Streaming suggestions that aren’t The Office or Friends or Seinfeld reruns.
These are strange, chaotic times. For a while, things were chugging along as normal but then the bottom fell out and now, many of us are stuck at home, under a blanket of constant uncertainty. In the absence of being able to spend time with our real life friends, we might as well turn to some of our favorite TV friends as a source of emotional support.
The old standbys–The Office, Friends, Arrested Development, Parks and Rec, Seinfeld— are always there, but we decided to dig a little deeper into the streaming bucket. We picked our favorite emotional support shows –the kind we turn on when we’re overwhelmed and anxious–and hope they bring you a little bit of comfort during an unprecedented crisis.
Schitt’s Creek on Netflix/PopTV
Let’s face it: life right now has us collectively saying, “Ew, David!” So there’s nothing like watching the Rose family plant their roots in the quirky but lovable town of Schitt’s Creek and slowly realize they need each other and the other residents to get by. There are laughs but in a time we need a little heart too, there’s plenty of that to go around, plus the nagging question: will they want to leave if they can? –Charles Curtis
Lodge 49 on Hulu
This weird, wonderful, magical show defies any kind of easy explanation but that’s what makes it so memorable. It only aired for two seasons on AMC, but follows the exploits of a lovable loser named Dud who joins the mysterious Lodge 49. The show is filled with great characters and compelling story arcs without being stressful or morose. Too often, people think good storytelling means emotional torture porn, and Lodge 49 is anything but that. What the show believes in, more than anything, is that there is a deep sense of magic and mystery all around us and in every single human connection. It’s something that, now, more than ever, we need. –Hemal Jhaveri
Queer Eye on Netflix
When I am scared, or stressed, or sad, there are few things better than watching this group fix the life of some lovable schlimazel. The key to this show isn’t that they teach how the subject how wear a t-shirt that fits (though Tan does that) or that they rebuild an entire dump of a house (though Bobby, poor Bobby, does that). What matters is that the Fab Five identify the subject’s insecurities and helps them, in however small a way, rediscover their self-esteem. It is a show about finding the humanity in any situation, which I would argue makes it essential viewing right now. –Nate Scott
Desperate Housewives on Hulu
When you’re not interested in thinking but want scripted TV, the mania of Wisteria Lane is it. Its satire is genius while the characters and plot twists become increasingly outrageous. Why not escape to some unrealistic neighborhood where people regularly make preposterous and stupid decisions, pushing their storylines in absurd directions, as they rapidly rotate dating partners, inexplicably keep secrets and have their demented schemes ultimately backfire in sitcom-esque fashion? – Michelle Martinelli
Property Brothers: Forever Home on HGTV
I’d long since moved on from the Property Brothers. Jonathan and Drew got too big, their banter (and designs!) too predictable. But now that the world has come to a stunning, anxious halt (or should, Boomers and Spring Breakers) I find myself turning to these cheeseball bros and their show “Forever Home.” It’s nice to see that Jonathan’s character has evolved (he wields a hammer sometimes now!) and that Drew is experimenting with hair styles AND bathroom tiles these days. More than that I like the concept: The idea here is that a house where people have lived and loved can be made better — can indeed turn into a dream. There was something so cold and transactional about the old concept; aged houses being gutted wholly in mere seconds on your TV screen, to be replaced with gleaming gleaminess everywhere. “Forever Home” still deals in some of that, but it’s at least a nod toward the idea that what we have can be improved upon without being replaced completely. And, for now, that’s enough. (Well, that and all the playful ribbing.) –Chris Korman
The IT Crowd on Netflix
A underrated gem of dry, British humor. There’s nothing touchy feely about this show at all, it’s not sentimental and it certainly doesn’t lean on tropes of community and togetherness, it’s just wickedly funny. The show is centered around three people who work in the IT department of a large company, but it’s well above a work place comedy. It’s not as cringe as The Office, and not us uplifting as Parks and Rec, but still very fun. I’ve watched the short run more times than I can count, yet it still never fails to make me laugh, even when I know what jokes are coming.-Hemal Jhaveri
The Fresh Prince on Amazon Prime
I honestly cannot think of a better emotional support show than Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. No matter what episode you flip on, you’re guaranteed to get a good laugh out of it while also getting a piece of what turns out to be a truly excellent coming-of-age story for Will Smith and his close friends and family. This show was so important to me growing up. It showed us a picture of black family that was actually a multitude of things. Will didn’t have everything figured out and that was ok! Uncle Phil was there to guide him through even while he navigated through his own personal trials as Will and his other kids grew older. It let you know that, while nothing is perfect, everything can still be ok. And it gave you a good laugh to go along with that. When I’m down, that’s exactly the type of reassurance I need to help me get back up. –Michael Sykes
Bob’s Burgers on Hulu
Warm, heartfelt and hilarious even for adults. It lacks the satirical bite that The Simpsons or Family Guy, and that’s exactly the point. Bob’s Burgers is the anecdote to cynicism and cruelty, and emphasizes the connections of family and community over everything else, even making a dollar. Plus, you might walk away with some new great burger recipes. –Hemal Jhaveri
