. Modern Family (2009)

Watch Modern Family on Hulu and Peacock.

Similar to the iconic show Friends, Modern Family has maintained its status as one of the most popular sitcoms throughout its entire run and has consistently dominated the Emmy Awards. The show features a lovable ensemble cast including Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet, making it one of the greatest sitcom casts of all time. While the show adopts a mockumentary format, unlike The Office, the documentary crew is not part of the show's universe but rather serves as a stylistic element, similar to Parks and Recreation.

10. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)

Stream the Netflix comedy series "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"

New viewers can enjoy the luxury of binge-watching the entire series from beginning to end, as the final episodes have recently premiered. Unlike other shows, there's no need to wait months for new episodes as the story unfolds. Similar to "Friends," this show follows a group of individuals navigating their way through financial struggles, relationships, and finding their place in New York City. Additionally, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" features episodes that experiment with different formats and captivating long-running storylines, keeping the audience engaged. Notably, the cast is exceptional, just like in "Friends."

9. Seinfeld (1989)

Stream on Netflix

Spearheaded by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, with Seinfeld also taking on the lead role, this series offers a darker and more cynical take on the concept of a group of friends in New York City finding themselves in comical and outrageous scenarios. Interestingly, a number of early episodes of Friends were inspired by rejected spec scripts from the producers of Seinfeld. While the Seinfeld characters and overall sensibility differ greatly, the shared backdrop of life in New York City creates a similarity in the stories and situations portrayed.

8. The Big Bang Theory (2007)

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In 2020, The Big Bang Theory concluded its final season. Initially diverging from the formula of Friends, the show gradually transformed into an ensemble piece centered around a diverse group of characters navigating friendship, work, and the intricacies of the dating world. What was once seen as an alienating portrayal of geeky scientists indulging in cosplay and video games has now embraced a broader appeal, becoming a widely accessible and mainstream ensemble show. The transition has sparked debates among supporters and critics alike, but there is one certainty – fans who cherish shows like Friends will undoubtedly find joy in it.

7. Community (2009)

Watch Community on Netflix.

Created by Dan Harmon, this sitcom for NBC revolves around a group of students studying Spanish at a community college. If you enjoyed Friends, you'll definitely appreciate Community, thanks to its diverse and talented ensemble cast that includes Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Donald Glover (also known as Childish Gambino), Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong, and many more. Community stands out with its clever meta humor, unique storytelling style, and a wide array of characters. Whether you're a Friends fan or simply a TV enthusiast, this show is guaranteed to capture your heart. Plus, with the highly anticipated Community movie on the horizon, now is the perfect time to catch up on the series.

6. Cheers (1982)

Paramount+ offers the opportunity to stream the iconic show, Cheers. This ensemble sitcom, which aired in the '90s, set the standards for similar shows like Friends. Cheers was immensely popular and introduced many tropes that became iconic in later sitcoms. The dynamic between Sam and Diane can be compared to that of Ross and Rachel. While Friends takes place in a coffee shop in New York, Cheers is set in a bar in Boston, yet the essence remains the same. What sets Cheers apart is the diverse range of characters, spanning various ages and backgrounds. The bar setting allows for staff and customers to bond over a beer and for guest characters to come and go. With its lengthy run, Cheers offers plenty of content, making it one of the longest-running TV sitcoms in history.

Editor's P/S

As a Friends enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for shows that can capture the same magic as the iconic series. I have watched all of the shows mentioned in the article, and I have to say that they all have their own unique charm.

Living Single is a great show that paved the way for Friends. It's a shame that it didn't get the same level of recognition, but I'm glad that it's finally getting the attention it deserves. Baby Daddy is another great show that I really enjoyed. It's a heartwarming story about a group of friends who come together to raise a child. Friends From College is a bit different from the other shows on this list, but it's still a great show about friendship and love. I highly recommend checking out all of these shows if you're a fan of Friends. You won't be disappointed!