School is almost out! With summer comes a variety of possibilities: a job or internship, traveling, volunteering, spending time with friends and family, outdoor fun, and hopefully sleep. It also means some much needed Netflix time! Just FYI, I am obsessed with television, so it was extremely difficult for me to narrow down my recommendations for this list. I divided these nine shows into three categories for your convenience: really popular network comedies, quirky comedies, and dramas (which, because I love to laugh, have some humor in them as well). Let’s get started!
How have you not seen these shows already?
1. Parks and Recreation
An all-around hilarious show led by the endearing Amy Poehler, who plays an enthusiastic deputy parks director for a small, fictional Indiana town. The show revolves around her and her co-workers’ parks department shenanigans and features a very strong supporting cast. Treat yo self!
2. How I Met Your Mother
I wasn’t a huge fan of the recently aired series finale, but “How I Met Your Mother” is nevertheless a legendary show. No need to wait for it! It has the same general plot as “Friends” – a group of best friends navigate life and love in New York City and only ever hang out in one place. I love the awesome recurring jokes and small details that the writers include in every episode. High fives all around!
3. The Office
This show definitely had its ups and downs during its nine season run, but overall, it is a classic comedy that is definitely worth watching. Based off of Ricky Gervais’ British show of the same name, “The Office” revolves around just that – an ordinary office belonging to a paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania with not so ordinary employees. Every character has a unique personality that the actors, including Steve Carell, John Krasinski, and Mindy Kaling, play extremely well.   Â
Quirky Comedies
4. Portlandia
I’m not going to lie – this show is really weird. It airs on the Independent Film Channel (IFC), if that’s any indication. But I happen to think that it’s really funny, or else it wouldn’t be on this list. It has a very unique structure, where stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein play offbeat characters in four or five different sketches per episode. The show doesn’t have an ongoing plot, but instead shows off the writers’ skills in developing strange characters and situations. It takes place in Portland, so what do you expect?
5. Arrested Development
Based on my experience, you will either love “Arrested Development” or hate it. In my opinion, the humor is very smart in its subtlety, which means that you really have to pay attention to understand the jokes. The plot goes all over the place, but it essentially revolves around the dysfunctional Bluth family whose real estate development business is always in trouble. They also manage a frozen banana stand, which there is always money in, by the way. Watch a few episodes to determine whether or not it’s your cup of tea!  Â
6. The IT Crowd
You have most likely never heard of this show. I’m not trying to sound hipster, I promise, I just understand how easy it is to breeze by a Netflix title you’ve never heard people talk about. Honestly, I can’t even remember what led me to try this British show out, but I’m glad I did! It’s definitely a different kind of humor than the typical comedy, but once I got a few episodes in, I really enjoyed it. It’s about three employees in the IT Department of a big business, which might sound boring, but trust me, it’s a hilarious. Plus, it stars the Irish guy who plays Kristen Wiig’s character’s love interest in Bridesmaids!Â
Drama
7. Friday Night Lights
I watched this entire series last semester and instantly got hooked. It’s about a Texas high school football coach, his team, and his family, but even if you don’t like football, you will love this show! It has gripping storylines, a heart-warming tone, and characters to root for. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!
8. Freaks and Geeks
“Freaks and Geeks” is a cult classic from 1999 that sadly only lasted one season. It centers on a mathlete named Lindsey, who ditches her academic pursuits to fit in with a group of slackers, and her brother Sam, who is just trying to survive ninth grade alongside his two geeky friends. This show stars many actors who are now very famous, including James Franco, Jason Segel, and Seth Rogen, to name a few. They play the slackers, if you couldn’t guess.
9. Sherlock
Please watch this show. It’s incredible. The acting, the writing, and the cinematography are all brilliant. Benedict Cumberbatch is waiting! Â