If You Binged ‘Not Suitable for Work,’ These 10 Shows Deserve a Spot on Your List

Mindy Kaling’s latest series has arrived at exactly the right time for anyone craving a modern New York sitcom with genuine heart. ‘Not Suitable for Work’ follows five work-obsessed twenty-somethings striving for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan. It is the kind of show that makes you laugh, wince with recognition, and immediately text a friend the moment the credits roll.

Kaling, who previously explored high school with Netflix’s ‘Never Have I Ever’ and college with HBO Max’s ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls,’ continues that arc into post-diploma life with ‘Not Suitable for Work,’ a series about characters still struggling to establish both careers and adult relationships. If the series has already burrowed its way into your heart, these ten shows share that same irresistible mix of workplace comedy, romantic tension, and the beautiful mess of figuring out your twenties.

‘Not Suitable for Work’ Vibes Start Right Here

At the center of the show is AJ Pascarelli, played by Ella Hunt, a first-year analyst at an investment bank who works alongside her neighbor Davis, while her best friend Abby works as an assistant to a celebrity stylist. That particular cocktail of ambition, friendship, and romantic chaos is exactly what these next recommendations bottle up so well.

‘The Mindy Project’ is the most natural entry point for anyone drawn to Kaling’s sensibility. In ‘The Mindy Project,’ Mindy Lahiri is a talented obstetrician-gynecologist working in NYC who struggles to achieve success in both her personal and professional affairs while looking for romance and an ideal happy ending. The show ran for six seasons and built a loyal following on the strength of its sharp comedic voice alone.

‘Adults,’ the FX series, is perhaps the most tonally similar new offering available right now. ‘Adults’ is a comedy series co-created by Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw, set in New York City, revolving around a group of friends in their twenties as they face the challenges of adulthood while realizing that being successful might not be as easy as they once thought. It captures the specific sting of a post-grad reality check with refreshing honesty.

Workplace Comedy Series Worth Your Evening

‘Insecure’ stands as one of the most influential workplace comedies of the past decade. ‘Insecure’ is a comedy-drama co-created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, based on Rae’s web series ‘Awkward Black Girl,’ following African-American best friends Issa and Molly as they struggle to have a social life due to their introverted personalities. The show also features Jay Ellis, who plays AJ’s demanding boss in ‘Not Suitable for Work,’ making the connection between the two series feel almost poetic.

‘How to Make it in America’ is another essential watch for fans of young ambition set against a vivid New York backdrop. The HBO series follows friends Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon as they try to succeed in the ever-changing fashion scene of the city, starring Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Scott Mescudi, and Lake Bell. It is slick, energetic, and driven by the same hunger that defines the ‘Not Suitable for Work’ ensemble.

‘Broad City’ offers a more anarchic take on the same premise. Set in the hustle and chaos of NYC, ‘Broad City’ follows best friends Abbi Abrams and Ilana Wexler as they survive on limited budgets, face the challenges of their twenties while relying on their friendship, and try to manage jobs, relationships, and city life that often leads them into bizarre situations. It is a harder, funnier, stranger companion piece to the sunnier world of ‘Not Suitable for Work.’

Twenty-Somethings Navigating Careers and Romance in the City

‘Girls’ remains one of the defining texts of this entire subgenre. HBO’s ‘Girls’ follows Hannah Horvath, an aspiring writer living in Brooklyn whose life is thrown into uncertainty when her parents stop financially supporting her, forcing her to navigate adulthood while pursuing her creative ambitions alongside friends grappling with careers, friendships, and relationships. Its willingness to show the unglamorous side of New York ambition made it essential viewing and still does.

‘Younger’ offers a slightly older lens on the same anxieties but loses none of the comedy. ‘Younger’ follows Liza Miller, a forty-year-old single mother who reinvents herself as a 26-year-old to land a job after a difficult divorce, pursuing the career she always wanted while maintaining her fabricated identity in an increasingly complicated way. Created by Darren Star, the show ran for seven seasons and remains one of the sharper explorations of ambition and identity in peak television.

‘Survival of the Thickest’ brings similar energy to a more recent era. Netflix’s ‘Survival of the Thickest’ revolves around Mavis Beaumont, a plus-size stylist living in NYC whose life is thrown into turmoil following a difficult breakup, forcing her to reassess her future and rebuild both her personal life and her career as she navigates the fashion industry. The show is based on a memoir by Michelle Buteau, who co-created the series alongside Danielle Sanchez-Witzel.

Gen Z Friendship Shows With a Little More Edge

‘Dollface’ deserves far more attention than it ever received during its original run. ‘Dollface’ tells the story of Jules Wiley, a young woman whose life is upended when her long-term boyfriend unexpectedly ends their relationship, and she realizes she has neglected many of her friendships, setting out to rebuild her social circle while facing emotional challenges and confronting her own imagination. The Hulu comedy ran two seasons and packed in enough wit and warmth to earn a dedicated fanbase.

‘The Bold Type’ rounds out this list beautifully as a companion piece from the fashion and media world. Inspired by the life and career of Joanna Coles, ‘The Bold Type’ is a comedy-drama set in NYC following best friends Jane Sloan, Kat Edison, and Sutton Brady, who all work at a global women’s magazine called Scarlet. The show balances professional ambition with deeply felt friendship in a way that ‘Not Suitable for Work’ fans will immediately recognize and love.

Whether you love the way ‘Not Suitable for Work’ depicts overgrown kids hiding their softness beneath ambition, or simply enjoy the breezy charm of its ensemble even when the jokes fall flat, there is clearly an audience hungry for this kind of comfort television. All ten of these series scratch that exact itch in their own particular way, and the question now is simply which one you are reaching for first.

Which of these shows do you think comes closest to capturing the specific magic of ‘Not Suitable for Work,’ and is there a series missing from this list that you think absolutely belongs here?