If there's one thing I love more than breathing, its a good old TV show binge.
I am a total professional at it, I work full time and actually managed all 7 seasons of my beloved Son's of Anarchy, in around 12 days (I have no kids and I have a cleaner), I was a shell of a person by the end of it, but it was so worth it!
Anyway, my reason for posting this, is that everyone has got so caught up with The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and even though the last episode aired nearly FOUR YEARS ago and it is undeniably amazing, Breaking Bad, I feel we need reminding that there are other shows out there worthy of our bingeing time.
I am a creature of habit, so even though I will find a new show to watch as soon as the last one has finished (usually - I will explain the exception below), I am always bingeing on an old favourite simulatenously - without fail. For example; I have just started The OA, but I'm still watching old Grey's Anatomy and It's Always Sunny.
I swear, I do actually leave my house sometimes.
Here is a list of 15 of my favourites in some sort of order..........
15. The Mighty Boosh
Description: British surreal comedy show starring Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt.
No of Seasons: 3
Original Run: 2004 to 2007 on BBC 3
Run Time: 30 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I'm questioning our friendship if this even needs explaining.
14. Skins
Description: British teen comedy drama starring Nicholas Hoult, Jack O'Connell and Luke Pasqualino, among soooo many other familiar faces of british comedy.
No of Seasons: 6 (I dont count the weird season 7 ones apart from maybe, Rise)
Original Run: 2007 - 2012 on E4
Run Time: 45 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I think most people only watched the first generation and were put off by the fact that it was all new characters every couple of seasons. Big mistake. Each generation were funny, heartbreaking and ground breaking, in their own unique ways. I absolutely love this show and how it pushed the limits further and further all the time, whilst still staying with the familiar formula and themes of teenagers being teenagers, that we all fell in love with. AND it gave us Jack O'Connell and Luke Pasqualino - Thank yooooou!
13. That 70's Show
Description: American family sitcom set in the 70's. Starring Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 1998 to 2006 on Fox
Run Time: 20 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I will say that the last season of this was a total bore, until the last episode when we got the resolutions we needed. They could have just made a special and not bothered to make the last season at all. Such a funny show and an easy watch at 20 mins per episode.
12. Arrested Development
Description: American sitcom centred around the Bluth family and their failing family business, starring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.
No of Seasons: 3
Original Run: 2003 to 2006 on Fox
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I'm so sad that this didnt catch on in the UK. It's full of wonderful, juvenile humour, that would be so appreciated by most pepole I know. FInd it and watch it, theres only 3 seasons! (I choose to ignore season 4's existence)
11. Friday Night Lights
Description: American drama series about a high school football team, starring Kyle Chandler, Taylor Kitsch and Zach Gilford.
No of Seasons: 5
Original Run: 2006 to 2011 on NBC
Available on: Amazon Instant Video
This was another epic binge of mine, I managed 5 seasons in just under 3 weeks. It absolutely destroyed me, like couldn't breathe through the tears, destroyed me. Its about so much more than football, everyone should watch it all, at least once.
10. Scrubs
Description: American medical comedy drama, starring Zach Braff and John C McGinley.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 2001 to 2009 on NBC
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Amazon Instant Video
This series gave us some of the greatest bromances since Joey and Chandler.
There was actually 9 seasons, if you count the last one centred around interns. I would like to deny it exists, but I cant because it gave the world the arguably better Franco. I'm lying - James will always be my favourite Franco, just for Pineapple Express alone.
9. The IT Crowd
Description: British sitcom set in the IT department of a big corporation, starring Chris O'Dowd and Richard Ayoade.
No of Seasons: 4
Original Run: 2006 to 2010 on Channel 4
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: All 4
I watch these all the time and they are still laugh out loud funny. If you think its not for you, you're porbably wrong - anyone who has a sense of humour will appreciate this crudely awkward and charming comedy.
8. Grey's Anatomy
Description: American medical drama, focusing on the lives of surgical staff in seattle, starring Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey.
No of Seasons: 13 and still going
Original Run: 2005 to present on ABC
Run Time: 45 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
This is probably one of the only shows I watched religiously, from the moment it started airing, until something unspeakable was reportedly about to happen in season 11, so I stopped 2 episodes before it happened, because I wasnt ready for the absolute tragedy!!! After a 2 year break, I finally caught up just last week, I'm OK with it now, its still one of my faves, if you ignore the blatant rip offs of scrubs story lines, but hey, How I met Your Mother did it with Friends and will still love that, so.......
7. American Horror Story
Description: American anthology horror series, starring Evan Peters, Sarah paulson and Jessica Lange.
No of Seasons: 6 and still going
Original Run: 2011 to present on FX
Run Time: 50 mins
Available on: Netflix (1-5 only)
Same actors, different setting, time period, horror themes, each season but each one is more fucked up than the next, I LOVE it. The first season, Murder House, was the simplest, but is still my favourite. The last season was god awful but 10 out of 10 for imagination and blood and guts, as usual. If you are squeamish or easily scared - don't watch it. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Its genius.
6.Entourage
Description: American comedy drama, very loosely based on the early career of Mark Wahlberg, starring Adrain Grenier and Jeremy Piven.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 2004 to 2011 on HBO
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
Its an HBO show, so immediately you know its full of sex, drugs, drinking, violence etc but this show is so very charming, you just dont even notice that stuff after a while. Its a story of 4 old friends, growing up together and facing trying times, whilst remaining feircely loyal to each other. Its a 4 way bromance that will have you lauging out loud and crying big fat tears.
5. Its Always Sunny in Philadeplphia
Description: American sitcom, set in a bar in Philadelphia and based around the antics of its owners. Starring Charlie Day and Danny Devito.
No of Seasons: 12 and still going
Original Run: 2005 to present on FX
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I love this show so much that I've dedicated an entire post to it. Scroll down and you'll find it :-)
4. Red Dwarf
Description: British Sci Fi sitcom, starring Craig Charles and Chris Barrie.
No of Seasons: 11 and still going
Original Run: 1988 to 1999, 2009, 2012 to present on BBC2 and Dave
Run Time: 30 mins
Available on: Netflix UK (1 to 8 only)
To be honest I only really like seasons 1 to 8, but thats not to say the rest aren't any good. I think this is british comedy at its finest - juvenile, sarcsatic, slapstick loveliness. The fact that its set in space should not put you off, in fact I think thats what makes it even funnier.
3. Oz
Description: American prison drama, starring JK Simmons and Dean Winters.
Original Run: 1997 to 2003 on HBO
No of Seasons: 6
Run Time: 55 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
This was such a rarity at one point that I actually paid £90 for the box set! Again, its an HBO show, so it is seven thousand shades of fucked up, but there's some real heart in the characters and you get so invested in them, the end is like a bereavement. I can only handle watching it every couple of years because the box set grief is real. This was my number one TV show of all time (barring the obvious) until I discovered my beloved SOA.
2. Sons of Anarchy
Description: American drama series, detaling the lives of the members of a motorbike gang, starring Charlie Hunnam and Katey Segal.
Original Run: 2008 to 2014 on FX
No of Seasons: 7
Run Time: 50 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I didnt even watch this show until last year and I did it all in a week and a half - I was a wreck by the time it ended. I swear I have mild PTSD from it, because if I hear the theme song or even a song that was featred in it somewhere or anyone even mentions it, I literally get a twist in my gut. I dont care if i'm being dramatic, you watch it and tell me you dont feel the same. I'm sure it will be another couple of years before I can even think about watching it again. It just THE BEST SHOW EVER!!! It took me at least couple of weeks before I could let anything else in - I just put friends re runs on and stared into space.
1. Friends (Obviously)
Description: Do I really need to explain??
Original Run: 1994 to 2004
No of Seasons: 10
Run time: 25 mins
Available on: Comedy Central ALL DAY
I dont feel like I need to justify this. Not only is it the funniest show ever made it cures a multitude of ills. Feeling sad - watch Friends. Been dumped - watch Friends. Lost your job - watch Friends. Lost a limb - watch Friends. It makes everything better.
I am a total professional at it, I work full time and actually managed all 7 seasons of my beloved Son's of Anarchy, in around 12 days (I have no kids and I have a cleaner), I was a shell of a person by the end of it, but it was so worth it!
Anyway, my reason for posting this, is that everyone has got so caught up with The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and even though the last episode aired nearly FOUR YEARS ago and it is undeniably amazing, Breaking Bad, I feel we need reminding that there are other shows out there worthy of our bingeing time.
I am a creature of habit, so even though I will find a new show to watch as soon as the last one has finished (usually - I will explain the exception below), I am always bingeing on an old favourite simulatenously - without fail. For example; I have just started The OA, but I'm still watching old Grey's Anatomy and It's Always Sunny.
I swear, I do actually leave my house sometimes.
Here is a list of 15 of my favourites in some sort of order..........
15. The Mighty Boosh
Description: British surreal comedy show starring Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt.
No of Seasons: 3
Original Run: 2004 to 2007 on BBC 3
Run Time: 30 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I'm questioning our friendship if this even needs explaining.
14. Skins
Description: British teen comedy drama starring Nicholas Hoult, Jack O'Connell and Luke Pasqualino, among soooo many other familiar faces of british comedy.
No of Seasons: 6 (I dont count the weird season 7 ones apart from maybe, Rise)
Original Run: 2007 - 2012 on E4
Run Time: 45 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I think most people only watched the first generation and were put off by the fact that it was all new characters every couple of seasons. Big mistake. Each generation were funny, heartbreaking and ground breaking, in their own unique ways. I absolutely love this show and how it pushed the limits further and further all the time, whilst still staying with the familiar formula and themes of teenagers being teenagers, that we all fell in love with. AND it gave us Jack O'Connell and Luke Pasqualino - Thank yooooou!
13. That 70's Show
Description: American family sitcom set in the 70's. Starring Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 1998 to 2006 on Fox
Run Time: 20 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I will say that the last season of this was a total bore, until the last episode when we got the resolutions we needed. They could have just made a special and not bothered to make the last season at all. Such a funny show and an easy watch at 20 mins per episode.
12. Arrested Development
Description: American sitcom centred around the Bluth family and their failing family business, starring Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.
No of Seasons: 3
Original Run: 2003 to 2006 on Fox
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I'm so sad that this didnt catch on in the UK. It's full of wonderful, juvenile humour, that would be so appreciated by most pepole I know. FInd it and watch it, theres only 3 seasons! (I choose to ignore season 4's existence)
11. Friday Night Lights
Description: American drama series about a high school football team, starring Kyle Chandler, Taylor Kitsch and Zach Gilford.
No of Seasons: 5
Original Run: 2006 to 2011 on NBC
Available on: Amazon Instant Video
This was another epic binge of mine, I managed 5 seasons in just under 3 weeks. It absolutely destroyed me, like couldn't breathe through the tears, destroyed me. Its about so much more than football, everyone should watch it all, at least once.
10. Scrubs
Description: American medical comedy drama, starring Zach Braff and John C McGinley.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 2001 to 2009 on NBC
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Amazon Instant Video
This series gave us some of the greatest bromances since Joey and Chandler.
There was actually 9 seasons, if you count the last one centred around interns. I would like to deny it exists, but I cant because it gave the world the arguably better Franco. I'm lying - James will always be my favourite Franco, just for Pineapple Express alone.
9. The IT Crowd
Description: British sitcom set in the IT department of a big corporation, starring Chris O'Dowd and Richard Ayoade.
No of Seasons: 4
Original Run: 2006 to 2010 on Channel 4
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: All 4
I watch these all the time and they are still laugh out loud funny. If you think its not for you, you're porbably wrong - anyone who has a sense of humour will appreciate this crudely awkward and charming comedy.
8. Grey's Anatomy
Description: American medical drama, focusing on the lives of surgical staff in seattle, starring Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey.
No of Seasons: 13 and still going
Original Run: 2005 to present on ABC
Run Time: 45 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
This is probably one of the only shows I watched religiously, from the moment it started airing, until something unspeakable was reportedly about to happen in season 11, so I stopped 2 episodes before it happened, because I wasnt ready for the absolute tragedy!!! After a 2 year break, I finally caught up just last week, I'm OK with it now, its still one of my faves, if you ignore the blatant rip offs of scrubs story lines, but hey, How I met Your Mother did it with Friends and will still love that, so.......
7. American Horror Story
Description: American anthology horror series, starring Evan Peters, Sarah paulson and Jessica Lange.
No of Seasons: 6 and still going
Original Run: 2011 to present on FX
Run Time: 50 mins
Available on: Netflix (1-5 only)
Same actors, different setting, time period, horror themes, each season but each one is more fucked up than the next, I LOVE it. The first season, Murder House, was the simplest, but is still my favourite. The last season was god awful but 10 out of 10 for imagination and blood and guts, as usual. If you are squeamish or easily scared - don't watch it. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Its genius.
6.Entourage
Description: American comedy drama, very loosely based on the early career of Mark Wahlberg, starring Adrain Grenier and Jeremy Piven.
No of Seasons: 8
Original Run: 2004 to 2011 on HBO
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
Its an HBO show, so immediately you know its full of sex, drugs, drinking, violence etc but this show is so very charming, you just dont even notice that stuff after a while. Its a story of 4 old friends, growing up together and facing trying times, whilst remaining feircely loyal to each other. Its a 4 way bromance that will have you lauging out loud and crying big fat tears.
5. Its Always Sunny in Philadeplphia
Description: American sitcom, set in a bar in Philadelphia and based around the antics of its owners. Starring Charlie Day and Danny Devito.
No of Seasons: 12 and still going
Original Run: 2005 to present on FX
Run Time: 25 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I love this show so much that I've dedicated an entire post to it. Scroll down and you'll find it :-)
4. Red Dwarf
Description: British Sci Fi sitcom, starring Craig Charles and Chris Barrie.
No of Seasons: 11 and still going
Original Run: 1988 to 1999, 2009, 2012 to present on BBC2 and Dave
Run Time: 30 mins
Available on: Netflix UK (1 to 8 only)
To be honest I only really like seasons 1 to 8, but thats not to say the rest aren't any good. I think this is british comedy at its finest - juvenile, sarcsatic, slapstick loveliness. The fact that its set in space should not put you off, in fact I think thats what makes it even funnier.
3. Oz
Description: American prison drama, starring JK Simmons and Dean Winters.
Original Run: 1997 to 2003 on HBO
No of Seasons: 6
Run Time: 55 mins
Available on: Sky Box Sets
This was such a rarity at one point that I actually paid £90 for the box set! Again, its an HBO show, so it is seven thousand shades of fucked up, but there's some real heart in the characters and you get so invested in them, the end is like a bereavement. I can only handle watching it every couple of years because the box set grief is real. This was my number one TV show of all time (barring the obvious) until I discovered my beloved SOA.
2. Sons of Anarchy
Description: American drama series, detaling the lives of the members of a motorbike gang, starring Charlie Hunnam and Katey Segal.
Original Run: 2008 to 2014 on FX
No of Seasons: 7
Run Time: 50 mins
Available on: Netflix UK
I didnt even watch this show until last year and I did it all in a week and a half - I was a wreck by the time it ended. I swear I have mild PTSD from it, because if I hear the theme song or even a song that was featred in it somewhere or anyone even mentions it, I literally get a twist in my gut. I dont care if i'm being dramatic, you watch it and tell me you dont feel the same. I'm sure it will be another couple of years before I can even think about watching it again. It just THE BEST SHOW EVER!!! It took me at least couple of weeks before I could let anything else in - I just put friends re runs on and stared into space.
1. Friends (Obviously)
Description: Do I really need to explain??
Original Run: 1994 to 2004
No of Seasons: 10
Run time: 25 mins
Available on: Comedy Central ALL DAY
I dont feel like I need to justify this. Not only is it the funniest show ever made it cures a multitude of ills. Feeling sad - watch Friends. Been dumped - watch Friends. Lost your job - watch Friends. Lost a limb - watch Friends. It makes everything better.