Saagar Kote
Created by Tyler Perry and Niya Palmer, Netflix’s ‘Miss Governor’ is a political satire drama series that narrates the story of a lieutenant governor named Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn) who must navigate the world of politics, while also getting into hilarious situations involving the people around her. The show deals with everyday issues faced by women in positions of power, narrating them with comedic twists and funny characters. The nucleus of the show is its exploration of the dynamics between the protagonist and her team. As the group confronts challenges in the region of Mississippi, Antoinette must also maintain a good relationship with her family and friends, while also dealing with the Governor, who has a completely different style of functioning and seems to see politics and issues differently than she does. If you enjoyed watching the humor, politics, performances, and the themes of the comedy drama, these shows similar to ‘Miss Governor’ will keep your laughter intact.
10. Tanner ’88 (1988)
‘Tanner ’88’ is a comedy drama created by Garry Trudeau, which is narrated in a mockumentary style. It follows the trials and tribulations of an aspiring politician named Jack Tanner (Michael Murphy), who aspires to run for President of the United States. The series explores his struggles to secure a nomination as he goes up against more popular candidates in the Democratic Party. The show is a commentary on the state of politics, ethics, ambitions, and truth in the United States. Akin to the world of ‘Miss Governor,’ it features characters who find themselves in complex situations due to their political views and also face off against more powerful players.
9. Spin City (1996-2002)
Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, ‘Spin City’ is a comedy-drama series that chronicles the happenings in the political circles of New York City. The Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty (Michael J. Fox) faces challenges when he realizes that politics is more complicated than he assumed, especially due to the embarrassing situations that his boss, the Mayor, gets into. The element of media representation is also an important part of the show. Resembling ‘Miss Governor,’ it features the complex dynamics between a deputy and a superior. Both shows explore political realities by using comedy and light-hearted moments. The thematic connections between the shows connect them on a greater level.
8. Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
In the political comedy drama series ‘Parks and Recreation,’ Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department bureaucrat, tries to turn an abandoned site into a park with the help of nurse Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones). Her efforts face multiple challenges in the form of politics, colleagues, corruption, and more, narrated in hilarious ways. The nucleus of the show is its exploration of the complexities of handling the issues of communities, as well as the funny confrontations between colleagues in the department. In ways similar to ‘Miss Governor,’ the show is led by a woman who must balance her gender role in a world of power. Both shows explore the dynamics between people working in political departments and the way they get into absurd situations.
7. The Mayor (2017-2018)
Created by Jeremy Bronson, ‘The Mayor’ is a political comedy series starring Brandon Micheal Hall as Courtney Rose. It is an exploration of the journey of the protagonist as he goes through the complications of modern politics while running for mayor in Fort Grey, with the intention of improving his musical career as a rap artist. However, when he shockingly wins the election, he finds himself facing unexpected challenges. Like ‘Miss Governor,’ the show explores how positions of power can sometimes be uncomfortable for those who didn’t expect to occupy them. The main characters in both stories struggle to balance their personal and political lives. The banter between colleagues is also an important part of the narratives.
6. Mr. Mayor (2021-2022)
The political satire series ‘Mr. Mayor’ deals with a scenario wherein a former businessman called Neil Bremer (Ted Danson) unexpectedly becomes the mayor of Los Angeles. What follows is his journey of hilarious challenges while navigating the world of urban politics. The Robert Carlock and Tina Fey creation delves into similar ideas that are explored in ‘Miss Governor.’ Both stories feature protagonists who must navigate the difficulties of the political world while also dealing with their personal issues related to friends and family members. The dynamics between superiors and their employees are also an important part of both narratives, as they drive the characters into funny situations.
5. Alpha House (2013 – 2014)
Created by Garry Trudeau, ‘Alpha House’ is a political satire series that explores the lives of four senators named Gil John Bigg (John Goodman), Robert Bettencour (Clark Johnson), Louis Laffer (Matt Malloy), and Andy Guzman (Mark Consuelos) who belong to the Republican Party. They face various challenges, debates, and hilarious situations as they navigate the world of politics and power. The situation gets more complicated due to the fact that all of them have to share the same house, leading to funny situations. Reflecting the world of ‘Miss Governor,’ the drama looks at the often unseen dynamics behind the curtain of power and ambition, while also looking at politicians as human beings first, and not office bearers or powerful entities. The over-the-top situations that characters get into are also common in both shows.
4. The Politician (2019-2020)
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan’s Netflix comedy drama series ‘The Politician’ satirizes the life of the ambitious Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), a wealthy Santa Barbara student who intends to become the President of the United States in the future. Dealing with his aspirations, he must first learn how to navigate the complexities of high school and his relationships with his fellow students, while striving to become the President of the student union in the institute. The show is a nuanced commentary on politics at the student level. Akin to the vibe of ‘Miss Governor,’ it deals with ambitions of the main character, while also delivering philosophical takes on the state of politics and the ruthlessness that is needed to succeed in the intriguing world of power.
3. Yes Minister (1980-1984)
The British political satire series ‘Yes Minister’ deals with the trials and tribulations of a member of parliament named James Hacker (Paul Eddington), who finds himself in the corridors of power after he gets the opportunity to serve as a minister in the British Government. Hailed as a classic in the genre, the series is a commentary on the internal workings in the shadow of power and ambition. It looks at the various challenges that are faced by politicians while dealing with public issues and their relationships with each other. Akin to the world of ‘Miss Governor,’ the Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn creation features intriguing personal dynamics between people in positions of power. Both stories share a spiritual connection in terms of their themes and characters.
2. The Thick of It (2005-2012)
Created by Armando Iannucci, ‘The Thick of It’ is a comedy-drama series that explores the complexities of power and politics in the elite corridors of the British Government. The core element of the show is its portrayal of the workings of a government department that doesn’t seem to know what it’s doing or how to control things. The group, headed by Hugh Abbott (Chris Langham), finds itself facing constant challenges due to excessive interference from the Prime Minister, who has his own motivations. As the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship continues to work, it keeps evolving due to the nature of politics and the changing elements of the system that keep everything together. Resembling ‘Miss Governor,’ it looks at the inner workings of political groups and also the complex relationships between those working for them. The protagonists in both shows must learn how to balance their own ambitions when dealing with superiors who seem to have different and hidden motivations. This connected the stories on a greater level.
1. Veep (2012-2019)
Powered by an exceptional portrayal by Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, ‘Veep’ is a political satire series created by Armando Iannucci. The series follows the hilarious and complex journey of the protagonist as she goes through the world of American politics as the Vice President of the United States. Despite her intentions to serve the people to the best of her abilities, Selina faces challenges from her team, containing members who have their own issues and agendas. The core themes of the show revolve around power and relationships. Akin to the elements of ‘Miss Governor,’ it has a woman in a position of power who deals with familial issues, while also dealing with professional ones. The group dynamics between the protagonists and their teams in both shows are of importance. The two stories are strongly connected due to their tonal, visual, and thematic similarities that offer laughs.
