Television series

The Moodys

A half-hour family comedy about the Moodys, a Chicago clan reuniting for the holidays and promptly descending into chaos. Denis Leary barks, secrets tumble out, and nobody gets the bathroom time they need. Warm underneath its cynicism, it's for people who love their families but wouldn't want to spend more than a week with them.

TVMaze rating3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like domestic comedy where a loud, bickering household is the whole engine, and you don't mind sharp-edged family chaos that never quite stops being affectionate.

Skip it if you want restrained, subtle character comedy, since this one leans on broad volume and a crowd of competing quirks that can blur together.

What it asks of you: Fourteen half-hour episodes across two seasons, so it's a short, easy commitment; the pace is brisk and the tone stays busy, with little room to settle in.

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Schitt's Creek2015

A family loses everything and must rebuild in a small town they once mocked. Warm, genuinely funny, and manages the impossible: it gets better every season, not worse.

But Starts slow and the characters are initially insufferable—you have to earn the affection the show eventually gives you.

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Arrested Development2003

Dysfunctional family, rapid-fire jokes, deep structural cleverness. Every episode rewards rewatching. The Bluth family's chaos feels lived-in and earned.

But The humour is dense and demands attention; it's exhausting if you're not in the mood. Later seasons lost the thread.

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Parenthood2010

Multi-generational family comedy-drama that nails the specific pain and joy of gathering together. Messy, heartfelt, and genuinely moving without ever feeling saccharine.

But Leans heavier into drama than comedy. If you want laughs, this tilts toward tears. Some find it manipulative.

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Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Moodys

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Shameless2011

Both feature a tight-knit, self-destructive Midwest family unit, but Shameless strips away the holiday-special safety net and forces you to reckon with consequences.

A chaotic Chicago family with no money and infinite problems. Darker and raunchier than The Moodys, but the same DNA of dysfunction masking genuine love. Real stakes threaten the comedy.

But Extremely dark. Involves addiction, poverty, sexual assault, and mental illness. The jokes are there but life keeps breaking through; it's not comfort viewing.

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More like this (8)

Kim's Convenience2016

A Toronto family running a corner store, navigating generational tensions and cultural identity. Warm, specific, funny without punching down. Each character gets real depth.

But Quieter and more grounded than The Moodys. If you want louder, brasher comedy, this is gentler than you might expect.

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Veep2012

Viciously funny ensemble show where nobody is good and everyone is selfish. The dialogue is machine-gun smart and the character dynamics shift brilliantly across seven seasons.

But Relentlessly cynical and mean-spirited. No warmth underneath. If you want genuine affection in your family comedy, this is the opposite.

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30 Rock2006

Tina Fey's workplace comedy about navigating chaos and incompetence. Fast, absurdist, packed with jokes. The ensemble has real chemistry despite the mayhem around them.

But Jokes land rapid-fire and some miss; the pacing can feel frantic. Hasn't aged entirely well. Requires active viewing energy.

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The Good Place2016

Four people stuck together learning to be better versions of themselves. Smart concept, real emotional stakes, and it sticks its landing—rare for comedy series.

But Genre-shifts harder as it progresses. If you want consistent comedy, it gets philosophy-heavy in later seasons.

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Superstore2015

Ensemble workplace comedy with surprising emotional depth. Characters you don't expect to care about become genuinely dear to you. Balances comedy and real stakes well.

But Slower burn than The Moodys. Takes a few episodes to find its rhythm. Low-key energy throughout.

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NewsRadio1995

Workplace ensemble with crackerjack writing and a cast that makes gold out of every scene. Andy Dick and Matthew Brock as foils; chemistry across the whole ensemble.

But Late 90s sitcom energy; some jokes haven't weathered well. Less focused on warmth than modern comedies. Ends abruptly.

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Catastrophe2015

Family formed by chaos and accident rather than choice; people who irritate each other but remain fiercely loyal. Same emotional architecture, completely different mode.

A British-Irish dramedy about two people who barely know each other becoming bound by accident and circumstance. Hilarious but never fake. Sharon Horgan is phenomenal; the writing cuts deep.

But Only four seasons. Sex, addiction, and grief are constant companions. If you want neat resolution, it doesn't provide that. Some find it bleak.

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Our Hospitality1923

Feuding family members trapped in proximity, forced civility hiding real affection. Keaton invented the template; everything since, including The Moodys, is riffing on it.

A silent Buster Keaton masterpiece about a feuding family forced together by circumstance. Physical comedy genius and genuine warmth. Influences every family comedy since without most knowing it.

But Silent film with intertitles; no dialogue means patience required. The humour is broad and visual, and pacing assumes attention. Takes adjustment.

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