11 Great Reader Comments on TV
Has anyone seen this show Heated Rivalry? I’M KIDDING. It’s peak season for indoor activities, like TV binging and movie nights (and ice hockey, and…other things). Since we love chatting about favorite shows, old and new, we thought we’d share a few fun reader comments on TV…
On family-friendly viewing:
“Our whole household loves Family Feud with Steve Harvey. We don’t have cable at home, so whenever we go on a trip, we’re all like, ‘WE CAN WATCH FAMILY FEUD!!!’ Last year, we visited my husband’s family, and they are not Family Feud people — or so they thought. We turned it on one night, and sloooowly, like moths to a flame, everyone in the house came over one by one until we were all piled out the couch together, literally crying with laughter.” — Susannah
“Growing up, whenever my dad worked late, my mum would make my sister and me a ‘telly tea,’ and we’d get to stay up and watch shows. The telly tea always had the same four components: crisps, a few pieces of chocolate, half a banana, and Jelly Tots gummy candy. I always ate each bit in a particular order. It was such an important ritual that my mum told my husband about it just before we got married, so he could make me telly tea now and again.” — Mags
“I watch I Love Lucy every morning as I’m getting ready. I grew up watching it, and everyone in my family has seen each episode one million times. We now live far apart, but if it’s on when we’re together, we’ll stop what we’re doing and watch it. It’s a comforting family tradition. Watching it alone in the mornings feels like a way to bring them into my daily routine, even when they’re not there.” — Jessica
On relating to characters:
“My boyfriend and I watched Friends during the pandemic, and he said that Monica helped him better understand me. I must admit, she helps me understand myself, too. There’s an expectation that women should be apologetic about their goals, or for being ‘high maintenance,’ but I love that Monica is unapologetically fully herself.” — Shanti
“My family and friends always compare me to the ‘old man’ characters on TV shows. In particular, the dad from Frasier; Nick from New Girl; and Gene from Bob’s Burgers. I also once took a psychometric quiz that matches you with fictional characters, and my top three were Gandalf, Dumbledore, and the old man from Jurassic Park. I am a young, brown woman but I’m clearly giving off old-white-man energy!” — Amanda
“A gorgeous, confusing thing is that I was attracted to many male characters as a youth (Newsies, and also Josh Hartnett in Pearl Harbor) but also knew from an early age that I was a lesbian. I didn’t know HOW I knew, just that I was and that, even still, I liked Josh Hartnett. Decades later I recognized I was attracted to masculinity not men, and now I have a hot wife who actually looks quite a lot like Josh Hartnett in his Pearl Harbor era.” — Sarah
“I’m Gomez from The Addams Family — whimsical, looks cute in a stripe, and ardently devoted to his wife. I could probably even grow a mustache like his if I didn’t Sally-Hansen mine away every three weeks.” — Chiara
On feel-good shows:
“I re-watched Arrested Development when I was going through postpartum depression/anxiety. I re-watched it again when my mother died. When I’m in a particularly dark place, I find the familiarity of the show helps me cope. Plus, even if I cry through a big portion, I’ll still know the plot; and its ridiculousness helps me to not take life too seriously.” — Kat
“Our Flag Means Death is the queer pirate rom-com I didn’t know I needed. If a delightful show about Blackbeard falling in love with another pirate can make it to mainstream TV, the world is — at least in one way — moving in a better direction.” — Stacey
“Cooking shows are my go-to. It’s so comforting to watch someone talk about crust and whisking. There’s enough drama in real life, so I like TV shows that have none at all.” — LL
On guilty secret pleasures:
“I’ve swapped ‘guilty pleasure’ for ‘secret pleasure’ and it’s done me a world of good. Not every person in the world will get us! And let’s revel in that moment when a dinner party compatriot whispers, ‘Ohmigod, I’ve just finished watching that, too; what are your THOUGHTS?’” — Katharine
This SNL skit from this past weekend made us laugh
Do you have any TV rituals or favorite shows you’d like to share?
P.S. Eric Kim shares what 9 movies and shows with gay characters meant to him, and what are your ‘bunny rabbit shows’?
(Photo from Heated Rivalry. Obviously.)
Tags: reader comments, tv
Comments
172 commentsHas anyone else been watching The Beauty with Ashton Kutcher? It’s very graphic so not for everyone. BUT, as someone who has been struggling with my body post three babies in rapid succession I am finding the show really fascinating. With GLP1 medications readily available it seems like such an easy solution to feeling more like myself again. But there is a huge part of me that totally rejects the idea that I need to look a certain way to feel like “myself”. I think the whole topic is so complicated and I’m so curious if anyone else is watching and mulling these things over!
I grew up watching Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) on Mystery on PBS w/ my Mother & very fond memories. 6 years ago right before lockdown my son got chicken pox kind of late at age 10. Netflix was then streaming The Office & it was the one show we could agree upon. He was so miserable that some nights were up at 1/2am watching it to keep his mind off how itchy he felt. And the best funniest comfort show I’ve watched in a while is How to Die Alone – Natasha Rothwell’s show. Hulu stupidly canceled it after only 1 season. So much crap gets made and this comedy romance was pretty much perfect.
Dang, Sarah – you did GOOD.
My best friend lives on the incorrect coast (by which I mean the one I don’t live on 😭), but we have a decades-old, sacred practice of getting a little 🐉💨🔥🎉 and heckling Star Trek. Either TNG or Voyager. You can’t heckle anything properly without loving it deeply, and we love those hopeful space goobers SO MUCH
Urgent public service announcement for anybody who was a fan of Scrubs back in the day – the new revival is actually good!?! What a completely unexpected delight.
Yes! Just watched the first two episodes last night and laughed out loud so many times. What an unexpected delight indeed!
Wow I feel so seen about the Josh Harrnett piece! I literally watched that movie a million times and looovvveeed him. Still do.
Yay, I’m glad to see there are Heated Rivalry loons here! I read the book series a couple years ago and was pretty skeptical when I heard it was going to be a tv show, but they knocked it out of the park. It got me through the holidays and all of the memes, edits, and Hudson and Connor content has been giving me such joy during these dark times. Can’t wait for season two!
Yes! This show is the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve been watching an English PHD discuss the subtext and other beautiful subtle moments in the show and it’s bringing out new things to think about. This show is a rich text. Please discuss it here!
There’s one million things to say about Heated Rivalry but a thing I just realized today that I love about the show – there are 4 main characters who fall in love and NONE OF THEM GET MAKEOVERS!! Not one glasses to contacts. Not one frizzy hair change. Not one of them needs to improve their look to be worthy of love!
I was cleaning up my browser tabs and YouTube had a sidebar recommendation for Bob Ross. “What’s that, mom? Can we watch it?” my tween son asked. I had so much work to do, but I said “sure.” My moody child who hates everything right now sat mesmerized and I watched his inner angst over peers, divorcing parents, irritating brothers, and the pressures of life in this world float away on the river being painted in front of him. We’ll be watching for happy accidents from now on.
Yes! Bob Ross is the calm down before bed show for my often grumpy 11yo. So soothing.
I can’t break up with my boyfriend who is my best friend, right? He watched the chillingly stupid Discovery of Witches with me and made it fun. All of the coziness in my life is coming from him. If only he was more supportive of my career….
Good luck, Jenny! If it’s any consolation, I’m thinking of a couple beautiful humans I knew that used to date each other for many years. I was so sad when they announced their split – besties can’t break up, right?? Turns out, they can take a little break and return as a beautiful platonic pair. I won’t gloss over the difficulty of that transition period, but I hope you can still have your television marathons with him one way or another.
BUFFY! I was a late adopter, being too young to watch when it first came out. My older cousin lent me the box set DVDs when I was in high school and let me tell you… I stayed up until 4am more than I would like to admit. As an adult, I just finished watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – after some reluctance – with my husband and it blew me away. The casting is incredible (Peter Claffey – new TV crush) and it was SO well done.
I’m also a late Buffy adopter…very late! I was also too young to watch it when it first came out (plus I grew up in a weird family culture where we didn’t watch much mainstream television – Buffy would definitely have been out) but I was always curious about it. My husband and I watched it during the pandemic and I’ve rewatched it multiple times since. I also got a couple of my close friends into it for the first time. An incredibly thoughtful friend suggested she host a buffy watch party for my birthday and I could curate a list of top 5 episodes to watch …definitely one of the silliest, most fun nights I’ve had in my 30s!
Which 5 episodes, Kamina???
Re-watching Gavin and Stacey is always a good pick me up
The majority of live action stuff I still watch consists of mangatubers I like: Colleen’s Manga Recs, The Omnibus Collector, Christy Lou, Laura A. Grace, and Seji/The Artisan Geek. However, what I truly watch every day is anime. While I have a hype allergy, 2026 has been argued by some to be a Shoujo Renaissance. So, I gotta watch. Most amazingly, one of the strongest anime to be currently airing is a josei, Journal With Witch! YEARS can go by without any offerings for josei for international viewers. Manga (the source for many anime) is published in magazines with demographic designations: shonen (boys), shoujo (girls), kodomo (small children), josei (women), and seinen (men). So, I’m watching Tamon’s B-Side (hilarious and the dancing is great),The Casebook of Arne (I now want a red tracksuit with bat insignia because I too appreciate pretty vampire men.), In the Clear Moonlit Dusk (the manga’s art is better, but Yoi-chan is cute and the voice actor for her hot dad is Kenjirou Tsuda!!!), Champignon Witch (the anime REALLY doesn’t do justice to the mangaka’s art, but the story is compelling and the music outstanding), and Dark Moon (a trope-laden cheese fest). I still need to finish A Star Brighter Than the Sun and resume Anne Shirley. I’m saving Journal With Witch for when I’ve caught up on sleep and can give it the proper attention it deserves. My comfort watch is Aria: it’s like going on the vacation to Venice that I’ll never be able to afford. While I’m an original Devil May Cry loyalist, I’m watching the Netflix remake with my husband: it’s fun. Series I’m looking forward to: Yona of the Dawn is getting a SECOND SEASON, Beyond Twilight is getting a short-form anime, and Red River is getting an anime!
When my 38!year old son comes home to visit we watch his favorite anime shows together. I’m incredibly grateful for his sweet nature and willingness to share what he loves with me. I’ll show him your list and see if he might take some of these suggestions. Thank you for sharing!
Aww, that’s so nice. As for as joint viewing goes, let me suggest two others as well. If you have Netflix, please give Carole & Tuesday a try, at least through episode five. It’s by the creator of Cowboy Bebop and the music is amazing. Most people love “The Loneliest Girl”, but my favorite is “Someday I’ll Find My Way Home”. The other two you can find on Youtube, Milky Subway and the fansub for the anime film Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom. Milky Subway’s entire series lasts 45 minutes. I own the Japanese Blu Ray for the film, own the manga, and managed to get a signed print by the mangaka shipped before tariffs went into effect. Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom is about an overlooked princess and a civil engineer. I had no idea civil engineering was romantic: IT IS. It’s also a rare josei anime film. Oh, don’t tell your son I’m watching the Netflix reinterpretation of Devil May Cry: he may be a purist and be deeply offended that I’m watching the Netflix series and question my judgment with the other series. (I’m that way about Dirty Pair: I wouldn’t touch Dirty Pair Flash. Ever.)
In my response to you, I said that I was sharing two reccs when I was actually sharing three. Sorry for the confusion.
Sorry for all the typos. On a minor note, I own the Blu Ray and merch for Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom, not Milky Subway. I’m a huge Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom fan. In addition to its great story, it’s a rare case of a plus sized heroine being featured in an anime film.
Appreciate the detailed list, wow! Thanks
Animal Patrol. Simple and funny!
We watch Young Sheldon on repeat in our house and it’s basically a soundtrack to our evenings. The whole show is basically a love letter to George Senior and I love the layeredness of each character. Schitt’s Creek is also special to us because my mum loved it and we played the final episode next to her while she was in her final hours. She wasn’t conscious but we thought it was important she got to experience the end of the show – I mean how annoying for her just to miss it! Another Schoenberg that my daughter and I got into us So Help Me Todd. It’s so lame and fantastic but it got cancelled half way through a season! You could tell it was going down hill as all the actors began disappearing and the sets more minimal. Bring it back tv people! My fave is also Only Murders in The Building. The best. Oh tv, I love you.
So Help Me Todd’s 10 episode second season were spectacular. Fauxbituary, Dial Margaret for Murder, The Tooth is out there, is some of the best Television ever. Not sure why you both like it, but then diss it. The frenetic pass of episode 10 of the second season, The Tooth is out there, is about as opposite from cutting expenses as one can get.
I introduced my daughter to The Good Place two years ago and by coincidence we went on our spring break while we were in the middle of it so we watched it on the plane and in our hotel room–it was great, we’d come back from the beach or an adventure, watch and episode or two while we rested and then go out in the evening. So now she’s decided that’s our “travel show” and whenever we travel, that’s the show we watch when we want to unwind after our day’s adventures. It’s really become a lovely connecting show for us–equal parts hysterically funny, and touching/thought-provoking. It’s comforting and silly and reminds us of the goodness in people and I hope this is the show that when she rewatches it as an adult out on her own, it will remind her of me!
Heart eyes for a ‘travel show’ in general but major heart eyes for this incredibly sweet example
We got to meet Sean Gunn at a comic con, who my son (11) knows from Guardians of the Galaxy. On a whim I decided to show him a couple of episodes of Gilmore Girls after the meet and greet. Considering he normally hides behind the sofa if people kiss on the screen and that he loves fantasy and super heroes, I didn’t think he would like it. Turns out he is fascinated by Rory’s teenage life and Stars Hollow quirks, and loves Lane, who plays the drums like he does. We are currently on season 3 and it’s become our sweet tradition, cuddling on the sofa and drinking banana milkshakes while watching Gilmore Girls.
Here in the UK…Detectorists (funny, gentle, always summer), Sherlock (fast, complex, also funny), and recently, after a long and tricky winter, Worzel Gummidge – by same person who wrote Detectorists. Full of love and sunshine. Nigella Lawson, any of the series. And Foyle’s War. Yes, it is 1939-46, no it is not rip-roaringly violent and everyone keeps their clothes on. In short, it makes a nice change. Put the kettle on, love.
Love the Detectorists!
As mentioned in my comment elsewhere, I LOVE a show where everyone keeps their clothes on and I’m not even English. Loved Foyle’s War, an actress named Honeysuckle Weeks? Heavenly. Plus her accent is ridiculously lockjaw. I’m a sucker for accents, deeply enjoying Donal Finn’s Irish one in The Young Sherlock even though I’m meh about the series. He’s great though.
ER! Forever and always. My friends and I would go to the drug store and buy VHS tapes, watch and tape it on every Friday (Europe) and then rewatch the VHS tapes forever. I kept watching ER all through university and beyond. Cried over Mark Greene. Rewatched episodes whenever I got the chance. Made mix CD’s with music from the episodes. Once even called the network that I was angry with them for quitting the show all of a sudden. I grab every chance to say ‘that person was on ER once!’ whenever I can. Now that it’s on Netflix, I’m rewatching the episodes again. I find it interesting how I pick up different ‘lessons’ from the show, now that I’m in my 40s. ER made me want to be a doctor. A (bad) teacher told me I could never do that, as Physics wasn’t my strong suit as a 13-year old. Now that I’m rewatching the show, I wish I had proven him wrong. Makes me even more passionate to tell my middle school students that they can do anything they want and that I believe in them no matter what. I am so glad this gem of a show is now on Netflix here. And so good to see Noah Wyle in The Pitt now. It’ll never reach ER status for me as it doesn’t come with all the adolescent nostalgia, but it still feels very familiar to see him running an ER..
My friend was telling me about her friend (maybe it was her sister? Anyway) who lived in South Africa as a young woman when ER was originally airing, and would go home to the US every summer. Her mom taped every episode of ER from the TV for her while she was away. She would come home to huge boxes of VHS tapes and spend her vacation on the couch with her mom, the two of them binge-watching ER together. Have you ever heard anything more wholesome and comforting?
My mom also recorded it for us! She had a system for her tapes – one for each day of the week, maybe? So she’d eventually record over. BUT I remember how she very deliberately kept one episode as part of our Christmas collection. I think called The Gift? About a heart transplant? I remember her recounting it to us over dinner and just getting emotional about how wonderful it was. Thanks for the VHS tape memory.
We re-watched Cheers during the height of the pandemic and there’s something about that show that just fills me with comfort, joy and nostalgia. It may be I’m from the Boston area that explains why it strikes such a chord. I love the banter between Sam and Diane, it’s just fun and saucy! We tried to re-watch Miami Vice and it didn’t hold up as well. :)
Comfort shows- Community, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation (first 4 seasons), Buffy, Veronica Mars, Homicide Life on the Street, My Life is Murder, and The Brokenwood Mysteries.
My best friend and I were cackling just last night about one high school summer where we decided, very seriously, that we were going to commit to “our” soap opera, like all great and bored suburban women before us. We would go to our respective jobs (me – the 4-year old room at a preschool, her – Media Play to hawk CDs and TAPES! RIP!) and in the afternoons we would race to her house to watch Passions and eat the good snacks, which her mom joyfully supplied and my mom (also joyfully, I’m pretty sure?!) denied. I’d do anything to port back to the simplicity of watching Passions while eating an ice-cream sandwich with my bestie, thinking only of what we were going to do next, which was probably raid her mom’s magazine stash for Leonardo DiCaprio pictures we could collage while listening to Third Eye Blind. What a glorious time to be alive.
I love everything about this 😍
I had a summer like this when I was 11 or 12. 1970. My friends and I ( friends since 3y.o and still today 64 years later.) Anyway 5 of us would meet at the one house and start the day’s TV lineup. We started with Family Affair at 11AM and then move on to The Young and The Restless, Days of Our Lives and Another World Then we’d go out and ride our bikes. Unless we were busy having a water battle with the boys next door which one time involved an actual garden hose making it inside the house. All of our parents worked obviously. Ha. No one was home. Oh I love those girls and those times. Seems like yesterday,people. Watch out. “Time’s a jet plane.”
There really was nothing like 90s teenagerhood, was there?
Oh my god, Passions was my jam. It was so absurdly stupid and I loved it so much.
This comment and thread of responses is so beautiful ❤️❤️
This is 100. The best!!
Breeders is a great British tv show.
Ohhh yes it’s hilarious. we watched seasons 1 and 2 with my partner and it was so funny. I don’t know why we have not seen season 3… thanks for the remonter!!
My tv watching joys come from friendly competition and low stakes betting. My husband and I will start an episode of chopped and draft after the intros, winner doesn’t have to do the sink full of dishes. Our whole family will pick teams from a hat during the first episode of Lego Masters. If your team wins the finale: undisputed pick for movie and take-out! During football season, my husband and I take a dreaded chore (wipe out entire fridge, clean ceiling fan blades) and we make bets on the spreads of all the games- loser has a week to complete the task. It’s made TV watching electric and fun. And for our young kids who have been known to SOB when their beloved team is voted out- I think it’s good for low stakes disappointment tolerance. We comfort and hug and say “isn’t life like that sometimes”
SNL is a national treasure. Colin Jost as Hegseth on SNL?? Absolute gold.
I’m currently watching a Canadian wholesome drama called Heartland. It never appealed to me a lick until I found myself solo parenting through my spouse’s deployment, in desperate need of something entirely wholesome that the kids can watch, or not, with me. I’m so hooked. It’s a good thing there are 19 seasons to sustain me for a while.
I’m loving “All Creatures Great and Small” (on PBS and maybe Amazon too?), if you’re looking for another wholesome pick! Sending you good wishes!
I live 45 minutes away from where Heartland is filmed. I used to occasionally work in the community where the “Main Street” scenes are shot. I’d walk up to what I thought were charming stores only to find out they were TV set fake fronts.
Veronica Mars recently came back on Netflix and I binged it so fast! I loved that show when it first came out. There just weren’t that many depictions of young women being hyper competent and *doing things* (other than having romantical and/or friendship dramas). I rewatch Ted Lasso and The Good Place when the world feels mean. My sister has recently gotten deeply into Grantchester (a British show about a vicar who solves crimes), which we refer to as her “hot vicar show.”
We have very similar tastes! Love Veronica Mars – it was unique for its time and still more or less holds up. Ted Lasso and The Good Place are awesome and I really enjoyed the first couple seaons of Grantchester.
Well if this isn’t a sign to finally get on the Heated Rivalry train, I don’t know what is. It does make me sad that we have to have this story as fiction. Statistically, there can’t really be no gay men in the NHL. I watch a lot of hockey (kids sports in cold arenas and NHL). I would like to shout out the PWHL which really capitalized on the Olympics to infiltrate the algorithm on my phone. The ladies of team Canada / USA (and other countries) are classy, talented, hard working athletes and the hockey is pretty damn good. If only they could get the Saturday evening spot. If you have a team in your city, games are a great time. [We don’t unfortunately.] Less hassle and cheaper than NHL, at family friendly times and with great fan bases.
The jealously I’m feeling over the fact that you get to experience Heated Rivalry for the first time……enjoy!!
Anyone seen the first ep of HBO’s “DTF St Louis” with Jason Bateman and Linda Cardellini? Very quirky but intriguing mystery so far, I’m hooked and curious about where it will lead.
Yes. Jason Bateman has really switched up his project choices.
Food TV, Family Feud, Antiques Roadshow and the original Law & Order. And, I could watch reruns of any of these any time.
Ahhhh, yes…. the original Law & Order. Such comfort TV. I love absolutely everything about it, including the opening music. I am also a huge fan of SVU. My husband won’t watch either so the infrequent times I travel for work, it’s all that is on in my hotel room.
Law & Order: SVU has seen me through every phase of life. It was my go-to sick show when I was home sick (so easy to fall asleep and pick back up), I would watch it late at night after my parents went to bed and freak myself out and be too scared to sleep; I vividly remember watching it all night after I got too drunk and fell asleep in the afternoon and then couldn’t sleep all night (ahh college), during law school it had just come onto Netflix and I would watch when I was all alone in my room while living with 2 random girls I met on Craigslist (who turned out to be lovely thankfully), now I watch the episodes while I fold tiny laundry on Saturday mornings or late at night after my kids and husband are asleep. I feel like Olivia Benson is a personal friend and so help me god if that series does not end with her getting together with Elliot I just might not recover. I would like to think I have seen every episode but occasionally I come across one that surprises me.
an image from heated rivalry followed by a comment about watching family feud with the in-laws? kelsey, are you trying to give us whiplash? haha
Aaaaaahahahaha, my bad!
Laughing out loud at the name “idk maybe twice” iykyk
Exactly! Here I thought that FINALLY Cup of Jo is talking about Heated Rivalry – the storyline, the actors, the emotions, the books they are based on, the heat, why this relationship is really what women have been wanting for themselves… It’s been noticeably absent from any discussions here (especially when I feel other pop culture/actors references get repeated so much…I don’t care to hear about Timothee again thanks). Then to open with Family Feud and I Love Lucy ?! Was definitely here for another conversation at the adults table.
IDK maybe twice? ;) Your name alone shows how much this community NEEDS to discuss this show. I can’t wait to hear all you witty, fabulous ladies discuss your favorite parts!!!
I agree. When are we getting the Heated Rivalry discussion?
I just got back from watching the Lunar Eclipse with my daughter’s class- so cool!! It won’t happen for another 28 years- our solar system is a crazy thing- made me feel alive being out in the crisp morning air
I’m in Canada and can’t see the SNL video u shared but I have to say the Bridgerton skit was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a long time. I cackled like a crazy person- so good!!!
When I’m feeling sad, I often watch the (original) Wonder Years. If I’m demonstratively sad and upset, my pre-teen son will sometimes gently ask “do you want to watch The Wonder Years?”
My husband and I binge watched the wonder years and I realized two things. 1. Jack the dad is my biggest crush and 2. The wonder years is way funnier and relatable as an adult!
Love this!! What a sweet boy.
Tv series with a rock music/band culture background I’ll watch over again. Like, the series Vinyl or Roadies. Both had great casts, music and storylines. Few others, titles escape my memory that dealt with the music industry in fictional form. Also the series Better Things I watch over and over. Love the women in that show.
I loooooved Roadies!!! I was so bummed they only got one season.
We’re all No Sex, Only Murder. So lots of British mysteries/police shows and no American romance/sex/chemistry. Don’t know what that says about us, but we’re fine with it! And no, we’re not Brits but we may as well be……
Hahahaha. I thought my family was the only one. As a kid, I could watch lethal weapon but not dirty dancing. Violence was ok. Sex was not. And yes, some of those action movies had sex scenes. My parents asked us to close our eyes. I always did. Make it make sense!
Adding on to my original reply-on school breaks, my sister, cousin and I would watch Price is Right and Matlock before going out to play, then at lunchtime we’d watch Days of Our Lives (dad wasn’t home, so we could get away with it). Funny. I hadn’t thought about Matlock in some time.
Lol, I grew up in a sex was fine, violence was not household. No action movies but French films with sexy scenes, sure!
GURL. The butterflies I just got in my stomach when I came face to face with THE tuna melt couch scene is NOT normal.
SAME, gave me the urge to immediately shut my laptop and rush home to rewatch that episode.
When I need a pick-me-up, I love rewatching random episodes of Broad City. I love the friendships, silly adventures, and the reminder of being in my twenties. As a child, I sometimes stayed with my grandparents on weekends or trips and I got to stay up with my grandma watching Nick at Nite. Anytime I catch a glimpse of shows like I Love Lucy, Happy Days, I Dream of Jeannie, Mary Tyler Moore Show, or Rhoda, it takes me back to snuggling up with my grandma and helping her with her crossword puzzle.
OMG I miss Nick at Nite so bad! We loved Get Smart and Green Acres.
During both of my maternity leaves (currently wrapping up my second), I rewatched my high school soaps — Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek, etc. Not everything holds up, but in an ear of intense mini series, oh how my anxiety-filled self longs for this era of television. 23-episode seasons? Hour-long episodes? Predictable plot lines? Massive amounts of filler so that the larger plot moves forward at a snails’ pace? Say less.
As a true Norwegian, SKAM is one of my favorite shows to rewatch – the original show in Norwegian, of course. I just love the attitudes (in slow motion), music, the high school setting, and most of all, the various, multifaceted portraits of young women and their friendships. Also, I love how the show’s seasons picture Oslo (and Norway) through the different seasons of the year, and like to watch e.g. the Noora-season in the months of April and May.
Maria!!! This is why I just love CoJ. This is the first time that I’ve EVER seen an English language reference to SKAM; I don’t even know how I found it! I absolutely binged it about 7 years ago and it’s my secret comfort watch. No real idea why as I’m waaaay too old but I just loved it; especially S2 and 4. It’s also kind of interesting culturally and the soundtrack is great. Can highly recommend Home for Christmas on Netflix (in the UK) if you want further, slightly more mature, Nordic vibes!
In Amber Ruffin’s book “You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey” she talks about people who can’t tell Black people apart, and has a line that goes something like “I always wonder how those people get by every day. Do they turn on the TV and think, ‘Why is Barack Obama hosting Family Feud?'” Now my partner and I will ask each other, do you want to watch Barack Obama host Family Feud?
One of the many, many great lines from that sharp, observant, sad/chilling/disappointing/embarrassing, and hilarious book.
My husband watched the entirety of Desperate Housewives with me last year, and I love him so much for that
“LOVE BOAT”!!!!! Oh how I love that show. I have happy memories of sitting in my grandparents living room watching summer reruns (we didn’t have a tv at home at the time). It’s so interesting to watch in today’s day and age. I always knew it was going to be a funny episode when Charo or Carol Channing were guests. Second place goes to “Threes Company”.
All Creatures Great and Small! The perfect anecdote for the Sunday scaries..the gorgeous Yorkshire settings, the sweet animals, the lovely British accents and just a simpler time! As a teen I watched the original with my mom. We snickered about Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricky Woo, as my aunt had a shi tzu that was very much like Tricky ( and my aunt was very much like Mrs. Pumphrey) but when we encouraged her to watch it, I don’t think she “got” the connection! My husband and daughter eagerly anticipate the new season every January…I even watched it at the hospital when I was getting wired up for my sleep study! Definitely a feel good show…and one that regularly makes me sob!
My stepdad leaves All Creatures Great and Small on for the dogs when he and my mom aren’t home, which I think is so sweet.
My comfort shows are Gilmore Girls and Frasier but does anyone here have opinions on the show Felicity? I LOVED Keri Russell in The Diplomat so when I stumbled on Felicity last weekend, I thought I’d give it a try. I don’t know how well the show holds up as it goes on but I liked the pilot – Keri Russell is amazing, her hair is iconic and there is something special about watching a coming of age story set in New York, before cell phones. Next up, My So Called Life! I listened to Claire Danes on Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang (so good!) last week and now feel inspired to check that show out for the first time. I was born in 1988 so I was a bit young for these shows when they first came out but I’m loving discovering them in my late 30s and revisiting a simpler time before screens became ubiquitous.
My So Called Life is so good! Only one season, but so, so much. I rewatch the Christmas episode every year – sob.
Felicity is 100% my comfort show. I watched it live in college – my college years lined up perfectly with the show so rewatching is like reliving my own college experience. The show is so quirky and I just love it! I have the dvd set that I rewatched 1000 times and now its on hulu! Highly recommend.
Shauna, I was also born in 1988 and I find nothing more comforting than 90s TV I didn’t watch the first time around! I loved My So Called Life and the very funny rewatch podcast ‘The Boiler Room’ with Kristin Russo and Joanna Robinson. Felicity was a funny one, it’s absorbing and definitely worth watching but phew, the ending goes off the rails a bit! I’d stick with it if you like the pilot, it’s a good indicator of the tone of the rest of the show. I think I’m going to watch ER next! Never seen a single episode.
I watched Felicity as it came out (I think I was in 9th grade or so?) and I was in awe of Keri Russell! She’s still like the height of beauty and charm to me. And I’ll always have a place in my heart for Ben! That show was so seminal for me!
Felicity is my favorite of all time! I’m pretty sure a lot of that is tied to the fact that I was a freshman in college when it came out. I rewatched the whole series every time I found myself nursing a newborn (5 times). And now I’ve also watched through with my teenage daughters. There is a lot of nostalgia attached to it for me. That being said, the first season is the best but there are so many truly funny moments sprinkled throughout. (Richard and Javier!) I can’t deny that it does totally go off the rails at the end, but I still love it regardless. 😂 Parenthood is my other all-time favorite. I just love the characters and the family dynamic so much.
Lol I don’t even remember if I was the Stacey who left the comment about Our Flag Means Death, but it sounds like something I would say! I’m always shouting the praises of Our Flag Means Death and Deadloch (and now Heated Rivalry) in the CoJ comments.
Both shows are fantastic! I am so ready for Deadloch season two Also, I read your comment as “Im always shouting the phrases” and thought you meant you’re always quoting OFMD. Ha. My husband and I like to say “they steal children’s breath!” whenever we see a cat!
Our family started watching Family Matters 2 years ago when our kids were 4, 8, and 12. Two years later we’re still all watching together and it’s such a delight for us to all have Steve Erkle’s “Did I do that?” as a common reference point. Plus there are so few shows now that just show what it’s like to be a family. This show holds up and been a springboard for conversations about dating, racism, consent, and the possibilities of teleporting! Highly recommend it!
My go to is always Gilmore Girls! I watched it when it was originally on air and now am a faithful rewatcher, can’t count how many times. The Year in the Life Netflix revival was horrible though and is not included in my rewatches! I also have Grace and Frankie, Mom, Parenthood and Never Have I Ever as back ups.
I have watched GG so many times over the years. This time I am doing it for the first time with my 13 years old daughter. She loves it and she has very strong opinions about some of the characters. It’s a great show to have conversations about many different topics.
Currently obsessed with School Spirits on Paramount. The acting, story, plot, everything – so so good.
Thanks for the rec! I wasn’t familiar and just watched the trailer -peaked my interest.
There are so many excellent shows on at the moment. (Ardent Heated Rivalry fan here, espesh as a Canadian!) Abbott Elementary, Shrinking and Bridgerton have been superb this season and welcome respite from real life. But my all-time favourite— I’ve lost count of rewatches, occupies an enormous place in my heart AND is objectively outstanding — is Mad Men. Forever!
OMG we are kindred spirits! Never thought about the fact that these shows make me appreciate my own relationship…maybe that’s the draw!
I love watching stuff with my relationship dynamic! My husband and I joke that he is the Patrick to my David Rose and other intense person/kind easy going person combos-it makes us laugh so hard and it makes me kinder to myself since I’m kind of self conscious about being kind of a lot.
Every Sunday, I watch reruns of Barefoot Contessa while I have my coffee, until I feel inspired enough to get started on the meal prep for the week. (I prep all of my kid’s lunches, husband’s lunches, and dinners…I have 4 kids, so I need the motivation to get through it). I also watch(ed) the trashiest dating shows (90 day fiance, love is blind…) in the mornings and evenings when I pump [breastmilk]. I swear using the time to unapologetically consume trash is the only reason I’ve made it the full year of pumping x 3 kids.
Ok wait, Katrina—can you share your process? We need to make meals easier around here, and I’m 8 weeks away from meeting baby #2. My husband loves to cook and we have, for years, swapped on and off who’s cooking/meal planning each week—but we have to start integrating meal prep more effectively. Anything you’ve got I will listen to!
Sure! For kids lunch boxes, I have 5 bento box inserts per kid, fill with easy stuff that lasts all week (cheese, crackers, pasta, hardboiled egg, fruit, etc). Same lunch all week, they get used to it! Adult lunches are chicken/rice/frozen veggies, or like homemade chicken salad & a bag of lettuce. I make 2 dinners for the week – usually grilled steak or chicken Sunday night, with enough leftovers to reheat or put over salad Mon-Tues. Then put together like a lasagna or enchiladas or crockpot meal I can just heat up for Wed-Thu. I usually make 2 of these meals at a time & freeze one, so on busy weekends I don’t have to prep I can pull one out. Friday is almost always pizza (takeout), with enough leftovers for Saturday. I also might make a banana bread or muffins for the kids’ breakfast. This all takes about 3-4Hrs, unfortunately, but keeps the week running smoothly & only 1 kitchen clean-up for the week! Keep a list of groceries on your phone, & never grocery shop the same day as meal prep, it’s way too much. I do grocery pick-up Friday & meal prep on Sunday.
Seconding the request Katrina! Mom of 5 here. Whats in your meal prep? TY!
To Anon – YouTube meal prep like a line cook/chef/restaurant. This has helped me a lot since I hate eating fully prepared meals reheated.
Second the request to share your process, especially if it’s adaptable week after week (vs having to come up with a new menu each week)
Anon, I don’t know Katrina’s process, but can you start to think about meal prep less as choosing and cooking a distinct meal for each day, and more as one meal lending its ingredients to others? Still do the planning, but think ahead a few extra steps. It’s an old-fashioned skill that I think we’ve lost in an age of gorgeously photographed cookbooks. For instance, make a roast and then use the meat for a soup later in the week, or served alongside a different vegetable. When you brown meat for tacos, double or triple the portions and freeze the rest for a couple of weeks. Then later, when you go to make another meal, half the prep is done. It’s not bulk prep, but it does save you a few steps here and there, which is half the battle!
All these tips are so helpful! Thank you SO much for writing out your process—mind blown. We are literally making a new meal every night and it’s just not feeling sustainable. This gives me a lot to think about!
Recently picked up a new cookbook (“Sabzi” by Yasmin Khan – vegetarian recipes!) and one of her big tips was sauteeing a bunch of onions at once and freezing or refrigerating them for future recipes. Cooking onions for most recipes takes a long time!
My process: make nice meals Saturday and Sunday that will yield leftovers for Monday + Tuesday dinners. Something quick and simple for Wednesday and Thursday (ideally with veg/side leftover from earlier in the week). Pasta, tacos, frozen dumplings, a quick salmon. Friday take-out. It generally works decently. I sometimes make a big chili or soup and freeze off half as well, for those extra-busy weeks.
Okay cooking show fans, help me understand what I’m missing. To me, watching a cooking show holds about as much appeal to me as a show about making scented candles would. Like, it’s a sensory experienced being described that is impossible to participate in through that medium? What am I missing?!
Maybe it’s the fact that every recipe comes together and is successful, which runs completely opposite to life most times. It’s nice to see that when you cut cold butter into flour and add ice water, a dough forms, which will ultimately become the most buttery, flaky crust you’ve ever seen. It’s calming to see the end result actually be the thing it’s supposed to be? Maybe it’s a trauma response to find it calming lol, which 🙋🏽♀️. I’m also a foodie, and love seeing and hearing ingredients being talked about and romanticized 😂
For me, it’s the calm sense of order for sure. I love food, which helps, but I like that it’s combination creativity, ordered steps, someone doing something they’re good at, and usually some level of cozy/pleasant vibes. They do make me hungry so I need to be prepared, ha.
I don’t get the draw either; there are no other chores we televise (I think…?). People would think “the dusting channel” was insane but watching people make dinner is appealing?!? 🤷🏻♀️
Lol when I read this, I was like, “wait, why would I not want to watch a show about how to make scented candles?” I can’t speak for other folks but I love watching cooking shows, videos on how to make stuff/art (sewing, cyanotype printing, pottery, watercolor, etc etc.) I don’t really watch them to have an immersive sensory experience. I watch them to be inspired to do those things! Same deal with reading cookbooks, you know? I can’t smell or taste the food in a book, but reading a recipe gets me inspired to get in the kitchen!
Alton Brown’s new cooking series on YT is a fun watch if you enjoy levity with your cooking lessons.
https://www.youtube.com/@country_life_vlog I’m hooked, along with millions, watching homesteading. The sheer beauty of the land and the extensive community is educational.
Hi Allie! For me, the appeal is that I learn techniques for how to do things, like peeling ginger with a spoon for example. (Not all shows are equally useful in that regard). My parents cooked our meals when I was growing up, but were generally very busy and overwhelmed, so I didn’t learn a ton of cooking skills at home. I would imagine that not everyone’s learning style benefits from video, though. It may just not be your thing!
Meredith Leith- There are actually lots of YouTube channels showing people doing other chores like cleaning and organizing. The videos are highly stylized and I could watch them for hours. I am a process person and like to watch people people being competent. I also appreciate people take home-keeping seriously instead of treating it as an afterthought. It is real labor and doing it well matters. Ok, I will end my rant.
Lots of illness and upheaval in my family right now, over 3 generations…my daily calm comes from watching “Landscape Artist of the Year” and “Portrait Artist of the Year”, from the UK. Britbox or Acorn streams it. Gentle competition, wonderful contestants with great stories, interesting personalities, both in front of and behind the canvases, and the music is absolutely gorgeous and soothing. I can put it on for my hours at home and sail through tasks, chores, laundry, coking, or sooometimes just sitting with my feet up while I try to figure out how to help, comfort & feed everybody. It is just a beautiful balm to my soul, which I also do not have to pay much attention to. I have probably watched every single episode of every season many times, and it matters not. It creates a safe and happy place for me while i juggle!
I loved Heated Rivalry!!! There were so many great things about the show. For example, Kip’s dad – sob! I want to be that wonderfully loving and accepting parent that my kids can always come back to as they navigate the ups and downs of life
He really isn’t talked about enough – Kip’s dad came across as incredibly loving and gentle. I didn’t realize he was sitting next to him during that now-famous scene, which makes it even better.
awww come on! I get using HR as clickbait but not even including a single HR-focused comment? there are so many awesome things this community has surely said about the show — how it centers joy and connection, the feeling of community that comes with watching something in relatively real time, how special it feels to get to see great stars born, etc etc — and yet they’re only here to be the sex that sells…
Yes, this! I feverishly scanned for HR content haha…nothing?! Every aspect of this show is perfection with so much to discuss.
I absolutely agree with both of you, Jordan and Jess! My husband and I keep discovering new things each time we watch it – it’s incredibly well done down to the tiniest details. And never have I watched a show where I so genuinely believe the emotions the characters feel.
I agree 10000%. The lack of HR commentary from CoJ has been shocking to me! And to tease us here, YOW, where are Jo’s thoughts??!?!?!?!?
I saw it more as an invitation to the CupofJo community – here’s your chance to get out all your HR thoughts!
Heated Rivalry broke my heart open and set my body on fire in so many ways. There’s truly been a before and after in my life ♡
Feel this article needs to be reformatted – comments for wholesome ‘nostalgia and family viewing’ go to one page and then HR discussion onto another. Wish I could like each person’s HR comments too! @Emilie I’ve heard this from many friends too. It’s very dream-like in a sensory way to watch!
Exactly! Please engage with this TV show, which is just as beautiful and meaningful as Normal People and Fleabag. It’s such a balm for this moment.
I teach at a high school and one of the spirit assemblies involved a game of family feud, so any time a category came up (“things that come in pairs,” “reasons you are late to work”) students from all grades would scream answers for their peers to hear and repeat. And then it switched to “things you can buy for less than a dollar,” and reader, absolute silence fell. You could have heard a pin drop. I still think about that sometimes. Sign of the times. In the end I think one answer was “candy” and another was “fruit” but to come up with 5? Impossible.
Ouf. That is very telling! What a world we’ve made for them, eh? Otherwise, that sounds like such a lovely, fun assembly idea!
A stamp, parking meter (maybe only 10 min in some cities, maybe an hour in others), tooth fairy visit (make it a $1 coin), lemonade stand drink, kindness for an unhoused person.
My husband and I have a special routine around Selling Sunset because each episode follows the same formula: recap in the office, gossip sesh at realty listing, gossip sesh over lunch, another realty listing, party where confrontation happens, credits. Whenever we get to the “gossip sesh over lunch,” we have a contest to guess how much a burger costs at whatever bougie restaurant is getting screen time with Price Is Right Rules. It’s surprisingly hard – some are $13 brunch burgers and some are, like, $42. Also we try to guess what kind of party will have the fight. Nothing will ever top, “HOW COULD YOU BRING THIS UP AT MY DOG’S BIRTHDAY PARTY!??!”
We always loved Scrubs, and were pleasantly surprised at the first two episodes of the reboot. Bringing back favorite shows can be so disappointing (hello Arrested Development!!), but I’m hopeful for a few goofy and heart warming seasons with Scrubs again!
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve rewatched Brooklyn 99 and The West Wing. The first one really holds up and the second is comforting because it reminds me of a better version of politics.
I am not very fond of watching shows and can’t say I have watched anything really since I moved out from my parents’ like 30 years ago. But yes. Heated Rivalry. I watch it with my husband and I think we are on our sixth or seventh rewatch now…. That show has cast a spell on us!
Spell-binding is such an understatement! I love that you watch it with your husband ♡♡♡♡
1000% agree on Our Flag Means Death, one of my favorites from the last decade! The perfect mix of goofy and heartfelt and somehow also powerfully yet gently political
YES! It really snuck up on you, that show. Completely delightful. I’m gutted it got cancelled. It made me feel hopeful about the way the world is headed, for sure.
Honestly I feel like a different person since I watched Heated Rivarly. I (unfortunately) have a lot in common with Ilya and watching his character change in the show has kind of caused me to have mid-life crisis. Not in a bad way – more so in a “what do I want to do with this one wild and precious life” way. I’m treating myself kinder as well. It’s been eye opening.
A mid-life awakening perhaps. All the best to you Lisa!
On Threads, a user named _rhi.na posted: I don’t think Heated Rivalry ruined my life. I think it exposed how little joy I was letting myself have. And it rearranged my damn brain. If I ALSO had a lot in common with Ilya? I hope it is a good type life crisis and leads to the best things for you!
I love this for you, Lisa! You deserve it!
So interesting Lisa/Katie/random Threads-user _rhi.na! I only saw the series once (not much of a TV person) but I’ve been enjoying all the talk around it.*Ilya*, self-destructive as he is, would not be the character I picked as denying himself joy. Gonna enjoy thinking about that one!
Reba – I get the feeling that he kind of allows himself a lot of things that he does enjoy in the moment (or maybe not really?) to distract himself from wanting what really brings him joy, for fear of losing it or not being worthy…
I think being a closeted gay Russian player whose family despises him for being who he is leads to the biggest self denial and repression on the show, and if you see yourself in that it could lead to a lot of feelings! But the not allowing myself joy was less about Ilya specifically and more just like oh wow I feel such joy watching this—how could I allow myself to feel this in other parts of my life? What else could feel hopeful and authentic in an incredibly miserable, sad moment in human history? Could joy really help me keep going? What does it mean to deserve sunshine just for existing?
Katie, thanks for clarifying: I have heard similar things from people who have found in this show permission to just like what they like–happy endings, beautiful people, fabulous real estate, queer joy, sports narratives–in a difficult time. All for it; life is hard enough without skipping the little pleasures that hurt no one!
More like how many times have I watched Heated Rivalry :)
The answer for me is both “too many” and “not enough.” :)
Kat, your Arrested Development is my Parks & Recreation! My husband and I first rewatched it after a brutal miscarriage. We needed lightness and laughter and boy, it did the trick!
I have been binging Maria Wern and Shetland. What do these two have in common? The scenery in Gotland and Shetland are amazing…doing some armchair dreaming of places I’d love to live these days.
A show that I’ve loved recently, that I’ve heard no one talk about, is ‘The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’ on Apple TV. It stars Noel Fielding and is SO sweet and silly. It reminds me a bit of ‘Robin Hood Men in Tights’. I highly reccomend it.
I had formative years living alone in Chicagoland with the WGN morning news on each day as I got ready for work. The familiarity was a touchstone for me. Now if I’m in Chicago I always tune back in and enjoy a lot of the same anchors and antics. What’s strange is that I won’t watch basic TV like this anywhere else.
I can’t help but reply to your WGN comment…bc I’ve lived in Chicago since 1994 and I (like so many others) am devoted to the WGN morning news, and I’m not this way about any other show. It’s the only news I can tolerate watching most days, mostly bc it is so not news-like. But, recently, some evil corporate overlords axed 9 long-term on-air talent/employees, including the beloved entertainment reporter Dean…and the city is up in arms about it. They better keep their hands off of Larry, Robin and Paul or the city will totally revolt!
Omg!! I grew up in the Chicagoland area too, and I have fond memories of watching Tom Skilling on WGN. (They actually gave him a shout out on The Bear, which shows that they definitely had some real Chicagoans in the writers’ room!). I just checked, and it looks like he retired 2 years ago. Miss him.
Tom Skilling is still very active on social media and he’s so fun! He seems to be enjoying just getting to chat about the weather without it being his job and I love that for him—though I definitely miss him!
My husband is a born and raised Chicago Southsider. His only time away was for college. I can attest to the WGN love. There’s one anchor who is/was a “silver fox” – I’m forgetting his name – who my husband waned to be.
My husband and I recently stumbled upon Murder She Wrote, and we’ve been watching together. It’s comforting, reminds us both of our grandmas, has loads of guest stars and amazing outfits. Despite the constant murders, everything seems ok when you’re in Cabot Cove.
“Despite the constant murders….” Lololol! (But I totally get it!)
Hahaha “despite the constant murders”! I feel this way about Midsommer Murders and Poirot which my in laws introduced me to, years ago, during a dark and suicidal time of my life. We’d all sit around the woodburner and be so cozy while people just ended up, you know, dead.
My grandma and I used to watch Murder She Wrote so it’s super comforting to me and I could totally live in Cabot Cove riding bikes with Angela Lansbury.
I’ll love this and take it one step further and just say pleasure. I think a lot about what gives me pleasure now that I’m older and I feel like women aren’t given space to think that way about themselves…probably why it became “guilty pleasure” in the first place! My pleasure is home renovation before and afters and Traitors with my teenage daughter. Sooooo good 💕
As half of a profoundly complex, off/on, long-long-long (41 years) marriage, rebuilding (delicately, uncertainly) after his addictions dropped a few anvils on the family, I do appreciate The Diplomat ‘s Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell in a very conflicted and symbiotic partnership. Not saying any of this is healthy, ideal–nor are they situations to emulate, but wow, for me anyhow–relatable.
Sending love 303. Addiction and anvils here too (though I prefer the analogy of an atomic bomb) and I think our rebuilding is going towards co-parenting and not marriage but oof. It sucks. And seeing complex marriages on tv does resonate. (Though most portraits of addiction and recovery specifically get it wrong imo. ) Anyway, you’re not alone .