20 Shows to Watch When You Really Need Your Best Friend But All You Have is TV
When I was in high school I had a teacher that asked us the question “Why do we read?” His answer, “We read so that we can feel like we are not alone.” That answer resonated with me because it's true. We do a lot of things so that we feel like we aren’t alone, one of which is watch TV. I had several idea for what to title this post, but all of them had a common theme. The theme was the need of support or comfort. Best friends offer love and support and make you feel comfortable. While TV cannot do everything a best friend can, it’ll work in a pinch (especially if your best friend lives in another state). That being said, I have compiled a list of 20 (scripted) TV shows to watch when you’re in this pinch of needing your/a best friend. I have included where each show can be streamed as well as the circumstances in which you would find yourself needing to watch these shows.
** I would be lying if I didn’t note that Jane’s article, Fun Things To Do When You Just Can’t, from episode 2x09 of The Bold Type kind of inspired me to make this list.
Alone Together (Hulu) - for when you feel like a garbage person and want to feel better about yourself by seeing other people be kind of trash
Bob’s Burgers (Hulu) - for when you need your faith restored in family, but you also want a laugh and a cartoon
The Bold Type [season 1] (Hulu, Freeform) - for when you need a warm hug, *cough* need a new obsession *cough*, need to believe that there is hope in the world, or need to see what Jan from The Office has been up to
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Hulu) - for when you need a laugh that’ll make you do a spit take while brushing your teeth
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Netflix) - for when you need to experience some second hand embarrassment to make yourself feel better about your own personal embarrassment and for when you want to develop the need to scream “WEST COVINA” at any given moment
Gilmore Girls (Netflix) - for when you need the comfort of knowing everything can be resolved in about 45 minutes
The Good Place (Netflix) - for when you’re having an existential crisis and need to talk about ethics but in a fun way and when you just want to see Kristen Bell and Ted Danson do things
Gossip Girl (Netflix) - for when you need to see a bunch of teenagers that have too much money do unrelatable rich people things
Grace and Frankie (Netflix) - for when you just need to see Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin
Life in Pieces (Hulu) - for when your family has been getting under your skin and you need to see a big family have fun and work through all their problems
Living Single (Hulu) - for when you need some 90’s nostalgia and good laughs
Love (Netflix) - for when you feel like a complete and utter mess and just need to see someone in worse shape than you trying to make life work
Marlon (Netflix) - for when you need a laugh and want to watch Marlon Wayans be Marlon Wayans
New Girl (Netflix) - for when you need a laugh that’ll make you crack your face mask while in the tub
The Office (Netflix) - for when you’re too overwhelmed to process new information and need a low stakes laugh
Parks and Recreation (Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video) - for when you need an easy breezy laugh and love the trope of everyone hating one person for no solid reason
Riverdale (Netflix) - for when you need an escape into ridiculousness, drama, and mystery and also if you need to judge some youths for having way too much freedom
Superstore (Hulu) - for when you need a laugh and want to see America Ferrera work in a fake Walmart
Younger (Hulu) - for when you need to see Sutton Foster pretend to be in her 20’s and also need to know what Hillary Duff is up to
Wynonna Earp (Netflix) - for when you need to see some sisters overcome obstacles and demons (figuratively and literally)
Honorable Mention
One Day at a Time (Netflix) - for when you need to see a family (and a property manager) love and support each other unconditionally WARNING: you will most likely cry at some point
Worst Cooks in America [reality] (Hulu, Food Network) - for when you need just need to see some people struggle and eventually grow from the struggle
–T
