Comedy comes in all shapes and sizes, especially on television, including stand-up, improv, news, sketch, animation, and, most notably, sitcom. Sitcoms have been a television staple since I Love Lucy started airing in the US in 1951. Sitcoms are also presented in multiple formats, including the typical multi-camera set-up on a soundstage seen on shows like I Love Lucy, Friends, and Seinfeld. Others, however, are shot with a single camera, giving a more realistic and immersive feel, as seen on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 30 Rock.
Perhaps the most interactive sitcom format is a mockumentary, a usually comedic, fictional documentary. Originating in the 1960s in films like A Hard Day’s Night and various Monty Python sketches in the 70s, the mockumentary continued to gain popularity in movies like This Is Spinal Tap in 1984 and Borat! in 2006. Mockumentaries finally made their way to television in the early 2000s, where they continue to operate today. These hilarious, over-the-top documentaries are rooted in reality while simultaneously providing audiences with a fun escape into a new community. Each mockumentary is unique and different in its own way, and these seven sitcoms are some of the best iterations that have graced the small screen.
'The Office' (2005-2013)
Based on the original UK series and premiering in the US in 2005, The Office is arguably the most famous mockumentary sitcom. The show ran for nine seasons, garnering much success, primarily due to Steve Carell’s performance as Michael Scott. The Office received many nods from critics, including a Peabody Award, two SAG Awards, a Golden Globe for Carell’s performance, and four Emmys, one of which was for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006. Rolling Stone also put the series on the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time list in 2016 at #48.
The Office’s mockumentary format is excellent because the characters really get to shine. Having a show set in an office building is boring, but the colorful characters give the show life with their personalities, interactions, and hilarious quips. The confessional adds another layer of humor. The characters speak directly to the camera and can confide in the viewer, saying what they really feel. Characters like Michael, Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Jim (John Krasinski), Pam (Jenna Fischer), and their other coworkers make working at a paper company actually seem like a fun time.
'Parks and Recreation' (2009-2015)
Created by The Office creators, Parks and Rec is a political satire mockumentary sitcom that ran for seven seasons. Set in the Parks Department office in fictional Pawnee, Indiana, the show often dealt with real-life government events, with some political figures occasionally making cameo appearances. The first season received mixed reviews, but after reworking the show’s tone and main character Leslie Knope’s (Amy Poehler) demeanor, the show gained more popularity and has become one of television’s best mockumentary sitcoms, rivaling The Office.
Parks and Rec received 14 Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe for Poehler’s performance, a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. The show was also named the number one television series in 2012 by Time magazine.
Much like The Office, Parks and Rec is a workplace comedy that highlights the lives of oddball coworkers and their relationships with each other. However, it combines work life with the humor of small-town living and the interesting people and culture it brings. A show about local government workers who behave in the way these characters do is a fun dichotomy. Leslie Knope has big ambitions, but her relationships with her quirky coworkers make this mockumentary worth watching.
'Modern Family' (2009-2020)
Running for 11 seasons, Modern Family is one of the most popular television series of the 21st century. The show was a huge critical and commercial success, winning 22 Emmy Awards from 75 nominations; it won Outstanding Comedy Series in each of its first five years and a few Emmys for acting performances by Eric Stonestreet, Ty Burrell, and Julie Bowen. The show also won a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy.
Modern Family is not a workplace comedy but about three families living in Los Angeles. Each family is diverse in age, race, and sexual identity but is linked by patriarch Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill. Alongside Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and more, the cast of Modern Family is a comedic force that successfully brought these families to life. A mockumentary about a family is an exciting concept that arguably allows characters to go deeper than coworkers can, which is why Modern Family is one of a kind.
'Reno 911!' (2003-2009, 2020-present)
Reno 911! is a mockumentary and direct parody of Cops. Led by Thomas Lennon and starring a host of comedic actors, the show originally aired on Comedy Central. In 2020, the series returned with a seventh season released on Quibi before being transferred over to The Roku Channel for an eighth season in 2022. The show’s episodes can also be streamed on Paramount+ and HBO Max.
The series follows fictional Reno police officers on their daily duties as they deal with criminals who often outsmart the cops. Though the show deals with complex topics as it revolves around crime, the tone is comedic and transparent in its mockumentary format. The characters know they are being filmed for a Fox documentary, so they often talk directly to the crew and humorously criticize how they are portrayed. Reno 911!’s blend of mockumentary and parody sets it apart from other sitcoms in this format.
'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series' (2019-present)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is an excellent option for younger viewers interested in a mockumentary series. This series, starring Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett alongside many other talented young performers, uniquely blends a mockumentary with a musical. The show is a Disney+ original series with a third season in production and has two soundtracks with covers and original songs.
Inspired by the High School Musical trilogy, HSMTMTS takes place at East High School and follows a fictional group of current students who put on a production of High School Musical because it was filmed at their school. The characters will often make eye contact with the camera and frequently have confessionals expressing their feelings and all the emotions of being a teenager. For children, families, and even young adults who grew up watching the original films, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is a fun entry point to the world of mockumentaries.
'Abbott Elementary' (2021-present)
Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary is one of the breakout sitcoms of the 2020s. This mockumentary sitcom follows a group of dedicated teachers and a less-than-qualified principal at Abbott Elementary in Philadelphia as they try to be good influences for their students and set them up for a better life. Simultaneously, the educators help each other become better teachers and create comical yet endearing workplace friendships. The ABC show has received rave reviews by critics and audiences alike and was recently renewed for a second season.
Abbott Elementary’s mockumentary format is an entertaining choice; it is incredibly realistic as it is set in an underfunded public school and audiences get to see the school environment from the teachers’ perspective. The characters don’t hide their emotions or opinions about their students; they’ll often look directly at the camera across the classroom, and their confessionals reveal brutally honest feelings about both the students and their coworkers. Abbott Elementary is a great mockumentary sitcom because of its witty humor, but it is set apart by its charming demeanor and core values that every viewer can get behind.
'Welcome to Flatch' (2022-present)
The fictional town of Flatch, Ohio, is the main character of Welcome to Flatch, with wacky cousins and best friends Kelly and Lloyd “Shrub” Mallet (Chelsea Holmes and Sam Straley, respectively) as the viewers’ eyes and ears into their town. Based on the British show This Country, the series centers on showcasing small-town life in middle America. Flatch recently began its first season on March 17 on FOX, along with the first seven episodes immediately released on Hulu. The show has received mixed reviews from critics but is gradually building a solid following.
Directed by Paul Feig, Flatch is a mockumentary sitcom in its truest form; the premise is that Fox has sent a crew to a small town to spend time with the community because many Americans are moving out of big cities to live a simpler life. All the funky characters know they’re being filmed, so they talk directly to the camera and have confessionals, along with Kelly and Shrub purposely showing the viewer around their town. The cousins also have a real Instagram page where they joke about being famous now. Led by Seann William Scott, Aya Cash, and talented newcomers Holmes and Straley, Welcome to Flatch is a wonderful blend of the mockumentary sitcoms that came before while also being its own special show that doesn’t take itself too seriously and introduces viewers to some fun, new friends.