If you loved the raw, unfiltered creativity of The Choe Show (2021), you're in for a treat. This article explores 10 similarly bold and boundary-pushing movies and shows that capture the same spirit of artistic experimentation and emotional depth. Whether you're drawn to its improvisational energy, intimate storytelling, or surreal visuals, these picks will keep you hooked.

The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
Description: Offers a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional talk show, blending scripted comedy with improvised moments and satirizing the entertainment industry.
Fact: The show was groundbreaking for its use of single-camera filming and lack of a laugh track, creating a more realistic and intimate feel. Many episodes featured real celebrities playing exaggerated versions of themselves.


Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007)
Description: Uses low-fi production values and absurdist humor to create a surreal, often unsettling comedic experience that parodies public access television.
Fact: The show frequently features bizarre, recurring characters and intentionally poor special effects. Many sketches were filmed in a single take to enhance the awkward, unpolished feel.


How To with John Wilson (2020)
Description: Combines documentary-style storytelling with offbeat humor, exploring mundane topics in unexpectedly profound and surreal ways.
Fact: John Wilson films all the footage himself, often capturing spontaneous and odd moments in New York City. The narration is improvised during the editing process.


The Rehearsal (2022)
Description: Blurs the line between reality and performance by meticulously rehearsing real-life situations, resulting in a mix of humor and existential reflection.
Fact: The show's creator spent years developing the concept, which involves constructing elaborate sets and hiring actors to simulate real-life scenarios for participants.


The Eric Andre Show (2012)
Description: Features chaotic, surreal, and often uncomfortable interviews and sketches, breaking the fourth wall and subverting traditional talk show formats.
Fact: Many celebrity guests were not briefed on the show's anarchic style, leading to genuine reactions of confusion and shock. The set is intentionally designed to look cheap and unstable.


Nathan for You (2013)
Description: Blends deadpan humor with absurdist reality, often putting unsuspecting people in bizarre situations under the guise of helping them.
Fact: The show's creator, Nathan Fielder, has a background in business and used real small businesses for the show's segments. Many participants were unaware of the comedic nature of the show until after filming.


Who Is America? (2018)
Description: Uses satire and hidden camera techniques to expose the absurdities and contradictions in modern politics and culture, often through outrageous characters.
Fact: The show features Sacha Baron Cohen in multiple disguises, interacting with real public figures who are unaware of his true identity until later.


The Jack Benny Program (1950)
Description: Pioneered a self-deprecating, deadpan humor style that broke the fourth wall, influencing later absurdist and meta-comedy shows.
Fact: Jack Benny's fictional persona as a miserly, vain violinist became iconic. The show was one of the first to transition successfully from radio to television.


Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis (2008)
Description: Subverts the traditional celebrity interview format with awkward, cringe-inducing questions and deadpan delivery, creating an uncomfortable yet hilarious dynamic.
Fact: The series started as a segment on the Funny or Die website. Many celebrity guests were in on the joke, but their reactions often included genuine surprise at the bizarre questions.


Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012)
Description: Mixes improvisational comedy with a talk show format, often devolving into absurd and unpredictable interactions between guests and the host.
Fact: The show evolved from a popular podcast of the same name. Many episodes feature elaborate, improvised musical numbers.
