Look, let’s be real. There’s no replacing the specific, neurosis-fueled magic of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It’s been decades since the "show about nothing" aired its controversial finale, and yet we’re still chasing that same high. You know the one. That feeling of watching four deeply flawed, arguably terrible people obsess over the social etiquette of a "big salad" or the etiquette of double-dipping a chip.
Finding shows similar to Seinfeld isn't just about finding another sitcom with a laugh track. It’s about finding that specific brand of observational nihilism. It’s about the "No Hugging, No Learning" rule. Most modern TV wants you to love the characters. Seinfeld didn't care if you liked them; it just wanted you to admit they were right about how annoying people are.
📖 Related: Who are the BoyNextDoor members? Everything you actually need to know about KOZ’s first group
The Curb Your Enthusiasm Connection
If you haven't watched Curb Your Enthusiasm, what are you even doing? It’s the obvious successor. Larry David basically took the George Costanza blueprint—which was already based on Larry himself—and dialed it up to an eleven. It’s Seinfeld without the NBC censors.
Instead of Jerry's apartment, we get Larry's sprawling Los Angeles mansion, but the petty grievances remain identical. Whether he’s fighting with a barista over the temperature of a latte or accidentally offending a local businessman, the DNA is 100% pure. Honestly, Curb is often more "Seinfeld" than Seinfeld was in its later seasons. It leans into the cringe. It’s uncomfortable. It’s brilliant.
Why Always Sunny is the Spiritual Successor
People often call It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia "Seinfeld on crack." That’s not just a catchy tagline; it’s a factual assessment of the character dynamics. Think about it. You have a core group of narcissistic friends who never grow, never change, and constantly ruin the lives of everyone they come across.
✨ Don't miss: Why Star Trek Original Season 1 Episode 1 Isn't Actually The Man Trap
The Gang—Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank—are essentially Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer if they had zero social standing and a serious substance abuse problem. If you’re looking for shows similar to Seinfeld that lean into the "terrible people" trope, this is your gold standard. There is a total lack of sentimentality here. When a character experiences a tragedy, the rest of the group is usually just annoyed that it's inconveniencing their afternoon plans.
The Evolution of the "Hanging Out" Sitcom
Not every show needs to be about bad people to capture that 90s lightning in a bottle. Sometimes, it’s just about the rhythm of the conversation. Peep Show does this incredibly well, though it’s British and significantly more claustrophobic. It uses a first-person POV and internal monologues to show you exactly how neurotic and "Costanza-ish" the main characters are. Mark Corrigan is essentially a British George Costanza with a history degree. He is constantly overthinking every tiny social interaction until it implodes.
The Larry Sanders Show: The Meta-Blueprint
Before Seinfeld was a household name, The Larry Sanders Show was reinventing what a sitcom could be. It’s a workplace comedy set behind the scenes of a late-night talk show. It’s cynical. It’s dry. Garry Shandling played a version of himself that was vain and insecure, much like Jerry’s fictionalized self.
While Seinfeld focused on the minutiae of daily life, Larry Sanders focused on the minutiae of ego. It’s one of those shows similar to Seinfeld that paved the way for the "meta" humor we see everywhere now. If you enjoy the "show within a show" aspect of the Jerry pilot arc in Season 4, you’ll find The Larry Sanders Show to be an absolute masterclass in that specific style of comedy.
Broad City and the New York Hustle
Moving into the 2010s, Broad City captured the New York City energy that Seinfeld used as its playground, but with a much grittier, more realistic (and weirder) lens. Abbi and Ilana are much better friends to each other than the Seinfeld four ever were, but their adventures are rooted in the same observational absurdity.
Remember the episode where Kramer tries to get his mail cancelled? That same energy is present when Abbi has to trek to a remote shipping center in the middle of nowhere to reclaim a package. It’s the comedy of inconvenience. It’s about how living in a major city is basically an endless series of small, frustrating side-quests.
Veep: Political Nihilism
If you loved the fast-paced, insult-heavy dialogue of the Elaine Benes era, Veep is essential viewing. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a comedic force of nature here. As Selina Meyer, she embodies the same "everyone is an idiot" worldview that made Elaine so relatable. The show is essentially a political version of Seinfeld where the stakes are global, but the motivations are purely selfish and petty. It’s incredibly dense—you’ll miss three jokes if you blink—and it refuses to give its characters a "moral lesson" moment.
Arrested Development’s Clockwork Plotting
One of the most impressive things about Seinfeld was how the A, B, and C plots would all collide in the final three minutes. Larry David was a genius at the "tangle." Arrested Development took that concept and evolved it into a complex web of callbacks and foreshadowing.
The Bluth family is just as dysfunctional and self-centered as the Seinfeld crew. They are trapped in their own bubbles of privilege and delusion. If you’re looking for shows similar to Seinfeld because you enjoy the intricate writing and the feeling of a "payoff," this is the one. It demands your full attention. You can't just scroll on your phone while watching this, or you'll miss the literal hundreds of background jokes.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Similar" Shows
Usually, when people ask for recommendations, they get pointed toward Friends or How I Met Your Mother. Honestly? Those aren't really like Seinfeld. Those shows are built on "will-they-won't-they" romances and emotional growth. Seinfeld famously hated that stuff.
To find something that actually resonates, you have to look for the "anti-sitcom." Shows like Review (the Andy Daly version) or Nathan For You. These shows take a premise—like reviewing life experiences or helping small businesses—and push them to an obsessive, uncomfortable extreme. That obsession with a singular, often stupid goal is the true heart of the Seinfeldian universe.
The Netflix Gem: I Think You Should Leave
It’s a sketch show, yes, but Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave is the modern peak of observational absurdity. Every sketch is built on a character who refuses to admit they are wrong or have committed a social faux pas. It’s the "Costanza Principle" taken to a surreal, nightmarish level. When a man in a hot dog suit tries to find the "guy who did this" after crashing a hot dog car into a store, that is pure, unadulterated George.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Binge
If you’re staring at your streaming dashboard wondering where to go next, don't just pick the first thing in the "Recommended for You" section. Try these specific starting points based on what you actually liked about the show:
- For the "Terrible People" fix: Start It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia from Season 2 (when Danny DeVito joins). The first season is good, but Season 2 is where it finds its soul—or lack thereof.
- For the "Observational Neurosis" fix: Go with Curb Your Enthusiasm. It’s the closest you will ever get to a 10th season of Seinfeld.
- For the "Intricate Plotting" fix: Watch the first three seasons of Arrested Development. It’s a masterclass in scriptwriting.
- For the "NYC Grind" fix: Try Broad City or even High Maintenance. They capture the weirdness of the city without the shiny sitcom gloss.
- For the "Dry, Meta Humor" fix: Track down The Larry Sanders Show. It’s a bit older, but the comedy holds up perfectly because ego never goes out of style.
Stop looking for a clone. You won't find one. Instead, look for the shows that inherited the attitude. Look for the writers who aren't afraid to let their characters be unlikable. That’s where the real spirit of the "show about nothing" lives on today.