The Office is a wonderful show, and one of the hallmark workplace comedies that kicked off what many believe to be a golden age of TV comedy. Since the premiere of its US version in 2005, the workplace comedy genre has absolutely exploded, with a banger new series starting almost every year since and usually lasting at least a few seasons.
If you’re a fan of The Office, it might be easy to just chuck it on repeat for the rest of your life and be happy. But there are a lot of other great shows out there, ready to be discovered, adored, and laughed at. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the 10 best workplace comedies for fans of The Office, so you can discover your next obsession and share it with all of your friends.
Superstore
NBC Universal
Superstore is the brainchild of Justin Spitzer, who was one of the key writers for some of the best episodes of The Office. This wonderful series follows the employees of Cloud 9 store 1217, a big box chain store that bears some similarities to stores you may have been to if you’re in the US. It’s got a fantastic cast, rock-solid writing, and lots of laughs.
30 Rock
30 Rock is kind of the quintessential modern workplace comedy, going toe-to-toe with The Office throughout its seven-season run. Loosely based on Tina Fey’s experiences writing for SNL, 30 Rock has Fey portraying Liz Lemon, head writer at The Girlie Show, whose whole career is thrown into chaos when a dashing new executive demands major changes to the show. 30 Rock set the stage for shows like Parks and Recreation, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and so many more, and it’s an absolute must-watch for anyone interested in TV comedy.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Another titan of the genre, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has to be seen to be believed. It’s about the worst people you could ever imagine, who jointly run a bar… although many of the episodes barely feature the bar. Nothing can prepare you for It’s Always Sunny, but trust me, you gotta watch it, if only to watch Danny DeVito in his absolute prime, delivering some of the best comedy of his long career.
Brooklyn 99
If you want a show that mixes a fantastic, diverse cast, sharp and absurd writing, and just a dash of police procedural drama, then Brooklyn 99 is the workplace comedy for you. The late Andre Braugher is really the headliner here, portraying the stoic police captain Raymond Holt. Over the course of the series, thanks to the annoying and childish probing from Andy Samberg’s Detective Jake Peralta, you see Holt opening up and coming together with his team to do some great work and try to make a difference in the NYPD. It’s not perfect by any means, and it lends toward the more absurd side, but it’s a lot of great fun.
Space Force
Space Force was an unfortunate victim of the pandemic, having lost a huge chunk of its cast between its first and second seasons, but that’s a huge shame because it’s brilliant. Steve Carell returns to a leading role in a workplace comedy, this time four-star general Mark Naird, head of the newest branch of the US military, Space Force. It’s very heartfelt, very funny, and punches way above its weight. If that’s not enough, it also features John Malkovich, which should be more than enough to get you interested.
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Rec has a very rough first season, but once you get past that it’s an absolute blast. It definitely apes The Office’s mockumentary format, especially early on, but it doesn’t take long for it to grow into its own thing. Parks and Rec is how Nick Offerman became a household name, and he’s absolutely fantastic in the role, as is just about everyone who appears on the show. If you somehow haven’t seen it and are looking for something to fill that The Office-shaped hole in your heart, stop reading this right now and go watch it. Actually, no, finish reading this first, because there are still a few bangers left on the list.
AP Bio
You may not have heard of AP Bio, but consider this a sign to track it down and start watching. Glenn Howerton, who you might know best as It’s Always Sunny’s Dennis, portrays a cynical and burnt out Harvard professor who returns to his hometown and takes up a role teaching Advanced Placement Biology at a nearby high school. He’s largely uninterested in actually teaching, but with a class full of the smartest kids in school, he decides to hatch a revenge plan against the man who stole his dream job at Harvard. It’s deeply funny, especially after the first season when it really picks up, and the whole cast puts in absolutely stellar performances. There are four seasons of AP Bio to get through, and it’s well worth your time.
Great News
We tossed up including Great News on this list, because it’s not going to be for everyone. Another production that was in part crafted by Tina Fey, Great News follows an up and coming news producer named Katie whose life is thrown into chaos when her mother starts interning at the station. Briga Heelan, who plays Katie, feels like she’s one big role away from being the next big comedy star, and she absolutely excels in this role. Nicole Richie is also in this, if you can believe it, and while it’s definitely a slow-burning comedy, it really sneaks up on you with some pretty big laughs.
American Auto
Justin Spitzer is back, and proving his worth as the king of workplace comedies with American Auto. There’s something that’s just perfect about the premise, which sees the ever-incredible Ana Gasteyer stepping into the role of Katherine Hastings, a pharmacology executive who finds herself the newly-minted CEO of a major American automobile company — despite not knowing a single thing about cars. The first episode alone will be enough to hook you, as it sees the team dealing with a self-driving car algorithm that accidentally only stops for white people. Oops. It’s so so funny, and I highly recommend you check it out.
The Office
Of course, if you’re a fan of The Office, there’s a non-zero chance you’ve watched it more than once. And hey, that’s fair, we’ve watched it plenty of times, too. But if you’re keen on a workplace comedy like The Office, well, The Office is like The Office. You can never really watch it too many times, so why not add another one to the pile?
