What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedDocumentary Now!
Seth Meyers · Series · 2015
If you loved Documentary Now!, start with The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast — a podcast on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 1 podcast, each matched to Documentary Now! across media.
If you loved Documentary Now!, you appreciate how the meticulous recreation of familiar creative tropes turns parody into a sophisticated art form.
Books on the same thread
Lorne
Susan Morrison · Book
Explores: creative process, behind-the-scenes, legacy building.
Fans of Documentary Now! will appreciate this deep dive into the creative engine of Saturday Night Live, which serves as the professional home for the minds behind the show.
Based on a True Story
Norm Macdonald · Book · 2017
Explores: unreliable narrator, fame, existential dread.
This satirical memoir mirrors the commitment to the bit found in Documentary Now! by blurring the lines between reality and fabrication through a masterful, unreliable comedic narrative voice.
Anatomy of Satire
Gilbert Highet · Book · 2016
Shares 2 threads with Documentary Now!: Satire, Parody.
This analysis of satire provides the intellectual framework that makes Documentary Now! so effective, exploring how parody and narrative structures function as powerful tools within the comedy landscape.
Seriously Funny
Gerald Nachman · Book · 2003
Shares a thread with Documentary Now!: Satire.
Much like the loving homages in Documentary Now!, this history celebrates the satirical revolution that paved the way for modern comedy icons to experiment with form and cultural critique.
Films on the same thread
Best in Show
Christopher Guest · Film · 2000
Shares 2 threads with Documentary Now!: Parody, Mockumentary.
If you enjoy the improvised, character-driven mockumentary style of Documentary Now!, this film is essential viewing for its unparalleled ability to find humor in the absurdity of human obsession.
What We Do in the Shadows
Jemaine Clement · Film · 2014
Explores: Vampires, Modern Life, Housemates.
This film shares the mockumentary DNA of Documentary Now!, placing supernatural entities into mundane, real-world settings to highlight the hilarious contrast between the extraordinary and the perfectly ordinary.
This Is Spinal Tap
Rob Reiner · Film · 1984
Shares a thread with Documentary Now!: Mockumentary.
As the gold standard for rockumentary parody, this film offers the same deadpan commitment to its subject that defines every episode of Documentary Now!, proving that sincerity enhances comedic impact.
History of the World: Part I
Mel Brooks · Film · 1981
Explores: Historical Spoof, Anachronism, Slapstick.
Those who love the historical satire found in Documentary Now! will enjoy this irreverent romp through time, which uses anachronism and broad humor to dismantle the gravity of historical events.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
Podcast
Explores: behind the scenes, comedy writing, cultural impact.
This podcast offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of SNL alumni, mirroring the specific comedic sensibilities and collaborative history that inform the production of Documentary Now!.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Documentary Now! a series of connected stories?
No, Documentary Now! is an anthology series. Each episode features a different style of documentary filmmaking and tells a unique story that did not actually happen, meaning there is no overarching plot connecting the episodes to one another.
What order should I watch Documentary Now! in?
Because every episode of Documentary Now! is a standalone parody of a different documentary style, you can watch them in any order. There is no chronological narrative, so you may choose to start with any episode that interests you.
Is Documentary Now! based on real events?
No, Documentary Now! is a series of parodies. While the episodes are shot in the styles of well-known documentaries, the show honors stories that did not actually happen, making them entirely fictional works created by Seth Meyers.
How long is each episode of Documentary Now!?
While the specific runtime can vary, Documentary Now! consists of individual episodes that each parody a different documentary style. Each installment functions as a complete, self-contained story that honors a specific filmmaking approach within the standard timeframe of a television comedy episode.