Rapid Insights: ‘The Chair Company’ Shows How Cringe and Conspiracy Power Modern Office Comedy

Who’s watching this hilarious new series? 
For HBO’s linear cable broadcast, we’re seeing an audience that leans toward men (57%) and is mostly aged 35+ (91%); for the streaming version on HBOMax, the viewership runs a bit younger (67% aged 30+) and more male (64%). This viewership profile is similar to Tim Robinson’s previous show, the absurdist sketch comedy I Think You Should Leave, as well as fellow satire-thriller Barry and wry send-up Nathan for You.

What type of story is The Chair Company telling? 
An unusual blend of Comedy (114) and Crime (114). Perhaps best described as an offbeat, surrealist, dark comedy-thriller, The Chair Company mines the absurdities of workplace culture and elaborate conspiracy theories for laughs while also injecting suspicious coincidences and surprise threats to generate momentum. Comedian Robinson plays an aggrieved project manager named Ron, whose Anger Issues (128) spiral out of control after his shoddily-made chair collapses onstage during an office-wide presentation and everyone laughs. As Ron embarks on a ludicrous quest to restore his reputation (Road to Redemption, 125)–he plans to demand an apology from the impossible-to-find chair manufacturer–he’s led into a labyrinth of dead ends and red herrings and receives scary “leave it alone” threats from parties unknown. This heavy lean into Cringe Comedy (125), Satirical Humor (132), and tempered suspense is driving the show’s bingeability and making it can’t-look-away for rapt viewers.

What’s getting viewers to check out the show? 
Ron’s office. Audiences are tuning in for the series’ over-the-top yet familiar Workplace Dynamics (121) that effectively send up the ridiculousness inherent in office life. Ron’s uncomfortable relationships with quirky, boundary-pushing co-workers, made increasingly more bizarre by his growing chair obsession, feed directly into the show’s cringe humor and give its satire a strong tinge of relatability. This Focus on Business (120) is what’s driving The Chair Company’s ratings.

What will help propel this series into a second season? 
Ron’s Family Relationships (127). While his workplace is the show’s immediate draw, his home life will provide the fuel for its future story engine, and viewers will return to see how his wife, adult daughter, and teenage son are faring after Ron goes increasingly off the rails. The Family Tension (126) and Psychological Turmoil (125) stemming from Ron’s first-season descent into chair-based conspiracies will ultimately drive the show’s longevity, offering plenty of continuing comedy and drama to accompany any future misadventures.

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