Good job: A ranking of 25 exceptional workplace series from the last 25 years

Very rarely does a workplace dramedy like “Younger” come around, showing how challenging it is to find and keep the career of your dreams in New York City. Younger hits all the relatable beats, speaking volumes about what transition post-divorce looks like. Liza lies on her job application to secure her ideal job, knowing she possesses the necessary skills but lacks the years of experience — sound familiar? But a mid-life crisis is not complete until you have an entanglement, and Josh, the much younger, hot, and charming tattoo artist, and Charles, her attractive, book-loving boss, provide more than Liza bargained for. Liza’s new career sees her trauma-bonding with Kelsey, her work bestie turned family, over their mutual frustrations with Diana, the villainous boss who ends up having a heart after all. While the personal and professional ramifications of Liza’s lies leave a trail of broken hearts, she ultimately finds herself, her voice, and dominates in publishing.

– Kay-B, Tomatometer-approved critic

“Ugly Betty” holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first shows that truly made me feel seen on screen. America Ferrera played Betty Suarez, a smart and ambitious Latina trying to make it in the cutthroat world of fashion publishing. Though she doesn’t fit the mold, Betty stays true to herself as she blossoms to become the confident woman she’s meant to be over the course of four seasons. Despite telenovela-style twists and rivalries, Mode Magazine becomes more than just a workplace. It’s a found family, and it’s all thanks to Betty’s endless optimism. “Ugly Betty” has used its incredible humor, compassion, and authentic representation to pave the way for more shows with diverse voices like “Jane The Virgin” and “The Bold Type.”

– Kristen Maldonado, Tomatometer-approved critic

A few friends hanging out in a bar — groundbreaking. But cheers to the team at “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who knew the timeless TV concept still had uncharted ground. Twenty years after its debut and 17 seasons in, the gang inside Paddy’s Pub (Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito) hold a TV record as the longest-running live-action US sitcom. More importantly, the show — at many times so delightfully ridiculous that it feels like you’re watching human cartoons — has entered into pop culture history a show that is almost a language of its own and if you have the ability to speak it, you’re sticking around until closing time.

– CNN’s Sandra Gonzalez

“Ted Lasso” arrived at the perfect time. In a moment of global uncertainty and fear, this thoughtful, funny and emotionally raw show was exactly what I needed. “Ted Lasso” was — and is — a reminder that we are at our best when we challenge ourselves, embrace our vulnerabilities and care for one another. I love that my younger son identified most with Sam, connecting with the character’s kind heart and strong convictions. There is such beauty in Roy’s gruff exterior and liberal F bombs wrapping a character who loves so deeply. While Ted’s folksy observations, relatable struggles and his growth get much of the attention, the strong women who serve as the backbone of this ensemble regularly had me cheering. “Ted Lasso” is a timeless reminder of the strength to be found in a team… a team that is at its best when it is diverse, open and curious.

– CNN’s Erica Hill

Among the first - and most hilarious - workplace mockumentary series of the last 25 years, "Reno 911!" didn't just parody "Cops," it set a template for workplace dysfunction comedies. Set in "The Biggest Little City in the World," the series became a playground for over-the-top characters and the masters of improv, such as Thomas Lennon and Niecy Nash, who played them. The deeply-flawed but loveable deputies of "Reno 911!" are as incompetent as the troublemakers they encounter. The show’s systemic critique of authority, wrapped in absurdist humor, still holds up.

– CNN’s Megan Thomas

As showrunner of a long-running (albeit critically middling and frequently ratings-challenged) comedy series, Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon would seem, by any measure, to be a professional success. But Liz is no role model and hers is no dream gig, even if she does get to work with her best friend, narcissistic star actress Jenna (Jane Krakowski), and a genuinely invested mentor, Reagan-worshipping exec Jack (Alec Baldwin). The TGS offices are a chaotic mess of petty grudges and outlandish schemes, unruly scribes and scheming suits. On any given day, we might find Jenna wooing an inbred prince, or Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) pulling out all the stops for Leap Day William, or Tracy (Tracy Morgan) trying to bond with a “son” who’s older than he is. Yet if the joke-a-minute plots and instantly memorable one-liners are too heightened to be relatable, the wry exhaustion underneath it all, from dealing every day with impossible coworkers, unreasonable bosses and other miscellaneous bits of bullshit, might be.

– Angie Han, Tomatometer-approved critic