Schitt’s Creek has had an interesting run. It started out as a project between a father and son, then became a cult favorite, then found a bigger audience through Netflix, and in 2020, the series broke Emmy records. Schitt’s Creek is the little Canadian show that could and did. The series is a nice combination of sweet, wholesome, and effortlessly funny. Anyone who has watched Schitt’s Creek immediately falls for its charm and optimistic approach to comedy and the simple life.
Overall, Schitt’s Creek is a fish-out-of-water tale about the Rose family. The Roses were once wealthy, but now they only have one asset left: a town they bought as a joke, Schitt’s Creek. Each character is quirky and lovable in their own way. Schitt’s Creek’s concept is a classic one, but there aren’t many shows currently airing that follow the same themes, at least not available to stream on Netflix, but there are shows out there with the same charisma and colorful characters.
Kim’s Convenience (2016-)
Kim’s Convenience is a Korean Canadian series that follows the Kim family as they deal with family issues and the struggles that come with running a convenience store in Toronto. Kim’s Convenience stars Simu Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andrea Bang, and Jean Yoon. It was recently renewed for at least two more seasons, which will give it six in total.
Why It's A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Like Schitt’s Creek, Kim’s Convenience’s base is the family unit and their distinct and unbreakable bond. The Kims and the Roses are all fun characters themselves, but they look a little saner when compared to the characters around them.
Stream it on Netflix here.
The Good Place (2016-2020)
The Good Place starts with Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) arriving at the “good place” after she dies. She immediately knows that a mistake has been made because the accolades mentioned for her are things that she never did. Eleanor belongs in the “bad place.” The Good Place follows Eleanor, Tahani (Jameela Jamil), Michael (Ted Danson), Janet (D’Arcy Carden), Jason (Manny Jacinto), and Chidi (William Jackson Harper) as they try to navigate different good place obstacles.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: The Roses weren’t the best people in their past, but while living in Schitt’s Creek, they became better versions of themselves. One major aspect of The Good Place is all of these characters’ evolution into better versions of themselves.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Love (2016-2018)
Love was created by Judd Apatow, Paul Rust, and Lesley Arfin. It’s about Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust)’s relationship and their journey as a couple, and as individuals. On paper, they don’t seem like a pair with a bright future, but somehow, they get each other and work.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Like Mickey and Gus, personality-wise, David (Daniel Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid) don’t seem like a couple that would work, but that’s what makes them such an endearing and fun couple to watch. Both shows have characters who aren’t perfect but they’re learning to open themselves up to love, despite their flaws.
Stream it on Netflix here.
New Girl (2011-2018)
Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moves into an apartment with three male roommates: Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Coach (Damon Wayne Jr.) originally, but then Winston (Lamorne Morris) takes his place in the loft. New Girl is about these wacky roommates who share a close bond and affection for each other.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: I believe that New Girl and Schitt’s Creek have the same brand of wholesomeness. Yeah, they may have a dirty joke here and there, but both series are rarely mean spirited or extremely serious. New Girl and Schitt’s Creek take a cheery approach to portraying life and its problems.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Arrested Development (2003-2019)
Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) is forced to take over his family’s real estate business when his father is sent to prison for committing white-collar crimes. Arrested Development’s cast includes Will Arnett, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, and Tony Hale.
Why it’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: The Bluth family is almost the antithesis of Schitt’s Creek and the Rose family. The Roses aren’t perfect but they still have moments where they care and look out for each other and other people. The Bluths may have moments of generosity but they’re much more ruthless. The Bluths may be what would have happened to the Rose family if Moira (Catherine O’Hara) was a little more cold-hearted.
Stream it on Netflix here.
ATypical (2017-)
ATypical is about Sam (Keir Gilchrist) and his family. Sam is on the autism spectrum, so he’s trying to learn to navigate the world with this disability, especially when it comes to falling in love. ATypical’s cast includes Brigette Lundy-Paine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Michael Rapaport.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Atypical and Schitt’s Creek are both unique series with big hearts. Atypical is gentle in its approach to autism -- it has you laugh with Sam and this crazy world, but it never allows you to laugh at him. Schitt’s Creek has many moments that make your heart ache in the best way. One of Schitt Creek’s most heartwarming episodes was about a character coming out to his parents, and the show approached the episode with what felt like an honest, sincere, and sweet perspective. It was void of the usual drama that comes with many coming out episodes on other TV shows. It was more about the character just being ready to say his truth. ATypical and Schitt’s Creek both have many tender moments of sincerity.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Community (2009-2015)
Community is about Lawyer Jeff (Joel McHale) who is disbarred when it’s revealed that he doesn’t have his bachelor’s degree. He must go to a community college to complete his schooling. He forms a study group to impress Britta (Gillian Jacobs). Soon the fake study group becomes a real one, and the group forms a tight bond.
Why It’s a Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Community and Schitt’s Creek are both series good at creating their own worlds. There are things that can only happen at Schitt’s Creek and be completely normal, and the same goes for the Greendale Community College. Each series has its own set of strange characters that would seem bonkers in any other world, but fit the world that exists within these series.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend stars Rachel Bloom. She plays Rebecca Bunch, a woman who moves to West Covina for her ex-boyfriend from summer camp, Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III).
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend deals with serious issues like mental health in an almost whimsical manner. It addresses these issues but does it through song, dance, and a “things will get better” manner. Schitt’s Creek, for the most part, stays away from too heavy topics, but it still approaches its character’s lives in an almost fairytale-like way. No matter what issues the Roses and friends face, you know that things will work out.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Billy on The Street (2011-)
Billy on the Street is a comedy game show hosted by Billy Eichner. He travels around New York City asking strangers random questions for various prizes. Sometimes these prizes are money, but often they’re replicas of some sort. Billy also sometimes brings celebrity guests along.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Schitt’s Creek gets much of its humor from the strange people that live in Schitt’s Creek and how the Roses don’t quite understand them and fit in. Billy on the Street is funny because of the strange encounters Billy has with New Yorkers. Sometimes he’s the strange one to them and sometimes he’s flabbergasted by them. Either way, the interactions lead to comedy gold. The same can be said with Moira, Johnny (Eugene Levy), Alexis (Annie Murphy), and David trying to interact with characters like the Schitts.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant play Sheila and Joel Hammond. They run a successful real estate business and live a typical suburban American life, until some bad clams turn Sheila into a zombie. Liv Hewson played their daughter Abby and Skyler Gisondo played her best friend Eric.
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: One of the great things about the canceled-too-soon Santa Clarita Diet is the devotion and loyalty that the Hammond clan had for one another, especially Sheila and Joel. Despite Moira and Johnny’s personalities, you never wonder how they ended up together. Their love and devotion to one another is quite obvious. The same goes for the Rose family in general. They may have started the series on a different page, but their bond just grew tighter as the series continued.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020)
Ellie Kemper plays Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who was abducted as a teen and forced to live in a bunker for 15 years. It’s about her adjusting to life outside the bunker. Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane, and Jane Krakowski star in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Why It’s a Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Both Schitt’s Creek and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt both deal with characters having to adjust their lives to deal with a new set of circumstances. For the Roses, it’s the loss of privilege, wealth, and some freedoms. For Kimmy, it’s the gaining of freedom and adventure.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Cuckoo (2012-2019)
Ken (Greg Davies) and Lorna (Helen Baxendale) pick up their daughter Rachel (Tamla Kari) from the airport and discover that she married an eccentric American named Dale “Cuckoo” Ashbrick (Andy Samberg).
Why It’s A Good Option for Schitt’s Creek Fans: Both shows focus on more serious characters having to adjust their lives and views to deal with characters that they first find odd and annoying, but then start to like, even if only just a tiny bit.
Stream it on Netflix here.
The entire Schitt’s Creek series is available to stream on Netflix. Stream it here.
