Love ‘Abbott Elementary’? These comedies are the perfect for you
Love ‘Abbott Elementary’? These comedies are the perfect for you
Whether you love awkward talking heads or funny workplace dysfunction, these comedies deliver.
I’ve been watching “Abbott Elementary” since the beginning, and I swear, every season just gets better. Season 4 wrapped up last week, and now I’m back in that familiar post-finale slump — missing the chaos of the teachers’ lounge, the Janine-Gregory tension, and those awkwardly perfect talking-head interviews. So if you’re also wondering what to watch now that Abbott’s on break, I’ve got you. These four new comedies all scratch a similar itch — funny, heartfelt, and packed with characters you want to hang out with.
Abbott Elementary
In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.
Loved ‘Abbott Elementary’? Watch: ‘Running Point’
If you love “Abbott Elementary” for the workplace chaos, sharp one-liners, and a lead who somehow stays hopeful in the middle of all the dysfunction — “Running Point” is right up your alley. It’s got that same mix of comedy and character-driven heart, just swapped from a public school to a flashy L.A. basketball team. Kate Hudson plays Isla Gordon, a brand executive who’s thrown into the top job after her brother gets booted in a scandal. She doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing, but she’s been in the family business long enough to fake it till she makes it.
That said, this show moves at a faster pace than “Abbott,” and the stakes feel a little higher — there’s more money on the line, more ego, and a whole lot more power plays. It’s classic Mindy Kaling-style comedy: stylish, quick, and full of whip-smart women trying to survive in boys’ club territory. Isla’s clashes with her family, the front office, and even the players are what keep things spicy, but there’s still a beating heart under all the drama. It’s fun, it’s messy, and it totally works.
Running Point
A reformed party girl must prove herself as a businesswoman when she’s unexpectedly put in charge of her family’s pro basketball team.
Check out ‘The Studio’
If “Abbott Elementary” gives you warm-and-fuzzy workplace chaos, “The Studio” cranks up the volume and throws you headfirst into full-blown Hollywood madness. Created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the show stars Rogen as Matt Remick, a clueless-but-passionate exec trying to steer a flailing movie studio back on track. The cast is stacked — Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, and surprise cameos from Bryan Cranston and Martin Scorsese (yes, really). It’s fast, funny, and packed with behind-the-scenes meltdowns that somehow still feel relatable.
Where it differs from “Abbott Elementary” is in its tone. This show is more cynical and manic. The characters aren’t trying to save the world (or a school) — they’re just trying not to get fired. But it still hits that sweet spot of workplace comedy where personalities clash, everything goes wrong, and somehow you can’t wait to see what disaster comes next. It’s chaotic in the best way, and honestly? One of the best shows on TV right now.
The Studio
Desperate for celebrity approval, the newly appointed head of a movie studio and his executive team at Continental Studios must juggle corporate demands with creative ambitions as they try to keep movies alive and relevant.
Don’t miss ‘Mid-Century Modern’
If what you love about “Abbott Elementary” is the mix of heart and humor — and characters who feel like a real, weird little family — then “Mid-Century Modern” hits a similar sweet spot. From the creators of “Will & Grace,” this Hulu comedy follows three longtime friends (played by Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham) who decide to live together after a wake-up call from a friend’s sudden passing. The setup feels classic, but the execution is fresh: the jokes come fast, the affection runs deep, and Linda Lavin (as Lane’s salty live-in mom) steals every scene she’s in.
Compared to “Abbott Elementary,” this one’s a little more stylized — bigger houses, sharper one-liners, and a setting in sun-soaked Palm Springs instead of Philly classrooms. But both shows thrive on chemistry, ensemble dynamics, and the idea that your chosen people can help you through anything. There’s also a similar warmth underneath all the sarcasm, especially when the characters stop roasting each other long enough to actually connect. If you’re into comedies that make you laugh and low-key reflect on life’s second (or third) acts, this is a good one to queue up.
Mid-Century Modern
Three best friends — gay gentlemen of a certain age – decide after an unexpected death to spend their golden years living together in Palm Springs where the wealthiest one lives with his mother. As a chosen family, they prove that no matter how hard things get, there’s always someone around to remind you it would be better if you got your neck done.
One more: ‘St. Denis Medical’
If you’re looking for something that feels exactly like “Abbott Elementary” — just with stethoscopes instead of students — “St. Denis Medical” is probably your best bet. It’s a mockumentary set in a wildly underfunded hospital, where the staff is hanging on by a thread (and a few questionable procedures). The tone is spot-on: dry glances to the camera, clueless managers, stressed-out frontline workers, and a whole lot of barely-contained chaos. But underneath all the jokes, there’s a real warmth to the team — kind of like Abbott’s teachers, they genuinely care… even if they’re in way over their heads.
The big difference? “St. Denis Medical” leans a little harder into absurdity. There’s more medical mayhem, more outlandish plot twists, and a faster pace overall. But the spirit is the same — everyday people trying to do a near-impossible job with limited resources and a whole lot of heart. It’s from the team behind “Superstore,” so the jokes hit, the characters are lovable messes, and the whole thing is just really fun. If you’re missing “Abbott,” this one will absolutely fill the void.
St. Denis Medical
An eclectic group of underfunded yet dedicated doctors and nurses navigates caring for patients — and each other — while keeping it all together at an Oregon hospital.
More to watch after finishing ‘Abbott Elementary’
‘The Office’ | Peacock
The Office
The everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
‘American Auto’ | Peacock
American Auto
In the headquarters of a major American automotive company in Detroit, a floundering group of executives at Payne Motors must adapt to the changing times or be sent to the junkyard.
‘Reboot’ | Hulu
Reboot
When Hulu reboots an early 2000s family sitcom, its dysfunctional cast is forced back together and now must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world.
‘A.P. Bio’ | Peacock
A.P. Bio
When disgraced Harvard philosophy scholar Jack Griffin loses out on his dream job, he is forced to return to Toledo, Ohio, and work as a high school Advanced Placement biology teacher.
‘The Comeback’ | Max
The Comeback
For Valerie Cherish, no price is too high to pay for clinging to the spotlight. Desperate to revive her career, she agrees to star in a reality TV series, allowing cameras to follow her every move as she lands a part on a new network sitcom.
‘Parks and Recreation’ | Peacock
Parks and Recreation
In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career — Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, takes on bureaucrats, cranky neighbors, and single-issue fanatics whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the democratic process she loves so much.
‘Modern Family’ | Peacock
Modern Family
The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan is a wonderfully large and blended family. They give us an honest and often hilarious look into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted, embrace of the modern family.