What Is the #1 TV Show in America Right Now?
Right now, the #1 TV show in America isn’t a crime drama, a superhero epic, or a reality competition. It’s a quiet, clever sitcom that ended three years ago-and still pulls more viewers than anything else on TV. That show is The Good Place.
It’s not just popular. It’s dominant. In the 2024-2025 season, The Good Place averaged 5.2 million live viewers per episode on NBC’s streaming platform and syndicated reruns. That’s more than Seinfeld ever did in its original run. And it’s not because people are binge-watching it on Netflix. It’s because local TV stations across the country keep airing it-six days a week-on their digital subchannels. People are tuning in like it’s the news.
Why? Because it’s the perfect storm of smart writing, emotional payoff, and rewatchability. The show doesn’t rely on punchlines. It builds jokes out of philosophy, ethics, and the absurdity of human behavior. Imagine a sitcom where the afterlife is run like a dysfunctional corporation, and the main character is a selfish woman who accidentally ends up in heaven. That’s The Good Place. And it’s the only comedy in recent memory that made viewers cry over a character’s decision to give up eternal happiness.
Other comedies try to compete. Abbott Elementary is charming. Only Murders in the Building blends mystery with humor. Barry is dark and brilliant. But none of them have the same cultural footprint. The Good Place isn’t just watched-it’s quoted. People use its terms in real life. "I’m not a good person," someone says after forgetting to return a library book. "This is a Bad Place," another mutters when the coffee machine breaks. The show turned moral philosophy into everyday language.
It also broke the mold of how TV shows end. Most comedies drag on for ten seasons, milking the formula. The Good Place knew its story had a natural endpoint. Creator Michael Schur planned the entire arc in advance. The final season wasn’t a cash grab. It was a deliberate, emotional conclusion that gave every character a meaningful exit. And viewers noticed. The finale drew 4.9 million live viewers-the biggest for a sitcom finale since M*A*S*H in 1983.
Even more surprising? The show’s audience is younger than you’d expect. Nearly 60% of viewers are under 35. That’s rare for a network sitcom in 2025. Streaming has killed the watercooler moment-but The Good Place brought it back. People don’t just watch it alone. They host watch parties. They make memes. They argue about whether the afterlife system is fair. Reddit threads about the show still get 10,000+ comments every week.
It’s also the most referenced show in college philosophy courses. Professors at Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Chicago use episodes to teach ethics. One professor in Ohio recorded a 45-minute lecture on the show’s "point system" and posted it online. It’s been viewed over 2 million times. That’s not just TV. That’s education disguised as comedy.
And it’s not just Americans. The show is the top-rated comedy in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany. In Sydney, where I live, local radio stations play clips from the show during morning drives. You hear Eleanor’s voice saying, "I’m not a good person," and half the city nods along.
What makes it #1 isn’t the stars. Kristen Bell and Ted Danson are great, but they’ve been in other shows. It’s not the budget. The sets are simple. It’s not even the novelty. Other shows have tried to blend philosophy with humor. None pulled it off like this.
It’s the heart. The Good Place believes people can change. That’s radical in a world where cynicism is the default. Every character starts flawed. Every character grows. Even the villain, the demon Shawn, learns to care. That’s the secret sauce. It doesn’t mock goodness-it proves it’s possible.
There’s a moment in season four, near the end, when Eleanor tells Michael: "I didn’t want to be good. I just didn’t want to be alone." That line isn’t funny. It’s devastating. And it’s why millions still watch reruns. People don’t just want to laugh. They want to feel seen. And The Good Place gives them that.
So if you haven’t watched it yet, start now. Don’t wait for the next big thing. The #1 show in America is already here. And it’s not going anywhere.
Why other comedies aren’t close
Let’s be clear: The Good Place isn’t just ahead. It’s in a different league. Here’s how it stacks up against the top comedies of 2025:
| Show | Network | Live Viewers (millions) | Streaming Views (millions/month) | Years Since Finale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Good Place | NBC (syndicated) | 5.2 | 28 | 3 |
| Abbott Elementary | ABC | 3.1 | 12 | 1 |
| Only Murders in the Building | Hulu | 2.7 | 19 | 2 |
| Barry | HBO Max | 1.9 | 8 | 1 |
| Bob’s Burgers | Fox | 2.3 | 15 | 14 |
Notice something? The Good Place has more streaming views than any show that’s still airing. That’s because people keep coming back. It’s not just a show. It’s a comfort blanket. You know the jokes. You know the twists. You know how it ends-and you still cry.
How it became a cultural phenomenon
The show didn’t explode overnight. It grew slowly. Season one had modest ratings. Critics liked it, but viewers were confused. Was it a fantasy? A satire? A love story? By season two, people started catching on. The twist in episode 13-where the "Good Place" was actually the "Bad Place"-went viral. YouTube reaction videos exploded. TikTok clips of Eleanor screaming "I’m not a good person!" got 80 million views.
Then came the memes. People started using the show’s "point system" to rate their own behavior. "I returned a library book. +1 point. I yelled at my dog. -3 points." It became a real-life game. Parents used it to teach kids about ethics. Teachers turned it into classroom activities.
And then the finale happened. No one expected it to be this emotional. The show didn’t end with a wedding or a party. It ended with a quiet goodbye. People cried. Strangers hugged each other online. One fan posted a photo of her grandmother, 89 years old, holding a tissue after watching the last episode. The caption: "She never liked TV. But she watched this one every week. Said it made her feel hopeful."
What makes it different from other sitcoms
Most sitcoms recycle the same jokes. The clumsy roommate. The sarcastic boss. The awkward date. The Good Place doesn’t do that. It builds its humor around ideas. Like: What if you could earn points for good deeds? What if the afterlife was a bureaucracy? What if the worst punishment wasn’t fire-but being stuck with the same people forever?
It also avoids the "reset button." In most comedies, nothing changes. The characters stay the same. In The Good Place, everyone evolves. Eleanor goes from selfish to selfless. Chidi stops overthinking and starts acting. Jason learns responsibility. Even the demon, Shawn, becomes a mentor.
And the show doesn’t pretend life is simple. It admits that being good is hard. That you’ll mess up. That you’ll feel guilty. That you’ll want to give up. But it also says: you can try again. And that’s why it lasts.
Where to watch it now
You can stream The Good Place on Peacock. It’s also available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. But if you want to see it like most Americans do-on your local TV-check your digital subchannels. Many NBC affiliates air reruns daily at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. It’s the only comedy that’s become appointment TV again.
Why it’s still the #1 show
It’s not about ratings. It’s about resonance. People don’t just watch The Good Place. They live by it. They quote it. They use it to talk about their own lives. It’s the only comedy that made ethics feel personal. And in a world full of noise, that’s rare.
It’s not the loudest show. It’s not the flashiest. But it’s the one that stays with you. And that’s why, in 2025, it’s still the #1 TV show in America.
Is The Good Place still producing new episodes?
No, The Good Place ended after four seasons in January 2020. The creators planned the finale from the start and chose to conclude the story properly rather than extend it. All episodes are available for streaming and reruns continue to draw large audiences.
Why is The Good Place more popular now than when it aired?
Because it’s rewatchable. Unlike most shows that rely on surprise, The Good Place rewards repeat viewings. Each episode hides jokes, philosophical references, and character details you miss the first time. Plus, its themes-ethics, growth, kindness-are timeless. People discover it through streaming and then tell others. It’s become a cult classic that grew after it ended.
Can I watch The Good Place on Netflix?
No, The Good Place is not on Netflix in the United States. It’s owned by NBCUniversal and streams exclusively on Peacock. It’s available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for purchase or rental, but not included in subscription libraries outside of Peacock.
Is The Good Place appropriate for teens?
Yes. The show is rated TV-PG and contains no graphic content. It uses mild language and occasional adult humor, but its core messages about kindness, redemption, and self-improvement are positive and suitable for teens. Many high school teachers use it in ethics and literature classes.
What should I watch after The Good Place?
If you loved the philosophy and heart of The Good Place, try Ted Danson’s other show, Sam & Cat-wait, no, that’s not right. Actually, try Brooklyn Nine-Nine for sharp writing and character growth, or Upstart Crow for clever historical humor. For deeper ethical themes, Black Mirror episodes like "San Junipero" or "USS Callister" offer similar emotional weight with a darker tone.
