When it comes to comedy, I always love a good satire or mockumentary and especially love it when filmmakers or show runners parody real-life situations or make light of politics and social issues and even historical events through satire. Here are my top 10 favourite mockumentary comedy series featuring the finest cast, finest writing and a whole lot of creativity. They’ll have you laughing in no time, but many of them will also provide food for thought about the society we are currently living in.
Documentary Now!
A mockumentary series hosted by Helen Mirren with SNL’s finest comedic duo Fred Armisen and Bill Hader headlining episodes with occasional guest stars like John Mulaney, Jack Black and Cate Blanchett also partaking in the satirical takes on various documentaries like ‘Grey Gardens’ (that follows Jackie Kennedy’s aging eccentric relatives) or on Vice’s penchant for true crime and investigative journalism, ‘Documentary Now!’ is well-written, hilarious and not to be missed!
Armisen and Hader who play most of the main characters in the mockumentaries give it their comedic best, even going so far as to dress up in drag to play the parts of female characters like Little Edie and Viv in the aforementioned ‘Grey Gardens’ parody. Their natural camaraderie instantly shows up onscreen, especially when they play a rockstar duo in the ‘Blue Jean Committee’ story which is a take on the ups and downs faced by members of popular bands like ‘The Eagles’. The writing ranges from bizarre and twisted takes on the original material to sweet little endings that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. And even if you haven’t seen the original documentaries, the mockumentaries in this series will give you a taste of the same and even want to make you check out the source matter. So, pull up a chair or sink into the couch and binge this show now!
Portlandia
Another gem from IFC and Fred Armisen, straight off the success of ‘Documentary Now!’, ‘Portlandia’ is set in a fictionalised version of Armisen’s hometown of Portland. It follows the lives of the inhabitants of Portland and these are all characters with their own quirks which makes them delightful to watch. From the feminists who just want to run their bookstore in peace without any ‘new-age hocus pocus’ (cough…hipsters!) intruding on them or my new favourite couple, Nina and Lance who are constantly trying to spice up their marriage, with hilarious results, everyone has a story (or stories) to tell here in Portland. We are also introduced to Portland’s mayor who is as quirky and nonsensical as the folk who live there and even a tad naïve when it comes to decision-making to keep Portland running. You could even say he is the David Brent (just a little Office UK reference there) of this show.
Carrie Browstein and Fred Armisen play a majority of the characters, even doing a gender-reversal when it comes to playing the romantic couples featured in the show with Browstein playing Lance the macho boyfriend and Armisen playing Nina the nagging girlfriend in a very satirical take on modern-day relationships. Someone who steals the show effortlessly for me is Kyle McLachlan as the mayor who is an utter nincompoop but lovable. It’s also funny to see his interactions with the various characters. At times, this show also takes a surrealistic turn.
I also enjoyed the inclusion of the guest stars like Jeff Goldblum, Bill Hader (putting on a hysterical Aussie accent), et al who play the most interesting characters. So, do drop in to pay the good people of Portlandia a visit and enjoy your stay!
Curb Your Enthusiasm
‘Curb your Enthusiasm’ is the fictional tale of comedy legend Larry David (creator of Seinfeld) and it is a show that is extraordinarily made better by Larry’s trademark dry-wit and sardonic brand of humour. It always makes me crack up whenever Larry’s antics start annoying the people around him and it’s fascinating to watch him tackle everyday situations which can be cloying for many, like an annoying airplane passenger in his signature sardonic manner.
It has also received critical acclaim and it is more naturalistic than sitcom-y and it sometimes seems as if we are just following Larry around on his everyday routine. A must watch if you want belly laughs that will also make you snort out anything you might be drinking while watching this show right out your nose.
What We Do In The Shadows
This mockumentary series is based off the movie by the same name which was also written and created by showrunners Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement (who are quite possibly the best two people out of New Zealand and should be declared national treasures). It follows a group of vampires who live in Staten Island with Guillermo, their human familiar (a fancy name for a ‘servant’ who’s been tricked into thinking he’ll be turned into a vampire, blessed/cursed with immortality some day). It follows their adventures as well as misadventures and their encounters with fellow vampires who live (and rule) some of the other boroughs of New York like Manhattan, as well as facing off against trolls.
It is a fun bingeworthy show and features great acting from the always bankable and funny Matt Berry, the spectacular Natashia Demetriou, hilarious Kayvan Novak and Mark Proksch who all perfectly fit their roles as the vampires Laszlo, Nadja, Nandor and Colin Robinson respectively and also features surprise cameos from some big names who’ve played movie-vampires such as Tilda Swinton, Wesley Snipes and many more. However, it is Harvey Guillen as Guillermo who steals the show and his inner conflicts between his loyalty to vampires and humans is a very interesting plot point that I latched on to and which is a great addition in the second season of this show. The special effects aren’t done to death and thus not distracting and it is definitely one of the most original shows and a much better depiction of the vampire community than Twilight, so do tune in!
Derek
‘Derek’ is a mockumentary set in a nursing home and it comes straight from the genius mind of Ricky Gervais who also stars as the titular, namesake character, Derek Noakes, who is quite possibly the kindest and loveliest character to exist on telly.
A fifty-year-old man who works at a nursing home, Derek has a big heart and is very angelic, but while this show may be named for him, it is not only about him, but also about the others who work at the nursing home such as Kev (Dave Earl) who is quite pervy but grows on you as the show progresses, the often exhausted handy-man Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and the hard-working Hannah (Kerry Godliman).
I love the emotional roller-coaster that this show is, from being hilarious to honest and pleasing to the senses and at times, very heart-breaking and how it focuses on themes such as loving not just your fellow human but also animals, kindness and being open-minded and accepting of all. It is honestly like a loving hug under the guise of a show and will make you feel all warm and fuzzy just getting to know each and every character who get ample opportunity to shine and develop as the show progresses. It also sends the message to not take your elderly folk for granted.
Among the performances, I couldn’t be able to pick a favourite as everyone is such a natural at bringing their characters to life and they all share a lovely familial bond onscreen. I also enjoy the soundtrack which features some golden oldies as well as soothing numbers from ‘Coldplay’ which go very well with the emotional scenes especially. Don’t miss out on this underrated gem of a show.
W1A
This show is a satirical take on the workings behind the BBC (yes, that very BBC). Instead of featuring professionals who are good at their job, it features a bunch of incompetent employees and follows them as they try to go snooping about for the catchiest, eye-grabbing headlines and either succeed, fail or garner scrutiny for it.
It features prominent names such as the ever-reliable Hugh Bonneville, the ever-funny Jessica Hynes, the bumbling Hugh Skinner and so many more British gems like Sarah Parrish and it is also narrated by the one and only David Tennant whose Scottish accent is one helluva earworm. It also features references to BBC’s own famous shows like ‘Doctor Who’ which are worth watching out for. It also features appearances from actors like Hugh Grant who aren’t afraid to be the butt of jokes. So, be sure to tune into this satire.
The Office US
An adaptation of The Office UK, this show follows a group of office employees working at the Scranton paper company run by an incompetent boss named Michael Scott (played by comedy genius Steve Carell). The show follows the shenanigans as well as relationships between the employees, with Pam and Jim obviously being the ship that refuses to sink among fans of this show. It also follows the employees trying their best to keep cool heads and save the company from sinking, mostly due to the mishaps caused by Michael Scott.
While the show has a lot of fun and jokes and is known for iconic one-liners, it also has its fair share of emotional moments and the finale is certainly a tear-jerker. Both the versions are widely watched and very humorous with the only difference being that the US version is a tad too long (that’s what she said!), so you might as well get aboard this train to Scranton.
Arrested Development
‘Arrested development’ is the story of Michael Bluth and how he tries to survive his dysfunctional family while also attempting to move on after the Bluth family loses their success, wealth and everything else after their patriarch is accused of fraud.
It is a hoot to watch this bumbling, spoilt brat of a family as they attempt to scheme their way to the top again and there are so many twists and turns in it that you’d think that Gob (Michael’s brother who is a magician, played by Will Arnett) wrote the episodes on this show. It also features a talented ensemble cast like Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Alia Shekawat and many others.
So, join the Bluth household as they attempt to navigate the messes that they have created for themselves and try to dig themselves out of endless graves (sometimes quite literally). While it may not enlighten you on any tricks of the trade or help you in any way if you wish to start a business of your own (except, maybe don’t do anything that the Bluth family would do and definitely don’t skimp/take shortcuts, I guess), it is guaranteed to make you laugh till your eyes well up.
Drunk History
As the title suggests, this is a mockumentary series that features a new celeb each episode who drunkenly retells real historical events and it always ends up making me fall off my chair with laughter. What’s even better is that the show employs other celebs (usually comedians like Catherine Tate, Bill Hader and many other legends in the field of comedy) who provide a hilarious re-enactment of the historical events which are being recounted by the drunk narrator.
So far, ‘Drunk History’ has managed to comically muddle up important moments in history such as the invention of Cola, various political events in history and even the sinking of the Titanic. So, if you’re a history buff but also don’t care if it’s muddled up for comic relief or even if you want to binge something light and funny that will definitely make your lungs explode and will definitely not teach you anything of historical importance that is even remotely true, than do tune in, preferably with a glass of wine/can of beer in hand.
Modern Family
‘Modern Family’ has been around for so long and has some very memorable characters, so I’m sure most people are familiar with it. It is a mockumentary of three families living in the suburbs and it delves into their daily lives, their familial feuds, the hysterical situations they manage to get themselves into and so much more, of course not in a Kardashian-esque manner but more so in a comical manner. Later on, in the seasons, there are also a handful of celeb guests thrown in which makes for an even more interesting watch.
Having received critical acclaim and tons of accolades, the show also deserves brownie points for its portrayal of same sex relationships as it features a gay couple named Cam and Mitchell, as well as devoting an episode to the hurdles of adoption faced by parents. The humorous as well as emotional moments are well-balanced and while the character of Gloria might be slightly stereotypical in nature, Sofia Vergara absolutely slays this role and she’s one of my favourite characters in this along with Phil Dunphy played by Ty Burrell who is a natural and a hoot at playing this character. I also love all the child actors from Alex Winter to Rico Rodriguez, although the show -stealer is obviously young Aubrey Anderson Emmons as Lily who is quite the smart aleck. If you have time to spare, come be a part of this family.