The King of Queens
At its heart, According to Jim was about a blue-collar guy who loves his wife, his couch, and his simple pleasures. If that's your jam, meet Doug Heffernan. As a parcel delivery driver from Queens, New York, Doug (Kevin James) shares the same everyman
DNA as Jim. He's constantly scheming for more TV time or a better snack, often with disastrous but hilarious results. His dynamic with his sharp, pragmatic wife, Carrie (Leah Remini), is a masterclass in sitcom chemistry. But the secret weapon is Carrie's eccentric father, Arthur (Jerry Stiller), who lives in the basement and adds a layer of delightful absurdity to every situation. For fans of Jim's schemes and family antics, The King of Queens is a can't-miss, offering nine seasons of pure, unadulterated comfort comedy. You can currently find it streaming on platforms like Peacock and Paramount+.
Everybody Loves Raymond
If the family dysfunction in According to Jim was your favorite part, then welcome to the Barone family. Ray Barone (Ray Romano) is a successful sportswriter who, much like Jim, can't seem to do anything right in the eyes of his family. While he's a bit more neurotic than Jim, his eternal struggle to balance the demands of his wife, Debra (Patricia Heaton), with the meddling of his parents who live across the street is comedy gold. His mother, Marie, is the queen of passive-aggression; his father, Frank, raids the fridge and offers unsolicited, grumpy commentary; and his perpetually overshadowed brother, Robert, brings his own unique flavor of melancholy comedy. It’s a show that perfected the 'my crazy family' sitcom trope, and its influence can be seen in nearly every family comedy that followed. It's available for streaming on Paramount+ and Prime Video.
Last Man Standing
Maybe you watched According to Jim and thought, 'I like this, but I wish the dad had more opinions on, well, everything'. Enter Mike Baxter (Tim Allen). As the marketing director for an outdoor sporting goods store, Mike is a man's man trying to survive in a household dominated by his wife and three daughters. The show swaps Jim's laid-back, blues-loving vibe for Mike's more conservative, vlog-posting persona, but the core remains the same: a patriarch navigating a world of female energy with a mix of confusion and old-school charm. He’s a lovable grump who doles out life lessons with a comedic edge. The similarities to Allen's previous hit, Home Improvement, are there, but Last Man Standing feels like a worthy spiritual successor to the 'man of the house' sitcom format that According to Jim fit into so perfectly. The entire series is available to stream on Disney+.
Man with a Plan
What happens when the 'fun dad' suddenly has to become the 'default dad'? That's the premise of Man with a Plan. When his wife, Andi (Liza Snyder), goes back to work, contractor Adam Burns (Matt LeBlanc) finds himself in charge of the kids. He quickly learns that his 'little angels are maniacs' and that parenting is more than just showing up for the fun parts. LeBlanc brings a familiar charm to the role of a well-meaning but often overwhelmed father who is constantly being outsmarted by his own children. Like Jim, Adam is an old-school guy trying to adapt to modern family dynamics, usually with the help of his equally clueless brother and friends. It’s a modern take on the classic sitcom setup, proving that the 'lovable dad just trying his best' is a timeless recipe for laughs. You can find it on Prime Video and Paramount+.
