Abbott Elementary debuted on ABC in December 2021. The mockumentary style sitcom follows the struggles, friendships, and hilarious mistakes of teachers at a Philadelphia public school with few resources.
Quinta Brunson plays one of the main characters, Janine Teagues. The cast also includes the stern Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and the awkward Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), who navigate the daily challenges of shaping young brains. The show's brilliant script, diverse cast, and moving moments propelled its popularity and earned it multiple Emmys.
If you are a fan of the sitcom, here are 5 other shows you should watch:
5 shows to watch if you liked Abbott Elementary
Five shows that embodied the same spirit as Abbott Elementary are listed below
1. Superstore
Superstore ran for six seasons after its 2015 NBC launch. It mainly revolved around the employees of Cloud 9, a fictitious megastore in St. Louis. Their unique and daily struggles to strike a balance between work, relationships, and company policies were the focus of the workplace comedy.
Ben Feldman's portrayal of Jonah Simms, one of the primary characters, began as an optimistic new employee who soon comes to understand the difficulties of working in retail. Amy Sosa, played by America Ferrera, is a dedicated floor supervisor who rose to the position of store manager. Their relationship served as the basis for the humor in the show, as did a varied and quirky set of coworkers.
Similar to Abbott Elementary, Superstore addressed topics like poor salaries, workers' rights, and corporate exploitation. The show balances lighthearted comedy with deeper concerns.
2. The Office
After making its premiere on NBC in 2005, The Office rose to prominence. This was one of the most influential sitcoms in the mockumentary genre. It documented the day-to-day activities of workers at Scranton, Pennsylvania's Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott, one of the main characters was an awkward and frequently inappropriate manager who incorrectly thought his employees loved him.
The ambitious Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and the prankster Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), whose romance with Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) became a highlight, were among the show's many noteworthy characters.
3. Ted Lasso
In 2020, Ted Lasso made its debut on Apple TV+. It immediately gained international acclaim. The show focused on Jason Sudeikis' character, Ted Lasso, an American football coach. He was hired out of the blue to lead a faltering English soccer team despite having no prior coaching experience.
Supporting characters like the team's owner, Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), a tough but lovable veteran player, gave the show's plot more nuance. Ted's constant optimism and unorthodox coaching tactics won him both admiration and suspicion.
Ted Lasso is quite similar to Abbott Elementary in terms of its positive humor, character development, and poignant narrative. Both programs emphasize resilience. It also includes building a feeling of community while overcoming obstacles in the workplace.
4. Scrubs
In 2001, Scrubs made its NBC debut. It continued for nine seasons. The medical comedy-drama offered a realistic and entertaining insight into the medical world as it followed the lives of Sacred Heart Hospital's personnel and physicians.
Zach Braff's character, J.D. Dorian, is the protagonist of the show. He starts as an intern navigating the hectic medical field with his best friend, Turk (Donald Faison). Their encounters with nurses and administrators add to the humor and emotional depth.
Abbott Elementary depicted the highs and lows of working in a high-pressure workplace. Similarly, Scrubs strikes a mix between humorous and serious themes.
5. Educators
Educators is a mockumentary sitcom from New Zealand. In 2019, it made its premiere and provided a humorous perspective on school management. The show follows a group of staff members and teachers.
They deal with ridiculous circumstances in the educational system. Similar to Abbott Elementary, in this show as well, teachers used humor to draw attention to the challenges of working in education.
A prominent character is portrayed by Jonny Brugh. Conceited but inept school administrator whose poor choices caused mayhem.

Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation