10 awkwardly lovable comedies that follow in The Office’s footsteps

The Office (Image Source: Prime Video)
The Office (Image Source: Prime Video)

The Office, a television series that presents the fictional office life in a realistic and humorous way.

No doubt that this show leaves a deep impression on the audience. So, following the success of this series, many producers and playwrights have created similar series. Here's a list of 10 similar shows that you might enjoy.

The IT Crowd

The IT Crowd (Image Source: Prime Video)
The IT Crowd (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Prime Video

A unique gem of British television, "The IT Crowd" is a series that is undoubtedly an essential experience for fans of 'The Office'. It is based on three employees of the technical support (IT) department - Roy, Moss, and Jen - who work in the basement of a large corporate office. Their ridiculous situations, strange characters, and real-life failures have developed into a perfect comedy kingdom, which is at once uncomfortable, heartwarming, and of course, funny.

Community

Community (Image Source: Prime Video)
Community (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Prime Video

If you’re looking for a series that combines The Office-like awkward moments, then Community is the one.

The series’ main character is Jeff Winger, a smart lawyer who is forced to enroll in Greendale Community College after being caught cheating on his degree.

There, he forms a reading group, each of whose members is unique in their own way, like Troy (a former football player), Abed (pop culture-obsessed yet socially isolated), Britta (a self-proclaimed activist), Shirley (a devout mother), Annie (an ambitious and highly organized student), and Pierce (older, richer, and a bit of a racist). Together, they become an odd family that changes the story.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Premiere Of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - Arrivals - Source: Getty
Premiere Of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" - Arrivals - Source: Getty

Where to watch: Prime Video

If The Office was a scripted reality comedy, Curb Your Enthusiasm is a rawer, more authentic, and almost shameless version of it. This cult classic HBO series is a comedy that focuses on breaking social norms, uncomfortable situations, and the finer points of human behavior. It's a show that gives you moments that are so embarrassing that you laugh at them, and then you feel a little uncomfortable yourself, and that's the beauty of it.

Nathan for You

Nathan for You (Image Source: Prime Video)
Nathan for You (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Prime Video

If “The Office” introduced us to socially awkward coworkers, Nathan for You introduces us to a human idea machine with an uncanny talent who infiltrates real life and creates incredibly bizarre, yet incredibly funny, situations. Nathan Fielder appears in this docu-comedy show as an asocial, rational, overly serious version of himself – a “business development consultant.”

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Image Source: Netflix)
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Image Source: Netflix)

Where to watch: Netflix

If you enjoy the moments in The Office where someone says something and then an awkward silence falls, then I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is the comedy that will amplify that feeling a hundredfold, in a way that’s laugh-out-loud funny.

This Netflix Original sketch comedy series is a rebellious take on modern comedy, with each scene being a perfect parody of uncomfortable, exaggerated, and often incoherent behavior in real life.

Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls (Image Source: Netflix)
Gilmore Girls (Image Source: Netflix)

Where to watch: Netflix

If you want to watch the most popular and long-running shows in television history, then we are here. Gilmore Girls revolves around life in a small town and the relationship between the two main characters, Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory Gilmore. This mother-daughter duo and their complex relationship, the ups and downs of their relationship, are all about the story. You will love it if you love The Office.

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation (Image Source: Netflix)
Parks and Recreation (Image Source: Netflix)

Where to watch: Netflix

This is an office-based comedy show that focuses on the lives of government employees but is much more lively and full of energy. This show is mainly based on the life of Leslie Knope, a very enthusiastic, courageous, and professional government employee who is dedicated to the development of the parks in her town and the welfare of the people. Her dream and endeavor are to make the small town of Pawnee better and more beautiful. Let's know what she does till the end!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Image Source: Netflix)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Image Source: Netflix)

Where to watch: Netflix

Brooklyn Nine-Nine presents the lives of the characters working in a workplace similar to The Office through humor. The main character is an eccentric but very lovable police officer. The characters of the other members, including his friends, are similarly funny yet heartwarming. The show beautifully portrays the relationships and personal lives of the workplace through humor.

Arrested Development

Arrested Development (Image Source: Prime Video)
Arrested Development (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Netflix

If you want to watch a family comedy show, then Arrested Development is the one. It revolves around the Bluth family, whose relationships are full of complications, misunderstandings, and hilarious situations. The main character is an ordinary man who tries to bring his family together, and chaos happens like in The Office. Because the characters are all different from each other, there is a deep connection and love within the family.

Superstore

Superstore (Image Source: Prime Video)
Superstore (Image Source: Prime Video)

Where to watch: Netflix

Superstore deals with the lives of employees of a large superstore and their relationships. This is a comedy show whose central character is Amy. She is a manager who tries to build relationships with her employees. It is an ideal show to show the humor and complexity of the workplace, just like The Office.

Superstore mainly highlights friendship, love, and various humorous situations that occur in the office.


Although these 10 comedy series follow the path of The Office, each is built in its own style and offers a different experience to the audience. Each of them has that special "awkward charm" that is, all those uncomfortable but funny situations that make us laugh and also make us think.

These 10 similar series depict the small things of our lives, especially the office, social gatherings, family tensions, or personal conflicts, in a way that makes us feel like they are part of our own lives. Hence, they are not only comedy series but also considered a reflection of our social reality.

Although 'The Office' is a groundbreaking creation, these series that have been developed under its shadow have made a place in the hearts of the audience with their own strength and uniqueness. If you are a fan of sharp humor, social satire, and character-driven stories, then these series should definitely be on your playlist. Each series will simultaneously make you laugh, think, and ultimately make you fall in love with the characters—just like ‘The Office’ did.

Edited by Sroban Ghosh