Review: You Won’t Hate This Visit to the 'DMV': CBS’s New Comedy Is Surprisingly Funny

Nobody enjoys going to the DMV. It’s a bureaucratic wasteland filled with fluorescent lighting, dead-eyed customers, and the slowest printers on Earth. But CBS’s new workplace comedy DMV takes that universally dreaded experience and spins it into something unexpectedly delightful. And no, I’m not being sarcastic. DMV actually made me laugh. Out loud. More than once. In this comedy climate, that alone deserves a standing ovation.

The series follows a quirky crew working at the fictional East Hollywood DMV branch, where the stakes are low, the customers are cranky, and the employees are somehow still functioning. It’s a premise that shouldn’t work or, at the very least, should feel tired. We’ve seen a wave of workplace comedies in the last few years (Animal Control, Superstore, Abbott Elementary) and the formula is well-worn at this point. But DMV finds a way to inject just enough heart, charm, and sharp comedic timing to feel fresh.

Harriet Dyer (The InBetween) leads the pack as Colette, a well-meaning driving examiner whose overly sunny disposition is both hilarious and oddly comforting. She’s the emotional center of the show, grounding the chaos with genuine likability. Dyer’s performance is a standout, effortlessly funny, warm without being cloying, and blessed with impeccable timing.

Then there’s Tim Meadows, doing exactly what Tim Meadows does best: delivering dry, world-weary sarcasm with surgical precision. His character Gregg, a former English teacher now overseeing driving tests, brings a healthy dose of cynicism to balance out Colette’s optimism. The push-pull between the two creates a dynamic that’s lowkey electric, the kind of thing that could carry the show for seasons, if CBS gives it a real shot.

And don’t sleep on the rest of the ensemble. Alex Tarrant is laid-back and oddly magnetic as Noa, the DMV’s resident surfer dude. Tony Cavalero brings big bouncer energy to Vic, a guy who probably enjoys denying driver's licenses way too much. Molly Kearney (fresh off SNL) plays new manager Barbara with chaotic “trying-too-hard” energy, and Gigi Zumbado steals scenes as Ceci, the counter employee who has absolutely no time for anyone’s nonsense.

Pictured (L-R): Chance Jones as Security Guard, Molly Kearney as Barbara, Alex Tarrant as Noa, Tim Meadows as Gregg, Gigi Zumbado as Jocelyn, and Tony Cavalero as Vic. Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sure, the workplace comedy setup isn’t new. But it works. Why? Because the setting is hilariously relatable. We’ve all been to the DMV. We’ve all wanted to scream into the void over a missing form or a forgotten document. The writers understand that and they mine those shared frustrations for comedy gold. One scene about Real ID regulations hit so close to home I almost paused the episode to check my calendar.

Some viewers may say the humor leans on sitcom tropes, and they’re not wrong. But who cares if the jokes land? DMV doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. It just needs to be funny. And unlike most comedies on air right now, it is. We haven't seen those jokes with this cast, so I am not complaining, yet.

Final Verdict: CBS’s DMV isn’t breaking new ground, but it’s walking familiar territory with a confident stride and a killer cast. With Harriet Dyer and Tim Meadows leading the charge, this DMV trip is one worth taking and honestly, when’s the last time you said that?

Recommendation: Tune in. Laugh. Maybe even remember to schedule that Real ID appointment.