New US TV comedies to catch in 2017

2016 was another solid year for comedy shows, with the likes of Broad City, Atlanta, Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, Bojack Horseman and Veep all standing out as great watches from across the pond. With 2017 stretching out before us, fans of US comedy can expect some exciting new additions to the ever-expanding roster of great TV shows. Here are just a few to keep an eye out for:

The Mick – Fox

(Photo Credit : Fox)

The excellent Kaitlin Olson has been playing Dee Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia for years now and it’s great to see her finally getting her own vehicle. The Mick will see her not only taking on the lead role but also executive producing this distinctly non-PG comedy. Olson stars as Mackenzie Murphy, a brash and irresponsible Rhode Island woman who finds herself becoming guardian to the spoiled kids of her wealthy sister in Greenwich, Connecticut after their parents leave the country to avoid fraud charges.

Making History – Fox

(Photo Credit : Fox)

This upcoming comedy has some extremely promising ingredients with 21 Jump Street and LEGO movie directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller on exec producing duties, Happy Endings Adam Pally in the a lead role and a concept that is ingeniously unique. The premise follows a nerdy professor who creates a time machine for him and his friends in order to change the course of history to improve their current lot in life. Things start to go wrong however when one of them begins to date the daughter of Paul Revere and suddenly the course of American history is at risk.

Powerless – NBC

(Photo Credit : NBC)

Another show here with an intriguing original premise, this time set inside the DC Comics Universe. The premise follows the experiences of staff at Wayne Security, a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises no less, who are tasked with producing items that protect people from the fallout of superheroes and villains. In other words, Bruce Wayne’s own company gets rich off of the destruction caused by Batman. Vanessa Hudgens is in the lead role of Emily, while her workplace best friend is Danny Pudi of Community fame.

Friends From College – Netflix

(Photo Credit : Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

A Netflix original series here from husband and wife duo Nicholas Stoller and Francesca Delbanco. Nicholas is of course best known for directing Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Neighbours and The Five Year Engagement as well as writing the incredibly successful Muppets reboot. The series will follow a group of friends who attended Harvard together who are now in their 40s and have seen their lives take a variety of different paths. Keegan-Michael Key and Cobie Smulders are both involved, as is Fred Savage and Billy Eichner.

Barry – HBO

(Photo Credit : Getty)

Bill Hader takes on the title role here as well as co-writing and directing duties. The shows will see Hader’s Barry as an ex-marine turned low-level hitman in America’s Midwest. After growing increasingly dissatisfied he travels to LA to carry out a job and instead finds himself drawn to a group of eager LA theatre actors. Co-Written by Silicon Valley and Seinfeld alumni Alec Berg, the show will also star Henry Winkler as an inspiring acting teacher and Stephen Root as Barry’s hitman contact. HBO’s hit rate is pretty solid and Hader has long been a brilliant bit-part player in other people’s projects so it’s intriguing to see what he can bring to his own vehicle.

Room 104 – HBO

(Photo Credit : HBO)

The Duplass Brothers, Mark and Jay, return with a comedy series for HBO that will be an anthology series focusing on a range of different character who pass through the titular room at a hotel. The dull and non-descript hotel room will be the backdrop for various major events and judging from Jay’s interviews on the subject, we will see a variety of story styles and genres unfold in the room from week to week.

(Main Photo Credit : FOX)