A Quick Trip to the Store

In a world that seeks to keep us in a perpetual news-slump, the entertainment that we consume has a big impact on our mental well-being. The COVID-19 Pandemic has no doubt found us in front of the television more often than not, and we are soaking up hours of content into our subconscious like a sponge. This is why it is important to watch shows that make us feel happy. When you end a content binge, the tone of the show sticks with you for days or even months. You think about it in the car, tell your friends at work, and wait for the next season to be uploaded. Shows that make us laugh not only keep unnecessary negative vibes out of our lives, they also lessen the depressing circumstances of the pandemic that have contributed to what is going to be an even bigger mental health pandemic.

One thing that often troubles us on our streaming platforms and leads to frustration is the hours spent endlessly scrolling and unable to make a decision about what to watch next. On Netflix you can hit the “play something button”, but you usually end up pressing it over and over again as it suggests things you’re not really into. You could also check out the match percentages, although that doesn’t always bring up the best options either. There has to be an easier way to find something entertaining without a lot of hassle.

A formula for good quality tv comedies is quite simple and can be used over and over again to find new shows that *actually* make you laugh out loud. Let’s use an example. If you liked Parks and Recreation, you will love the show Superstore, which is taking the world by storm. Parks and Rec is beloved by many, and for good reason.

Firstly, it is a workplace comedy. Usually you cannot go wrong with workplace comedies, because they are relatable regardless of the workplace in the story. Workplace comedies perhaps are so relatable because they make fun of the two extremes we all find at work: mundanity and craziness. Parks and Rec quite often pokes fun at the boring tasks of life at the office, but also has some pretty outrageous plotlines as well. Superstore does the same with its workplace setting. Because it is set in a large retail store, there are silly brown-nosers like Dina who are trying to climb the corporate ladder, and also lovable slackers like Garrett that cause shenanigans and mischief just for the heck of it.

One thing to look out for when selecting a workplace comedy is if there is a potential for the show to satirize everyday people in society. In Parks and Rec, we can see this in the townspeople who often criticize the parks department at city hall. Superstore is hilarious because it pokes fun at the customers of the store. We have all been in a store at some point in our lives and seen a customer make a ridiculous request or do something stupid in the aisle when they think no one is looking. The thing that makes Superstore so genius at making fun of everyday people is that some of the customers do things so unspeakable that you think no one would ever possibly do them in real life…but deep down you know someone out there is bold enough to have actually probably inspired the joke in the first place. This makes the show all the more charming to watch.

Another good thing about workplace comedies is that they are short and easy to watch. Often, we don’t start watching a show we really want to see because the plot is full of details that you need to be fully present to catch so you can remember them in a later episode. Shows like Parks and Rec and Superstore offer comic relief from everyday life without needing to think a whole lot about the plot. You can even miss a couple episodes and still know what is going on. This makes it enjoyable to watch with friends or family while you’re hanging out and chatting, or while you are doing the dishes and folding the laundry. Even if you zone out and just hear a punchline, you can pick up from there with a chuckle and basically know where the episode is headed. Sitcoms are designed for short-attention span, and in the information era addled by constant stimulation it’s nice to give our brains a break and not have to be so plugged in to the media we consume.

Perhaps the most common plot in a good workplace comedy is a well-placed love story. Like Parks and Rec before it, Superstore hinges upon the playful relationship between two of its main characters, Amy and Jonah. In order for a comedy show to be successful, it has to keep the audience hooked somehow. Workplace comedies cannot stand on situational comedy alone, as they can become repetitive without some sort of moving plot. Amy and Jonah are a classic pair of opposites that attract, and the status of their relationship will leave you wanting more at the end of every episode.

At the heart of every workplace comedy is a zany boss. A workplace comedy cannot exist without this crucial element. Bosses such as Parks and Rec’s Ron Swanson or Superstore’s Glenn Sturgis are the bosses we dream of having in real life. While Ron Swanson is a curmudgeonly alpha male and Glenn is a clueless softy, they both care deeply about their employees and show them that it’s okay to have fun at work and not take life so seriously. They remind us not to take our lives so seriously, too.

Two other workplace comedies that follow these general rules and are worthy of honorable mention are Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Office. While these shows are not exactly new, if you are a fan of Parks and Recreation and have not seen them, you will not be disappointed by either. While the shows listed all have very different workplaces, they are equally as hilarious and easy to watch because they all contain the same enjoyable criteria.

Next time you are trying to find a funny new show to enjoy, try using this formula to streamline your decision on what to watch: workplace setting + social satire + short duration + obvious love story + zany boss = a quick binge that will leave you feeling uplifted and cheerful. It is simple and works every single time.

Superstore is currently in its sixth and final season, and can be found on Netflix, Amazon Prime and NBC streaming services. Happy bingeing -- you will not regret it!