TV can be a great escape when life gets too stressful and hectic, although some shows are better than others. While pulse-raising TV shows are also great, they’re not always what’s needed after a long day. Shows which provide comfort and light entertainment can often be the best medicine.

Gentle comedies tend to be the best shows to reduce stress levels. Catharsis is also powerful, but it’s not worth risking certain dramas that might bring up unwanted stress. The perfect balance is usually an uplifting, positive show with a good blend of emotion and comedy. Ideally, it should be immersive enough to let people forget about their worries for a while.

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For the most part,Bob’s Burgersavoids the sentimentality that can often turn family sitcoms into extremely emotional shows. It’s a low-key comedy with a lot of deadpan humor in place of heartfelt drama. That’s not to say thatBob’s Burgersdoesn’t have some heartwarming moments, and the Belcher family are easy to love.

Thebest episodes ofBob’s Burgersshow that the Belcher family may have their quirks, but their love for one another and their dedication is still relatable. There’s also a high rate of jokes, like most animated sitcoms, and the different ages of the characters mean that there’s a variety of comedic styles.

Detectorists (2014)

While there are countless sitcoms about friends in their 20s and 30s hanging out in big cities,Detectoristsis a different kind of comedy about friendship. The show follows two middle-aged friends who ignore their problems together by going out in the picturesque fields of England with their metal detectors in hand, dreaming of uncovering a load of ancient treasure.

Detectoristsrevolves around two great performancesfrom Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones, who capture the strange dichotomy of ambition and resignation that hangs over their characters. Despite their dreams of striking it rich, there’s an implicit understanding that the real value lies in the peculiar friendship that they develop.

Psych Show Poster

Most crime shows and detective shows are all about getting the blood pumping. Even some more comedic shows likeMonkandDeadlochhave moments of devastating heartbreak.Psychis a little different, maintaining its irreverent, snarky humor throughout every investigation.

10 Comforting TV Shows That Are Great For Multiple Watches

The best comfort shows keep loyal viewers watching because they have heartwarming stories, interesting characters, and generally good episodes.

Psychdoesn’t quite fit into the cozy crime subgenre,because the mysteries often seem secondary to the hilarious dynamic between the two main characters. It would be enjoyable to watch Shawn and Gus do just about anything, as long as their quick-fire banter is in full flow.Psych’s best episodescan be exciting puzzles, but they rarely feel truly dangerous.

Imagery from Parks-&-Recreation, The Office

In times of intense stress, many people seek to retreat into the realm of fantasy, and this is what makesAdventure Timesuch a soothing treat.Adventure Timeis intelligent and funny enough to appeal to people of all ages, although its colorful, whimsical charms certainly give it the carefree glow of childhood.

Adventure Time’s zany, unpredictable humor and its cast of eccentric characters allow it to delve into horror and thought-provoking sci-fi without ever feeling too heavy. For every emotional episode, there are a dozen joyous, low-stakes adventures in the land of Ooo, focusing on the endearing friendship of Jake and Finn.

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Ted Lassostars Jason Sudeikis as a college football coach who is hired to coach a Premier League soccer team in London despite his egregious lack of experience. When Ted arrives, his earnest charms and optimism shake up a cynical world, and this effect accurately reflects the way that the show stands out compared to more cynical, dark comedy shows.

Ted Lasso’s optimistic philosophy is hard to resist, especially because the show’s characters are all so beautifully crafted. Ted, Rebecca, and the entire team are all worth rooting for, although the show doesn’t measure success on the pitch. Since the season 3 finale wrapped everything up in a bow, it’s come as a pleasant surprise thatTed Lassoseason 4is in the works.

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When life gets too stressful to cope with,Gilmore Girlsoffers a window into an alternative reality in which everyone is a little kinder, smarter and better with words. The town of Stars Hollow has become an idyllic retreat for many people, with its bizarre cultural festivals and its unflinching sense of community.

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After a taxing day, the ideal TV show offers comfort and relaxation, and these 10 shows will help to put stressed out viewers in a better mood.

Gilmore Girlshas some gentle drama, but there’s nothing that can’t be overcome by Rory and Lorelai’s unorthodox mother-daughter relationship.Thanks to the wonderful chemistry between Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham, their dynamic rings true, but they are just two lovable characters in a show packed with others. This makesGilmore Girlsthe ultimate comfort show, and one worth watching over and over again.

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Unlike most ghost stories,Ghostshas more in common with house-sharing sitcoms than horror movies. The story follows a young couple who inherit a crumbling mansion in the English countryside, only to discover that it’s teeming with all the specters of people who have died there throughout the centuries.

Ghostshas an American remake, which has just been renewed for two more seasons.

The Golden Girls and Janine from Abbott Elementary

Ghostsis a fun slice of historical comedy, with each character representing a stereotype of a specific era, like the egotistical Regency-era poet and the stoic, orderly World War II captain. Gradually, these overblown characters reveal themselves to be far more nuanced and human than they first appear, andGhostshas some touching moments sprinkled into its uproarious comedy.

The Baking Show Goes Against The Grain Of Reality TV

The Great British Bake-Off- orThe Great British Baking Show- ignores the trends of other reality shows or TV competitions, in which cut-throat challenges promote subterfuge and reward aggression. Instead, it’s a wholesome, heartwarming slice of life with a community feeling to it.

From the music to the interludes that show a pastoral paradise around the tent,The Great British Bake-Offis a welcoming show. It gets a lot of its appeal from the ingenuity and the uplifting personal stories of its contestants, rather than artificially-heightened drama.It’s also an aspirational watch for anyone with a sweet toothor a flair for art and design.

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Taskmasterassembles some of the funniest comedians around and asks them to complete ludicrous challenges, like getting a potato into a golf hole or impressing the mayor of Chesham. These tasks are all designed to squeeze the ingenuity, audacity and unbridled rage out of the contestants.

10 Uplifting TV Shows To Help You Get Through A Hard Time

Everyone has their own comfort watches they return to in tough times, but there are some shows with uplifting messages which can be extra meaningful.

Taskmastersoon became a sensation, and created a flood of spinoffs all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand and the United States.It’s a brilliant game show without any of the tension that the genre usually trades in.The appeal here is all about the bizarre lengths contestants go to when they are confronted by unusual situations.

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Schitt’s Creekhas gained a passionate fan base over the years, thanks to its defiantly upbeat tone. The story follows the wealthy Rose family as they are defrauded of their assets and must move to a small backwater town far from the life of luxury they’re used to.

Schitt’s Creekhas gained a passionate fan base over the years, thanks to its defiantly upbeat tone.

Thebest episodes ofSchitt’s Creekcan make fans cry as well as laugh, as the Roses grow closer together after a lifetime of pampered social isolation.While it can be extremely emotional, it’s always positive and uplifting, making it a great show to escape from the stresses of life.