There is always room for a little bit of laughter in the midst of doing homework and the many other responsibilities college students have as emerging adults, so here are 10 must-watch comedies created by the actors who also starred in their shows:
1. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) – Rob McElhenney
This sitcom series is about four friends with big egos who run an Irish bar called Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia. These slightly arrogant proprietors try to make their way through the responsible adult world of work and relationships, but run into trouble with their manipulative schemes, dishonesty, laziness and greed. Rob McElhenney plays Mac who frequently brags about his hand-to-hand combat skills but runs away from any physical confrontation. The show is co-produced by Charlie Day, who plays Charlie Kelly, and Glenn Howerton, who plays Dennis Reynolds.
2. 30 Rock (2006) – Tina Fey
Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the producer of a hit variety show called TGS with Tracy Jordan in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Tracy Morgan plays the star of the fictional variety show, Tracy Jordan, and Alec Baldwin plays a top TV network executive named Jack Donaghy. Lemon attempts to handle the crazy star antics of Jordan and the corporate interference of Donaghy while trying to save her personal life. Fey loosely based the show on her experience as head writer for Saturday Night Live.
3. The Mindy Project (2012) – Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling plays a young obstetrician/gynecologist, Mindy Lahiri. She balances her professional and personal life while dealing with her quirky co-workers. Kaling created the show in inspiration of her mother who was an Ob/Gyn, and adapts the obnoxious-style character from Larry David’s Curb your Enthusiasm.
4. The Office (2001-2003) – Ricky Gervais
Many are familiar with the U.S. adaptation of The Office (2005) starring Steve Carell as Dunder Mifflin Paper Company regional manager Michael Scott. The original show was created by Ricky Gervais, who plays David Brent, regional manager of Wernham Hogg Paper Company. This documentary-style comedy exposes the daily activities of a paper sales company with co-workers of many different strong personalities. Gervais and co-creater Stephen Merchant got the idea from their own experiences of working in offices.
5. Everybody Hate’s Chris (2005-2009) – Chris Rock
Chris Rock created this sitcom out of inspiration from his own life as a kid. The title of the show is a parody off of the hit series Everybody Loves Raymond. Rock narrates the life of a teenager named Chris, played by Tyler James Williams, who lives in Brooklyn and tries to be a cool teenager while he takes care of his two younger siblings.
6. Seinfeld (1990-1998) – Jerry Seinfeld
In this popular TV sitcom, comedian Jerry Seinfeld plays a fictionalized version of himself living in New York City going through everyday life with his unconventional friends.
7. Family Guy (1999) – Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane created the animated sitcom about the dysfunctional Griffin family living in an odd Rhode Island town. MacFarlane based the Griffin family after his animated films The Life of Larry and Larry and Steve, which feature a middle-aged man name Larry and his intelligent dog Steve. MacFarlane renamed Larry and Steve to Peter and Brian and created a family to accompany the two companions. MacFarlane himself plays the voice of Peter, Stewie and Brian Griffin, as well as supporting characters Glenn Quagmire, Tom Tucker, Carter Pewterschmidt and others.
8. Parks and Recreation (2009) – Amy Poehler
Although Saturday Night Live star Amy Poehler did not create Parks and Recreation, she is a co-producer of the mocumentary set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind.
Poehler stars as an enthusiastic mid-level bureaucrat named Leslie Knope who works in the parks department of the Pawnee government. Knope is passionate about female representation in government and goes above and beyond to help make her beloved city a better place.
9. Louie (2010)- Louis C.K.
Stand-up comedian Louis C.K. stars as a fictionalized character of himself in this dark comedy series, which he created, wrote, directed and produced. The show revolves around the everyday life of Louie, a divorced father raising his two daughters in New York City. C.K. also includes segments of his stand-up pieces in the show.
10. Girls (2012)- Lena Dunham
This HBO comedy-drama series follows the experiences of a group of girls in their early 20s who live in New York City.
Creator Lena Dunham stars as aspiring writer Hannah Horvath, whose parents have announced they will no longer support her financially now that she has been two years out of college. Dunham was inspired by her personal life as a 26-year-old and bases many aspects of her character from those experiences.
Emily Vaartstra can be reached [email protected]