Steve Carellis best known for his role inThe Office,but he created another four-season sitcom with an impressive 96% onRotten Tomatoes— and it feels like a mash-up of his hit NBC series andBrooklyn Nine-Nine. Although Carell has shown his range in more serious roles (includinghis Hulu thriller,The Patient), he’s most often associated with his comedy projects.
Obviously, this includesThe Office,but it also encompassesTV shows likeSpace ForceandThe Four Seasons,as well as movies likeThe 40-Year-Old VirginandAnchorman. AndCarell isn’t always in front of the camera, either. His role as Gru in theDespicable Mefranchise has shown off his voice acting skills, and he also boasts credits as a writer, producer, and director.
Given his experience with comedy,it’s probably no surprise that one of the best series Carell worked on behind-the-scenes is a sitcom. And the final product drives home his talent for making people laugh. It also feels reminiscent ofThe Office,just with a law enforcement twist.
Steve And Nancy Carell Created The Police Sitcom Angie Tribeca
The Four-Season Sitcom Poked Fun At Straightforward Procedurals
Steve Carell and his wife, Nancy Carell, created the police sitcomAngieTribeca, which premiered back in 2016. The four-season series was canceled in 2019, but it received high praise until the end. Although it didn’t have the viewership numbers to go on for as long asThe Office,the series' following was committed. Its consistently positive reviews speak to that fact.
Angie Tribecastarred Rashida Jones, an alum fromthe cast ofThe Office,and followed her character as she oversaw a team of LAPD detectives. But instead of taking a more serious approach to the group’s assignments, the series poked fun at straightforward procedurals. It leaned into absurd cases and exaggerated the genre’s conventions. And it was better for it.
The parody angle made sense given Carell’s history, and it led toAngie Tribecafeeling a bit likeThe Office.Of course, that wasn’t the only TV series it shared similarities with.The four-season show also felt reminiscent ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine,creating a combination that made its smaller reach surprising.
Angie Tribeca Feels Like A Mixture Of The Office And Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Angie Tribecafelt like a mash-up ofThe OfficeandBrooklyn Nine-Nine, leaning into the strengths of both beloved sitcoms. The fact that the TBS show parodied police procedurals gave it a similar feel to Carell’s hit series, which was a mockumentary of corporate workplaces.
Carell being so heavily involved in both shows ensured they’d receive some comparisons, but the humor ofAngie TribecaandThe Officealso had commonalities. The deadpan joke deliveries and unflinching snark drove their points home. Both leaned into awkward moments, too, thoughAngie Tribecasometimes had a harder time with that approach.
However,Angie Tribeca’s law enforcement focus and absurdity also made it a solidBrooklyn Nine-Ninereplacement. It didn’t quite reach the heights of the eight-season police sitcom, but it made a decent follow-up. Carell’s sitcom leaned into satire more thanBrooklyn Nine-Nine,but both utilized similar backdrops to get the job done.
Given thatAngie Tribecafelt like a combination of two ofthe greatest sitcoms of all time, it’s surprising it didn’t blow up more during its time on air. It was bold and entertaining, but not everyone appreciated its humor in the same way that they fell forThe OfficeandBrooklyn Nine-Nine(and evenThe Officetook time to find its footing).
With a name likeSteve Carell behind the series,Angie Tribecalikely could have and should have been bigger.
With a name likeSteve Carellbehind the series,Angie Tribecalikely could have and should have been bigger. But it’s still a worthwhile watch, with four seasons viewers can enjoy. And those who appreciateThe OfficeandBrooklyn Nine-Nineare even more likely to appreciate it, even with its shortcomings.
