Hey pals. As you may know if you’ve ever perused my past articles, I live a busy, high-stress life. I am not saying this to brag. In fact, I hate how our society glorifies being busy. Rest is essential to productivity (see past article on this exact topic). Anyway, since my life is chocked full of beautiful, crazy experiences and opportunities, sometimes I need to veg out on the couch and think about nothing but a semi-mindless, completely hilarious TV show. So, when the real world gets to be a little too much, here are a few shows that remind me of the power of laughter.
- “New Girl”
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Not to sound like a hipster, but I have been obsessed with “New Girl” for years. I feel the need to say this as the show has recently gained popularity. I am currently on my fifth rewatch of the show, and it’s just as hilarious and heartwarming as the first time I watched. The show centers around Jess, a quirky middle school teacher in her early 30s, who moves into an LA loft with three men that she met online. From there, chaos and comedic gold ensue. Jess and her newfound roomies juggle work, love and friendships, creating a show that makes me laugh, cry and fills me with pure joy. When I say that “New Girl” is my comfort show, I mean it.
- “Bob’s Burgers”
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Now I know that not everyone loves adult animated series, but I am a sucker for the raunchy, stupid humor of these television gems. Without a doubt, my favorite adult cartoon of all time is “Bob’s Burgers.” “Bob’s Burgers” features the Belcher family: Bob, Linda and their three kids, Tina, Gene and Louise. The Belchers own a restaurant called, you guessed it, Bob’s Burgers! Each character on the show is unique and hilarious in their own way, but there will always be a special place in my heart for Tina, as she is the epitome of an awkward, boy-obsessed 13-year-old girl (I definitely have experience in that department). The Belchers are surrounded by vibrant, goofy neighbors and friends, making the show all the more lovable and entertaining.
- “Big Mouth”
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Like I said, adult cartoons seem to be pretty polarizing, but even some fans of the genre don’t particularly enjoy “Big Mouth.” I, however, love this show. “Big Mouth” was created by comedian Nick Kroll and his childhood best friend Andrew Goldberg, and it is based on the aforementioned horror that is middle school. The two main characters, Nick (voiced by Kroll himself) and Andrew (John Mulaney) deal with the embarrassing world of puberty alongside a colorful cast of classmates. As sung in the absolute banger of a theme song (originally by Black Sabbath), the show depicts characters “going through changes.” If you’re looking for all of the cringey second-hand embarrassment, this one’s for you. Although, I wouldn’t recommend watching it with your parents.
- “Never Have I Ever”
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And last, but certainly not least, a much more recent addition to my rotation of comfort shows is the Netflix original “Never Have I Ever.” This adorable comedy was created by Mindy Kaling and is loosely based on her experiences as an Indian-American teen. Devi, the main character, struggles with her cultural identity while also dealing with normal teenage problems like romance, school and friendships. In the midst of everything else, Devi is mourning the recent loss of her father, which viewers get to witness through conversations between Devi and her therapist. This show is chocked full of love triangle drama, BFF moments and raw family emotions. I watched this show for the first time last summer, and I have been addicted ever since. The cast just wrapped on filming the second season, and I cannot wait for more. Bonus cute note: the cast has since become best friends in real life (co-worker goals)!
These four shows bring me so much joy in a chaotic world. In a fast-paced life full of obligations and deadlines, it’s nice to stop and have a good laugh, and these shows provide me with that. Anyone who has ever loved a TV show will understand this, but these shows truly feel like home to me. When I watch “New Girl,” I feel like I could be sitting on the couch in apartment 4D laughing at how ridiculous Schmidt is being. Or when I turn on an episode of “Big Mouth,” I’m transported to Bridgeton Middle, watching Coach Steve make a fool of himself. Yes, they’re just silly TV shows, but they make me happy. And isn’t that what we’re all after: happiness? So, the next time you need to totally chill, go back to an old feel-good comfort show. Choose 30 minutes of happiness and thank me later. Happy watching!