If there’s one thing that has kept college students sane, it’s television. There’s nothing like a great television show to distract you, especially when sound design, visual design and character design blend so seamlessly. But when are you “ready” for a show? According to this list, your college year is the perfect indicator of what show will be most impactful.
Freshman: “The Office”
It’s basically a rite of passage for any basic white girl to binge-watch “The Office” and post a picture of her crying during the finale on Snapchat. Even if you don’t fit into any of those demographic categories, you’re sure to get plenty of enjoyment out of the fast-paced comedy of working in a slow-paced business—paper. Plus, it has Steve Carell, so you can’t go wrong.
Alternatively, if you’ve seen “The Office” already, you can watch “Parks and Rec.” Or, just watch “The Office” again. And again. And again.
Sophomore: “Riverdale”
Congratulations! Now that you’re a sophomore, you’re officially disenfranchised with the whole “college thing.” As in, you’re 110% over living in dorms and eating cafeteria meatloaf. You may be drawn to memories of your high school years, when classes only lasted 42 minutes and your mom made that awesome chicken parm.
What better show to capture those four angst-filled years than “Riverdale”? You’re sure to get some form of enjoyment of the show, whether it’s legitimately loving it or mocking every cringey character interaction. And, when all else fails, just be glad that you never had to balance studying for AP exams with solving a murder. But like, if you did that, good job. I’m sure it made for a killer Common App essay.
Junior: “Scrubs”
Now that you’re starting to think about internships and jobs, you might be realizing that your physics-major father was right to warn you about majoring in English. Of course, you didn’t listen to him when he suggested you look at nursing schools. So, why not brush up your hospital lingo with nine seasons of “Scrubs”?
(Just pretend the tenth season doesn’t exist).
“Scrubs” is the perfect show for a junior experiencing their first mid-life crisis. It’s got everything you could want in a comedy—whacky characters, slapstick humor and a musical episode. Don’t act like you don’t love musical episodes. You know you do.
Senior: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
Someone has to prepare you for the Real World™, and who better to do that than Danny DeVito? “Always Sunny” proves that you’ll always be surrounded by crazy, mean people. But hey, it makes you feel so much better about yourself in comparison! With simultaneously stupid and intellectual humor, along with a fantastic cast and endless running jokes, “Always Sunny” is sure to hook even the world-weariest senior. Plus, they’re on their thirteenth season, so you’ll have plenty of material to watch when senioritis hits.
If the humor is too crude for you, try “Arrested Development.” It’ll make you want to move into your own place away from your parents as soon as possible.
Fifth-Year: “Community”
So, you want to be a grad student? Okay, maybe you don’t. But maybe Occupational Therapy or Special Education are passions of yours, so you’re braving a fifth year to make your career dreams a reality. Whatever the case, you’re sure to relate to the diverse community college students in the aptly-named “Community.” With characters ranging from an overbearing religious zealot mother to an out-of-touch media aficionado, “Community” will make you feel right at home as you secretly judge freshmen who wear lanyards around their necks.