A Possible Netflix Weakness Is Exposed with 'The Upshaws' Ending
After five years and seven “parts,” Netflix’s hit series The Upshaws finally concludes with its last crop of new episodes having dropped on the streamer on January 15th. The Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes comedy has captivated fans for nearly five years with the duo’s witty banter, the relatable middle-class storylines, and the more grown-up language you don’t traditionally see with a network family sitcom. And while fans continue to savor The Upshaws Part 7, I find myself mourning the end of one of my favorite Netflix Originals, while realizing the show’s end may expose a possible weakness for the streaming giant.
Is Netflix Lacking in a Genre?
As a Netflix subscriber, I can attest to the fact that the platform has plenty of great original content to watch. From Lupin to The Lincoln Lawyer to Forever and beyond, if you love a great onscreen story, a Netflix subscription is a must. However, with The Upshaws wrapping up, I realized that, as world-class as the original dramas are, and as captivating as the true crime documentaries may be, I can’t say I watch a ton of Netflix Original comedies. Not that I don’t enjoy laughing, but in my subjective opinion, they don’t have as many worth binging as they once did.
There was a time when I couldn’t wait for the new season of BoJack Horseman to drop, was clamoring for more dry humor from Arrested Development, or binged Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Heck, Netflix even had good things going with Never Have I Ever and Family Reunion. However, their slot of quality comedies is drying up these days. With The Upshaws gone, along with the sleeper hit Mo and the adult-animation Big Mouth, the most notable original comedy series left are the Emmy-nominated Nobody Wants This, Kate Hudson’s Running Point, Tina Fey’s The Four Seasons, and Survival of the Thickest.
Now, if I bring up the fact that with The Upshaws leaving, there is a big hole left when it comes to Netflix Original comedies with Black leads, that takes us into a whole other conversation (Survival of the Thickest is also wrapping in 2026). So for now, let’s leave this as a very noticeable footnote.
Are There New Scripted Comedy Shows Coming to Netflix in the Forseeable Future?
Looking to Netflix’s site, Tudum, there are some new comedies in the works. For example, Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy is heading back to the episodic comedy arena with the show, Big Mistakes. It’s a series rooted in family drama, as it sees siblings forced into the world of organized crime.
For those fans of Big Mouth, the series creators are coming back with another animated comedy titled Mating Season. Hormones are still at play in the series, but this time, stories are told through animals.
There are a few other new comedies set to debut on Netflix in 2026, and you can check those out and the entire planned release schedule for Netflix.
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