The mockumentary style, where fictional events are presented as a documentary, has become very popular in TV sitcoms and doesn’t seem to be losing steam. While classic mockumentary films like This Is Spinal Tap remain well-loved, the format works especially well for television because it allows viewers to connect with characters over a longer period through personal interviews and insights.
Most mockumentary sitcoms feel realistic because they’re filmed without a studio audience or canned laughter. Instead, the humor comes from clever interviews and reactions from characters who essentially say what we’re all thinking. These 10 shows are the best examples of how well this style can work.
Summer Heights High (2007)
Summer Heights High was a funny, fake documentary series created by Australian comedian Chris Lilley. The show followed several different characters at a made-up high school, and Lilley played all of the main roles himself. Two of his characters, Ja’mie King and Jonah Takalau, were popular enough to get their own spin-off shows – Ja’mie: Private School Girl and Jonah from Tonga – though the Jonah series caused some controversy.
The show only ran for one season, which was always the plan – it focused on students during a single semester. Telling a full story in just eight episodes is challenging, but Chris Lilley managed it brilliantly. Even now, the series remains one of the best mockumentaries ever made.
In April 2025, actor Lilley hinted on social media that his character, Mr. G, will return – this time as a podcast, according to The Daily Mail.
Reno 911! (2003-2009)
Comedy Central’s Reno 911! is a funny, fake documentary that pokes fun at shows like Cops. Featuring comedic talents like Niecy Nash-Betts, Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, and Kerri Kenney-Silver, the show ran for eight seasons. It follows a film crew as they document the daily lives of police officers. The deputies working at the Reno Sheriff’s Department are quirky and frequently misunderstand what’s happening during investigations.
What truly sets Reno 911! apart as a top mockumentary is the fact that the actors largely made up their lines as they went along. This spontaneity creates a surprising and unpredictable comedy, as viewers can’t anticipate the jokes the way they would with a traditional scripted show.
St. Denis Medical (2024-Present)
The medical drama St. Denis Medical first aired on NBC in 2024 and is now in its second season, which began in November 2025. The show stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, and Josh Lawson as the doctors and nurses working at the made-up St. Denis Regional Medical Center.
What sets St. Denis Medical apart is that it shows the patients’ perspectives alongside those of the main characters. Having a camera crew filming in a hospital naturally adds to the chaos and humor of real medical situations. Despite the show’s comedic and dramatized elements, healthcare professionals have commended St. Denis Medical for portraying healthcare workers realistically.
Jury Duty (2023-Present)
Jury Duty is a cleverly funny and unique show. It’s presented as a documentary and follows a juror, Ronald Gladden, who doesn’t realize the trial he’s participating in is completely staged. Everyone else – the other jurors, the judge, and everything happening in the courtroom – is an actor, and Gladden is the only one who doesn’t know, making the show even funnier.
The movie features mostly new actors, but James Marsden, a well-known star, appears as a humorous version of himself, a performance that was so well-received it earned him an Emmy nomination.
The show Jury Duty has been renewed for a second season and will now be available on Amazon Prime Video, after previously airing on Amazon Freevee, which is no longer available.
What We Do In The Shadows (2019-2024)
Image via Hulu
“What We Do in the Shadows” is a hilarious mockumentary that really delivers. The FX comedy features Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Kristen Joy Schaal, and others, and it’s about vampires attempting to navigate everyday life on Staten Island.
It’s no surprise that vampires clash with humans and other supernatural beings. This unique mockumentary blends fantasy, horror, and comedy into a truly special series.
As a huge fan of quirky comedies, I absolutely adore What We Do in the Shadows. It started as a brilliant film back in 2014, and it’s amazing to see it expanded upon – it was originally written by the incredibly talented Jemaine Clement and
I’ve always been a huge fan of Taika Waititi’s unique comedic voice, and his collaboration with Jemaine Clement on this mockumentary series was a stroke of genius. They clearly had a shared vision for a really dry, often dark, sense of humor, and it absolutely worked. The show went on to run for six seasons, and honestly, the critics loved it – and so did I!
The Rehearsal (2022-Present)
Image via Max
Nathan Fielder, known for his awkward comedy, created, wrote, and stars in HBO’s The Rehearsal. The show has a fascinating idea: Fielder helps people prepare for challenging conversations. He does this by meticulously recreating real-life scenarios with sets, props, and actors, allowing his clients to practice beforehand so they feel ready for the actual event.
This comedy series explores stories ranging from small everyday issues to major life events, and it’s consistently funny. While The Rehearsal has been a hit for HBO, there’s currently no confirmed news about whether it will return for a third season.
Parks & Recreation (2009-2015, 2020)
Starring the incredibly talented Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation is a comedy that follows the everyday lives of employees in the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Alongside Poehler, the show features a fantastic cast including Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, and Nick Offerman, offering a funny and relatable look at both local government and small-town life.
With a fantastic cast and heartwarming stories, Parks and Recreation is considered one of the greatest mockumentary shows ever made. It brilliantly captured the humor in everyday life, making it incredibly relatable. The Emmy-winning series ran for seven seasons and later featured a special reunion episode in 2020 that focused on the pandemic.
Abbott Elementary (2021-Present)
Abbott Elementary is a hilarious new show filmed like a documentary that’s become a big hit on network TV. It centers around the teachers at a public school in Philadelphia that doesn’t have enough funding. Quinta Brunson, who created the series, also stars as Janine Teagues, a passionate teacher determined to help her students and community.
Fans love the show’s funny and authentic depiction of Philadelphia, but it’s the writing that really makes Abbott Elementary special. The show is both heartwarming and hilarious thanks to its witty dialogue and positive outlook. Currently in its fifth season, Abbott Elementary is expected to be renewed and has quickly become a top performer for ABC, both on the network and on streaming services.
Modern Family (2009-2020)
Modern Family was a heartwarming and funny mockumentary that the whole family could enjoy. The show followed the everyday lives of three interconnected families, and over its 11 seasons, viewers watched the kids grow up. Like the characters on screen, fans also felt emotional watching the series and seeing how quickly time passed.
Featuring a talented cast including Ed O’Neill, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, and Ty Burrell, the show delivered consistently funny and outlandish stories. Each episode typically started with a challenge for the family, but always ended with heartwarming resolutions and a sense of togetherness.
The actors on Modern Family had a genuine connection that was clear even when they weren’t filming. The show was a huge success, winning 22 Primetime Emmy Awards, and proved that The Office wasn’t the only brilliant comedy presented in a documentary style.
The Office (2005-2013)
First airing in 2005, The Office is widely considered one of the best mockumentaries ever made. The show helped make this style of filming popular, and it followed the everyday lives of the employees at the Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Featuring stars like Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and Jenna Fischer, The Office launched the careers of many of its cast members.
As much as I—and probably a lot of other fans—would love to see The Office come back, it seems like a reboot just wouldn’t land the same way today. Humor has shifted so much since the original aired, and the cast has been pretty vocal about that. Instead of trying to recreate the magic, Peacock did something smart and released a spinoff called The Paper in 2025. It’s a whole new cast and company, with fresh storylines, but thankfully, they kept the mockumentary style and that wonderfully dry humor that made the original so special.
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2025-11-12 04:51