9 short-lived sitcoms that didn’t even hit 100 episodes, but proved quality over quantity

It might sound impossible, but many short-lived sitcoms have made it to the hearts of viewers, even with fewer than 100 episodes. Over the years, numerous sitcoms have been released and terminated before they could reach the 100-episode mark, either due to cancellation or naturally.

These short-lived sitcoms still managed to leave an indelible mark with their stories, characters, and relatable content, due to which they still exist in the pop culture phenomenon. Some with their original storyline involving a rich family forced to live in a relatively poor surrounding, to some with their funny and satirical parody of celebrity talk shows – these short-lived sitcoms would still be able to make us laugh and keep us glued to our screens, due to our recently acquired habit of binge-watching.

In this article, we have listed 9 such short-lived sitcoms that did not reach the 100-episode mark but also did not compromise with the quality of their content.

---

9 short-lived sitcoms that didn’t even hit 100 episodes

9) The Loop (17 Episodes)

The Loop, with its two seasons and 17 episodes, depicts the personal and professional lives of Bret Harrison’s Sam Sullivan and the people around him.

The sitcom has Sam thrown in different situations, such as trying to impress his crush Piper by throwing a special birthday party for her, or coming up with an idea to create a low-cost airline for his boss, Russ. These situations create awkward and funny anecdotes for Sam and the people around him, making it a hilarious show to watch.

---

8) The Mick (37 Episodes)

The Mick might have been canceled after two seasons and 37 episodes, but this is one of those short-lived sitcoms that is still remembered by fans due to its hilarity and story.

Starring It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson, the sitcom revolved around Olson’s character, Mickey, struggling to raise her high-maintenance and demanding nephews and niece after their parents are arrested by the FBI for committing fraud.

Mickey, being an irresponsible adult herself, struggles with the children as they are thrust into her care when their grandmother has an accident. The 37-episode long run depicts how Mickey manages to take care of the kids while making several mistakes of her own along the way.

---

7) Police Squad! (6 Episodes)

Despite being canceled after just six episodes, Police Squad! is regarded as one of the best short-lived sitcoms. In the show, Leslie Nielsen’s detective Frank Drebin and the Police Squad try to investigate and solve tricky cases, such as the murder of a credit Union boss or going undercover to expose a case of corruption.

The show has now become a cult classic with a film series called Naked Gun, which was derived from the six-episode sitcom.

---

6) Better Off Ted (26 Episodes)

If you loved the fourth wall breaking by Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag, you should definitely check out Better Off Ted. In this sitcom, Jay Harrington’s Ted Crisp, working in Veridian Dynamics as the head of R&D, often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the viewers while narrating the story.

With its 26-episode run, the satirical show depicts an evil futuristic company that tries to manipulate real-life scenarios, including presidential elections, with its technology. In this beloved short-lived sitcom, we see the employees struggling to differentiate between right and wrong and also trying to do the right thing without being noticed.

---

5) The Office (UK) (14 Episodes)

A good list of short-lived sitcoms wouldn’t be complete without the British sitcom, The Office, based on which we got the American version starring Steve Carell.

In its 14 episodes, the mockumentary depicts the life of the employees of the Slough Trading Estate branch of Wernham Hogg paper company. It follows Ricky Gervais’s David Brent, the general manager of the branch, and his funny but failed attempts to impress his employees with his awkward jokes, which stem from his social faux pas.

---

4) The Larry Sanders Show (90 Episodes)

With just 10 episodes short of the 100-episode mark, The Larry Sanders Show ended organically with 90 episodes and is still regarded as one of the best comedy shows on HBO.

With the focus on the life of the host of a late-night talk show, Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling), the sitcom depicts hilarious events attributed to the exaggerated performances by the celebrity guests who appear on the show. Due to it being less than 100 episodes, the show is one of the best short-lived sitcoms that went on to influence Curb Your Enthusiasm.

---

3) Freaks and Geeks (18 Episodes)

Talking about short-lived sitcoms would be incomplete without the mention of the 1999 sitcom, Freaks and Geeks. From Judd Apatow serving as the EP, the sitcom depicts the social struggles that teenage students go through.

The sitcom with 18 episodes follows siblings, Lindsay and Sam Weir, who become a part of two different groups, the freaks and the geeks. With Lindsay trying to be a part of the freaks, she backs out of participating in the matheletes (which, in turn, gets her parents worried) while her brother struggles with standing up to his bullies and figuring out his social footing.

---

2) Schitt’s Creek (81 Episodes)

One of the best short-lived sitcoms with less than 100 episodes, but still overflowing with quality content still shared through memes, TikTok, and shorts, Schitt’s Creek deserves to be on this list.

The sitcom with 81 episodes follows the Rose family, whose life changes overnight when they lose all of their wealth after being robbed by their business manager. They find themselves in the remote town, Schitt’s Creek, which was a birthday gift from Johnny Rose to his son, David. Initially, they plot to sell the town, but gradually become a part of the place in this funny yet heartwarming sitcom.

---

1) Arrested Development (84 Episodes)

One of the best shot-lived sitcoms, Arrested Development follows the Bluth Family, who have lost their wealth due to the patriarch of the family, Jeffrey Tambor’s George Bluth Sr., being caught for his corruption.

Even after being imprisoned, he still tries to control his family. His son, Jason Bateman’s Michael Bluth, is the only one in the family who is morally right and tries to handle them, after realizing his son, George Michael’s, love for the family. He tries to help the company after his father’s imprisonment.

---

Also Read: 9 TV shows that feel like a deep breath after a long day