The southern charm was thick, the quips were lightning-fast, and the drama felt, well, mostly like a sitcom. For nearly a decade, Todd Chrisley ruled his household with a literal "Todd-sized" iron fist and a closet full of designer labels. But things changed fast. If you are looking to watch Chrisley Knows Best today, you aren't just looking for a show; you’re looking at a time capsule of a family that went from USA Network royalty to federal prison cells. It’s wild to think about how much the context of the early seasons has shifted since the 2022 convictions.
Honestly, the show is still a massive draw on streaming platforms. People love a train wreck, sure, but there was a genuine chemistry there that’s hard to replicate. Even with Todd and Julie serving lengthy sentences in Kentucky and Florida, the reruns pull numbers. You've probably noticed it's not as easy to find on live TV anymore, but the digital footprint is permanent.
The Best Places to Watch Chrisley Knows Best Right Now
You can't just flip a switch and find it on every channel like you used to. NBCUniversal owns the rights, so their flagship streamer, Peacock, is the primary home for all ten seasons. Every single "todd-ism" and Nanny Faye prank is archived there. If you have a subscription, you’re set.
But what if you don't want another monthly bill?
- Hulu carries some seasons, though the availability fluctuates based on licensing deals.
- Amazon Prime Video allows you to buy individual episodes or full seasons. This is usually for the die-hards who want to own the content forever, just in case a streamer decides to "vault" the show due to the legal controversies.
- YouTube TV and Fubo often have it on-demand if you have their "live" packages.
It's weirdly fascinating to go back to Season 1. You see a family obsessed with perfection. Todd is micromanaging his kids' outfits. Chase is trying to sneak out. Savannah is the pageant queen. Looking at it now, knowing the FBI was already starting to look into their bank records during the later seasons, adds a layer of "true crime" to a show that was marketed as a lighthearted comedy.
Why the Show Still Pulls an Audience Despite the Scandal
Why do we still want to watch Chrisley Knows Best?
✨ Don't miss: Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett: Why Fans Are Still Divided Over the Daimyo of Tatooine
Psychologically, it's the "Nanny Faye" effect. Most fans will tell you that Todd’s mother, Faye Chrisley, was the real star. Her gambling trips, her unfiltered commentary, and her refusal to take Todd seriously provided a warmth that the rest of the show sometimes lacked. She represented the "real" South—messy, stubborn, and hilarious—while Todd represented the aspirational, hyper-polished version.
The show also perfected the 22-minute format. Most reality TV today is bloated. It's 60 minutes of people yelling in a kitchen. Chrisley Knows Best was edited like a scripted sitcom. There was a setup, a conflict (usually something trivial like Todd hating a new dog), and a resolution. It was "comfort food" television. Even experts in TV production, like those featured in Variety or The Hollywood Reporter, have noted that the show's pacing was its secret weapon. It didn't demand much from the viewer. You could fold laundry and laugh at Todd’s dramatic sighs.
The Legal Reality Behind the Scenes
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The reason the show stopped wasn't low ratings. It was 12 counts of tax evasion and bank fraud.
According to the Department of Justice, the Chrisleys conspired to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in personal loans. They also allegedly used a production company to hide income from the IRS. When you watch Chrisley Knows Best seasons 7, 8, and 9, you are watching a family living a lifestyle that, according to a federal jury, was built on a house of cards.
It changes the vibe. When Todd brags about a $30,000 shopping spree, you aren't just seeing wealth; you're seeing evidence.
🔗 Read more: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
What’s Left for the Chrisley Fans?
If you've binged all ten seasons and need more, the family hasn't exactly gone silent. Savannah Chrisley has taken over the mantle. She’s been the most vocal about their prison conditions, using her podcast, Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley, to keep the brand alive.
There were spinoffs, too. Remember Growing Up Chrisley? It followed Chase and Savannah as they moved to LA. It’s also on Peacock. It’s a bit different—less Todd, more "Gen Z influencers trying to find themselves." It didn't have the same soul as the original, but it's essential viewing if you're a completionist.
Interestingly, there have been talks of a new reality show featuring the kids and Nanny Faye. It’s a bold move. Can the show survive without the patriarch? Todd was the engine. Without his "theatrical" parenting, the dynamic shifts into something more somber. The kids are now raising their younger siblings, Chloe and Grayson. It’s a heavy reality that the original show never prepared us for.
A Timeline of the Fall
To understand what you're seeing when you watch Chrisley Knows Best, keep these dates in mind:
- 2014: The show debuts on USA Network. It’s an instant hit.
- 2019: The first indictments are handed down. The family maintains their innocence aggressively.
- June 2022: A jury finds Todd and Julie guilty on all counts.
- January 2023: They report to federal prison. Todd gets 12 years (later reduced slightly); Julie gets 7 (also recently seen some movement in sentencing appeals).
The appeal process is ongoing. Julie Chrisley actually had her sentence vacated in mid-2024 for a resentencing hearing because the judges found the evidence linking her to the early years of the bank fraud was insufficient. However, she’s still in the system. The legal drama is literally more complex than any storyline the producers ever came up with.
💡 You might also like: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
How to Maximize Your Viewing Experience
If you’re doing a rewatch, don’t just watch for the jokes. Watch for the cracks.
Notice how often they move houses. Notice the tension in the later seasons when the legal pressure started mounting. It’s a fascinating study in "faking it until you make it," except they were doing it on a national stage.
- Check the Specials: Don't skip the holiday specials. The Christmas episodes were where the budget really went wild.
- Follow the Podcasts: If you want the "meta" experience, listen to Chrisley Confessions. They recorded episodes right up until they surrendered to authorities. It provides a bizarre, real-time commentary on their state of mind.
- Look for Nanny Faye's Best Bits: There are dozens of YouTube compilations. If you don't have time for a full episode, these are the distilled essence of why the show worked.
Actionable Steps for the Dedicated Viewer
If you are ready to dive back in, here is exactly how to handle it:
Start with Peacock for the most stable streaming experience. They have the most consistent rights to the show and rarely drop seasons. If you’re a fan of the legal side, cross-reference the episodes you watch with the timeline of the federal indictment. It adds a layer of depth that most reality fans miss.
Keep an eye on Savannah's socials. Since she is currently the guardian of the younger children, any news of a "reboot" or a new family series will break there first. There is a high probability that a "life after the fall" series will land on a smaller streaming network within the next year, given the enduring popularity of the reruns.
Lastly, be mindful of the "reality" in reality TV. Chrisley Knows Best was a masterclass in branding. Even if the foundations were crumbling, the show managed to make millions of people feel like they were part of the family. That’s a legacy that even a prison sentence hasn't quite managed to erase yet.