Television series

Killing It

Craig Robinson stars as a charismatic loser attempting the Florida python-hunting lottery—a real government program offering cash bounties. Killing It is absurdist comedy about desperation and ambition, grounded in Robinson's warmth. It's silly and genuinely felt, populated by misfits who deserve better. For anyone who loves oddball characters and stakes that matter underneath the ridiculousness.

TVMaze rating2.8

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a comedy where the laughs come from a character who keeps doubling down on a bad idea, and you enjoy a sharp satire of ambition with a streak of absurdity.

Skip it if you want tidy, fast laughs, since its half-hour episodes lean on a shaggy, rambling pace that can feel loose across eighteen installments.

What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes, two seasons, and a willingness to sit with a lot of loose, deadpan wandering; it rewards patience more than close attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Schitt's Creek2015

A wealthy family loses everything and must rebuild in a small town. Like Killing It, it finds genuine heart in humiliation and failure, with characters who grow through adversity rather than spite.

But Starts slow and leans heavily on fish-out-of-water setup before finding its rhythm. The early episodes can feel sitcom-standard.

Schitt's Creek poster

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson2019

Absurdist sketch comedy that treats ridiculous premises with complete sincerity. Same DNA as Killing It—the humor comes from characters fully committed to bizarre situations.

But Sketch shows are uneven by design. Some bits land harder than others, and there's no narrative thread to keep you invested between laughs.

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson poster

Sorry!1981

Louis C.K. plays a struggling comedian and his best friend. Darkly funny, messy, character-driven. Both shows find comedy in people failing upward and sideways at adult responsibilities.

But C.K.'s personal history makes rewatching complicated. The show is also genuinely depressing at times—not everyone wants that from comedy.

Sorry! poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Killing It

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

American Honey2016

Both center on the American dream as a con job and the people it grinds down. Killing It makes it funny; this makes it tragic. Same machinery, different lighting.

Andrea Arnold's four-hour road movie following a group of broke drifters selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door across America. Gorgeous, grounded, and devastating. Captures the exact desperation and community that Killing It treats comedically.

But Bleak and slow. There is no payoff, no redemption arc, no jokes. If you're watching Killing It for laughs, this will feel punishingly serious.

American Honey poster
More like this (7)

Eastbound & Down2009

Danny McBride as a washed-up baseball player returns to his hometown with nothing. Raw, crass, and unexpectedly moving. Shares Killing It's fascination with masculine failure and redemption.

But Aggressively crude and mean-spirited in ways that won't appeal to everyone. The protagonist is often genuinely unlikable, even when the show loves him.

Eastbound & Down poster

The Righteous Gemstones2019

Danny McBride's prestige comedy-drama about a megachurch family and their chaos. Bigger budget and wilder plots, but the same warmth toward flawed, charismatic disasters.

But Oscillates between broad comedy and dramatic soap opera. The tonal shifts work for some viewers and feel jarring for others.

The Righteous Gemstones poster

Better Things2016

Pamela Adlon's semi-autobiographical comedy about a single mom in Los Angeles navigating work, family, and survival. Deeply funny and human in exactly the way Killing It aspires to be.

But Quieter and more introspective than Killing It. If you want constant laughs, this is more gentle observation than punchlines.

Better Things poster

Reno 911!2003

Mockumentary about incompetent cops in the Nevada desert. Absurdist humor grounded in character. Both shows love underdogs operating in complete chaos with dignity intact.

But The mockumentary format feels dated now. Improv-heavy sketches can drag without strong editing. Uneven across its many seasons.

Reno 911! poster

Kim's Convenience2016

A Korean-Canadian family runs a Toronto convenience store. Warm, funny, character-focused. Like Killing It, it finds comedy in class struggle and the immigrant hustle without punching down.

But Very gentle comedy. No edge whatsoever. If you need sharper, darker humor, this will feel too earnest and sitcom-traditional.

Kim's Convenience poster

Tacoma FD2019

Firefighters in Tacoma hang out and banter. Loose, character-driven, surprisingly kind despite the pranks. Both shows let their casts breathe and trust the warmth between people.

But Minimal plot and low stakes. Mostly vibes. If you need narrative momentum or clear story arcs, this is just people talking between shifts.

Tacoma FD poster

Fried Green Tomatoes1991

Both are fundamentally about people without resources building dignity and community anyway. Killing It adds snakes and Craig Robinson. This one adds soul.

Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy's friendship story, told in flashbacks. A commercial American film that quietly examines class, identity, and people finding power outside the system. Funny, sad, subversive, and utterly sincere.

But 1991 sentimentality. Mainstream Oscar-bait drama, not comedy. Built on conventions some viewers find cloying or outdated.

Fried Green Tomatoes poster

People

Cast

Writing

Production

Recommended by

Fresh Dressed