We all need a little positivity in our lives. The stress of juggling college work, internships, friends and family can get to even the best of us and sometimes all you want to do is kick back and relax with some good ‘ol silver screen escapism. That’s where feel good TV shows come in.
With that in mind, here are the five feel good TV shows I go back to again and again when life is getting me down (pick-me-ups guaranteed, every time)!
Table of Contents
Friends
Ah, where would we be without it? Friends is nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon. Spanning 10 years and 10 seasons, the NYC adventures of Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross defined a generation. Like fellow sitcom behemoth Sex and the City, the show most definitely put a rose-colored spin on city-living as twenty-something and has been (rightfully) criticized in recent years for some of its outdated views.
Nevertheless, Friends is just as funny the sixth time you watch it as the first. The gags are hilariously quotable, the acting is impeccable, and the ’90s nostalgia permeates each episode. Although Friends does touch on some tough topics, it does so sensitively, always leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside by the closing credits.
Ugly Betty
Based on the telenovela of the same name, Ugly Betty is in my opinion one of the most heartfelt, upbeat television series of all time. This classic show, which ran on ABC for four seasons, stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a Latina woman who dreams of one day running her own magazine.
However, when she is given the opportunity to work as assistant to the editor-in-chief at MODE (the show’s equivalent to real-life Vogue), Betty realises just how cut-throat the fashion (and publishing) worlds can be.
Last year I underwent minor surgery and was bedridden for three torturous weeks. But I can honestly say that my subsequent Ugly Betty marathon really helped with the pain (and boredom). This is definitely the show to watch when you’re at rock bottom. You’ll thank me later.
Glee
Another one of those classic feel good TV shows to help you beat the blues, Glee‘s premise is simple: a high-school teacher with a passion for performing unites a team of high-school misfits to form an all-singing, all-dancing glee club. The result? Six seasons of pure, unadulterated musical escapism.
Glee is my go-to show whenever I’m feeling stressed AF. There’s just something about watching talented young high-schoolers achieve their dreams that inspires you to try to live out your own. I used Glee to get through my finals last November, tuning in to an episode or two when the stress of exams became overwhelming.
Try it for yourself, and if you’re already caught up, Glee is just as enjoyable the second time around.
Gavin & Stacey
For those of you unfamiliar with this classic British sitcom, Gavin and Stacey was written by comedy duo James Corden (yes, that James Corden, of Carpool Karaoke fame) and Ruth Jones. The series is centered on a cross-country love affair between English man Gavin Shipman and Welsh woman Stacey West, as they try to join two families (and opposing British cultures) together.
Chock-full of cheeky British humor, this heartfelt and uplifting series is perfect for fans of both the US (and British) versions of Ricky Gervais’ The Office. Better still? The show is returning this Winter for a once-off Christmas special! Tidy.
Gilmore Girls
Finally, we all know this one. Gilmore Girls made household names of Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham, and with good reason. Running from 2000-2007, the series documents the lives of mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.
Set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, the show’s witty dialogue and excellent supporting cast have made it one of the most popular series of the 21st century. Subsequently, Netflix rebooted GG for one final season, debuting Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life in November 2016.
If you’re looking for a heart-warming series to restore your faith in humanity, this is it.
What are your favorite feel good TV shows?
Did one of your favorite upbeat TV shows make the cut? Do you have any upbeat TV show recommendations that I have left out? Let me know in the comments below, I can’t wait to hear from you!
Pin for later:
Parks and Recreation, Fixer Upper, Great British Baking Show….Bob Ross.
Love this! It was a reminder for me to start watching Ugly Betty! Gilmore Girls is definitely on my list…and so is Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl. I find all of the drama (realistic or not) distracting and calming.