The 8 Best TV Shows of 2021 for Entrepreneurs – Inc.
The past year has provided a robust slate of movies and TV shows for viewers who love gripping and inspiring stories of entrepreneurship or corporate intrigue. From autoworkers trying to turn around a struggling factory to billionaire moguls cussing each other out in skyscraper boardrooms, 2021’s TV catalog has loads of insight and entertainment to offer business leaders at every level.
Here are eight series streaming now that you won’t want to miss, listed in order of release date.
Mark Wahlberg’s self-produced docuseries follows the actor as he juggles TV and movie projects with his budding career as a business mogul–not to mention his crazy morning routine. Most entrepreneurs will walk away from Wahl Street inspired by Wahlberg’s productivity and motivation (or, just glad they’re not him).
Where to see it: HBO Max
From Parks and Recreation producer Michael Schur, Rutherford Falls tackles how the citizens and businesses of a small city grapple with the proposed removal of a colonial statue, and the potential for conflict between achieving career ambitions and standing up for cultural values. The show, which has gotten praise for bringing Native voices into the writer’s room, offers a well-timed send-up of companies clumsily wading into thorny cultural debates.
Where to see it: Peacock
The second season of Mythic Quest builds on the first season’s satire of the video game industry–based loosely on World of Warcraft creator Blizzard–emphasizing creative control issues, workplace hijinks, and corporate scandal. The show was recently renewed for two more seasons.
Where to see it: Apple TV+
Recently renewed for a second season, Hacks has plenty of lessons to teach about building a brand in the entertainment industry. The dramedy’s dual leads–a hard-to-manage veteran standup comic (Jean Smart) and a Gen-Z writer fired from her TV job after getting canceled on Twitter (Hannah Einbinder)–grapple with PR disasters, aloof producers, and intense creative differences.
Where to see it: HBO Max
Ted Lasso‘s second season continues its namesake’s journey to turn around a struggling English Premier League soccer team. The comedy has reached iconic status for its feel-good vibe and Lasso’s inspirational example of leadership through relentless optimism.
Where to see it: Apple TV+
The FX dramatization of Purdue Pharma’s campaign to overprescribe OxyContin starkly lays out how the company’s unethical boardroom decision-making fueled the human devastation of the opioid crisis. Dark and expertly acted, Dopesick is an important reminder of the value of corporate ethics–and what happens when they are abandoned.
Where to see it: Hulu
The ongoing third season of HBO’s gleefully profane drama series chronicles the fallout from Waystar Royco’s disturbing scandal and subsequent flailing damage-control campaign, as well as the fictional media conglomerate’s ever-continuing leadership battle. Succession is a near-perfect blueprint for how toxic corporate culture and rampant nepotism can bring even the mightiest companies to the brink of ruin.
Where to see it: HBO Max
NBC’s workplace comedy follows Katherine Hastings, the CEO of a Detroit automaker trying to adapt to radical changes in an ultra-competitive industry. The catch: Hastings is coming in without any knowledge of cars or how they work. Premiering on December 13, American Auto‘s first season promises inspiration for any entrepreneur trying to run a business in an unfamiliar market.
Where to see it: Peacock
