12 Shows Like Leanne You Must See

Actress and comedian Leanne Morgan stars in the sitcom ‘Leanne,’ which she created with Chuck Lorre and Susan McMartin for Netflix. The story opens with her eponymous character finding her life upended when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman. While devastated at first, Leanne decides to start he life over with the support of her family, especially her free-spirited and fiercely loyal sister, Morgan (Kristen Johnston). However, as a grandmother in her fifties, Leanne finds turning over a new chapter much harder than expected. If her story has you hooked, here is a curated list of shows similar to ‘Leanne’ that you may also consider for your next binge.

12. Better Things (2016-2022)

Helmed by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., ‘Better Things’ chronicles the life of Sam Fox (Pamela), a working actor and single mother who is struggling to raise her three daughters, Max (Mikey Madison), Frankie (Hannah Alligood), and Duke (Olivia Edward), in Los Angeles. She does not always make the best decisions, and depends on alcohol to help her push through the day. However, Sam meets all challenges with love, honesty, and humor, creating a safe and comfortable space for her daughters to grow in. Like Leanne, the father of Sam’s children is out of the picture, and Sam’s dating skills need considerable work, if she ever gets the time.

11. The Middle (2009-2018)

Set in the fictional town of Orson, Indiana, ‘The Middle’ by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline tells the story of the Heck family. At the center of it all is the matriarch Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton), who steers them through their daily lives while managing her career goals. Her husband, Mike (Neil Flynn), is a manager at the local quarry. The couple shares three children: the obstinate Axl (Charlie McDermott), the enthusiastic but awkward Sue (Eden Sher), and the smart but manipulative Brick (Atticus Shaffer). No matter the challenges that life throws at them, they overcome them all together, just like Leanne’s family.

10. One Day at a Time (2017-2020)

Developed by Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce, ‘One Day at a Time’ reimagines the 1975 original series by Norman Lear with a Latino family at the center. The narrative follows Penelope (Justina Machado), a newly single Army veteran who is working as a nurse and raising two children, Elena (Isabella Gomez) and Alejandro (Marcel Ruiz). They live together with Penelope’s old-school mother (Rita Moreno). In between taking care of her family and her professional life, Penelope manages to make time for herself, going out with her friends as well as on dates, much like Leanne.

9. Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015)

‘Hot in Cleveland’ by Suzanne Martin revolves around three glamorous middle-aged women from Los Angeles, Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli), Joy (Jane Leeves), and Victoria (Wendie Malick), who decide to go on a once-in-a-lifetime girls’ trip to Paris. When their plane is forced to make an emergency landing in Cleveland, they find themselves attracting more attention from men than at home. Realizing that they are more desirable here, where the rules of Hollywood do not apply, the trio decides to move to Cleveland, leasing a home with a sassy caretaker, Elka (Betty White). Much like ‘Leanne,’ the women have each other’s backs as they rebuild their lives in the new place.

8. Call Me Kat (2021-2023)

Adapted from the British sitcom ‘Miranda’ by Miranda Hart, ‘Call Me Kat’ by Darlene Hunt stars Mayim Bialik as the titular character. A 39-year-old single woman, Kat enjoys defying the expectations of society as well as her mother, Sheila (Swoosie Kurtz). Leaving her job as a professor at the University of Louisville, she opens a cat cafe using the money that her parents set aside for her wedding. With the help of her friends, Kat goes through life with joy, humor, and positivity, even as her overbearing mother tries her best to get her daughter settled. Similar to Leanne, Kat demonstrates an uncompromising attitude and lives life on her own terms.

7. Julia (2022-2023)

Created by Daniel Goldfarb, ‘Julia’ is based on the life of chef, author, and television personality Julia Child. Sarah Lancashire stars in the titular role of the woman who popularized cooking shows on television in the 1960s. The narrative chronicles the production of Julia’s show, ‘The French Chef,’ at WGBH-TV in Boston, Massachusetts, and sheds light on her struggles to establish herself in the male-dominated industry. Julia succeeds in her efforts with the help and support from her husband, Paul Child (David Hyde Pierce), and close friend, Avis DeVoto (Bebe Neuwirth). Julia, like Leanne, embraces a new life in her middle age and transforms herself into one of the most popular television celebrities of her time.

6. The Kominsky Method (2018-2021)

From the mind of Chuck Lorre, ‘The Kominsky Method’ stars Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky, a popular actor of yesteryear who is working as an acting coach. He is best friends with his longtime agent Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin), and the two navigate the fast life of Los Angeles while watching each other’s backs. In the end, it is the desire of both single men to not fade away into the night and make the fullest use of the time that they have left. As in ‘Leanne,’ dating is also on the table for the seniors, but they soon find themselves out of their depth.

5. Designing Women (1986-1993)

‘Designing Women’ by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is set around the fictional interior design firm of Sugarbaker and Associates in Atlanta. The company is founded by the elegant and compassionate Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), who runs it along with her younger sister and former beauty queen, Suzanne (Delta Burke), and their associates, sweet and naive officer manager Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart), and the chief interior designer Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts). Taking charge of the business, the four middle-aged women also reinvent their lives, much like Leanne.

4. Maude (1972-1978)

A spin-off of the 1971 sitcom ‘All in the Family,’ ‘Maude’ by Norman Lear stars Bea Arthur in the titular role of Maude Findlay. A middle-aged, outspoken, politically liberal woman, Maude lives with her fourth husband, household appliance store owner Walter Findlay (Bill Macy), in Tuckahoe, New York. Her divorced daughter Carol (Adrienne Barbeau) and her adolescent grandson Phillip (Brian Morrison) stay with her. Headstrong and unapologetic, Maude is a champion of women’s rights as well as civil rights and racial and gender equality. Her strong persona attracts challenges, which she overcomes with dignity, just like Leanne aspires to do.

3. Mom (2013-2021)

Helmed by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker, ‘Mom’ tells the story of single mother of two Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris), who decides to turn over a new chapter in her life following her battle with alcoholism and drug abuse. Settling in Napa, California, with her daughter Violet (Sadie Calvano) and son Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal), Christy joins the workforce as a waitress and attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The dysfunctional family is completed with the addition of her mother, Bonnie Plunkett (Allison Janney), also a recovering addict. Christy, working for a fresh start, brings to mind Leanne’s efforts for the same.

2. The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

‘The Golden Girls’ by Susan Harris centers around four elderly single women who share a house in Miami to live out their golden years in happy camaraderie. The house is owned by Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), who is accompanied by Rose Nylund (Betty White), Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). Apart from Dorothy being a divorcee, the three other women are widows. Staying together, they figure out a way to get a new lease on life, which is exactly what Leanne seeks in her eponymous show.

1. Grace and Frankie (2015-2022)

Created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, ‘Grace and Frankie’ tells the story of rival-turned-best friends whose husbands fall in love with each other and get married. Grace Hanson (Jane Fonda) is a retired cosmetics mogul, while Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) is a quirky artist and hippie. When their lawyer husbands fall for each other, their lives come crashing down, and bring them together to bond over the shared grief. The series shares many similarities with ‘Leanne,’ especially as two ladies refuse to give up even after a major change in their lives and continue to seek out the fun in living. Despite the challenges of the world, they find their strength in each other.