Whether it’s in the background while I’m cooking, or I’m sitting down, focused and invested in the story, I seriously love a good comfort TV show. In this midterm season especially, I’ve been unwinding to some of my tried and true favourites, so I thought I’d share them with you now!
Below, you’ll find some of my most beloved television shows that I can always count on to lift my spirits or help me unwind after a stressful day. Happy watching!
- Parks & Recreation
A lot of people consider this show boring, but it’s one of my favourites. If you watch the series in its entirety, you learn to appreciate the characters and care about their lives. It’s light-hearted, extremely funny, and the stakes are relatively low — you don’t ever feel stressed or overly worried about what will happen. Each episode is also around 22 minutes, so it’s very easy to binge, and perfect if you just need a quick break.
Fun fact: Paul Rudd, Michelle Obama and Andy Samberg all make hilarious guest appearances!
- Gilmore Girls
This is a new find for me, but this dramedy is the perfect feel-good show (for the most part). I would describe it as a cozy blanket, cup of hot chocolate (sorry Lorelai!) kind of show. The small town of Stars Hollow has a lovely demeanor that welcomes you with open arms. You observe the mother and daughter protagonists as they endure life’s big challenges, and you can smile along the way. The stakes can get pretty high, as relationships fall through and drama unfolds, but for the most part, the show is engaging and easy to watch. Each episode is about 45 minutes long, so if you need more time to chill and prefer a slower-paced TV show, Gilmore Girls is perfect for you!
Fun fact: Melissa McCarthy stars as lovable chef Sookie, and it’s fun to watch her play a different role than what we’re used to seeing!
- Superstore
My pandemic gem! Superstore is a hilarious depiction of co-workers as they navigate their daily lives at an American mega-retail store. As someone who used to work at a grocery store, the show made me laugh so often! They do a wonderful job of creating fun out of normal situations. My favourite part is the “customer interstitials” — these are short clips of the customers doing all sorts of random things, like a man washing his clothes in a display laundry machine, or kids tying themselves together with a garden hose.
Fun fact: The show continued filming during the pandemic, and features many of the cast members in later episodes wearing masks on camera, a nod to what life is like during this time for retail workers.
- Modern Family
Eleven seasons and lots of laughs! I started watching this show years ago with my family. The quick wit and situational humour are made for the perfect comfort show. Each episode ends with a hard-hitting, wise and emotional line to showcase the “lessons” all of the characters learned throughout the episode. You can laugh hysterically and still have a mindful and relatable takeaway. Mitch is my favourite character, because you can’t beat his amazing sarcasm!
Fun fact: Matt LeBlanc almost played the goofball dad Phil Dunphy!
- New Girl
If you cringe at the word “adorkable,” then you might feel the same way I did when I started this show. I almost gave up on it, but after the first season, the characters became really special to me. It has since become one of my all-time favourite shows! The story starts when quirky elementary school teacher Jess moves into a flat with three guys, and it showcases all of their dynamics as roommates: uptight, laidback, annoying, lazy. Eventually, the characters become wonderful friends and a pleasure to watch. It’s funny, heartwarming, and the characters have incredible growth, which is hard to find in many shows these days.
Now, grab some treats, settle in, and enjoy these comfort shows! I can’t wait to hear what you think!