As the fall semester of school begins, so does the urge to lay in bed and watch multiple episodes of your favorite show at all hours of the day while avoiding all of the responsibilities that are waiting in your backpack. With this urge comes the inevitable search for the show that will help you to kill time when you don't have anything to do, or if you have a whole bunch to do and cope by deciding not to do any of it.
It can't be just any show; it has to be a time investment, an emotional connection, a lifestyle. And let's be honest, we've all seen The Office and Parks and Rec, so I'm here to help you with this new decision, because no one wants to make the wrong one and have lost an entire first season of time from your life.
1. Degrassi: The Next Generation
You might be thinking, "Yeah sure, I watched that in like middle school," but you try watching it again and tell me you don't get emotionally attached to the characters. Also, we all know Drake, but you don't really know him until you watched him on Degrassi.
What you need to know: 14 seasons, all on youtube (with pretty good quality for youtube), covers pretty much every young adult issue you could list off the top of your head.
2. Parenthood
If you come from a family with any dysfunction or any sense of sarcasm, this show will grab your heart and never let it go. If you've never watched a show and just wanted to be a part of their family, you will after watching the Braverman family and everything they've gone through together.
What you need to know: Six seasons, all on Netflix, and if you can't find anything you like about this show, you might need to check and see if you have a pulse.
3. Scrubs
Rated by the actual field of medicine as one of the most accurate medical shows on tv (yes, higher than Grey's Anatomy), the Sacred Heart Hospital will show you how medical professionals survive their role: with jokes. Quirky, fast-paced, and realistic for those of us that have ever had a rude boss or idolized anyone, Scrubs can appeal to everyone once you get past just how strange John Dorian is. Also, just when you think that the show might be getting away from the hospital side of things, you're blindsided with the fact that they can't save everyone.
What you need to know: All episodes are on Netflix and Hulu, and if you have any dignity, don't watch the last season; it's not very good.
4. Brooklyn-99
Andy Samberg keeps his purely odd sense of humor in a show about a bunch of detectives in New York who shockingly still have jobs in the police system in New York. Between Samberg, Terry Crews, and Chelsea Peretti, you will be struggling not to laugh at everything happening in their office.
What you need to know: Most of the episodes are on Hulu, plus a new season is just getting started.
5. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
If you've seen even the first episode, you know what I'm about to say: Unless you have a side of you that is just a horrible person, this show is not for you. A bunch of misfits running a dive bar in Philadelphia with absolutely no idea of where the line is regarding anything, this show will have you laughing, but feeling a little bit guilty for it afterward.
What you need to know: All ten seasons are on Netflix and Hulu, and if you thought any of the male characters were attractive at the beginning of the series, you won't after a few episodes.
6. New Girl
Zooey Deschanel starts out as the best reason to watch this show, but as you keep going, you'll realize that you want all of her roommates to be all of your roommates. Also, if you think the first season is too weird, you might just want to give up because it doesn't get any more normal in the later seasons
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What you need to know: First four seasons on Netflix, with the fifth being released soon. Some of the fifth season is on Hulu. Also, if you like Coach in the first season, keep watching because he does come back.
7. The Ranch
If you've grown up in a small town, you'll feel personally attached to this show for more reasons than one. The star quarterback from high school, the kid who stayed home to work on the farm, and the local bar should be giving you flashbacks to your own small town. Unfortunately, none of us grew up with Ashton Kutcher, but the whole cast will have you laughing through the whole first season, because as exaggerated as they make some of their jokes about small towns, they're usually not wrong.
What you need to know: First season on Netflix, the second season is currently in production.
8. Archer
I know you're probably thinking that this sounds like a stupid suggestion, but out of all the dumb adult cartoon comedies, I think that Archer has the best jokes. If adult cartoons are your thing, then you will probably like it, but if not, you might not enjoy it. Either way, H. Jon Benjamin is hilarious.
What you need to know: Six seasons on Netflix and Hulu, story line changes after season 5 and season 5.
9. American Horror Story
It's creepy, addicting, and it understands that young adults have short attention spans. With different plot lines for every season, you will literally never get bored with Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's masterpiece of a series.
What you need to know: Four seasons on Netflix, five should get there soon. The sixth season airs on FX on September 14th, with tons of speculation on the storyline.
10. How I Met Your Mother
Last but certainly not least, if you don't connect with Ted Moseby's search for love and Marshall and Lily's quirky but real relationship, you might have no sense of humor or taste in television shows. Easily one of the best sitcom series, you'll laugh and cry along with this group of friends as they deal with their own definitions of relationships.
What you need to know: You will know who your favorite character is by the end of the first season...and it probably won't be Lily.
Happy Procrastinating, friends.
