8 best shows to watch if you liked Superstore

Running for six seasons and 113 episodes, Superstore occupied a prime spot on the list of top sitcoms. Revolving around the lives of the employees of Cloud 9, a fictional chain store, the series spoke of workplace dynamics. Additionally, its satirical approach to themes such as social issues and personal relationships among the staff was often touched upon by its situational comedy.

Thus, the relatable portrayal of retail workers and a narrative filled with emotions and solid pay-offs, made the show both entertaining and thought-provoking. Thereafter, impeccable performances by its star-studded cast including the likes of Barbie praise-winner, America Ferrera, won several nominations for Critics’ Choice Awards and others.

Yet, after delivering a poignant end to its storyline with fulfilling character arcs, the NBC sitcom ended its run in 2021, having filmed as well as portrayed the COVID-19 global pandemic.

8 shows like Superstore to get hold of the workplace vibes

In essence, Superstore’s magic worked for its groundedness. Workplace dynamics is a crucial part of almost all of our lives and a sitcom depicting that sat well with the audience. However, if you are done with the six seasons of the hit show already, here are eight sitcoms, each with their seasons and storylines to keep you occupied and in your happy place:

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Office
The Good Place
Parks and Recreation
Community
Scrubs
Kim’s Convenience
Schitt’s Creek

1) Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Peacock, Netflix)

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine Cast (Image via NBC)

If you thought that a precinct could not be a place for light-hearted comedy, then Brooklyn Nine-Nine would beg to differ.

Following the detectives of the 99th precinct of the New York Police Department, the show combined the elements of police procedures with comedy. Multi-faceted Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta served as the series’ driving force as a sharp yet oftentimes immature officer - a trait that also extended to most of his colleagues.

The interactions and outright humor breaking the tension of the high-stakes drama gave it a strong narrative edge. For fans of Superstore, the sitcom’s themes of teamwork, friendship, banter, and a balance between personal and professional lives would seal the deal for likeability.

2) The Office (Peacock)

Official collage of The Office cast (Image via Peacock)

The Office (US) would be the show closest to Superstore in terms of its setting and themes. A strong and large cast, a relatable workplace setting, character development, recurring gags, and social commentary make the two sitcoms similar. However, the former differed in one major sense- fourth-wall breaking.

The biggest draw of this series was its mockumentary style. Cameras would often pan to characters who would then directly address the audience. Moreover, the entirety of the narrative depicted a documentary of its plot.

Revolving around the Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, characters like Michael Scott, Jim, Pam, and Dwight explored their everyday interactions and relations in this award-winning workplace comedy show.

3) The Good Place (Netflix)

The cast of The Good Place (Image via Netflix)

An entry on this list that would leave viewers crying over its bittersweet ending would be The Good Place. The show went around Kristen Bell’s Eleanor Shellstrop as she found herself in the afterlife.

To her utmost surprise, the utopian heaven was an architect’s construct and audiences would then be sent exploring themselves as to who God really is.

In a twist, though, the protagonist realized that her being sent to “The Good Place” was actually a mistake, as her past was morally imperfect. Banding together with friends she made there, she and the show then delved into the philosophical aspects of life after death but with a touch of comedy.

The character development in this show would match that of Superstore along with the plot twists, running jokes, and promising characters, making it perfect for a binge.

4) Parks and Recreation (Peacock)

The cast of Parks and Recreation (Image via NBC)

Running from 2009 to 2015, Parks and Recreation told the story of Amy Pohler’s Leslie Knope. An optimistic bureaucrat in the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, her efforts to transform a dangerous pit into a recreational park formed the central storyline.

Featuring a mockumentary format, Knope’s career journey from an employee to a councilwoman, her relationship and talks with her colleagues, and a quirky romance quickly made it popular.

The hassles and situations in everyday work life make the show draw parallels with Superstore. Furthermore, an engaging environment, realistic depiction of challenges of employees, personal growth, emotional connections, and catchphrases etched the show into fond remembrance.

5) Community (Peacock)

The Community cast (Image via Prime Video)

Created by Dan Hammon, Community had a talented set of producers guiding it including the likes of Anthony and Joe Russo, Chris McKenna, and Gary Foster. In its six seasons, the series explored the fictional community college in Greendale, set in Colorado. The plot followed a group of students in a study group, led by Joel McHale as Jeff Winger.

Studded with meta-humor, pop culture references, film parodies, fourth-wall breaks, and themed episodes, the show explored the interactions, growth, and surreal situations faced by the group.

Accurate humor, a dynamic group, quirky interactions, and relatability to everyday life make both Superstore and Community connected to one another.

6) Scrubs (Peacock, Hulu)

Much like Superstore, Scrubs also boasts of a strong and active fandom. Moreover, a taste of similar humor, ensemble cast, workplace setting, and running jokes stitch the two shows together in similarity.

Viewers interested in investing in a character’s personal and emotional journey and then being awarded with a complete journey would enjoy the characters of Amy and Dr. Dorian from the two shows, respectively.

Running for nine seasons, Scrubs depicted the lives of several employees of a teaching hospital named Sacred Heart.

Primarily narrated by Zach Braff’s Dr. John “JD” Dorian, the show’s skillful blend of drama and comedy with themes such as friendship, love, and the challenges of working in a medical field set the plot.

Finally, teamwork and mentorship also took center stage as the main character witnessed himself going from an intern to an attending physician with a myriad of challenges along the way.

7) Kim’s Convenience (Netflix)

The cast of Kim's Convenience (Image via CBC)

Starring well-known faces such as Simu Liu as Jung Kim, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Mr. Sang-il Kim aka Appa, and Jean Yoon as Mrs. Yong-mi Kim aka Umma, Kim’s Convenience aired from 2016 to 2021. Its five seasons followed the lives of the Kim family, Korean-Canadian immigrants running a convenience store.

Key plot points included the family’s efforts to maintain their Korean culture, complicated relationships between the family members, and humorous yet heartfelt interactions.

Exploring the themes of family dynamics and the immigration experience, the series perfectly captured the struggles of running a small business for managing a family in a foreign land.

Audiences coming from Superstore would not need much time to get acquainted with the diverse cast, well-written humor, balanced characters, gags, and relatable settings.

8) Schitt’s Creek (fubo, Hulu)

The main cast of Schitt's Creek (Image via Netflix)

Following their business manager embezzling their fortune, the formerly wealthy Rose family relocated to a small town named Schitt’s Creek, initially purchased as a joke.

While a major portion of the show dealt with family dynamics with the members finding it hard to fit into their new life of paucity, it also ventured into the workplace setting as they attempt to restore financial stability, marking its similarity with Superstore.

Key highlights such as relationships, struggles with setting up new businesses, and interchanging of key positions in the workplace further join the two shows.

However, well-written humor, heartwarming sub-plots, and acting gems like Catherine O’Hara being a part of the main cast made it a record Emmy-nominated comedy show, making it a worthy watch after Superstore.

Until a new show pops out of the block with elements matching that of Superstore, viewers can spend their hearts out enjoying the ones on this list.

Edited by Sreerupa Das