Let's get one thing straight—staying informed is important, and we would never suggest otherwise. But election night can be seriously stressful, especially when election "night" could stretch out over the next several days. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of some of the coziest comfort shows currently streaming. If you need some counterprogramming from the news or you're just looking for a quick break, try dipping into one of the following series, and see if it doesn't lower your blood pressure immediately. And for more comfort content, check out The Best Feel-Good Movies To Instantly Boost Your Mood.
Read the original article on Best Life.
1 | The Great British Baking Show
NetflixWhether you're a baker or just someone who appreciates baked goods, an actual British person or merely an Anglophile, there are few series more soothing than The Great British Baking Show, which is streaming on Netflix. Yes, it's a competition, but the stakes are too low to induce stress. And if you're looking for a binge you can get lost in, these are The 20 TV Shows Streaming on Netflix That Have the Most Episodes.
2 | The Baby-Sitters Club
NetflixYou don't have to be a fan of the original book series to appreciate Netflix's very 2020 take on The Baby-Sitters Club, and you certainly don't have to be a kid. It's warm and wholesome, yes, but it's also smart, funny, and, most importantly, distracting.
3 | Girlfriends
CBS Television DistributionOh, sure, these women weren't your actual friends. But if you watched Girlfriends when it aired from 2000 to 2008, you formed some tight bonds with these ladies—and you'll have a great time checking in with them on Netflix. And for more TV nostalgia, revisit these 20 Beloved TV Shows You Won't Believe Are 20 Years Old.
4 | Nailed It!
NetflixA Netflix original baking competition series that reminds us all it's OK to fail sometimes. Actually, it's really rather funny, especially when you're getting commentary from Nicole Byer. And for more great Netflix series, these are The Best Netflix Shows Ever, According to Critics.
5 | The Golden Girls
Buena Vista TelevisionThank you for being a friend, The Golden Girls. The jokes from this classic series, currently streaming on Hulu, still hold up, but so does the feeling of comfort that the show has always instilled in us.
6 | Living Single
AF archive / Alamy Stock PhotoBefore Friends, there was Living Single, and while the former may have gotten more mainstream attention during the '90s, it's the latter that has really held up. Credit the fabulous cast, the sharp writing, and the depiction of a more diverse New York. Then stream the series on Netflix. And for more fun content delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
7 | Chopped
Food NetworkYou can't watch every episode of Chopped on Hulu, but frankly, there have been far too many episodes at this point for that to be remotely advisable anyway. Nevertheless, you'll have plenty to choose from, and while the show can get a little stressful, the repetitive nature of the format will keep you pretty chill.
8 | The Simpsons
FoxThe Simpsons has been on the air for so long at this point that there's a good chance you've tuned in at one time or another. Disney+ has a whopping 31 seasons streaming—distract yourself with nostalgia or by finding an episode you've never seen. And for more series that have lasted forever, these are The 40 Longest-Running American TV Shows of All Time.
9 | Cheers
ViacomCBS Domestic Media NetworksSometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, even if that's a fictional bar. Cheers, which is streaming on Hulu, always feels like home, and there's no better place to escape to when you really don't want to pay attention to what's actually happening around you.
10 | Schitt’s Creek
Debmar-Mercury / Lionsgate TelevisionWhat was once a small indie fave became a massive mainstream hit, but if you never jumped on the Schitt's Creek bandwagon, there's no time like the present. The show has just the right blend of humor and heart, which makes it the ideal watch for the current moment. Stream it on Netflix.
11 | Emily in Paris
NetflixIs Emily in Paris good? That doesn't really matter. The point is, there are pretty dresses, pretty Parisian locales, and pretty Parisians. If you're truly in the mood for something mindless, this Netflix original series is top-tier mundanity.
12 | Gilmore Girls
Warner Bros. Domestic Television DistributionTravel back to a simpler time by dipping into the Gilmore Girls, streaming on Netflix. Things do occasionally get political in Stars Hollow, and there are some real moments of angst and heartbreak, but on the whole, the show feels as cozy as—well, as a Connecticut bed and breakfast.
13 | Supermarket Sweep
YouTube/LifetimeSupermarket shopping became anxiety-inducing in 2020, but Supermarket Sweep became all the rage when Netflix decided to pick up a handful of retro episodes. This is arguably the most stressful show on the list, but it's also an endless distraction. Once you've made your way through the Netflix episodes, there are even more on Amazon Prime, and don't forget the Leslie Jones-hosted reboot, which you can find on Hulu!
14 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
20th TelevisionOK, Buffy the Vampire Slayer can also be pretty stressful, but it's one of the most compellingly rewatchable series ever made, and the rich mythology will get you hooked and keep you from thinking about anything else. You can watch the whole thing on Hulu.
15 | Frasier
CBS Television DistributionA spin-off of Cheers that's somewhat more erudite but just as comforting—particularly if you appreciate the gentle neuroses and off-kilter charm of the Crane brothers—Frasier is well worth a Hulu stream.
16 | Real Housewives
BravoWhich Real Housewives, you ask? Frankly, any will do. Several cities are streaming in their entirety on Hulu—at least up to the current season—and if you want to focus on other people's problems, or just watch rich people spend too much money, this is the ideal escapist franchise.
17 | The Brady Bunch
CBS Television DistributionThey just don't make them like this anymore, and that's probably for the best. The Brady Bunch is very much of its time, but maybe that's what you need right now. Check out and feel groovy on Hulu or CBS All Access.
18 | House Hunters International
HGTVAnother series that has far too many episodes to actually watch, House Hunters International functions both as background noise and as gripping entertainment, depending on what you're looking for. Think about which house you'd pick. Think about which foreign country you might want to live in. Think about nothing at all! Just press play on one of the many, many episodes available on Hulu. And for another pick-me-up, check out 33 Feel-Good Photos to Distract You from the World.
