10 Movies and Shows Like The Rehearsal (2022)

Description: Like The Rehearsal, Curb Your Enthusiasm explores social awkwardness and the gap between intention and perception. Both shows use improvisation and cringe comedy, though Curb is more traditionally sitcom-structured.

Fact: The show is largely improvised from story outlines. Larry David based the show on his life after Seinfeld. The 'spite store' episode was inspired by a real LA business.

Description: Arrested Development shares The Rehearsal's intricate plotting and willingness to break the fourth wall. Both shows reward attentive viewers with layered jokes and callbacks, though Arrested is more traditionally narrative-driven.

Fact: The show was nearly canceled after each season. The narrator is producer Ron Howard. Many jokes were improvised during filming.

Description: 30 Rock's meta-humor and behind-the-scenes showbiz satire parallels The Rehearsal's self-referential style. Both explore the artifice of entertainment, though 30 Rock is more traditionally sitcom-paced.

Fact: Based on Tina Fey's experiences at SNL. The show features over 100 celebrity cameos. Many jokes reference NBC corporate politics.

Description: Like The Rehearsal, How To with John Wilson blends documentary footage with narrative storytelling, creating a surreal yet grounded exploration of everyday life. Both shows use unconventional structures to reveal deeper truths about human nature and society.

Fact: John Wilson shot all the footage himself over several years before developing the show. The show's narration is often recorded after footage is edited, allowing for more organic storytelling. Nathan Fielder is an executive producer on the series.

Description: While more conventional than The Rehearsal, Parks and Rec shares its mockumentary format and exploration of human eccentricities. Both shows find humor in bureaucracy and social systems, though Parks is more optimistic.

Fact: Originally conceived as an Office spinoff. Chris Pratt was cast after improvising during his audition. The show's fictional town was named after a real Pawnee, Illinois.

Description: Louie's blend of stand-up comedy with dramatic, often surreal vignettes mirrors The Rehearsal's mix of humor and existential exploration. Both shows use comedy to examine uncomfortable truths about human behavior.

Fact: Louis C.K. served as writer, director, editor, and star. Many episodes were shot without scripts. The show's production style influenced numerous comedies that followed.

Description: While more chaotic than The Rehearsal, The Eric Andre Show shares its meta-humor and deconstruction of interview formats. Both shows create uncomfortable situations to examine social norms, though Andre's approach is more aggressively absurdist.

Fact: Many celebrity guests weren't told what kind of show they were appearing on. The set is deliberately designed to fall apart during interviews. Andre studied jazz bass at Berklee College of Music before becoming a comedian.

Description: Nathan for You is similar to The Rehearsal in its use of cringe comedy and reality-bending scenarios. Both shows feature Nathan Fielder's unique approach to blending documentary-style filmmaking with absurdist humor, often putting real people in surreal situations to explore human behavior and social norms.

Fact: Nathan Fielder graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in business, which inspired the show's premise. The show's infamous 'Dumb Starbucks' episode led to a real-life pop-up store that confused customers and media alike. Many of the show's participants didn't realize it was a comedy until after filming.

Description: Atlanta shares The Rehearsal's surreal tone and willingness to break conventional storytelling rules. Both shows blend reality with dreamlike elements to explore deeper themes about identity and society.

Fact: Donald Glover wrote most of the first season while working on Community. The 'Teddy Perkins' episode was inspired by Michael Jackson's life. The show frequently uses long, unbroken takes for dramatic effect.

Description: This show parallels The Rehearsal's mockumentary style and attention to documentary conventions. Both play with reality and fiction, though Documentary Now! focuses on parodying specific documentary styles rather than creating new scenarios.

Fact: Co-created by Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen. Each episode features different directors and cinematographers to match the parodied style. The Grey Gardens parody episode features the original documentary's cinematographer.