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For nearly two decades, television has been full of satirical sitcoms that have taken on the “mockumentary” style of filming. A mockumentary is essentially a documentary based on the lives of the show’s fictional characters. The series that is well known for starting the mockumentary sitcom trend is TV’s own cult classic, The Office. The premise of The Office is simple — a small crew documents the lives of everyday office workers, giving viewers a glimpse into each character’s world.
After the show’s major success, others followed suit, giving TV viewers a good variety of mockumentary-style sitcoms that would sustain them for years to come. Many of them follow the same format as The Office, which basically consists of a fake documentary crew following fictional characters around and getting a peek into their lives. The mockumentary is just close enough to reality TV but far enough away to be its own unique genre, one that is even relatable at times. There are many awesome examples of good mockumentary-style sitcoms, but here are four that definitely make the top cut.
30 Rock
30 Rock is a fun show based on comedy writer Tina Fey’s experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live. Viewers get a glimpse into the life of Liz Lemon as she deals with the stresses of running a sketch comedy show, TGS. The series takes place mostly at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, right in the center of Manhattan, New York City. It is home to many exclusive places, including the television network NBC, the same network that produces Liz’s fictional TV show. The satirical series follows Liz in both her work life and personal life, shot in mockumentary style, much like The Office.
Liz tries to live her life as best she can while dealing with the stresses of her job, juggling romances, and trying her best not to have too many past regrets. She is sloppy with no filter and can often be very selfish in nature. She is not exactly the most fun person to be around, as she often acts like a complete stick in the mud, which, in turn, makes her the butt of her fellow employees’ jokes. She is also timid and sometimes far too worried about validation from others to do her job effectively — until she meets Jack.
The hotshot executive, who originally set out to fire Liz, decides to take the frumpy showrunner under his wing, referring to her as “Lemon” throughout the series. The two come from completely different worlds and clash quite a bit in the beginning but end up growing on each other as the series progresses, seeing life through each other’s eyes as they both face off with their own personal struggles. Liz eventually starts to come into her own, and Jack begins to see life a little differently, softening the once cold-hearted executive.
Viewers also get a fun glimpse into the lives of other characters, such as TGS stars Tracy Jordan and Jenna Maroney, who add more laughs to the show with their ridiculous diva tendencies, and are always oblivious to anything that doesn’t revolve directly around them. There is also Kenneth, the simple and overly kind page from Stone Mountain, Georgia who has an air of mystery about him that stays pretty vague throughout the duration of the series.
In the beginning, 30 Rock doesn’t seem to have many “likable” characters. In fact, they all seem pretty terrible personality-wise, many with very selfish tendencies and toxic behaviors. But despite this, these characters end up growing on viewers as they watch them grow and change. 30 Rock is much more than what is originally presented, and we see much more than just co-workers working together on a daily basis. Much like The Office, the characters in 30 Rock become like a family, and often help each other through their struggles, whether they mean to or not. That being said, 30 Rock definitely deserves kudos and is more than worth the watch.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is more of a meta-humor type of show mixed with cringe comedy. However, it is still shot in a mockumentary style, following a group of adult friends who run a dive bar in Philadelphia called Paddy’s Pub. Created by Rob McElhenney (who also plays the role of Mac), It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia became another cult classic, known mostly for its cringe-style comedy and raunchy humor. Now, this particular show may not be for everyone, as the show really pushes the envelope with many topics in ways that can come off as insensitive, despite being purely satirical in nature.
Excessive raunchiness aside, It’s Always Sunny has received critical acclaim for more than its comedic writing. The show also boasts a slew of outrageous and memorable characters who viewers love to hate. The series follows a group of adult friends that refer to themselves as “the gang.” This includes twins Dennis and Dee Reynolds, who display psychotic tendencies throughout the show’s duration. There is also their childhood friend and self-proclaimed karate master Mac, who struggles with his sexuality.
Dennis and Dee’s father, Frank Reynolds (played by Danny DeVito himself), likes to live his life as trashy as possible while sharing a scummy apartment with the gang’s final member Charlie, who loves cheese, squashing rats, and stalking a waitress that he has a creepy crush on. The series documents the gang and their crazy and outrageous antics that are borderline illegal in some instances.
The thing about these characters is the strange attachment viewers have to them. Every member of the Paddy’s Pub gang has done something downright despicable, and more than once, without any real remorse for their actions or how they affect others around them. They seem to bring chaos into even the most innocent of lives they enter, sometimes even destroying the lives and/or sanity of anyone they come into contact with. Despite knowing these characters are the literal worst, viewers have still come to love them and their predictable antics.
The actors all do a wonderful job getting fully into their questionable characters, especially Danny DeVito, who truly added a different type of energy after joining the cast in season two. There is no real plotline to the story like some of these sitcoms have, as most episodes are just a glimpse into the lives of five sleazy adults who are essentially coasting through life. It’s different but fun nonetheless. It’s Always Sunny may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth a watch for those who are open to a more raunchy type of show.
Derry Girls
Derry Girls is a unique gem that many people haven’t actually heard of. Written by Lisa McGee, Derry Girls is an Irish coming-of-age sitcom that revolves around teenager Erin Quinn and her friends as they navigate high school. It takes place in a Northern Ireland town called Derry, during The Troubles in the early ’90s. The Troubles (also known as the Northern Ireland Conflict) was an ethno-nationalist conflict that lasted for the better part of thirty years, from the late ’60s to the late ’90s. During this time, a lot of violence and bloodshed took over the streets, but people still had to live their lives, which is exactly what Derry Girls is about.
Though The Troubles is a huge part of the setting, it’s more of a background to the lives of five teenage friends who are simply trying to get through not only the political conflict surrounding them but through their own teenage issues as well. The center of the show, Erin, is a teenager and aspiring writer who is somewhat oblivious to the world outside of her own. Being “a child of the crossfire,” along with her eccentric cousin Orla, anxiety-prone best friend Clare, and her loud, raunchy-mouthed friend Michelle, the four had always been subjected to the violence surrounding them. However, the same does not go for Michelle’s timid cousin, James, who also happens to be English.
James is forced to go to his cousin’s all-girls school for his own safety after it was decided that he wouldn’t survive a day in the boys school — all simply for being English. He clings to his cousin Michelle and the rest of the girls before gradually gaining his place as an actual part of the group. James doesn’t understand the conflict like the others do, which often leads him to get baffled by how certain things are done, sometimes even getting frustrated by a world completely different from his own.
Derry Girls takes a deeper look into the lives of these five complex teens, all while using the political conflict as a backdrop for the story. As is true with most teens, the group often got into antics that caused them to get into trouble. The series also deals with coming-of-age topics like crushes, sex, drugs, sexuality, and finding one’s own self-worth — which makes it relatable to not only teenagers but the adults who were once teens themselves. On top of Derry Girls‘ light-hearted storytelling, the show is hilarious in its own right, with many memorable moments. Some of the jokes can get borderline raunchy, but nothing too over the top.
Shot in somewhat of a mockumentary format, the filming feels less like a documentary and more like someone else looking in, giving the viewers an almost realistic view of Erin’s life. The aesthetic of the series is also something to be appreciated by ’90s kids, as the music, settings, and clothing bring back a wave of nostalgia that can’t be beaten. There is sometimes a lesson to be learned at the end of an episode, but most times, the message is very simple –sometimes you mess up, but you still keep moving forward. Derry Girls definitely deserves a watch.
Parks And Recreation
Parks and Recreation is one of the best mockumentary-style sitcoms to come from television since The Office itself. Being the closest to mimicking The Office with its true mockumentary style, it is often compared to it without getting a closer look first. True — the sitcom made its debut a few years after The Office made its mark, and it did have many similarities regarding filming and life working in, well, an office setting. However, Parks and Rec is truly in a league all its own. The series follows Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), a perky aspiring politician who is not afraid to be unapologetically herself.
Leslie works as the head of the parks and recreation department for the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana — a small town that is very much set in its ways. Leslie shows a passion and love for her town that is unmatched and strives for change — not just in her town but in her own life as well. Surrounded by her work associates on a daily basis, viewers get a glimpse into not only her life but the lives of those closest to her. We watch as each individual progresses not only in their work life but their personal life as well.
Despite certain characters being a little intense and even off-putting in the beginning, they somehow find a way to touch the viewer’s heart in one way or another. The characters in Parks and Rec can be a little weird, from Leslie’s overly enthusiastic passion for government work (and who has a binder or scrapbook for literally everything) to the sullen director of the parks department, Ron Swanson, who hates government, but loves breakfast food and doing things his way, to the brooding intern, April, who loves all things weird and creepy. There are too many characters to cover, but one thing they all have in common is that they are not only lovable but relatable too.
Parks and Rec covers all kinds of life topics and does have more of an actual plotline that can be seen as the series progresses. Viewers watch each individual go through life and, much like The Office, shows not only the beauty of life as an adult but its hardships as well, all wrapped up in one comedic blanket. Parks and Rec is not only a hilarious treat but a breath of fresh air. It takes things slowly and handles each character with care, but there is rarely a dull moment. Parks and Recreation definitely deserves a view all the way through… and there’s a high chance you’ll watch it more than once.
The Love Of The Mockumentary Lives On!
Television has given viewers so much fun content since The Office paved the way for many more mockumentary-style sitcoms. And though they all differ from each other in some way, they all hold that distinct type of vibe that is not exactly reality TV, and not exactly a sitcom, but something much more. Mockumentary-style sitcoms are more engaging and are almost relatable in some ways. They show a different side of storytelling, one that shows the bright sides of life and some of the worst points all while being funny and engaging.
Mockumentary-style sitcoms have slowed down since their hay day, and many of these types of shows have ended, but the love for these types of sitcoms still lives on as fans remember cult classics such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock. There was something simple and refreshing about these mockumentary-style TV shows, which give us a break from our lives to look into someone else’s without being weird. Hopefully, the mockumentary will make a comeback, but until then, we have the classics to rewatch whenever we are in the mood.
