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The Best Comfort Shows

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The Best Comfort Shows help you forget your worries and let you relax, which is what I have been needing recently. Since I am probably not the only person feeling this way, I put together a list of 46 comforting TV shows.

I love to watch a comfort show right before I go to bed. Often, I start the evening by watching something more current, but right before bed, I want to watch something familiar. Something I know won't stress me out so I can relax and fall asleep.

What makes a show a comfort show?

In my mind, nothing really stressful or bad happens in these shows. Many of the shows on my list of best comfort shows are 20+ years old, set in an era before our lives were complicated by cell phones and the internet. These shows have a sense of nostalgia.

Another element that is present in many comfort shows is that they are set in a darling little town. Idyllic settings, whether Stars Hollow, Pawnee, or Capeside, provide an escape from our lives.

The Best Comfort Shows

I have done my best to indicate how to stream these shows. This list was published in January 2025, and due to the changing nature of streaming, it may not remain accurate. Some shoes are available on multiple streaming services.

Friends

I love how Friends captures the spirit of being in your twenties and living in New York, where everything seems possible. This is one of the most beloved shows of all time for good reasons: the writing is funny, and you find yourself rooting for the characters. (max)

30 Rock

This series, starring Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski, is an absolute classic. The episode entitled Leap Day, which introduces the world to Leap Day William, is a personal favorite. (hulu, Peacock)

How I Met Your Mother

Fans of this show enjoy the clever easter eggs hidden throughout the episodes and the series as a whole. (hulu, Netflix)

Abbott Elementary

A series about a Philadelphia public school and its passionate teachers and somewhat clueless Principal. (hulu, max)

Happy Endings

I've watched this series about a group of friends living in Chicago several times. (hulu)

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Sometimes, laughter provides the most comfort, and this show always makes me laugh. It's totally ridiculous - this type of dark comedy isn't for everyone - and the show's jokes aren't exactly PG. Still, it endured 18 seasons to become the longest-running live-action comedy series in American television history. (hulu)

Frasier

If you are having trouble sleeping, I swear Kelsey Grammer's voice will lull you right to sleep. This Cheers spin-off went on for 11 seasons. (Amazon Prime, hulu, Paramount+)

Gilmore Girls

Arguably the most comforting show of all time, this show focuses on a mother/daughter duo in an idyllic Connecticut town. The town, Stars Hollow, is filled with unique personalities, from Luke, owner of the diner, to Miss Patti, the dance teacher, and no-so-handyman Kurt. (Netflix)

The Nanny

The 90s fashion is so fun, and I love the cast. This is a show that is low-stress but has a lot of silly hijinks. (Peacock)

Parks & Recreation

A gem of a show that balances sweetness and comedy. This show made Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, and Aziz Ansari famous. Nick Offerman is unforgettable as Ron Swanson, and Amy Poehler's lead has both heart and a funnybone. This show has seven seasons, perhaps enough to get you through this long winter. (Peacock)

Community

Community is equally fun and funny. It's full of long-running inside jokes and clever references. The first five seasons ran on NBC, and after cancellation, it was brought back for a sixth on Yahoo! Pillows and Blankets, the 14th episode of season 3, uses a mock History Channel documentary style to tell the tale of a war between pillow and blanket forts, is a personal favorite. (Peacock)

Hart of Dixie

Set in Alabama but using the same set as Gilmore Girls, this Rachel Bilson show about a New York doctor moving to a small Southern town is darling. It has a hint of medical drama and lots of memorable characters. I would say this show opened the door for Virgin River. In both, Tim Matheson plays a curmudgeonly small-town doctor reluctant to hire new staff. If you like one show, I think you will enjoy the other. (Amazon Prime)

Schitt's Creek

A laugh-out-loud show that gets funnier with each rewatch. You will find yourself quoting this show non-stop, from "Ew, David" to "fold it in". Getting into this one can take a couple of episodes, but it's worth the effort. (Amazon Prime and hulu)

The Great British Bakeoff (aka The British Baking Show)

Most reality shows thrive on stress, but this baking competition is soothing. The contestants root for each other; tears are usually shed when someone goes home. Skill and creativity shine here. (Netflix)

Parenthood

Another show starring Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood follows three generations of the Braverman family. Unlike most of the shows on this list, Parenthood is a drama, not a comedy. It is relatable and enjoyable to watch. (hulu)

Ted Lasso

A lovable show about an American football coach who moves to England to coach soccer and charms his way into everyone's lives. It seems like everyone loves this show. I enjoy that it is actually filmed in London, which gives it a bit more personality. (Apple TV)

Ghosts

There are both US and UK versions of this silly comedy about a couple that inherits a rundown mansion. When the wife hits her head, she gains the ability to see the many ghosts who call the property home. The premise of the US and UK versions is the same, but characters are slightly different to align with American and British history. (Amazon Prime, Paramount+)

Dawson's Creek

I grew up watching this show, and have rewatched it recently. Did you know that if you have Samsung TV, you have a channel that airs Dawson's Creek 24/7? This is the rare high school show that made it into the college years without losing its spark. There are six seasons of this show about teens living in a small coastal New England town. (hulu)

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights has a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show focuses on a high school football team in rural Texas. (Amazon Prime)

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Imagine a female-led murder mystery series with the vibe of Downton Abbey and storylines similar to Miss Marple. You may not have heard of this Australian series set in Melbourne in the 1920s, but it is a delight. The murder mystery storylines are engaging without being very gruesome, and the fashion of the 1920s adds an element of glamour. The episodes end with the mystery story being neatly tied into a bow, so viewers are not left with anything to fret about. There are three seasons of this show, plus a movie and a "modern" spin-off set in the 1960s. (Amazon Prime and Apple TV)

Sweet Magnolias

A sweet show set in the South that focuses on female friendships, motherhood, and romance. (Netflix)

Palm Royale

Kristen Wiig leads this cast in this series about socialites in the 1960s. Carol Burnett, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, and Ricky Martin round out the cast. Season one aired last year, and it will be back for a second. (Apple TV)

Pushing Daisies

This series about a pie maker who can bring dead people back to life with his touch is cute and quirky, with a visual design to make it feel like a storybook brought to life. (max)

The Buccaneers

A Gilded-era drama about American women sent to London to find husbands. If you enjoyed Downton Abbey and Bridgerton, watch this next. (Apple TV)

Loot

Maya Rudolph stars as a woman who has freshly divorced her billionaire husband and is trying to figure out how to spend her time and her massive divorce settlement. (Apple TV)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

From the same creators of Gilmore Girls, this series set in the 1950s and 60s follows Midge Maisel as she goes from a New York City housewife to a comedienne. (Amazon Prime)

Modern Love

Based on the New York Times column of the same name, each episode tells a different real-life love story. (Amazon Prime)

Downton Abbey

A British historical drama set in the early 1900s that follows an aristocratic family, their household staff, and all their romance and drama. (Netflix, Peacock)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

An outrageously funny show about a police precinct in Brooklyn that blends comedy and mystery. (Netflix, Peacock)

Younger

When a mom in her forties can't seem to get a job after taking time to raise her daughter, she lies about her age to get an entry-level job in publishing. (Netflix)

Call the Midwife

A British drama about a group of midwives in London in the 1950s. Some episodes can be sad, but most are heartwarming and uplifting. (Netflix)

Virgin River

Set in a tiny town in the Pacific Northwest, this drama is centered on a nurse looking for a fresh start. (Netflix)

Bridgerton

A Regency-era romance that follows the Bridgerton siblings as they search for spouses in London society. This one can get steamy. (Netflix)

Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie think that their husbands are taking them to dinner to announce that they are finally retiring, but instead, they announce that they are gay and in love with each other. Grace and Frankie become unlikely friends as they learn to navigate life as divorced women. Just a warning that vibrators become a significant plot point, so this isn't exactly family-friendly. (Netflix)

Modern Family

A multi-generational comedy with a big ensemble cast that won 22 Emmys during its 11-season run. (hulu, Peacock)

The Office

A mockumentary about a paper company and the well-intentioned but not quite capable boss and employees. (Peacock)

Scrubs

A silly medical comedy set at Sacred Heart Hospital. (Peacock)

New Girl

This show, with a balance of comedy and heart, follows a group of roommates in LA. (Peacock)

Beverly Hills 90210

One of the most iconic shows of the 90s, 90210, the series follows a group of friends from high school to adulthood throughout ten seasons. (Paramount+)

Bob Hearts Abishola

A romantic comedy about a businessman who falls in love with his nurse after suffering a heart attack. (Paramount+, max)

Sex and the City

Four friends balance friendships, relationships, and careers in New York City in the late 90s and early 2000s. This series is so memorable because it was filmed on location in NYC. That, and all the fashion. (max)

Entourage

Entourage can be described as the male version of Sex and the City. Set in LA, the show is loosely based on the life of Mark Wahlberg and his friends. (max)

Glee

A musical that follows a high school glee club and the complicated lives of its members. Each episode is packed with music, including current hits and show tunes. (Disney+)

Black-ish

A family comedy about a wealthy black family living in a predominantly white suburban neighborhood. The series has a pair of spin-offs: grown-ish and mixed-ish. (Disney+)

Fresh Off the Boat

Based on a memoir, the show centers on an immigrant family living in Florida in the 1990s. (Disney+)

The Bold Type

A trio of women in their twenties juggle friendship, careers at a fashion magazine and their love lives. This is a fun one to watch. (Disney+)