Ever wonder why some of the most popular television shows mirror some of the most mundane things about real life?

While there are plenty of well-loved shows that couldn’t be farther from a regular old day, like Doctor Who or Red Dwarf, many of us could watch (and re-watch) a show that could be a page right out of our day but with a crazy twist.

Here are some favorites that take everyday life to a new level:

 

The Office

Anyone who’s ever worked in an office knows that the camaraderie can be as dry as the air. It’s a shame that The Office only lasted a few seasons (impressive that the American version lived three times longer). The writing is smart, weird, and everyone has worked with a Gareth, and most people can identify with Tim.

While a day at the office in real life is well, “just another day in the office,” we can’t wait to see what David Brent has to say. It’s like watching an accident (a funny one) that you can’t look away from, no matter how hard you try.

 

Fawlty Towers

For many television buffs, Fawlty Towers was on long before some were even born. If you’ve ever stayed at a hotel or a B&B and you’re a Fawlty Towers fan, you probably secretly run into a Basil or Manuel.

You may have even wished to witness some behind the scenes drama like the kind  Basil creates with every interaction he has throughout his day as a terrible, yet somehow endearing hotel owner. If you have ever worked in the hospitality industry, some of the shows wild antics may not be too far from the truth.

 

Shameless

It’s a major understatement to say that the Gallagher family is dysfunctional. Be honest, if you lived down the block from a family like the Gallaghers, would you sit at your picture window and wait for more chaos? Not likely, you may even be the one to call the cops.

There’s something about Frank, Fiona, Lip, and the rest of the gang that we can’t stop watching from the safety of our tv or laptop screens. Maybe it’s us, that are Shameless.

 

The IT Crowd

Any fan of the show will agree that it left us too soon. If you work in an office, you may have always wondered what the IT department does. They are like technology ninjas that fix problems quickly (most of the time), yet we never really know who they are or where they work. The IT Crowd gave us an interesting, somewhat believable yet weird look at the IT department.

Moss in his super nerd glory. Jenn and her long list of lack of qualifications. What was Roy even doing all day? For all we know, he could have been browsing casinos for gambling online or scheming up ways to make Jenn lose her mind. While they are less than a hardworking team, they kept the office building running. Who are we to judge? We love and miss how they mirrored real life in a funny and weird way.