[ The mockumentary comedy format has been around for decades, going back to Monty Python and SNL short films by Albert Brooks, through The Rutles, This Is Spinal Tap and every Christopher Guest film. But it really exploded on TV when Ricky Gervais’ The Office debuted in 2001. Yes, that was 23 long years ago, … Read more
[ Comedic reality shows operate more like sitcoms than reality shows. Shows like Duck Dynasty, for instance, don’t pretend that what’s in front of the camera is just happening naturally; there’s some manipulation there, even if it’s just via casting more than anything else. A new comedy reality series from Jimmy Kimmel takes place in … Read more
[ Loot premiered in 2022 to generally good reviews; it was a show that has a lot of comedic talent on both sides of the camera, including its star, the multitalented Maya Rudolph. But we just had a nagging feeling when watching the show’s first season that, while it was OK, it could be a … Read more
[ Animal Control‘s creators, Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher, never set out to reinvent the workplace comedy. They knew that filling the show with a strong ensemble of off-center characters that act like a “found family”, and giving everyone character-driven punch lines and funny moments, will be a winning formula. They accomplished that in the … Read more
