Bazinga!
The Big Bang Theory is a wildly popular sci-fi based sitcom, centering on a group of characters who get up to all sorts of shenanigans.
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 The Big Bang Theory!
Scrubs
Similarities – Comedy & Feel-Good Moments
Scrubs is an absolute must-watch and this comedy-drama centers around the lives of medical interns and residents at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital.
Specifically, our main character here is Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian, who’s joined by his friends as they navigate the challenges of their medical careers and personal lives.
The similar style of geeky, surrealist humour, not to mention the quirky cast of characters, makes this an absolute must-watch.
The Good Place
Similarities – Diverse Characters
The Good Place is a hilarious comedy that follows Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who unwittingly finds herself in the afterlife; specifically, a heaven-like utopia called The Good Place. Eleanor’s not a particularly good person though, and she soon realizes that she has been mistaken for someone else. In her mission, she sets out to become a better person in order to stay in The Good Place.
The Good Place shares a similarly memorable group of characters at the center of this one, who all have unique personalities and quirks.
The IT Crowd
Similarities – Comedy, Workplace
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom centering on the lives of three staff members at the fictional Reynholm Industries IT department. The socially awkward Roy, the reclusive Moss, and their relationship manager, Jen, deal with workplace challenges and absurd situations.
Some of the jokes are genuinely hilarious too, leaning into what makes British humour so good, as our trio use that to highlight the mundane aspects of daily life.
Silicon Valley
Similarities – Humour
Silicon Valley is a comedy that follows a group of programmers as they try to build a successful tech startup in Silicon Valley. The show predominantly focuses on the ups and downs of the tech industry, playing with themes of innovation, entrepreneurship, and competition.
What really helps it stand out though is its strong ensemble cast and satirical riffing. This helps give it some prestige, and much like The Big Bang Theory, Silicon Valley makes the most of each joke.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Similarities – Silly humour
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a Netflix Original sitcom, following the life of Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who was rescued from an underground bunker after being held captive by a doomsday cult for 15 years.
Kimmy moves to New York City and tries to adjust to modern life while working as a nanny for a wealthy socialite. The series thrives with its quirky humor and eccentric characters.
There’s also an Interactive special too, where you can control Kimmy through a unique adventure so when you’re finished with the show, it’s definitely worth checking that out too.
Young Sheldon
Similarities – Prequel, Same Universe
Young Sheldon is a prequel to The Big Bang Theory, following the life of a young Sheldon Cooper, a child prodigy growing up in East Texas. The show explores Sheldon’s unique personality, relationships with his family, and his experiences at school.
As a prequel, Young Sheldon shares a direct connection to the original show, exploring the early life of one of its main characters. There are some crossover elements here that definitely stand out, and recurring themes in The Big Bang Theory show up in this as well.
Eureka
Similarities – Sci-fi humour
Eureka is an American science fiction TV series, set in the fictional town of Eureka, Oregon, where the brightest minds in the United States live and work on cutting-edge scientific research.
The series follows Sheriff Jack Carter as he tries to maintain order in a town filled with brilliant but socially awkward scientists. Their experiments often go awry which causes all sorts of chaos.
Much like Big Bang Theory, the focus on science and incorporating that into the storyline should whet the appetite for anyone who enjoyed that aspect of the sitcom. However, Eureka is much more dramatic in tone.
Mom
Similarities – Humour, sitcom
Mom is an American sitcom that aired from 2013 to 2021. The show follows Christy, a single mother who is trying to get her life back on track after struggling with addiction. She moves in with her own recovering-addict mother, Bonnie, and together they navigate their complicated relationship while trying to maintain sobriety. It doesn’t always go to plan and hilarity often ensues.
Both this and Big Bang Theory explore the personal lives and relationships of their central characters, although Mom is much more focused on its central mother-daughter relationship and themes of addiction and recovery.
Two and a Half Men
Similarities – Comedy style
Two and a Half Men is an American sitcom that aired from 2003 to 2015. The show follows the lives of Charlie Harper, his brother Alan, and Alan’s son Jake. After Alan’s divorce, he moves in with Charlie, leading to humorous and dramatic situations involving their relationships, family, and personal lives.
Both sitcoms explore the personal lives of its central characters, and the comedy structure is pretty similar between the pair too. However, while The Big Bang Theory centers on a group of friends this one is much more focused on its central three characters.
Friends
Similarities – Friendship group, comedy
Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms, and continues to remain at the top of the cultural zeitgeist when it comes to discussing the best sitcoms.
Friends follows the lives of six friends – Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe – who live in New York City. Although there is a connected thread running all the way through the show (mostly revolving around Ross and Rachel’s “will they”/”won’t they” relationship), the show explores all kinds of friendships, romantic relationships, and careers.
Much like The Big Bang Theory, comedy is the order of the day and both shows use their laugh tracks to good use, getting the most out of every joke.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching The Big Bang Theory.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!