30 best shows streaming right now on Peacock

Stars: Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander

Number of seasons: 7

Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, based on her experiences as an SNL writer and performer, wonderfully captures the pop culture era it aired in—and it’s still a tremendous time capsule today. The workplace comedy follows Fey’s Liz Lemon, the head writer of an NBC sketch comedy, and her coworkers. It uses surreal humor to dig into the company’s corporate shenanigans, offering acerbic and incisive takes on the media and Hollywood in general. The ensemble is a gift that keeps on giving, with Krakowski’s turn as Jenna Maroney being an all-timer of a performance. And, to be sure, 30 Rock will go down as one of NBC’s landmark TV shows.

Stars: Amber Ruffin

Number of seasons: 3

Amber Ruffin is one of the best parts of Late Night With Seth Meyers, so it’s not surprising that NBC wants to keep her around. Ruffin not only still co-writes for Meyers but hosts her own late-night talk show on Peacock. Her commentary on politics, pop culture, and everything in between is consistently hilarious and poignant.

Stars: Ana Gasteyer, Harriet Dyer, Jon Barinholtz, X Mayo, Michael Benjamin Washington, Tye White, Humphrey Ker

Number of seasons: 2

If you’re missing Superstore, Justin Spitzer’s new comedy might fill the void. American Auto is a workplace comedy set in the automobile company Payne Motors. Instead of the working class, though, this one follows the messy shenanigans of the corporate culture. New CEO Katherine Hastings (Gasteyer) knows nothing about cars—but she can be a good leader when she wants to be, especially with the help of her team as they battle various crises. Watch the two perfect seasons on Peacock since NBC decided not to renew it for a third.

Stars: Emmy Rossum, Martin Freeman, Lukas Gage, Hamish Linklater, Alex Karpovsky, Molly Ephraim, Phillip Ettinger, Michael Angarano

Number of seasons: 1

You’ve never seen Emmy Rossum like this before. The Shameless star transforms into the singer, actor, and media personality Angelyne, who became known throughout Los Angeles in the ’80s for her billboard advertisements. Angelyne is a five-part series that explores how she rose to fame, while in 2010, entertainment journalist Jeff Glaser attempts to uncover her life story, one that is full of conflicting accounts from those who know her.

Stars: Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, Amy Poehler

Number of seasons: 2

Who doesn’t love a wholesome television experience? It’s exactly what Baking It is here to provide. The episodes follow contestant duos who work together to create outstanding savory and sweet creations for themed challenges to win a cash prize. Sure, it sounds like every other Food Network show. But the winning formula is Maya Rudolph, who hosts both seasons. (In season one, she teamed up with Andy Samberg, while the second batch featured her and BFF Amy Poehler.)

Stars: Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, Liane Liberato, Priscilla Quintana, Li Jun Li, Natalia Dyer

Number of seasons: 1

Once you get past the ridiculousness of the premise, Based On A True Story is a pretty entertaining satire on the rise of the true-crime genre. Craig Rosenberg’s comedy centers on a married couple, Ava (Cuoco) and Nathan (Messina), who are expecting a child. To make a quick buck, they team up with their plumber to start a podcast, only to discover he’s the notorious Los Angeles serial killer police are after. It’s a silly and amusing time, with enough twists and good performances to keep us hooked.

Stars: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Olivia Cooke, Max Thieriot, Nicola Peltz, Nestor Carbonell, Kenny Johnson

Number of seasons: 5

Bates Motel is a riveting contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. The drama centers on the mother-son duo Norma and Norman Bates, who move to a coastal Oregon town for a fresh start after the death of Norma’s husband. However, as Norman’s mental illness starts becoming dangerous, it threatens to unravel their lives as Norma tries her best to protect her son. The show successfully reinvents a classic thriller and features Farmiga and Highmore’s career-best performances. And look out for an MVP turn from House Of The Dragon’s Cooke.

Stars: Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan

Number of seasons: 4

Developed by For All Mankind’s Ronald D. Moore, Battlestar Galactica picks up after the three-part miniseries that aired in 2003. For any fans of space-set TV shows, this one is a must-watch. Set in a distant star system, humans live on a group of planets called the Twelve Colonies of Kobol—but they’re bombarded by a devastating attack. Thousands of survivors flee on the Battlestar Galactica, led by President Laura Roslin and Commander William Adama, in search of a fabled colony known as Earth.

Stars: Chris Redd, Jak Knight, Sam Jay, Langston Kerman, Freddie Gibbs, Phi Tan

Number of seasons: 1

Co-created by the four lead actors, Bust Down is a biting comedy about a group of friends working a low-income job at the Diamondback Casino in Gary, Indiana. The irreverent series follows them as they explore opportunities in and out of the workplace while dealing with domestic disputes, boundary-violating bosses, and the challenges of climbing the corporate ladder.

Stars: Zackary Arthur, Björgvin Arnarson, Jennifer Tilly, Devon Sawa, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Teo Briones, Brad Dourif, Barbara Alyn Woods

Number of seasons: 2

Who doesn’t love a good dose of a murderous doll, especially during the spooky season? Don Mancini returns to the Child’s Play franchise with this spectacular slasher series. Chucky is set in Hackensack, New Jersey, following unwitting teen Jake Wheeler, who buys the Chucky doll only to discover it inhabits the soul of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. Season three arrives in October.

Stars: Jake Lacy, Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Hendrix Yancey, McKenna Grace, Austin Stowell, Patrick Fischler, Philip Ettinger

Number of seasons: 1

A Friend Of The Family expands on the wild real-life story explored in the 2019 documentary Abducted In Plain Sight. In excruciating but well-plotted detail, the drama unpacks how a teenage Jan Broberg was kidnapped twice in the ’70s by a family pal who was obsessed with her. As The A.V. Club’s review notes: “In a rare feat, A Friend Of The Family actually justifies its lengthy runtime of nine hourlong episodes. Peacock’s series is an alarming, thought-provoking, and vital deep dive into a true story that, on the surface, appears outlandish.”

Stars: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles, Paula Pell, Busy Phillips, Daniel Breaker, Andrew Rannels, Ashley Park, Erika Henningsen

Number of seasons: 2

Created by Meredith Scardino, Girls5eva is a great time. The musical comedy follows four members of a ’90s one-hit-wonder girl band who reunite in the present day for their second shot at fame. It means Girls5eva is chock-full of hilarious original songs, from “Famous 5eva” to “Dream Girlfriends” to “New York Lonely Boy”—they’re all instant earworms. It carries the effortless energy of co-producer Tina Fey’s other projects, including 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. While the show moves to Netflix for its upcoming third season, you can still watch the first two on Peacock.

Stars: Nicole Byer, Echo Kellum, Carl Tart, Justin Cunningham, Aaron Jennings, Grasie Mercedes

Number of seasons: 2

Continuing the tradition of NBC’s impressive ensemble comedies, Grand Crew is a fun sitcom from Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Phil Augusta Jackson and Dan Goor. The show follows a group of longtime friends who frequent their favorite wine bar as they navigate relationship and career problems. Not only is it hilarious, but GC is one of the few network TV shows that features a primarily Black cast. The two excellent seasons are streaming on Peacock, and much like American Auto, NBC decided not to continue GC.

Stars: Craig Robinson, Claudia O’Doherty, Scott MacArthur, Stephanie Nogueras, Tim Heidecker, Zach Grenier

Number of seasons: 2

Co-created by Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Dan Goor and Luke Del Tridici, Killing It adds to Peacock’s line-up of irreverent comedies. The show follows Craig, a divorced single father who has failed to secure a loan for his new business. However, he learns from his Australian Uber driver, Jillian, that there’s a lot of money to be made by hunting snakes. So they both enroll to participate in the South Florida Python Challenge for a $20,000 prize, showcasing a funny dynamic along the way. In season two, which was released in August, they finally start their farm only to be met with a barrage of new challenges.

Stars: Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Richard Belzer, Michelle Hurd, Kelli Giddish, Ice-T, Peter Scanavino

Number of seasons: 23

Say what you will about Law & Order: SVU, this show is built to last. Dick Wolf’s police-procedural drama has survived an incredible amount of change in the TV industry. It’s going strong 24 seasons in, and has been renewed for a landmark 25th. Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson is on track to become one of TV’s most pivotal figures. So it’s always a good time to catch up on how the officers of the Special Victims Unit are solving tough cases. All you need is weeks upon weeks of free time.

Stars: Betty Gilpin, Jake McDorman, Margo Martindale, Elizabeth Marvel, Andy McQueen, Tom Wlaschiha, Katja Herbers, Chris Diamantopoulos

Number of seasons: 1

Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez’s Mrs. Davis is nothing if not unexpected (read: brace yourself for plenty of exciting twists). The timely sci-fi dramedy follows a recently ousted nun, Sister Simone (Gilpin), as she teams up with her ex-boyfriend in a battle against AI that takes them on a globe-spanning journey. Mrs. Davis is an unpredictable ride that ends with a satisfying conclusion. And hopefully, it will remain the rare limited series that doesn’t mess about with a season two.

Stars: Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, William Windom, Ron Masak, Louis Herthum

Number of seasons: 12

There’s no better way to toast the legendary Angela Lansbury, who died in October 2022, than by revisiting one of her most iconic performances. In Murder, She Wrote, she starred as mystery scribe and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher, who gets caught up in several cases, and the actor earned 12 Emmy nominations during the show’s lengthy run.

Stars: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Hannah Simone, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Damon Wayans Jr., Nasim Pedrad

Number of seasons: 7

If you weren’t obsessed with “Who’s that girl? It’s Jess!” when New Girl aired, now is your chance to catch up. Fox’s ensemble sitcom follows Zooey Deschanel’s Jessica Day, who moves in with three guys in an L.A. loft after a breakup. Jess and her BFF, Cece (Hannah Simone), find friends and their soulmates with this crew. New Girl remains an ultimate comfort favorite, and let’s not forget that it gave us TV’s best first kiss of all time. (We said what we said.)

Stars: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, Angela Kinsey, Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, Brian Baumgartner, Ed Helms, Ellie Kemper

Number of seasons: 9

One of NBC’s most iconic sitcoms, The Office is a breezy binge-watch. The mockumentary, inspired by the British series of the same name, follows the employees of a fictional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The workplace comedy features excellent performances, running gags, and the World’s Best Boss, Michael Scott. The Office is great whether it’s your first or fifth time watching it. And if you’re so inclined, you can rewatch it along with Fischer and Kinsey’s podcast, Office BFFs.

Stars: Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, Retta, Aubrey Plaza, Rashida Jones, Rob Lowe, Chris Pratt, Aziz Ansari

Number of seasons: 7

Much like The Office, Parks And Recreation is an unmissable TV show for any fans of the mockumentary genre. Treat yourself to it! Greg Daniels and Mike Schur created another winning comedy. Set in the fictional Pawnee, Indiana, P&R follows the parks department, led by an overenthusiastic Leslie Knope (Poehler). Come for Knope and her undeniable chemistry with Ben Wyatt (Scott), and stay for a star-making performance by Plaza, who continues to rule our screen.

Stars: Paul T. Goldman, Melinda McGraw, Christopher Stanley, Michael Dempsey, Dennis Haysbert, James Remar

Number of seasons: 1

Directed by Jason Woliner, Paul T. Goldman is Peacock’s answer to HBO’s The Rehearsal. It’s wacky and weird yet endlessly enjoyable. Part comedy, part docuseries, the show revolves around the titular character who uncovers his ex-wife’s fraud and deception. Thrust into the criminal world, he has no idea what to do next. Woliner tries to keep the series he thought he was making from going off the rails as Goldman stars in reenactments, changes the script, and challenges Woliner’s vision. Check out The A.V. Club’s interview with the director about all of it.

Stars: Natasha Lyonne, Benjamin Bratt, Ellen Barkin, Megan Suri, Chloë Sevigny, Tim Blake Nelson, Tim Meadows, Adrien Brody, Dascha Polanco

Number of seasons: 1

Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne are a match made in TV heaven. Lyonne leads this case-of-the-week show as Charlie Cale, who goes on the run when her wealthy casino boss seeks revenge on her. With an uncanny ability to detect lies, Charlie goes from city to city, solving murders that happen around her. The show, in turn, boasts an impressive guest cast with each episode. Poker Face’s first season wrapped in March, but don’t worry: Peacock has renewed it for another round.

Stars: Cristin Milioti, William Jackson Harper, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Skyler Gisondo, Nina Bloomgarden, Gabriela Cartol, Nick Offerman

Number of seasons: 1

The Resort is a weirdly compelling and suspenseful comedy. Despite introducing multiple mysteries (bordering on the mystical), the show succeeds thanks to an impressive cast, all of whom pull off the nuanced balance between humor and tragedy. The show follows married couple Noah and Emma, who gets roped into solving a 15-year-old cold case of two missing teens while on vacation in the Mayan Riviera. Here’s an excerpt from The A.V. Club’s review: “The delightful ensemble makes The Resort a breeze, even if the payoff leaves something to be desired.”

Stars: Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Dustin Milligan, Jesse Leigh, Beth Stelling, Bobby Wilson, Devery Jacobs, Dana L. Wilson

Number of seasons: 2

Peacock executives really didn’t know how good they had it with Rutherford Falls. Even though the comedy was canceled after two seasons, it will remain one of their top-tier originals. Co-created by Sierra Teller Ornelas, Mike Schur, and series star Ed Helms, it follows childhood best friends Nathan and Reagan, who find themselves at a crossroads when a crisis hits their small town. Moreover, the show is a joyful exploration of the Indigenous community, with scene-stealing performances from Greyeyes and Schmieding.

Stars: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Nico Santos, Nichole Sakura, Colton Dunn, Mark McKinney, Kaliko Kauahi

Number of seasons on Hulu: 6

Everything about Superstore screams quintessential American workplace comedy. Hailing from Justin Spitzer (The Office), the talented and diverse cast plays employees of big-box retail chain store Cloud 9 in Minnesota. Through the lens of their working-class jobs, the show explores their friendships and livelihoods. While series star Ferrera exited before the last season, Superstore goes out with an emotionally charged final bow as it tackles the pandemic.

Stars: Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, Padma Lakshmi, Kristen Kish

Number of seasons: 20

Top Chef has been going strong for 20 seasons, so it’s safe to say the cooking reality competition has figured out the secret sauce. And now the streamer has every episode of the series, so there’s no better time to catch up and appreciate these fantastic toques, some stiff competition, and Padma Lakshmi’s incredible run as host. (Kristen Kish will replace her in the Wisconsin-set season 21.)

Stars: Alan Cumming

Number of seasons: 1

Hosted by Alan Cumming, new reality show The Traitors chronicles 20 contestants in a castle in the Scottish Highlands who hope to win a $250,000 prize. Among the “faithful” players are some “traitors”—that is, people selected by the host whose goal is to eliminate the rest and claim the prize for themselves. It’s an unexpectedly great time, and Cumming is as charming as ever. (Be sure to watch The A.V. Club’s interview with him.) And luckily for us, the show has been renewed for a second season.

Stars: Lisa Vanderpump, Katie Maloney, Schaena Shay, Raquel Leviss, Ariana Madix, Brittany Cartwright, Tom Schwartz, Tom Sandoval

Number of seasons: 10

The phrase “Scandoval” has taken over the internet and infused renewed interest in Vanderpump Rules, Bravo’s reality TV offshoot of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills. While the show has been on for a decade, Tom Sandoval’s cheating scandal is the biggest things to happen to the show. It certainly transformed season 10 into must-see TV almost overnight.

Stars: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Faith Omole, Juliette Motamed, Lucie Shorthouse, Zaqi Ismael, Aiysha Hart, Shobu Kapoor

Number of seasons: 1

Nida Manzoor captured lightning in a bottle with her riotous six-part comedy, We Are Lady Parts. Set in London, the show follows Muslim women who team up to form a punk band with hopes of winning a major competition. Manzoor’s writing smartly unpacks their diverse Muslim culture and traditions, all while the five of them navigate their friendship and crushes. Also, expect some truly terrific original music.

Stars: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Gil Birmingham, Cole Hauser

Number of seasons: 5

Taylor Sheridan has created his version of MCU with the folks at Paramount, and it all began with Yellowstone. Just expect a different set of heroes and villains here. The show is set in Montana, following the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch. Costner’s John Dutton is the patriarch constantly fighting to protect his home from land developers, a national park, and the bordering Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Since its debut, Yellowstone has racked up a massive viewership, with Sheridan creating several spin-offs of the show. If you want to know what the fuss is all about, Peacock has you covered. (Season five is rumored to resume at the end of 2023.)