Best tv shows like Stella
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Stella was a short-lived television series that originally ran from June 28, 2005 to August 30, 2005 on the American television channel Comedy Central, created by and starring Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain, the three members of the sketch comedy troupe of the same name and former cast members of MTV's The State. Stella, as a comedy troupe, has existed since 1997. It has a cult following and plays to sold out shows across the USA. The show aired on Tuesdays at 10:30 PM, EST. In September, after 10 episodes, Stella's timeslot was filled by Mind of Mencia. On March 8, 2006, the following message was posted on Stella's official website: "The STELLA series was on Comedy Central last summer. The network has officially decided not to renew it for a second season," thus effectively cancelling the series. The first season DVD was released on September 12, 2006. Episodes have also been available on iTunes and Hulu and some episodes on Joost. Stella premiered in Australia on The Comedy Channel on May 3, 2007.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: parody, humorous, surreal, not serious, realistic, sketch comedy, sitcom, sexual, funny, offbeat
Best tv shows and movies like Stella (2005):
Similar in 89%
The State (1993)
Plot Summary:
The State is a half-hour sketch-comedy television show, originally broadcast in the USA on MTV between December 17, 1993, and July 1, 1995. The show combined bizarre characters and scenarios to present sketches that won the favor of its target teenaged audience. The cast consisted of 11 twenty-something comedians who created, acted, wrote, directed and edited the show. Several memorable characters were created for the show, and for a short time their catchphrases entered into the vernacular. Often, the cast would appear as themselves and address the audience to promote fake contests or to deliver mock public service announcements. Much like Monty Python, The State's sketches were sometimes linked to each other in some way: a punchline or image that ended one sketch often provided a lead-in to the next. After years of legal issues related to the soundtrack to many of the episodes, the series was released on DVD on July 14, 2009. A State film featuring all of the original troupe members is in the works, but was delayed by the 2007-2008 screenwriters strike, and no release date for the project has been announced.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, slapstick, skit, offbeat, humorous, realistic, surreal, witty, not serious, independent film
Similar in 90%
Michael & Michael Have Issues (2009)
Plot Summary:
Michael & Michael Have Issues is a cable television comedy series starring comedians and actors Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, who created the series. Both comedians appeared together in several TV comedy series, including The State, and Stella. The show premiered on July 15, 2009, on Comedy Central. Showalter and Black confirmed on March 3, 2010 via their Twitter accounts that the show had been canceled. The series starred Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter playing fictionalized versions of themselves. As stated in a 2009 New York Times article, "Mr. Black and Mr. Showalter play the bickering stars of a sketch comedy program who never miss an opportunity to undermine each other. In between skits about stores that sell only sweatpants and characters like John the British Fork Offerer, narrative segments chronicle the not-so-fictional frenemies who constantly step on each other’s toes, even in seemingly inconsequential situations like an interview for a high school newspaper or the search for a birthday gift for their producer.".
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 798
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: not serious, humorous, realistic, light, funny, parody, spoof, sketch comedy
Similar in 81%
The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
Plot Summary:
The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. The show was produced by Rocco Urbisci for Burt Sugarman Productions. It was conceived out of a special that Pryor did for NBC in May 1977. Because the special was a major hit, both critically and commercially, Pryor was given a chance to host and star in his own television show. TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 446
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, exciting, humorous, realistic, witty, not serious, biting, parody, spoof, black comedy
Similar in 78%
Wainy Days (2007)
Plot Summary:
From the creative mind that brought you Role Models (2008), Wanderlust (2012), The State (1993), and Wet Hot American Summer (2001) comes this show, the award winning series about David Wain's (slightly) fictionalized adventures looking for love in New York City.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 566
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 171 min
Plot tags: humorous, light, sexy, captivating, offbeat, realistic, not serious, sexual, absurd, sitcom
Similar in 78%
Dog Bites Man (2006)
Plot Summary:
Dog Bites Man is a partially improvised comedy television show on Comedy Central that aired in summer 2006. It began airing on The Comedy Channel in Australia in June 2007. The series was produced by DreamWorks Television.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: parody, humorous, stylized, not serious, sitcom, spoof, mockumentary, offbeat, realistic, alternative comedy
Similar in 88%
At Last the 1948 Show (1967)
Plot Summary:
At Last the 1948 Show is a satirical TV show made by David Frost's company, Paradine Productions, in association with Rediffusion London. Transmitted on Britain's ITV network during 1967 and 1968, it brought Cambridge Footlights humour to a broader audience. The show starred Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Marty Feldman and Aimi MacDonald. Cleese and Brooke-Taylor were also the programme editors. The director was Ian Fordyce.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 582
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, offbeat, humorous, surreal, witty, not serious, parody
Similar in 88%
The Benny Hill Show (1969)
Plot Summary:
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show that starred Benny Hill and aired in various incarnations between 15 January 1955 and 30 May 1991 in over 140 countries. The show focused on sketches that were full of slapstick, mime, parody, and double-entendre. Thames Television cancelled production of the show in 1989 due to declining ratings and large production costs at £450,000 per show.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: parody, sketch comedy, sitcom, offbeat, controversial, slapstick, double entendre, naughty, sexy, humorous
Similar in 85%
Exit 57 (1995)
Plot Summary:
Exit 57 was a 30-minute sketch comedy series that aired on the American television channel Comedy Central from 1995 to 1996; its cast was composed of comedians Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, Jodi Lennon, and Mitch Rouse, all of whom had previously studied improv at The Second City in Chicago. In 1999 Sedaris, Dinello, Colbert and Rouse would also create the Comedy Central show "Strangers with Candy". Humorist David Sedaris also served as an additional writer for the series, sharing a single onscreen credit with his sister as "The Talent Family". The show's producer, Joe Forristal, had also served as executive producer for The Kids in the Hall. All of the sketches in the series are implied to take place in the fictional suburban setting of the Quad Cities. During the show's memorably cryptic opening sequence, the cast members are seen standing next to a broken down car on the highway. Soon they are picked up by a passing driver, who changes the radio station at the mention of a serial killer, and takes Polaroid pictures of his increasingly uncomfortable passengers. Growing suspicious, the cast demands to be let out. The car is then seen pulling off the highway at Exit 57.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 249
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, sitcom, parody, spoof, slapstick comedy, slapstick, alternative comedy
Similar in 80%
Da Ali G Show (2000)
Plot Summary:
BAFTA Award-winning Da Ali G Show is back, and this time Ali G gets to take on America. Ali G In Da USAiii, nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys, stars Sacha Baron-Cohen. The series, filmed in the USA for HBO and Channel 4, brings to life three unique characters: Ali G; Borat, the naive television reporter from Kazakhstan; and Bruno, a camp Austrian fashion reporter.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, cynical, not serious, sitcom, funny, parody, controversial, sketch comedy, political
Similar in 90%
Important Things with Demetri Martin (2009)
Plot Summary:
Important Things with Demetri Martin is a sketch-variety show that aired on Comedy Central starring comedian Demetri Martin. Each episode examined a single theme, the "important thing", such as timing, power, control and money. All sketches, short vignettes, animated segments and stand-up comedy were loosely related to the theme of the episode. The show was produced by Jon Stewart's Busboy Productions, and contains stand-up, prop comedy and musical comedy by Martin, as well as taped sketches. Jon Stewart took an active role in editing the first few episodes.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, clever, not serious, sketch comedy, parody, offbeat, talky, independent film
Similar in 87%
Burning Love (2012)
Plot Summary:
Burning Love is a scripted comedy series which is a web spoof of the television shows The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad. Depending on the season, the show either follows a man or a woman who is looking for the perfect mate from a pool of contestants, or has contestants living together in a mansion competing for a cash prize. Ben Stiller is executive co-producer. Season 1 showcases fireman Mark Orlando as the bachelor. Season 2 of the series, which premiered in February 2013, stars June Diane Raphael reprising her role as season 1 contestant Julie, now the bachelorette given the chance to find the perfect man. Season 3 also premiered in 2013 and starred former contestants from Seasons 1 and 2 competing for a $900 prize rather than for love.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: parody, humorous, not serious, realistic, talky, spoof, funny, offbeat
Similar in 88%
Mind of Mencia (2005)
Plot Summary:
Mind of Mencia was an American television comedy series on the cable channel Comedy Central. Hosted by Carlos Mencia, it aired from 2005 to 2008.
IMDB Rating: 3.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, realistic, witty, not serious, parody, funny, humorous, sitcom, spoof, hispanic
Similar in 75%
The Red Green Show (1991)
Plot Summary:
The Red Green Show is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service stations in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale April 7, 2006, on CBC. The Red Green Show is essentially a cross between a sitcom and a sketch comedy series, and is a parody of home improvement, do-it-yourself, fishing, and other outdoors shows. Reruns currently air on CBC Television, The Comedy Network, and various PBS stations. It was produced by S&S Productions, which is owned by Steve and Morag Smith, and directed by William G. Elliott.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy
Country: Canada
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, sketch comedy, offbeat, feel good, humorous, realistic, witty, not serious, sitcom
Similar in 90%
Viva Variety (1997)
Plot Summary:
Viva Variety is an American sketch comedy series that aired on Comedy Central from April 1997 to December 1999. The series satirizes European variety shows.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 343
Genere: Comedy
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, parody, spoof
Similar in 87%
Flight of the Conchords (2007)
Plot Summary:
The trials and tribulations of a two man, digi-folk band who have moved from New Zealand to New York in the hope of forging a successful music career. So far they've managed to find a manager (whose "other" job is at the New Zealand Consulate), one fan (a married obsessive) and one friend (who owns the local pawn shop) -- but not much else.
IMDB Rating: 8.6
IMDB Votes: 65000
Genere: Comedy, Music, Musical
Country: USA, New Zealand
Duration: 28 min
Plot tags: surreal, sitcom, humorous, funny, atmospheric, hilarious, mystical, light, thought provoking, epic
Similar in 83%
The Kids in the Hall (1988)
Plot Summary:
The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. Their eponymous television show ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada, and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO in the United States. The theme song for the show was the instrumental "Having an Average Weekend" by the Canadian band Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. The troupe made one movie, Brain Candy, which was released in 1996. The troupe reformed for various tours and comedy festivals in 2000. They released an eight-part miniseries, Death Comes to Town in January, 2010. The name of the group came from Sid Caesar, who, if a joke didn't go over, or played worse than expected, would attribute it to "the kids in the hall", referring to a group of young writers hanging around the studio.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Comedy
Country: Canada
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, not serious, surreal, witty, funny, clever, offbeat, realistic, biting
Similar in 89%
Funny or Die Presents (2007)
Plot Summary:
Funny or Die Presents is a half-hour sketch comedy show that spawned from the comedy website Funny or Die, created by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay. It premiered on HBO on February 19, 2010. It is also currently being broadcast in the UK on Sky Atlantic.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, not serious, parody, light, slapstick, offbeat, independent film, spoof, slapstick comedy
Similar in 86%
Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (2002)
Plot Summary:
STELLA is a three-man comedy troupe from New York City, comprised of well-known comedians/actors Michael Showalter, David Wain, and Michael Ian Black. Though the three have made a living performing at comedy clubs, they are perhaps best known for their home-made short films. The STELLA SHORTS have garnered cult success because of their nonsensical plotlines, absurd dialogue, graphic sexual humor, sporatic violence, and sheer hilarity. This DVD showcases the trio's first twenty-three adventures, each one more bizarre and hysterical than the last. Highlights include: a game of whiffleball that goes terribly awry, an expedition to the South Pole (?) to meet Santa Claus, an edge-of-your-seat moustache-growing contest, a twisted "whodunit"-style murder mystery, and much, much more.
IMDB Rating: 8.9
IMDB Votes: 584
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: parody, humorous, captivating, feel good, independent film, spoof, sketch comedy, slapstick comedy, exciting, alternative comedy
Similar in 75%
MADtv (1995)
Plot Summary:
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series based on Mad, and contained animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts as well as images of Alfred E. Neuman. Its first TV broadcast was on October 14, 1995. The one-hour show aired Saturday nights on Fox, and was in syndication on Comedy Central. In Australia the show screens on satellite and cable TV channel The Comedy Channel and in late-night timeslots on free-to-air broadcaster the Nine Network and its affiliates.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, not serious, realistic, spoof, light, feel good, cult classic, game show, parody
Similar in 82%
Big Train (1998)
Plot Summary:
Big Train is a surreal British television comedy sketch show created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, writers of the successful sitcom Father Ted. The first series was broadcast on BBC Two in 1998, while the second, in which Linehan was not involved, aired in 2002.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, sitcom, surreal, absurd, clever, offbeat, humorous, realistic, witty, not serious
Similar in 83%
Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995)
Plot Summary:
Mr. Show with Bob and David is an American sketch comedy series starring and hosted by Saturday Night Live writer/actor Bob Odenkirk and stand up comedian/actor David Cross. It aired on HBO from November 3, 1995 to December 28, 1998. Cross and Odenkirk introduced most episodes as heightened versions of themselves, before transitioning to a mixture of live sketches and pre-taped segments. The show featured a number of alternative comedians as both cast members and writers, including Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, Jack Black, Tom Kenny, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Brian Posehn, Jerry Minor, Scott Aukerman, and Dino Stamatopoulos. It was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as a Golden Satellite Award.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 27 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, sitcom, surreal, funny, absurd, cult classic, parody, offbeat, humorous, witty
Similar in 75%
The Birthday Boys (2013)
Plot Summary:
"The Birthday Boys" is a scripted original sketch comedy, executive produced by Bob Odenkirk ("Breaking Bad", "Mr. Show") and Ben Stiller ("The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", "Zoolander"). The series features the Los Angeles comedy group of the same name (UCB Theatre Los Angeles, Just for Laughs Festival) along with Odenkirk and is in the classic vein of absurd/silly/smart/funny variety shows ("Mr. Show", Monty Python), featuring sketches that twist real-life moments and cultural touchstones.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, realistic, surreal, not serious, dark comedy, skit, offbeat, independent film, slapstick comedy
Similar in 78%
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007)
Plot Summary:
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is an American sketch comedy television series, created by and starring Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, which premiered February 11, 2007 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim comedy block and ran until May 2010. The program features surrealistic and often satirical humor, public-access television–style musical acts, bizarre faux-commercials, and editing and special effects chosen to make the show appear camp. The program featured a wide range of actors, spanning from stars such as Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, David Cross, Bob Odenkirk, Will Forte and Zach Galifianakis, to alternative comedians like Neil Hamburger, to television actors like Alan Thicke, celebrity look-alikes and impressionists. The creators of the show have described it as "the nightmare version of television.".
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 11 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, surreal, parody, not serious, witty, spoof, psychedelic, absurd, dark comedy
Similar in 84%
Kroll Show (2013)
Plot Summary:
Kroll Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by and starring comedian Nick Kroll. Kroll, John Levenstein, and Jonathan Krisel serve as the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 16, 2013, on the American cable television network Comedy Central.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, parody, feel good, light, captivating, skit, offbeat, realistic, not serious
Similar in 77%
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time (2010)
Plot Summary:
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time was a TV sketch comedy show created by and starring comedian and actor Nick Swardson. The show premiered on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at 10 p.m. EST on Comedy Central and ran for two seasons, with the final first-run episode airing November 16, 2011.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 905
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, not serious, parody, light, feel good, sketch comedy, offbeat, independent film, alternative comedy
Similar in 87%
Human Giant (2007)
Plot Summary:
Human Giant is a sketch comedy show on MTV, starring writer/performers Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and directed primarily by Jason Woliner. The show ran for two seasons. In interviews, the group has mentioned that they were offered a third season by MTV but were unable to complete it due to Ansari's commitments to the hit NBC show Parks and Recreation. However, the group has stated that MTV has left the door open for the group to complete a third season at a later date or to produce a special for the network. In 2010, Ansari, Huebel and Scheer reunited to do a skit for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. In November 2008, The Hollywood Reporter noted the group is currently developing a feature film with Red Hour Productions, the production company run by Ben Stiller and producer Stuart Cornfeld.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, surreal, not serious, parody, funny, offbeat, independent film, fast, spoof
Similar in 82%
The Underground (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Underground was a sketch comedy series produced by and starring Damon Wayans. It aired on Showtime. Wayans describes the show as "In Living Color on steroids." In fact the show features raunchy, sexist, and racist behavior, and as Wayans states in his opening monologue, "We decided to test the limits." The description of the show information is "The future of comedy is here in Damon Wayan's hilarious and uninhibited comedy sketch show where no topic or taboo goes unturned." This mistakenly gives his last name as Wayan, rather than Wayans. Some of the notable continuing sketches and characters in the show are: ⁕Protest Stripper.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 224
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: parody, humorous, realistic, not serious, sketch comedy, offbeat, spoof, black comedy
Similar in 88%
Portlandia (2011)
Plot Summary:
Satirical sketch comedy set and filmed in Portland, Oregon that explores the eccentric misfits who embody the foibles of modern culture.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, not serious, realistic, parody, hilarious, dark comedy, funny, sitcom, creepy
Similar in 79%
Off Centre (2001)
Plot Summary:
Off Centre is an American sitcom that aired on The WB network from October 14, 2001 to October 31, 2002. Created by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, and Danny Zuker, the series was heavily promoted as "from the guys who brought you American Pie".
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, not serious, realistic, sexy, funny
Similar in 83%
What I Like About You (2002)
Plot Summary:
Valerie Tyler is a 28-year-old organization freak who loves her 16-year-old sister Holly. Even if Holly is rambunctious. Spontaneous. Impulsive. Disconcerting. And definitely disorganized. Then Holly moves in with Val, and the sisters discover they may make better siblings than roomies.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, witty, semi serious, light, feel good, teen, realistic, slapstick