The Office is widely considered one of the best sitcoms of all time. Following the endless chaos that regional manager Michael Scott brings to the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, the 2005 mockumentary is a hilarious insight into the mundane reality of life in a 9-5. The show effortlessly balances relatable humor, physical gags, and eccentric characters, so it's easy to see why The Office has remained so popular.
Even still, The Office fans might be looking for something else to scratch that Dunder Mifflin itch, and luckily, there are tons of other great sitcoms out there. Though they may not be quite as funny as The Office, fans don't have to look far to find shows with similar mockumentary formats, colorful and quirky characters, or iconic cold opens, and might find their next watch in Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Parks & Recreation.
5 Parks & Recreation is An Amazing Next Watch For The Office Fans
The Office is a phenomenal mockumentary, and fans who love the comedy that comes with that genre will certainly enjoy Parks & Recreation. The sitcom follows Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope, a patriotic bureaucrat who works in her hometown of Pawnee, Indiana. Leslie's a very political person: she dreams of being president but still takes her day-to-day operations as Deputy Director in the Parks & Recreation Department very seriously. Parks & Rec derives a lot of its humor from her relentless and sometimes absurd optimism, much like Michael Scott's in The Office.
Parks & Recreation has some of the best comedy on TV, and that's mostly thanks to the well-developed and likable characters, hilarious dynamics (like Leslie and Ron), and impressive comedic performances. Though it has that success, its humor doesn't quite match The Office's: the latter show takes more comedic risks and maintains a better, more grounded mockumentary format throughout its seasons. It's very easy to feel like the Dunder Mifflin employees could be real people, and that makes the show all the more humorous.
4 Fans of The Office's Cold Opens Will Love Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Office's cold opens are iconic, but Brooklyn Nine-Nine has some impressive openings in its catalog, too. The workplace sitcom takes place in Brooklyn's 99th police precinct, which is full of weird and wonderful detectives, a hilariously deadpan Commanding Officer (played by Andre Braugher), and well-constructed physical gags. It's hard not to laugh at Jake Peralta and his immature hijinks, especially when they're contrasted with Charles Boyle and his intense line delivery.
There are constant jokes in the NYPD sitcom, which can often work in its favor, but even after eight seasons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine doesn't feel self-aware of its inherent silliness. The Office, in contrast, is far funnier because of its reliance on awkward silence, stillness, and intentional looks at the camera, so it feels like you're in on the joke. The latter show knows what it is and embraces it fully, whereas Brooklyn Nine-Nine doesn't seem to do the same.
3 You'll Catch New Jokes With Each Arrested Development Rewatch
Arrested Development focuses on the Bluths, a once-wealthy family who lose their lavish lifestyle when the patriarch, George Bluth Sr., is arrested for embezzlement. Despite their new circumstances, they continually live above their means, and it's up to Jason Bateman's Michael Bluth to keep the family on track. There's constant comedic friction within the Bluth family, but Arrested Development's hilarity is all thanks to its incredibly smart writing. Jokes don't always pay off instantly, there's some hilarious physical humor, and audiences will always chuckle at Ron Howard's masterful narration.
Arrested Development is layered, and you'll catch new jokes every time you watch it. However, sometimes, this can make the show feel too dense. You might miss an amazing line in Arrested Development, but The Office will have you laughing immediately. In this sense, The Office's humor is much more accessible for casual viewers, but they should definitely give Arrested Development a watch or two.
2 Community Has Some Wild Episodes
For six seasons, Community follows the eclectic members of a study group at Greendale Community College, which is created by Jeff Winger when he is forced to enroll in community college after getting disbarred. Also part of the study group are Britta, Abed, Pierce, Troy, Annie, and Shirley. Community is a hilarious high-concept, often meta, sitcom that's beloved for its clever writing, fast-paced dialogue, and genre parodies.
There's no questioning how funny and inventive Community is, but The Office takes the edge because it always keeps one foot grounded in realism and never feels too niche. Even still, if you love Michael Scott's absurd and oddball humor, or the constant chaos of the Dunder Mifflin office, you'll enjoy Community's quirky cast of characters and cringe-worthy moments.
1 30 Rock Has Some Quick-Fire Comedy
With a satirical look at the behind-the-scenes of a live sketch comedy show, 30 Rock is an incredibly well-written TV series. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the head writer of "TGS With Tracy Jordan," while other cast members include more comedy legends like Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Alec Baldwin, and Jack McBrayer. 30 Rock is fast-paced, high-energy, and equal parts a silly comedy and a sharp satire.
Despite all of its success, 30 Rock is still profoundly underrated. The cast's chemistry is almost unmatched, and the show is so easily quotable, but its high joke density can be off-putting to some. The Office does many things well, and knowing when not to joke makes the show even funnier.