Believe it or not, it is already that time of the semester! We are approaching the halfway point and coming up on spring break! With that being said, this time of the semester can be very stressful and busy with papers, projects, and exams (oh my!). Something that has really helped me unwind from all of the stress this semester has been binge-watching shows that can make me laugh or take my mind off of my to-do list, if only for a half hour. In an attempt to help out my fellow falcons, I have curated a list with some of my favorite comfort shows that help me unwind!
01. New Girl
New Girl is a sitcom that is available to stream on Netflix. The show starts following the main character (Jessica Day) after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. Looking to move out and find a new place to live, she discovers an online advertisement for a beautiful loft. This loft however would also come with three roommates who are all single men. This show mainly follows the relationship she is building with her new roommates, her job as a teacher, and the process of re-discovering her footing in dating after leaving her long-term relationship.
Photo retrieved from TV Insider, credit to Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
This show is the ultimate comfort show. It is really good at making the audience laugh— whether that’s due to the main character’s awkward/quirky personality, her roommates’ personalities, or the odd-ball side characters that appear every once in a while. There are also some very iconic celebrity cameos (such as Prince and Taylor Swift)! I especially appreciate that the episodes are only around 20ish minutes long. Instead of committing to an hour-long tv show, these short episodes make for a wonderful study break or just make it really easy to binge-watch.
02. Impractical Jokers
Impractical Jokers is a comedy reality show that is available to stream on HBO Max. The show follows four life-long friends who compete to out-embarrass each other in public on the streets of New York. These native New Yorkers use hidden cameras and earpieces to challenge each other to complete tasks that are embarrassing or otherwise socially unacceptable. Their most frequent layout of challenges is known as “Refuse? You Lose” where they directly tell each other what to do at the moment, actions, or words. As you may have guessed from the name, if they refuse to say or do the thing they have been told to do, they lose. At the end of each episode, the “Joker” with the most losses must endure a punishment designed by the other jokers (which tends to be more embarrassing/painful than the tasks they had been given earlier on in the episode).
Photo retrieved from Amazon Prime
This show is a new discovery for me (and I am still in the process of binging it). I was originally bombarded with clips from the show on TikTok, and I eventually caved in to watch the show after I found myself laughing at the small segments that landed on my page. Something so wonderful about Impractical Jokers is the fact that they have natural chemistry due to their decades of history with each other. They are not afraid to make fun of themselves and are all very funny, especially when they bounce off of each other. Similar to New Girl, Impractical Jokers’ episodes are also around 20 minutes with the exception of some of their hour-long specials. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone who is experiencing a lot of stress and could use a laugh-break because the Jokers haven’t failed me yet when I needed the same!
03. Glee
Glee is a musical dramedy (drama/comedy) that is available to stream on Disney+ or Hulu. The show is based at a high school in Lima, Ohio. A high school teacher (and alumni of the school) has lost his lust for teaching (and is experiencing financial hardships) and is inspired when a position to oversee the school’s glee club opens up. He sets off to turn this group of losers into champions. He recruits the captain of the football team (through some light blackmail) to be the male lead, which leads to a conflict that closely resembles the storyline of the first High School Musical— he can’t choose between popularity and his secret desire to show the love for the music in his heart! Their main rival (the school’s cheerleading coach) seems to always have something up her sleeve to pose an obstacle in order to maintain her extremely high cheerleading budget.
Photo retrieved from IMDB
Anyone who has happened to read my previous articles already knew this one was coming, seeing as my last article was basically a love letter to Glee. To paraphrase what I have already shared in said love letter, I really think this can serve as a nice escape for someone looking for a study break. The humor written into this show (although admittedly questionable) is quite hilarious and never fails to make me chuckle (especially the previously mentioned rival cheerleading coach: Sue Sylvester). Even if you don’t want to invest in the full six seasons the show has to offer, the first few pilot episodes are full of comedic gold. While you are there for the comedy, there are also some stellar performances by the cast (in terms of music) to accompany you. The only “con” Glee has in comparison to the other shows on this list is that it has a longer runtime, averaging around 40 minutes per episode. But if you are looking for something new to watch, especially something pretty ridiculous that will make you want to laugh and dance, I couldn’t recommend anything more than Glee.
04. Bluey
Bluey is an animated show that is available to stream on Disney+. The show follows the Heeler family through Bluey and her sister Bingo’s childhood. Bluey is a curious puppy with an adorable Australian accent and glowing personality. She always finds herself in many unpredictable situations, which makes for an entertaining watch. She lives with her sister Bingo, her mom Chili, and her dad Bandit. The short episodes offer many valuable lessons both for children and their parents/guardians.
Photo retrieved from ABC News Studios, credit to BBC Studios
I know what you might be thinking: why am I recommending a show with their target audience being children? I am recommending it because I think that this show has some magic laced within the storyline with an innate ability to heal. I was recommended this show from other members of our generation (who are definitely not within the target audience). Whether it’s the bright colors in the animation, the comforting vibes from Bluey’s parents, or that darn accent— there is something about this show that has clicked with young adults. After hearing about this show from many people my age, I finally decided to try watching it when I was feeling stressed, and it was surprisingly so calming/comforting. If you are looking for a show that will lift your spirits with no need for any commitment, Bluey is the show to try. The episodes only run around 10 minutes long, and could make for a wonderful (and quick) study break! I personally have not seen the entire show yet, but I don’t doubt that I will return to binge more during finals week.
05. The Office
The Office is a sitcom that is available to stream on Peacock. The show is meant to be formatted as a documentary that focuses on the daily operations of a paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This paper company is led by a leader whose main goal is to do anything but work— distracting himself and his employees while trying to impress the audience/cameras. The Office is full of many funny moments as well as some dramatic storylines (forbidden love, an office fire, a career-threatening scandal, and more) that are sure to keep you coming back for more.
Photo retrieved from Peacock
The Office is an extremely popular show within the United States and consistently is one of the top-watched shows each year. The odds are, you have heard of or watched the show. Something unique about The Office is the characters. These are characters that are written to be your average everyday Joes— they don’t necessarily have anything special about them, they just want to get their jobs done and make money. This makes them quite easy to relate to, which is a key element for finding comfort in a show. I also think the characters of this show are all funny, stars and extras alike. The reasons I have for watching this if you are stressed or need a study break are very similar to other shows on this list: its comedic writing and runtime. The pilot episodes are classics and are sure to make you chuckle. The episodes of The Office run about 20 minutes each which is, again, a great duration for a quick study break!
That concludes the list of some of my comfort shows! I wish you all a wonderful midterm season. Please take care of yourselves and take time to decompress, whether that is through watching a show or practicing another form of self-care! <3
Photo Resources:
1- New Girl via TV Insider
2- Impractical Jokers via Amazon Prime
3- Glee via IMDB
4- Bluey via ABC News Studios
5- The Office via Peacock