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Quick Hits

After Medical Police, 13 More TV Spoofs You Need To Stream

The best goofy comedy series, and where to find them.
  • Thomas Lennon, Rashida Jones and Chris Elliott are three of our very favorite mock cops. (Photos: Comedy Central, TBS and Adult Swim)
    Thomas Lennon, Rashida Jones and Chris Elliott are three of our very favorite mock cops. (Photos: Comedy Central, TBS and Adult Swim)

    Fans of Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital were thrilled when much of the show's cast returned in Netflix's Medical Police, a hybrid parody of medical dramas and high-stakes terrorism procedurals. If you devoured the season, vibed with its elastic reality and physical comedy, and have a taste for more TV parodies, here's what you should check out next.

    The Day Today (1994) / Brass Eye (1997 and 2001)

    What is it? The Day Today was a satire of nightly news programs co-created by Armando Iannucci (who would go on to create The Thick Of It and Veep) and Chris Morris (writer-director of the feature film Four Lions, among others), and featuring a pompous new sportscaster character, Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan). Much of the creative team regrouped for Brass Eye, which spoofed news magazine programs.

    Where can I watch it? As of press time, The Day Today and Brass Eye are both on YouTube.

    Look Around You (2002-2005)

    What is it? Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz co-created this extremely deadpan parody of children's educational programming. After a first season of shorts, Popper and Serafinowicz appeared as onscreen presenters in Series 2, which also co-starred future Oscar winner Olivia Colman.

    Where can I watch it? Both seasons are currently on YouTube.

    Reno 911 (2003-2009; revival coming 2020)

    What is it? The State alumni Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon co-created and starred in this partially improvised Cops parody; the supporting cast features Wendi McClendon-Covey and Niecy Nash.

    Where can I watch it? Comedy Central.

    Childrens Hospital (2010-2016)

    What is it? Rob Corddry created this Grey's Anatomy/ER spoof about a very dramatic hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Its regular and guest cast is pretty much a who's who of the alt-comedy scene, including Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Lake Bell, Brian Huskey, Jordan Peele, John Ross Bowie, Seth Morris, Nick Kroll, and (of course) Jon Hamm.

    Where can I watch it? All seven seasons are available for purchase on Apple TV.

    NTSF: SD: SUV:: (2011-2013)

    What is it? You like Childrens Hospital? Well, this is the Childrens Hospital of shows like 24 and CSI: Miami, with Paul Scheer at its center, making a meal out of donning or doffing his sunglasses.

    Where can I watch it? The first two seasons are on Hulu, with the third on Adult Swim, or you can buy all three on Apple TV.

    Eagleheart (2011-2014)

    What is it? Conan O'Brien's Conaco produced this Walker, Texas Ranger spoof from former Conan writer Michael Koman (who went on to co-create Nathan For You). Alt-comedy legend Chris Elliott played the show's protagonist, US Marshal Chris Monsanto.

    Where can I watch it? All seasons are on Hulu.

    Burning Love (2012-2013)

    What is it? The eminently mockable Bachelor franchise is the target of this series. The first season finds firefighter Mark Orlando (Ken Marino) trying to find love in a cast of aspirants played by the likes of Abigail Spencer, Beth Dover, and Kristen Bell; in Season 2, former contestant Julie (June Diane Raphael) returns to choose among a harem including Adam Brody, Kumail Nanjiani, and Ryan Hansen. Season 3 reunites contestants from the previous two seasons to compete for a cash prize of...$900.

    Where can I watch it? All three seasons are available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.

    Newsreaders (2013-2015)

    What is it? Another Childrens Hospital spinoff (and one that gets referenced in Medical Police), the first season of Newsreaders stars Mather Zickel as the anchor of a very self-serious current affairs program. Alan Tudyk takes Zickel's place in Season 2.

    Where can I watch it? Both seasons are on Apple TV.

    Angie Tribeca (2016-2018)

    What is it? The most reverent heir to Police Squad! (which, tragically, is not available to stream even on YouTube, apart from its pilot), Angie Tribeca stars Rashida Jones as the titular detective, whose cases tend to involve lots of slapstick and puns.

    Where can I watch it? All four seasons are on Hulu.

    Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (2016-2019)

    What is it? In this parody of Bravo real estate shows, the great Paul F. Tompkins plays Dean Rosedragon, head of a high-end real estate agency. Among its alumni, Tim Baltz has gone on to co-star in The Righteous Gemstones, and Drew Tarver in The Other Two.

    Where can I watch it? While the death of its original platform Seeso left it in limbo for a time, all four seasons are now on Apple TV.

    American Vandal (2017-2018)

    What is it? In this razor-sharp satire of true-crime documentaries, a pair of California high school students set out to solve relatively low-stakes mysteries. In the first season, the question is who spray-painted dicks on all the cars in their school parking lot. Thanks to their notoriety from the first season, the filmmakers are invited to investigate the "turd burglar" at a Catholic school in Washington state in Season 2.

    Where can I watch it? Both seasons are on Netflix.

    Sherman's Showcase (2019-)

    What is it? Former Late Night with Jimmy Fallon writers Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle co-created and co-star in this high-concept series about Sherman's Showcase, presented as an infomercial for the DVD release of a Soul Train-style variety show.

    Where can I watch it? It's on Apple TV.

    Writer, editor, and snack enthusiast Tara Ariano is the co-founder of Television Without Pity and Fametracker (RIP). She co-hosts the podcasts Extra Hot Great and Again With This (a compulsively detailed episode-by-episode breakdown of Beverly Hills, 90210), and has contributed to New York, the New York Times magazine, Vulture, Decider, Salon, and Slate, among many others. She lives in Austin.

    TOPICS: Medical Police, AMC, American Vandal, Angie Tribeca, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, Burning Love, Childrens Hospital, Eagleheart, Look Around You, Newsreaders, NTSF: SD: SUV::, Reno 911!, Sherman's Showcase