9 Shows Like 'Broad City' for Fans of Irreverent Female-Led Comedy

"Broady City" was a hit television show full of humor, and nine other shows like it have female lead characters. These shows have changed how women are portrayed on-screen, and some have tackled sensitive topics relatable to society.

"Broad City" is a sitcom that follows the lives of two women in their twenties living in New York City, Abbi Abrams and Ilana Wexler.

The on-screen duo tends to avoid stressing about life's struggles by hosting rooftop parties. They are relatable yet entertaining.

Some reasons why the show was worth watching was because Abbi and Illana made the tiniest and most mundane events hysterical and disturbing to watch at the same time. Moreover, they had equally funny co-stars, such as Lincoln, a relaxed deadpan dentist, in the show.

"Broad City," created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, aired on Comedy Central for five years, from January 2014 to March 2019. During its run, it gained many fans who still miss it to this day. Meanwhile, other shows are much like it, such as "Girls."

Girls (2012-2017)

"Broad City" was primarily compared to the comedy show "Girls," though the creators were not impressed by the comparison. Glazer said it was "reductive," adding:

"It's like, 'Women in their 20s, you are all the same!' If it's not a white dude thing, it's compared to whatever group you're in."

Similarly to "Broad City," the HBO series "Girls" revolves around girls in their early twenties whose lives are in shambles because of bad decisions.

They live in New York and face adulthood challenges, but the difference to its lookalike is that it is darker and more serious in tone than the silly and joyous "Broad City."

"Girls," created by Lena Dunham, became an instant success after hitting the screens in April 2012. It was ground-breaking because it changed how women were perceived on-screen. The show aired for six seasons until April 2017.

The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

Another show which aired around the same period as "Girls" was "The Mindy Project." The sitcom follows a young Ob/Gyn doctor trying to balance her work and personal life.

Mindy Kaling, who stars as the lead character, created the series. She is surrounded by off-beat co-workers who attempt to help her find love. Off-screen, Kaling's love life is also of interest.

"The Mindy Project" is more centered around romance, unlike "Broad City," but what they both have in common is strong female leads that portray women in a good light.

The show began in 2012, with its first few seasons airing on Fox. After cutting ties with the network, it moved to Hulu, where it aired from 2015 until its sixth final season in 2017. Set in New York City, the series takes place in the lead character's OBGYN practice, and it is irreverent and extremely witty.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)

Another show based on love is the "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" musical. It follows a young woman, Rebecca Bunch, a real estate lawyer who gives up her job and her life in New York City to move to California in an attempt to find happiness.

She decides to uproot after bumping into her former boyfriend and follows him back to his hometown in West Covina, California. The female lead is likable and relatable, like the girls in "Broad City," despite her constantly changing behavior from eccentric to downright melodramatic to unforgivable.

Created by Rachel Bloom, who stars as the main character, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" portrays the same sharp satirical wit as its counterpart, "Broad City." But the only difference is that it has catchy songs.

The comedy series featured at least two songs in every episode and became a fan-favorite because of its approach to mental health, catchy tunes, and smart jokes. The series aired on The CW from October 2015 until its final fourth season.

Fleabag (2016-2019)

A year after "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" hit the screens, the comedy-drama series "Fleabag" followed. The show is an adaptation of an award-winning play about a young woman in her 30s trying to get on with life in London after experiencing tragedy.

Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who plays the lead, "Fleabag" is arguably considered one of the greatest shows of all time, thanks to its writing.

It features outstanding performances and a charming female lead named Fleabag. She is all over the place as she struggles to keep her relationships with her peers on good grounds.

Fleabag is free-spirited, but for some odd reason, she fails to push herself to do better and change her unfavorable circumstances. She is prone to running away from life's problems by constantly drinking and having sexual encounters.

The show's inception was in 2016 and it aired for two seasons before concluding in 2019. One of the reasons it was so successful was because of its dark humor, including sarcasm and awkwardness. It is unique in that no other show could live up to its brand of humor.

Insecure (2016-2021)

Another popular show with memorable humor is "Insecure," which hit the screens on HBO in 2016. It follows a group of modern-day Black women (a vastly underrepresented group in the entertainment industry) who encounter awkward experiences in different aspects of their lives.

"Insecure" received critical acclaim for its coming-of-age portrayal of modern life. The show is partially based on the creator Issa Rae's web series, "Awkward Black Girl."

The series is considered one of its kind because of its approach to complex topics – such as race and the invisibility of the Black woman's voice – by addressing them with a sense of humor.

It portrays a realistic view of life and highlights how everyday problems are solved. This perspective has been achieved because the storylines mirror the writers' personal lives. The comedy-drama aired for five seasons until 2021.

Jane the Virgin (2014-2019)

Long before "Insecure" graced the screens, a drama called "Jane the Virgin" was already on air. It follows a young Catholic woman who discovers that she has been accidentally artificially inseminated, and her life is turned upside down.

The show is worth watching because of the mother-daughter relationships between Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez), Xiomara Villanueva (Andrea Navedo), and Alba Villanueva, which are heart-warming. The trio are lovable characters.

The love triangle between Jane, her boyfriend-turned-fiance Michael Cordero Jr. (Brett Dier, previously engaged to actress Haley Lu Richardson), and Rafael Solano (Justin Baldoni)–who turned out to be the baby's father–is endearing, and it is clear that she has feelings for both men.

The two act as a united front to help Jane navigate her new role as a mom. In one funny scene, she got to breastfeed after struggling throughout the episode and said, "Oh my God, I’m leaking milk, actually leaking." The CW show aired for five seasons from 2014 to 2019.

PEN15 (2019-2021)

The same year it ended, a cringe comedy called "Pen15" started airing on Hulu. It is based on the story of middle school experienced by two 7th-grade girls who deal with awkwardness in their teens.

Although the show focuses on the teenage experience, it is raunchy and, at the same time, a beautiful series about life, friendship, and growing up.

"PEN15" was created by Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, and in the show, there are 13-year-old versions of themselves portrayed by actors in their 30s while the 13-year-olds around them were played by actors of that age.

The series hit the nail on the head with its portrayal of how cringe-worthy teenage life can be, to the point whereby it is hard to watch. "PEN15" aired from 2019 until its second and final season.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2020)

Another show reminiscent of "Broad City" is "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," a production of the online streaming giant Netflix. Created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the show follows a woman rescued from a doomsday cult who later starts a new life in New York City.

Like "Broad City," it is hilarious, absurd, and messy. The female lead, Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) from Indiana, was kidnapped by a doomsday cult when she was a teen.

She and three others were imprisoned in a bunker for 15 years and were rescued when Kimmy was in her twenties. They all get taken to NYC for an appearance on a TV talk show.

While there, Kimmy decided to stay behind. She got an apartment and now had to cope with life while facing adulthood. The sitcom aired for four seasons from 2015 to 2020.

Shrill (2019-2021)

Another Hulu show is "Shrill," centered around a woman, Annie Easton (Aidy Bryant), who is set out to change her life without changing her body.

She begins the show being bashful and doubtful of herself because she had been told that because of her weight, she should look down on herself to please skinny people.

When "Shrill" premiered in 2019, it brought a sense of freshness to the screens and was considered radical because of its stance against fatphobia.

The comedy series, which aired for three seasons until 2021, is set in a magazine as Annie is an up-and-coming journalist in Portland, Oregon. Apart from being overweight, she is intelligent, talented, and selfish.