Television series
Undergrads
- Buddy comedy
- Light-hearted
Undergrads is an MTV animated comedy about four lifelong friends navigating college for the first time, separated but still tethered by calls, visits and shared history. It's warm and silly, grounded in genuine affection between the characters even as they grow apart. For anyone who's felt the specific sting of friendship changing, or just wants to laugh at dorm-room chaos.
If you liked this
Daria1997
A smarter, more sardonic take on college-age alienation, with a protagonist who observes the chaos rather than stumbles through it. The wit is sharper and the emotional core deeper.
But It moves slowly and values deadpan delivery over broad laughs. If you want kinetic energy and pratfalls, Daria will feel cerebral and cold.
Clone High2002
Animated, irreverent, and full of the same anarchic energy. It captures that specific early-2000s MTV sensibility and mines genuine comedy from teen friendship dynamics and the awkwardness of growing up.
But The humor is scattershot and sometimes lands harder on bizarre than funny. The plot can feel thin when the jokes aren't working.
Beavis and Butt-Head1992
MTV's original animated hit about two idiots navigating the world together. It's cruder and meaner, but the friendship at the core is oddly real, and the comedy still lands.
But The humor is intentionally stupid and misanthropic. If you want smart writing or character growth, you won't find it here.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Undergrads
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Undeclared2001
Both premiered in 2001 and mine the comedy and heartbreak of freshman year, but Undeclared chooses realism where Undergrads chooses cartoon freedom. They're two sides of the same coin.
A live-action comedy created by Judd Apatow about a group of freshmen in their first year of college. It has the same DNA as Undergrads—the mess, the bonding, the uncertainty—but grounds it in real people and quieter moments of actual connection.
But It was cancelled after two seasons. The series feels unfinished, and there's a melancholy to watching something cut short that can dampen the fun.
More like this (7)
Community2009
A show about a group of misfits bonding in college that gets weirder, sweeter, and more inventive as it goes. Strong ensemble chemistry and genuine emotional payoff beneath the zaniness.
But It peaks in the first three seasons; later episodes feel like the writers ran out of new ideas. Some of the meta-humor hasn't aged well.
Adventure Time: Distant Lands2020
Friendship is the central engine of this show, and it evolves as the characters do. Starts light and funny, becomes emotionally complex. Beautiful animation and surprising depth.
But It takes a long time to find its footing, and the early episodes are slight. Committing to it requires patience; casual viewing won't work.
Scrubs2001
Also premiered the same year, also about a group of young people figuring life out together. Balances comedy and genuine heart; the friendship dynamics feel lived-in and real.
But The tone whiplash between broad jokes and sudden sentimentality can feel manipulative. Later seasons lose focus and repeat themselves.
How I Met Your Mother2005
A multi-season comedy about a friend group in their twenties and thirties, told with affection and humor. The characters genuinely like each other, which matters.
But The ending is widely despised, and knowing that colors the entire experience. Some seasons drag badly in the middle.
Party Down2009
A tight, funny ensemble comedy about misfits working catering gigs. Sharp writing, great chemistry, and it knows when to make you laugh and when to be quiet.
But Only two seasons before cancellation. It ends just as it's hitting its stride, which is frustrating rather than satisfying.
Frisky Dingo2006
Adult Swim's weird, loud, anarchic superhero parody. If you liked Undergrads' MTV sensibility but want something more experimental and absurdist, this scratches a different itch.
But It's deliberately nonsensical and exhausting. The humor is scattered and alienating; it doesn't care if you keep up or enjoy yourself.
BoJack Horseman2014
Both are animated comedies about people staying connected to childhood friends despite the friction of growing up. Bojack takes that premise and asks what happens when the distance becomes permanent.
An animated comedy that starts as irreverent comedy about narcissistic characters and becomes a devastating examination of friendship, failure, and the person you become when your friends grow distant. The animation is loose and funny; the emotional impact is crushing.
But It gets progressively darker and angrier. If you're looking for consistent comedy, it abandons you halfway through for existential despair. The heavy episodes are *heavy*.
