When you think of mockumentary shows, your first thought is probably The Office or Parks and Recreation, but shows like Abbott Elementary, St. Denis Medical, and Jury Duty* prove that the genre is still alive and thriving.

Unlike other genres, mockumentaries are seen as more intimate and relatable because elements like narration and confessionals help you get to know these characters even more than you would in an ordinary situational comedy.

The reason these shows are so cherished is because it allows for more candidness and unscripted moments.

The town of Pawnee, Indiana, from Parks and Recreation, being a small town, and Abbott Elementary taking place in an underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, keep conflict interesting while still being realistic.

Mockumentaries are so extremely popular because of their ability to succeed at necessary social commentary and humor.

*Jury Duty, although not entirely a mockumentary, is scripted except for the main character, or 'hero'.

If you are looking for shows in the mockumentary genre, I recommend:

Total Drama: A kids' animated mockumentary that aired on Cartoon Network from 2007 to 2014 and was rebooted from 2023 to 2024.

Arrested Development: While it does not exactly fit the mold of a mockumentary, the narration of the shows occurences replace the traditional confessional

The Paper: A spin-off of the office, this show is set in Toledo, Ohio, and follows the lives of journalists trying to deliver good news in a dying industry.