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People Are Pointing Out The Greatest Comfort Shows Ever, And This Is Exactly What I Needed Right Now

"It's like going home and seeing family."

Morgan Sloss
by Morgan Sloss

BuzzFeed Staff

When life gets ya down, there's nothing better than turning to a favorite TV show where all the characters feel like old friends.

Scene from Friends in the kitchen
Paul Drinkwater / Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Well, Reddit user u/RunningInCali recently posed the question, "What TV show is your go-to comfort show?"

CBC

And there were so many great answers! Here are some of the top-voted responses:

1. Parks and Recreation

Leslie and Ann from Parks and Rec hugging
Colleen Hayes / NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

"It's the perfect feel-good show. It reminds me of easier times."

—u/thequietthingsthat

"This was the first show I watched after a really devastating breakup. Leslie is just so positive, and the vibe is so happy and light. I love it to this day."

—u/hhffhnuffg

2. Malcolm in the Middle

Four boys using spray cans
Larry Watson / Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Not only is it a fantastically well-made show, but my family's problems exist to a greater degree in their family. They're a troubled family but ultimately have great lives. It's comforting."

—u/Cartossin

3. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Will and Carlton standing at a kitchen table and talking to each other
NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I could watch entire marathons of it, back to back, and still never get tired of it."

—u/ZenMacros

4. Monk

Monk and Natalie looking at something off camera
Vivian Zink / USA Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Oddly enough, I really love rewatching Monk from time to time as it gives me comfort about my own self. Even though it’s a fictional show, it was the only show where I’ve been able to fully relate to its main character. It helped me come to terms with and fully accept my mental quirks. Just because I suffer from severe social anxiety and various phobias doesn't make me any less of a person than anyone else. Abnormalities aren’t inherently bad, and there are plenty of real people out there that you can connect with or relate to."

—u/BradRodriguez

5. The Great British Bake Off

Judges Paul, Prue, and Noel stand at a table
Mark Bourdillon / Channel Four / Love Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection

"The very definition of a comfort show. It's like being in a warm bath that never goes cold."

—u/CyanManta

"I’m American, and I find the British accents incredibly soothing. It’s also so different from American baking shows, which is a huge plus, IMO. I love how nice everyone is to each other, and it seems to be a bit slower paced than American shows, which I also love."

—u/imgoodygoody

6. Golden Girls

The four golden girls smiling at each other
Touchstone Television / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I watched a ton of Golden Girls with my grandparents when I was a kid. Some of my favorite memories are of my sisters and me lying on the shag rug in their living room, laughing our asses off at that show. Didn’t realize until adulthood how many bawdy jokes flew right over our heads. Decades later, that shit is still funny."

—u/LuLu31

7. Futurama

The animated character Fry stands in a doorway
20th Television

"I have so many good memories laughing at it with friends. It brings me back."

—u/throwingplaydoh

8. Derry Girls

The girls sitting in a hallway in uniform
Channel 4

"My partner and I have watched this so many times, we have it memorized. And we quote it to each other almost daily. It’s such a genius show!"

—u/Bloebmn

9. The Office

Dwight holds a gift basket behind Michael
Ron Tom / NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I've rewatched The Office a few hundred times, and I can still go to any season, pick a random episode, and love it just as much. There's something so warm about knowing what's going to happen."

—u/Saddboi1999

"Never get tired of it. It's really good company."

—u/thisisridiculiculous

10. Psych

Shawn and Gus, holding a pipe, stand together
USA Networks / USA Networks / Courtesy Everett Collection

"This is one of my favorite comfort shows to rewatch! My friends and I used to watch it during study breaks back when I was in school. Even after all this time, it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Gus will forever be my favorite."

—u/thematrix1234

11. Avatar: The Last Airbender

Nickelodeon

"When I was a kid, ATLA was just a really cool show that I liked to watch with my sister and friends. But for me as an adult in his mid-20s who was going through some serious mental health issues and big life changes, this show was pretty much therapy."

—u/Fred_Foreskin

"IMO, this is legit the best show ever, in terms of world building, wholesomeness, and character development. For something that was supposed to be a kids show, it's mind-blowingly good and is amazing on so many freaking levels."

—u/bottomofastairwell

12. Modern Family

Manny wearing Mickey ears and Gloria stand at a gate with water behind them
Peter "Hopper" Stone / ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Five years ago during the holidays, I was really depressed, and my heat went out during an ice storm. Huddled under the blankets with emergency heat running, I decided to start watching a Modern Family marathon because I had never watched it before. Now it’s a comfort show because it got me through a rough night."

—u/RevSnakebite

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek characters standing outside
Paramount Television / Courtesy Everett Collection

"My dad and I butted heads a lot when I was a teen, and sometimes it got pretty heated. But no matter what had happened or what had been said, at the end of the day, we could always sit and watch TNG together. Now, some 20 years later, it still helps me when I've had a bad day."

—u/CaptainDrunkBeard

14. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Rosa and Amy stand in the precinct
John P. Fleenor / Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"Overall, super silly but good at the same time."

—u/PoopyInMyPants

15. Bob's Burgers

Animated characters stand in the bathroom
Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"It's an adult cartoon, so no unattainable body or style bullshit to make me feel bad. They are constantly broke, but not so broke it hurts (relatable). Always nerds or outcasts but never alone, check. Manageable shenanigans with the assist of a couple of loved ones, hella check. It's the feel-good show of the century — fight me."

—u/BigWoodsCatNappin

"It's like going home and seeing family. You feel like everything is going to be okay, and you're not alone."

—u/SummerOfMayhem

16. What We Do in the Shadows

People gathered around a table in a dimly lit room
FX

"The way Colin just perfectly pinpoints the way to annoy and bore humans is so spot on. Him using social media to rile up and drain people is one of my favorite scenes."

—u/astrowiitch

"This show always makes me laugh."

—u/broknkittn

17. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Anthony sitting in a casual restaurant and picking up a sandwich
Travel Channel

"Anthony Bourdain had this way of making you feel immersed in these far-flung destinations and cultures. When working six or seven days a week with a full-time job and a part-time job, I often feel caged by work, sleep, repeat. Anthony and his show seemed to open that cage and put me at ease, if only for a moment. RIP, Mr. Bourdain, and thank you."

—u/randomandy90

18. Community

Troy gesturing at a table
Colleen Hayes / NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection

"I hadn't watched it until the early days of the pandemic. I've watched it all the way through seven times now. It might be my religion."

—ulkplis

19. And Finally, That '70s Show

The six teen friends stand together
20th Century Fox / Courtesy Everett Collection

"It was on in the background of my life from junior high onward. It's still funny and quotable. I laughed, cried, hurt, and smiled with the characters growing up. It's an important part of my emotional history."

—u/Ashley9225

What's your go-to comfort show? LMK in the comments below!

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.