Sitcoms To Watch If You Miss The Office

In the 21st century, few shows have had more influence and a hold on audiences than The 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 made The Office a defining show in pop culture even over a decade after bidding farewell to viewers.

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Offering memorable comedic dynamics, such as those between Michael and Dwight, as well as an on-and-off romance between Jim and Pam, The Office transcends 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 Office has 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 the best sitcoms to check out for those who miss The Office.

7

Superstore

A Workplace Sitcom That Has Bingeable Qualities

For those seeking a workplace sitcom that bubbles with infectious energy and has a bingeable quality, Superstore fits 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 9 provide humor while performing the most mundane tasks, Superstore finds the recipe for success in its pure heart and coworker dynamics, a hallmark of any great sitcom, such as The Office and Parks and Recreation.

6

Arrested Development

A Legendary Comedic Ensemble Portraying A Rich Family Trying To Rebound

Before being revived almost a decade later on Netflix, Arrested Development was 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 like The Office, revolutionized comedy in its approach and through its memorable and preposterous characters.

5

Modern Family

Interwined Families Filled With Big Personalities Provide Plenty Of Laughs Through Their Everyday Lives

Running for over a decade, the family sitcom Modern Family brought barrels of laughs to audiences upon its arrival, with its hilarious depiction of families bringing 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.

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Using a mockumentary style akin to The Office, Modern Family excels 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.

4

Abbott Elementary

Heavy Influence Of The Office On School Comedy

Throughout the 2020s, few comedy shows have had a more significant impact than Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary inspired by The Office that 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 Elementary excels tremendously in the genre. It offers slice-of-life moments and truly hilarious situations carried by its outstanding cast, which has made the show a mega-hit in the streaming era.

3

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

An Amusing Police Sitcom Carried By Andy Samberg

Headlined by The Lonely Island frontman and Saturday Night Live alumnus Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine emerged 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 detectives as they aim to solve crimes while getting caught up in their extravagant personal lives, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like many great sitcoms similar to The 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.

2

The Office (UK)

The Original British Series Brainstormed By Ricky Gervais And Stephen Merchant

Before the US version of The Office became 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.

In The 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 with Tim and Dawn’s budding office romance (the influence behind Jim and Pam’s love story), the original version of The Office sets itself apart from Steve Carell’s iteration, relying on its distinct British brand of humor to become a game-changer in the medium.

1

Parks And Recreation

Parks Director Attempts To Aid A Small Town And Its Communities With The Help Of Her Quirky Self And Team

Besides The Office, Parks and Rec became 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 cast that elevated the writing material, Parks and Rec‘s constant evolution allowed the show to keep pace with The Office, ranking as one of the all-time sitcoms, particularly in this century.

The Office

Release Date

2005 – 2013-00-00

Network

NBC

Showrunner

Greg Daniels

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  Steve Carell

  Michael Scott

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  Rainn Wilson

  Dwight Schrute

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  John Krasinski

  Jim Halpert

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