10 Comedy Shows Like The Studio You Must See

‘The Studio’ stars Seth Rogen as Matt Remick, newly appointed head of the struggling production company, Continental Studios. A self-proclaimed cinephile, Matt sincerely desires to create quality films. However, his position compels him to manage infighting executives and deal with the whims of eccentric artists and corporate bosses in order to fulfill his ambition. Created by Seth along with Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez, the satire on the contemporary approach to filmmaking in an increasingly IP-driven entertainment landscape streams on Apple TV+. If the cringe-comedy has you hooked, here is a list of shows similar to ‘The Studio’ that you can dive into next.

10. Party Down (2009-2023)

From the minds of John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge, and Paul Rudd, ‘Party Down’ is a comedy show that centers around a group of aspiring actors, writers, and other entertainment industry professionals waiting to make it in Hollywood. In the meantime, they join the Los Angeles-based titular catering company to work small-time while keeping their eye out for a lucky break. In every episode, the team tackles a different event, ranging from senior singles mixer to Super Sweet 16 bash, and inevitably gets caught up in the lives of the rich and eccentric guests. Like ‘The Studio,’ ‘Party Down’ presents the struggles of being involved in the entertainment industry humorously, only from the performers’ perspective.

9. 30 Rock (2006-2013)

’30 Rock’ creator Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon on the show, head writer and showrunner of the fictional NBC sketch comedy series ‘TGS with Tracy Jordan.’ Working at Studio 6H in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Liz supervises the cast and crew while dealing with the network executives to ensure the show is on every week. Loosely based on the real ‘Saturday Night Live,’ the show satirizes the work culture of network television, specifically NBC, as well as of the entertainment industry in general, as it explores the making of a weekly late-night program. The show thus follows the central theme of ‘The Studio,’ but for smaller screens.

8. The Comeback (2005-2014)

‘The Comeback’ follows Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow), a sitcom star of yesteryear who is desperate to make a return to the industry. She is offered a role in a new show only on the condition that she allows the network to film her on and off set for a companion reality series titled ‘The Comeback.’ Valerie’s need for a job makes her accept the gig, but the 40-year-old barely knows how the business functions in modern days. Created by Lisa with Michael Patrick King, the show shares a fictional account of running the television industry, which overlaps in some cases with ‘The Studio.’

7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999-2004)

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ by Larry David follows a fictional version of himself who lives a semi-retired life as a television writer and producer in Los Angeles. Closely resembling his real self, he often disregards social conventions and expectations. At the same time, he wants other people to follow some rules that he has come up with. The behavior often leads to tense social situations and makes his family and friends furious. While focused on one man, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ demonstrates how convenient it is to be eccentric in Hollywood, a theme that is further explored in ‘The Studio.’

6. Entourage (2004-2011)

Created by Doug Elin, ‘Entourage’ centers around four best friends who move from New York to Los Angeles to establish themselves in Hollywood. The group is led by Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), an actor on the verge of fame. He is accompanied by his best friend and manager, Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly), his less-successful half-brother, Johnny Chase (Kevin Dillon), and his childhood friend Salvatore “Turtle” Assante (Jerry Ferrara). While all three are aspiring actors, their official roles revolve around Vincent in some capacity. Their experience in LA is a realistic portrayal of what awaits those who arrive in Hollywood with only a dream. Once again, the show explores the premise of ‘The Studio’ through the eyes of the artists.

5. Extras (2005-2007)

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant teamed up to create the sitcom ‘Extras’ that tells the story of a British man who quits his day job to dedicate himself to being a successful actor. Unfortunately, Andy Millman (Ricky) can only land the role of “extras” on sets. Frustrated with his career going nowhere, he personally approaches celebrities and producers to get additional screentime and dialogue. While the ensuing conversation is usually hilarious and insightful, it fails to help him in any way. ‘Extras’ highlights similarities in situations in both the US and the UK when it comes to the entertainment industry.

4. Hacks (2021-)

‘Hacks’ revolves around legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), who faces the challenge of reinventing herself to continue to afford the lavish lifestyle at her Palmetto Casino residency. Searching for a new head writer, she comes across Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a young professional who is struggling to secure employment with a reputation for being self-centered and arrogant. Following a sharp exchange during the interview, Deborah hires Ava, and the two women slowly start to bond. Like ‘The Studio,’ the show focuses on the importance of staying relevant in the entertainment industry and how it is always an uphill battle.

3. Call My Agent (2015-2020)

Originally titled ‘Dix pour cent,’ Fanny Herrero’s ‘Call My Agent’ explores the professional lives of four agents who take control of a fictional talent agency following the demise of its founder and head. They juggle managing the egos of the stars, financial and legal difficulties, and other complications that come up during film productions, while vying against each other for greater influence. The show also peeks into the private lives of the agents to demonstrate how it gets affected by their professional lives. The plot comprises many elements of ‘The Studio’ but takes place across the Atlantic.

2. Episodes (2011-2017)

‘Episodes’ by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik is about an English comedy writing couple, Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly (Tamsin Greig) Lincoln, who travel to Hollywood after being offered a chance to remake their successful British television series in the US. They are surprised to realize the amount of control the networks exert in Hollywood. In addition to considerably altering the script, they demand that Matt LeBlanc star as the show’s lead. Playing a satirical version of himself, Matt charms the couple, but doubts his suitability for the job himself. The theme of losing creative freedom to corporate whims is dealt with in both ‘The Studio’ and ‘Episodes.’

1. The Franchise (2024)

Helmed by Jon Brown, ‘The Franchise’ showcases the behind-the-scenes experience of making superhero films as part of a larger cinematic universe. It stars Himesh Patel as Daniel Kumar, the first assistant director who struggles to balance his workload overseeing the making of two films simultaneously. While one is a minor film in the fictional franchise, the other is a team-up film, which is a higher priority and brings on greater challenges. Much like ‘The Studio,’ ‘The Franchise’ throws light on the chaotic world of moviemaking, keeping the subject contemporary with its choice of genre. The various groups of people who get involved on a film set, other than the mostly eccentric cast and crew, are well highlighted in both shows.