You know that feeling when Gabi Diamond makes a total mess of a dinner party, and you're cringing but also kind of wishing you were there? It’s that specific brand of Freeform (or ABC Family, if you're an OG) chaos. People are still looking for shows like Young and Hungry because it hit a very particular sweet spot. It wasn't just a sitcom. It was this weird, bubbly mix of high-end culinary dreams and "I can't pay my rent" reality, all wrapped in the undeniable chemistry between Emily Osment and Jonathan Sadowski.
Honestly, finding a replacement is harder than it looks.
Most modern comedies try too hard to be edgy. They forget that sometimes we just want to watch a tech millionaire be slightly incompetent while a spunky chef tries to navigate a love triangle that lasted, what, five seasons? We miss the brightly lit kitchens. We miss the sassy best friends like Yolanda and Elliot. If you're scrolling through Netflix or Hulu right now feeling that Gabi-shaped hole in your heart, you've got options, but you have to know where to look.
The Recipe That Made Young and Hungry Work
Before we get into the list, we have to talk about why we’re even looking for shows like Young and Hungry in the first place. It wasn't The Bear. It wasn't trying to show you the grueling, soul-crushing reality of a Michelin-star kitchen. It was aspirational fluff.
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The show thrived on the "will-they-won't-they" trope. Josh and Gabi were the heart, but the supporting cast carried the weight. Think about Kym Whitley as Yolanda. Her comedic timing wasn't just good; it was the backbone of the show’s energy. Rex Lee as Elliot Park provided that necessary friction. It’s that ensemble dynamic—the wealthy employer and the "down-to-earth" staff—that creates the friction required for a good multi-cam sitcom.
Sitcoms are comforting. They're predictable in a way that feels like a warm blanket. When you search for something similar, you aren't looking for a gritty drama. You're looking for fast-paced dialogue, a bit of physical comedy, and a romance that makes you yell at your TV screen.
Two Broke Girls: The Grittier, Snarkier Cousin
If the appeal of Gabi Diamond was her constant financial struggle mixed with big dreams, then 2 Broke Girls is the most obvious pivot. It’s basically the same DNA but with a lot more double entendres and a much grimier setting. Max Black and Caroline Channing are essentially a split version of Gabi. Max has the culinary talent and the "street smarts," while Caroline has the fallen-from-grace wealthy background.
Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings had a rhythm that most sitcoms would kill for.
Is it high art? No. But it captures that "us against the world" vibe. The show ran for six seasons on CBS and, much like Young and Hungry, it relied heavily on a colorful supporting cast at the diner. You have Sophie (Jennifer Coolidge), who honestly deserves her own wing in the Sitcom Hall of Fame. The humor is definitely raunchier than what you’d find on Freeform, but the core—two girls trying to build a cupcake empire from nothing—is pure Gabi Diamond energy.
Baby Daddy: The Freeform Sibling
You can't talk about shows like Young and Hungry without mentioning Baby Daddy. They were the two pillars of Freeform’s comedy lineup for years. They shared the same DNA, the same bright lighting, and often, the same audience.
The premise is simple: Ben, a bartender in his 20s, finds a baby on his doorstep left by an ex-girlfriend. He decides to raise the kid with the help of his brother Danny, his best friend Tucker, and his mom Bonnie (played by the legendary Melissa Peterman).
Bonnie Wheeler is the secret weapon here. If you liked the over-the-top antics in Young and Hungry, Bonnie will be your favorite character. The show leans heavily into the "clueless guys raising a baby" trope, but it’s actually the romantic tension between Ben and his childhood friend Riley that keeps you hooked. It’s light. It’s breezy. It’s exactly what you want when you don’t want to think too hard about the world.
Why the "Employer-Employee" Dynamic Hits Different
There is something inherently funny about a boss who is completely dependent on their employee. In Young and Hungry, Josh Kaminski was a tech genius but a social disaster without Gabi. This dynamic pops up in a few other places that you might have missed.
- The Nanny: This is the blueprint. Fran Fine is the spiritual grandmother of Gabi Diamond. The big hair, the outfits, the "out of her element" vibe in a wealthy household—it’s all there. If you haven't revisited this lately, do it. The fashion alone is worth the rewatch.
- Melissa & Joey: Another ABC Family staple. It features Melissa Joan Hart as a local politician and Joey Lawrence as her "manny." It’s snarky, it’s fast, and it relies heavily on the chemistry of two sitcom veterans.
- Indebted: A shorter-lived show, but it features Fran Drescher and Adam Pally. It touches on that same "family and finances" messiness.
New Girl: For When You Want More Heart
Maybe you’re looking for shows like Young and Hungry because you want that specific "quirky girl in a big city" vibe. If that’s the case, New Girl is the gold standard. While it’s a single-camera show (no laugh track), the energy is remarkably similar.
Jess Day is Gabi Diamond if Gabi were a teacher instead of a chef.
The loft mates—Nick, Schmidt, and Winston—provide that same ensemble chaos. The growth of the characters over seven seasons is actually quite beautiful. You start for the jokes, but you stay because you genuinely care if Nick Miller ever finishes his zombie novel. Also, the "True American" drinking game is something that feels like it could have happened in Josh Kaminski’s penthouse.
Emily in Paris: The Fashionable, Modern Alternative
Hear me out. If what you loved about Young and Hungry was the aspirational lifestyle, the colorful outfits, and the "oops, I'm in a love triangle again" plotlines, Emily in Paris is the modern successor. It moves the setting from San Francisco to Paris, but the vibes are suspiciously similar.
Emily is an underdog in a world she doesn't quite understand. She makes mistakes. She’s loud. She’s wearing clothes that she definitely can’t afford on her salary. It’s the same "fantasy" world-building. Plus, there is a literal chef involved (Gabriel), which brings back that culinary tension we all loved in the kitchen of the Kaminski penthouse.
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The Great British Baking Show? (Stay With Me)
This isn't a sitcom. I know. But a lot of fans of shows like Young and Hungry aren't just there for the jokes; they’re there for the food. There is a comfort in watching someone bake something beautiful under pressure.
If Gabi’s passion for cooking was your favorite part of the show, diving into a reality competition that isn't mean-spirited is a great palate cleanser. It’s "nice" television. Sometimes, after watching five episodes of a sitcom where everyone is yelling, you just need to see a sponge cake with a "soggy bottom."
Addressing the "Canceled Too Soon" Trauma
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the ending of Young and Hungry. It was brutal. Leaving fans on a cliffhanger where Gabi asks Josh to move to Seattle, only to have the show canceled before we got a resolution, was a crime. There were rumors of a movie for years. It never happened.
When searching for a new show, many fans are looking for closure.
That’s why I often recommend The Good Place. It’s totally different in terms of plot (it’s about the afterlife), but it’s a comedy that actually finishes its story. It gives you that emotional payoff that Freeform robbed us of.
Other Honorable Mentions for Your Watchlist
- Workin' Moms: If you want something way more adult and cynical but centered on female friendship and career struggles.
- Great News: A hidden gem produced by Tina Fey. It’s about a cable news producer whose mother gets an internship at her office. It’s fast-paced, absurd, and brilliant.
- The Mindy Project: Mindy Lahiri is a doctor, but her obsession with romantic comedies and her chaotic personal life feels very much in line with Gabi’s journey.
- Schitt's Creek: It starts off about wealthy people losing everything, but it turns into one of the most heartwarming shows ever made.
Why We Still Care About Gabi and Josh
It's 2026, and we're still talking about a show that started over a decade ago. Why?
Because the "scrappy girl makes good" story is timeless. We like seeing the underdog win. We like seeing the person who works hard—even if they're a mess—get the guy and the career. Shows like Young and Hungry remind us that it’s okay to be a little bit "too much."
Gabi Diamond was loud, she was impulsive, and she wore too many sequins for a Tuesday morning. But she was passionate. In a television landscape that often feels cynical or overly dark, that kind of bright, unapologetic energy is rare.
Moving Forward: How to Pick Your Next Show
Don't just jump into the first thing Netflix suggests. Think about what specific part of the show you miss the most.
If you miss the chef/food aspect, go with The Bear (for drama) or Chef’s Table (for visuals).
If you miss the wealthy vs. poor dynamic, go with The Nanny or 2 Broke Girls.
If you miss the Freeform/Teen Nick vibe, go with Baby Daddy or Victorious (it’s a classic for a reason).
If you miss the romance, go with New Girl or Jane the Virgin.
Next Steps for Your Binge-Watching Journey:
- Check the "Expiring Soon" sections: Sitcoms like these often hop between streaming services. Young and Hungry has lived on Netflix and Freeform's app, but licensing changes constantly.
- Look for the creators: David Holden, the creator of Young and Hungry, has a specific style. Following showrunners is often a better way to find content than following actors.
- Give "The Bold Type" a chance: If you liked the Freeform "feel" but want something that feels a bit more "grown-up," this show captures the San Francisco/NYC professional struggle perfectly without the laugh track.
Start with one episode of Baby Daddy. If you don't like Bonnie Wheeler within twenty minutes, then you're probably looking for something a bit more serious, and you should pivot to New Girl. Happy watching.