10 Of The Most Fun Elections On Streaming

There are few stories that capture blind, misguided determination better than this Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick comedy. The movie follows Tracy Flick (Witherspoon), a high school student determined to win her high school election no matter the cost. As the movie goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that the cost is the sanity and reputation of a popular social studies teacher (Broderick). Witherspoon may be America’s sweetheart, but she can sure play the hell out of a villain.

[Where to stream Election]

One of the shining moments of Amy Poehler’s delightfully quirky NBC sitcom was Leslie Knope’s season-long campaign to be elected to city council. Season Four produced a lot of fun moments, from arguably the least competent man to ever run for elected office to a disastrous red carpet in the middle of an ice rink. However, the best episode of this strong season was “The Debate” which saw Leslie finally going head-to-head with Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd). Need another reason to watch? “The Debate” features one of the best Parks and Recreation supporting characters, Kathryn Hahn’s Jennifer Barkley.

[Where to stream Parks and Recreation Season 4, Episode 20]

There are so many characters on Veep who deserve their own spinoff series, but that’s especially true for the aggressively incompetent Jonah (Timothy Simons) and Richard (Sam Richardson). “Kissing Your Sister” has everything — political cursing, Jonah-triggered failures, a historical election, and the reveal of Catherine’s (Sarah Sutherland) season-long documentary. This election season may feel insane, but the train wreck that is this fictional election will make you feel better about 2016.

[Where to stream Veep Season 5, Episode 9]

One of the best remembered episodes of the 20 season series focuses on a simple concept — all political candidates suck. When the students of South Park Elementary are asked to elect a new school mascot, their joking entries to elect a Giant Douche or a Turd Sandwich threaten to rip the school apart. It’s already a crazy episode that cranks the insanity up to 11 when P. Diddy appears to put a name and a face to the Vote of Die campaign. Here’s hoping Puff Daddy doesn’t show up on any undecided voter’s doorstep today.

[Where to stream South Park Season 8, Episode 8]

The Simpsons has had a lot of fun with elections during its 28-season run, but there’s something especially fun about episodes starring Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer). In this episode, Sideshow Bob becomes mayor through electoral fraud. It’s a fun premise that gleefully dives into references to the Watergate scandal, All the President’s Men, and Richard Nixon and JFK’s televised 1960 debate. That’s a lot of political commentary for roughly 20 minutes of television, and it is all glorious.

[Where to stream The Simpsons Season 6, Episode 5]

Tina Fey’s cult NBC series has always been a show lifted by its shining moments of comedic perfection, and “Unwindulax” is the perfect example of this. Set during the 2012 election, Season Seven established Jenna’s (Jane Krakowski) loyal army of Floridians, a joke that was fun but seemingly offered little payoff. All of that changes when Tracy (Tracy Morgan) and Jack (Alec Baldwin) simultaneously realize that the only person who can change the election is Jenna herself. It’s a shining 30 Rock moment that not only raises this episode but this season as a whole.

[Where to stream 30 Rock Season 7, Episode 4]

Fred Armisen and Bill Hader’s satirical documentary series has had a lot of fun moments during its two seasons, but few episodes are as pointed or hilarious as this parody of The War Room. The duo’s take on Bill Clinton’s 1992 political campaign feels eerily close to the 2016 election. However, it’s Hader and Armisen’s uncanny impressions of James Carville and George Stephanopoulos that steal the episode. Never has the world of local politics seemed so needlessly biting.

[Where to stream Documentary Now! “The Bunker”]

In 2012, Futurama decided to parody the Birther movement in the only way it knew how — by creating an election between Richard Nixon and a time-traveling Terminator-esque politician. Leela, sick of a rigged system that always elects President Richard Nixon’s head, decides to back a third-party candidate with a confusing past. What happens next involves time travel, temporal paradoxes, political doublespeak, and a whole lot of great jokes.

[Where to stream Futurama Season 9, Episode 3]

Vice President Joe Biden has agreed to stop by Greendale and meet with Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) and the student body president. There’s just one problem: Greendale doesn’t have a president. “Introduction to Political Science” is a smart, fast-paced, and debate-fueled mockery of the absurd lies politicians tell. Add in the Dean’s amazing costume, and this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

[Where to stream Community Season 2, Episode 17]

Starring Marisa Tomei as herself, this hourlong two-part special follows Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) as he’s forced to deal with his father’s possible impeachment in his Florida retirement community. What follows is a story about backhanded political dealings for an election hardly anyone cares about, a standoff with the cable company, and Elaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) reignited passion for Jerry. And to think, all of this happened just because Jerry wanted to get something nice for his parents.

[Where to stream Seinfeld Season 7, Episode 14]