Television series

Great News

Name: Great News
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2017
Cast: Briga Heelan, Andrea Martin, Adam Campbell, Nicole Richie, John Michael Higgins

Comedy
Light-hearted

A workplace comedy about Katie, a news producer whose meddling mother becomes an intern at her TV station. It's warm and silly, built on the collision between professional ambition and parental chaos. Perfect if you like ensemble comedies where the chaos comes from character rather than plot, and you're not afraid of a show that loves its people.

TVMaze rating

3.2

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy workplace sitcoms where the humor comes from awkward family loyalty and quick, fast-talking banter, in the spirit of Parks and Recreation's ensemble warmth.

Skip it if you want a rapid-fire, joke-per-second show, since this one leans on sweet, familiar sitcom rhythms and a gentle, easy-going pace that may feel slight to some.

What it asks of you: Thirty-minute episodes, twenty-three in total across two seasons, so it asks for a light evening commitment and a willingness to settle into a cheerful, low-stakes household-at-work groove.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

30 Rock2006

The spiritual DNA is identical: a workplace comedy about making TV news, stuffed with rapid jokes and a cast that genuinely seems to like each other. Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan have the same chaotic-yet-grounded energy as Katie and Carol.

But It's denser and faster-paced, which can feel exhausting if you want something gentler. The show also peaked early and ran longer than it probably should have.

Schitt's Creek2015

Another show about a family thrown into chaos and finding their footing together. It has that same warmth underneath the comedy, and builds character relationships you actually care about. Andrea Martin is brilliant here too.

But It's a slower burn than Great News, and the early seasons lean heavily on fish-out-of-water premise. If you want immediate laughs, it takes time to find its groove.

Kim's Convenience2016

Family-and-workplace comedy with real heart. It nails the balance between loving your people and being driven up the wall by them. The humor comes from character and observation, not forced situations.

But It's quieter and more grounded than Great News. There's less chaos and more understated comedy, which can feel slow if you're used to broader ensemble shows.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Great News

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Workaholics2011

Both are workplace comedies where the core tension is someone's true self threatening their professional facade. Katie's trying to hide her mom; these guys are trying to hide their actual lives. Same structure, opposite energy.

Same-era workplace comedy but from the opposite direction—instead of Katie trying to be professional while her mom intrudes, these are stoners trying to hide how much they party at work. It's chaotic and stupid but genuinely funny, with an ensemble that absolutely loves each other.

But It's much cruder and dumber, with heavy drug use as a running joke. If Great News feels too wholesome, this swings wildly in the other direction.

Murphy Brown1988

The original workplace news comedy, with a brilliant ensemble and that same mix of professional ambition and personal chaos. It invented a lot of the language Great News uses, and it's sharper than you'd expect.

But It's dated in obvious ways—the technology, the cultural references, even some of the humor. It also takes itself more seriously than Great News, which might feel heavy.

Superstore2015

Another ensemble workplace comedy that sneaks in real emotional depth. The ensemble cast is genuinely lovable, and it shares Great News's ability to find humor in mundane workplace situations without punching down.

But The retail setting is less glamorous than TV news, so it might feel less exciting. It also gets increasingly serious as it goes on, which changes the tone.

The Good Place2016

A comedy where the ensemble actually matters, and where character relationships drive the humor. It's got that same sense of fun and invention, and the cast plays together like they genuinely adore each other.

But It's a completely different genre—philosophical sci-fi rather than workplace comedy. The tone is weirder and the structure is more experimental, which might be too much of a leap.

Veep2012

A workplace comedy where the chaos is political and professional. It's got rapid-fire jokes, a sharp ensemble, and that same energy of people caring about their jobs while everything falls apart around them.

But It's much meaner and more cynical than Great News. The humor punches harder, and there's less warmth underneath. It can feel relentless if you want something gentler.

Atypical2017

Premiered the same year and has similar DNA: ensemble comedy with real family dynamics, humor that doesn't rely on cruelty, and genuine affection for its characters. It's got that same warmth and specificity.

But It's heavier on the drama side, and the workplace element is much less central. If you want pure comedy, this leans too far into serious territory.

Community2009

An ensemble comedy where the cast chemistry is everything. It's got that same sense of found family and genuine affection between characters, plus rapid-fire jokes and genre playfulness.

But It gets increasingly absurd and meta, especially in later seasons. If you want something grounded and straightforward, Community eventually abandons that entirely.