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6 Harmlessly Brainless Netflix Instant Shows To Stream While You're Multi-Tasking

By Joanna Robinson | Lists | May 3, 2013 |

By Joanna Robinson | Lists | May 3, 2013 |


There are thousands of hours of television available on Netflix Instant Watch that you should watch. And there at least a few hundred hours I would recommend you watch before the following six. (“Parenthood” “Being Human” (UK) “Friday Night Lights” “Alias” “Raising Hope” “Luther” “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” “Damages” “Lost” “Top Of The Lake” “Twin Peaks” “Coupling” (UK) “Terriers” “Breaking Bad” “The League” “The West Wing” “Louie” just to name several.) But sometimes you don’t want to sit down and really watch something. Sometimes you have other things to do. I dunno, maybe you’ve got spreadsheet data to enter or household chores to knock out. And sometimes, my friend, you just want something on in the background. Something fluffy and harmlessly brainless. A show where it won’t matter if you go into the other room for 5 minutes or 10 because you won’t miss a damn thing. Yeah, sure, you can put on old episodes of “Frasier” or “Friends” instead, but why not try out some new faces instead?

“Hart Of Dixie”: I know, I know. I too thought this was some idiotic teen soap travesty. And, for the most part it, is. Listen if I tried to map out all the interlocking love triangles I’m pretty sure I would have something resembling a tesseract. What does the show have in its favor besides Rachel Bilson’s beguiling gams? Well I’ll tell you, the setting for the show is so “Gilmore Girls,” I could die. So if you’re nostalgic for a town populated with quirky individuals and near-weekly festivals, parades and talent shows then this here is your kind of fluff. Plus, folks, JASON STREET CAN WALK.
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“Greek”: Completely enjoyable bit of collegiate fun. Though Scott Michael Foster’s Cappie is the ostensible star, I’ve got a soft spot for Clark Duke aka one of the only bright spots on “The Office” this year.
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“The Vampire Diaries”: My best friend and I call this show “The Vampire Dummies.” It’s really supremely stupid. It’s also highly addictive and packed to the brim with scenery chewing pretty boys. What’s not to love?
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“Psych”: I’m sorry, say what you will, this show is just ridiculously fun. What “Community” did sophisticatedly and successfully for two and half seasons, “Psych” has been doing rather clumsily and endearingly for eight. But it’s a good way to keep track of which of your favorite actors from the 80s are still alive. (They’ve all shown up…all of them.) And, I mean, Dule Hill’s face. Come on.
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“Nikita”: Our very own Seth Freilich calls this the perfect gym show. So watch it while you’re busting *ss on the elliptical.
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“Burn Notice”: I’d really only recommend the first few seasons of this enjoyably dumb and explosive USA show. And that’s mostly because I prefer to think of it as “The Increasingly Poor Shirt Decisions Of Bruce Campbell.”
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“Xena: Warrior Princess”: And speaking of Bruce, I’d be remiss if I left off this gem from my childhood. Perfect for people with a passing, fleeting, barely-there knowledge of Greek history and an enduring fondness for lesbians and ululations.
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Added bonus recommendation…

“Scandal”: Scandal isn’t brainless. In fact the twists and turns of the political intrigues are sometimes hard to follow, so I suggest you sit up and pay attention. But I just wanted to say, in regards to last night’s episode, GOOD GOD DAMN. You can stream Season 1 on Netflix, and I heartily suggest you do.
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You say you’ve got better things to do than stream brainless TV shows? Cool, go read a book and get off my lawn.