The 50 best TV shows to watch on Hulu in December: 'Reservation Dogs'
There's more great TV on Hulu than you may realize.
Although the streaming service has plenty of original series, and makes some series available the day after they air on TV, there is more to its library of TV shows. The streamer has golden oldies ("The Golden Girls"), modern classics ("Friday Night Lights") and new classics like ABC's "Modern Family." And this month beloved and Emmy-winning comedy "Schitt's Creek" joins the Hulu library,
There is so much good TV on Hulu, in fact, it can be hard to find the right show to watch at any given moment or keep track of what's still on the service and what might be gone.
To help your binge-watching, we have curated the best of the TV shows Hulu has available to stream as of December 2022 (in alphabetical order).
Don't have Hulu? 50 best TV shows to watch on Netflix right now
1. “30 Rock”
Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan make an endlessly appealing trio in this award-winning series about NBC's "Saturday Night Live"-style sketch comedy series. The series is also available on NBC Universal's Peacock streaming service and Netflix.
2. "Abbott Elementary"
ABC's new sitcom has been the critical hit of 2022. Created by and starring comedian Quinta Brunson, "Abbott" is set in a fictional Philadelphia elementary school and follows the trials and tribulations of the teachers, from optimistic Janine to jaded Barbara. In addition to being laugh-out-loud funny, "Abbott" creates such a specific and lived-in sense of place in its Philly setting, delighting city natives and outsiders alike. Hopefully it will run for many seasons to come (it's already been renewed for a second). New episodes stream Thursdays (after they air Wednesdays on ABC).
3. “Atlanta”
Donald Glover’s audacious FX series about a college-dropout father trying to climb the economic ladder as a manager for his rapper cousin (Brian Tyree Henry) is proof of the multitalented artist's creative prowess. The fourth season is streaming on Fridays.
4. “Black-ish”
The ABC series follows an upper-middle-class Black family in a predominantly white Los Angeles neighborhood, as it navigates social issues. With great performances by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, it's one of the best sitcoms on TV.
5. "Bob's Burgers"
Fox's adult animated comedy isn't just another "Simpsons" or "Family Guy" copycat. Rather than mining the bleakest parts of modern life for laughs, creator Loren Bouchard instead made a sitcom that is sweet, silly and absurdly happy, full of original songs and nonsensical plots and burger creations.
6. “Broad City”
This millennials-in-New-York Comedy Central series is both outlandish in its humor (drug-fueled trips to Whole Foods, children who shout “Yas, queen!”) and relatable (bad roommates, bad boyfriends). Stars/creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer bring their kooky world to life expertly.
7. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
Witty, funny, thrilling and occasionally heartbreaking, WB's seminal fantasy series about a high school girl on a mission to save the world is a must-watch for anyone who hasn’t seen it. And maybe those of us who already have.
8. “Cheers”
With a superb cast (Ted Danson forever!), smart humor and a nostalgic setting, NBC's classic sitcom set in a Boston bar still holds up after all these years.
9. “Community”
This slightly zany NBC comedy about a group of diverse friends attending a local community college has its ups and downs, but its funniest, most ambitious installments are among the best TV episodes ever made. The last few seasons don’t quite live up to the sharp first three.
10. "The Dropout"
This riveting biopic drama chronicles the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the infamous founder and CEO of the healthcare technology company Theranos, exposed as a fraud. Amanda Seyfried's compelling and dynamic portrayal of Holmes makes for a fascinating, nail-biting watch all the way through.
11. “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt 23”
This quirky series about a nightmare roommate didn't last long on ABC, but made great comedy, with Krysten Ritter and James Van Der Beek, who played a fictional version of himself.
12. “ER”
Before "Grey’s Anatomy" treated us to soapy hospital drama, NBC's huge hit was set in an emergency room. From the George Clooney days to its final few seasons, the series always knew how to balance tragedy with heartwarming elements.
13. "Everything's Gonna Be Okay"
Freeform's “Everything," created by and starring Australian comedian Josh Thomas, follows Nicholas (Thomas), a 20-something who becomes a guardian of his sisters Genevieve (Maeve Press) and Matilda (Kayla Cromer), who is on the autism spectrum, after their father dies. A surprisingly sunny exploration of grief and growing up, "Okay" is frequently hilarious but emotionally affecting.
14. “Fargo”
FX's superb anthology crime series, based on the Coen Brothers movie, captures the spirit of the film in its distinctive seasons. Each installment is so good and so tonally resonant, it’s hard to pick a favorite (nope, just kidding, it's Season 2).
15. “Firefly”
Fox's “Firefly” gave us only 13 episodes and one box-office-bomb feature film, but this space Western starring Nathan Fillion is stunning.
16. “Frasier”
If “Cheers” isn’t enough for you, try this slightly more cynical and mature NBC sitcom about Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), one of the most successful spin-offs of all time.
17. “Fresh Off the Boat”
From the creator of “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt 23” comes another Hall of Fame ABC family sitcom. Especially in the first four seasons, this story of a Taiwanese American family in 1990s Orlando, Florida, was full of great, specific humor and a talented cast, including Constance Wu and Randall Park.
18. “Friday Night Lights”
The drama on NBC's acclaimed high school football series undeniably makes it one of the best shows to binge-watch, equally entertaining for teens and adults. The series is also available on Amazon Prime Video, NBC Universal's Peacock streaming service and Netflix.
19. “The Golden Girls”
They don't make them like they used to, right? A visit from Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia is always funny and calming, no matter whether you're just discovering the beloved NBC sitcom or rewatching it.
20. “The Great”
Hulu’s original series about Russia’s Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) was a delight when it premiered in the spring of 2020, a farcical royal romp from the writer of Oscar-winning “The Favourite.”
21. “Happy Endings”
One of the many "Friends"-like hangout sitcoms to emerge over the past two decades, ABC's "Endings" is on the quirkier, more heightened side, following five thirtysomethings in Chicago.
22. “High Fidelity”
Zoe Kravitz is an appealing rom-com lead in this gender-flipped take on the Nick Hornby novel. The Hulu original series subverts many cheesy tropes of the genre, while respecting what makes a romance so appealing.
23. “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
If you enjoy a certain brand of crass, cringe comedy, more than 150 episodes of this long-running FX series lovingly pokes fun at Philly (and Danny DeVito), with a lot of mishaps along the way.
24. “Justified”
Timothy Olyphant is at his absolute best in FX's cowboy tale of a U.S. marshal with his own code of justice and deep ties to criminals in his small Kentucky town.
25. “Key & Peele”
If you're more interested in morsels of laughter than long narratives, this Comedy Central sketch show, which jumpstarted the careers of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, is perfect and requires very little commitment to get big laughs.
26. “Killing Eve”
Sandra Oh and Emmy-winner Jodie Comer are a delectable cat and mouse duo in BBC America's crime drama about a sociopathic assassin (Comer) and the intelligence agent (Oh) hunting her down. The fourth and final season is now streaming.
27. "Life & Beth"
Emmy-winner Amy Schumer leads this charming coming-of-age dramedy, which follows 30-something Beth as she ungracefully reimagines her life and career. Charismatic performances from both Schumer and Michael Cera inject the series with an endearing dynamic of wry humor and heartfelt relatability.
28. “Living Single”
Queen Latifah and Kim Coles are among the bright young stars in this rollicking 20-something 1990s Fox sitcom about, well, singles living in Brooklyn, New York.
29. “Lodge 49”
Lost underachiever Dud (Wyatt Russell) finds purpose at a dusty fraternal order in this AMC dramedy. Sunny, relaxing and sweet, “Lodge” may be the chillest show around.
30. “Lost”
We have to go back ... to ABC's 2004-10 mystical drama. It inspired endless copycat series (“The Event,” “Manifest,” “Revolution,” “Terra Nova”), but nothing beats the story of airplane crash survivors on a mysterious island.
31. “M*A*S*H*”
The CBS smash, set at an army hospital during the Korean War, lasted far longer than that conflict because it was just too wonderful to take off the air. A classic for a reason, the series is funny, smart and full of wonderful actors at their best, including Alan Alda, Mike Farrell and Loretta Swit.
32. “Mrs. America”
FX's historical drama, depicting the fight for and against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s, has a cast so talented it's embarrassing. Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Margo Martindale and Sarah Paulson bring the ERA era to life, helped by sharp scripts and gorgeous costuming.
33. "My So-Called Life"
Although it only lasted for 19 episodes on ABC in 1994-95, "Life" remains one of the quintessential teen series. Affecting, honest and full of bright young stars like Claire Danes as Angela Chase and Jared Leto as the mooned-over Jordan Catalano, "Life" treated the problems and emotions of its teen characters with far more seriousness and care than any high school show before it.
34. “Normal People”
Hulu’s romantic drama captivated quarantined hearts and minds when it premiered in the spring of 2020 for good reason. The adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel, starring appealing young actors Daisy Edgar-Jones and Emmy-nominated Paul Mescal, tells the story of life and love in an achingly normal way.
35. “Party Down”
Fans of “Veronica Mars” and “iZombie” will love this cynical Starz comedy about bowtie-sporting cater-waiters that stars Jane Lynch and Adam Scott.
36. “PEN15”
A certain swath of millennials can appreciate how, with painstaking accuracy, creator/stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle recreated the middle school experience of 2000 in all its awkward glory. Hulu's cheekily named original comedy is so cringe-y you might implode from embarrassment, but it’s hilarious in equal measure.
37. “Ramy”
Creator/star Ramy Youssef’s original Hulu series is a brilliant work of art, telling the story of a Muslim man (Youssef) looking for love in New Jersey and caught between his faith and modern excesses.
38. "Reservation Dogs"
This dark comedy about a quartet of rebellious and delinquent Indigenous teens who live on a reservation in Oklahoma is utterly unique. It's not just that there are few shows on TV created by or about Indigenous people, but the specific tone, pacing and style "Reservation" carves out is novel. Moody, meandering and meaningful, the series is about kids who are stuck in their hometown – and desperate to beg, borrow or steal enough money to get out. Season 2 arrives Aug. 3.
39. “Saturday Night Live”
While you're waiting for new episodes from Season 48 (now on Peacock), you can dive into the 47 seasons of the NBC institution for some quick laughs and topical (well, at the time) parodies.
40. “Schitt’s Creek”
Full of beautiful romance, sunny settings and plenty of humor, Pop TV's sitcom about a rich family that loses it all but gains love and a little perspective is always a mood-booster. Hulu is the comedy's new home after years on Netflix helped boost its popularity.
41. “Scrubs”
The sweet, silly comedy of NBC's (and later ABC's) long-running “Scrubs,” starring Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke, is what we most often remember. But it's also a celebration of the doctors who work so hard to save lives and a more realistic look at life in the hospital than high-drama soap operas.
42. "Shrill"
This deliciously witty comedy features "SNL" star Aidy Bryant as Annie Easton, an unapologetically fat woman living in Portland, Oregon, trying her best at boyfriends, friendships and a writing career. Bryant's indelible charm and the sharp supporting cast, including British comedian Lolly Adefope, make the series instantly appealing.
43. “The Simpsons”
At a time when the quirky citizens of Springfield feel less odd than real life, Fox's (very) long-running adult animated comedy feels almost quaint in its rude humor and pop culture parodies. But it’s comforting and satisfying nonetheless.
44. “Speechless”
Gone too soon after just three seasons, ABC's comedy about a family in which one son has cerebral palsy is representation of disability you've never seen before, with searing satire and riotous humor.
45. “Superstore”
This NBC series about employees at a big box store is something of a modern-day "Cheers": a workplace comedy set outside a traditional white-collar office in a place we all have wandered into at some point. (The blue vests of the fictional Cloud 9 store might remind you of a certain retail chain.)
46. “The Terror”
AMC’s anthology historical horror series (try saying that five times fast) beautifully brings its time periods to life: an Arctic expedition in the 1800s in Season 1 and World War II internment camps in America in Season 2. Smart, with superb casts (Jared Harris, Ciaran Hinds and George Takei), there’s nothing quite like it.
47. “Top of the Lake”
Starring Elisabeth Moss at her best (and eventually Nicole Kidman and Gwendoline Christie in Season 2), Jane Campion’s exquisite Sundance TV crime drama is about so much more than a detective on a case.
48. “Veronica Mars”
Long before she was a singing princess, Kristen Bell was a teenage gumshoe in a toxic Southern California town. A superb modern noir, the original UPN series, fan-funded film and the Hulu revival are seedy, successful and satisfying.
49. “What We Do in the Shadows”
FX’s vampire comedy, based on the 2014 Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement film, is farce at its absolute best, putting its gothic vampires, a boring “energy vampire” and their belabored human “familiar” in a series of ever-escalating conundrums. Season 4 streams Wednesdays starting July 13.
50. “The X-Files”
The late-2010s Fox revival was mostly disappointing, but the original was groundbreaking, thrilling and eerie. If you're trying to fill up weeks of viewing, there are nine long seasons of Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigating the unknown.
Contributing: Edward Segarra
Have a different streaming service? Here are the shows worth checking out:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 50 best TV shows on Hulu in December 2022: 'Schitt's Creek'
