It would be remiss to say we aren't all going through some stressful times at the moment, and in the words of Mary J. Blige, "no more drama in my life." I don't know about you but what I need right now are binge-able shows where I can just sit back, smile, relax and have a laugh. Luckily SBS On Demand has a handy Feel-good TV collection available now, so you can let the good times roll.
Happy Endings
These aren't your regular friends. Happy Endings is your classic 'hang-out' sitcom, but with a twist. The absurdity of the comedy is turned up to 11, it is meta, slightly bizarre and has gag after gag after gag. In a nut-shell this comedy is about 6 thirty-something friends living in Chicago, and it all kicks off when Alex is a runaway bride from her wedding to Dave. Initially the show is about the friends trying to figure out the group dynamics after the disastrous wedding, but the story progresses beyond that incredibly quickly. This has become a cult favourite after being cancelled far too soon and has not been available to stream in Australia... until now.
New Girl
The perfect way to chill out is by binge-watching a long-running comedy, and it doesn't get much better than 7 seasons and 146 episodes of New Girl. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, the show begins with Jess (Zooey Deschanel) discovering that her boyfriend is cheating on her, so she moves into a loft with three single guys. Like Happy Endings the show moves past the initial premise quite quickly and becomes a funny 'hang-out' show about a bunch of lovable (and quirky) characters who love a running gag.
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The Last Man on Earth
This show may seem a little too close to home at the moment – who would have thought that The Last Man on Earth would become a relatable comedy, but here we are. Created by Will Forte, the show follows Phil (a.k.a Tandy) wandering around alone 2 years after a virus has wiped out the human race, until he meets some fellow survivors. This show can be cringe-worthy, hilarious and emotional all in one episode and its loyal fan-base were hoping that this dark comedy like Brooklyn Nine-Nine would be saved after it was cancelled. Alas it was not to be, but we are lucky to have 4 seasons of this original and binge-able show to enjoy.
Cavendish
Canada has been releasing some top-notch comedy lately and Cavendish is right up there with the best. Brothers Mark and Andy return to Cavendish for the first time since childhood to care for their ailing father who runs The Museum of the Strange and Fantastic. Mark (the golden boy) and Andy (the striver) quickly find out that Cavendish is not like other towns. Weird things happen here – creepy things the townspeople seem to take in stride. There may or may not be a "beast" that roams the surrounding woods, there are possessed ancient statues and an Anne of Green Gables cult. There's at least one coven. They become embroiled in some weird misadventures, and soon realise their family dynamic hasn’t changed much since they were kids.
Ku'Damm 56 & Ku'Damm 59
What happens when the daughter of a prestigious dance school proprietor discovers American rock 'n' roll? You get the wonderfully stylish German mini-series Ku'Damm 56. Caterina Schöllack runs the Berlin dance school "Gallant" and wants nothing more than to see her three daughters married and secure. Two seem happy to follow their mother's wishes, but Monika rejects the given path and discovers rock 'n' roll. The women of this generation were searching for a new female identity, and were inspired by the burgeoning demand for equal rights. In the second series Ku'Damm 59 it is three years later and we are back with Caterina and her now very different daughters, who are searching for their identity on the brink of a new era of female empowerment.
Shrill
Based on the best-selling book by Lindy West and developed by and starring SNL favourite Aidy Bryant, Shrill is the funny and relatable show you can easily binge because it's so enjoyable (and sadly only has 14 x 30-minute episodes). Annie (Aidy Bryant) works at a street paper, but isn't writing about the things she truly cares about, all while juggling bad boyfriends, an ill father and a perfectionist boss (played incredibly by John Cameron-Mitchell), but her best friend and roommate Fran (Lolly Adefope) is always there to give support and advice. She wants to change her life – but not her body. The series tackles body positivity, but isn't bound to that one issue; it seamlessly blends comedy with everyday problems. Annie is not a perfect character, far from it, but that's what makes her so relatable and funny.
You're the Worst
If you are after an anti-romcom then You're the Worst is for you, and who doesn't love to watch two awful people fall in love! Narcissistic, brash and self-destructive Jimmy (Chris Geere) thinks all relationships are doomed. Cynical, people-pleasing and stubborn Gretchen (Aya Cash), knows that relationships aren’t for her. So when they meet at a wedding, it’s only natural that the two of them go home together and, despite their better judgement, begin to find themselves falling for each other. This show puts a dark twist on the romantic comedy genre, it's a modern look at love and happiness told through the eyes of two people who haven’t been very successful with either. It's the story of Gretchen and Jimmy, fear, heartbreak, romance, sex, food, Los Angeles, friendship, and the fact that sometimes the worst people make the best partners.
Robbie Hood
Dylan River and Kodie Bedford have taken that well-known character from English folklore and given it an Indigenous Australian point of view and placed him right in the middle of modern-day Alice Springs. Robbie Hood is only 13, but already he's famous in Alice. Famous for being a precocious little misfit with a heart of gold who does the right thing, even when it's a little bit wrong. With characters and scenarios instantly recognisable to the folklore tale, but with an Aussie country town twist, this show is fun children's entertainment that has an authentic spirit. Adults will love it, too.
The Pizza Show
What is more feel-good than pizza? Order some delicious take-away from your favourite local pizzeria, sit down and enjoy The Pizza Show, a series that explores the wonderful world of pizza. Our host Frank Pinello – owner of 'Best Pizza' in Williamsburg, Brooklyn – travels around the world eating great pizza, from deep-dish to tavern-style thin and meeting even greater people. In season 2 there is even more pizza, from Naples to The World's Largest Pizza Convention and everywhere in between, Frank Pinello embarks on a serious pizza journey.
Team Chocolate
Friendship, family, chocolate and falling in love. The Belgian TV drama Team Chocolate is the heart-warming and feel-good series we need right now. Jasper Vloemans is a young man with Down syndrome who dreams of becoming independent. He is overjoyed when he gets a packer's job at the Tytgat Chocolat factory. He and his co-worker Tina fall in love, but tragedy strikes when there's an issue with Tina's asylum seeker status and she is deported back to Kosovo. Jasper is not one to give up on the woman he loves, so he and a group of his friends from the factory set off on a road trip across Europe to find Tina and bring her home.
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