10 TV Shows Like “Grown Up” That You Should Watch Next.
The twentysomething sitcom is a television classic, but it’s increasingly rare to find a series that survives a first season with low ratings. Grown Ups, which received positive reviews from critics and acclaim from those who actually watched it, escaped obscurity and was renewed for a second season, leading to its rise (aided by the streaming service’s decision to film a new “pilot” episode after the first season had already wrapped).
Despite all the makings of the next streaming hit, Grown Ups hasn’t yet been renewed for a third season, but the ratings and excitement are strong. While you wait (and hope), you can enjoy other important series about characters on the cusp of adulthood.
I Love Los Angeles (2025 – )
Rachel Sennott ( Shiva Baby , Bottoms ) created, produced, wrote, and stars in this twentysomething series, part of a venerable tradition of TV comedies it shares with Grown Ups . Sennott plays 27-year-old Maya, desperate for a promotion at her job as an assistant talent manager. Tallulah (Odessa A’zion), her former best friend and a struggling New York influencer, arrives in town. Tallulah is a hilarious yet tiresome addition to Maya’s circle of friends, which includes West Hollywood stylist Charlie (Jordan Firstman) and Maya’s teacher boyfriend, Dylan (Josh Hutcherson). As Gen Z’s answer to Girls, the series is cleverly written and powerfully acted, which is crucial when the characters are charming, believable, and unbearably unlikeable. Watch I Love L.A. on HBO Max .
Sex Lives of College Girls (2021–2025)
Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) is a hopelessly naive college student on scholarship; Bela (Amrit Kaur) is an aspiring comedy writer trying to catch the attention of the hottest guys; Whitney (Alia Chanel Scott) is an ambitious athlete and the daughter of a senator; and Layton (Renee Rapp) is a closeted sorority girl. They are all randomly assigned to the same room at the fictional Essex College in Vermont for their freshman year. Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, this comedy-drama isn’t as explicit as its title suggests—there’s sex, sure—but like Sex and the City before it, it’s a funny, LGBTQ-friendly show that’s less about a single romantic lead than it is about growing up and learning the value of female friendship. Watch Coed Sex Lives on HBO Max .
Lonely Drunk Woman (2022–2023)
Samantha Fink (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is a 28-year-old alcoholic who hits rock bottom with an embarrassing public breakdown. Determined to quit drinking, she returns to Boston to live with her strict and overbearing mother (Ally Sheedy) and reconnects with her best friend, Brit (Sasha Compère). Of course, despite the appeal of this idea, she finds herself back in the very environment that led to her alcoholism in the first place. Funny and humane, this is another series about complex and confused young people trying to start a new life. Watch “Single Drunk Female” on Tubi.
Overcompensation (2025 – )
Comedian Benito Skinner plays himself, sort of, in this acclaimed comedy about a former high school athlete who begins his freshman year of college desperately trying to convince himself and everyone else that he’s completely straight (understandable, if not for the jock part). Much of the film’s appeal lies in its deft blend of tones: it’s simultaneously an often-frank college comedy and a sweet coming-of-age story about accepting yourself without worrying about what others think. It stars Adam DiMarco ( White Lotus ) and Rish Shah ( Ms. Marvel ), and there’s a romantic element, though the focus is more on what not to do in young love. Watch Overcompensation on Prime Video.
Margot has financial problems (2026 – )
In Margot’s Money Troubles, Elle Fanning plays Margot, a 20-year-old aspiring writer who becomes pregnant after a brief affair with her married English literature professor. Her mother, Shyanne (Michelle Pfeiffer), is supportive but negative about her future prospects, while her estranged father, Jinx (Nick Offerman), is willing to help after leaving rehab. Still, she needs money to cope, so she turns to OnlyFans (and who hasn’t?). Although the series is based on a standalone book, it has been renewed for a second season. Watch Margot’s Money Troubles on Apple TV .
Welcome to Waikiki (2018–2019)
Let’s break it down a bit, as the title can be a bit confusing: Waikiki is set in Seoul, and the title itself refers to a Hawaiian-themed guesthouse run (rather poorly) by three twenty-somethings, each dreaming of success in different parts of the film business. They are joined by a single mother aspiring to be a rap star, an aspiring journalist, and a struggling model. Between these six, there are romantic complications, a bit of drama, and then a lot of the strange, surreal, almost farcical comedy that Grown Ups excels at. Watch Waikiki on Tubi.
Derry Girls (2018–2022)
The return to high school further distances us from the “independent twentysomethings” image of Grown Ups, but the atmosphere matches quite well, as does the absurdist sense of humor. This is a true sitcom, set in Northern Ireland during the violent events of the 1990s, when clashes between nationalists and unionists were common. This fascinating contrast is brought to life by the writer and creator (Lisa McGee), who lived through it. The show is also very funny—though it doesn’t make any concessions to viewers unaccustomed to Irish accents, so don’t worry if you need subtitles until you get the hang of it. Erin, Orla, Claire, and Michelle are lifelong friends, joined by James, the only boy at their Catholic girls’ school, and they all grapple with growing independence in absurd times.Watch Derry Girls on Netflix .
Uncertainty (2016–2021)
If we can show high school girls, we can certainly reach an older age range—two women approaching 30, like Issa Rae and Molly Yvonne Orji at the beginning of this comedy-drama, which Rae also created and (often) writes. Issa is the only Black employee at a nonprofit supporting Black high school students; her love life is a mess, and her best friend, Molly, is a successful lawyer who also struggles with long-term relationships. The show is primarily about the two best friends and their circle of friends who, as they approach adulthood, discover that life won’t always turn out as they planned or hoped. Watch “Insecure” on HBO Max .
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019)
The inexplicably underrated Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a sitcom-drama hybrid that, over four seasons, delivered incredibly ambitious and consistently funny musical numbers. In the series, Rachel Bloom plays Rebecca Bunch, a Yale- and Harvard-educated lawyer working at a major New York firm. She gives up everything to pursue the love of her youth and moves to a small town in California, where she (awkwardly) builds a new life with a new circle of friends. What’s particularly impressive is how the series tackles the real-life issues of mental illness and its treatment with unexpected humor, as well as genuine compassion and candor. Buy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Prime Video.
Living Alone (1993–1998)
Let’s go back to the roots and watch one of the best and most underrated sitcoms of the 1990s. In “Living Single ,” Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Kim Fields, and Erika Alexander play four young friends trying to adjust to life alone in New York City in a typical ’90s world. The show uses the same tropes as “The Golden Girls” (four women with distinct personalities) and has certainly served as an inspiration for subsequent shows (including “Friends “). “Living Single” infuses comedy (and silliness) with relevant social issues and a relatable relationship drama that doesn’t ruin the experience at all, making it perfect for binge-watching. Watch “Living Single” on Hulu .