Tamal Kundu
Created by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, ‘Mr. Corman’ is an Apple TV+ comedy-drama series that tells the story of the eponymous character and his struggles with anxiety. Josh Corman is a fifth-grade school teacher in the San Fernando Valley whose life is not where he wants it to be. The regular fights with family members and constant alienation even among friends only end up increasing his problems. If you like the candid depictions of teaching as a profession and mental health issues in ‘Mr. Corman,’ then we have the perfect recommendations for you. You can watch most of these shows similar to ‘Mr. Corman’ on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
6. Rita (2012-2020)
TV 2’s ‘Rita’ is a wonderful Danish comedy-drama created by Christian Torpe. The eponymous character (Mille Dinesen) is a single mother who decided to become a teacher so she could “protect students from their parents.” Unconventional and resourceful, Rita is always prepared to help out her students, sometimes even at the expense of her own interests. Like Josh in ‘Mr. Corman,’ Rita constantly struggles with personal issues but doesn’t let that stop her from being an exceptional teacher.
5. You’re the Worst (2014-2019)
One of the most riveting romantic shows of recent years, FX’s (later FXX) ‘You’re the Worst’ revolves around self-destructive PR executive Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) and narcissistic and rude author Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere) and the whirlwind romance that develops between them. For all the inherent cynicism of its characters, ‘You’re the Worst’ can often be charmingly optimistic. And like ‘Mr. Corman,’ the FX series offers one of the most believable TV depictions of depression and anxiety.
4. A.P. Bio (2018-)
NBC’s (later Peacock) ‘A.P. Bio’ tells the story of Dr. Jack Griffin (Glenn Howerton), a philosophy professor whose life turns upside down after he loses his job at Harvard University. He now has no choice but to return to his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, and teach an advanced placement biology class at a high school. Griffin refuses to come to terms with his new reality and has no desire to teach his students what he is supposed to. Like ‘Mr. Corman,’ ‘A.P. Bio’ shows a unique dynamic between students and their teacher.
3. Wilfred (2011-2014)
Based on the Australian series of the same name, FX’s (later FXX) ‘Wilfred’ is a surrealistic black comedy that follows Ryan Newman (Elijah Wood), a severely depressed former lawyer struggling with suicidal thoughts. He sees the eponymous character, his neighbor’s pet dog, as a man in a dog suit. In the course of the series, Ryan becomes deeply attached to Wilfred and starts seeing him as his only friend. ‘Wilfred’ has the same surrealistic approach in exploring the manifestation of anxiety as ‘Mr. Corman.’ In the Apple TV+ series, Corman sometimes resorts to fantastical musings to deal with his issues. It seems like Ryan does the same thing with Wilfred.
2. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
‘BoJack Horseman’ is a Netflix adult animated series in an alternate world in which humans and anthropomorphic animals co-exist. The eponymous character (Will Arnett) is an actor whose career has long become stagnant. However, he hopes to infuse a new life to it by publishing his tell-all autobiography. BoJack has drastic depression and anxiety. He drinks excessively, takes drugs, and leads a self-destructive lifestyle. While Josh’s anxiety issues in ‘Mr. Corman’ are not as serious as BoJack’s, it still has a devastating effect on his life.
1. This Way Up (2019-)
Channel 4’s ‘This Way Up’ is a British comedy-drama series that follows Aine (Aisling Bea), a young Irish Catholic woman who has a nervous breakdown and spends some time at a rehabilitation center. After leaving the facility, Aine gradually tries to return to her old life. She resumes her work as an English teacher for international students and develops romantic feelings for the father of one of them. Like ‘Mr. Corman,’ ‘This Way Up’ is a story of a remarkable educator’s struggle with mental health issues.
Read More: Is Mr. Corman a True Story?
