10 Shows and Movies Like Parks and Recreation (2009)

Description: Arrested Development, like Parks and Recreation, features a large ensemble cast with distinct, quirky personalities. Both shows use a fast-paced, joke-heavy style of comedy, though Arrested Development is more cynical and satirical. The shows also share a similar visual style, with frequent use of cutaway gags and documentary-style interviews.

Fact: Arrested Development was created by Mitchell Hurwitz, who previously worked on The Golden Girls and The John Larroquette Show. The show was canceled after three seasons due to low ratings but was revived by Netflix for two more seasons. Ron Howard, who narrates the show, also serves as an executive producer.

Description: 30 Rock shares Parks and Recreation's fast-paced, joke-heavy style of comedy. Both shows are set in workplaces (a TV show and a government office, respectively) and feature eccentric characters who are passionate about their jobs. The shows also share a similar tone, blending satire with genuine affection for their characters.

Fact: 30 Rock was created by and stars Tina Fey, who based the show on her experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live. The show won 16 Emmy Awards during its seven-season run. Alec Baldwin's character, Jack Donaghy, was originally supposed to appear in only a few episodes but became a series regular due to Baldwin's popularity.

Description: Community, like Parks and Recreation, is a comedy with a strong ensemble cast and a focus on character development. Both shows feature a mix of absurd humor and heartfelt moments, and both have a strong sense of place (a community college and a government office, respectively). Community's meta-humor and genre-bending episodes are different from Parks and Rec's style, but both shows share a love for their characters and a willingness to take creative risks.

Fact: Community was created by Dan Harmon, who also created Rick and Morty. The show's famous "paintball" episodes were inspired by action movies like The Matrix and Die Hard. Donald Glover, who plays Troy, left the show in season five to focus on his music career as Childish Gambino.

Description: Veep shares Parks and Recreation's political setting, but with a much more cynical and satirical tone. Both shows explore the absurdities of government work, but where Parks and Rec is optimistic and heartfelt, Veep is biting and irreverent. The shows also share a strong female lead (Leslie Knope and Selina Meyer) who is passionate about her work, albeit in very different ways.

Fact: Veep was created by Armando Iannucci, who also created the British political satire The Thick of It. Julia Louis-Dreyfus won six consecutive Emmy Awards for her performance as Selina Meyer. The show was originally going to be set in the White House, but the producers changed it to the Vice President's office to avoid comparisons to The West Wing.

Description: New Girl, like Parks and Recreation, is a comedy with a strong ensemble cast and a focus on character relationships. Both shows feature a mix of quirky humor and heartfelt moments, with characters who grow and change over time. The shows also share a similar visual style, with frequent use of cutaway gags and documentary-style interviews.

Fact: New Girl was created by Elizabeth Meriwether, who also wrote the film No Strings Attached. Zooey Deschanel, who plays Jess, is also a musician and one-half of the duo She & Him. The show's original title was Chicks and Dicks, but it was changed to New Girl before the premiere.

Description: The Mindy Project shares Parks and Recreation's mix of humor and heart, with a strong female lead who is passionate about her work. Both shows feature a diverse ensemble cast with distinct personalities, and both balance workplace comedy with personal relationships. The shows also share a similar visual style and fast-paced, joke-heavy humor.

Fact: The Mindy Project was created by and stars Mindy Kaling, who previously worked on The Office. The show was originally broadcast on Fox but was canceled after three seasons and revived by Hulu for three more. Chris Messina, who plays Danny Castellano, was originally supposed to appear in only a few episodes but became a series regular due to his chemistry with Kaling.

Description: Like Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a workplace comedy with a strong ensemble cast. Both shows feature quirky, lovable characters who grow and develop over time. The humor in both is a mix of witty dialogue, absurd situations, and heartfelt moments. Additionally, both shows have a positive, optimistic tone despite the often ridiculous scenarios the characters find themselves in.

Fact: Brooklyn Nine-Nine was created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur, the latter of whom also co-created Parks and Recreation. The show was canceled by Fox after five seasons but was revived by NBC for three more seasons due to fan outcry. Andre Braugher, who plays Captain Holt, won two Critics' Choice Television Awards for his performance.

Description: Schitt's Creek shares Parks and Recreation's focus on character growth and found family. Both shows feature a group of eccentric characters who start out as strangers or adversaries but eventually form deep bonds. The humor in both shows is warm and character-driven, with a mix of absurdity and heart.

Fact: Schitt's Creek was created by and stars Eugene Levy and his son, Dan Levy. The show won nine Emmy Awards in its final season, including Outstanding Comedy Series. Catherine O'Hara, who plays Moira Rose, improvised many of her character's unique pronunciations and vocabulary.

Description: Superstore, like Parks and Recreation, is a workplace comedy that finds humor in the mundane aspects of everyday jobs. Both shows feature a diverse ensemble cast with distinct personalities who form a found family. The shows also share a similar balance of humor and heart, with characters who are flawed but ultimately good people.

Fact: Superstore was created by Justin Spitzer, who previously worked as a writer and producer on The Office. The show was praised for its portrayal of working-class life and its diverse cast. America Ferrera, who plays Amy, also served as an executive producer on the show.

Description: The Good Place shares Parks and Recreation's creator, Michael Schur, and thus has a similar comedic style and tone. Both shows feature a group of characters who grow and change over time, with a mix of humor and heartfelt moments. The Good Place also shares Parks and Rec's optimistic outlook and focus on moral and ethical questions, albeit in a more philosophical context.

Fact: The Good Place was the first network sitcom to be filmed in 4K resolution. The show's philosophy consultant, Pamela Hieronymi, is a professor at UCLA. Ted Danson, who plays Michael, had never done a multi-camera sitcom before The Good Place.