ESG: Hulu's Comedy Problem

Sardonic, ironic and gallows humor are on-brand — but not broad

The cast of ‘How I Met Your Father’. (Patrick Wymore/Hulu)

Two months ago, I started noodling with an idea. After Hulu announced an upcoming Amy Schumer show and renewed How I Met Your Father for a second season, it looked like Hulu had solved one of their long-simmering problems…

They finally started making funny shows.

For the most part, Hulu’s comedies/sitcoms aren’t popular outside of niche audiences. And they’re mostly not popular because they make shows that aren’t funny in the traditional sense of omg my side is hurting from laughing funny — they are mordant, sardonic, ironic, thoughtful, prestige. More lean-in than lean-out television.

But was Hulu finally changing course? Tired of competing with Prime Video to be