Short-run TV shows you can binge right now

Deadpan absurdist comedy from a New Zealand musical duo? “Flight of the Conchords” didn’t fit easily into the gritty, dark ethos that has driven much of HBO’s original programming. However, for two seasons it created great comedy and catchy, funny songs. If you don’t have HBO, you can also stream it on Amazon Prime.

Have you been waiting on taking the plunge on Disney+? Now could be the time, especially since you can get a seven-day free trial. It shouldn’t take you that long to binge “The Mandalorian,” the first live-action TV series set in the world of “Star Wars.” Come see what all the Baby Yoda fuss was about.

Comedies about disaffected hitmen are weirdly common, but “Barry” rises about the premise. Bill Hader, in a role that mixes comedy and drama to great effect, stars as the aforementioned hitman who stumbles into an acting class and decides it is the new path of his life. “Barry” is a dark, violent comedy, but check it out on HBO before Season 3 drops.

You don’t need to be a fan or professional wrestling to enjoy “GLOW.” The cast is great, and there is a ton of fun to be had. Maybe you miss some of the references if you don’t know your power bombs from your German suplexes, but for three seasons (with a final fourth season to come) “GLOW” will keep you entertained on Netflix. It’s Alison Brie’s finest work.

We can’t tell you anything about “Forever.” It’s almost impossible not to spoil it if you say anything. So we’ll just say the one-season show on Amazon Prime tells its story economically and beautifully. You’ll want to see the whole run in action.

“Fargo” the TV series is inspired by “Fargo” the iconic Coen Brothers movie, but it is very much its own thing. In fact, all three seasons of “Fargo” the show are their own thing as well in many ways. If you have time for only one season, go with the second one, but they are all worth your time. Check it out on Hulu.

It’s the show that made Phoebe Waller-Bridge a star. Over two seasons Waller-Bridge earned critical adoration for her specific brand of storytelling. The second, and final, season won basically every single Emmy, including Outstanding Comedy Series. It’s still on Amazon Prime for your viewing pleasure.

Every episode of “Sherlock” is basically the length of a movie, so even though there are only a handful of episodes, you still get a lot of bang for your buck. That being said, not every episode hits. Still, Benedict Cumberbatch’s stardom was built largely on his performance as a modern Sherlock Holmes. Find all four seasons on Netflix and one season on the PBS app, which is also free.

There are a lot of shows about food. The competition ones are really fun, but some of them are more of the documentary variety. Of course, “Ugly Delicious” is the best. Dave Chang and some other chefs and food writers dig deep into the philosophy and sociology of food. The first season on Netflix is great, and it was followed by a truncated second season that is quite good as well.

Need a break from the American version of “The Office” that everybody apparently loves? Have you checked out the original? Well it’s a bit easier of a binge, in classic British TV tradition. Come see where the likes of Michael, Dwight, Jim and Pam got their beginnings in many ways. “The Office” is on Hulu and Amazon Prime, and a reminder of a time when people seemed to like Ricky Gervais.

Did you like “Veep?” Would you like a show that’s like “Veep” but with a British flair? Then by all means check out “The Thick of It.” The show was created by Armando Iannucci, who also brought us “Veep.” It’s the same vulgar, caustic comedy but with a lot more British accents. All four seasons are on Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO Max, and Britbox.

Network television is still a thing! It’s been a while since a new network drama really grabbed people, but “Stumptown” is worth a shot. Cobie Smulders stars as a woman getting into the world of being a private eye in Portland. Jake Johnson plays her best friend/love interest. It’s old-school procedural TV with some new twists. The first season ended recently, and the entire run is on Hulu. Unfortunately, the second season was given the ax after the show was renewed due to pandemic-related obstacles, but the first season is still available (for now).

If you like absurd comedy, “Better Off Ted” is a forgotten gem. From the same mind that brought us “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” comes this ridiculous workplace comedy set in the world of research and development at a company that isn’t afraid to play god. Portia de Rossi has never been better. Watch both seasons on Hulu.

“Lady Dynamite” has a lot of the absurdity of “Better Off Ted” but with even more weirdness. That’s what happens when you take the specific idiosyncrasies of Maria Bamford and put them into a sitcom. It’s a super vulgar and out-there show, and it didn’t click with audiences enough to get more than two seasons. However, if you’re on its wavelength, you’ll dig the ride. Check it out on Netflix.

Have you held off on diving into “Stranger Things?” Well what’s your excuse now? Sure, at first it seemed like a lot of ‘80s pop culture jammed into one big homage, and it is somewhat that. However, the show stands on its own two feet, especially after three seasons. There is a lot for all sci-fi fans to enjoy on “Stranger Things.” Catch up on Netflix before Season 4.

This is just pure dumb comedy. One of the first Adult Swim shows, “Harvey Birdman” takes the world of an obscure Hanna-Barbara cartoon and turns it into a law show parody. Harvey represents the Scooby gang on a drug bust. He takes the case when Fred Flintstone is accused of being a mob boss. It’s just so ridiculous but also so funny. Plus, episodes are only 15 minutes long! Two of the four seasons are on DirecTV and the Adult Swim website.

When it was on, “Lodge 49” was the most underrated show on TV. Alas, people just never checked in to find its gentle beauty and quiet hilarity. The show didn’t get to finish its story arc, but the two seasons it did have were great. Find out what you were missing on Hulu.

Here’s something to watch with the family. “Gravity Falls” is a cartoon from Disney, but it had plenty for adults. There is a mystery to be solved, and that’s just the kind of thing that spurs on a binge watch, right? This time it just happens to be animated. You can watch “Gravity Falls” on Disney+

Edgar Wright is one of the biggest movie directors in the world. Simon Pegg is now a movie star. Way back in the day, though, they were nobodies getting their break on British television. “Spaced” was the vision of Wright, Pegg and Jessica Hynes. Do you like Wright’s genre-riffing movies? Then you’ll definitely want to watch the two seasons of “Spaced.” You can find it on Hulu or with ads on The Roku Channel.

“My So-Called Life” is considered one of the best one-season-wonder shows ever. The teen soap opera made stars of the likes of Claire Danes and Jared Leto. Relive the ‘90s, with ads, on the IMDB TV app or the ABC app.