WhenNew Girlfirst aired in 2011, many viewers immediately fell in love with Zooey Deschanel’s quirky and colorful character, Jessica Day. The young elementary teacher is authentically herself in every setting, she speaks (or sings) her mind at all hours of the day, and she is always trying to turn people’s frowns upside down. What’s not to love?
The concept of the modern sitcom clearlydraws inspiration fromFriends, the beloved ’90s series, as it follows an ensemble cast of friends in their 20s and 30s, who are all trying to manage their careers and love lives while also figuring out their passions. Fans findNew Girlvery comforting because it reminds them that there is not a single timeline that works for everyone. Falling in love, finding the perfect job, and settling down to have children are things that can happen at any point in life, but all that matters is that you have fun on the journey.
These life lessons are happily being adopted by several shows as writers are embracing offbeat characters who can manage funny situations as well as serious ones. Whether you are looking for a new series that has kooky characters who will make you laugh or a relatable show that reminds you it is okay to not have it all together, the following 20 TV shows are very similar toNew Girl.
20Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)
Schitt’s Creek
Eugene and Dan Levy’sSchitt’s Creekis chaotic and hilarious all at the same time, and you will find that it is really hard to choose a favorite character. As the Rose family goes from living a glamorous lifestyle to residing in a motel without a penny to their name, they each must learn to make sacrifices and accept their new lives. However, nothing is as easy as their former housekeepers, cooks, and assistants made things look, so the transition to everyday living takes quite some time.
How It’s Like New Girl
BothNew GirlandSchitt’s Creekare made up of eccentric and overly dramatic characters — indeed, Schmidt might as well consider himself David and Alexis' long-lost brother because of how well he could fit in with the family. WhileNew Girlfocuses on 30-something-year-olds growing up and figuring out how to be successful,Schitt’s Creektakes the “growing up” aspect just one step further by showing how Johnny and Moira also have to humble themselves and embrace a new lifestyle.Stream on Hulu
19Friends (1994-2004)
Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.
WhenFriendsfirst aired in 1994, a new bar was set for sitcoms. Rather than focus on the traditional family setting or follow two romantically invested people in their roller-coaster-like relationship, the series presented the idea that a group of attractive young adults could get along even at varying stages in their careers and love lives. From horrible scandals that are still debated today to heartfelt one-liners,Friendswill certainly go down in history as one of thegreatest sitcoms of all time.
In the words of Gen Z:Friendswalked, soNew Girlcould run.Friendswill forever be a nostalgic classic that broke the barrier of sitcoms and allowed audiences to see people in their 20s and 30s struggle with their careers, love lives, and even friendships.New Girlhappily followed suit with many of the themes found inFriends, but it was appropriately made for its time with even more colorful characters.Stream on Max
182 Broke Girls (2011-2017)
2 Broke Girls
Writer and director ofSex and the CityMichael King knows there is natural chemistry when opposites collide in a friendship, so when he and Whitney Cummings created the street smart and scary Max, who would befriend the formerly rich and spoiled Caroline, fans went nuts. The girls' personalities perfectly complement one another while they join forces and attempt to start a cupcake business together in2 Broke Girls. For six seasons, audiences follow the ups and downs of their start-up, and eventually, the girls learn that there is nothing more important than their friendship.
While2 Broke Girlsis more about the crude jokes and sexualizes its characters, there are actually quite a few similarities toNew Girl. Both sitcoms feature women who are working towards something, but they are occasionally thrown back to square one. Max and Caroline sometimes have to start over with their savings for their business, and Jess puts her career on hold at times to pursue other interests or questions her own desires.Stream on The Roku Channel
17Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Gilmore Girls
Back in 2000, Amy Sherman-Palladino was thinking that TV needed a unique mother-daughter duo who were more like sisters in some instances, talked as fast as lightning, and managed to help one another through tough times. Thus, Lorelai and Rory were created forGilmore Girls. For seven seasons, the pair goes through the ups and downs of relationships and pursuing their dreams, and even when they get into a spat or two (that cannot be defused by a spatula), both women always come together in the end.
Jessica Day might as well be an honorary Gilmore girl, with her quirky personality and quick wit, but she may need to up her caffeine dosage if she’s going to keep up with thefast-talking TV showduo, Lorelai and Rory. BothNew GirlandGilmore Girlspresent eccentric and fun characters as well as independent women who are not afraid to speak their minds.Stream on Netflix
Related:Gilmore Girls: Does the Show Portray Strong Women or Is It Anti-Feminist?
16How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom created initially for CBS by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. Five friends living in New York City navigate their twenties and thirties as they attempt to find love, success, and purpose. The show is framed through one friend’s eyes, Ted Mosby, as he retells the story of how he met his wife to his children.
You would think that already knowing how something ends would ruin the rest of the story, butHow I Met Your Mothercarefully crafts its plot with a frame story that gives away nothing of the wild journey Ted Mosby goes on to find his future wife. The series features an older Ted in 2030 telling his two children all about the things he and his four best friends did and all the women he dated until finally meeting their mother. From many nights at the bar to trying to be the perfect guy around, Ted’s life is anything but boring.
Just like how Elizabeth Meriwether was inspired to createNew Girlby her own living situations (or lack thereof), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays heavily took from their own friendship in their 20s to create characters and storylines inHow I Met Your Mother. Both series follow groups of friends as they live together in apartments and attempt to work things out within their careers as well as their love lives, but knowing that the shows' creators actually lived like these characters to a certain degree elevates the relatability of the show to all audiences.Stream on Hulu
15The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
The Big Bang Theory
InThe Big Bang Theory, four socially awkward scientists thought they had it good when they got together for dinners and had game nights, but they never truly realized what they were missing until a cute blonde across the hall introduced them to a more rambunctious social life. For 12 seasons, fans fell in love with the scientific jokes only Sheldon laughed at, the awkward interactions between the guys and practically every woman they met, and theunusual and underrated friendshipsthat blossomed over time.
While Jessica Day is the “new girl,” who made the questionable decision to room with three single and very awkward guys, Penny is the “new girl” the nerdy guys across the hall never knew they needed in their lives. Both women bring a lot of spunk to their newfound friendships, and after a while, it feels as if they are the glue that hold everyone together.Stream on Max
14Sex and the City (1998-2004)
Sex and the City
Carrie Bradshaw will go down in history as a fashion icon inSex and the City, but more importantly, she and her three friends made it to where it is okay for mature women to confidently talk about their sex lives and relationship troubles. Through the original six seasons on HBO, fans root for each woman to find her happily ever after, even if it is not with whom she believes is her soulmate. When things inevitably go wrong, the women are always there to pick one another up, and they do so in style.
While Carrie and her friends' fashion choices are a bit more high-end than Jess', audiences can (and should) appreciate that they all express themselves so much through clothing. Jess sports loud and colorful pieces, with fun skirts and sweaters, while Carrie and the crew are all about bold and chic pieces. It takes a lot of confidence to have the most unique aesthetic in the room, but all of these women allow their big personalities to shine regardless of what anyone else thinks.Stream on Max
13Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Brooklyn nine-nine
With all the very serious crime andcop TV showsout there, it is actually really refreshing to see how goofy and fun the detectives inBrooklyn Nine-Ninecan be, as they have serious jobs to do. Because the characters are together in a work setting rather than in a social one, it is humorous to see how everyone’s personal preferences come out and exactly how they are able to get over certain quirks to perform a task.
With the crazy shenanigans and the love the colorful characters have for one another,New GirlandBrooklyn Nine-Ninemight as well be the same sitcom, just with one in a workplace setting and the other in a more social setting. They heavily rely on having a diverse cast that breaks social norms such as characters being comfortable with their sexuality, men expressing a more feminine side at times, and women taking charge of their own lives despite opposing expectations.Stream on Peacock Premium
Related:Here’s What Makes Brooklyn Nine-Nine a Groundbreaking Comedy Series
12Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2019)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
After being held captive for 15 years with three other women by a deranged reverend, Kimmy Schmidt finds that she, as a 29-year-old woman, wants to start her life over. InUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the titular heroine does not wish to stay in Indiana, nor does she want to be seen as a victim, so she naturally decidesNew York Citywill be a great fresh start for someone who wishes to stay out of the spotlight. For four seasons, Kimmy has to adjust to life in the big city with more people than she can even count. Getting a job, finishing school, and finding her passion prove to be easier said than done, but with a can-do attitude, she makes it work.
Jessica Day and Kimmy Schmidt would give one another a run for their money as far as who can kill more with kindness or who has the spunkier attitude. Kimmy’s roommate, Titus, is pretty much a combination of all of Jess' roommate,s as he is kind and caring at times, but his snark, sass, and selfishness can get in the way if he’s not careful.Stream on Netflix
11Grace and Frankie (2015-2022)
Grace and Frankie
InGrace and Frankie, both titular women get their worlds turned upside down when their husbands come to them to say that they have been in love with each other for many years. The women, understandably in shock, can only turn to one another as no one else understands what they are going through. Since they are polar opposites, becoming friends is not easy as one would imagine, but thelife lessons and friendshipsthat come after such a terrible situation make it all worth it.
Friendsshowed us that it was okay for people in their 20s to not have all the answers, and thenNew Girlcame along and extended that timeline to people in their 30s. Now,Grace and Frankieproves to us that it is never too late to figure out a new living situation, turn your life around, and reignite your passion for living. Both series make their title characters hit rock bottom — Grace and Frankie have to come out of retirement and Jess watchesDirty Dancingon repeat after her boyfriend cheated on her — but they manage to get up, get to work, and find their passions again.Stream on Netflix
