feelsalike.comSign in
The Simpsons poster

Shows that feel likeThe Simpsons (1989–)

Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.

If you loved The Simpsons, the closest series we have are Family Guy (1999), South Park (1997) and Futurama (1999). All three share The Simpsons' witty and playful feel, which is what we rank on before quality.

Seen the big three already? The under-the-radar pick below is Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969).

★ 8.6 IMDb ↗TMDB ↗38 seasons · FOXcreated by Matt Groeningwhimsicalwittyplayfuldarkly funny
12 of 12 streaming nowNetflix · Amazon Prime Video · Hulu

If The Simpsons hit the spot, these will too

Family Guy poster
Family Guy
1999– · 24 seasons · FOX
★ 8.1animation · comedyHulu

The other animated family institution

The difference: Cutaway-gag anarchy, meaner

Sick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family. Bumbling Peter and long-suffering Lois have three kids. Stewie (a brilliant but sadistic baby bent on killing his mother and taking over the world), Meg (the oldest, and is the most unpopular girl in town) and Chris (the middle kid, he's not very bright but has a passion for movies). The final member of the family is Brian - a talking dog and much more than a pet, he keeps Stewie in check whilst sipping Martinis and sorting through his own life issues.

South Park poster
South Park
1997– · 29 seasons · Comedy Central
★ 8.7comedy · animationParamount+

Small-town satire with a body count of sacred cows

The difference: Cruder, faster, topical

Follow the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.

Futurama poster
Futurama
1999–2026 · 11 seasons · FOX
★ 8.5animation · comedy · sci-fi & fantasyHulu

Groening's other universe — same wit, set in the year 3000

The difference: Sci-fi heart, nerdier jokes

The adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who, after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century.

Malcolm in the Middle poster
Malcolm in the Middle
2000–2006 · 7 seasons · FOX
★ 8.2comedyHuluDisney+

Chaotic family life, genius kid included

The difference: Single-camera live-action

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

American Dad! poster
American Dad!
2005– · 22 seasons · FOX
★ 7.4animation · comedyHulu

Animated family dysfunction with a political streak

The difference: Spy-dad absurdism

The series focuses on an eccentric motley crew that is the Smith family and their three housemates: Father, husband, and breadwinner Stan Smith; his better half housewife, Francine Smith; their college-aged daughter, Hayley Smith; and their high-school-aged son, Steve Smith. Outside of the Smith family, there are three additional main characters, including Hayley's boyfriend turned husband, Jeff Fischer; the family's man-in-a-goldfish-body pet, Klaus; and most notably the family's zany alien, Roger, who is "full of masquerades, brazenness, and shocking antics."

Married... with Children poster
Married... with Children
1987–1997 · 11 seasons · FOX
★ 8.1comedyPrime VideoHulu

The dysfunctional-family sitcom at its most shameless

The difference: Live-action crassness

Al Bundy is an unsuccessful middle aged shoe salesman with a miserable life and an equally dysfunctional family. He hates his job, his wife is lazy, his son is dysfunctional (especially with women), and his daughter is dim-witted and promiscuous.

Mr. Bean poster
Mr. Bean
1990–1995 · 1 season · ITV1
★ 8.6comedyPrime Video

Comedy built to run forever

The difference: Nearly wordless physical farce

Mr Bean turns simple everyday tasks into chaotic situations and will leave you in stitches as he creates havoc wherever he goes.

Bob's Burgers poster
Bob's Burgers
2011– · 16 seasons · FOX
★ 8.2animation · comedyHulu

A scrappy family you root for between the gags

The difference: Sweeter, lower stakes

Bob's Burgers follows a third-generation restaurateur, Bob, as he runs Bob's Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob and his quirky family have big ideas about burgers, but fall short on service and sophistication. Despite the greasy counters, lousy location and a dearth of customers, Bob and his family are determined to make Bob's Burgers "grand re-re-re-opening" a success.

Arrested Development poster
Arrested Development
2003–2019 · 5 seasons · FOX
★ 8.6comedyNetflix

Dense joke architecture rewarding rewatches

The difference: Serialized live-action cringe

The story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together.

Monty Python's Flying Circus poster
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1969–1974 · 4 seasons · BBC One
★ 8.8comedyPrime VideoPeacock

Comedy that will follow an absurd idea wherever it goes

The difference: Sketch format, British and much more surreal

A British sketch comedy series with the shows being composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines.

BoJack Horseman poster
BoJack Horseman
2014–2020 · 6 seasons · Netflix
★ 8.8animation · comedy · dramaNetflix

Animation smuggling in real sadness

The difference: Hollywood depression comedy

Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the '90s , 20 years later. He's a curmudgeon with a heart of...not quite gold...but something like gold. Copper?

Parks and Recreation poster
Parks and Recreation
2009–2015 · 7 seasons · NBC
★ 8.6comedyPeacock

The same two preoccupations: satire, and sitcom

The difference: Easier on the whimsy than The Simpsons

In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, takes on bureaucrats, cranky neighbors, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the democratic process she loves so much.

In the mood for more whimsical?

all whimsical shows →

The best-reviewed series that share The Simpsons’ defining feeling.