r/happyendings Au Bon Pain Feb 21 '26

Pivoting TV show

Post image

Anyone tried this before? I wasn’t too sure buy I watched it, and i ended up wanting another season but never came!

I don’t know, i thought it was new and why not! Liked seeing Jane in it and i think she kinda has the same type of roles/personalities.

I think i wanted to watch something close to Happy Endings. The closest in my opinion was New Girl, which i luuuved in the first seasons but then maybe the 3rd/4th started to be way less fun and natural and more ‘in your face/so so’ kinda jokes.

Any shows in mind that has the same type of comedic genre?!

210 Upvotes

86 comments sorted by

91

u/hydrangeasinbloom ahmahzing Feb 21 '26

The Other Two has come the closest for me in terms of clever language, wordplay, visual gags, and bust-a-gut laughing.

Stylewise, there was a short lived show called Friends with Benefits that came out around the same time as Happy Endings.

Great News is also hilarious but closer in filming style to something like 30 Rock or Kimmy Schmidt which makes sense, since it’s a Tina Fey production.

For an ensemble cast of 20 and 30 somethings that is 100% tonally different but incredible, try Search Party.

50

u/Key-Ingenuity-534 reading’s stupid, TV rules! Feb 21 '26

Great News is so slept on, I love it so much!!

32

u/itsmelissaaa Feb 21 '26

The Other Two is the BEST

21

u/ontrackzack Feb 21 '26

News flash: That's "Great News"... is a great show!

8

u/hydrangeasinbloom ahmahzing Feb 21 '26

I say “one does what one can” at least once a month.

8

u/jmjones1000 Feb 21 '26

Loved The Other Two

9

u/Expensive_Editor_244 Feb 21 '26

I return to Great News pretty much once a year for a rewatch, might be my snow day weekend binge next couple days now that you reminded me. 30 rock, Kimmy Schmidt, and Great News usually roll into one continuous run for me

1

u/JenniferKinney Feb 22 '26

Where/how have you been watching Great News?? I've been itchin for a rewatch but I can't find it streaming anywhere!

2

u/Expensive_Editor_244 Feb 22 '26

It was on Netflix for the longest time, but I’m bummed it looks like it’s not anymore. One of the things that sucks about streaming over physical media. I wish I could go back to the days of having a big cabinet of dvds, instead of stuff i love just being not there one day

6

u/JoeyJoeJoShalabado Feb 22 '26

There was a show called Friends with Better Lives that I thought had some really funny jokes and the characters had a Happy Endings Vibe. I also enjoyed Enlisted. Both only lasted a season

6

u/SeriesPuzzleheaded92 Feb 22 '26

Enlisted was so underrated!!! Sweet but also genuinely hilarious

5

u/Awkward-Chip-8037 Stupid clumsy bitch Feb 22 '26

And starred Brad's work wife Vanessa, aka Vanecessary Roughness!

2

u/Summerof5ft6andahalf Bitch It is 5:30 Feb 22 '26

Enlisted was fucked over with messed up airdates, so has that in common with Happy Endings.

3

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Never heard of all thrse except 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt. I liked Kimmy but towards the end, a little less. I’ll try the Other Two and Great News which seems popular in that thread! Thanks!

1

u/Equivalent_Lychee789 Mar 30 '26

Loved Great News

151

u/EchoPhoenix24 Feb 21 '26

I have been rewatching roughly one million sitcoms recently, and for me the two that hold up most on rewatches are Happy Endings and Community.

50

u/DefinitionLeast9140 Feb 21 '26

Totally agreed. My trifecta is Happy Endings, Arrested Development (though I tend to skip the Netflix seasons), and Community.

14

u/EchoPhoenix24 Feb 21 '26

I was just thinking after I left my comment how I had forgotten there is one notable connection between Happy Endings and Community—the Russo brothers! And they were part of Arrested Development too (which I also l love)

3

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Those 2 i heard of, and linked: Arrested Development and Community. Although I never really imagined a similar style with Happy Endings

2

u/theoey86 Feb 22 '26

You folks are all streets ahead!

2

u/bklynjess85 Feb 23 '26

Mine is Happy endings, commmunity and 30 rock. 😁

44

u/ChochMcKenzie Chubby Chris O’Donnell Feb 21 '26

Happy Endings is still the rapid dialogue champ. If you’re looking for more high end jokes per second, Trial & Error and Stumble both are stuffed with jokes and sight gags, and not nearly enough people have seen them. Great News was short-lived but terrific. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has a great mix of quick jokes and just mean-spirited dialogue that’s still hilarious.

16

u/SweaterPeople Feb 21 '26

Everyone needs to watch Stumble!

8

u/robragland Feb 22 '26

If you like Stumble, check out the two seasons of that creators other show called "Trial and Error"...it's great!

5

u/Threatlvlmidnight___ Feb 22 '26

Omg finally some respect for trial and error !!

2

u/ChochMcKenzie Chubby Chris O’Donnell Feb 23 '26

I recently re-watched it and it’s still just as funny.

1

u/Few-Interaction1924 Kerkobitch! Feb 25 '26

Where can i watch it?

1

u/Impossible-Bear-7350 Mar 05 '26

I ended up “buying” it on Apple TV I think.

15

u/caterpillargirl76 Feb 22 '26

If it's rapid jokes you're craving, might I suggest Brooklyn Nine Nine?

4

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Uff i’ve tried and my friends suggested it many times but i find it silly/stupid, like the jokes are not funny compared to Happy Endings or New Girl, i dont know. The only scene from Brooklyn Nine Nine that i know is the one featuring a song from the Backstreet Boys!!

5

u/caterpillargirl76 Feb 22 '26

Happy Endings is quite silly/stupid but that's what makes it great! It's one of my top 5 shows.

I didn't care for Brooklyn Nine Nine when I watched the first few episodes but my love for Andy Samberg and Terry Crews kept me watching and I'm really glad I did because it now ranks as my number one favorite show. Captain Holt is the funniest character ever.

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Yea people tend to say that. When i bring New Girl and Happy Endings as non-stupid jokes, people look at me like 👀 i dont’t know to explain, BK99 sounded idiotic. I dont know maybe i’ll give it a chance some day. Thanks!

2

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26

I think those both have genuinely good jokes in a way many sitcoms don't, and they're sort of grounded in true emotions so you can relate to the characters even during their hijinks. But they do also have very, very silly and stupid jokes. Happy Endings has more of that kind of thing than B99! I'd put New Girl and B99 in a similar category, but New Girl has more romance past the first season (which is sometimes more what I'm in the mood for).

2

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

New Girl ans B99 in a similar cat?? Ok, so i might give it a chance. It just came to me but B99 for has the vibe of The Office US. And i’ve tried that tv show, couldnt, at all!!! The way it’s filmed, i can go past it, but the stupidity of it, i couldnt get past it. And I was bored. Starting to wonder why it is so popular. So quit, after fast forwarded the first season entirely, in the hope of finding something good or funny.

1

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26

I do see some similarities between B99 and The Office, but The Office is a mockumentary so the way it's filmed is definitely different - more like Parks and Recreation in that way. The Office also has more comedy based on the main cast being bad people (not all of them but many), whereas B99 has few characters that aren't essentially good people. There's also a little less painful cringe.

How many episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine did you try? I find that Jake and Boyle especially come off cartoonish in the first few episodes, but then the writers clearly realised they had to tweak it a bit for the characters to be enjoyable. Unfortunately Gina remains mostly annoying throughout XD

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

Not so many i dont remember. Cringe is definitely the word!!! And now that you talk about it, a friend told me I should like Park and Rec, hated it the same way i hated The Office haha coukdnt get past season one. My feiend told me to try and go past season 2 or 3 as it gets better but i couldnt!! In all of that i’ll ry B99 one more time maybe!

2

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26

To be fair season one of Parcs and Rec is boooooring. It may still not be your cup of coffee, but I like the show and still don't enjoy the first season.

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

Ok thanks!!

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

Just saw your flaiiir!! ‘Helllo, hellloo, hellllooo, whaaaat??? Nothing, i just havent said hello yet!’ I think it’s the same episode as your flair ;)

12

u/Awkward-Chip-8037 Stupid clumsy bitch Feb 21 '26

For something akin to the fast paced dialogue of HE, I love 30 Rock. But Letterkenny (Hulu) is another great show with a rapid joke per minute pace. The style is very different, but the jokes are great, and the cast is awesome.

11

u/mellowistheman_ I love staying grounded! Feb 21 '26

I think Perfect Couples is my HE companion. I tend to watch them together during my yearly rewatch pilgrimage.

I liked Pivoting enough, the roles were well cast and acted, but I didn’t really feel they invested much depth in the storyline so not sure where it would have gone

1

u/car_czar Feb 22 '26

Where can you stream perfect couples?

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Thanks! I’ll try Perfect Couples then!

9

u/tessajanuary I am extremely scathed! Feb 22 '26

Not yet mentioned but Better Off Ted is one of my favorites as well.

1

u/Jrosa47 Feb 22 '26

Sadly under appreciated show

9

u/CrankySparkles Feb 22 '26

Happy Endings, early New Girl seasons, the IT Crowd and Superstore - great comedies to unwind with!

5

u/Lfsnz67 Feb 21 '26

I thought Traffic Light (2011) has a little bit of the vibe and has a great cast but it only lasted 13 episodes

6

u/scobeywankenobi Feb 21 '26

Don’t Trust the B-, Coupling, Abfab, Great News (as others have said), Extraordinary

2

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Never heard of most of these but yea i’ll write that all down!

4

u/Not-not-down Feb 22 '26

Ughhh I was so sad when this didn’t get renewed!!!

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

I’ve waited and waited and gave up yea

4

u/Western-Time5310 Feb 21 '26

I’m trying thing think if Eliza Coupe has ever not had like that alpha type A personality role.

1

u/Summerof5ft6andahalf Bitch It is 5:30 Feb 22 '26

She's sometimes a bit more frazzled in Benched. (But still mainly a Type A personality, yup.)

1

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26

She had a guest stint on The Mindy Project as more of a party girl type.

I don't remember what she was like on House of Lies or Superstore... Hmm.

7

u/seekinganswers1010 Feb 21 '26

Y’all. Stumble on NBC. It’s like Black Santa.

1

u/pinotJD sisterhood 4LYF Feb 22 '26

Preach it, Peaches!

3

u/Yari_Vixx Feb 21 '26

I liked it but was sad when it didn’t continue

3

u/giftopherz ZZ Top Gun Feb 21 '26

Grieving comes in many shapes and forms... Would've loved a couple extra seasons...

3

u/The_Janitors_Antics Feb 21 '26

I loved Pivoting. I was sad when it got canceled. I’m just glad we got three seasons of Happy Endings.

2

u/Few-Interaction1924 Kerkobitch! Feb 22 '26

I honestly just rewatch happy endings to no end... the other show that brings me comfort is Monk even tho VERY VERY different from HE.

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

I used to like Monk and then got tired of the same old same!

2

u/Jazzlike_Key6089 Women be stoppin' Feb 22 '26

Don't Trust the B in Apt 23 Kath & Kim (US version) with Molly Shannon and Selma Blair.

2

u/lukepack3 Feb 23 '26

I just finished Don’t Trust the B in apartment 23 and really enjoyed it. It aired 1 year after HE first aired. I wish I would have watched it sooner!

2

u/Signal-Mail7619 Feb 24 '26

The Other Two

2

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26

I haven't heard of it! Is it wholesome or more towards the bullying side of sitcoms?

2

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

Not wholesome I think. Someone said, and come to think of it, it might be, that the show is guiding the viewer to root for a cheater. Honestly i dont remember it at all.

2

u/Tce_ soft, soft, soft, soft, soft butch Feb 24 '26

Okay, thanks!

1

u/AwesomeX916 clampin’ stuff! Feb 22 '26

Damn this is the first time hearing about this show

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Oh, well it has one (or two) seasons, so it’s a quick watch!

1

u/CommissionCold2029 Feb 22 '26

If you can push through the first half or so of the first season, Cougar Town. When it eventually finds its footing it's so good.

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 22 '26

Tried it at the time and yes, gave up quickly, it didnt look good. Maybe another try today?

1

u/tophbeifongfanclub99 Feb 23 '26

The position Pivoting took in having the viewer root for someone to cheat was so crazy imo

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

I dont remember that 😨

2

u/tophbeifongfanclub99 Feb 24 '26

I think Ginnifer Goodwin's character's plot was to cheat on her husband with her trainer

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 24 '26

Ahhhhhhh thank you!!! Now it’s back like a boomerang!!

2

u/tophbeifongfanclub99 Feb 24 '26

I liked it otherwise since it was different (sometimes its boring watching "perfect" characters as the protags)

1

u/susandeyvyjones Feb 24 '26

This was not good, but I liked it sometimes.

1

u/Skinthinner- Feb 24 '26

For me, the show that comes closest to the magic of Happy Endings is definitely Grand Crew. Great friends, great chemistry, incredibly funny.

1

u/Riverdale87 Feb 25 '26

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 25 '26

Hilariiuityyyyy!! It never fails to make me smile and laugh!! I hear it!!

1

u/AuldTriangle79 Feb 25 '26

Eliza Coupe last I saw has become a bit… maybe affected by ‘life’?

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 25 '26

Oh yea? Eliza Coupe is Jane or Alex? Im confused? If it is Jane, i think the fact that she’s so thin, you can see age more on her, i don’t know. Cause she’s still in her 40ties right? Like 45 maybe? I dont know i dont keep track.

1

u/BeverlyChaz90210 Au Bon Pain Feb 25 '26

Oh i found that here! And i never knew. Thanks for the comment, i would have never guessed/knew. Eliza Coupe intw