As monsoon comes to a halt and the days become shorter, it is the perfect time to curl up on your couch with a comfy blanket and binge-watch these hilarious shows on Disney+ Hotstar.
1. Arrested Development
Created by- Mitchell Hurwitz
Starring- Jessica Walter, Tony Hale, David Cross, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Portia de Rossi.
Ever since HBO moved to JioCinemas, there has been a dearth of content on Disney+ Hotstar, especially if you don’t watch Marvel shows or Modern Family. Thankfully though Arrested Development is still on Hotstar. I still remember watching Arrested Development when I was 12 years old, I didn’t understand anything because my English comprehension skills were abysmal. However, since then I have rewatched the first three seasons at least once a year due to its sheer brilliance.
Arrested Development was one of the first shows that ushered in the mockumentary genre. It followed a dysfunctional formerly wealthy family who were trying to rebuild their family wealth. The episodes incorporated historical footage, archival photos, and narration from an unbiased narrator. It might take a few episodes to settle in but once you are in it, it’s magnificent. Technically the show has 5 seasons, however, the last two seasons we don’t like to talk about.
2. What We Do In The Shadows
Created by- Jemaine Clement
Starring- Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Gullien, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schall
What We Do In The Shadows is a mockumentary television series created by Jemaine Clement based on Clement’s film of the same name, which he co-directed and co-wrote with Taika Waititi. The show follows four vampires and their familiars who live as roommates on Staten Island. What We Do In The Shadows is rich in characters compelling fans of the fantasy genres.
Aside from getting introduced to different types of vampires, we also meet werewolves, ghosts, gremlins, trolls, and other supernatural beings. As the series evolves, we explore the domestic lives of the vampires as well as their other pursuits. This is a phenomenal comedy show that really takes advantage of its format and isn’t limited by the mockumentary aspect, just like in the original movie which is also worth a watch.
3. Koala Man
Created by- Michael Cusack
Voices by- Michael Cusack, Sarah Snook, Demi Lardner, Hugh Jackman, and Jemaine Clement.
Koala Man is an extremely bizarre surrealist Australian animated sitcom. It is set in a world where the United States of America is completely destroyed, Hollywood is an island, and Nicole Kidman is the queen of all civilization. The show follows Kevin, a middle-aged family man who is trying to fight the injustices in his town by becoming the Koala Man. However, he possesses no powers. For a whacky animated comedy show, Koala Man has a very distinctive creative voice and Australian identity that doesn’t let it get lost in the sauce.
4. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Created by- Rob McElhenney
Starring- Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito
For an Indian watching American television, sitcoms create this illusion that America is some sort of a utopia where people are just goofy and silly. All world problems have been solved and everyone in America lives a pleasant life. While in actuality real life is far from it. Like most countries, America also struggles with issues of homelessness, poverty, poor infrastructure, amongst other things. And for me, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia taught me that.
This show is the complete opposite of sitcoms like How I Met Your Mother and Friends. The show follows a group of friends who own a bar. The show isn’t serialized and in each episode, the gang is up to no good. Like Seinfeld, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a show about nothing which allows the creators to bend the narrative into any shape. In my opinion, it is one of the smartest written shows about the dumbest people alive.
5. New Girl
Created by- Elizabeth Meriwether
Starring- Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, Damon Wayans Jr., and Megan Fox
New Girl is a classic American sitcom that focuses on characters in their late 20s and 30s as they deal with relationship issues and career choices. For a format that has been repeated a hundred times in many languages now, New Girl doesn’t seem very repetitive, mostly because of the acting.
