These maybe shows about families, be warned that not all of them are kid-friendly. ABC's sitcoms might be a better choice for the whole family than, say, Ramy, though everyone of course has different standards.
Jane the Virgin
If you want to spend time with a truly modern and
model American family, look no further than Jane the Virgin's central trio of women and the love they spread everywhere. The Villanuevas are a family, but that word extends to include Jane's husband, her unplanned child by artificial insemination, the baby's father, and the baby's father's ex wife. It includes grandmother Alba's beau Jorge and Jane's estranged father, international telenovela star Rogelio de la Vega. And if you watch even one episode of the show, it includes you as you embark on a wild, wonderful ride with these unique characters.
Where to watch: Netflix
Bonus: Pose
You don't have to be blood to be family, and the fantastic mothers and children of Pose reinforce that with every episode. Set in the 1980s ballroom scene in New York City, amid the HIV/AIDs crisis and rampant transphobia, Pose brings together the queer and trans community, who stick up for each other when no one else will.
Where to watch: Netflix
You don't have to be blood to be family, and the fantastic mothers and children of Pose reinforce that with every episode. Set in the 1980s ballroom scene in New York City, amid the HIV/AIDs crisis and rampant transphobia, Pose brings together the queer and trans community, who stick up for each other when no one else will.
Where to watch: Netflix
Fresh Off the Boat
It might not explicitly follow the Eddie Huang memoir on which it's based, but Fresh Off the Boat has so many gifts to offer, not least of which is that it was a mainstream network comedy about a Chinese family. Every family member is a singular delight, none more than Constance Wu's Jessica — dry and witty but willing to fight or befriend anyone to protect and help her family.
Where to watch: Netflix
Ramy
Ramy is as much about the title character's nuclear family as it is about his own misadventures in his 20s. The Egyptian-American family's interactions and community will look familiar to many people from immigrant families, including controversial yet comical conversations about school and relationships (sometimes featuring a racist uncle). Ramy's mother and sister even get spotlight episodes, both of which are breathtaking in entirely unique ways as they navigate the additional complication of being Muslim women.
Where to watch: Hulu
One Day at a Time
With its laugh track and multicam setup, plus the fact that it's literally a reboot of a 45-year-old show, One Day at a Time feels in some ways like a throwback. But the familiar format feels comforting, not stale, and the premise — three generations of a Cuban-American working-class family live together in LA's rapidly gentrifying Echo Park neighborhood — couldn't feel more modern. Combining big laughs, deep emotion, and Rita Frickin' Moreno, One Day at a Time is a balm for the soul. — Angie Han, Deputy Entertainment Editor
Where to watch: Netflix
Kim's Convenience
Much like fellow Canadian darling, Schitt's Creek, Kim's Convenience operates in a small world with a family of four as they try to live their lives without driving each other crazy. Janet just wants to get through art school without her parents completely snapping, but she's careful after their estrangement from her brother Jung. The convenieRance store ties the story together, brings some ... eclectic characters into their lives, and operates like any sitcom living room — it's an entry point into the inner lives of this family.
Where to watch: Netflix
Brown Nation
A married couple is a family unit unto itself, as evidenced by Hasmukh and Dimple on this hidden Netflix gem. Their lives are full enough with Dimple's burgeoning acting career, Hasmukh's startup, and the looming presence of Dimple's father over every move they make. There isn't even a forced Bollywood number (though there is a truly fabulous rap video).
Where to watch: Netflix
Survivor's Remorse
Don't let the grim title fool you: Survivor's Remorse is a breezy watch for grownups, chronicling the ups and downs of a hot young basketball star and his lovable extended family. (Think Entourage but less annoying, and with even less basketball than Entourage had acting.) Even when it delves into weightier topics like class, colorism, and abuse, it never loses its cheeky sense of humor, or its warm, affectionate vibe. — A.H.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
black-ish
When black-ish debuted in 2014, not since the early days of Modern Family had there been such joy in watching a nuclear unit stumble through the ins and outs of daily life. The Johnsons are wealthy, attractive, and stylish, but dad Andre lives in perpetual fear of his kids disconnecting from their blackness, and him by extension. It manifests in small life choices he sees them make as much as in massive cultural moments like the 2016 election and an episode devoted entirely to police brutality against black people.
Where to watch: Hulu
Gentefied
Netflix's latest (based on a Sundance miniseries) is the story of three Los Angeles cousins banding together to fight for love, family, and land — the American Dream. Those are some heavy hills to fight and die on, but the series tackles them skillfully and enjoyably.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Carmichael Show
The Carmichael Show may be old-school, but there's nothing fusty about it. Jerrod Carmichael's sitcom is audacious and ambitious, daring to tackle heavy topics head-on and find humor in unexpected places — though it's not afraid to get serious from time to time, either. With a fantastic cast that includes Tiffany Haddish, Lil Rel Howery, and Loretta Devine, The Carmichael Show is the one you turn to for easy laughs and difficult conversations. — A.H.
Where to watch: Hulu
Enjoy yourselves as you self-isolate!
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