The following article was written by the newest addition to our team here at Mercer, Grant Johnson. Please enjoy the following article and keep an eye out in the new year for his other articles!!

As classes end and you get ready to head home to see your hometown friends and family it hits you: what am I going to do with all my free time. Our generation clearly enjoys a good Netflix binge. It's also a genius way to avoid those questions about your future from that relative you haven't seen in a year.

So, here are five tv shows that will get you through the next few weeks before you get back into the stress and grind of the next semester:

How I Met Your Mother

It is a spin on the classic “friends” storyline but with less subtle adults jokes and more alcohol than coffee. The show will have you hooked from the first episode. It will have you laughing and crying in no time as you get to know the characters that will probably remind you of your own group of friends and experiences. It is also the story of hopeless romantic explaining to his children how he met their mom. It will take you on a rollercoaster ride over the nine seasons of comedy and romance.

The West Wing

It is an older show but is perfect for the political science major or if you just love a good drama. It follows the life of President Josiah Bartlet and his set of advisors. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and provides a good idea what it is like to be inside the West Wing. Those inside the White House have even said how authentic the show is. It may not have the same feel as a newer show like House of Cards but it has a much more realistic story.

New Girl

It’s Jess! This follows a group of friends that form after a girl moves in with three guys after her break up with long time boyfriend Spencer. It provides a lot of laughs and some things that friend groups around America might find themselves adopting. Like the “douchebag jar” where money is placed every time someone (Schmidt) does something deemed awful enough to warrant a douchebag fine.

Friday Night Lights

The sounds of the pads crunch and the spotlight shines bright on the stars of a small town high school football team. Most have experienced or watched this play out in their own home town. The show is a spin-off of a highly successful book and movie under the same name. It focuses around a Texas football team and deals with the problems that Middle America is plagued with on a daily basis such as alcoholism and single parent homes.

White Collar

Neal Caffrey is the ultimate con-man and Peter Burke is the best detective that the FBI’s white collar division has ever seen. The two make an unlikely pair after Burke catches Caffery not once but twice. After striking a deal to become Burke’s partner with a leash (in the form of a ankle bracelet), Caffery becomes a key part of the FBI team. He finds ways to use his art of the con for good while chasing ghosts to find his girlfriend Kate. It is not the typical mystery/crime show. It has a plot that sees a lot of twists and turns while also injecting a serious amount of humor. It makes this show a must binge for anyone who enjoys crime tv drama.

I hope you all enjoyed Grant's submission! Keep an eye out for his next article and enjoy these tv shows! Happy Holiday's!