TV shows to watch when you want something lighthearted
Shop my dress here; for my full review, check this post.
I won’t promise that the TV shows on this list are free of drama, or even some intense plots that will make you laugh out loud and/or cry. However, these shows (minus one) have been favorites to watch and rewatch over the years, and I hope you find them just as entertaining as I did.
While I don’t support binging of any kind, with a very hot weekend ahead, I thought that you might want to avoid the outdoors, and give your mind a break with some comedic series.
Here’s what’s on my list:
Schitt’s Creek. A modern classic if you ask me, this show is outstanding. 6 seasons of superb comedy available on Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu with Live TV.
The Outlaws. I genuinely loved this show. The 1st season felt sometimes a bit slow but became absolutely enthralling towards the end, and season 2 just kept getting better and better with each episode. I 100% recommend. Watch 3 seasons of this gem via Prime Video.
Mister Winner. If you need a good laugh, this is the show you need to watch! Belly-laughs — that’s the word I’d associate with it. Ridiculously silly, lighthearted, and oh-so-funny! Brilliant, really! Watch it on AppleTV+.
Ghosts (UK version). Simply put, I adore this show! It’s quickly become one of my all-time favorites. It’s funny, heartwarming, emotional, silly, ridiculous, and so on… My favorite character is Robin… Watch via Prime Video or even YouTube (might require a subscription). Here’s a tip on how you can watch season 4 which is technically unavailable in the US as I’m writing this.
Ghosts (US version). I wasn’t sure about it at first since the episodes basically followed the script of the UK version… A few episodes in though, the show decided to go with its own stories, and that’s when it got really good! Another all-time favorite! Available on CBS, Paramount+, and more.
Resident Alien. I adore this comedy-drama! It has it all in my opinion, and it’s so darn entertaining! Watch it via NBC.com, Netflix (season 3 not available yet), and SyFy.
Emily in Paris. I am of the opinion that TV shows don’t need to emulate reality (documentaries are for that), so I don’t pay attention to the controversies around this show. It’s pretty to look at with a fairly classic storyline as far as rom-coms go. Basically, Emily in Paris is mindless TV at its best. Watch via Netflix.
Space Force. “A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military's newest agency — Space Force — ready for lift-off”. We enjoyed this show and found it entertaining — loved the cast! Watch it via Netflix.
The Summer I Turned Pretty. Love triangles, drama, entertaining storylines, Nancy Myers-type houses, and interiors, what’s not to love? This show is the definition of “lighthearted”. Watch it via Prime Video.
Leverage. In spite of this show’s genre, it still felt lighthearted and captivating. It gets repetitive at times, but the cast chemistry and bickering are entertaining to watch. Available on Prime Video.
The Goldbergs. A funny, ridiculous show based on Adam Goldberg’s childhood and family — definitely binge-worthy and comedic. There are 10 seasons of this. We used to watch it live on TV when we had one… these days we catch up via Hulu (note that the show is now over).
Modern Family. We only watched it (via Hulu) after it ended, but we really enjoyed it. Between 11 seasons, there is plenty to keep you laughing and occupied.
The Middle. We watched it while it ran on TV and I will say that it’s one of the top shows for me — I loved it! There are 9 seasons of goodness there, so take your time! Available on Hulu with Live TV, Netflix, Peacock - limited seasons, and HBO Max - complete series.
Two Broke Girls. 6 seasons of great characters, good laughs, and all sorts of funny and awkward situations.
Mike and Molly. Another 6 seasons of funny comedy that has it all — enjoy!
Doc Martin. We watched this show after we returned from our trip to Europe and greatly enjoyed it. The good news is that we weren’t the only ones, and due to fan demands, it was decided on one last season (10th!) which was released in September 2022! Charming, lighthearted, and funny are the words to describe it, and I fully recommend it, especially if you love the English seaside.
James May: Our man in… This is a travel documentary series with comedic nuances that we enjoyed immensely. Many times, travel documentaries lose my interest after a while, though that was not the case with this show. Definitely check it out for some good laughs and of course, captivating stories. Watch via Prime Video.
Downton Abbey. I could not understand the hype while watching the first two episodes. However, soon after, this TV show simply got under my skin, and I was eager episode after episode to dive deeper into the characters’ lives. With plenty of drama and comical situations, this is sure to keep you entertained. Watch via Prime Video and Roku.
The Office. I don’t think I have to introduce this show — some might find it offensive these days, but it’s worth binge-watching either way.
The Mindy Project. Seriously, just watch it! 6 seasons, all available on Hulu.
New Girl. We used to watch it religiously until the scheduling conflicted with a drama series we’ve been loyally watching for years (The Blacklist - fully recommend). With everything else, we forgot about it, and I was recently reminded to watch from beginning to end. I think you’re going to like it, so add it to your list, if you haven’t already. 7 seasons, available on Netflix.
Desperate Housewives. This was a popular show that lasted for over a decade — I watched it years ago while it was running and rewatched it with my hubby recently. I think it’s safe to say that we both enjoyed it. Heartwarming, this show made me laugh and cry, and I recommend it to anyone who likes comedy and drama all in one. Available on Hulu.
Devious Maids. Over the top with a soap opera-like plot and acting, this is totally bingeable and captivating. It has it all: comedy, mystery, drama, love, twists, and turns, and everything else. I hope you like all 4 seasons of this as much as I did. Available on Hulu.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In all honesty, this was my least favorite out of this list. While it has many despicable scenes and topics, there are many episodes that we truly enjoyed, and couldn’t stop laughing at. Note that it contains many gross scenes as the show does not hold back on closeups and stomach-turning scenes. Recently, it was announced that “It’s always sunny in Philadelphia has been renewed through season 18, making it the longest-running live-action sitcom in TV history”. It first premiered on August 4, 2005.
Saturday Night Live (SNL). It doesn’t need any introduction. My very favorite skit is The Californians. Go down a rabbit hole and watch them all. If you have any experience with California, especially the LA area, this will be even funnier. Watch seasons 1 to 5, and 30 to current via Hulu.
Shows that I wouldn’t classify as comedy or lighthearted that I want to rewatch include The Vampire Diaries, The Originals (looooove it and I’ve seen and even met some of the cast at Comic-Con in San Diego, CA), and True Blood. Yes, there’s a theme here but it’s unintentional, really.
Are there any shows you’d like to add to this list?
For a list of drama shows, we enjoyed watching, check this post.
