It’s that time of year again. I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about winter in general. It’s cold. It gets dark far too early. You’re probably feeling tired and sluggish all the time and starting to enter hibernation mode.
The winter months can be rough for a lot of people. From seasonal depression to missing the warmth of the sun on your skin, it can be a hard period to get through. On the bright side, there’s plenty to do inside during the winter — and for better or worse — making a nest on the couch while you catch up on some TV is often top of the list.
There’s obviously no shortage of TV series to catch up on while you’re spending more time indoors. Maybe you missedThe White Lotuswhen it originally premiered and all the current buzz has you interested in checking it out. Or maybe you’ve never watched classics likeLostorThe Sopranos, and now’s your time. All of those shows are great, but sometimes you want something a little lighter, something that will make you feel warm and comforted while the outside world is anything but. These are six great feel-good TV shows to cozy up with this winter.
Cheersis asitcom that ran from 1982 to 1993, with a total of 275 episodes over 11 seasons. The show takes place in Cheers, a bar in Boston, and follows the lives of the locals who come in and the bartenders that serve them.Cheersfeatured an ensemble cast including Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson. During its run,Cheersbecame one of the most popular series in history. It received great critical acclaim and had a massive fan base that tuned in for every episode.
Cheersis an older show, so depending on how old you are and what your taste is like, it may be a hit or miss watch for you. But there’s something so charming and inviting about watching the locals interact in the bar where “everybody knows your name.” The episodes are just under 30 minutes long, so they’re just long enough to escape for a bit, but short enough to binge pretty quickly.
5Schmigadoon!
If you like musicals,Schmigadoon!is the show for you. It’s a musical comedy series on Apple TV+ about two doctors from New York (Cecily Strong,Keegan-Michael Key) who go on a backpacking trip in an attempt to patch up their failing relationship. On their trip, the pair stumble upon the town of Schmigadoon that is trapped in a Golden Age-style musical and get stuck there until they can find true love. The Golden Age of musicals ran from the 1940s to the 1960s and saw some of the most famous works to date, including musicals likeThe Sound of Music, Oklahoma!, Show Boat, andThe King and I.
Schmigadoon!is goofy and funny and features a cast of comedy and musical powerhouses like Alan Cumming, Kristen Chenoweth, Fred Armisen, Dove Cameron, Ariana DeBose, Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. The show really feels like a love letter to the theatre and the people who find great joy in attending shows. It’s a very fun show full of enthusiasm and whimsy, and is the perfect show to put on when it’s cold and grey outside.
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4Kim’s Convenience
Sitcoms really are the besttype of show to curl up and watch during the winter.Kim’s Convenienceis another great one about a Korean Canadian family that owns a convenience store in a Toronto neighborhood. The show originally ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2021, all of which are now available to stream on Netflix.Kim’s Convenienceis a very well-written comedy. It has sharp, witty writing that doesn’t feel dry, and the laughs don’t feel forced like how some other sitcoms often feel.
Kim’s Convenienceis also a good watch because it offers a more progressive take on the typical sitcom. The show’s entire purpose isn’t to educate on Korean culture and the trials and tribulations an imigrant family may face when running a small, family business, but those themes are certainly still beneath the comedy and major plotlines. It’s heartwarming and clever and ultimately an easy watch to get you through these cold months.
3Queer Eye
Queer Eyeis a unique addition to this listbecause it’s a reality show and not a sitcom, but it’s not a reality show in the way that90 Day FianceorThe Kardashiansis.Queer Eyefollows the Fab Five — Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, and Tan France — as they spend a week with each episode’s individual “hero” of week, using their individual expertise to help them improve themselves and their satisfaction and quality of life. It’s actually a reboot of the original series of the same name from the early 2000s, featuring an all-new team.
Queer Eyeis known for its strong representation of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community and offers a level of inclusion, acceptance and education that is really hard to find on TV. Each episode is heartwarming and just makes you feel good at the end — even if it makes you cry a bit. It’s a great show to put on if you want to feel good about seeing other people feel good. It’s also a fun way to gather pointers on styling, food and drink, grooming, interior design, and how to manage your relationships with yourself and others.
Related:8 Good Movies to Watch When You’re Feeling Lonely
New Girlis a very popular, well-loved series — and for good reason, too. It follows the wacky teacher Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) as she moves into an LA loft apartment with friends Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Winston (Lamorne Morris), and their former roommate, Coach (Damon Wayans Jr.). It has comedy and drama and follows the lives of these 30-somethings as they navigate relationship issues, career choices, family and life in general.
New Girlhas a little bit of everything. There’s romance and drama and moments that can make you cry, life lessons and tons of laughs thanks to the hilarious cast of characters. There are seven seasons ofNew Girlavailable to stream on Netflix, and it’s arguably one of the easiest shows to sit and watch for an absurd amount of time. It’s easy viewing, with lovable characters and is one of the easiest shows to watch to quickly get thatwarm comforting feelingwe often look for in TV shows.
1Modern Family
Modern Familyis simply a great show. It follows three diverse families in LA, all of which are linked by patriarch Jay (Ed O’Neill). The show ran for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020, with all the characters growing up in real time on the show.Modern Familyis unique in that it takes a genuine approach to portraying the vast array of modern family set-ups, from same-sex couples to adoption and step families. It’s also presented in a mockumentary style, with the characters often sitting down to confessional interview segments where they speak directly to the camera.
It’s a very funny, unique and well-written show with a cast of lovable characters that you really get close to over the course of the series. During its run,Modern Familywon 22 Emmy Awards from 75 nominations and received substantial praise. It excels in blending drama and real life situations with perfectly timed comedy that really makes you laugh. In terms of go-to shows to keep you warm this winter,Modern Familyis definitely a must.
