I love high-quality television as much as the next person, and we certainly live in an era where there are a lot of fantastic prestige shows to watch. From Severance to The Bear, I will always seek out that next big hit that will win every award under the sun. Sometimes, though, my brain just can not handle the heavy themes and dramatic plots that leave you feeling emotionally raw.
So, like anyone else, I turn to less demanding content when I just can not be bothered to watch that latest episode of Silo. Luckily, there are still a lot of options out there for television that can just exist and entertain without scarring you for life, or even shows that are perfect for background noise while you do something else entirely.
5
Poker Face
Watch Poker Face on Peacock
Ah, a good old murder mystery show with a fun, modern twist. Poker Face tells of the adventures of Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) as she travels across the country, solving murders. As with any quirky detective series, Cale has her own little special ability that gives her the edge: She can always tell when someone is lying. It’s not so much a mystery of who did it, but how Cale will prove it.
Think Columbo, but set in the modern era with a character you equally wouldn’t expect to be out there solving crimes, albeit for different reasons than Columbo. What really makes Poker Face work so well is Lyonne’s performance and the whip-smart writing. Sure, it’s about murder, and there are some overarching storylines, but Poker Face is fun and low-key above everything else.
4
New Girl
Watch New Girl on Hulu and Peacock
Sometimes I want to watch a show like Friends, but with a little bit more of a modern setting (and less bigotry). This is where New Girl comes into play. Starring Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day, this charming little sitcom focuses on Jessica as she moves into a new apartment with three men. What follows is seven whole seasons of relatively low-stakes viewing, fueled by a great cast that includes the likes of Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, Max Greenfield, and Damon Wayans Jr.
You won’t find anything you haven’t seen in other sitcoms here, and that’s perfectly okay. I love the unpredictability of prestige television, but sometimes I just want to turn a show on and know exactly what I’m tuning into. New Girl is that show to a tee.
3
Arrested Development
Watch Arrested Development on Netflix
No matter how many times I throw on Arrested Development, I can’t help but get lost in the dysfunctional hilarity of the Bluth family. Anchored by Jason Bateman’s performance as Michael Bluth, Arrested Development never lacks ambition throughout its five-season run. Even when that ambition doesn’t necessarily work, especially in later seasons, you can’t help but appreciate what it’s trying to do.
Plus, the ensemble central cast is truly next-to-none when it comes to comedic talent. Jessica Walter, David Cross, and Michael Cera are just a few of the main players that you will come to know throughout, and they’re worth every second. Even when the plot starts to fall apart, you’ll stick around for the ensemble cast. Arrested Development is a sitcom that you could watch forever without getting bored.
2
Burn Notice
Watch Burn Notice on Hulu
Ah, who can forget USA Network’s Blue Sky era of television? Shows that didn’t require a lot of attention, and often came with a comedic twist in the pitch. While many might point to Psych or Monk as premiere examples, for good reason, Burn Notice was that perfect show if you’re looking for something in the espionage genre, but without the violence or heavy themes.
Following former spy Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan), Burn Notice balances Weston’s search for why he was fired from his agency with case-of-the-week stories where he uses his skills to help people in Miami as a private investigator. It’s exactly the kind of low-stakes action that you think it is, and thank goodness for that. I was sad when USA Network moved away from shows like this, because in an age where every network is trying to find that next big prestige hit, they’re kind of few and far between.
1
Superstore
Watch Superstore on Hulu and Peacock
Workplace comedies can be surprisingly calming, given their setting, and Superstore is no different. Like The Office, this sitcom takes place primarily in a place of work, namely Cloud 9, a fictional store not unlike Walmart. As you can probably guess, Superstore centers on the employees of Cloud 9, though the early seasons focus mainly on Jonah Simms (Ben Feldman), who is hired in the first episode.
While it would be easy to compare it with The Office or Parks and Rec, Superstore is a show all its own, with characters that really start to grow on you as the series progresses. It also deals with some real-world events, and it’s amazing just how right it gets things. Almost scary, actually. Ultimately, however, Superstore is a relaxing watch, and something you can easily throw on after a hard day’s work. If you’re interested in watching others work, that is.
Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from prestige television
Looking at all the prestige television out there now, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all. For me, I mainly watch television to relax and feel entertained, and sometimes, you just don’t get the former when watching serious dramas all the time. So these shows really scratch that itch for me. But if you are looking for some captivating, slow-burning thriller series that scratches the prestige itch, we have some ideas for you.
