Everyone has those days when you need to escape the world around you, and that's when you need a proper comfort show for distraction. Now, everyone has different go-to's, but when the world is acting up, these shows are there to sooth the soul.
10 Parks and Recreation
Watch It on Netflix
Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, this zany show follows the exploits of the Parks and Recreation department, headed by the relentlessly positive Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler). The laughs are centered around small-town absurdity and a mix of colorful personalities, in an environment where it’s cool to get along.
Parks and Recreation is ideal comfort viewing, as the characters are lovable, the stakes are low, and it’s brimming with familiar faces from the world of comedy. Notable cast members include Adam Scott, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Rashida Jones, and Aubrey Plaza.
9 Detectorists
Watch It on Prime Video
This gentle British gem follows two metal detector hobbyists searching for treasure—and possibly a little meaning—in the English countryside. With its slow pace, dry wit, and rural beauty, Detectorists is like an audiovisual meditation, featuring Mackenzie Crook (The Office) and firm favorite Toby Jones in the leading roles.
Where Detectorists really succeeds is in its ability to find drama, intrigue, and delight in the mundane aspects of life. It provides the perfect pressure valve whenever I need to let off steam.
8 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Watch It on Netflix
This sitcom, set in a New York City police precinct, pounds you with quickfire humor but is supported by underlying principles of camaraderie and inclusivity. Brooklyn Nine-Nine thrives on the chemistry between its oddball ensemble cast and the “bromance” between Andy Samberg’s goofy-yet-brilliant detective and his police chief, the late Andre Braugher.
While Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s storylines aren’t as compelling in later seasons, the jokes are consistently there, and the characters are always lovable and relatable. This is bingeable escapist comedy at its best.
7 Schitt’s Creek
Watch It on Hulu
Watching the formerly wealthy Rose family adjust to life in a rural motel might not sound like comfort TV, but don't pause or cancel your Hulu subscription until you've given Schitt’s Creek a watch. Over six seasons, this tale of riches to rags evolves from sharp satire to a heartfelt celebration of growth, love, and acceptance.
Starring father and son duo, Dan and Eugene Levy (of American Pie fame), alongside comedy legends Catherine O’Hara and Chris Elliott, this is peak serotonin on the small screen, with Moira’s wigs worthy of their own mention as supporting characters.
6 Bob’s Burgers
Watch It on FOX
This animated series about a struggling burger joint run by the Belcher family is packed with warmth and weirdness. Unlike many family sitcoms, the Belchers actually like each other, and their unconditional support, no matter how absurd the situation, is deeply comforting.
I often draw comparisons between the Belchers and my own family, as they blunder their way through life, with standout performances from Kristen Schaal and H. Jon Benjamin, and regular guest appearances by Kevin Kline. As a bonus, the musical numbers are wildly catchy.
5 Ted Lasso
Watch It on Apple TV+
The premise for this Apple TV favorite was especially compelling, as an American football coach with no experience in soccer is hired to manage an English football team. What sounds like a setup for disaster turns out to be a show about kindness, self-belief, and the importance of mental health.
Ted Lasso is heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly profound, like a pep talk you didn’t know you needed. You find yourself caring deeply about the characters, and the pacing is brisk, from the first episode to the last.
4 The Great British Baking Show
Watch It on Netflix
The Great British Baking Show had no right to become the hit that it did. It's fundamentally a bunch of amateur bakers in a tent, trying their best to impress judges with elaborate pastries, yet the result is wholesome, gentle competition at its finest.
The British countryside setting, fun judging panel, and supportive contestants make this a show you can watch with your brain half off. However, the more you watch, the more captivating it becomes, and you might find yourself headed down a rabbit hole of baked goods and sugary treats before you know it.
3 The Office (U.S.)
Watch It on Netflix
There’s something especially comforting about the Dunder Mifflin crew, headed by Steve Carell’s lovable idiot, Michael Scott. The awkward moments, quirky coworkers, and office romances feel warmly familiar, and it reminds us that we’re not alone in the trials and tribulations that we experience in the workplace.
It’s also a great show to have on in the background while you scroll your phone or eat dinner, and I must have played The Office in its entirety quite a few times after leaving college, simply to have some company while I did household chores.
2 Avatar: The Last Airbender
Watch It on Netflix
Animation is often overlooked as a serious medium. However, don’t let the “kids show” label fool you, as Avatar: The Last Airbender is profoundly written, beautifully animated, and emotionally deep.
This is a story about life’s balance, friendship, and the struggle between good and evil. There’s action, humor, and plenty of heart, making it the ideal binge whenever you need an escape and inspiration.
1 The Good Place
Watch It on Netflix
The Good Place is top-tier existential humor, answering the question of what happens after we die with surprising philosophical depth and quickfire wit. Kristen Bell heads an ensemble cast as she realizes that she got into heaven by mistake.
What follows is four seasons of thoughtful and uplifting comedy that deftly sidesteps the Netflix two-season curse. It reminds us that ethics matter, growth is possible, and best friends can be found in the afterlife, with comedy veteran Ted Danson providing the perfect foil.
Next time it all feels like too much, why not grab a blanket, turn off your notifications, and let one of these shows remind you that not everything in life has to be so serious. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our mental health is to hit play and tune out life’s difficulties with some warm and meaningful entertainment and as many snacks as we see fit.