Six Shows to Watch if You Miss The Office

When The Office first premiered in 2005 with a lackluster first season, hardly anyone could have predicted the enormous success.

But nine seasons, two hundred and one episodes, and a large group of devoted fans later, The Office is one of the most popular shows of all time. The “mockumentary” follows a group of people who work at a paper supply company in Pennsylvania, but are constantly getting distracted from their real work by antics such as a beach trip, a baby shower, or whatever manager Michael Scott has planned for the day. Sadly, The Office concluded in 2013, and while it’s always nice to rewatch favorite episodes, sometimes you just want something new. If you’re missing The Office, consider starting one of the television shows below.

1.) Brooklyn 99

Most police shows are firmly dramas, filled with action, suspense, and constant searching for criminals. But not Brooklyn 99, which adds comedy to the typically serious setting of a police precinct. The series follows Jake, whose carefree, humorous personality clashes with the serious one of his commanding officer Raymond Holt. One of the most relatable and entertaining aspects of The Office was how bored most of the Dunder Mifflin salespeople always seemed to be at work, and how some employees, mostly Jim, would try to spice things up. Brooklyn 99 portrays the same kind of fun, while also bridging serious topics. Start watching on Peacock and Hulu.

2.) Superstore

Working at a big-box store brings the same kinds of tasks and events every day- at least that’s what Amy Sosa, the floor supervisor at Cloud 9, thinks. But with the help of Jonah, who arrives in the pilot of this NBC sitcom, Amy begins to realize that there are a lot of eventful and entertaining things happening every day at the store, from a Black Friday stampede to a dog adoption event, and the tracking down of a woman in a left-behind photograph. Rounding out this excellent comedy are characters Glenn Sturgis, the naïve, well-meaning manager; Dina Fox, the no-nonsense assistant manager; and Garrett McNeil, the store announcer with dry humor. You can find Superstore on Peacock and Hulu.

3.) Parks and Recreation

What many may ordinarily think is just a boring job in bureaucracy is brought to life in Parks and Recreation, available on Peacock and Apple TV. Leslie Knope is an endlessly optimistic deputy director of the Parks and Recreations department in her Indiana town, and she is determined to make a positive difference in her community, no matter how many grouchy people she must overcome. Working along with Leslie is Ron, a man against every facet of the government; April, a college-aged intern; and Andy, a lovable, slightly clueless worker at the Parks and Recreation department. It’s very reminiscent of The Office, and a perfect starting point after you’ve finished The Office.

4.) Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary is the most recently made show on this list, and one of the hottest TV shows on television. The show follows a group of school teachers, a substitute, and a principal at a public school in Philadelphia. Young teacher Janine Teagues is filled with energy, eager to help make a difference in her students’ lives. Principal Ava Coleman is entirely unfit to be a leader, and the rest of the teachers are just trying to make it through the day. The show is full of the same hilarious dysfunction that The Office was, but also the same endless optimism and hope. Catch it on ABC on Tuesday nights, and also on Hulu.

5.) Community

With a star-studded cast that includes Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ken Jeong, and Joel McHale, Community, available on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, is chock-full of hilarity. After it is discovered that Jeff, an experienced lawyer, has a degree that isn’t exactly legit, he is forced to go back to college. At Greendale Community College, Jeff finds himself allied with an odd group of students from his Spanish class and slowly begins to acclimate to the new setting. Each of the characters is uniquely quirky and funny, as is the show’s portrayal of a college education.

6.) A.P. Bio

Most A.P. teachers are driven, focused, intelligent, and want to see their students succeed when it comes time to take that A.P. exam at the end of the year- but not this A.P. Biology teacher. Jack Griffin was recently passed up for his dream job and vows to get revenge on his former friend who took the job. Jack, with absolutely no intentions of teaching biology, literally throws the textbooks out the window and enlists his high-achieving students in his schemes. Four seasons of chaos and very little learning ensue on A.P. Bio. Check it out on Peacock. The Office was an inspiration for so many other comedy shows and mockumentaries. If you’re looking for another similar show, check out one of these six and enjoy!