Fish Out of Water
by Skavation | created - 5 months ago | updated - 5 months ago | Public"Fish Out of Water" stories encapsulate narratives where a character, often unfamiliar or incompatible with their new surroundings, is placed in an entirely different environment or culture. This genre hinges on the inherent comedy or drama derived from the clash between the protagonist's original world and the one they find themselves thrust into. It frequently explores themes of cultural differences, personal growth, and adaptation.
Characters in these stories are often displaced from their comfort zones, facing challenges, misunderstandings, and the struggle to assimilate or navigate unfamiliar territory. Their journey involves overcoming obstacles, whether it's a rookie cop in a small town, an urbanite in a rural setting, or someone from a different time period suddenly finding themselves in the present day.
The narratives tend to focus on the contrast between the protagonist's initial confusion or discomfort and their eventual acclimatization or transformation. This transformation can lead to personal growth as they learn valuable lessons about themselves and others, fostering empathy and understanding along the way.
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1. The Last Man on Earth (2015–2018)
TV-14 | 22 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
Almost two years after a virus wiped out most of the human race, Phil Miller only wishes for some company, but soon gets more than he bargained for when that company shows up in the form of other survivors.
Stars: Will Forte, January Jones, Cleopatra Coleman, Kristen Schaal
Votes: 63,811
2. Mork & Mindy (1978–1982)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
A wacky alien comes to Earth to study its residents and the life of the human woman he boards with is never the same.
Stars: Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Ralph James, Conrad Janis
Votes: 12,668
3. Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
Stars: Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges, Conrad Bain, Dana Plato
Votes: 12,409
4. Due South (1994–1999)
TV-PG | 46 min | Adventure, Comedy, Crime
The adventures of an impossibly upright Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable and his American colleagues in the city of Chicago.
Stars: Paul Gross, Beau Starr, Tony Craig, David Marciano
Votes: 7,567
5. Trial & Error (2017–2018)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Crime, Mystery
A spoof of crime documentaries about the arrest and trial of a beloved poetry professor from a small town in South Carolina, who is accused of brutally murdering his wife, and the young Northeastern lawyer hired to defend him.
Stars: Nicholas D'Agosto, Jayma Mays, Steven Boyer, Sherri Shepherd
Votes: 6,574
6. Welcome to Sweden (2014–2015)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
New York City accountant Bruce moves to Sweden in Northern Europe, after falling in love with a Swedish woman.
Stars: Greg Poehler, Josephine Bornebusch, Lena Olin, Christopher Wagelin
Votes: 5,759
7. My Favorite Martian (1963–1966)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
An exoanthropologist from the planet Mars, stranded on Earth, is rescued by Tim O'Hara, a newspaper reporter who introduces the Martian to his friends and the authorities as his uncle Martin.
Stars: Ray Walston, Bill Bixby, Pamela Britton, Alan Hewitt
Votes: 2,994
8. Goong (2006)
TV-Y | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
Love, tradition, and politics collide when a spirited young art student is betrothed to the crown prince of South Korea.
Stars: Yoon Eun-hye, Ju Ji-hoon, Song Ji-Hyo, Jeong-hoon Kim
Votes: 2,948
9. Cavemen (2007–2008)
30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
A trio of Neanderthals struggles to live in modern-day America.
Stars: Bill English, Nick Kroll, Kaitlin Doubleday, Stephanie Lemelin
Votes: 2,534
10. Keen Eddie (2003–2004)
TV-14 | 44 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Wisecracking New York City cop Detective Eddie Arlette (Mark Valley), who has no respect for authority, is himself a fish out of water when he is assigned to a police precinct in the U.K.
Stars: Mark Valley, Sienna Miller, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Colin Salmon
Votes: 2,365
11. Beaver Falls (2011–2012)
Comedy, Drama
Three British students decided to spend their summer in an American summer camp and make a large impression on fellow camp workers and the campers.
Stars: Samuel Robertson, John Dagleish, Kristen Gutoskie, Arsher Ali
Votes: 2,346
12. Rob (2012)
30 min | Comedy
Centers on solitary guy, Rob, who marries into a huge Mexican-American family.
Stars: Rob Schneider, Cheech Marin, Claudia Bassols, Diana Maria Riva
Votes: 2,134
13. Marvin Marvin (2012–2013)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
An alien boy is sent to Earth because of a war on his home planet.
Stars: Lucas Cruikshank, Victory Van Tuyl, Pat Finn, Mim Drew
Votes: 2,010
14. Made in Iran (2011–2022)
Comedy, Crime, Drama
Koroosh afsharjam(Behnam Tashakor) is an unpopular Iranian scientist that invents a new powder that can turn dirty liquid to drinkable water. He gets a call from Paris indicating thaf he ... See full summary »
Stars: Mohsen Kiayee, Amin Hayayee, Mohammad Reza Golzar, Ramin Nikoo
Votes: 1,407
15. Catweazle (1970–1971)
30 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
A medieval wizard (though not a very good one) is transported to the modern age.
Stars: Geoffrey Bayldon, Robin Davies, Gary Warren, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell
Votes: 1,126
16. The Munsters Today (1987–1991)
30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
America's First Family of Fright awaken after an accidental 22-year nap and must adjust to life in the 1980s.
Stars: John Schuck, Lee Meriwether, Howard Morton, Jason Marsden
Votes: 664
17. American Princess (2019)
60 min | Comedy, Drama
An American socialite runs off to join a Renaissance Faire after her wedding goes awry.
Stars: Georgia Flood, Lucas Neff, Seana Kofoed, Rory O'Malley
Votes: 636
18. Les Norton (2019)
55 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
A Queensland outback man flees his past, gets lured into Sydney's seedy underbelly and entangled in crime.
Stars: Alexander Bertrand, Kate Box, Hunter Page-Lochard, Pallavi Sharda
Votes: 655
19. The Heavenly Idol (2023– )
Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A fantasy-romance drama about an unknown idol, Woo Yeon-woo, whose body was possessed by Rembrary, the god of this world.
Stars: Kim Min-kyu, Ko Bo-gyeol, Lee Jang-woo, Ye Ji-won
Votes: 721
20. The Wizards of Aus (2016)
84 min | Comedy, Fantasy
For centuries, war had raged across the seven planes of the Magical Realm. It's so intense that Jack, a wizard commanding the elemental forces of nature, has decided to try living in Footscray.
Stars: Michael Shanks, Menik Gooneratne, Mark Samual Bonanno, Nicholas Issell
Votes: 612
21. It's About Time (1966–1967)
30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
Two astronauts traveling faster than light go back in time to prehistoric Earth. Unable to return, they make friends with the "natives".
Stars: Frank Aletter, Jack Mullaney, Imogene Coca, Joe E. Ross
Votes: 575
22. Hank (2009)
30 min | Comedy
A man and his family and lose everything.
Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Nathan Gamble, David Koechner, Melinda McGraw
Votes: 456
23. Hard Time on Planet Earth (1989)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Jesse, an alien exiled to Earth, finds himself in Los Angeles. His only companion is a floating, orb-shaped robotic parole officer named Control. Doomed to stay on Earth until Jesse can ... See full summary »
Stars: Martin Kove, Danny Mann, Brad Koepenick, Kent Stoddard
Votes: 417
24. The Way of the Househusband (2020)
46 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Tatsu (Hiroshi Tamaki) is 38 years old. He was once a legendary yakuza and was known as "Immortal Dragon" because he was so feared. He quit the yakuza and married Miku. Tatsu then became a househusband. He buries himself in housework.
Stars: Hiroshi Tamaki, Haruna Kawaguchi, Jun Shison, Yuta Furukawa
Votes: 344
25. Two's Company (1975–1979)
30 min | Comedy
An American author hires a British butler and discovers that they are polar opposites.
Stars: Elaine Stritch, Donald Sinden, John Savident, Penelope Keith
Votes: 275
26. Adam Adamant Lives! (1966–1967)
50 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi
In 1902, Edwardian adventurer Adam Adamant is frozen alive in a block of ice by his archnemesis, the Face. In 1966, workmen discover him and he is revived, perfectly preserved but ... See full summary »
Stars: Gerald Harper, Juliet Harmer, Jack May, Peter Ducrow
Votes: 259
27. Supernova (2005–2006)
29 min | Comedy
British astronomer Paul Hamilton leaves London for a new life in a remote Australian settlement.
Stars: Rob Brydon, Hollie Andrew, Tim Draxl, Damion Hunter
Votes: 244
28. French Fields (1989–1991)
30 min | Comedy
The British family from "Fresh Fields" (1984) move to France. The episodes revolve around their adjustment to and difficulties dealing with French culture. Much humour is also derived from ... See full summary »
Stars: Julia McKenzie, Anton Rodgers, Pamela Salem, Valerie Lush
Votes: 222
29. Cardiac Arrest (1994–1996)
30 min | Comedy, Drama
Comedy set in and around a hospital, where the newly qualified Dr Andrew Collin is thrown into a world that is totally beyond him.
Stars: Andrew Lancel, Helen Baxendale, Ace Bhatti, Jo Dow
Votes: 244
30. Buscando el norte (2016)
Comedy
Siblings Alex and Carol, decide to move to Berlin looking for good fortune and escaping their love and financial problems. Unfortunately things aren't so easy, especially if you are Spanish and don't know a word of German.
Stars: Antonio Velázquez, Belén Cuesta, Kimberley Tell, Manuel Burque
Votes: 217
31. The Strangerers (2000)
60 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
Aliens in human form land on Earth to carry out a secret mission, and when the Supervisor is decapitated, the two bumbling Cadets have no idea what the mission entails. With a mixture of ... See full summary »
Stars: Mark Williams, Jack Docherty, Sarah Alexander, Mark Heap
Votes: 200
32. The Second Hundred Years (1967–1968)
30 min | Comedy, Fantasy
The misadventures of a man who is revived out of decades of accidental suspended animation and is still physically half the age of his own son and matches the age of his grandson.
Stars: Monte Markham, Arthur O'Connell, Frank Maxwell, Bridget Hanley
Votes: 200
33. Meego (1997)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi
A wacky alien lands on Earth, where he is befriended by some children who convince their recently-widowed father to hire him as their nanny.
Stars: Bronson Pinchot, Ed Begley Jr., Michelle Trachtenberg, Jonathan Lipnicki
Votes: 160
34. Oh Mikey! (2002–2005)
TV-14 | 3 min | Comedy, Family
The story of an American family who relocate to Japan. Also, all the characters are mannequins.
Stars: Luci Christian, Tiffany Grant, Rob Mungle, Christine M. Auten
Votes: 151
35. Arme Millionäre (2005– )
45 min | Comedy
A family of millionaires has suddenly become poor, and needs to learn how to live with minimal income.
Stars: Sky du Mont, Andrea Sawatzki, Mavie Hörbiger, Maxi Warwel
Votes: 133
36. Down to Earth (1984–1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
After being struck down by a trolley (golly) in 1925, Ethel MacDoogan, a flapper, waits in heaven for a chance to help a family and earn her wings. That chance arrives in the form of the Preston family.
Stars: Carol Mansell, David Kaufman, Kyle Richards, Randy Josselyn
Votes: 86
37. 300 Year-Old Class of 2020 (2020)
15 min | Comedy, Fantasy, History
A light-hearted time travel fantasy where three scholars from the Joseon era are swept forward to modern-day Seoul. After adapting to this new life with the help of a young female museum manager, they must decide on going back or staying.
Stars: Jisu Choi, Steve Sang-Hyun Noh, Sejin Lee, Ko Jae-hyun
Votes: 13
38. Emily in Paris (2020– )
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young American woman from the Midwest is hired by a marketing firm in Paris to provide them with an American perspective on things.
Stars: Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Ashley Park, Samuel Arnold
Votes: 116,590
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