Saved by the Bell (2020)
If you came of age in the '90s, chances are you have a soft spot in your heart for Saved by the Bell, a goofy sitcom aimed at teenagers that often managed to sneak in some important life lesson amongst all its corny jokes. Now, Saved by the Bell has been revived for a new generation, and it's brought several members of the original cast along for the journey! Leaving behind the cheesy laugh track and multi-cam presentation of its predecessor, Saved by the Bell 2020 is a sharper, wittier affair that could best be described as a teenage version of Community – no surprise coming from showrunner Tracey Wigfield, who cut her teeth as a staff writer on 30 Rock before creating Great News. Featuring a diverse cast of up-and-coming stars, and a poignant message about the privilege that comes with having money, the new Saved by the Bell is a winner. Best of all, its second season is better than the first, which means we can't wait to see where the new Saved by the Bell goes next.
Seasons on Stan: 2
Girls5eva
From the hilarious minds of producer Tina Fey (30 Rock) and creator (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) comes Girls5eva, the story of a one-hit-wonder girl group from the '90s who stage a comeback in their 40s when a young rapper samples their song. Yes, it's as funny as it sounds.
Seasons on Stan: 2
30 Rock
One of the best sitcoms of all time, 30 Rock follows Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), head comedy writer for a middling sketch comedy show on NBC, as she attempts to wrangle the show's insane stars, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), and her unruly writing staff. All of this happens under the watchful eye of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), a home appliance executive who's been granted complete control of the TV network, leading to more than a few questionable programming decisions (the reality series MILF Island being just one of them). While the show is incredibly funny, the real joy of 30 Rock is watching Jack and Liz's mentor/mentee relationship grow over the course of 7 hilarious seasons.
Seasons on Stan: 7
Black Monday
If you love The Wolf of Wall Street, you're bound to love Black Monday, a new Showtime comedy series from creators Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Preacher). Set one year before Wall Street's catastrophic Black Monday event in 1987 (the worst fall since The Great Depression), this hilarious series recounts the events that led up to that fateful day. Starring Don Cheadle (Avengers: Infinity War) and Andrew Rannells (Girls), the show is a blisteringly funny takedown of 1980s excess and greed. Exclusive to Stan in Australia, each new episode will be fast-tracked to the service as it airs.
Seasons on Stan: 1
Who is America?
You would think that comedian Sacha Baron Cohen would be too famous at this point to dupe people into giving him ridiculous interview material, but somehow, the Borat / Ali G / Bruno creator has devised a new batch of characters that will cause his subjects to play directly into his hilariously devious hands. Who is America? aims its sights squarely on US politics, with Cohen interviewing the likes of Sarah Palin, Bernie Sanders and Dick Cheney, as well as a number of everyday Americans. His goal is the same as it's always been: to systematically reveal hypocrisy. Whether Cohen's new characters will be as successful as his previous creations is anyone's guess, but it's great to have him back and doing what he does best. As this is a Showtime production, Stan has the exclusive rights to it in Australia — that means you can expect new episodes to be fast-tracked as soon as they air overseas.
Seasons on Stan: 1
Parks and Recreation
An Amy Poehler-led comedy series that made stars out of Chris Pratt, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza and Aziz Ansari, Parks and Recreation follows Leslie Knope (Poehler), an ambitious Parks Department worker who consistently tries to make her small town a better place. Unfortunately for her, she is usually impeded by her disinterested boss, Ron Swanson (Offerman), as well the usual governmental bureaucracy that stands in the way of change. Fans of shows like The Office and 30 Rock will love Parks and Recreation.
Seasons on Stan: 7
Will & Grace
A trailblazing series that fostered equality during its initial run, Will & Grace has returned in 2017 with the reunion that fans of the sitcom have been wanting for years. The show follows a gay lawyer named Will (Eric McCormack) and his straight interior decorator roommate Grace (Debra Messing) as they struggle to find love in New York. Along for the ride are Will's flamboyant friend, Jack (Sean Hayes), and Grace's well-off assistant, Karen (Megan Mullally). The new series beings the foursome directly into today's turbulent political climate with expectedly zany results. On top of being the exclusive Australian home of the new Will & Grace series, Stan also hosts all eight seasons of the original series, so fans will be able to binge their hearts out. Now, if we could only get a Friends reunion...
Seasons on Stan: 9
The Other Guy
A refreshing Australian comedy/drama series, The Other Guy has more in common with the likes of Netflix's US series Master of None than just about any Australian show in recent memory. Starring comedian Matt Okine, The Other Guy tells dramatised versions of real relationship stories from Okine's own life – sometimes funny, other times heartbreaking, With terrific writing that focuses on character over punchlines, you should definitely give the Stan Original series The Other Guy a shot.
Seasons on Stan: 1
Community
Following the exploits of a particularly low-rent community college, Community is a geeky, pop-culture obsessed delight. Community's homaging of all things movies, television and video games is spot on and incredibly realised, due to top notch direction, writing and performances. Best of all, the entire series is available on Stan, with new episodes appearing on the service as soon as they air in the United States.
Seasons on Stan: 6
Party Down
Another show that was taken from us far too soon, Party Down is a comedy about group of out-of-work actors (and one hard science fiction writer) who are forced to take on jobs at a catering service. Each episode takes place at a different party, furthering the characters' relationships in the process. Featuring hilarious turns from Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, Ken Marino and Jane Lynch, Party Down is most certainly the kind of show that deserves to be rediscovered on Stan.
Seasons on Stan: 2
No Activity
Taking a page out of Netflix's successful playbook, Stan opted to produce its own original series this year in No Activity, a hilarious improvisational cop show in which almost nothing at all happens. Patrick Brammall and Darren Gilshenan play two detectives on stakeout who pass the time with oddball observations and banter. That's pretty much the entire gist of the series, though there is an overarching story in there, too. Highly recommended, Stan's first original series is a wonderfully inventive and funny show.
Seasons on Stan: 2
Spaced
Before they hit the big time with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright made a splash with Spaced, a hilarious comedy series about a man (Pegg) and woman (Jessica Hynes) who pretend to be a professional couple in order to get a good deal on a flat. Not only would they have to keep up the facade, but they'd also have to deal with their crazy new neighbours. Filled with geeky references and the kind of quick-fire humour that made Pegg, Frost and Wright famous, Spaced is a delightful series that many people of a certain age will immediately empathise with.
Seasons on Stan: 2
