Family Guy remains one of the longest-running animated TV shows of all time, and it’s no surprise that plenty of viewers still rank it among their favorite adult animated sitcoms. Its rapid-fire humor and throwaway gags define its identity, although that style doesn’t land for everyone. Several competitors have outpaced it; Fox’s Animation Domination lineup consistently provides solid alternatives, yet many shows outside that core roster arguably surpass Family Guy too.
Archer (2009–2023)
14 Seasons, 145 Episodes
Archer began as a simple James Bond spy parody, then evolved season by season into whatever action-thriller setting the writers wanted to explore. Family Guy occasionally sends its characters into espionage fantasies, although Archer’s commitment to blending workplace comedy with the genre makes it wholly unique. Every Archer season generally has even stranger characters, yet smarter jokes than Family Guy.
H. Jon Benjamin lends the same deadpan voice he uses as Bob Belcher, and Archer even has a hysterical Bob’s Burgers crossover that pokes fun at the voice actor Archer. The show reinvents itself constantly while holding tight to its comedic DNA, using its shifting genres to explore its character dynamics with surprising depth. Each reinvention manages to feel fresh and arguably gets better as the show goes on.
Hazbin Hotel (2019–Present)
2 Seasons, 16 Episodes
Family Guy never shies away from crude humor, but Hazbin Hotel pushes those explicit boundaries to the edges. Some of its early writing feels like a teenager finally being allowed to curse, but season 2 smooths out those impulses, finding a better balance while delivering the strong character focus season 1 excelled at. The show also creates a world full of LBTQ+ personalities worth investing in, in a unique depiction of Heaven and Hell.
Hazbin Hotel is one of the best Prime Video animagted shows, and the real surprise is its musical prowess. Each episode packs in a slate of genuinely impressive songs that are better than any modern Disney production, and the consistency across two seasons feels almost unreal. Sure, Family Guy has some memorable tunes, but you’ll be listening to the Hazbin Hotel soundtrack on repeat.
Smiling Friends (2020–Present)
3 Seasons, 24 Episodes
Family Guy has always dipped into surreal humor, although Smiling Friends pushes into a far stranger space. Those who grew up with Adventure Time will recognize the psychedelic influences, but this show amplifies them to create something truly indescribable. Each 10-minute episode follows Pim and Charlie trying to brighten someone’s day, and their missions unravel into bizarre challenges they never expected.
The show has one consistent animation style, but many of its gags rely on real actors and claymation, which contribute to its unsettling, sometimes intentionally grotesque, charm. Smiling Friends is the best animated comedy right now because it’s a mixed-media extravaganza that constantly makes you wonder how much weirder it will get.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000–2023)
12 Seasons, 144 Episodes
Family Guy’s animation style influenced the genre significantly, though Aqua Teen Hunger Force stands apart as something entirely different. The most iconic Adult Swim series follows a talking milkshake, a box of fries, and a meatball, embracing an aesthetic that borders on the absurd. Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad drift through surreal adventures, often at the expense of their loud-mouth neighbor Carl, and the show thrives on its unfiltered weirdness.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force abandoned its crime-fighting force premise pretty much immediately, becoming whatever its writers felt like exploring. The show also shifts through different eras across batches of its 12 seasons, so it never feels redundant.
Futurama (1999–Present)
10 Seasons, 170 Episodes
Futurama was canceled and revived multiple times, yet the fact that Hulu is still generating new episodes only highlights the loyalty of its fanbase. The story of Fry, a dim-witted pizza delivery boy who wakes centuries in the future is a perfect setup for a sci-fi comedy. If you’re looking for a more appropriate cartoon like Rick and Morty, this one’s the pick.
While the show dips into pop culture riffs, it never leans on nostalgia, instead building a world rich with side characters and serialized storytelling. If Family Guy’s episodic looseness wears thin, Futurama offers a stronger sense of continuity without becoming rigid. You can jump into almost any episode and still feel connected to the emotional thread running through the ensemble. Beyond The Simpsons, it remains one of Matt Groening’s most inventive creations.
The Simpsons (1989–Present)
37 Seasons, 796 Episodes
If the appeal of Family Guy lies partly in its sheer number of episodes, well, The Simpsons leaves it in the dust. Fans often point to seasons 2 through 9 as its creative peak, yet the show’s continued popularity across nearly 40 years proves its staying power. The animation and the playful humor give it a comforting quality that works whether you’re engaged or using it as easy background viewing.
The Simpsons’ gentler tone makes it an endlessly rewatchable TV show, and its cultural footprint is unmatched. Springfield remains one of animation’s most fully realized worlds, filled with side characters who contribute as much to the show’s identity as the core family.
BoJack Horseman (2014–2020)
6 Seasons, 77 Episodes
BoJack Horseman is one of the only animated comedies that’s made me cry across multiple episodes. Set in an anthropomorphized version of Hollywood, the show follows BoJack, an aging 1990s sitcom star battling addiction, regret, and a long history of self-inflicted damage. It’s one of television’s most striking portraits of a broken performer, charting a man who destroys himself while pulling others down with him. The result is heavy and painfully honest.
Few shows balance emotional devastation with hilarious satire as effectively as BoJack Horseman, though. Its takedowns of Hollywood culture are incisive, and Todd’s (voiced by Aaron Paul) absurd episodic adventures brings an absurdity that keeps the show from dipping into too depressing territory. Animated or live-action, BoJack is one of the best TV characters of all time.
South Park (1997–Present)
28 Seasons, 336 Episodes
Family Guy often leaned progressive during Seth MacFarlane’s tenure, especially using Brian’s political commentary as his own filter. But for viewers seeking more balanced satire, South Park remains the genre’s most fearless voice. Matt Stone and Trey Parker scrutinize every corner of American life with a cynical, no-target-is-off-limits approach. The show can be mean-spirited, and some South Park episodes aged badly, although its cultural takedowns are unmatched.
The four boys keep the chaotic worldview grounded, shaping the show’s most memorable jokes with a mix of innocence and bluntness. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are notoriously on record for hating Family Guy, but you don’t need to pick sides—there are plenty of episodes to enjoy from both.
King of the Hill (1997–Present)
14 Seasons, 269 Episodes
King of the Hill didn’t resonate with me as a kid. As an adult, though, the show’s warmth and steady pacing feel almost comforting. Hank Hill’s reserved attitude and earnest family values are a refreshing counterpoint to more chaotic animated comedies. Meanwhile, Bobby Hill has too many funny quotes to count, standing as one of the funniest animated characters on TV, proud of who he is and completely unlike other sons of its competing animated sitcoms.
Family Guy often builds humor from characters attacking one another, but the Hills usually treat each other with compassion, or in Hank Hill’s case with Bobby, embarrassment. It’s not perfect, but the show also ages beautifully compared to most comedies. The recent King of the Hill Hulu review feels like it never even went off the air, either.
Bob’s Burgers (2011–Present)
16 Seasons, 304 Episodes
Family Guy’s humor often leans on its characters hurting one another, but Bob’s Burgers thrives on kindness. The Belchers are the sweetest animated family on TV, constantly taking loss after loss with patience and resilience. They rarely catch a break, and Bob usually ends even the best Bob’s Burgers episodes with more problems than he started with, yet the family’s unity holds everything together.
Bob’s Burgers remains one of the most reliable adult animated comedies, retaining its charm without ever feeling stale. Its gentle humor and heartfelt episodes make it endlessly rewatchable. It’s the show I fall asleep to every night, and for me, it’s the most comforting animated series ever made.
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