15 TV Shows To Watch If You Like Abbott Elementary

One of the constantly funniest community tv sitcoms lately is “Abbott Elementary,” created by and starring Quinta Brunson. The present’s titular elementary college is ready in West Philadelphia, with its lecturers and workers the topic of a mockumentary. This chronicles the school’s antics as idealistic grade college teacher Janine Teagues (Brunson) is decided to enhance the lives of her college students. As she and her colleagues climate the fixed forms and finances shortfall of working in an inner-city public college, the present additionally reveals developments of their private lives.

“Abbott Elementary” has been renewed for six seasons and counting, turning into a staple in ABC’s programming lineup. For these searching for different mockumentary sitcoms and exhibits set in faculties or with educators as major characters, there are a lot to select from. With that in thoughts, listed below are 15 TV exhibits to observe for those who like “Abbott Elementary” to maintain these laughs coming.

When it involves American mockumentaries, the affect of “The Office” can’t be understated on sitcoms transferring ahead. Premiering in 2005, the present focuses on the workers of a paper firm department in Scranton, Pennsylvania initially led by regional supervisor Michael Scott (Steve Carell). While that means properly, Michael’s buffoonish tendencies and pathological have to be liked locations him in awkward conditions along with his co-workers. Between these antics, salesman Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) tries to romance receptionist Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) regardless of her being engaged to another person.

Beyond its mockumentary format, “Abbott Elementary” resembles “The Office” by way of their shared self-centered bosses and a central slow-burn romance. Both exhibits additionally characteristic memorable supporting casts who repeatedly get their time to shine with their very own hilarious foibles. As a testomony to its large enchantment, everybody has their very own favorite episodes of “The Office” throughout its nine-season run. It could seem overly apparent, however “The Office” nonetheless casts an enormous shadow over up to date sitcoms and is price revisiting.

“Abbott Elementary” taught the “It’s Always Sunny” gang a lesson within the ABC present’s fifth season, offering followers with a shock crossover. The Season 17 premiere of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” provided the filthier side of the story as solely the Paddy’s Pub ensemble might inform it. The collection has been a fundamental cable sitcom staple since 2005, chronicling the misadventures of misanthropes operating a bar in Philadelphia. This typically includes inane get-rich schemes, backfiring in spectacular methods on the gang’s disastrous expense and often attributable to their very own bickering.

To be clear, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has a a lot raunchier humorousness than most sitcoms, a distinction that it revels in. Audiences that respect the extra healthful humor of “Abbott Elementary” could also be delay by the FX collection unhinged hilarity. But for many who actually loved seeing the Paddy’s Pub ensemble have enjoyable at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, there are lots of of episodes of the opposite present to get pleasure from. Ribaldly humorous and happy with it, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” brings the laughs however delicate audiences ought to go in cautiously.

Chris Rock’s ’80s upbringing in Brooklyn is loosely dramatized for the 2005 sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris.” Co-created and narrated by Rock himself, the present has a teenage Chris (Tyler James Williams) rising up along with his household in considered one of New York’s rougher neighborhoods. Chris attends a predominantly white highschool on the opposite aspect of city, going through ostracization from his friends. Back in his nook of Bedford–Stuyvesant, Chris helps elevate his siblings whereas repeatedly encountering eccentric figures in his neighborhood.

“Everybody Hates Chris” makes this listing not due to narrative similarities with “Abbott Elementary” however as a result of it is an early starring function for Tyler James Williams. In taking part in a younger, nerdy, and put-upon Chris Rock, Williams’ comedic abilities are sharp, even at an early age. The present additionally makes nice use of its ’80s setting, years earlier than “The Goldbergs” would equally lean into the last decade’s nostalgic parts. A enjoyable coming-of-age sitcom, “Everybody Hates Chris” gave Williams the proper showcase to hone his expertise forward of his grownup function on “Abbott Elementary.”

Originally beginning as a spin-off to “The Office,” the 2009 mockumentary collection “Parks and Recreation” grew to become its personal standalone present. The present revolves across the titular division of the fictional Indiana city of Pawnee headed by idealistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). Joined by an eccentric workers, Leslie seeks to make Pawnee a genuinely nicer place by way of its public areas and native occasions. In between this bureaucratic work, the ensemble develop, fall in love, and begin their very own households throughout the collection’ seven-season run.

“Parks and Recreation” recovered from a bad first season to turn out to be a humorous office comedy utilizing the mockumentary format. The present made stars out of Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, and Chris Pratt whereas Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Adam Scott all turned in stellar work. While a municipal authorities workplace won’t appear to be the obvious place for a goofy comedy, the 2009 present made use of its setting properly. Consistently entertaining and with extra memorable gags than one can depend, “Parks and Recreation” is mockumentary sitcom gold.

“Community” is one other sitcom set primarily in an academic setting, albeit at a neighborhood school as an alternative of an elementary college. The present begins with discredited lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) attending a Colorado neighborhood school to lastly earn his diploma. Forming a examine group to get nearer to his enticing classmate Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), Winger befriends a number of of the faculty’s misfit college students. As the group will get into numerous hijinks across the college, they turn out to be genuinely invested within the school’s ongoing operations.

With its quickly paced gags and deep popular culture references, the jokes are available in quick and livid for “Community.” Like “Abbott Elementary” and plenty of exhibits on this listing, the collection excels by way of its sharp comedic writing and spectacular ensemble forged. Since the conclusion of the sixth season, there’s been long-standing speak concerning the collection persevering with with a “Community” movie, although over a decade later, this has but to be seen. In the meantime, “Community” offers loads of laughs inside its scholastic setting, typically veering into the delightfully irreverent.

The 2009 mockumentary “Modern Family” took the format out of the office and right into a primarily suburban setting. The present revolves across the complicated familial dynamics stemming from patriarch Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) and his grownup kids. With the primary characters all dwelling within the higher Los Angeles space, Jay has married a a lot youthful lady, Gloria (Sofía Vergara), and his beginning household together with her. Jay’s daughter Claire (Julie Bowen) raises her household together with her husband Phil (Ty Burrell) whereas Jay’s son Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) is in a relationship with Cam Tucker (Eric Stonestreet).

These intertwining dynamics make up the core of “Modern Family,” providing a powerful unfold of various home conditions to poke enjoyable at. This is punctuated by the standard mockumentary speaking head interviews, typically dealing with the punchline and/or setup of a given gag. Between all these jokes, the present has numerous heartfelt moments, together with considered one of the most memorable proposals in TV history. Running for 11 seasons, “Modern Family” proved the mockumentary format might thrive exterior of office settings whereas skewering quite a lot of distinct familial models.

Though a college would not repeatedly seem all through the collection, “New Girl” additionally encompasses a protagonist who works as a grade college trainer. The protagonist in query right here is Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel), who abruptly strikes right into a Los Angeles residence after discovering her long-term boyfriend dishonest on her. Answering an internet posting for a roommate, Jess strikes right into a loft with three males round her approximate age. The quartet navigate the trials and tribulations of life and love in a single’s 30s, with Jess forming an on-again/off-again relationship together with her roommate Nick Miller (Jake Johnson).

“New Girl” is lots of bubbly enjoyable, leaning into every of its common forged member’s clear comedic strengths. Deschanel’s appreciable charms gasoline a lot of the collection’ earlier seasons whereas co-stars Johnson, Max Greenfield, and Lamorne Morris every get their time to shine and develop. This is an ensemble that really feels prefer it gels collectively and develops very similar to the rapport between their respective characters throughout the present’s seven-season run. Effervescently entertaining, “New Girl” is among the most constantly enjoyable sitcoms on Fox lately.

While the cop comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” won’t have that a lot in frequent with “Abbott Elementary” at first look, the similarities are evident upon nearer inspection. The present facilities on a police precinct in Brooklyn headed by stoically deadpan Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). Among Holt’s star detectives are Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), who step by step enter a relationship and begin a household. While constantly nice at retaining their jurisdiction secure from crime, the ensemble repeatedly indulges in goofy antics to maintain the proceedings from getting too critical.

Though not in a college or depicted in a mockumentary format, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is one other wacky office comedy with a real sense of coronary heart. The present additionally options its personal slow-burn romance and offers an underlying social commentary, on this case, concerning police reform. Quite a lot of the present’s enchantment comes from its all-around stellar ensemble forged, every offering their very own distinctly humorous dynamics to the collection. Running for eight seasons, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” pulled off the perfect goodbye, giving followers a satisfying conclusion for its beloved characters.

The 2015 office sitcom “Superstore” is not a mockumentary however does concentrate on an overworked workers working thankless jobs with comparable humorous sensibilities. The present facilities on a series big-box retailer in Missouri, initially following workers Amy Dubanowski (America Ferrera) and Jonah Simms (Ben Feldman). The workers toils away within the soul-crushing retail business for Cloud 9, an organization that gives little to no advantages to its employees. Despite their laughably exploitative occupations, the ensemble nonetheless finds methods to have enjoyable or not less than preserve their every day routines fascinating.

As far as office sitcom settings go, a big-box retailer offers a shocking quantity of depth and displays our up to date corporate-driven tradition. Ferrera and Feldman play off of one another properly, however the remainder of the broader ensemble are unbelievable too, notably Nico Santos. The collection additionally encompasses a deceptively intensive legacy, with the Cloud 9 chain from “Superstore” showing up in more sitcoms than one would think. An underdog story constantly delivering pointed commentary on company greed, “Superstore” finds the humor in its chain retail premise.

The 2014 film “Dear White People” by Justin Simien obtained a continuation collection on Netflix below the identical title in 2017. The present follows school pupil Sam White (Logan Browning) as she tries to disclose social injustices to these on the college she’s attending. The story is known as for Sam’s campus radio present the place she repeatedly calls out numerous microaggressions and cultural fake pas that she witnesses. She is joined by a number of of her classmates, every who develop their very own views on social activism by way of the trials and tribulations of faculty.

With Simien having created the collection primarily based on his film, “Dear White People” retains the sharp writing from the movie. Browning delivers a career-best efficiency as Sam White, joined by a strong supporting forged, together with DeRon Horton. Coincidentally, the film model of “Dear White People” had Horton’s character performed by “Abbott Elementary” alum Tyler James Williams, with Horton settling into the function marvelously. Incisive and well delivered throughout 4 seasons, “Dear White People” explores the sophisticated nuance of latest race relations in America.

In between starring in seasons of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Glenn Howerton performed a a lot completely different comedic function within the school-based sitcom “A.P. Bio.” Howerton performs Jack Griffin, a disgraced Harvard philosophy professor who’s ousted over his meant collegiate profession. Returning to his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, Griffin resentfully takes a job as a highschool biology trainer. Realizing how clever his college students are, Griffin makes use of them to plot his revenge and discover a profession worthy of his abilities.

What elevates “A.P. Bio” is having tried-and-true comedy expertise in Howerton and co-stars Patton Oswalt and Paula Pell in the primary forged. Though the premise of lecturers behaving badly might sound performed out, the present finds fascinating new instructions to take its driving idea because of its actors. This is matched by the youthful forged bringing a contemporary power to the proceedings, relatively than coming off as precocious stereotypes. A office sitcom that makes essentially the most of its highschool setting, “A.P. Bio” brings within the malevolent mentor laughs.

The 2014 mockumentary horror comedy “What We Do in the Shadows” obtained a tv spin-off of the identical identify in 2019. The present revolves round 4 vampires dwelling collectively in Staten Island together with their human acquainted Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillén). At the beginning of the collection, the group is commanded to overcome the borough for his or her fellow vampires solely to search out themselves foiled by trendy society and municipal forms. The quartet’s incompetence attracts the ire of the Vampiric Council and different rival covens, all cofounded by up to date American life.

“What We Do in the Shadows” is simply as hilariously absurd because the film that it is primarily based off of and takes benefit of its sitcom format. The ensemble forged works collectively brilliantly whereas Matt Berry delivers some of the constantly quotable performances in current reminiscence because the vampire Lazlo. The mockumentary parts stay sturdy and, throughout its six-season run, the present finds new methods to throw its undead characters for a loop. One of the best TV cringe comedies, “What We Do in the Shadows” arguably improves upon the premise launched by its cinematic supply materials.

Just earlier than creating “Abbott Elementary,” Quinta Brunson was a major forged member on HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” Created by Robin Thede, the present premiered in 2019 and ran for 4 seasons, coming to an finish in 2023. Led by Thede, the ensemble performs a wide range of sketch comedy bits in every episode, together with awkward conditions at nightclubs and a church gathering run amuck. The first season has a recurring bit with the primary forged caught collectively in a shelter on the finish of the world, struggling to cohabit.

To be clear, Brunson is just a part of the “A Black Lady Sketch Show” major ensemble for its first season. Leaving to concentrate on the creation of “Abbott Elementary,” Brunson does return as a visitor star within the HBO’s collection’ third season. The present options a complete line of spectacular visitor stars and recurring actors, together with Tyler James Williams. Sharply written and constantly sticking the touchdown find the laughs in a given particular state of affairs, “A Black Lady Sketch Show” is a hilarious showcase for its forged.

The British mockumentary collection “This Country” was remade for American audiences below the title “Welcome to Flatch” on Fox. The present has a documentary crew movie the residents of the Ohio small city of Flatch, interviewing and following their numerous inhabitants. The collection facilities on cousins Kelly (Holmes) and Shrub Mallet (Sam Straley) as they typically get entangled in get-rich-quick schemes round city. The mockumentary additionally reveals the unusual city traditions and idiosyncratic people all through the tight-knit neighborhood.

If there’s anybody phrase to explain “Welcome to Flatch,” it is “quirky” and the collection absolutely embraces the idiosyncrasies of the time period. The interaction between Holmes and Straley makes up lots of the present’s appeal, however the supporting forged imbues an actual sense of neighborhood. Among the secondary standouts are Aya Cash and Seann William Scott, whereas Jaime Pressly joins the sophomore season as realtor Barb Flatch. A small-town mockumentary that focuses on slice-of-life tales with a likable forged, “Welcome to Flatch” is an easygoing good time.

Brian Jordan Alvarez created and starred within the FX comedy collection “English Teacher,” which premiered in 2024. The actor performs Evan Marquez, a highschool English trainer within the higher Austin metropolitan space whose queer id comes below scrutiny from his college students’ conservative mother and father. This comes as Evan finds himself drawn to Harry (Langston Kerman), a newly employed trainer, and with the varsity district banning romantic relationships between college. In between these romantic entanglements, Evan finds himself adapting to the wide selection of foibles that comes with instructing highschool college students.

“English Teacher” retains its tackle a highschool office humorous and with loads of biting social commentary. Alvarez, who additionally writes and directs a number of episodes, brings a singular artistic power to the present, not not like Quinta Brunson with “Abbott Elementary.” The FX collection is admittedly geared in the direction of a extra mature viewers, however isn’t any much less humorous in its general execution. Shortly after the present’s premiere, Alvarez was accused of sexual misconduct for an incident unrelated to the collection, which has forged a pallor over his work. “English Teacher” was cancelled in 2025, two months after its second season’s finale.