CBS's New 'DMV' Comedy: Is This Workplace Sitcom a Smooth Ride or a Roadblock?

CBS just rolled out its new workplace comedy, 'DMV,' set in an East Hollywood office. But with critics divided and streaming numbers still developing, is this series on the fast track to success or stuck in neutral?

TL;DR

• CBS's new workplace comedy, DMV, premiered recently, starring Harriet Dyer, Tim Meadows, and Molly Kearney, and is set in an East Hollywood DMV branch.
• Despite network confidence (a full 20-episode season order!), the show currently holds a "Rotten" 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and hasn't yet made waves on Paramount+'s Top 10 streaming chart.
• The series debut on October 13, 2025, attracted 3.93 million viewers, even slightly outperforming its lead-in, The Neighborhood. Its future hinges on maintaining viewership and finding its comedic groove.

Alright, let's be real: nobody actually wants to go to the DMV. It's the universal symbol of bureaucracy, long waits, and questionable ID photos. So, when CBS announced a new workplace comedy simply titled DMV, many of us probably thought, "The jokes write themselves!" And in a world where TV shows are constantly trying to find fresh settings, a Department of Motor Vehicles office is certainly unique territory for laughs.

This brand-new sitcom, which premiered on October 13, 2025, aims to turn those frustrating experiences into comedic gold. It follows the daily lives of employees at an East Hollywood DMV, navigating everything from oddball customers to office politics. But despite having a solid cast and a premise ripe for humor, the show's initial reception has been a bit of a mixed bag. Let's buckle up and dive into what we know so far.

Meet the Quirky Crew Behind the DMV Counter

A good workplace comedy lives and dies by its ensemble cast, and DMV has assembled some familiar faces to bring its bureaucratic world to life. The series stars:

• Harriet Dyer as Colette, a driving examiner with a big heart but sometimes-awkward boundaries. She's sort of our main point of view into this world, often finding herself in embarrassing situations, especially when trying to flirt with a new co-worker.
• Tim Meadows as Gregg, a mildly burned-out driving examiner and former English teacher who’s been around long enough to master the art of slacking off without looking like it. Critics are already highlighting his calm comedic delivery as a major standout.
• Molly Kearney as Barbara Berry (Barb), the optimistic, newly promoted manager who has a habit of saying unintentionally dirty things (like calling headquarters "Big Sac").
• Tony Cavalero as Vic, an eccentric "dude-bro" driving examiner and former bouncer known for his physical comedy and questionable habits, like making test-takers buy him breakfast.
• Alex Tarrant as Noa, the charming new "surfer type" co-worker who becomes Colette's crush and the target of Gregg's slacking lessons.
• Gigi Zumbado as Ceci, the department's "photographer and laminator" (aka the license photo taker) who fancies herself an artist and delivers sly, snarky lines.
• Also featured are Brenda Ngo, Samantha Helt (as "Hot Kristen"), and consultants Gerry Dee and Reshma Shetty.

The show's creator and writer, Dana Klein (known for Friends production and 9JKL), developed the series based on Katherine Heiny’s short story "Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented." With Trent O'Donnell directing and Aaron Kaplan and Robyn Meisinger as executive producers, the team clearly has experience crafting comedies.

Navigating the Bureaucracy: What's the Show All About?

Set in an East Hollywood DMV branch, the series quickly establishes its comedic premise: an underpaid staff dealing with an endless stream of annoyed customers and the general absurdity of government work. The pilot episode wastes no time throwing its characters into the fire, introducing a looming threat of a government shutdown. This means consultants, played by Gerry Dee and Reshma Shetty, descend upon the office, tasked with evaluating which of the four Hollywood-area DMVs will be fully automated—a decision that could lead to widespread layoffs.

Beyond the overarching plot, much of the early humor comes from the character interactions and their daily struggles. Colette’s awkward attempts to win over the new, charming co-worker Noa lead to some hilariously cringe-worthy moments, including an unfortunate incident with a feminine hygiene pad stuck to her skirt (twice!) and getting physically trapped while trying to sneak out a bathroom window. Meanwhile, Tim Meadows’ Gregg takes the eager-to-please Noa under his wing, teaching him the invaluable life skill of maximizing downtime in a bureaucratic environment.

"Breaks are one of the few perks we still have left here at the DMV, and if heroes like you start working through them, then it’s only a matter of time before Big Sac [i.e., the headquarters in Sacramento] starts coming down here and taking that away from us, too."

— Gregg (Tim Meadows) in DMV

The show plays on the familiar frustrations of the DMV experience, from overly demanding customers to the slow, monotonous pace of the job. It aims to find the humor in the "stuck-ness" of these employees' lives, much like other successful workplace comedies have done by satirizing retail, government, or office life.

The Critics' Verdict: A Rocky Start or Hidden Potential?

So, how did DMV fare with critics right out of the gate? Not exactly a glowing endorsement, according to the numbers. The show debuted to a disappointing 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, which puts it firmly in "Rotten" territory (a show needs 60% or higher to be certified "Fresh").

Many critics noted that while the premise is gold, the execution in the early episodes felt a bit uneven. Some common critiques include:

• Familiar Tropes: The show's formula felt too similar to other workplace comedies, with archetypal characters and situations that lacked originality.
• Broad Gags: Jokes often leaned towards physical comedy and over-the-top scenarios (like Colette's window incident or a senior citizen's disastrous driving test) rather than sharp, character-driven humor.
• Uneven Tone: Reviewers mentioned swings between "sour and sweet, grounded and silly," making it hard to grasp the show's overall comedic vibe.
• Character Development: While the cast is strong, some characters, like Noa and Ceci, were deemed underdeveloped in the initial episodes, serving more as straight men or sideline observers.

However, it wasn't all negative. Most critics agreed that Tim Meadows shines as Gregg, delivering some of the pilot's best lines and reaction shots. His character's cynical wisdom provides a great anchor. The potential for the show to improve was also a recurring sentiment, with many noting that beloved sitcoms like The Office and Parks and Recreation also took time to find their footing and develop their characters beyond initial archetypes.

Checking the Gauges: Viewership and Streaming Performance

Beyond critical reviews, the true test of a new show is often its audience reception. The DMV series premiere, which aired on October 13, 2025, drew in a respectable 3.93 million viewers. Interestingly, this number actually slightly surpassed its lead-in show, The Neighborhood, which brought in 3.85 million viewers. This initial ratings bump is a good sign for CBS, showing that viewers were curious enough to stick around after a more established comedy.

However, the streaming landscape tells a slightly different story. As of October 17, just four days after its premiere, DMV was nowhere to be found on Paramount+'s overall Top 10 streaming chart. It did make a brief appearance at No. 8 on the Paramount+ (Amazon Channels) chart on October 15 but quickly dropped off. This suggests that while it had a decent linear TV debut, it hasn't yet captured significant buzz or repeat viewership on its streaming home.

The Road Ahead for This New Workplace Comedy

Despite the mixed critical reception and slow streaming start, CBS clearly has faith in DMV. Before the show even premiered, the network gave it a full-season order of 20 episodes, upgrading from an initial 13-episode commitment. This signals that CBS executives were satisfied with the show's direction and quality during production, which is a strong vote of confidence.

The future of DMV, like many new network comedies, will largely depend on its ability to evolve and connect with a wider audience. Shows like Superstore, which also tackled a "mundane" workplace setting, found long-term success by developing nuanced characters and using its setting for social commentary. Similarly, comedies like The Office and Parks and Recreation were not instant critical darlings but grew into beloved classics over multiple seasons as their writers learned the strengths of their casts and found their unique voices.

With a talented cast and a universally relatable (if annoying) setting, DMV certainly has the potential to find its comedic sweet spot. Whether it can iron out its early kinks and become a long-lasting staple in CBS's comedy lineup remains to be seen. Viewers will need to keep tuning in on Monday nights, or catching up on Paramount+, to see if this workplace sitcom ultimately gets a green light for future seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBS's DMV Comedy

Got more questions about CBS's new sitcom? We've got you covered!

When does DMV air on CBS? New episodes of DMV premiere on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. EDT on CBS.

Where can I stream DMV? You can stream DMV on Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch live as it airs, while Paramount+ Essential subscribers can stream episodes the day after they air.

What is the rating of DMV? DMV is rated TV-PG, making it generally suitable for most audiences.

What is the typical runtime for an episode of DMV? Like most network sitcoms, each episode of DMV runs for approximately 22-30 minutes, including commercials.

Sources:

• ScreenRant: "CBS Comedy Dmv Debuts With Disappointing 54% Rotten Tomatoes Score" (October 17, 2025)
• The Hollywood Reporter: "'DMV' Review: Tim Meadows Brightens Up a CBS Sitcom That Needs to Become a Sturdier Star Vehicle" (October 13, 2025)
• Decider: "DMV: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?" (October 14, 2025)
• NJ.com: "New CBS comedy ‘DMV’ airs Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET" (October 14, 2025)
• IndieWire: "'DMV' Review: Tim Meadows Brightens Up a CBS Sitcom That Needs to Become a Sturdier Star Vehicle" (October 13, 2025)
• CBS Chicago: "Giannoulias, DMV workers react to new CBS comedy" (Date not specified, but content relates to premiere)
• The 100 Companies: "Now serving: DMV selfies" (October 17, 2025)