13 Famous Comedians You Probably Forgot Once Had Their Own TV Shows

13 Famous Comedians You Probably Forgot Once Had Their Own TV Shows

Many famous comedians have graced our TV screens with shows that flew under the radar or aired for just a brief moment.

While their stand-up routines and movie roles often steal the spotlight, these short-lived sitcoms and series quietly came and went without much fanfare.

Some were critically praised but struggled with ratings, while others became cult favorites only after cancellation.

1. Norm Macdonald – Norm

Norm Macdonald brought his deadpan delivery and offbeat humor to ABC with a sitcom simply called Norm.

He played a former professional hockey player who lost everything and had to reinvent himself as a social worker.

The premise was quirky, and Macdonald’s dry wit made even mundane situations hilarious.

Running from 1999 to 2001, the show developed a loyal following but never quite broke through to mainstream success.

Macdonald’s unconventional comedic style didn’t always mesh with network television expectations.

Still, fans of his stand-up appreciated the show’s willingness to embrace awkward silences and unexpected punchlines, making it a hidden gem in his career.

2. Margaret Cho – All-American Girl

Margaret Cho made television history in 1994 as the star of All-American Girl, the first network sitcom centered on a Korean American family.

The show tackled cultural identity, generational conflicts, and what it meant to grow up between two worlds.

Cho played a rebellious young woman trying to balance her traditional family’s expectations with her own dreams.

Despite its groundbreaking premise, the show faced constant network interference and was canceled after one season.

Cho later spoke openly about the immense pressure she faced and the toll it took on her mental health.

Today, All-American Girl is remembered as a pioneering effort that paved the way for greater diversity on television.

3. John Mulaney – Mulaney

Before John Mulaney became a household name with his Netflix specials, he tried his hand at network television with a semi-autobiographical sitcom on Fox.

The show followed a rising comedian trying to make it big in New York City while dealing with fame, friendships, and romantic drama.

Critics often compared it to classic sitcoms like Seinfeld, but it struggled to find its own voice and audience.

Despite Mulaney’s sharp writing and comedic timing, the show was canceled after just one season in 2015.

Many fans and critics felt the network format limited his unique style of humor.

Looking back, it remains a fascinating experiment that showed even talented comedians can stumble when transitioning to traditional TV.

4. Jim Carrey – Kidding

Jim Carrey stepped away from his usual over-the-top comedy to star in Kidding, a dark and surreal Showtime series that premiered in 2018.

He played Jeff Piccirillo, a beloved children’s TV host known as Mr. Pickles, who struggles to hold his life together after personal tragedy strikes.

The show blended whimsy with heartbreak, exploring themes of grief, mental health, and the masks people wear.

Carrey delivered a deeply emotional performance that surprised audiences used to his slapstick antics.

Despite critical acclaim and strong performances, the show was canceled after two seasons.

Kidding remains a powerful showcase of Carrey’s dramatic range and willingness to take creative risks.

5. Whitney Cummings – Whitney

Whitney Cummings brought her take on modern relationships to NBC with a sitcom loosely based on her own life.

The show focused on a woman navigating commitment issues, fear of marriage, and the ups and downs of living with her boyfriend.

Cummings used her sharp observational humor to tackle topics like gender roles and relationship expectations.

Whitney ran for two seasons from 2011 to 2013, attracting a dedicated fanbase but also facing criticism for its laugh track and traditional sitcom structure.

Some viewers felt it didn’t fully capture Cummings’ edgy stand-up persona.

Nevertheless, the show gave her valuable experience as a creator and performer, leading to bigger opportunities in Hollywood.

6. Wanda Sykes – Wanda at Large

In Wanda at Large, a Fox sketch comedy series that aired in 2003, Wanda Sykes showcased her biting wit and political commentary.

The show featured Sykes tackling everything from current events to everyday absurdities with her signature sharp tongue.

Each episode mixed stand-up segments with sketches that highlighted her talent for satire and social observation.

Despite strong reviews and Sykes’ undeniable charisma, the show lasted only two seasons before cancellation.

Network executives struggled to market a sketch show led by a Black female comedian during that era.

Looking back, Wanda at Large was ahead of its time, proving Sykes could carry a show with intelligence, humor, and fearless honesty.

7. Billy Eichner – Billy on the Street

Billy Eichner turned the streets of New York City into his personal comedy stage with Billy on the Street, a fast-paced game show that aired on truTV and later Fuse.

Armed with a microphone and celebrity guests, Eichner would sprint through crowds shouting rapid-fire pop culture questions at unsuspecting pedestrians.

The energy was chaotic, hilarious, and utterly unpredictable.

The show ran from 2011 to 2017 and became a viral sensation, with clips spreading across social media like wildfire.

Eichner’s unfiltered enthusiasm and willingness to embarrass himself made every episode a wild ride.

Though it eventually ended, Billy on the Street cemented Eichner’s reputation as one of comedy’s most fearless voices.

8. Sarah Silverman – The Sarah Silverman Program

Sarah Silverman pushed boundaries with The Sarah Silverman Program, a deliberately offensive and absurd Comedy Central sitcom that ran from 2007 to 2010.

She played an exaggerated, childlike version of herself who stumbled through life oblivious to social norms and political correctness.

The humor was dark, surreal, and often uncomfortable, which was exactly the point.

Each episode featured bizarre storylines, musical numbers, and jokes that dared viewers to laugh at taboo subjects.

Critics were divided, but fans loved the show’s fearless approach to comedy.

Though it ended after three seasons, The Sarah Silverman Program remains a cult classic that perfectly captured her provocative comedic style.

9. Ricky Gervais – Extras

After the massive success of The Office, Ricky Gervais created Extras, a British comedy about struggling actors and background performers trying to make it in Hollywood.

The show aired on the BBC and HBO from 2005 to 2007, featuring Gervais as Andy Millman, a wannabe star stuck playing bit parts.

Each episode included celebrity cameos playing exaggerated versions of themselves.

The cringe humor and uncomfortable situations that made The Office famous were dialed up even higher in Extras.

Gervais explored themes of fame, desperation, and artistic compromise with brutal honesty.

Though it only ran for two seasons and a special, Extras earned critical acclaim and multiple awards for its sharp writing and fearless performances.

10. Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback

Lisa Kudrow brilliantly satirized Hollywood in The Comeback, an HBO mockumentary about a former sitcom star desperately trying to revive her career.

She played Valerie Cherish, a fading actress who agrees to let cameras document her return to television on a trashy reality show.

The series was painfully funny, capturing the humiliation and absurdity of chasing fame.

Originally airing in 2005, the show was ahead of its time and canceled after one season due to low ratings.

However, it found new life when HBO revived it for a second season in 2014, earning widespread critical praise.

The Comeback is now considered a masterpiece of cringe comedy and a brilliant commentary on celebrity culture.

11. Kenan Thompson – Kenan

Kenan Thompson, the longest-serving cast member of Saturday Night Live, finally got his own NBC sitcom in 2021.

The show followed a widowed morning show host trying to balance his career with raising two daughters as a single father.

Thompson brought his trademark warmth and comedic timing to the role, creating a family-friendly show with genuine heart.

Despite Thompson’s popularity and strong performances from the cast, Kenan struggled in the ratings and was canceled after two seasons.

Critics praised the show’s positive messages and representation, but it couldn’t find a large enough audience.

Still, it gave Thompson a chance to showcase his leading-man potential beyond sketch comedy.

12. Louis C.K. – Louie

Louis C.K. revolutionized television comedy with Louie, a semi-autobiographical FX series that blended stand-up, surreal vignettes, and raw storytelling.

The show followed a divorced comedian navigating life in New York City with his two daughters.

Episodes ranged from hilarious to heartbreaking, often within the same half-hour, breaking traditional sitcom rules.

Running from 2010 to 2015, Louie earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy awards for its innovative approach to comedy.

C.K. wrote, directed, edited, and starred in the show, maintaining complete creative control.

The series influenced countless comedians and changed what audiences expected from television comedy, proving that personal, experimental storytelling could succeed on cable.

13. Gabriel Iglesias – Mr. Iglesias

Known for his family-friendly stand-up and Fluffy persona, Gabriel Iglesias starred in Mr. Iglesias, a Netflix sitcom that premiered in 2019.

He played a good-hearted high school history teacher who goes out of his way to help gifted but underachieving students succeed.

The show tackled issues like educational inequality, self-esteem, and finding your passion with warmth and humor.

Mr. Iglesias ran for three seasons, offering wholesome comedy that appealed to families and younger viewers.

While it didn’t break new ground in the sitcom format, it showcased Iglesias’ natural charm and commitment to positive representation.

The show ended in 2020, but it remains a testament to his ability to connect with audiences beyond the stage.