{"id":311280,"date":"2025-10-17T17:36:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/311280\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T17:36:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T17:36:18","slug":"dmv-on-cbs-is-a-reasonably-charming-take-on-the-workplace-sitcom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/311280\/","title":{"rendered":"“DMV” on CBS is a reasonably charming take on the workplace sitcom"},"content":{"rendered":"

Remember the humble, 30-minute network sitcom? It\u2019s not exactly dead; ABC\u2019s \u201cAbbott Elementary\u201d<\/a> still carries the banner proudly, and continues to rack up Emmy nominations. A smattering of others dot the shrinking non-streaming world. But the days of glory, of \u201cMASH\u201d and \u201cThe Cosby Show,\u201d \u201cCheers\u201d<\/a> and \u201cSeinfeld,\u201d have long passed. <\/p>\n

Into this world rolls \u201cDMV,\u201d which premiered Oct. 13 on CBS. Intermittently charming, only occasionally cringe-worthy, the series serves up characters who can be swiftly defined by traits and quirks, as is the sitcom shorthand. It\u2019s also smart enough to know the workplace is still the place to go for laughs. \u201cThe Office\u201d nailed this concept; its sort-of spin-off, \u201cThe Paper\u201d<\/a> (which recently graduated from NBC streamer Peacock to the actual NBC), is trying. The most celebrated TV comedy of the moment, \u201cThe Studio,\u201d is at heart about work, as is its surrealist Apple TV mate \u201cSeverance,\u201d which might best be described as an office horror comedy.<\/p>\n

\u201cDMV\u201d doesn\u2019t have those kinds of ambitions, which is fine. It takes place at the East Hollywood branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and follows the interactions, frustrations, and plucky can-doism of six employees as they navigate the whims of the general public (that\u2019s you and me) and the specter of unemployment, embodied by a pair of consultants (Gerry Dee and Reshma Shetty) seeking that great bugaboo of late capitalism: efficiency. OK, maybe \u201cDMV\u201d has a dash of horror in it as well.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s Barbara (Molly Kearney), the optimistic manager who has a habit of saying dirty things without realizing they\u2019re dirty (she likes to call DMV headquarters in Sacramento \u201cBig Sac\u201d). There\u2019s Colette (Harriet Dyer), a people-pleaser who passes almost everyone on their driving tests and has a crush on hot new guy Noa (Alex Tarrant). Tony Cavalero\u2019s Vic is an eccentric dude-bro who power-guzzles water and likes to show off his abs; Gigi Zumbado\u2019s Ceci takes photos for new licenses and fancies herself an artiste. As I read this, I realize that perhaps this place does have some efficiency issues. <\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s Tim Meadows, who plays his character, the mildly burned-out Gregg, like a great cool jazz soloist waiting in the cut. Gregg has been around this place too long to care much about the work, but he cares about his colleagues. In episode 4 he takes it upon himself to teach go-getter Noa the fine art of slacking. Walk slowly from one task to another. Never work through your scheduled break. Gregg quit smoking years ago, but he still goes outside to mime the inhale and exhale because it\u2019s a good way to kill the clock. I would watch a show that focused on Gregg. It\u2019s a great part for Meadows, who has always had a gift for calm comedy. <\/p>\n

Nobody looks to a sitcom for a Kafka-esque take on the labyrinths of bureaucracy<\/a>, and \u201cDMV\u201d is more concerned with bouncing these personalities off each other than peeling back the layers of good government work. Some of the gags are far too easy, as when Colette takes a senior citizen out for a test and the poor lady rams her car into everything in sight. <\/p>\n

But \u201cDMV\u201d has a snappy pace, and Meadows, Dyer and Kearney all pass with flying colors. The sitcom is becoming an antiquated form, but there\u2019s still a place for it, a place of quick escapism and broad comic strokes. Sometimes you wanna go where you can just chuckle a little before you hit the big sack. <\/p>\n

DMV<\/b><\/p>\n

Starring Tim Meadows, Harriet Dyer, Molly Kearney, Tony Cavalero, Alex Tarrant, Gigi Zumbado, Gerry Dee and Reshma Shetty. Airs 8:30 p.m. Mondays on CBS; streams on Paramount+. <\/p>\n

Chris Vognar can be reached at chris.vognar@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him on Instagram at @chrisvognar<\/a> and on Bluesky at chrisvognar.bsky.social.<\/p>\n