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The best mockumentary idiot box clowning series owe much of their popularity toThe Officeand , since the mid - naught , have been a staple fiber . A mockumentary — or “ mock infotainment ” — is on the button what it sounds like a TV show or movie that ’s script but presented as if it ’s a documentary . It ’s a type of show that ’s grown specially popular in the comedy genre . Something about the dividing line between the fabricated issue and character being portray in a false - documentary style heightens the comedic elements .
As mentioned , The Office(U.S. ) , which go from 2005 to 2013 , kick - started the mockumentary - style trend in telecasting , mainstreaming the use of to - the - television camera interviews and other fourth - wall - breaking gags . Although the type of show stumble a saturation percentage point for a meter , the currently airingAbbott Elementaryrevived the TV mockumentary genre , test that mockumentary telly comedy series are as abiding as traditional multi - camera sitcoms .
15Cunk On Earth (2022—)
Produced by Charlie Brooker ofBlack Mirrorfame , Cunk on Earthis a five - instalment mockumentary comedy serial that follows investigative reporter Philomena Cunk ( Diane Morgan ) . Morgan is a frequent Booker collaborator , having played the same fibre on the 2018 sis seriesCunk on Britain . While the first series tackled British history through Philomena ’s deluded , peculiar lens , the 2022 series takes a broader approach .
As the title suggests , Cunk on Earthsees Philomena on a globe - clip expedition to interview real - world experts about human history . A send - up of account documentaries and investigative reporting , Morgan doles out freakish questions , all while being convincingly none - the - wiser . Cunk on Earthis a bite - sized serial for an afternoon that calls for a Netflix marathon picket .
14Total Drama (2007–14; 2023)
create by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis for Cartoon internet , theTotal Dramaseries is an animated satire of reality TV shows — namely , Survivor . Would - be viewers should n’t usher out this long - lead mockumentary enfranchisement just because it ’s animated and aimed at nipper . Like so many howling animated series and films , Total Dramais a hit with an eclectic consultation .
The first time of year , Total Drama Island , revolve around a group of teens who embark an riddance - style competition . Throughout the season , contestants partake in challenges to win granting immunity and perks and voyage drama - fill up team dynamics . Much likeSurvivor(and , in late season , The Amazing Race),Total Dramais full of unfair eliminations , shocking wrench , and entertaining commentary from host Chris McLean ( voice of Christian Potenza ) .
13Players (2022–)
comparatively new to the goggle box scene , Paramount Plus’Playerschronicles the ups and Down of Fugitive Gaming , a fabricated League of Legends esports team . Pro - play is an untapped scene for comedies , soPlayershas a lot to mine from . Produced in part byLeague of Legendscreator Riot Games , the series eye on Fugitive ’s founder and mavin histrion , Creamcheese ( Misha Brooks ) , and the team ’s battle to get ahead a patronage title .
momentary coach Kyle ( Ely Henry ) brings on untried prodigy Organizm ( Da’Jour ) , who replace Creamcheese ’s longtime teammate and pal , to pad the squad ’s betting odds . Organizm also does n’t take focal point well , choose to gain or lose on his own terms . The show ’s creators also madeAmerican Vandal , another top - nick mockumentary TV series , so spectator can look both smart jabs and insightful esports commentary fromPlayers .
12High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019—)
Before Olivia Rodrigo rose to the top of the chart with “ drivers permit , ” she starred in one of the first - ever Disney Plus originals , High School Musical : The Musical : The Series . The melodious mockumentary is set at East High School — the very campus the Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens — led Disney Channel Original Movies were film . Given the school ’s plentiful cinematic ties , the theater youngster are keen on staging a production ofHigh School Musical : The Musical .
The meta product draw in all sorts of folks to the stage , from teenage singer / songwriter Nini Salazar - Roberts ( Rodrigo ) , whose cast in Hudgens ’ role , to Ricky Bowen ( Joshua Bassett ) — guitar player , skateboarder , and Nina ’s ex , who winds up in the Efron persona . High School Musical : The melodic : The Seriesknows its hearing and dextrously infuses the mockumentary style with nostalgia and in - jokes .
11Jury Duty (2023–)
Although the 2023 surprise hitJury Dutyis more of a world show fraudulence , it for sure borrow mockumentary - style elements . It ’s hard to even call it a “ realness show ” when the show ’s whole premise hinges on a artifice . signify to chronicle the departure - on of a jury panel , the Freevee series centre on Ronald Gladden , a juror who believes his process was actual . However , everyone else on the jury is an worker and is in on the put-on .
Part world TV satire and part sociological experiment , the plot beats ofJury Dutyare whole contrive out . Still , so much look on the histrion ' improvisational skills , specially co - superstar James Marsden who plays a version of himself . away from the mainJury Dutytwist , the other elements it employ , from out of sight - camera - flair trick to written situation comedy tropes and mockumentary hallmarks , make it a genuinely original show .
10Documentary Now! (2015–)
Created bySaturday Night Live(SNL ) alum and clowning greats Fred Armisen , Bill Hader , Seth Meyers , and Rhys Thomas , Documentary Now!riffs on acclaim documentaries — a kind ofDrunk History - meets - This Is Spinal Tap . Hader and Armisen are frequent stars across the show ’s four seasons , and none other than Oscar - winning actor Helen Mirren hosts the long - running imitation platform .
objective Now!works so well because of its specificity . In add-on to parodying the subjects of well - known real - reality Dr. , it also mimics the vogue of the source material . For object lesson , the time of year 1 episode , “ Sandy musical passage , ” spoofsGrey Gardensand stars Hader and Armisen as socialite hold up in a decaying mansion . Other sequence feature spot - on invitee star topology , like “ Waiting for the Artist ” — a send - up ofMarina Abramović : The Artist is Present — which star Oscar - winner Cate Blanchett as a fictional carrying into action creative person .
9American Vandal (2017–18)
When it debuted on Netflix , the Peabody Award - winningAmerican Vandalwas a surprisal hit . A charade and pastiche of true offence DoC , time of year 1 of the show center on catching the perpetrator of a devastating high schooltime japery : someone vandalized nearly 30 cars in the faculty parking lot with spray - paint phallic drawing . Soon enough , elderly student Dylan Maxwell ( Jimmy Tatro ) is expelled for allegedly committing the crime .
This advance lowerclassman Peter ( Tyler Alvarez ) and Sam ( Griffin Gluck ) to found their own investigation into the japery . Although the assumption sounds very low - hanging - yield - expressive style clowning , American Vandalis both wildly funny and incredibly insightful . The mockumentary series explores America ’s obsession with true - crime content as well as the long - standing pop cultural obsession with the criminal and questions at the center of those stories .
8Modern Family (2009–20)
In its first five year on atmosphere , Modern Familynabbed the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series yearly . Although it debuted after other hits likeThe Office , Modern Familypushed the mockumentary TV comedy serial genre to new meridian . Emmys aside , evenWandaVision ’s infamous tour of video situation comedy chronicle take time to parodyModern Familyalongside the likes ofI Love Lucy , The Mary Tyler Moore Show , andThe Brady Bunch .
Modern Family ’s pop culture step ca n’t be deny , even though the rudimentary premise is very much in the traditional sitcom wheelhouse . The series comply three family unit who live in the suburbs of Los Angeles ; all these family units look different , from nuclear to blended compositions , butall theModern Familycharacters are related , in the main thanks to patriarch Jay Pritchett ( Ed O’Neill ) . With an unbelievable corps de ballet and sidesplitting confessional - way interviews , it ’s no wonderModern Familyhit it giving .
7Reno 911! (2003–09; 2020–22)
Originally created for Comedy Central , Reno 911!parodies the incredibly problematic police enforcement - centered realness showCops . The mockumentary TV comedy serial centers on the Reno Sheriff ’s Department member , all of whom are incredibly incapable . In being a send - up of the controversialCops , Reno 911!doesn’t have to commute a lot , but since it ’s without the same real - mankind leg , it ’s more palatable for viewers .
pad by its strong supporting players , Reno 911!features great performance from Niecy Nash , Cedric Yarbrough , and Wendi McLendon - Covey , to name a few . In addition to being a sting judgment of conviction of its beginning fabric , Reno 911!finds time for slapstick - level humour in its bumbling characters , too . Despite a ton of connection hopping — the franchise has bring down on the belated Quibi , The Roku Channel , and Paramount Plus — Reno 911!has staying power .
6The Comeback (2005; 2014)
While Michael Patrick King is deep in the trench of theSex and the CityrebootAnd Just Like That … ,The Comebackfans eagerly await his rejoinder to a possible third time of year of the under - the - radar HBO dramedy . asterisk Lisa Kudrow , The Comebackchronicles the daytime - to - day life story of B complex - leaning situation comedy vet Valerie Cherish . Much like theFriendsalum who play her , Valerie see an act as drought after her comedy series ’ heyday — until she ’s finally cast in a new undertaking .
To land the role , though , Valerie consort to have her homecoming to the silver screen filmed for a documentary project , also titledThe Comeback . It ’s meta on many levels and see its sensation wrestle with ageism and the need to be more than just the actor from that one dispatch show . As a satirical spirit at Hollywood ’s TV - grow political machine , The Comebackis a two - season , Emmy - nominated gem .
