There were only six freshmansitcomsfor the 2024-2025 season across all networks, with Hollywood slates still recovering from the doubleWGA-SAG strikes in 2023. These six shows are: ABC’sShifting Gears, CBS’Georgie & Mandy’s First MarriageandPoppa’s House, NBC’sHappy’s PlaceandShifting Gears, and Fox’sGoing Dutch.There was certainly a turn to nostalgic faces as leads, with Damon Wayans Sr., Reba McEntire, and Tim Allen returning to the small screen. Themes of family were also interestingly strong, with five of the six new sitcoms centered around some type of familial tension as the central premise.
Many ofthe greatest sitcoms of all timestill needed some time to find the best version of the show, and luckily, five of these shows have been renewed for a second season, so we’ll get another 20+ episodes with some of our new favorite characters. From the auto repair shop to the hospital to a military base in the Netherlands, some of the freshman sitcoms of 2024 were incredibly self-assured and laugh-out-loud funny from the pilot.
6Poppa’s House
The Chemistry Between The Wayans Father & Son Wasn’t Enough To Elevate CBS’s Generic Premise
Poppa’s Housenever quite found its creative footing or its audience. The chemistry betweenDamon Wayans Sr. and Damon WayansJr.isundeniable, truly comedy gold. Nonetheless,the premise of a father and adult son living side by side lacks a compelling hook to grab viewers in a crowded content environment. Even the character names, Poppa and Junior, felt a little generic.
Wayans Sr. plays a stubborn radio DJ, complete with internal monologues and retro attitudes. That setup echoes theSex & the City-style voiceovers that only work if used well, butPoppa’s Housenever commits to whether Poppa should grow. His romance with co-host Ivy feels awkward and overly contrived, failing to land emotionally. Meanwhile, Jr.’s wholesome marriage to Nina is a refreshing change, eschewing the tired trope of men resenting their wives.
Critically, the show earned a mixed yet middling reception, but viewership numbers were bleak.Poppa’s Housewas CBS’s least-watched scripted series this season. Despite the Wayans charm, the writing felt thin, the premise underwhelming, and the narrative unclear on Poppa’s journey, and CBS quietly canceled the sitcom after one lackluster season.
5Shifting Gears
Tim Allen’s Appeal Is Enough To Earn ABC’s Show With Mixed Reviews A Second Season
Tim Allen’sShifting Gearsis built on a simple concept: a grumpy widowed dad is thrown off-kilter when his estranged adult daughter (Kat Dennings) and her kids move in unexpectedly. Critically, the show was a mixed bag, with reviewers finding the material a little old-fashioned and formulaic. Yet, audiences love Tim Allen and gave the show a chance.Shifting Gearshad ABC’s strongest debut in six years.
Midway through the 10-episode first season, the series hit a breakthrough: Allen’s character finally confronted his grief, adding meaningful emotional depth. It wasn’t elevated storytelling, but it had enough heart to earn a second season. There was a funLast Man Standingreunion inShifting Gearswhen Nancy Travis cameoed. Tim Allen’s charm and the warm father-daughter dynamic didn’t revolutionize sitcoms, but there is a lot of positive momentum heading into its second season. This is a show that could benefit from a longer, 20+ episode season order.
4Happy’s Place
Reba Brings Back Retro Sitcom Feel-Good Vibes & A Laugh Track
Happy’s Placemarked a strong return for Reba McEntireto the sitcom genre, charming viewers with its blend of humor and heart. Reba plays Bobbie, who inherits her late father’s bar, Happy’s Place, only to discover she must co-own it with her much younger half-sister, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), sparking tender yet funny generational clashes. Some critics found the premise predictable or the laugh track dated, while others lauded its cozy vibe and character-driven comedy. Nonetheless, audiences embraced the show more wholeheartedly.Happy’s Placewas one of NBC’s strongest comedy launchesin recent memory.
Fans of Reba will be delighted to see Melissa Peterman as Gabby, the bubbly bartender and loyal friend to Reba’s Bobbie, a nod to her role as Barbra Jean. Their real-life chemistry shines here too, balancing comedic banter with emotional support.Happy’s Placedidn’t reinvent the sitcom wheel, but Reba’s warmth, Peterman’s charm, and the inviting bar setting created enough laughter and feeling to win over viewers, setting a promising course for its upcoming second season.
3Going Dutch
Denis Leary’s Slyly Subversive Sitcom Is An Underrated Gem
Going Dutchis an underrated comedy gem, the best sitcom nobody’s talking about. The premise alone is gold: Denis Leary plays a warmongering U.S. colonel who’s been exiled to a peacekeeping base in the Netherlands as punishment, where the current commanding officer is his estranged daughter. What could’ve been a one-joke setup evolves into a sharp, heartfelt series with a hilarious ensemble of lovable oddballs and surprisingly grounded emotional stakes.
The show pokes loving fun at how the world views America’s obsession with the military. From bureaucratic misunderstandings to cultural clashes, it satirizes U.S. bravado with a wink, all while respecting the emotional lives of its characters. One of the show’s greatest strengths is its ensemble. From stoner logisticians to awkward diplomats, the supporting characters are constantly surprising with unexpected skill and depth.Danny Pudi is a particular standout inGoing Dutchas Leary’s loyal right-hand man, a by-the-book analyst with a deeply awkward streak.
Critics calledGoing Dutcha smart and slyly subversive sitcom. Since the show did not attract huge audience numbers, I was worried it would be canceled, but thankfully,Fox saw the potential and renewedGoing Dutchfor a second season, which will hopefully get 20+ episodes instead of just 10. For fans of sharp ensemble comedy with a beating heart, this is one worth catching up on before the next deployment.
2Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
This Big Bang Theory Spinoff Prequel Expands The Cooper Family Story While Finding Its Unique Tone
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriageis a bold and refreshing addition toThe Big Bang Theoryuniverse, with critics and audiences mostly responding positively to its tonal shift. UnlikeYoung Sheldon, which evolved into a heartfelt dramedy,Georgie & Mandyfully embraces its sitcom roots, snappy, comedic, and surprisingly sexy.
Critics have praised the show’s chemistry, particularly between Montana Jordan and Emily Osment, while noting that the series walks a fine line between screwball humor and grounded emotion. Some felt it leans a bit too much on domestic sitcom tropes, but overall reception has been favorable. Fans who met Georgie and Mandy inYoung Sheldonappreciate seeing Georgie as more than the lovable goof, and Mandy’s sharp wit and emotional complexity bring a spark that sets the show apart.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriagealso fills in key gaps in Sheldon’s family history, adding layers to the larger franchise. Also, withStuart Fails to Save the Universestill to come, it’s fascinating to see how each connected show explores different tones. The title hints at inevitable heartbreak, but fans are eager for more of Georgie, Mandy, and baby CeeCee afterGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageseason 1 finale.
1St. Denis Medical
This Hospital-Set Mockumentary Perfectly Combines Humor And Heart
St. Denis Medicalfeels likeParks & Recreationset in a hospital, blending laugh-out-loud humor with timely social commentary in a workplace setting. Created by Justin Spitzer (Superstore), the show doesn’t rely on big-name stars to make its case. Instead, it delivers a tight, character-driven ensemble led by reliable comedy veterans like Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, and David Alan Grier. The result is a sitcom that’s both deeply funny and surprisingly warm.
What setsSt. Denis Medicalapart is its ability to humanize doctors and nurses without slipping into melodrama. It captures the absurdity, pressure, and compassion baked into hospital life, making room for both satire and genuine emotion. Whether it’s poking fun at bureaucracy or exploring burnout and connection, the show hits a sweet spot that resonates.
Critics have praised the clever writing and nuanced tone, noting that it balances its jokes with just enough heart to feel authentic. Audiences have embraced the show as a low-key gem that’s relatable, rewatchable, and refreshingly earnest. NBC clearly sees the potential too:St. Denis Medicalhas already been renewed for a second season, giving fans more time with the most promising new workplacesitcomon network TV.
