In the age of streaming services… it is interesting to realize that many of us have comfort shows that we return to instead of jumping into something new. In many cases, we have them on in the background as we go about our day. I have seen so many listing their favorite shows to relax by… and even though I did a podcast episode on some of them..(https://rss.com/podcasts/apieceofdenise/1825552) I have FOMO and do not want to be left out of sharing my loves either…

So let’s jump into it… I love a good list and I love to wax romantically. So in no particular order…

1. Golden Girls – I remember my mom watching this when I was a kid… And I remember thinking…”Why is she watching this show about 4 old women?” Older me spends a lot of time laughing at my younger self because these old women was hilarious. The show revolves around four older single women (three widows and one divorcée) sharing a house in Miami while navigating their “golden years” with humor, friendship, and occasional chaos. There is man-crazy Blanche, perpetually-naive Rose, no-nonsense Dorothy, and shoots from the hip Sophia. The Golden Girls has a serious rewatch factor because everyone I know has this on their list. Nothing like 7 seasons that I enjoy and can run through and fall asleep to. Even when I wake to go to the bathroom, I know actually which episode I am on… If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out. Fave episodes include: The Break In, That Was No Lady, In a Bed of Rose’s, The Flu, Take Him, He’s Mine, It’s a Miserable Life, Joust Between Friends, Love Rose, The Stan Who Came to Dinner, and Forgive Me Father to name a few.
   
2. Living Single – Yes, I know I did a post on this show back in 202?, but I rewatch this one a lot. So it is obviously a comfort show. I can run it from the beginning to the end and start right on over again. If you do not know, it is on Hulu and HBO… When it is time to eat, or sleep, it is always my go to. We know that this was a show created and written by Yvette Denise Lee, and staring all the heavy hitters. It was a great show showing Black women, Black friends and Black love. It is always going to have spot on my list. And the 90’s seemed like the best time for Black shows. No matter how many times I watch this show… I laugh at the same times every time. Fave episodes include: Living Single… with Children, Just Friends?, Love Takes a Holiday, Burglar in the House, Fatal Distraction, There’s Got to Be a Morning After, Trick or Trust, Double Indignity and My Cups Runneth Over to name a few.
   
3. Fraiser – There is no one funnier than Niles Crane. I miss David Hyde Pierce. Each season got funnier and funnier… And I was along for the ride when it came to Niles coming up with more reasons why we never saw Maris and the near misses with Daphne. As smart as the brothers are supposed to be, they were always in some mess. This is another easy one to rewatch… I run all the seasons and start it all over again… When I first watched it, I did so for Fraiser… I was pulling for him… Now that I have watched it a few times, I realize that Fraiser was insufferable… Daphne, Martin, Roz and Niles make the show. And somehow that is enough.
   
4. Scooby Doo (from the beginning to a Pup..)– There are few things in my life that I repeat watch more than Scooby Doo. There are many things that I enjoy now that I can trace back to Scooby Doo. I was into reading mysteries as a kid and graduated to a murder mystery reader as an adult. Talking dogs… it worked for me then and it works for me now. There is a huge nostalgia factor for me. I have these on my Apple TV but they are also on HBO. That is something I can sleep through for weeks. Get on that Scooby Doo yall. Also the older that I get I realize that Fred is trash. If you watch.. you know. LOL.
   
5. The Property Brothers – I watch anything that these two are on. For some reason when I tell that to people I get all kinds of reactions. I use this as a litmus test most times. But I enjoy seeing the transformations of people’s homes. I did get many tips on how to sell my house… so some of what I get from it is helpful. They are knowledgeable but it also shows me the housing market in several areas. I feel like a connoisseur. Shoutout to Drew and Jonathan. Buying and Selling and Forever Home are by far my favorites. It is on Hulu and or Discovery plus… (Discovery Plus… I may just need to switch back to…)
   
6. A Different World – One of my fave shows ever. For more details see my earlier post about it. But Dwayne and Whitley were my favorites. It was a romance that I needed to happen and I revisit it often. College life, HBCU… well rounded characters. I love it. I also had a pair of Dwayne Wayne flip up glasses. I believe everyone should have a pair. It was quintessentially 90’s. There was nothing like watching the fab five work their way through college. And now I rewatch it to reminisce.
   
7. Sonic Boom – I know… But this show is funnier than it should be honestly. They have an episode on Misery… and the English major in me was happy. The writing was pretty sophisticated for a kids show and I still maintain there are not enough seasons of this seasons of this show… I need them to get me more episodes. I do wonder why Eggman is the only human on the island but whatever… it works. And Travis Willingham as Knuckles was really all I needed. I want more… Let’s bring it back .
   
8. One Tree Hill– This was teen drama at its finest….Lucas being the other child that everyone knew about but no one talked about while his father was across town and playing house with your brother… It spells drama. Lucas lusting after Peyton whom is your brother’s girlfriend. Did I love me some Lucas and Peyton…? Yes. Did they have the worst drama and excuses? Yes. Do I rewatch them regularly? ALSO YES…. Some of my favorite quotes come from One Tree Hill. I feel like I grew up with the cast even though… they were older than me. But you know There’s only One Tree Hill… I need to go by and see all the houses.
   
9. House M.D. – There was a notion that anything Sherlock adjacent… I am going to love. I have grown used to it over time. I have to say there is something about loving seeing House call people idiots. But also… knowing that his leg injury has nothing to do with the fact that he was a jerk but brilliant. I am still mad how it ended… It gave me my favorite bromance in Wilson and House… Does that stop me for longing for more seasons? No. From missing Hugh Laurie…? No… From getting to the end, and starting over. There are still story arcs that hurt me and bring me to tears. Fave episodes: Definitely House’s Head and Wilson’s Heart.
   
10. Murder, She Wrote – If you are a millennial, you know all about Murder, She Wrote during the summer… And possibly sitting there with your grandmother watching JB Fletcher. I still wonder why so many police officers needed her help to solve murders. Also remember that JB walked so Castle could run. I still wonder why she wasn’t suspected of a crime more than she was. But I still watch it like it is brand new… and run it back from the very beginning. Thank Goodness to Fubotv for the Hallmark Mystery Channel. This seems like a real life Scooby Doo. All she needed was a dog. LOL.
    
11. The Big Bang Theory – Here are 12 seasons that I can rely on… Do I think there are issues with the show… sure. Check out my post on TBBT on that. But it reminds me of how eclectic my group of friends are and the stuff we are into. For me… I still laugh at some of the nerdy jokes and love me some Sheldon. I can always count on laughs from the group but I do have some downs toward the last episodes. But I rewatch it every few months.
    
12. Beat Bobby Flay – When all else fails… I am a Food Network girlie at heart. My brother and I used to watch Iron Chef over the summer as a kid for years. So anything that I can watch several seasons of… I am down for that. I am always pulling for Bobby to be beat. And that love that I have to see them beat… maybe works against me when I am trying to get to sleep. It also always gives me cooking ideas. It never fails me…
    
13. Guy’s Grocery Games – Speaking of Food Network, Guy is my dude. I love it and him. So nothing like watching a bunch of people run through a grocery store trying to figure out what to cook in 30 minute intervals. Meanwhile Guy has a maniacal game each round. Coupons and Dollar amount limits and a panel of judges who seem to hate everything. Gets me through my day everytime. I knew Discovery plus or HBO has it… Food network will always get me.
    
14. Iron Chef – Usually the American version but any version gets me. This seems to be where Food Wars came from. If you are not sure about that… watch the show and let me know. It is where I was first introduced to a lot of Food Network chefs… AKA Bobby Flay. One thing about me… I can watch any sort of competition. And this is no different. The challenger chef selects the Iron Chef they will battle. An ingredient or group of ingredients (referred to as the “secret ingredient(s)”) is revealed, and the cooking begins. On Iron Chef America, both the challenger and the Iron Chef have 60 minutes to prepare a minimum of five dishes based on a theme ingredient. And I am hanging on their every word. There are many seasons and iterations.. so when I circle back I am mildly surprised by the outcome… No matter how many times I watch it.
    
15. Bleach – You guys should know by now that Bleach is one of my favorite anime. That will never change for various reasons but when I am feeling down.. I put on Mr. Kurosaki and gang.. It is always a pick me up. When I go back, I try to see all the seeds Kubo planted for all the information we now know. I take time to watch the filler episodes separately from the main story. I still feel the same as when I watched it the first time. The rush and the thrill… and the love I have for the show has not gone away.
    
16. One Piece – This show has much rewatch value. There are so many fights and scenes to rewatch, and as time goes on there is me and more to choose from. But the Strawhats have my vested interest. I never knew I was into pirates. But I rewatch different scenes over and over when the feeling hits me. And I am always as delighted as the first time. I also rewatch looking for clues to see where there are clues if any to the future. My love of putting together mysteries drives me. When I go back and watch, noticed all the clues that were left about Sanji and his family. I got back to it at least once a year.
    

This is my short list that I return to over and over. I love these shows. They remain close to my heart and bring me comfort for various reasons. I have a soft sport for all of them. I am sure by now my friends and family are tired of seeing me with these shows. But alas… Time to turn in and run one of these all night. TTYL.