Summary
One of the 2010s' most essential mockumentaries,Parks and Recreation, built on the success of the newly established comedic genre, giving a substitute to shows likeThe Office, with the workplace again being explored. Famed for its impressive cast that has gone on to brighter horizons,Parks and Reccenters on Parks Department manager Leslie Knope and her eccentric team, which works to better local communities within Pawnee, a small town in Indiana.
Featuring awkward comedic bits empowered by its star-studded ensemble,Parks and Recdelivered seven seasons of endearing television that went on to inspire future generations. LikeParks and Rec,plenty of alternative shows offertheir style and essence, excelling at the comedic tone that madeParks and Reca television classic.
What started as a niche Canadian comedy became a megahit overnightdue to its inclusion on Netflix, withSchitt’s Creekgoing onto international acclaim following the Rose family, a wealthy group who lose all their possessions and luxuries due to their involvement in embezzlement, except for an obscure and small town that they must try to rebuild their lives in. Featuring comedic heavyweights Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, the Rose family’s adventures as they try to fit into a quaint town alongside its residents prove eventful as their baggage and eccentricity take hold of Schitt’s Creek.
Improving season after season,Schitt’s Creek’sheartwarming story beats, which see the family become more connected to their town and its community, are reminiscent of the adventures of Leslie and her team as they strive to aid their community despite their often overbearing nature.
Based on Taika Waititi’s movie of the same name,What We Do in the Shadowshas become one of the more underappreciated mockumentaries of the past decade, building on its predecessor’s innovative style and creative approach through its vampire lore and aesthetic in a television format.What We Do in the Shadowsprimarily follows four vampires who occupy an apartment in New York, where the supernatural beings indulge in human life and try to acclimatize into a society foreign to their own.
Besides the absurd relationships between the vampires, its mockumentary approach is akin toParks and Rec, only more chaotic as thevampires try to perform mundane tasksoutside their comfort zone, bringing a lot of hilarity as Matt Berry and his co-stars excel through their over-the-top portrayals.
Inspired byTina Fey’s experiences onSNL,30 Rockbecame a flagship show for NBC during its runtime, becoming an Emmys darling thanks to its stellar cast and its examination of the bright lights of showbiz. Filled with divas, control freaks, and people just trying to get by,30 Rocksees Liz Lemon, the sketch show’s head writer, manage a chaotic production that continually sees humor result from such disorder.
Often poking fun at the show’s own network, NBC,30 Rock’s witty writing that thrived off pop culture references and amusing dynamics between characters saw30 Rockbecome a staple of comedic television in the 21st century, comparable toParks and Rec.
WhileThe Office,Parks and Rec,and30 Rockdominated on NBC during their era,Communitywas the fourth wheel, developing a niche fan base through its diverse and hilarious ensemble as they engaged in college campus shenanigans. The show centers on a group of students from all walks of life attending a community college, sparking comedic connections that revolve around the wacky events that occur daily at Greendale Community College.
Community’sabsurd episode-by-episode variation, ranging from paintball wars to pillow and blanket fights across campus, highlightsthe outrageous fun and wildness the show presented. While its ensemble thrived even with characters leaving at specific points throughout the show,Community’smost infectious dynamic was that of Troy and Abed, a TV duo unmatched in sitcoms, largely due to their electric chemistry and quirky schemes that helped makeCommunitythe cult classic it is today.
After the end ofParks and Rec, the show’s creator, Michael Schur, went on to developThe Good Place, another successful sitcomthat features Adam Scott, albeit in a different setting fromParks and Rec,despite its comedic overlap.The Good Place’s premise follows its protagonist, Eleanor, a recently deceased woman who arrives in the afterlife at a location called the Good Place. However, it’s revealed early on that Eleanor was accidentally sent to heaven instead of hell, leading to the character trying her best to avoid detection while under the surveillance of the Good Place’s overseer, Michael.
Bolstered by its distinct premise, Eleanor’s journey of self-rehabilitation in a show that offers satirical sensibilities and riveting twists led to a sitcom that thrived in the second half of the 2010s.
So far in the 2020s, theleading mockumentary has emerged to beAbbott Elementary, a sitcom from the mind of Quinta Brunson that has taken television by storm since its opening season. Heavily inspired byThe Office,Abbott Elementarydocuments the work of teachers and their efforts to better support their students at Abbott Elementary, a predominantly Black school that struggles with insufficient funding.
Abbott Elementarynot only thrives off its brilliant writing and performances, but the sitcom’s combination of slice-of-life elements, variety of personalities, and examination of the education system, a relatable topic everyone engages in one way or another, has seen the show become a phenomenon.
Birthing the mockumentary style of comedy in North America wasThe Office, a US remake of Ricky Gervais' British show of the same name, which catapulted to instant success upon its airing. Following the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a paper supply company, Steve Carell leads a comedic ensemble for the ages as his portrayal of office manager Michael Scott sees an aloof and painstakingly perplexing persona captivate viewers almost immediately.
Not only doesThe Officethrive through its uncomfortable comedic bits, butThe Officemanages to offer compelling storylines that get audiences to invest in and relate to the show and its characters, particularly withJim and Pam’s slow-burn romancein the workplace becoming one of TV’s most iconic couples alongsideParks and Rec’s Leslie and Ben.
