Television series
Netflix Presents: The Characters
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
Netflix gave eight rising comedians a blank canvas and thirty minutes each to do whatever they wanted. The result is eight wildly different sketch shows, each a portrait of how a particular comedic mind works. It's uneven—some episodes soar, others misfire—but the best ones are genuinely inventive. For anyone who loves sketch comedy and doesn't mind a bit of chaos.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you enjoy sketch comedy that changes hands every half hour, where each episode carries one performer's peculiar sensibility from start to finish and the unevenness is part of the fun.
Skip it if you want a tight, consistent show with a recognizable host, since these eight episodes are wildly uneven and each one lives or dies on its creator's taste.
What it asks of you: Each half-hour stands alone, so you can dip in and out, but the sketches are short and quick, so you need to keep up.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson2019
Robinson's absurdist sketches about awkward social situations and delusional characters are instantly iconic. Hilarious, inventive, and totally original in its comedic rhythm.
But The humour is weird and repetitive by design; if you need traditional joke structure or punchlines, this will frustrate you.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp2015
Early appears here, and the whole thing is an anarchic, star-studded riff on summer camp comedy. Fast, silly, and genuinely committed to its absurdity in ways that feel refreshing.
But It trades in nostalgia and in-jokes; if you haven't seen the original film, you might feel a step behind.
Broad City2014
Sketch-inflected comedy about two best friends navigating New York. Crass, inventive, and genuinely warm. Several cast members appear here, so it's a natural next step.
But Early seasons are stronger; it drifts into more conventional storytelling as it goes. Also extremely crude, which isn't for everyone.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Netflix Presents: The Characters
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Chappelle's Show2003
Eight comedians given TV time to prove their sensibility; Chappelle did it with a team. Same hunger to show that comedic vision translates to comedy television.
Dave Chappelle with a team of writers making sketches that comment on culture and race with intelligence and comedy instinct. Uncompromising and genuinely funny in ways that still hold up.
But Uneven—some sketches are brilliant, others are awkward or dated. Also: it can traffic in stereotypes in ways that are intentional but still uncomfortable.
More like this (6)
Saturday Night Live1975
Several cast members graduated through SNL. The show itself remains the most reliable sketch comedy on television, with wildly variable quality that sometimes hits brilliance.
But You're watching for the hits among misses. Entire episodes can feel like a slog; commitment required.
The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail2014
Berlant appears here in this stand-up showcase series. Intimate, funny, and a good way to see multiple comedians at their best without sketch structure.
But Stand-up is hit-or-miss by nature, and some of these acts simply won't land for you personally.
Orange Is the New Black2013
Lapkus shines in an ensemble cast in this intelligent comedy-drama about a women's prison. Funny, moving, and genuinely character-driven.
But It gets darker and heavier as it progresses. If you want comedy, the later seasons might disappoint you.
30 Rock2006
The spiritual ancestor of comedy shows about making comedy. Fast-paced, quotable, and Tina Fey and company understood exactly what they were doing with every joke.
But Laugh-track sensibilities and network-TV constraints date it. Some references have aged poorly.
The State1994
A sketch show from the 90s that freed itself from traditional comedy structure. Weird, confident, and utterly committed to its own logic.
But The production values are obviously cheap and dated. Some sketches go nowhere; you have to accept the wandering.
Please Like Me2013
A single creative voice proving what they can do with total freedom. The form is different, the impulse is identical.
An Australian comedy where the creator writes himself in and around narrative and mood. It finds sketch comedy logic inside character-driven storytelling. Funny, strange, and genuinely moving in ways that surprised me.
But It's from another country and doesn't have the star power. Also, it's not really sketch comedy—if you want that form specifically, this bends it beyond recognition.
