Sitcoms have been set in various locations, but the workplace keeps popping up as a favorite setting. Co-workers spend lots of time together, making their relationships the driving force behind the show's narrative. This formula is perfect for comedy, which is why TV creators have used it for decades. Whether you grew up watching '90s sitcoms or those from earlier or later years, you've likely enjoyed a workplace sitcom or two. If you're unhappy at your current job, these fictional workplaces may seem even more appealing. This list highlights the best workplace sitcoms that make viewers wish they could join the characters in real life.
About this list
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The Work: Parks and RecreationParks and RecreationThis mockumentary shows the municipal parks and recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. Civil employees manage Pawnee's parks and community spots. A town hall meeting starts with a resident asking about a huge hole by her home. This hole becomes a new park site, though red tape slows development. Viewers keep watching because of this.Parks & RecPeople watch because the show shows people changing their communities for the better, not just the red tape.
The People:Leslie (Amy Poehler) leads the show. She is hopeful and energetic, doing anything to serve her community. She serves as deputy director to Ron (Nick Offerman), a libertarian who resists department functions due to distrust of government. Tom (Aziz Ansari), a sharp entrepreneur, and April (Aubrey Plaza), a cynical intern, join the group. Ann (Rashida Jones), who inspires Leslie to build the park, and her boyfriend Andy (Chris Pratt) start the park plan after Andy falls into the hole and breaks his legs. Ben (Adam Scott) and Chris (Rob Lowe) join later, making the group even friendlier.Parks & RecParks & Rec feels like hanging out with your nicest friends.
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The Work: SuperstoreSuperstoreThis show centers on staff at a Cloud 9 superstore, like Walmart, in St. Louis. Characters work in checkout, customer service, floor management, and the warehouse. Employees switch jobs often for funny reasons. They handle strange customer demands, pull pranks, fight corporate takeovers, and build friendships and romances.
The People:Jonah (Ben Feldman), the new recruit, and cynical floor manager Amy (America Ferrera) drive the story. They share a will-they/won't-they dynamic throughout the series. They team up with assistant manager Dina (Lauren Ash), stylish associate Mateo (Nico Santos), sarcastic announcer Garrett (Colton Dunn), young mother Cheyenne (Nichole Sakura), kindly manager Glenn (Mark McKinney), and shy Sandra (Kaliko Kauahi). The group gets along well; they tease each other but always support one another. Working part-time at Cloud 9 might not seem ideal, especially given the show highlights retail worker struggles. A few seasonal hours during the holidays sound like a decent way to spend time.
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This is the work.Most cop shows are hard-hitting dramas or thrillers. Even among comedic police shows, finding a better one is tough than Brooklyn Nine-Nine.. The series takes place in the police precinct. It follows detectives adapting to a new commanding officer. Episode plots show police investigations. These plots stay grounded and fun, even near violent crime. Characters also find time for workplace silliness, pranks, competitions, and an annual "Halloween Heist."
The people. Brooklyn Nine-Nine.The show centers on Jake (Andy Samberg), a skilled detective who rarely takes things seriously. He works with skilled and inept detectives. This group includes by-the-book Amy (Melissa Fumero), tough Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz), talkative foodie Charles (Joe Lo Truglio), and veterans Hitchcock (Dirk Blocker) and Scully (Joel McKinnon Miller). Terry (Terry Crews) leads them; he is muscular but sensitive. Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) is comically serious. Pop-culture expert Gina (Chelsea Peretti) finishes the team. The characters bond as they face precinct challenges. This group makes police work look entertaining.
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The Work.The Office.The Office happens at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It mirrors any cubicle workplace. The work aims to be as dull as possible to connect with every office worker in the US. Associates at the Scranton branch sell paper to customers. They face extra meetings, strange office antics, and random pranks. What makes Dunder Mifflin appealing is not the job; it is the people.
The People:BecauseThe OfficeThis show is a mockumentary. It focuses heavily on characters and their bonds. People speak straight to the camera sharing their thoughts. This lets viewers see characters in ways regular sitcoms do not. The series features many characters who come and go, but it follows main players from start to finish. Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the main one. He is a well-meaning boss who tries hard to win over and impress his staff. The crew also includes Jim (John Krasinski), the prankster, Pam (Jenna Fischer), the kind receptionist, and Ryan (B.J. Novak), the aloof temp. Many other characters are memorable. Even Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey), who seem frustrating, show nice sides. Working with them is rewarding and fun.
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The Work: Abbott ElementaryAbbott Elementary takes place at the Philadelphia public school. Like many schools, it faces underfunding and poor management from an apathetic administration. The show is a mockumentary. The documentary crew records the lives of teachers and administrators trying to manage things in a tough spot. Characters spend time teaching, managing school tasks, cleaning the building, and many other jobs, some official and some not. Even when the work feels hard and unappreciated,Abbott ElementaryAbbott Elementary shows how rewarding it is to help kids get a warm, complete education.
The People:Though the realistic look at public education challenges might seem sad,Abbott ElementaryAbbott Elementary is a top-tier comedy. This comes mostly from the incredible cast.the incredible castThis show centers on characters and the talented people who bring them to life. Janine (Quinta Brunson), a second-grade teacher, tries hard to make her students' education the best. Gregory (Tyler James Williams) is a substitute who becomes a first-grade teacher. Ava (Janelle James) is the principal, who acts inept and apathetic. Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) is an Italian-American second-grade teacher with a fiery temper. Jacob (Chris Perfetti) is a history teacher who tries too hard to seem cool. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) is an experienced kindergarten teacher. Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) is the eccentric, overqualified custodian.
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This is the Work. Scrubs.The show is set at Sacred Heart Hospital, a fictional teaching hospital in an unnamed US city. The hospital houses all sorts of staff: administrators, nurses, doctors, custodians, lawyers, gift shop workers, cafeteria staff, and more. Main characters fill every job role. Working at Sacred Heart depends on your specialty, though staff often form cliques, separating doctors from surgeons, custodians from medical staff, and so on.
The people.Dr. John Dorian (Zach Braff), known as J.D., narrates the show with his inner thoughts. He has friends like Turk (Donald Faison), his surgeon best friend Elliot (Sarah Chalke), and Carla (Judy Reyes), a head nurse with a firm attitude toward friends and family. The cast includes funny administrators and many notable characters, including John C. McGinley's Perry Cox, who is likely one of the show's best. Neil Flynn plays the mysterious Janitor, who almost seems like J.D.'s imagination. Working at Sacred Heart means dealing with top doctors and nurses. Viewers might consider applying to medical school to become doctors.
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The Work.If you wonder what it is like to work on this,Saturday Night Live.,30 Rock.The show has the answers. The series takes creative liberties with behind-the-scenes events for comedy, but the core stays the same. It is set at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, the studio that produces it.The Girly Show.General Electric bought NBC, so the series got a new name. Management forced the hiring of an unreliable, eccentric star, Tracy Jordan (played by Tracy Morgan in a self-effacing turn). The show features employees from the corporate world and entertainment. Producing the weekly sketch show requires a lot of work.The show is fun to watch..
The People:Like most sitcoms, the focus stays on the people making things happen. Several characters lead the series, but the top spots go to...TGSLiz (Tina Fey), who used her SNL writing past, and Jack (Alec Baldwin) lead the group. Jack is a staunch conservative businessman who supports Liz despite her disinterest in his meddling. Tracy Jordan's stunts challenge the writers and stress the show's other attention-seeking star, Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski). Pete (Scott Adsit), the tired producer, Kenneth (Jack McBrayer), the happy NBC page, and a group of self-loathing comedy writers complete the cast. If you want to work on SNL, or any TV comedy, you should hang out with the folks of 30 Rock.SNL, or any TV comedy30 Rock.
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The Work:The turn-of-the-millennium sitcomSpin CityThe show takes place in the New York City mayor's office, using a fictionalized city government. Running eight million people is hard work. The mayor has a talented staff helping him, especially since other staff members handle most things behind the scenes. Bureaucrats work in the office, joining all sorts of staff. Episodes show the daily tasks of secretaries, department heads, a press secretary, and others near the main characters.
The People:Mayor Randall Winston (Barry Bostwick) runs New York City but is inept. His Deputy Mayor, Mike (Michael J. Fox), steps up as the main character. Mike handles much of the daily political work. Paul (Richard Kind), the press secretary for City Hall; Stuart (Alan Ruck), the chief of staff at City Hall; Nikki (Connie Britton), an accountant; and many others assist. Watching this group try to make the broken government work makes fans want to work with them.
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The Work: Just Shoot Me! The show is set in the offices of the fictional fashion magazineBlush, which is comparable toVogueThe cast includes writers, editors, photographers, models, lifestyle experts, and more, all trying to capture and market the latest trends. Episodes focus on writing a story or publishing an issue, often centering on a model or an office problem that pops up while planning the latest issue. Each episode shows a magazine cover with text highlighting part of the episode.
The People:Like any sitcom,Just Shoot Me!The show focuses on the characters; Jack (George Segal) is involved. Blush, Jack's publisher, hires Maya (Laura San Giacomo), his pro-feminist/anti-glamour daughter, as a writer. Dennis (David Spade) is Jack's assistant, holding the keys to his operation; Spade plays himself for great comedy. Nina (Wendie Malick) heads fashion and was a former supermodel. Elliot (Enrico Colantoni) is the chief photographer, sleeping with many models.Blush'spublisher employs interesting people. Maya (Laura San Giacomo), Blush's pro-feminist/anti-glamour daughter, writes. Dennis (David Spade) is Jack's assistant and holds the keys to his kingdom; Spade plays himself, which works well for comedy. Nina (Wendie Malick) heads fashion and was a former supermodel. Elliot (Enrico Colantoni) is the chief photographer who sleeps with many models.BlushThe Work:
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The Work: The Mary Tyler Moore ShowThe Mary Tyler Moore Show is set at WJM Minneapolis, a fictional local television station. Some scenes show Mary's life outside work, but the comedy happens at the station, mainly on the evening news. Characters perform all the behind-the-scenes work needed to plan and produce a nightly news show, plus the actual filming.
The People:The series centers on Mary (Moore), a single woman who moves to Minneapolis and takes an associate producer job for the six o'clock news show. She works with tough but kind producer Lou (Edward Asner), head writer Murray (Gavin MacLeod), arrogant anchorman Ted (Ted Knight), and others. Viewers connect with the WJM scenes. The office has smart, entertaining people, and it remains funny even when serious issues arise, unlike many real workplaces.
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The Work: Veep does something few sitcoms do: it satirizes the country's second-highest office while keeping humor despite political turmoil. The series starts in the political offices of the United States Vice President, but the setting changes. As the story moves, the workplace shifts to the Oval Office, requiring new staff for different jobs.Veep does something few sitcoms can: it mocks the country's second-highest office and keeps humor even amid political chaos. The series mainly shows the United States Vice President's offices, though the setting moves. As the story progresses, the workplace moves to the Oval Office, requiring new staff for different jobs.Veep is a political satire. All the work in the series relates to the same level of work in the US government, so it features a large cast of characters.The People:
At the center of VeepAt the center ofVeepSelina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is the VP. She became the running mate to the President after he beat her for the party nomination. Her staff manages most things as she handles her personal and political life. Amy (Anna Chlumsky), her chief of staff; Gary (Tony Hale), her personal aide; Dan (Reid Scott), her personal aide; Jonah (Timothy Simons), the deputy director of communications; Mike (Matt Walsh), the White House liaison; the director of communications; and many others support the VP. As the seasons move on, VeepVeep transitions its lead to the President's office. Political campaigns and much intrigue follow. Working for the head of government brings perks, but VeepVeep shows politics depends on people.
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The Work: WingsWings is set at Sandpiper Air, a small single-plane airport on Nantucket, a Massachusetts island. Only two main companies operate there because few flights service the island. Pilots, maintenance workers, a cafe owner, and other jobs exist in a small regional airport.
The People: WingsWings exists in the same universe as CheersandFrasier, and features guest appearances by characters from those shows. Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber), two brothers who own and run Sandpiper Air, start the main cast. Helen (Crystal Bernard), their childhood friend and Joe's love interest, works at an airport sandwich shop. The brothers compete with Roy (David Schramm), the owner and operator of Aeromass, a larger airline with multiple planes at the airport. Tony Shalhoub plays Antonio, a cab driver working at the airport.Everyone on Wings gets along despite romantic issues, business rivalry, and other things. People want to work in the charming, scenic spot of Nantucket.Frasier gets along despite romantic conflicts, business competition, and other things. People also want jobs in the charming, scenic Nantucket.
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The Work: Are You Being Served?Are You Being Served? is a British series from the early 1970s. It is set in a fictional department store called Grace Bros. The series shows employees working between men's and women's clothing sections. Salespeople, senior staff, maintenance workers, and the store owner perform their daily tasks or exchange playful remarks. The show covers all the elements of classic sitcoms, including sexual innuendo, mistaken identities, and slapstick comedy.
The People:Plenty of characters appear in Are You Being Served?Staff at the store use last names. Mr. Humphries (John Inman) works sales in the men's department. Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden) works the ladies' department, often making accidental innuendo jokes. Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton) walks the floor; he has a military past. Miss Brahms (Wendy Richard) is a cockney sales associate working for Mrs. Slocombe. The show focuses on funny staff and customer interactions at Grace Bros.Are You Being Served?This show inspired later series like Superstore.SuperstoreDelivered with classic British wit.
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The Work: Mythic QuestMythic Quest centers on a game studio managing the maintenance and growth of a popular MMORPG sharing the show's title. When the series starts, the studio plans to release the game's newest expansion, Raven's Banquet.Raven's BanquetInternal fights erupt as employees argue over creative choices. The action focuses on studio staff, not just coding desk work. They handle everything from concept to writing, money-making, and testing.Mythic QuestMythic Quest finds humor in managing and growing a successful video game.
The People:Ian (Rob McElhenney) controls the studio; he is the egotistical creative director who sees the game as his masterpiece. He clashes with Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), the lead engineer who wants a creative role. David (David Hornsby) is the executive producer, and Jo (Jessie Ennis) is his aggressive assistant. Rachel (Ashly Burch) and Dana (Imai Hakim) are testers who develop feelings. Brad (Danny Pudi) heads monetization, and C.W. Longbottom (F. Murray Abraham) writes the game's story. Characters argue over running the game and the workplace but support each other and the game's mission.
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The Work: The award-winning ‘70s-’80s sitcomTaxiTaxi takes place mostly at the Sunshine Cab Company in Manhattan, focusing on the night shift in the garage. Few actual drives appear in Taxi.TaxiTaxi features taxi drivers hanging out, dealing with big problems. Staff includes cab drivers, a mechanic, and a dispatcher who works from his raised position.
The People: TaxiThe show features an all-star cast: Judd Hirsch, Jeff Conaway, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, Carol Kane, Randall Carver, and Christopher Lloyd. Alex (Hirsch) drives the show; he is the calm driver the crew seeks advice from. Louie (DeVito), the dispatcher who controls driver fares, acts gruff and unlikable but has a soft heart. Mechanic Latka Gravas stands out, letting Kaufman play several roles for the character's signature joke. Working with cab drivers at night in Manhattan feels like a strange job, but the character relationships and actors' talents make the garage a home.
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The Work: Designing WomenThe series takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, at the interior design firm Sugarbaker & Associates. Several people work there: the founder and president, a secretary, an office manager, and interior designers. The series focuses on the lead characters' relationships. This means interior design and business management appear less often, but there is plenty of fun and style.
The People:Initially,Designing WomenThe show featured four women and one man working at the firm founded by Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), who was elegant and strong-willed. Her partner is her attractive, self-absorbed younger sister, Suzanne (Delta Burke). They work alongside Charlene (Jean Smart), the sweet-natured person, Mary Jo (Annie Potts), the main designer, and Anthony (Meshach Taylor), the company's deliveryman who later becomes a partner. Suzanne and Julia's mother, Perky (Louise Latham), and her friend Bernice (Alice Ghostley) are also characters. Employing many women makes this workplace a breath of fresh air for some viewers.
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The Work: American Auto The story happens at the Detroit-based Payne Motors. A CEO from the pharmaceutical industry takes over the car manufacturing company. Katherine (Ana Gasteyer) knows nothing about cars, which complicates things for employees trying to keep operations running under the new boss. Jobs range from top management to product design, legal advice, and more.
The People:Besides Katherine, several long-time Payne employees help execute her profit-driven ideas. Sadie (Harriet Dyer) runs Communications. Wesley (Jon Barinholtz), the retired CEO's grandson, lacks a job but stays. Jack (Tye White), a former assembly line worker, advises Katherine. Other personalities offer different views on trying to change the auto industry. Viewers may care about cars or not.American AutoAmerican Auto shows the ups and downs of trying to change an old industry. It makes fun of clueless executives in a way everyone understands.
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The Work: The former Max, now a Starz series.MinxMinx takes place in 1970s Los Angeles. The story centers on publishing the first erotic magazine for women. Initially, the magazine aimed to be an unapologetically feminist publication.The Matriarchy AwakensMaking the magazine difficult. A publisher agrees but wants to appeal to more readers. They plan to include photos of nude male models. The series focuses on the offices of Bottom Dollar, a publishing company focused on male erotic interests. It includes a studio stocked with everything needed for the adult magazine market.
The People:At the center of Minxare Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), a sharp, hyper-intellectual feminist, and Doug (Jake Johnson), a charming but slightly sleazy businessman. They are the only publishers willing to target heterosexual women's desire. They fight constantly while bringing Minx to life.Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), a hyper-intellectual feminist, and Doug (Jake Johnson), a charming, slightly sleazy businessman, are the only publishers tapping heterosexual women's desire market. They fight constantly while bringing MinxTina (Idara Victor), a secretary turned managing editor, Bambi (Jessica Lowe), a former model, Richie (Oscar Montoya), the photographer and art director, and Shelly (Lennon Parham), Joyce's sister who consults on the target demographic and later contributes, bring Minx to life. These characters build deep bonds, learning from each other while balancing world change and the diry magazine market.
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