# Less than Perfect (2002)

> A determined temp rises from secretary to anchor's assistant in a cutthroat television news office and refuses to be counted out.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/97

## Facts

- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 81
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Terri Minsky
- Network: ABC
- Cast: Sara Rue, Sherri Shepherd, Andrea Parker, Zachary Levi, Patrick Warburton, Andy Dick, Will Sasso, Eric Roberts
- TMDB rating: 6.9/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320052/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: breezy, warm, light, hopeful, witty

## What critics say

A pleasant, lightweight workplace sitcom that won modest praise for its cast and warm tone, though critics found its storylines familiar.

## Synopsis

Less than Perfect (2002-2006) is an American network sitcom created by Terri Minsky for ABC. Sara Rue plays Claude Casey, a temp who rises from the secretarial pool to become a full-time assistant at a television news program, where she must hold her own against rivals. Sherri Shepherd plays Ramona Platt, Claude's loyal friend and fellow assistant, while Andrea Parker plays Lydia Weston, a sharp-tongued colleague competing for the same ladder. Zachary Levi plays Kipp Steadman, a charming coworker whose presence adds romantic tension to the office. The engine of the show is simple and relatable: Claude wants to prove she belongs, the newsroom hierarchy keeps pushing back, and each episode is built from small workplace mishaps, rivalries and schemes among ambitious assistants. Running for four seasons and eighty-one episodes, it is a standard multi-camera comedy with a case-of-the-week rhythm rather than a continuing serial. The tone is breezy, warm and upbeat, with a light touch of satire about television news. Viewers who enjoy The Office, 30 Rock and Ugly Betty will find a similar blend of office absurdity and an underdog heroine who stays hopeful.

## Shows like Less than Perfect

- [Sports Night (1998)](https://ember.film/tv/1894)
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- [Party Down (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/16026)
- [The Crazy Ones (2013)](https://ember.film/tv/52711)
- [DMV (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/195043)
- [That Girl (1966)](https://ember.film/tv/1817)
- [Better Off Ted (2009)](https://ember.film/tv/7232)
- [Great News (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/62203)
- [Pretty Smart (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/110261)
- [Just Shoot Me! (1997)](https://ember.film/tv/4355)

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