Summary
In the 21st century, few shows have had more influence and a hold on audiences thanThe Office, the Steve Carrell-led comedy following a group of office workers marshaled by their outlandish manager, Michael Scott. At Dunder Mifflin, the workers aim to supply paper to local businesses. However, the eccentric group of paper salespersons and their individuality get in the way, producing awkward and cringe-inducing moments that have madeThe Officea defining show in pop culture even over a decade after bidding farewell to viewers.
Offering memorable comedic dynamics, such as those between Michael and Dwight, as well as an on-and-off romance between Jim and Pam,The Officetranscends the typical conventions of comedy, producing storylines that evoke not just laughter but also heartfelt emotion. Despite being a one-of-a-kind show,The Officehas many contemporaries and sitcoms that either draw inspiration from or build upon its success, promising plenty of laughs and discomfort all in the name of entertainment. Here are some of thebest sitcoms to check out for those who missThe Office.
For those seeking a workplace sitcom that bubbles with infectious energy and has a bingeable quality,Superstorefits the bill. It’s a resonating comedy teeming with humor and heart. Centered on the workforce at Cloud 9, a retail behemoth, its employees go about their daily lives, engaging with the influx of customers that can often lead to disorder.
While the workers at Cloud 9provide humor while performing the most mundane tasks,Superstorefinds the recipe for success in its pure heart and coworker dynamics, a hallmark of any great sitcom, such asThe OfficeandParks and Recreation.
Before being revived almost a decade later on Netflix,Arrested Developmentwas a fresh and forward-thinking comedy that catapulted many of its all-star cast to stardom through their tremendous performances within the Bluth family. After the wealth of the Bluths is depleted following the arrest of the family’s head for fraud, the family relies on Michael, the most level-headed member, for survival as he attempts to solve the ever-growing problems that come with their sudden lifestyle change.
Filled with its single-camera usage, absurd characters like Tobias Funke and Gob Bluth, and its crazied family dynamics featuring George Michael’s unusual attraction to his cousin Maeby,Arrested Development, just likeThe Office, revolutionized comedy in its approach and through its memorable and preposterous characters.
Running for over a decade, the family sitcomModern Familybrought barrels of laughs to audiences upon its arrival, withits hilarious depiction of familiesbringing a sense of relatability to television screens. Following three different families in Los Angeles (all related), each family’s dynamics present distinct challenges and disarray in a comedic sense.
Using a mockumentary style akin toThe Office,Modern Familyexcels in its familial tone. It showcases the highs and lows of parenting, including embarrassing moments, tough love, and friendship, resulting in a sitcom where audiences can always find relatable aspects.
Throughout the 2020s, few comedy shows have had a more significant impact thanAbbott Elementary, a mockumentary inspired byThe Officethat takes place in a Philadelphia public school. Despite the lack of financial support, the eclectic group of teachers strives to aid their students while engaging in comradery and comedic escapades relating to Abbott Elementary.
As far as mockumentaries go,Abbott Elementaryexcels tremendously in the genre. It offers slice-of-life moments and truly hilarious situations carried by its outstanding cast, which has made the showa mega-hit in the streaming era.
Headlined by The Lonely Island frontman andSaturday Night Livealumnus Andy Samberg,Brooklyn Nine-Nineemerged as one of the most popular sitcoms of the 2010s. It’s so loved, in fact, that the police-set comedy has since become ingrained in pop culture in various forms.
Following the NYPD and its collection of eclectic detectivesas they aim to solve crimeswhile getting caught up in their extravagant personal lives,Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like many great sitcoms similar toThe Office, features the perfect blend of a diverse cast, comedic bits, joyous chemistry, and romance, recipes that are to needed to succeed within the genre.
Before the US version ofThe Officebecame a global phenomenon, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant crafted the revolutionary comedy in their native England, creating all the hallmarks that carried over to its American counterpart. Instead of Michael Scott fronting an office, Gervais' David Brent originated the awkward and aloof office boss persona, with his unpopularity among his employees making for a complicated watch.
InThe Office, it’s easy to see parallels between the UK and US versions, as Gareth and Dwight’s roles as loyal right-hand men to the office’s top brass slightly differ due to the cultural differences between the two shows, even though they overlap in terms of quirkiness. Along withTim and Dawn’s budding office romance(the influence behind Jim and Pam’s love story), the original version ofThe Officesets itself apart from Steve Carell’s iteration, relying on its distinct British brand of humor to become a game-changer in the medium.
BesidesThe Office,Parks and Recbecame a quintessential mockumentary, airing during the same period. It follows a clumsy Parks director and her loyal but complicated group of workers in Pawnee, Indiana. Like Michael Scott, Leslie Knope brings much joy and intolerable behavior to local communities, with her constant overeagerness in facets of work and relationships making her integral to the show’s evident success.
Known for its apex-level castthat elevated the writing material,Parks and Rec’s constant evolution allowed the show to keep pace withThe Office, ranking as one of the all-time sitcoms, particularly in this century.
