Comedies That Will Bring You Back to Office Life – Vanity Fair
Posted: April 29, 2020 at 9:41 pm
A couple of months ago, there might have been mornings when you didnt feel like getting out of bed, putting yourself together, and spending eight hours at work surrounded by coworkers...but maybe now it doesnt sound so bad? If its still going to be a little while before you return to your desk, maybe these office comedies can help you feel like youre back at your office, drinking the crappy free coffee and dreading the meeting that could have been an email.
Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson) is the host of a long-running late-night talk show that may be on its last legs creatively, and is steadily losing its audience. Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling, who also wrote the screenplay) is hired to the writing staff despite her lack of experience, helping to revitalize the show, though network pressure to replace Katherine with a hotter young male comedian (Ike Barinholtz) still looms.
Ex-30 Rock writer Tracey Wigfield created this sitcom about Katie (Briga Heelan), a segment producer at middling newsmagazine show The Breakdown, whose work life is upended when her worshipful yet intrusive mother, Carol (Andrea Martin), is hired as an intern. Nicole Richie kills the little screen time she gets as Portia, The Breakdowns glossy cohost.
Before changing comedy on I Think You Should Leave, Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin cocreated this sitcom (with Joe Kelly and Sam Richardson). After inheriting a successful local Detroit ad agency from his father, Tim (Robinson) partners with his best friend Sam (Richardson) to continue making commercials, though the two are frequently hampered by bad ideas, overconfidence, and drunkenness.
Richard (Thomas Middleditch) has a good job as a programmer at Hooli, a gigantic Bay Area tech company. On the side hes developed a data-compression algorithm, which he successfully pitches to a venture capitalist so that he can start his own company. Richard and his friends then spend the next several years learning how the tech world really workswhen hes not accidentally causing scandals or making himself sick from the stress.
Veridian Dynamics is a large global conglomerate that employs scientists, generally to research and develop technologies Veridian will be able to sell to the military for billions of dollars. Divorced single dad Ted (Jay Harrington) liaises between the researchers and the suits, trying to curb the worst impulses of his soulless boss, Veronica (Portia de Rossi), while also flirting with his colleague Linda (Andrea Anders).
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), harried creator and head writer of The Girlie Show on NBC, is aghast when Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) comes over from GE to run programming, and orders her to add a new performer to her cast: the famously unstable and unpredictable Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan).
Before cocreating Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Aline Brosh McKenna adapted the best-selling novel of the same name into this beloved film. New grad Andy (Anne Hathaway), despite a disdain for style, ends up as second assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance), the powerful and terrifying editor of a legendary fashion magazine.
Though Armando Iannucci is best known in the U.S. for creating Veep, one of his most treasured series in his native U.K. is The Thick of It. A savage satire of British government, the star of the series is Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), a spectacularly profane fixer whose ruthlessness in preserving his partys power knows no limits.
Dan (Dennis Quaid), the middle-aged head of ad sales for a successful sports magazine, has his career stalled when a corporation called Globecom acquires his publication and installs Tyler (Topher Grace), an MBA half Dans age, as his boss. Dan does his best to maintain friendly relations with Tyler, including inviting him over for dinner, where Tyler takes a liking to Dans daughter, college freshman Alex (Scarlett Johansson).
In this dark romantic comedy, Lee (Maggie Gyllenhaal) recovers from in-patient treatment for self-harm and takes a job as the assistant to attorney Edward (James Spader). Edward is an extremely strict taskmaster, punishing Lee for every typo, and she eventually figures out that he is drawn to her submissiveness and enthusiastically enters into BDSM play with him.
This British mockumentary, set in the Slough office of a paper company, revolves around David Brent (Ricky Gervais, who cocreated the series with Stephen Merchant), the regional manager whose oblivious idiocy is an exhausting trial for his employees. Against all odds, a flirtation endures between office pals Dawn (Lucy Davis) and Tim (Martin Freeman), despite Dawns long-term fianc, who works in the warehouse. The format spawned remakes in several countries, including...
this U.S. adaptation, set in Scranton. This time the cloddish regional manager is Michael Scott (Steve Carell), abetted by sycophantic assistant to the regional manager Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson); flirty receptionist Pam (Jenna Fischer) and salesman Jim (John Krasinski) fill out the main cast.
Peter (Ron Livingston) toils as a programmer at a company called Initech, harassed by friendly check-ins from his many managers. When his girlfriend takes him to a hypnotherapist to try to get him to change his antipathy toward his job, the hypnotherapist dies mid-session, and Peter never snaps back into his old mindset, returning to work with a new laissez-faire attitude that makes him look like a confident, relaxed go-getter and sets him on a path to successgreat news until he learns that layoffs are coming and his best friends wont be spared.
At news station WNYX, news director Dave Nelson (Dave Foley) has to manage the big personalities of his on-air talent (Phil Hartman and Khandi Alexander), the stations eccentric owner (Stephen Root), and Lisa (Maura Tierney), a producer whos both Daves girlfriend and pretty sure she could do his job better than he can.
Joel and Ethan Coens take on a 40s screwball comedy! Hudsucker Industries president Waring Hudsucker (Charles Durning) throws himself through a window during a meeting and dies. Sidney J. Mussburger (Paul Newman), knowing this means the companys stock shares will be available to the public, hatches a scheme to tank the stock price by hiring Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins), a boob from the mailroom, as Hudsuckers replacement. Journalist Amy Archer (Jennifer Jason Leigh), smelling a story, gets herself hired as Norvilles secretary, but ends up developing tender feelings for him in the process.
While Larry (Garry Shandling) is the star of the successful network talk show The Larry Sanders Show, making the show requires countless hardworking staffers in the office: talent booker Paula (Janeane Garofalo); Larrys personal assistant, Beverly (Penny Johnson); and especially executive producer Artie (Rip Torn), who has to keep stress from touching Larry, or at least try to, which generally means running interference between Larry and his annoying sidekick, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor).
Jane (Holly Hunter) is a producer on a national nightly news broadcast; correspondent Aaron (Albert Brooks) has a crush on her that only rarely makes things awkward in their friendship. When Tom (William Hurt) is hired on from sports to be groomed as a new anchor despite his lack of knowledge or curiosity, Aaron is hurt that Jane would waste any time trying to coach him just because shes attracted to him.
Newly single Judy (Jane Fonda) starts work as a secretary at a large, busy office headed by Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman). Though office supervisor Violet (Lily Tomlin) reflexively warns Judy away from Harts secretary, Doralee (Dolly Parton), on the basis of her fooling around with Hart, when the three actually talk, it turns out Hart invented the affair, and has also routinely taken credit for Violets good ideas. Together they decide to imprison Hart in his home, send his executive assistant on a long trip, and start remaking the office so that it becomes a better place for women to work.
Following a broken engagement, Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore) starts over in Minneapolis, taking a job as a producer on the nightly news. Marys work life with mensch newswriter Murray Slaughter (Gavin MacLeod), blowhard anchor Ted Baxter (Ted Knight), and grouchy boss Lou Grant (Ed Asner) is balanced by her cozy hangouts with her neighbor and best friend, Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper).
Adapted from the Broadway musical, the film follows J. Pierrepont Finch (Robert Morse) as he acts on the steps in the self-help book How to Succeed in Business and works his way up from window cleaner to vice president in charge of advertising at the World Wide Wicket Company, generally by scumbagging everyone who crosses his path.
All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
More Great Stories From Vanity Fair
Behold Dune: An Exclusive Look at Timothe Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and More How to Watch Every Marvel Movie in Order David Simon on The Wire and His Equally Pissed-Off New Show, The Plot Against America Beyond Tiger King: 8 True-Crime Documentaries That Sparked a Second Look From the Law Downton Abbeys Julian Fellowes on His New Series and the Beauty of a Scheming Woman All the New 2020 Movies Streaming Early Because of Coronavirus From the Archive: The Notorious Rivalry of Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, Hollywoods Dueling Gossip Columnists
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.
Read more from the original source:
Comedies That Will Bring You Back to Office Life - Vanity Fair
- Mark Homer discusses how to achieve balanced career success [Last Updated On: April 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 6th, 2010]
- Leverage What You Know to Reach Your Goals [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2010]
- Weight Loss Transformation - Daiquiri's Hitch Fit Success! [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2010]
- Coaching with Dallas Teague Snider, Christian Business Women's Success Coach [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- Gary Coxe Transforms a Belief in Minutes Learn his simple 4 Step Process [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2010]
- Life by Design: 10 Steps to an Extraordinary You by Tom Ferry [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2010]
- Don and Renee Martin - Authors of THE RISK TAKERS [Last Updated On: April 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 26th, 2010]
- PJ McClure Secrets to Personal Success. PJ McClure Success Tips [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2010]
- The Secret To Getting What You Want - Part 1 [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- The Secret To Getting What You Want - Part 2 [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- Motivational Success Quotes - To Enjoy shining Life [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2010]
- FitOrbit Online Personal Fitness Training 1-888-658-3989 [Last Updated On: May 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 14th, 2010]
- MLM sponsors & how they help you rise to SUCCESS [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2010]
- Setting and Writing Your Goals - The First Steps to Reaching Personal Goals [Last Updated On: May 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 25th, 2010]
- Six Pack Abs at 59! Phil's Hitch Fit Success Story! [Last Updated On: May 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 27th, 2010]
- How to Achieve Online Home Business Success: Key principles and practices [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2010]
- Internet Direct Marketing Strategies For Your Online Business Success [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2010]
- Attract Abundance Through REAL Principles Of Success [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2010]
- Crush it and how to cash in on your passion [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2010]
- Developing Your Confidence Skills One Step At A Time... [Last Updated On: June 22nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 22nd, 2010]
- Bartel Clyde Attorney - Personal Injury Attorneys - Allentown, PA 18101 [Last Updated On: June 24th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 24th, 2010]
- Philip Ruff - DC Comments on the Letting Go film release [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2010]
- The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D Wattles [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2010]
- Victoria Brawn - UK Comments on the Letting Go film release pt.1 [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2010]
- Sharing Sweet Success - The Honey Party episode 16 [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2010]
- Sonja Francis - NY Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2010]
- Marc Davies - Sedona Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2010]
- What Season Are YOU In? Season's Of Life With Jim Rohn [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2010]
- Sharing Sweet Success - The Honey Party episode 24 [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2010]
- Robert Shand - UK Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2010]
- Why you should never bother trying [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2010]
- Daphne Smit - NL Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2010]
- Jeff Peoples - MA Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2010]
- Kate Freeman - Sedona Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2010]
- Blooming Success [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2010]
- Brian Warnock - MA Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2010]
- Tom Campbell - Sedona Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2010]
- Greg Turner - CA Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2010]
- Peter Kirby - CO Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: July 30th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 30th, 2010]
- Bill Mull - Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2010]
- Kathi Benson - Letting Go Movie Release Comments Video [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2010]
- Toronto Sales Executive On Clint Cora Personal Success Book [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2010]
- Pairing Success With Wine for Under $30 [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Steve Wozniak on Apple's Success [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2010]
- Shake Shack's Secret Ingredients to Success [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2010]
- Gene Simmons' Tips for Success [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2010]
- Chronicles of Network Marketing 08.26.2010 - Do you Know that People Want to [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2010]
- Strategies for Success on the Job [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2010]
- Amenities Key to Success in Hotel Market [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2010]
- How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Grow Your Business [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2010]
- Chronicles of Network Marketing 10.12.2010 - The time it takes for MLM Success [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2010]
- How To Find The PERFECT Personal Trainer (Pt 1) [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2010]
- Chronicles of Network Marketing 10.13.2010 - Great Prospects Everywhere - What [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2010]
- Remote Viewing - Powerful Techniques To Know [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2010]
- Chronicles of Network Marketing 12.11.2010 - Mothering and Fathering your MLM [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2010]
- Master Keys to Success Video [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2011]
- Barbara Marx Hubbard, Conscious Evolution [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Carmelo Anthony 2009-2010 Season Highlights [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- One Of My Personal Success Secrets [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Robin Sharma [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- NSA Recap 2007 - Randy Gage [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Napoleon Hill - Part 9 Success Principles (Personal Initiative) [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Brian Tracey 10 Keys to Personal Power Part 2 of 6 [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Napoleon Hill-What the mind can conceive, believe [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Discover The Power Of Kaizen For Personal [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Developing Personal Success Habits [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Bill Johnson - Your Personal History with God [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- TSC Super Cardio: Krueger 100's [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Will Smith shares his secrets of success [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Dani Johnson's 7 Keys to Success In Tough Times, Pt. 2 [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Realize Your Dreams [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Brian Tracy Personal Time Management 2 of 5 [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- TSC Super Cardio: Scottish 25's [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Les Brown - Unwrap Your Infinite Greatness [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Darren Hardy's DB10Y-#1 [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- #3 - Feel Safe [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Dani Johnson on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch ... [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Napoleon Hill - Part 6 Success Principles (Self-Discipline) [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Overcoming Inner Struggles [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]