The early 2000s were a formative yet definitive phase for new-age TV comedy dramas. On one hand, conventional classics like Frasier and Malcolm In The Middle were growing in popularity. And on the other, newer offerings like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Arrested Development revolutionized the storytelling and technical aspects of the genre.
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Modern-day viewers can still get their nostalgic taste of this half of the decade with these sitcoms streaming on Hulu. Apart from Hulu's newer originals, the streaming platform has its fair share of older series.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005 - )
One of the longest-runningTV sitcoms, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia began in 2005 and continues to run today. The dark comedy deals with a bunch of friends who run a failing Irish pub together. As they engage in their daily misadventures, their loyalties are tested and their selfishness comes out.
Unlike other sitcoms that began in the early 2000s, this showis representative of the meaner side of human nature. The characters have no redeeming arcs and are loathsome in all their glory. This subversion of sitcom tropes, along with the performances of cast members like Charlie Day and Danny DeVito, have ensured that the comedy still entertains a dedicated fanbase.
Malcolm In The Middle (2000 - 2006)
Narrated from the perspective of the titular protagonist, Malcolm In The Middle is a coming-of-age comedy that touches upon adolescence, parenthood, and the struggles of being the family's "middle child".
While the show was steered by a committed performance by Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Bryan Cranston's top pre-Breaking Bad roleas Malcolm's father is equally memorable. While several shows of the time toyed around with the concept of teenage life and a dysfunctional family, Malcolm In The Middle turned out to be one of the more acclaimed projects in this regard.
The Office U.K. (2001 - 2002)
Before Steve Carrell and co. brought Dunder Mifflin to life on The Office, the British originalfocused on David Brent, one of Ricky Gervais' best characters. The British version of The Office had a similar premise revolving around a bunch of bumbling office workers trying to make it throughtheir workday.
The one major difference is that Gervais' take on the boss character, as well as the general premise, was more twisted and darker when compared to its American counterpart. Despite running for only two seasons, The Office (U.K.) has become a cult favorite in its own right.
Scrubs (2001 - 2010)
Despite a much-hated final season, Scrubs has stood the test of time as a delightful medical comedy. Zach Braff leads the ensemble as an over-enthusiastic medical intern who dreams to be a top doctor one day.
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Scrubs was and still is unique to this day, as it is one of the few medical shows that can still perfectly evoke a comedic tone without resorting to overdone sentimentality.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996 - 2003)
Before the Sabrina horror series on Netflix, there was Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Thefantasy comedy-drama deals with the titular teenager who discovers on her 16th birthday that she comes from a long line of witches. The rest of the premise deals with Sabrina's journey as a new witch and her adventures with her magical aunts and the cat, Salem.
While witches have mostly been subjected to medieval depictions in pop culture, this classic sitcom brought that folklore to a modern high-school setting. In the end, Sabrina The Teenage Witch is still a coming-of-age show but with a magical twist that sets it apart.
Everybody Hates Chris (2005 - 2009)
Inspired by comedian Chris Rock's growing-up years, Everybody Hates Chris is one of the most memorable teen shows from 2000s television. The show fictionalizes the legendary standup comic's childhoodyears as he struggles in school and at home. And just like any other family-centric sitcom, young Chris' parents and siblings add more drama to his life.
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What's interesting is that Everybody Hates Chris also adds some context to what contributed to the protagonist's humor thatbrought him future fame. A personal touch is added further with Chris Rock also serving as the narrator.
Arrested Development (2003 - 2019)
Using multiple storylines, fast camera edits, and Ron Howard's calming narration, Arrested Development is truly one of its kind. The sitcom starts off with the once-rich Bluth family losing their fortune and the family's only responsible son, Michael, coming to the rescue. Michael's struggles with his eccentric family make for pure comedic gold.
Be it Will Arnett's overconfident charm or Jessica Walter's sassy dominance, the main characters of Arrested Development, along with its perfectly-written situational humor, made it an inspiration for many other single-camera sitcoms that followed.
Will & Grace (1998 - 2006)
On the surface, is just a sitcom about the two titular characters working through life as best friends and roommates. But its cultural impact is what characterized the show, as it was the first of its kind to feature a gay protagonist with the lawyer Will Truman (Eric McCormack).
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The beloved TV show might not have aged well with some dated elements, but it still served as a bold move for representation. Such is Will & Grace's popularity that it even received a revival in 2017.
Frasier (1993 - 2004)
A spin-off of the popular '90sTV show,Cheers, Frasier deals with the life of Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist who moves back to his hometown and becomes a radio personality. In the course of 11 seasons,he encounters all sorts of people while mending his personal relationships with his father and younger brother.
Powered by heartwarming episodic arcs and Grammer's lead performance, Frasier is one of the more superior TV spin-offs from the late 1990s and early 2000s era.
Reba (2001 - 2007)
Set in a chaotic Texan household, Reba explores the nuances of friendships and family relationships and how complicated both can be. The titular heroine is a recent divorcee who unintentionally befriends her ex-husband's new wife. Added to the mix are Reba's own three children, whom she takes care of in her own wisecracking manner.
While the usual sitcom family is a perfect unit that sticks together, Reba normalized single-parent households and proved that a good life can be secured even beyond a typically picture-perfect family.
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