Monday, July 21, 2014

Jenn's Pick: What You Should Binge-Watch This Summer


It's summertime, y'all! What does this mean for you, the avid television viewer? It means that you are free to peruse Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Instant Video because your TV schedule is open. (It also means you're probably spending time basking outside in the glow of the afternoon sun, reading magazines or novels while sipping a cool drink and working on your tan.)

In case you're in the market for some good television to watch this summer, I've compiled a list of some comedies and dramas available on Netflix or other sources that you can binge-watch with reckless abandon. So if you're prepared, check out the list of series below the cut and then go out (er, technically in) and watch some pretty great television shows.


COMEDY


  • Psych
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour (clocks in at about 42 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 8 (15-16 episode seasons)
    • available on: the first seven seasons are available on Netflix; half of the final season is on Hulu for free
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: meta humor; running gags; crime dramadies; the phrases "wait for it" and "suck it," 80s movies references/pop culture jokes; fake psychics; pineapples
  • New Girl
    • hour-long or half hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 3 (22-24 episode seasons)
    • available on: the first two seasons are available on Netflix; season three available via Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: quirky series about adults who often act like children; romantic tension; made-up drinking games; singing; unrealistic expectations about the size of apartments
  • The Office
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 9 (24-25 episode seasons)
    • available on: the complete series is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: documentary-style series; will-they-won't-they relationships; an office-centered workplace where you repeatedly say #gpoy; a crazy ensemble; bears, beets, or Battlestar Galactica
  • Parks and Recreation
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode_
    • # of seasons: 6 (22-24 episode seasons)
    • available on: the first five seasons are available on Netflix; season six available via Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: The Office; waffles; awesome strong female characters; hilarious comedic ensembles; treating YOself; ALL the bacon and eggs
  • The Mindy Project
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 2 (22-24 episode seasons)
    • available on: Canadian Netflix; Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: romantic comedies; Mindy Kaling; shows that have lots of guest stars; love and finding love; workplace sitcoms
  • Community
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 5 (22-24 episodes for the first three seasons; 13 episodes for seasons 4 and 5)
    • available on: Hulu Plus; Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: snarky lead characters; meta humor; comedic ensembles; reliving your community college days; alternate timelines; felt goatees; dioramas
  • How I Met Your Mother
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 9 (24-25 episode seasons)
    • available on: seasons one through eight are available on Netflix; season nine available via Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: wacky humor; running gags; narrative voice-overs and flashbacks; romantic comedies; an incident with a pineapple; blue French horns; New York City
  • Scrubs
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 9 (22-25 episodes for the first six seasons; 11-19 for the final three)
    • available on: the entire series is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: Zach Braff's voice-overs; medical-related comedies; snarky characters; shenanigans (both imaginary and real)
  • Arrested Development
    • hour-long or half-hour: half-hour (clocks in at about 22 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 4 (18-22 episodes for the first three seasons; 15 episodes for season four)
    • available on: the entire series is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: narrators; meta humor; comedies about crazy families (and the one straight man); the phrase "I've made a huge mistake"

DRAMA


  • Suits
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 42 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 4 (season 4a is currently airing on USA; 12-16 episode seasons for the first three)
    • available on: all three seasons available on Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: dramadies; anything involving lawyers; pretty people wearing pretty clothes; movie references; romance
  • Pretty Little Liars
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 43 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 5 (season 5a is currently airing on ABC Family; 22-24 episode seasons for the first four)
    • available on: the entire series, minus what is currently airing, is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: soapy teenage dramas; mystery novels; attractive people; text messages; fashion; lots of kissing scenes
  • Doctor Who
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 43 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 7 (13 episode seasons, usually broken up by a Christmas special)
    • available on: the entire "new Who" series is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: sci-fi dramas; David Tennant; epic musical scores; fish fingers and custard; time travel; something old, something new, something borrowed, AND something blue
  • Once Upon a Time
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 42 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 3 (each 22 episodes)
    • available on: seasons one and two are available on Netflix; season three available via Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: fairytales; romance; sometimes campy dialogue; the people who produced Lost; laughing at graphics; elaborate and gorgeous costumes; shipping lots of things
  • The Blacklist
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 43 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 1 (22 episode season)
    • available on: Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: bad wigs; James Spader-delivered monologues; government-related crime dramas; shoot-outs and explosions
  • Sleepy Hollow
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 43 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 1 (13-episode seasons; season 2 will air on FOX in the fall)
    • available on: Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: crazy sci-fi/supernatural shows; headlesss horsemen; witty dialogue; genuinely scary moments; attractive British actors; period clothing; the Apocalypse
  • Arrow
    • hour-long or half-hour: hour-long (clocks in at about 42 minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 2 (each 23 episodes)
    • available on: season one is available on Netflix; season two available via Amazon Instant Video
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: comic-book TV series/movies; vigilantes; well-choreographed fight scenes; watching attractive men work out without shirts; will-they-won't they tension
  • Sherlock
    • hour-long or half-hour: neither! (clocks in at about an hour and forty five minutes per episode)
    • # of seasons: 3 (each three episodes long)
    • available on: the entire series is available on Netflix
    • binge-watch if you enjoy: mysteries; Benedict Cumberbatch; Benedict Cumberbatch's hair; Benedict Cumberbatch's accent; witty and sarcastic banter; inventive graphics; Martin Freeman
Do you all have a show you'd like to recommend we binge-watch this summer? Hit up the comments section with your suggestions. And, as always, have a great week. (And a great summer for that matter!) :)

4 comments:

  1. Great recommendations! I think I'm gonna watch Arrested Development and Sherlock. Love Community, New Girl, Doctor Who, Scrubs and HIMYM.

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    1. Sherlock is one of the most amazing and intense and wonderful things you could ever binge-watch! It's so good. And I loved the first three seasons of Arrested Development (admittedly, I only watched a few of the fourth season - the "new" version of the show).

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  2. Awesome list! I'm definitely going to refer to this as school gets closer and I'll need a studying reprieve.

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