With Peacock returning for the second season of The Paper, fans of workplace comedy are once again treated to the cringe-inducing humor, awkward character interactions, and institutional absurdity that made its predecessor, The Office, a defining cultural phenomenon. The Paper follows the exact same fictional documentary camera crew that spent nearly a decade chronicling the daily operations of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. In this series, the lens shifts to Toledo, Ohio, where the crew turns its attention to the staff of the Toledo Truth Teller—a legacy Midwestern newspaper attempting to survive in an era when print journalism across the country is facing severe decline.
Filled with relatable workplace archetypes, sharp social commentary, and classic cringe comedy, The Paper highlights the humor that emerges when well-meaning workers navigate an industry on life support. For viewers who have already completed their season two binge and are seeking more stories centered on newsroom chaos, office politics, and occupational misadventures, television offers a rich history of workplace-centered series. Here are 10 top television shows that capture the spirit, absurdity, and camaraderie of the modern workplace to keep your watch list packed.
St. Denis Medical (2024– )
Given that St. Denis Medical was co-created by Justin Spitzer—a veteran writer and producer on The Office—it is no surprise that the series shares an unmistakable comedy DNA with The Paper. Set within the frantic halls of St. Denis Regional Medical Center, the mockumentary follows an overworked medical team as they navigate demanding patients on one front and a perpetually challenging healthcare system on the other.
Led by Allison Tolman alongside a strong ensemble cast that includes Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier, the show seamlessly blends the classic workplace mockumentary style with grounded, highly relatable themes. It highlights the everyday frustrations of being an American healthcare practitioner or patient without losing its sense of warm, character-driven humor. St. Denis Medical is currently available to stream on Peacock.
Sports Night (1998–2000)
Created by Aaron Sorkin shortly before he achieved mainstream acclaim with The West Wing, Sports Night remains one of the most celebrated workplace comedy-dramas of its era. Though it ran for only two seasons before concluding its run, the series earned critical acclaim and multiple Emmy Awards, establishing a dedicated cult following in the years since.
The story centers on the managing editor of a high-octane, SportsCenter-style cable show fighting to keep the broadcast afloat amidst network pressure and executive interference. Late acting icon Robert Guillaume stars alongside an impressive cast that includes Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Joshua Malina, and Clark Gregg. Combining Sorkin’s signature fast-talking dialogue with complex character development, Sports Night offers a fascinating look at newsroom pressures. The complete series is available to purchase on Prime Video.
Abbott Elementary (2021– )
Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary quickly established itself as one of the standout workplace mockumentaries of the modern television era. Set in an underfunded Philadelphia public elementary school, the series centers on a group of dedicated teachers who remain determined to give their students the best possible education despite severe budget constraints and administrative roadblocks.
Much like The Paper, Abbott Elementary explores what happens when passionate professionals confront systemic institutional challenges. However, Brunson’s show pairs its sharp comedic timing with a strong sense of warmth and optimism. The show’s ensemble cast brings to life the daily friction and genuine heart of the teaching profession, making it an ideal follow-up for mockumentary enthusiasts. Abbott Elementary is available for streaming across multiple platforms, including Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max.
American Auto (2021–2023)
Another entry from The Office writer and producer Justin Spitzer, American Auto turns its satirical focus toward the high-level executive world of the automotive industry. The mockumentary sitcom follows the employees of Payne Motors, a long-standing Detroit automobile manufacturer, following the arrival of a new chief executive officer, Katherine Hastings (played by Ana Gasteyer), who possesses zero prior experience or knowledge regarding cars.
The series explores the hilarity that ensues when management and staff attempt to preserve a legacy company while adapting to rapid technological and market shifts. Much like the editorial team trying to keep the Toledo Truth Teller alive in The Paper, the characters in American Auto are constantly forced to maneuver around the absurdities of an industry undergoing massive disruption. American Auto is available to stream on Peacock.
Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)
As NBC’s first major success in expanding upon the stylistic foundation laid by The Office, Parks and Recreation remains a gold standard for mockumentary workplace television. Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, the relentlessly optimistic deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Despite facing bureaucratic gridlock and widespread public apathy, Leslie’s unwavering dedication to public service drives the series forward.
The show surrounds its central character with a memorable cast of municipal employees, including the stern libertarian department head Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the image-obsessed underachiever Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), and the enigmatic Donna Meagle (Retta). Across its seven-season run, Parks and Recreation balances sharp satire of local government with genuine affection for its cast of eccentric public servants. The full series can be streamed on Peacock.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)
While What We Do in the Shadows centers on a polycule of centuries-old vampires sharing a residence in Staten Island, its mastery of the mockumentary format gives it a surprising stylistic overlap with traditional workplace comedies like The Paper. The series derives much of its humor from ancient, immortal beings attempting to navigate the practical realities and mundane challenges of modern society.
The series directly touches on office culture through the character of Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch), an "energy vampire" who feeds on the boredom of others by working in a standard corporate office setting. Later seasons also follow long-suffering familiar Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillén) as he ventures into the white-collar corporate world himself, delivering sharp parodies of workplace environment tropes. What We Do in the Shadows is available to stream on both Disney+ and Hulu.
The Bold Type (2017–2021)
For viewers looking to remain in an editorial environment while switching up the general tone, The Bold Type offers a vibrant, modern perspective on newsroom life. Inspired by the real-life career of former Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, the series chronicles the professional and personal lives of three young women working at Scarlet, a high-profile national women’s magazine based in New York City.
The show follows Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), and Sutton Brady (Meghann Fahy) as they build their careers under the guidance of their steady editor-in-chief, Jacqueline Carlyle (Melora Hardin). While shifting away from the cringe-comedy tone of The Paper, The Bold Type delivers an engaging look at media production, deadline pressure, and career evolution within a fashionable publishing environment. The series is currently available to stream on Hulu and HBO Max.
Superstore (2015–2021)
While many prominent workplace sitcoms center on white-collar environments, Superstore stands out by focusing on the retail workforce. Set inside Cloud 9, a fictional big-box department store in St. Louis, the series follows an ensemble of employees handling everything from corporate mandates to unpredictable shoppers.
Superstore excels at finding humor in the daily reality of customer-facing jobs where workers are expected to maintain an upbeat attitude despite low pay, corporate bureaucracy, and absurd corporate initiatives—such as the store replacing a veteran greeter named Myrtle with a digital hologram. With a diverse cast and sharp writing, the show offers a funny and remarkably authentic look at service-industry labor dynamics. Viewers can stream Superstore on Peacock and Hulu.
NewsRadio (1995–1999)
Long before modern mockumentaries populated the television landscape, NewsRadio defined the newsroom sitcom format in the late 1990s. Created by Paul Simms—who would go on to work on acclaimed series such as The Larry Sanders Show, Flight of the Conchords, What We Do in the Shadows, and Atlanta—the show offers a nostalgic look at an era when broadcast radio served as a primary news source.
Set in the newsroom of fictional New York City radio station WNYX, the show features one of the most talented ensemble casts in sitcom history, featuring Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Stephen Root, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Andy Dick, and Joe Rogan. Combining intellectual dialogue, eccentric character quirks, and physical slapstick, NewsRadio remains a classic depiction of broadcast journalism chaos. The series is available for streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977)
No list of newsroom television series is complete without acknowledging The Mary Tyler Moore Show, the groundbreaking series that helped lay the structural foundation for all workplace comedies that followed. Set behind the scenes of the fictional WJM-TV newsroom in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the show centers on Mary Richards as she balances her career as a television news producer with her personal life.
The series surrounded its lead character with a legendary cast of newsroom personalities, creating humor out of the contrast between high-stress broadcast deadlines and the quirky personal dynamics of the production crew. By demonstrating that an office family could serve as the emotional heart of a series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show paved the way for modern classics from The Office to The Paper. The complete series is available to purchase on Prime Video.
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