DMV Could Replace The Office If It Loses This One Unnecessary Element

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CBS’s new comedy, DMV, could be as popular as The Office if it streamlines its storyline. The show is set in the East Hollywood, California Department of Motor Vehicles and follows the daily lives of its employees. The cast includes Harriet Dyer, Tony Cavalero, and Tim Meadows as driving examiners Colette, Vic, and Gregg, alongside new hire Noa (Alex Tarrant), photographer Ceci (Gigi Zumbado), and the branch’s new manager, Barb (Molly Kearney).

The first four episodes of DMV cleverly and humorously explore the challenges faced by those who work there, like office drama, budget problems, and feeling overwhelmed. It shares a similar style with popular workplace comedies such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, Abbott Elementary, 30 Rock, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, featuring a memorable group of characters that showcase the unique ups and downs of working in a particular environment. Just like The Office, the show starts with the possibility of the office closing down.

DMV Has The Potential To Be The Next Great Workplace Comedy

Image via CBS

DMV could become the next great workplace comedy, just like The Office. It has all the right elements: a possible love story between Colette and Noa, hilarious troublemakers in Vic and Ceci, a dedicated but quirky boss named Barb who lives and breathes the DMV, and the experienced Gregg, who offers advice on how to handle the challenges of working there.

Each week, the characters in DMV deal with a quirky and demanding cast of customers, leading to incredibly funny and original situations. Though the DMV employees seem unhappy at work, they genuinely care for each other, and their friendships help them cope. DMV is a hilarious show with a lot of heart – a perfect recipe for a successful comedy about the workplace.

DMV Relies Too Heavily On Gross-Out Comedy

Image via CBS

As a comedy fan, I really wanted to like DMV, but it just relies way too much on shock value for laughs. It’s not like The Office, which balanced awkwardness with smart, witty humor. DMV often goes for really cheap, low-brow jokes that just didn’t land for me. I noticed it right away in the first episode with Colette – every time she tried to flirt with Noa, she was just subjected to really embarrassing and frankly, immature gags. From someone sticking a menstrual pad to her skirt to Barb loudly announcing she had diarrhea, it felt like a string of middle school-level humor, and it just brought the whole show down.

The third episode, titled “Easy Pass,” began with a misunderstanding. Barb announced her probation was over, but the group initially thought she was talking about her period, leading to some awkward and silly jokes. The episode also featured a storyline about Vic trying a new health trend called “water maxxing,” which included a lot of unnecessary references to going to the bathroom.

The fourth episode, titled “Don’t Kill the Job,” featured a scene with a dog vomiting, and the show actually displayed the mess on the floor. While these moments are intended as humor, they feel more gross than funny. The show DMV deserves better than this kind of content.

How DMV Can Fix Its Brand Of Humor

Image via CBS

For DMV to become a truly great workplace comedy, it needs to move away from relying on shock value and instead focus on the character dynamics that made classic shows so successful. It could improve significantly by ditching the crude humor and building stronger relationships between its characters.

The fourth episode of DMV featured a truly funny scene between Gregg and Noa. It was hilarious to watch Noa, who’s very optimistic, learn from the more jaded Gregg about how to get away with things at work – like not skipping breaks, for example.

The show offered a compelling glimpse into Noa’s history, explaining that he came from a very wealthy family but had cut ties with them. He disapproved of his family’s oil company’s questionable business dealings and, wanting to make a difference, chose to work at the DMV to help others.

The show DMV would benefit from developing the connection between Colette and Noa. Their relationship is starting as a friendship, much like Jim and Pam from The Office, and hints at a possible romance. While their connection is charming, it often gets lost amidst the show’s more outlandish humor.

Barb, Ceci, and Vic are funny and unique characters who would be perfect for a workplace comedy. However, the show would be even better if they showed more emotional depth. For example, in episode 4, Vic pretending to be Colette’s husband to help her with a plan revealed a caring side of him and showed he’s a really good friend.

Barb has the potential to become as beloved and funny as Michael Scott (Steve Carell) from The Office, even earning the title of World’s Best Boss. However, the show’s writers need to tone down her more exaggerated traits to make that happen.

The new show DMV has the potential to be a hit workplace comedy, much like The Office. The characters already feel like a quirky, dysfunctional family, and the show could really succeed if it emphasizes those relationships. By moving away from crude humor and focusing on the characters and the unique setting of a DMV, DMV could become the next great office sitcom.

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2025-11-08 19:29