So... Watcha Bingin'?
Lockdown is an absolutely perfect opportunity to do one thing:
Get creative and start on a project Watch Netflix.
My brother is being boring and watching The Office (US) (Amazon Prime Video) again, despite my many attempts to broaden his horizons.
So, below I have stated all the things I'm currently binging, along with a brief description and what they're available on for streaming (UK; other countries may vary)
Frasier (Channel 4 mornings, not available on-demand that I know of. Record/TiVo. NOT on All4)
Spinoff of Cheers. A radio psychiatrist moves in with his father and his physiotherapist.
This is an accurate description of Season 1.
Cheers (Channel 4 mornings, not available on-demand that I know of. Record/TiVo. NOT on All4)
Sitcom based in a bar in Boston. Character-led and mostly standalone episodes.
We started watching this because our TiVo box has stopped recording Frasier. If you know how to fix this, please let me know in the comments.
Futurama (Disney+)
Surreal animated comedy about a delivery crew set in the year 3000
Because it's set in the future, the writers basically have total creative freedom to do whatever they like. Nearly all standalone episodes.
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (All4)
A woman has the power to hear people's thoughts and emotions via the medium of song and dance
Perfect show to watch if you enjoy flash mobs. A wide variety of music is used. Watch the pilot at least, and TBH if you don't like that you probably won't like the show in general
Parks and Recreation (Amazon Prime Video)
Mockumentary following a Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana
This leaves Prime at the end of the week so watch it fast. Continuous story thread, so should be watched in order
Rick and Morty (Seasons 1-5 on Netflix, latter half of Season 4 on All4 (S4 eps 1-5 unaccounted for))
Surreal animated comedy about a mad scientist and his grandson.
Strong language and graphic violence throughout (in one notable episode, 35 men are brutally murdered, mostly onscreen, by a pickle)
Brooklyn-99 (Season 1-7 on Netflix, Season 8 TBC)
Sitcom following the 99th Precinct of the NYPD
Has a continuous plotline, but most episodes are fairly standalone, so can be watched in any order
Duncanville (Amazon Prime Video)
Animated comedy about a teenager and his family
Best described as a mix of The Simpsons, Scrubs, Family Guy, and Parks and Recreation. Characters you'll recognize from every other family show - the protective mother; the dad who wants to be cool; the angsty pre-teen; the outsider and the scary baby with hidden layers. This show takes it in a slightly different direction though
Harley Quinn (All4)
Animated series following the DC villain Harley Quinn after she splits from The Joker
Definitely NOT for kids. Swearing and violence throughout. Has the same visual design and animation style as Batman: The Animated Series. None of the Batman: TAS cast reprises their roles, although most are good soundalikes. Episodes mostly standalone, but best watched in order to keep a consistent narrative.
Schooled (S2 on All4)
Spinoff from The Goldbergs. Follows the teachers and students of William Penn High School in the 1990s
Although most of the characters and situations they get into are at least partially true, the main character is completely fictional. Standalone episodes.
Derry Girls (All4 (Series 1 also on Netflix))
Sitcom about a group of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the 1990s
Not for the easily offended. Swearing and making fun of Catholics and Protestants throughout. If you are not Irish, you will probably need subtitles due to strong accents, fast speaking, and local dialect. If you like The Inbetweeners, you'll probably like this
Murder in Successville (BBC iPlayer)
Improvised comedy series in which a celebrity is thrust into an immersive murder mystery
Over-the-top murder mystery comedy. The celebrity meets 3 suspects for each murder and has to work out which one is the murderer. Every character is a celebrity (played by an impersonator), but placed in another job e.g. Alan Sugar, sweet shop owner, restauranteur Bruno Tonioli
The Goes Wrong Show (S2 on BBC iPlayer)
TV show from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong
I've already written about this (twice, actually!) Basically they're performing a half-hour play but everything that can go wrong, does. Good (mostly) clean escapist fun.
Rev. (Available for purchase on Amazon Prime, but I'm watching on DVD)
Sitcom about a vicar in London
Offensive for the same reasons as Derry Girls, although focussed more on Protestants/Anglicans than Catholics. Standalone episodes and mainly character-driven
Raised by Wolves (Amazon Prime Video, All4)
Sitcom about a family being raised in Wolverhampton
I'm not selling it very well, but I promise it's better than I've made out. Written by Caitlin and Caroline Moran, it is loosely based on their childhood but has been updated to be set in modern-day Wolverhampton (get it?)
Scrubs (All4)
Surreal hospital comedy
Car Share/Peter Kay's Car Share (BBC iPlayer)
Sitcom based on two supermarket workers who share a car journey to work.
Half of each episode is dedicated to the commute in, then half to the commute out. Sometimes there are some minor hijinks actually at the supermarket car park as well.
New Girl (Amazon Prime Video/Netflix)
Sitcom about a woman who lives with 3 guys in an apartment. If you liked Friends, you'll like this.
Every episode contains at least one flashback, most of which are hilarious just for the different character's looks (e.g. beard experimentation, 80's hair etc.) One of the few sitcoms which can actually make me laugh out loud (the acronym has become redundant), even when alone. Episodes mostly standalone, but best watched in order to keep a consistent narrative.
Friday Night Dinner (Season 1-5 on Netflix, Season 6 on All4)
Sitcom about a Jewish family trying (and usually failing) to eat the titular meal.
Better than I make it sound. Most of the comedy comes from things happening to them. Lots of running jokes, which I won't ruin here, except to say that they all have very funny nicknames.
My brother is being boring and watching The Office (US) (Amazon Prime Video) again, despite my many attempts to broaden his horizons.
So, below I have stated all the things I'm currently binging, along with a brief description and what they're available on for streaming (UK; other countries may vary)
Frasier (Channel 4 mornings, not available on-demand that I know of. Record/TiVo. NOT on All4)
Spinoff of Cheers. A radio psychiatrist moves in with his father and his physiotherapist.
This is an accurate description of Season 1.
Cheers (Channel 4 mornings, not available on-demand that I know of. Record/TiVo. NOT on All4)
Sitcom based in a bar in Boston. Character-led and mostly standalone episodes.
We started watching this because our TiVo box has stopped recording Frasier. If you know how to fix this, please let me know in the comments.
Futurama (Disney+)
Surreal animated comedy about a delivery crew set in the year 3000
Because it's set in the future, the writers basically have total creative freedom to do whatever they like. Nearly all standalone episodes.
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (
A woman has the power to hear people's thoughts and emotions via the medium of song and dance
Perfect show to watch if you enjoy flash mobs. A wide variety of music is used. Watch the pilot at least, and TBH if you don't like that you probably won't like the show in general
Parks and Recreation (Amazon Prime Video)
Mockumentary following a Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana
This leaves Prime at the end of the week so watch it fast. Continuous story thread, so should be watched in order
Rick and Morty (Seasons 1-5 on Netflix, latter half of Season 4 on All4 (S4 eps 1-5 unaccounted for))
Surreal animated comedy about a mad scientist and his grandson.
Strong language and graphic violence throughout (in one notable episode, 35 men are brutally murdered, mostly onscreen, by a pickle)
Brooklyn-99 (Season 1-7 on Netflix, Season 8 TBC)
Sitcom following the 99th Precinct of the NYPD
Has a continuous plotline, but most episodes are fairly standalone, so can be watched in any order
Duncanville (Amazon Prime Video)
Animated comedy about a teenager and his family
Best described as a mix of The Simpsons, Scrubs, Family Guy, and Parks and Recreation. Characters you'll recognize from every other family show - the protective mother; the dad who wants to be cool; the angsty pre-teen; the outsider and the scary baby with hidden layers. This show takes it in a slightly different direction though
Harley Quinn (All4)
Animated series following the DC villain Harley Quinn after she splits from The Joker
Definitely NOT for kids. Swearing and violence throughout. Has the same visual design and animation style as Batman: The Animated Series. None of the Batman: TAS cast reprises their roles, although most are good soundalikes. Episodes mostly standalone, but best watched in order to keep a consistent narrative.
Schooled (S2 on All4)
Spinoff from The Goldbergs. Follows the teachers and students of William Penn High School in the 1990s
Although most of the characters and situations they get into are at least partially true, the main character is completely fictional. Standalone episodes.
Derry Girls (All4 (Series 1 also on Netflix))
Sitcom about a group of 16-year-olds in Northern Ireland during The Troubles in the 1990s
Not for the easily offended. Swearing and making fun of Catholics and Protestants throughout. If you are not Irish, you will probably need subtitles due to strong accents, fast speaking, and local dialect. If you like The Inbetweeners, you'll probably like this
Murder in Successville (BBC iPlayer)
Improvised comedy series in which a celebrity is thrust into an immersive murder mystery
Over-the-top murder mystery comedy. The celebrity meets 3 suspects for each murder and has to work out which one is the murderer. Every character is a celebrity (played by an impersonator), but placed in another job e.g. Alan Sugar, sweet shop owner, restauranteur Bruno Tonioli
The Goes Wrong Show (S2 on BBC iPlayer)
TV show from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong
I've already written about this (twice, actually!) Basically they're performing a half-hour play but everything that can go wrong, does. Good (mostly) clean escapist fun.
Rev. (Available for purchase on Amazon Prime, but I'm watching on DVD)
Sitcom about a vicar in London
Offensive for the same reasons as Derry Girls, although focussed more on Protestants/Anglicans than Catholics. Standalone episodes and mainly character-driven
Raised by Wolves (Amazon Prime Video, All4)
Sitcom about a family being raised in Wolverhampton
I'm not selling it very well, but I promise it's better than I've made out. Written by Caitlin and Caroline Moran, it is loosely based on their childhood but has been updated to be set in modern-day Wolverhampton (get it?)
Scrubs (All4)
Surreal hospital comedy
Car Share/Peter Kay's Car Share (BBC iPlayer)
Sitcom based on two supermarket workers who share a car journey to work.
Half of each episode is dedicated to the commute in, then half to the commute out. Sometimes there are some minor hijinks actually at the supermarket car park as well.
New Girl (Amazon Prime Video/Netflix)
Sitcom about a woman who lives with 3 guys in an apartment. If you liked Friends, you'll like this.
Every episode contains at least one flashback, most of which are hilarious just for the different character's looks (e.g. beard experimentation, 80's hair etc.) One of the few sitcoms which can actually make me laugh out loud (the acronym has become redundant), even when alone. Episodes mostly standalone, but best watched in order to keep a consistent narrative.
Friday Night Dinner (Season 1-5 on Netflix, Season 6 on All4)
Sitcom about a Jewish family trying (and usually failing) to eat the titular meal.
Better than I make it sound. Most of the comedy comes from things happening to them. Lots of running jokes, which I won't ruin here, except to say that they all have very funny nicknames.
Community (Netflix)
Sitcom about students at a community college.
I've written about it in more detail on another page, but in a nutshell: Skip season one and go for the high-concept episodes. One of my favourite episodes involves the main characters going on a KFC-themed space simulator.
Arrested Development (Netflix)
Sitcom about a man trying to run a real estate business while his dad is in prison.
This show uses something called 'Rube Goldberg Comedy'. This guy explains it better than I ever could
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