May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Wow, I have not talked about my TV show recommendations here for a while now. And since I have ADHD and have a shorter attention span than a squirrel on steroids, I have explored quite a few new programs since I posted the first part of this series (if you want to see those recommendations, check it out here). TV has received its fair share of criticism for being “brain-rotting” and detrimental to mental growth, but I think this is not a fair assessment.
Sure, watching TV shows for 18 hours a day is not healthy, but nothing in excess is beneficial. I have many wonderful memories of watching TV with my family and laughing so hard at the screen that we almost cried.
Disclaimer: these shows are not rated G, so I would not recommend plopping your seven-year-old in front of the TV and turning on these shows. Also, please know that I do not agree with everything represented in these shows; I just find them very amusing and believe they might brighten up your day or evening a little bit.
Table of Contents:
Impractical Jokers (10 seasons – ongoing)
(Image Property of TruTV)
This is the first show on this list because I was kicking myself for not including it on the first list of TV shows I made. This show is…. hard to describe. It has a very simple premise. Four lifelong friends go “undercover,” so to speak, in public places, wearing a microphone with the other guys listening and talking on the other end. The guys dare the one out on the floor to do or say really weird and embarrassing things, and if they refuse to do it, they “lose” the turn. The person with the most losses at the end of the episode has to do something truly embarrassing, like becoming a clown at a kid’s birthday party or having to participate in a humiliating musical about their life.
While this sounds very juvenile and a lot like the stuff that pranks YouTubers post, these guys are charming and funny enough to make this experience more confusing for the unknowing participants as opposed to frustrating. These guys are the original prank show and will have you likely holding your sides from laughter. I cannot recommend this show enough for people who only have around 20 minutes to watch something and if you want to avoid following a long, convoluted plot. If you are sensitive to harsh language, there is both a censored and uncensored version. This show does not have any deep, thought-provoking lessons and is, instead, just mindless fun, which we all need occasionally.
Derry Girls (3 seasons – ended)
(Image Property of NETFLIX)
I watched this show after seeing a clip on social media, and it is so much better than I could have expected. This show is a charming, coming-of-age story of a bunch of Irish teenagers in the town of Derry in the 90s. While sometimes accents are distracting and confusing in European TV shows, the accents in this show add to the humor and immersion of the overall story. The characters are complicated and fleshed-out, endearing, and real enough to make me want to spend the day with them in real life.
The show captures the beauty and wildness of childhood with its humor, drama, and awkwardness. The nostalgic portrayal of life in the 90s adds an extra layer of appeal. One of the show’s standout aspects is its ability to tackle serious issues while maintaining a light-hearted and witty tone. It skillfully navigates topics such as family dynamics, friendship, first love, and societal challenges, offering a well-rounded depiction of the characters’ lives. Additionally, the show takes place at a time and place in history that I suspect many others knew nothing about before watching the show.
Parks and Rec (7 seasons – ended)
(Image Property of NBC)
This show is a real hit-or-miss with some people, and I have a theory that as a person, you fall into one of two categories: you are either a Parks and Rec person or an Office person. I am a Parks and Rec person. Granted, season one is nothing special and even seems like an Office knock-off initially, but the show found its own identity in season two. All of the characters were scene-stealers, and each had a personality that, while exaggerated, was heartwarming and hilarious. The show also has a cheerful, hopeful tone that I felt that The Office lacked (please don’t come for me, Office fans, this is just my opinion).
So. Many. Memes have come from this show, which should tell you something about the funniness of the show’s writing. Many more platonic relationships are highlighted in the show than romantic ones. Even so, all of the relationships seem real and healthy. Parks and Rec is a more hopeful and cheerful version of the Office, with an emphasis consistently on the importance of community and helping those around you.
Raising Hope (4 seasons – ended)
(Image Property of Fox)
I kept seeing random clips of this show on TikTok and just found it brilliant. What I found from the full show is even more so. This show is my favorite example of dark humor that has not aged poorly or insults marginalized people, and it is still clever and well-written. This comedy shows that family can never be taken for granted and that while our family is sometimes the people we get stuck with, it is also the people we meet throughout life who decide to tag along. Additionally, this show demonstrates how money cannot buy everything that matters in life, and when you value what you have, you can be happy with very little.
This show is wonderful at highlighting the kinds of people that we do not often see represented positively onscreen, like teen parents, individuals with dementia, and high-school dropouts. Raising Hope shows that these people are more than what society labels them and that life does not stop when those around you brand you as a failure: it is only a small part of your bigger story.
Resident Alien (3 seasons – ongoing)
(Image Property of SyFy)
This is one of the more recent shows on this list, being released around 2021 initially. I am a big fan of Alan Tudyk, a fantastic actor who can rock any role he is given, and this one is no different. Alan shines as the star of this comedy, somehow convincing the audience that he is an alien pretending to be a human. While the show has an abundance of crass and unexpected humor, it also has plenty of tender, emotional moments that examine the good and bad traits that make humans unique from every other species (both real and fictional). The show keeps you on your toes, as the tone tends to shift very fast, very quickly, and it is impossible to anticipate what will happen next.
For a show with such a bizarre and outlandish premise, it manages to empathetically handle raw topics like domestic violence, PTSD, addiction, and grief. The actors have excellent chemistry; you can focus on a different character dynamic or relationship whenever you watch the show. Romantic relationships take a backseat in this show, with the primary love type consistently demonstrated being that of close friends and chosen family.
I hope that you enjoyed part two of this list! I might do part three, depending on how much TV I have time to watch over the summer. Feel free to comment if you have any recommendations for me or have seen any of these shows!
Please like, comment, and subscribe if you connected with my post and if you would like to see more of my crazy, exciting journey through life with Christ while experiencing mental illness. Every interaction I receive here means the world to me. Thank you, and God bless you!
Until next time!
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