10 sitcoms with wild structures like How I Met Your Mother

How I met your mother (Image Source: Netflix)
How I met your mother (Image Source: Netflix)

How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, admired for its characterizations, wild structure, unexpected twists, memorable storyline, and ability to attract people, and so it does. The series set a new paradigm for time-bending storytelling. It takes fans on a journey through time, where every moment counts. And if you are looking for similar sitcoms to HIMYM, below is a list of 10 sitcoms for you.


10 sitcoms with wild structures like How I Met Your Mother

Community

Community (Image Source: Prime Video)
Community (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Prime Video

This standout sitcom, created by Dan Harmon, premiered on NBC in 2009. The series centers on a group of young characters at Greendale Community College. The students form a study group for a Spanish class and gradually become an integral part of each other's lives. Being an experimental sitcom, it adopts different genre styles, such as action, animation, documentary, western, or sci-fi. Community's "A Fistful of Paintballs" and "Remedial Chaos Theory" make it wildly structured, similar to How I Met Your Mother.


The Good Place

The Good Place (Image Source: Prime Video)
The Good Place (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Netflix

The structure of the series is very unusual; although at first it seems like a normal sitcom, the story entails philosophy, morality, existentialism, and surprising plot twists. The premise of the story changes completely each season, and even the question of whether "The Good Place" is even real is raised. The series is one of the sitcoms that can make viewers think as well as laugh. The Good Place departs from traditional sitcom conventions and provides a refreshing take on comedy with a philosophical twist.


Russian Doll

Russian Doll (Image Source: Netflix)
Russian Doll (Image Source: Netflix)

Where to Watch: Netflix

This time-traveling dark comedy-drama can convince you to love it. Starring Nadia Vulvokov, a software developer who, on the night of her 36th birthday, experiences a strange event, dies, and returns to the same night over and over again, as if trapped in a time loop. The series is about self-discovery, trauma, past mistakes, and the power of forgiveness. Russian Doll’s structure is as strange and more complex than HIMYM.


A.P. Bio

A.P. Bio (Image Source: Prime Video)
A.P. Bio (Image Source: Prime Video)

When to Watch: Netflix

The series does not follow the usual sitcom structure, creating a kind of moral paradox narrative. Jack's character is not a hero but a kind of satirical "antihero"—a self-absorbed former Ivy League professor who is forced to adjust to a position he considers beneath him. Each episode of Bio revolves around a strange, often unexpected story, where the strange behavior of the school administration, the experimental thinking of the students, and Jack's off-the-cuff attitude combine to create a unique tone.


Scrubs

Scrubs (Image Source: Prime Video)
Scrubs (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

Scrubs is characterized by its voiceover narration, fantasy cutaways, and broken timelines. In this sitcom, J.D. presents his experiences, thoughts, and learnings to the audience, often through humorous fantasy scenes or musical performances. The characters named Turk, Elliot, Dr. Cox, Carla, and the Janitor are all important parts of this medical sitcom and wonderfully developed.


Happy Endings

Happy Endings (Image Source: Prime Video)
Happy Endings (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Netflix

This cult favorite features six friends who help each other through life's challenges, relationships, and humorous situations. The main plot of Happy Endings revolves around a group of friends who struggle to pick sides once the couple that created the group breaks up. The quirky characters, fast-paced dialogue, and great comedic teaming are fan favorites. Happy Endings often uses flashbacks and re-dialogue, similar to HIMYM, to create a unique blend of humor and emotion.


The Mindy Project

The Mindy Project (Image Source: Prime Video)
The Mindy Project (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Prime Video

The Mindy Project centers on Dr. Mindy Lahiri, who is a bright, colorful, and romantically inclined female doctor at a small gynecology and obstetrics clinic in New York City. The Mindy Project explores Mindy's professional and personal struggles. Its stylish presentation, sarcastic humor, and romantic perspective are notable. Mindy's relatable character and witty dialogue make for an entertaining and engaging series that has garnered a dedicated fan base.


The Middle

The Middle Image Source: Prime Video)
The Middle Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Prime Video

The Middle depicts the daily lives of a middle-class American family in a humorous but realistic way. The series shows a small town in Indiana where a family consisting of a working mother serves as the main narrator of the story. A simple, lifelike portrayal of the financial struggles, family conflicts, complexities of parenting, and the conflict between dreams and reality of a middle-class family through humor.


New Girl

New Girl (Image Source: Prime Video)
New Girl (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Each character matures over time, but their humorous, tactless, and heartfelt traits remain in New Girl. Like How I Met Your Mother, the series features long-term love stories (Jess and Nick's relationship), reunions, and the use of fun flashbacks. Another of New Girl's great assets is its comedic timing and "found family" theme. Jess's quirky nature, Nick's lazy wit, Schmidt's dramatics, Winston's odd hobbies, and Cece's smart and steady presence combine to make this a lively, sensitive, and deeply funny series.


Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Image Source: Prime Video)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to Watch: Netflix

Brooklyn Nine-Nine shows a team of exceptional police officers, led by dutiful Captain Raymond Holt. The central character of this amazing sitcom is a brilliant detective. That guy, along with his colleagues, solves a variety of exciting cases; you will go crazy if you watch them. It is more than just a comedy; it is a heartfelt, thoughtful, and hilarious buddy-centric story. The show also explores important social issues in a light-hearted and entertaining way, making it both enjoyable and thought-provoking.


If you are looking for a sitcom with a quirky structure that offers good storytelling, definitely go for these ones. These series have captured the attention of the viewers every time they watch. Humor, the emotional journey of the characters, and the depth of their relationships catch the critics' eyes too. So, if you enjoyed the series How I Met Your Mother, you should also add these shows to your watchlist.

Edited by Sangeeta Mathew