There's no doubt that going into this fall television season, we can all use a good laugh. Thankfully, so many of our favorite comedy series are returning with new seasons and one new comedy premieres in an attempt to win us over. We're heading back to the hilarious halls of Abbott Elementary and checking back in with the ghosts at Woodstone Manor, and we can't wait!
But before television fans get too overwhelmed with the kick off of fall TV in September and October, which comedies are worth watching or skipping? Let's take a closer look at all eight of the live-action comedy series premiering during the fall 2025 television season and see which shows should definitely be at the top of your watch list and which one you can save for summer streaming.
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Watch! Easily the funniest comedy series on the small screen, Abbott Elementary season 5 premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 1 with another laugh-out-loud batch of episodes. There's no way I'd ever suggest Abbott as a skip to anyone. The Emmy-winning series from comedy genius Quinta Brunson is probably one of the best shows on television — between broadcast, cable, and streaming — and shouldn't be missed by anyone. It's the rare comedy that keeps getting better and better, and it clearly has a long life ahead. Catch up before season 5 now on Disney+/Hulu and HBO Max!
Happy's Place (NBC)
Skip! Happy's Place was one of the most highly anticipated new comedies from last television season because it marked the sitcom comeback of Reba McEntire. What's more, the sitcom reteamed McEntire with Reba costar Melissa Peterman. It's funny enough, but it might not be exactly what Reba fans were looking for, as it stars McEntire as Bobbie, who inherits her late father's bar and discovers she has a younger sister she never knew about. Season 2 premieres on Friday, Nov. 7, but this could be a show that you skip to catch up with on Peacock on the weekend.
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (CBS)
Watch! If you're not a fan of The Big Bang Theory, then you have likely written off Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. As a spinoff of Young Sheldon, it's very much in the Big Bang universe, but you don't have to be a fan to enjoy the simple sitcom. Personally, I tuned into Georgie & Mandy as a huge fan of Emily Osment and got exactly what I wanted from the series. It's a refreshing callback to that '90s sitcom sensibility. There aren't any bells and whistles, just humor and heart for weekly 20-minute escapism. Check out season 1 on Paramount+ and watch season 2 beginning Thursday, Oct. 16.
Shifting Gears (ABC)
Skip! Don't think of "skip" as any indication that a show is bad and shouldn't be watched. Because that's not the case with ABC's Shifting Gears, a team up between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing favorite Tim Allen and 2 Broke Girls star Kat Dennings. The sitcom vets star as an estranged father-daughter pair who wind up living together along with the daughter's two children. It's a combination that oddly works and offers plenty of laughs and nostalgic nods to Allen's past. But family sitcom's aren't for everyone. Skip if that's you! Season 2 premieres Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The Neighborhood (CBS)
Watch! How could you ever pass up the chance to spend one last season with The Neighborhood on CBS? That's right, the long-running (but still somehow underrated) sitcom will be coming to an end with its eighth and final season. All told, the series starring Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield, Tichina Arnold, and Beth Behrs will likely bow out with over 150 episodes after eight years on the air. But spinoffs have been in the works, so fingers crossed one moves forward! Make sure to catch up on seasons 1-7 on Paramount+ and check out season 8 beginning Monday, Oct. 13.
DMV (CBS)
Skip! There's only one new comedy premiering on broadcast this fall (yes, ONE new comedy — what's going on?!), and it's unfortunate to designate it as a "skip." The new CBS workplace sitcom DMV takes place at, you guessed it, the Department of Motor Vehicles. It's the one place no one wants to go in real life, and it's the one place that hasn't been turned into a sitcom. But with a great cast, anything is possible! The series premieres on Oct. 13, and while it's exciting to check out new shows, let's not get our hopes up too high for this one yet.
St. Denis Medical (NBC)
Watch! The last of the many freshman comedies from previous season going into season 2, St. Denis Medical is the best comedy you're not watching. Seriously! That phrase gets overused so often that it's like, what does it even mean? The mockumentary-style workplace comedy about the quirky staff at an Oregon hospital should have higher ratings and more conversation surrounding it. It's the perfect show to watch if you love The Office, Abbott Elementary, Parks and Rec, and Superstore. Watch the hilarious first season on Peacock right now before season 2 debuts on Monday, Nov. 3.
Ghosts (CBS)
Watch! One of the hardest things about investing in a comedy series is the unpredictable nature of network television. Shows can be canceled as quickly as they premiered. But with the CBS comedy series Ghosts, you don't have to worry about that. Not only is the beloved series going into its fifth season this fall, but it's also already been renewed for season 6. It's a high-concept comedy that's worth the binge-watch and one of the most obvious must-watches of the fall 2025 season. Set your reminders for the premiere of Ghosts season 5 on Thursday, Oct. 16!