Fallback shows?
May 7, 2018 7:53 PM - Subscribe
What shows, in our age of universal infinite access, do you rerun as comfort viewing when the hunt for novelty wears thin? Personally, I run TNG, the Jeremy Brett Holmes, Poirot, and the Fry and Laurie Jeeves and Wooster - all, not incedentally, prestige series from the late eighties and nineties (although Poirot really hits its stride much later).
The Good Place, Steven Universe, Bob's Burgers, and Futurama.
I have a less than average ability to parse spoken words, especially with TV shows and movies where they often mumble and expect you to understand. Or heavy accents. I find that animation has some of the clearest speech, because they can't rely on lip-reading, so I frequently put on animated shows in the background while I do stuff, because I don't have to look at the captions (I always watch stuff with captions on ) and just hear it. And I can put on The Good Place because I basically know every line.
posted by numaner at 9:35 AM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have a less than average ability to parse spoken words, especially with TV shows and movies where they often mumble and expect you to understand. Or heavy accents. I find that animation has some of the clearest speech, because they can't rely on lip-reading, so I frequently put on animated shows in the background while I do stuff, because I don't have to look at the captions (I always watch stuff with captions on ) and just hear it. And I can put on The Good Place because I basically know every line.
posted by numaner at 9:35 AM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mythbusters and How it's Made are my top picks for comfort viewing, especially situations where I don't really want to watch TV but I want something on the TV. Star Trek TNG was one of my go-to series for a long time, but a few years back I did a focused rewatch and haven't felt the need as much since.
For my wife, it's the first Harry Potter movie, no question. She'd watch it over and over on a loop forever if she had to.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 12:11 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
For my wife, it's the first Harry Potter movie, no question. She'd watch it over and over on a loop forever if she had to.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 12:11 PM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Buffy, The Venture Brothers, Parks and Rec, old Simpsons.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:58 AM on May 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:58 AM on May 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
The West Wing, Veronica Mars, Project Runway, Longmire.
posted by odd ghost at 4:37 AM on May 10, 2018
posted by odd ghost at 4:37 AM on May 10, 2018
Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cougar Town, Roswell. Bunheads might make the list if it ever comes out on DVD and thus becomes easy to rewatch. Alias, Fringe, and Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles are also shows that I enjoy periodic runs through (in order, though, not just a favorite episode here and there, like the others).
posted by Margalo Epps at 7:09 AM on May 14, 2018
posted by Margalo Epps at 7:09 AM on May 14, 2018
30 Rock.
posted by transient at 7:29 AM on May 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by transient at 7:29 AM on May 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
I rewatch a lot of stuff over and over. The main ones are You're the Worst, Bob's Burgers, Parks and Recreation, Game of Thrones, Reno 911!, The Sarah Silverman Program, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, 30 Rock, The Good Life, and Pushing Daisies. I save Jeeves and Wooster for when I'm sick. Call the Midwife is for when I need a good cry.
posted by elsietheeel at 7:57 AM on May 16, 2018
posted by elsietheeel at 7:57 AM on May 16, 2018
Plucking mostly from 'older' series, viz. not airing within the past 5 years or so:
A Bit of Fry and Laurie
The Thick of It
Alias
ST: DS9
Deadwood
Fringe
The Wire
Næturvaktin
Early (up to maybe S9) Simpsons
(original, 1990) House of Cards
(original, Gervais) The Office
More recent, ended series:
Hannibal
The Eva Green Show Starring Eva Green (a.k.a. Penny Dreadful)
(S1) True Detective
QI: Quite Interesting (ongoing)
Most will be favourite/selected episodes, or arcs; I don't often go in for a full-series rewatch. Exceptions for shorter offerings like TD or House of Cards, or a selected season of The Wire. I'll often run an episode of QI in the background whilst doing chores or other mundane tasks as it requires less visual attention.
posted by myotahapea at 10:54 AM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
A Bit of Fry and Laurie
The Thick of It
Alias
ST: DS9
Deadwood
Fringe
The Wire
Næturvaktin
Early (up to maybe S9) Simpsons
(original, 1990) House of Cards
(original, Gervais) The Office
More recent, ended series:
Hannibal
The Eva Green Show Starring Eva Green (a.k.a. Penny Dreadful)
(S1) True Detective
QI: Quite Interesting (ongoing)
Most will be favourite/selected episodes, or arcs; I don't often go in for a full-series rewatch. Exceptions for shorter offerings like TD or House of Cards, or a selected season of The Wire. I'll often run an episode of QI in the background whilst doing chores or other mundane tasks as it requires less visual attention.
posted by myotahapea at 10:54 AM on May 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Buffy, The X-Files, and Deep Space Nine from my childhood; more recently Hannibal; and more recently than that, The Good Place.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:40 PM on May 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:40 PM on May 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by roolya_boolya at 1:19 AM on May 8, 2018 [1 favorite]