15 Underrated Workplace Comedies After The Office Era

The mockumentary style of ‘The Office’ changed the landscape of television comedy forever and left a massive void when it concluded in 2013. Audiences constantly search for the next ensemble cast that captures the absurdity of the nine-to-five grind while delivering heart and humor. Many high-quality series have premiered since that era ended but failed to garner the same massive viewership despite their brilliance. This list highlights exceptional workplace comedies from the last decade that deserve more attention for their sharp writing and memorable characters.

‘Superstore’ (2015–2021)

This series focuses on the diverse employees of a big-box store called Cloud 9 in St. Louis. The plot follows a group of workers dealing with frantic customers and corporate mismanagement while trying to maintain their sanity. America Ferrera and Ben Feldman lead the cast as they navigate unionization efforts and personal relationships amidst the chaos of retail life. The show perfectly captures the relatable struggles of minimum wage employment and the unexpected bonds formed in the breakroom. It balances sharp social commentary with goofy humor involving weird customer interstitials.

‘Corporate’ (2018–2020)

Matt and Jake are two junior executives in training at the soul-crushing multinational conglomerate Hampton DeVille. They navigate a dystopian office environment filled with cynical upper management and depressing corporate buzzwords. The show takes a darker and more nihilistic approach to workplace humor than its network predecessors. Lance Reddick stars as the terrifying CEO Christian DeVille who demands absolute loyalty and screams at subordinates. This series offers a biting satire of modern capitalism and the despair of office politics.

‘Great News’ (2017–2018)

A dedicated news producer finds her world turned upside down when her overbearing mother lands an internship at her station. The show features rapid-fire jokes and visual gags similar to ’30 Rock’ because Tina Fey served as an executive producer. Briga Heelan and Andrea Martin have impeccable chemistry as the mother-daughter duo navigating the high-pressure world of cable news. The newsroom setting allows for hilarious commentary on current events and media sensationalism. It remains a hidden gem that was cancelled before it could find a broad audience.

‘Mythic Quest’ (2020–Present)

The creative team behind the biggest multiplayer video game in history struggles to keep their product relevant while fighting amongst themselves. Rob McElhenney stars as the egomaniacal creative director Ian Grimm who constantly clashes with his brilliant lead engineer Poppy Li. The series explores the volatile intersection of art and commerce within the booming gaming industry. Episodes frequently shift between workplace pettiness and surprisingly poignant character studies about legacy and failure. It successfully translates the dysfunction of a traditional office into the digital age.

‘Trial & Error’ (2017–2018)

A bright-eyed New York lawyer relocates to a small Southern town to defend eccentric locals accused of bizarre crimes. This mockumentary parodies true crime documentaries while delivering non-stop jokes and physical comedy. John Lithgow and Kristin Chenoweth give memorable performances as the accused suspects in the first and second seasons respectively. The incompetent legal team operates out of a taxidermy shop and creates endless comedic hurdles for the defense. Fans of the genre will appreciate the silly humor and the affectionately drawn oddball characters.

‘American Auto’ (2021–2023)

The executives of Payne Motors in Detroit try to adapt to a changing market despite having a CEO who knows nothing about cars. The team faces constant PR disasters and product failures as they attempt to launch an autonomous vehicle. Justin Spitzer created this series to highlight the disconnect between corporate leadership and the actual products they sell. The dialogue is sharp and highlights the incompetence often found in high-level boardrooms. It serves as a spiritual successor to other workplace sitcoms by focusing on the decision-makers rather than the floor workers.

‘A.P. Bio’ (2018–2021)

A disgraced Harvard philosophy scholar loses his dream job and is forced to teach advanced placement biology at a high school in Toledo. Glenn Howerton plays the cynical Jack Griffin who refuses to teach any science and instead uses his students to exact revenge on his rivals. The students surprisingly embrace his twisted schemes and help him navigate his petty grievances against the academic world. Patton Oswalt adds charm as the pushover principal who desperately wants to be friends with Jack. The show subverts the inspiring teacher trope by making the protagonist entirely self-serving.

‘Tacoma FD’ (2019–2024)

Firefighters in one of the rainiest cities in America find themselves with plenty of downtime and very few fires to fight. The crew fills their shifts with elaborate pranks and friendly competitions to stave off boredom at the station. Kevin Heffernan and Steve Lemme created the show to capture the camaraderie and ribbing that occurs in first responder units. The humor relies heavily on the chemistry between the squad members and their interactions with the local police. It provides a lighthearted look at station life without the heavy drama usually associated with the genre.

‘Sirens’ (2014–2015)

Three Chicago EMTs navigate their messy personal lives while dealing with ridiculous emergency calls and unpredictable patients. The show focuses on the friendship between Johnny and his partners as they discuss everything from romance to pop culture in the ambulance. Denis Leary produced this adaptation of a British series and infused it with quick wit and dry sarcasm. The medical cases often take a backseat to the banter and interpersonal dynamics of the paramedics. It stands out for its grounded dialogue and the realistic brotherhood portrayed by the leads.

‘Detroiters’ (2017–2018)

Best friends Sam and Tim run a low-budget advertising agency in Detroit and produce distinctively cheap local television commercials. The duo lacks professional polish but possesses an boundless genuine love for their city and each other. Real-life friends Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson bring an infectious energy that makes their incompetence charming rather than frustrating. The series celebrates the absurdity of local media and the hustle required to keep a small business afloat. It has gained a cult following for its surreal humor and positive portrayal of male friendship.

‘Stath Lets Flats’ (2018–2021)

An incompetent leasing agent in London struggles to rent out terrible apartments while seeking approval from his father. Jamie Demetriou plays the titular character Stath who frequently embarrasses himself and the family business with his clumsiness. The show features a unique style of awkward comedy and malapropisms that define the dialogue. It offers a hilarious look at the competitive and often deceptive world of real estate letting. Viewers appreciate the cringe-inducing scenarios and the bizarrely lovable ineptitude of the main character.

‘W1A’ (2014–2017)

Ian Fletcher takes a job as the Head of Values at the BBC and encounters a bureaucracy so complex that nothing ever gets done. The series satirizes modern corporate culture with its endless meetings and nonsensical job titles. Narrator David Tennant adds a layer of dry wit as he explains the circular logic used by the management team. The show perfectly captures the frustration of dealing with brand consultants and internal strategic governance. It is a brilliant continuation for fans who enjoyed the earlier series ‘Twenty Twelve’.

‘The Job Lot’ (2013–2015)

Staff members at a busy unemployment bureau in the West Midlands deal with difficult claimants and their own professional shortcomings. Sarah Hadland stars as the neurotic manager Trish who tries to run a tight ship despite her chaotic personal life. The sitcom balances the bleak reality of the setting with warm character moments and absurd situations. Russell Tovey plays a disillusioned employee who dreams of escaping the mundane routine of the job centre. It finds humor in the bureaucracy of government services and the eccentric public they serve.

‘Animal Control’ (2023–Present)

A cynical former cop runs a chaotic animal control precinct in Seattle alongside a team of eccentric officers. Joel McHale plays Frank Shaw who understands animals much better than he understands his fellow humans. The workplace dynamic involves handling everything from ostriches to feral cats while navigating office crushes. The series uses the procedural format to set up sitcom storylines centered on the incompetence of the staff. It brings a fresh perspective to the civil servant comedy genre by adding unpredictable animals to the mix.

‘Rostered On’ (2016–2019)

This Australian comedy follows the staff of an electronics superstore called Electroworld as they deal with nightmare customers. The show highlights the painful reality of retail work including unreasonable demands and terrible roster schedules. It originated as an online web series before expanding into a full television show due to its viral relatability. The characters vent their frustrations about the general public and their overbearing managers in the breakroom. Retail workers worldwide resonate with its raw and unfiltered depiction of shop floor life.

Share your favorite workplace comedy that didn’t make the list in the comments.