‘Friends’ remains one of the most popular shows in the history of television, even after going off-air 17 years ago. The highly anticipated ‘Friends: The Reunion’ episode of the show, which will reunite the cast for a one-off special that will premiere on HBO Max in the US and Zee5 in India, is set to release on May 27.

Also Read | Iconic ‘Friends’ moments that we can never forget

Although fans would say that it’s not the same as a new season of the show — which, all things considered, would probably be a bad idea — but it’ll be fun to see the main cast back together.

If you’re waiting for the reunion episode with bated breath, you’re not alone. Here’s a list of shows like ‘Friends’ you can keep yourself occupied with till the episode starts streaming on May 27!

Also Read | ‘Friends: The Reunion’ comes to India. Here’s where you can watch it

New Girl

Despite the fact that this show is based in Los Angeles, it has a familiar undertone to that of ‘Friends’. A bunch of friends who hang out in an apartment and discuss their romantic lives and careers. This show also features an on-again, off-again relationship between two of its lead stars, with the quirky Zooey Deschanel and slob Jake Johnson swapping the ditzy Jennifer Aniston and intelligent David Schwimmer.

‘New Girl’, like ‘Friends’, has instances of silliness that make you laugh and instances of sadness that make you cry. The show’s seventh and final season ended in 2018, making it ideal for binge-watchers.

Also Read | What F.R.I.E.N.D.S characters would be doing today? The cast’s take on it

Freaks And Geeks

It is always speculated that Friends’ dynamic fits very well since the main characters are divided into two groups: the men and the ladies. This retro dramedy from the 80s from producer Judd Apatow explores the same scenario, dividing the characters into the titular freaks and geeks. One of the freaks is the elder sister of one of the geeks, which ties them together.

Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen, Busy Philipps, and James Franco all starred in it. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled after just one season, but it remains one of the best television shows ever produced.

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How I Met Your Mother

This series is frequently compared unfavourably to ‘Friends’ since it seems to be a rip-off on the surface. It’s based around a group of New York friends (although with three men and two women as opposed to three of each). Two of them are in an on-again, off-again romance, two are married, and one is a misogynistic ladies’ man.

As a result, it can seem to be a rip-off of ‘Friends’. But actually, what it’s guilty of is taking Friends’ simple concept and expanding on it with nonlinear narration and format experiments. It’s as if ‘Friends’ had ‘Arrested Development’s’ complex writing and plot.

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Modern Family

‘Modern Family’, like ‘Friends’ before it, has enjoyed its entire course as one of the top-rated sitcoms on television, consistently winning Emmys. As the patriarch, Jay Pritchett, Ed O’Neill leads a likeable ensemble of characters, with Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Eric Stonestreet providing great reinforcement (‘Modern Family’ has one of the best sitcom casts of all time).

The show uses a mockumentary style, but unlike ‘The Office’, the documentary crew is more of a stylistic choice, similar to ‘Parks and Recreation’.

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The Golden Girls

To be perfectly honest, we could definitely find an excuse to have ‘The Golden Girls’ on every recommendations’ list ever written, but it feels particularly fitting to suggest it to Friends’ fans because the show portrays an equally tight-knit and joke-happy band of best friends who tend to annoy each other but are still there when it matters.

The show is essentially a sneak peek into what a Friends spin-off would look like if Monica and Judy Geller moved in with Rachel and Phoebe a couple of years after the finale.

Also Read | Sexism to body shaming, 6 times ‘Friends’ didn’t make sense

So what are you waiting for? Ditch the waiting and go watch these amazing shows to keep you company till the reunion episode gets here!