In today’s stressful climate, people are doing everything they can to get a break from the real world, with TV shows providing a fantastic escape. There is no doubt that life can be very hectic and overwhelming, which is why more and more individuals are finding immense comfort in some of their most beloved and soothing programs. Being able to detach and turn on a joy-inducing show is a wonderfully relaxing gift, and there are countless examples of feel-good television series just waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re in the mood to laugh at the office hijinks of kind New York City detectives like in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, marvel at the wondrous beauty of the world with nature documentaries like Planet Earth, or be uplifted and inspired by reality shows like The Great British Bake Off, there are a plethora of programs that are sure to bring you warmth and bliss. There’s even a new kind of comedy of sorts being developed right now, a comedy of kindness in which gentle, calm humor takes precedence over the laugh-out-loud, such as in the innovative shows How To With John Wilson, Joe Pera Talks With You, and Painting With John. These calming TV shows make for instant stress relief.
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9 The Golden Girls
Buena Vista Television
The beloved ‘80s sitcom The Golden Girls follows four single, mature women who share a home together in Miami after two of the roommates answer an ad on a bulletin board. The feel-good series famously features four dynamic and unique personalities: widow and Southern belle Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), the sarcastic and fiercely protective Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), dim but kind-hearted Rose Nylund (Betty White) and Dorothy’s sassy and blunt mother Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty).
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Despite having their squabbles and disagreements, the ladies always put friendship first, and audiences can’t help but laugh along with the dazzling leads as they find themselves in hilarious misadventures and amusing situations. The Golden Girls continues attracting new passionate fans, garnering high ratings after Betty White passed, and the show has aged surprisingly well. Watch it is like visiting grandma’s house, or old friends.
8 Planet Earth
BBC One
The 2006 British television series Planet Earth consists of 11 episodes that provide a global overview of a different breathtaking habitat on Earth for each installment, capturing the wildlife of biomes like the forest, desert, polar, and plains. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver and David Attenborough, the documentary features stunning visuals of the world’s natural beauty, taking viewers on a fascinating journey to discover some of the planet’s most hidden gems barely touched by humanity.
The relaxing program was the most expensive nature documentary ever commissioned by the BBC, and went on to win four Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for its thought-provoking and wondrous content. A sequel series, titled Planet Earth II, was released 10 years later to equally rave reviews. The original remains a relaxing, beautiful program to this day.
7 Brooklyn Nine-Nine
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Chronicling the lives of a group of entertaining detectives in Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct, the award-winning police procedural comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine is jam-packed full of colorful characters, sidesplitting jokes and a feel-good camaraderie that viewers can’t get enough of. Tag along with the Die Hard-loving, savvy yet immature Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) as he interacts with his pals and fellow detectives at the department, like the tough and loyal Rosa Diaz, quirky and lovable Charles Boyle, and neurotically competitive Amy Santiago. Jake finds himself at odds with his new commanding officer Captain Raymond Holt, a stern and no-nonsense leader with a heart of gold who develops bonds with his detectives throughout the course of the series.
6 Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Featuring the exceptional talent of performers Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, and Colin Mochrie (at least in the most current iteration), the long-running television comedy Whose Line Is It Anyway? follows the comedians as they participate in different improvisational games designed to test their skills at delivering laughter on the spot.
Some recurring games include fan favorites like Scenes from a Hat, Props, Weird Newscasters and Let’s Make a Date, in addition to musical games that audiences love and some performers (like Stiles) loathe, such as the Hoedown game; the comedian’s disdain towards the challenge was a long-running gag fans thoroughly enjoyed. Initially hosted by Drew Carey during its original run in America, Whose Line Is It Anyway? was revived in 2013 with host Aisha Tyler presenting, with special guests serving as the fourth panelist.
5 Queer Eye
Netflix
A wonderful remake (or reboot) of the groundbreaking Bravo eponymous series, the 2018 Netflix reality competition show Queer Eye features a new group of Fab Five that apply their expertise in helping a person improve their overall quality of life and style, doing so with genuine care and compassion. The wholesome program utilizes the gifts of five endearing and diverse specialists: Karamo Brown, culture expert; Jonathan Van Ness, grooming expert; Tan France, fashion expert; Antoni Porowski, food and wine expert; and Bobby Berk, design expert. Queer Eye has been the recipient of numerous accolades including Primetime Emmy Awards and a GLADD Media Award, and has garnered praise for its powerful representation of the LGBTQ+ community, inclusivity and uplifting message.
4 Parks and Recreation
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
Set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana in the parks department of the community, the political satire mockumentary sitcom Park and Recreation centers on Deputy Director Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a perky and over-achieving government worker with big dreams and aspirations to make Pawnee the best it can be. She works with a slew of eccentric and lovable co-workers like her mustached, libertarian boss Ron Swanson, cynical intern April Ludgate, and underachieving yet business-savvy subordinate Tom Haverford.
Originally pitched as a spinoff of The Office, the revered comedy shares similar elements to the Steve Carell staple, such as the mockumentary approach and encouragement of amusing improv of its cast members, but ultimately set itself apart with its fresh perspective and superb and memorable characters. In Time’s 2012 year-end issue list, Parks and Recreation was ranked as the number one television program of the year.
3 The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
American Public Television
Hosted and created by adored painter and artist Bob Ross, the long-running half-hour instructional show The Joy of Painting showcases Ross as he teaches viewers techniques for landscape oil painting, soothingly guiding audiences as he attaches human emotions to the various objects he would paint. The encouraging and cheerful artist made his audience feel at ease, consistently reminding people that “We don’t make mistakes, we just have happy accidents.”
The educational program went on to win three Emmy Awards during its impressive run and inspire fans of all ages to pursue their artistic dreams; Ross would go on to become a beloved pop culture figure and ultimate source of nostalgia, and became widely known through his posthumous internet presence.
2 Friends
NBC
Widely regarded as one of the most popular television shows of all time, the juggernaut 1994 sitcom Friends follows six New York City pals as they navigate both their personal and professional lives in their 20s and 30s. The epic comedy ran for an outstanding ten seasons and helped establish the careers of its superb stars, such as Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, and was renowned for its unique and unforgettable characters and spectacular guest stars.
From the ultimate will-they-or-won’t-they couple Ross and Rachel to the dim-witted ladies man Joey Tribbiani, Friends was full of endearing and feel-good content that hooked viewers and made it one of the most lucrative and enduring shows ever created. The series finale was watched by 52.5 million viewers and continuously attracts new and passionate fans; just like the theme song suggests, the Central Perk gang will always be there for you when you need them.
1 The Great British Bake Off
BBC Studios
Watching exceptional bakers motivate and encourage one another without the negativity of drama is a refreshing feat to witness, which makes the uplifting British baking competition The Great British Bake Off one of the most wholesome and enjoyable programs available today. Each season starts out with a dozen contestants, all of whom are impeccably skilled amateur bakers, and they are tasked with creating the most stunning and delicious desserts that are presented to current judges and chefs Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.
The show has been hosted by many amusing and charming performers, with comedians Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas soothing not only the baker’s jitters but the audience at home with their funny and colorful commentary. According to producer Anna Beattie, she was inspired to create the series because: “I loved that idea of village fetes and an old-fashioned baking competition with people who only wanted to bake a good cake.” The Great British Bake Off is set to premiere its 13th season sometime this year.
