More Must-Watch Comedies
Scrubs is a heartwarming and hilarious comedy, with lovable characters and some great moments across its season.
If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Scrubs!
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Similarities – Workplace comedy
Set in the 99th precinct of the New York City Police Department, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows a team of detectives and their newly-appointed captain, Raymond Holt. The series boasts a mix of crime-solving and humor, featuring a diverse and quirky cast of characters.
The similar workplace comedy theme and lovable ensemble cast with strong character-driven humor, make this another very good choice.
New Girl
Similarities – Comedy style
New Girl is an American sitcom that follows the quirky and optimistic Jess Day, who moves in with three single men—Nick, Schmidt, and Winston—after a bad breakup. The series explores the dynamics of their friendships, romantic relationships, and personal growth as they navigate the challenges of life and love in Los Angeles.
The style of comedy is a little different to Friends, but the character development for the central cast is really well done across the different seasons and does bear some similarity.
Fleabag
Similarities – Character Relationships
Fleabag is a comedy-drama that follows the life of a young woman (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) as she navigates her personal and professional life in London. The show explores the various relationships and challenges that arise as the protagonist struggles with guilt and grief, all whilst done with a focus on character development.
Both shows feature flawed and relatable characters, whilst shining a spotlight on the challenges of navigating through your professional life, all done in a humorous and relatable way.
How I Met Your Mother
Similarities – Comedy
How I Met Your Mother aired from 2005 to 2014, and while its ending is subject to criticism, the rest of the show has some solid jokes and memorable moments. The story is told through the perspective of Ted Mosby as he narrates to his children the story of how he met their mother. The show follows the lives of Ted and his group of friends – Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney – as they navigate through love, careers, and personal growth.
Like Friends, this show focuses on a close-knit group of friends living together in New York, whilst exploring romantic relationships, career challenges, and personal growth through humor, all whilst offering plenty of jokes to boot.
The Office (US)
Similarities – Comedy Style
The Office is one of the most beloved mockumentary sitcoms and a great comedy choice. Set in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, the show follows the daily lives of the office’s employees and their quirky boss, Michael Scott, as they navigate work and personal relationships.
Both Scrubs and The Office are workplace comedies that use humor to explore the dynamics of personal and professional relationships, the quirky and charismatically diverse ensemble make for a unique blend of comedy that’s well worth checking out.
Freaks and Geeks
Similarities – Characters
Freaks and Geeks is a coming-of-age dramedy, following the lives of two groups of high school students – the “freaks” and the “geeks” – as they navigate adolescence, friendships, and family life in a suburban Michigan town during the 1980’s.
While set in different environments, both Scrubs and Freaks and Geeks blend comedy and drama to explore the complexities of human relationships and personal growth.
Community
Similarities – Diverse characters, relationships
Community is set at the fictional Greendale Community College and follows the lives of a diverse group of students who form a study group. The series often parodies various film and television genres and tropes, while exploring themes of friendship, personal growth, and self-discovery.
Both Scrubs and Community are ensemble-driven comedies that focus on the relationships and personal growth of their characters. Both shows employ surreal and offbeat humor, tto create unique comedic situations.
Ally McBeal
Similarities – Comedy, Relationships
Ally McBeal follows the personal and professional life of Ally McBeal, the titular character, who happens to be a young lawyer working in a Boston law firm. The series is known for its quirky humor, surreal dream sequences, and a strong focus on the protagonist’s romantic relationships.
The two shows use a combination of comedy and drama to explore personal and professional relationships, while the surreal elements such as fantasies and dream sequences, are very similar too.
Psych
Similarities – Close friendships, Comedy
Psych is a dramedy that aired from 2006 to 2014. The show follows Shawn Spencer, a man with keen observational skills who convinces the police that he is a psychic. Along with his best friend, Gus, Shawn solves crimes while maintaining his fake psychic persona.
Both Scrubs and Psych blend comedy and drama together with a workplace setting. Both shows feature a close friendship at its core – J.D. and Turk in Scrubs, and Shawn and Gus in Psych. While the settings are different, both series share more than a few similarities!
M.A.S.H.
Similarities – Hospital setting, comedy
M.A.S.H. (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is a dramedy that aired from 1972 to 1983. The show is set during the Korean War and follows the lives of the medical staff working in a MASH unit. The series explores the challenges and hardships faced by the characters while using humor as a coping mechanism.
Both M.A.S.H. and Scrubs are medical dramedies that use humor to address serious topics and explore the complexities of life and human relationships. Each show features an ensemble of diverse characters and highlights the importance of friendship and camaraderie in the face of challenging circumstances.
This one’s an absolute must-watch too and a wonderful show in its own right.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Scrubs.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!