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Sometimes, you just crave a little veg-out time, where you can get lost in a great show…and then obsessively talk about it to every friend, relative or unsuspecting-person-walking-his-dog you meet. We get it. For those chilly nights when you’d just rather stay in, consider tuning in to one of these treats:
- Friday Night Lights — Yes, it went off the air in 2011, but this heartfelt-yet-gritty show about a small town in Texas where high school football is EVERYTHING is just as relevant today (and thankfully, the hair/clothes are timeless enough that you’re never distracted by what-were-we-thinking early 2000s styles). Plus, Buzzfeed’s take on the stages of watching FNL is so accurate it’s uncanny.
- Leverage — When you combine hackers, grifters, thieves and a mastermind, then pepper in a little bit of comedy, you’ve got one fantastic show.
Photo: Pretty Little Liars/ABC Family - Pretty Little Liars — Watch for the buzzworthy premise–four teen girls start getting stalkerish (and seriously deranged) text messages from “A,” who sounds eerily like their deceased frenemy, Allison–but stay for the hair and fashion. And, okay, the self-aware one-liners. That Hanna can throw down one sick buuuurn.
- House of Cards — Kevin Spacey has never been creepier as a dastardly South Carolina politician gunning for the White House, but Robin Wright, who plays his calculating wife, might actually be even creepier. It’ll keep you guessing at every cliff-hanging episode.
- Gilmore Girls — See Melissa McCarthy before the world knew just how funny she is, and try your hardest to keep up with Rory and Lorelai’s verbal ping pong.
- Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 — If you knew Chloe in real life, you’d want to kill her (and steal James Van Der Beek as your new BFF/narcissistic-yet-disarmingly-charming confidante), but on TV, her wickedness works.
- Once Upon A Time — Sure, the special effects are cheesy (and, occasionally, the one-liners), but the show cleverly weaves all of your favorite fairytales and Disney hits into an action-packed nostalgia fest, which more than makes up for the hokey spots.
- Sherlock — Yes, that IS Bilbo Baggins, minus the giant, hairy feet. He and Benedict Cumberbach make for one stellar team in this keeps-you-guessing, OMG-moment-filled show. The hardest part is waiting the year+ for the next season to come out, because you will get addicted. Will.
- The IT Crowd — Struggling to make small talk anytime you have to call on tech support to rescue you from a computer (and, okay, fine, user) error? Watch this show and you’ll be able to bond instantly.
- Cutthroat Kitchen — Because cooking shows are infinitely better when they embrace the ridiculousness. Plus, who doesn’t want to see someone attempt to cook a gourmet meal using a kid-sized kitchen? Or prepare a steak without any beef? …While sitting in an oversized baby chair and wearing oven mitts?! Now that’s entertainment.
