31 binge-worthy shows to stream if you're staying home
From the An in-depth guide to keeping yourself (and your family) entertained at home series
Does the coronavirus (or just lack of plans) have you deciding to stay at home for a while? Here are 31 shows to binge. May they keep you entertained.
"Black Lady Sketch Show"
"Black Lady Sketch Show" (2020) on HBO.This show is so funny you will want to make sure you watch when you need a really good soul-lifting laugh. Comedy is probably (and quite obviously) one of my favorite genres of show, but sketch comedy is something intimately special. It's raw, silly, and plays into the spirit of (sigh) improv, which can be pretty funny. If you're feeling a little low lately, and you need a pick-me-up check this one out.
"The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez"
"The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez," (2020) on Netflix. I admit true crime television series hit me in the heart hard, as a journalist and as a human. "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez," is in the can't miss category. In a joint venture between our sister paper, 'The Los Angeles Times,' and The Berkley Center for Investigative Reporting, directed by Brian Knappenberger, the series parallels reporting of Garrett Therolf from the Times as they cover the unfolding story. The series chronicles the 2013 murder of Gabriel, and the inept web of social services in California, which ultimately failed him.
"Fear of the Walking Dead"
"Fear of the Walking Dead" (2015-Current) on Hulu. Yes, that is Morgan from "The Walking Dead," and yeah he showed up on this past season of "Fear of the Walking Dead." Think you recognize his co-hort as well? Yep, that's the annoying spoiled blonde from "Lost." Aside from a familiar cast, "Fear of the Walking Dead," has done something the original show has failed at; it shows the humanity that is lost and more importantly gained from being surrounded by 'the walking dead'. Especially the latest season released to streaming. It's not without its own trails of death, but it is an interesting perspective from the outbreak on the West Coast.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Curb Your Enthusiasm," (2000-current) on HBO. "The life and times of Larry David and the predicaments he gets himself into with his friends and complete strangers," is how IMDb describes "Curb." And this single solitary sentence basically says: It's a show about nothing. Larry David is not for everyone. That said, if you like "Seinfeld," and want to see how it is earthly possible for the insane situations that culminate in Jerry and his friends, do yourself a favor and watch a few episodes to get nice and cozy with Mr. David and his series of unfortunate events.
"The Last Ship"
"The Last Ship" (2014-2018) watch on Hulu. If you haven't had enough virus and calamity from daily chyrons, flashing the latest death and virus numbers, you should check out "Last Ship." A navy ship is out on an expedition for a primordial strain to save humanity. I can't say much more, other than while it's not accurate epidemiological-wise; it is, however, the answer to epidemic-binge interest.
"The Good Place"
"The Good Place" (2016-2020) First three seasons on Netflix and 4th, Hulu. If you haven't seen, 'The Good Place,' please, stop what you are doing and take 20 minutes to inhale this quirky comedy about the afterlife. 'The Good Place' is a show about relationships. How we treat each other as humans, as neighbors, as strangers and family--we only have each other. A good reminder for current times.
"Atlanta"
"Atlanta" (2016-current) on Hulu. Another serious show with unexpected comedy gems throughout. "Atlanta" follows Earn, played by Donald Glover, his cousin Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), and Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) in the city of Atlanta as they try to stay above water and further Paper Boi's image in the rap scene. The writing is poetic, poignant and relevant to race, economics, poverty and how hard modern parenthood (and life) can be.
"The Wire"
"The Wire" (2002-2008) on HBO. David Simon, known for his epic shows ("Homicide, Life on the Street," "The Deuce") outdid himself when he created "The Wire." Focused on crime, drugs, and under-served populations in Baltimore, this show spans five seasons and is not for the faint-hearted. Don't binge this one unless you plan on doing a few episodes, then switching to a comedy, before coming back to it again. It's a serious show, with a serious message. Classic HBO television; watch this series at least once.
"The Outsider"
"The Outsider" (2020) on HBO. "The Outsider," in my opinion is best watched at one's own pace and within one's own ability to follow the story. I feel those who watched live, need to re-watch it as one cohesive story. Stephen King fan's have surely read this prior to watching the HBO series. It features detectives in a small town affected by an unspeakable evil. Only to find, with the help of the brilliant Holly Gibney, their small Ohio town and families torn-apart, are not alone. If you're someone who understands that Evil exists in this world, this show will relieve the tightness in some of those mental-tension points.
"Watchmen"
"Watchmen," (2019) on HBO. The graphic novel itself is one of my favorite pieces of literature/art I've ever read thus far in my life. HBO's version was a beautiful adaptation, and I urge you to watch it. Even without the context of the original text, I believe many people enjoyed it based on it's own storytelling strength, and superb acting.
"The Good Doctor"
"The Good Doctor" (2017-Current) on Hulu. Not since 'House,' have I enjoyed a medical diagnostic show. This one is a spin off of a Korean show, 'Good Doctor,' which focuses on a savant surgeon. ABC's, 'The Good Doctor,' is perfect for when you want a show to engross you, but also hit you in the feels. You follow a team of resident surgeons during their residency. The spotlight is on Sean, a young resident with Autism.
"BoJack Horseman"
"BoJack Horseman" (2014-2020) on Netflix. Animated anthropomorphic characters voiced by Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Paul F. Tompkins, Amy Sedaris and Alison Brie should be enough to get you to tune in. At 77 episodes and six seasons you can blast through the series in a weekend or two. I find "BoJack" (character and show alike) not only endearing but intriguing. A washed-up (arguably despicable) has-been, who actually grows and changes in the end? Learning that we are more than what people expect us to be and that you can always turn it around.
"Drunk History"
"Drunk History" (2013-current) on Hulu. Do you like history? We've established you like comedy, otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far. Well, "Drunk History" pairs host Derek Waters with comedians as they drink and tell the untold and often unknown historical truths about history. If you're a fan of history, you will appreciate the vignettes, which take real stories, told by intoxicated comedians superimposed over other comedians playing famed roles like Richard Nixon, Abraham Lincoln, Patty Hearst and Hedy Lamarr.
"Community"
"Community" (2009-2015) on Hulu and Amazon Prime. "Community" was a show fraught with off-screen drama (it was on two different networks, NBC and finished on Yahoo, like many current shows) but packed with comic genius. Created by Dan Harmon starring Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, Dani Pudi, Donald Glover, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong and Gillian Jacobs. We follow this rag-tag study group through community college as they face challenges as non-traditional students and quirky members of the human race. Definitely the place I go for my holiday-themed episodes; season three, the episode titled "Regional Holiday Music" is one of my favorite episodes of television.
"Tuca and Bertie"
"Tuca and Bertie" (2019) on Netflix. Painfully relatable. "Tuca and Bertie" is very niche, which is probably why it wasn't for the masses, but it's as hard-hitting as any cynical comedy out there. Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, need I say more?
"Over the Garden Wall"
"Over the Garden Wall" (2014) on Hulu. Elijah Wood and Collin Dean voice two brothers lost in the woods. I was late to this show. I kept saying, for a few years, I was going to watch it before I listened to one of my closest friends and gave it a shot. It's not for everyone, but its quirky charm center on two brothers journeying through growing pains and the pitfalls of human emotions. Greg, the younger brother, is fiercely independent and imaginative. We could all learn to look at the world like Greg does.
"Peep Show"
"Peep Show" (2003-2015) on Hulu. David Mitchell and Robert Webb are Mark and Jez, two losers who live together and are just trying to make it through the day. The play between Mark and Jez's inner dialogues are priceless. I was introduced to this show during a particularly hard time in my life and since then it has brought nothing by joy to my life.
"Parks and Recreation"
"Parks and Recreation." Another "SNL" veteran, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, leads the charge of Pawnee Indiana's Parks and Recreation department. Charming, determined and full of heart this show will inspire and bring you hope for better times. Backed by comedy hard-hitters like Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Retta, Jim O'Heir, Chris Pratt, Ben Schwartz, Jenny Slate and Aubrey Plaza.
"The Mindy Project"
"The Mindy Project" (2012-2017) on its forever home, Hulu. After getting scrapped by Fox, "The Mindy Project," rescued itself from a downward spiraling storyline and followed its heart in the remaining seasons. Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, Ed Weeks, Adam Pally and Chris Messina are comedic gold. I'd recommend specifically for fans of comedy AND romance. We all know Mindy has a deep love for rom-coms as evidenced in her writing. And if this isn't enough to satiate you, check our her Hulu adaptation of, "Four Weddings and a Funeral." It's definitely rom-com couch food.
"The Office"
"The Office" American version (2005-2013) on Netflix, for now. "The Office" is my all-time favorite show. It's not just that it stars some of this generation's best comedians all together, but it has the strictest continuity in writing, ever. No detail is too small or large; the writers have a memory that goes back to their very first episode. This show is great for bad days, good days and everything in between. When I feel like I need a sweatshirt and an old friend, I turn to "The Office."
Any procedural crime show or documentary
Procedural crime shows and documentaries on serial killers, like "Criminal Minds" (2005-2020) on Netflix. Any combo of "Law and Order," "Criminal Minds," "CSI" or any number of the newer procedural crime shows are all great. We don't tune in to these shows for Emmy-winning acting, though sometimes we get it ("Law and Order"). And that's not a slight. I mean, these shows are endless entertainment, cameos, and action-packed viewing and that's why we turn to them time and time again. Be it at home, or in a hotel on vacation, it is known that "Law and Order" will be on in syndication, somewhere.
"Fringe"
"Fringe" (2008-2013) on DVD and Amazon Prime. "Fringe" is focused on the idea of parallel universes! It is a non-procedural crime/mystery show featuring Joshua Jackson, John Noble as his formerly institutionalized father, Ana Torv of the FBI as his partner and Jasika Nicole as the lab assistant (of "The Good Doctor"). This show is a slow starter, but as it builds it not only keeps your attention but kinda makes you wish it hadn't ended.
"Lost"
"Lost" (2004-2010) on Hulu. Everyone's heard of "Lost," but there are generations who haven't SEEN "Lost." Put aside what you've heard about the show, and especially about the series finale. The unique story-telling and twists and turns are alone worth it. Stop sleeping on "Lost." UPDATE: since this first published there has been at least one piece online supporting the hill I am about to die on for, "Lost."
"Arrested Development"
"Arrested Development" (2013-current) on Netflix and Hulu. A spoiled family at odds with hard-working son Michael (played by Jason Bateman). As Michael tries to save the Bluth empire, his family never fails to set him back a few paces. It's a story about family and learning to love the only one you have.
"The Golden Girls"
"The Golden Girls" (1985-1992) on Hulu. Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White are the "Golden Girls," and some of my best friends. This show was way ahead of its time and tackled issues of importance at a time when TV sitcoms weren't doing a ton of heavy lifting. The show is about the daily lives of four retired women in Miami; hilarity ensues.
"Miss Marple"
Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple" (various, but mainly the TV series from 2004-2013) on Hulu. Everyone is familiar with Agatha Christie. If you think you aren't: "Strangers on a Train" ring a bell? The "Miss Marple" series features Miss Marple, an elderly woman who doubles as a tack-sharp sleuth for a hobby. She always happens to be where crimes are being committed, and funny enough they couldn't be solved without her.
"Bob's Burgers"
"Bob's Burgers" (2011-current) on Hulu. After "The Office," I think "Bob's" might be my second favorite television show of all time. The writing is not only hysterical but sharply-minded to current events without being "in-your-face" about important issues. A family show to be sure, this has something for all ages. From unique songs on every episode to loveable and relatable characters this is a show for modern times, but will go down as one of the best of all time.
"Adventure Time with Finn and Jake"
"Adventure Time with Finn and Jake" (2010-2018) on Hulu. Trippy, at times creepy, at times cute: "Adventure Time" is a show for children to be sure, but the cynical undertones and emotional work on larger issues are proof it can not only stand up to adult audiences but also that children are way smarter and far more clever than we give them credit for.
"Seinfeld"
"Seinfeld" (1989-1998) on Hulu. Classic sitcom comedy gold is how I describe "Seinfeld." Much like "Curb," the brand of humor isn't for everyone. The one thing I can impart is to watch episodes from the beginning, and it would be best to watch in chronological order on your first time through. This show can be watched out of sequence, for sure, but best learn to love the characters before they get out of hand with their various capers.
"30 Rock"
"30 Rock" (2006-2013) on Hulu. The brainchild of Tina Fey, "30 Rock" follows Liz Lemon (Fey), and her gang of writers at "TGS with Tracy Jordan." Chronicling how it is to write, produce, and create TV in a conglomerate environment, all while poking fun at it. The weird wacky comedic style is good for those days when you need something to make you laugh till you cry.
"Fleabag"
Fleabag (2016, 2019) on Amazon Prime. So, this show is my, "And one to GROW!" slide. "Fleabag" is the show I will be binging when the weather is closing in on me on that first REAL snow day. *Record scratch!* I STILL haven't actually seen, "Fleabag." What am I waiting for? I guess I was waiting till now.
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