--- description: Find the perfect off-season replacement (and learn how long it'll take to watch it) title: Summer TV Binge Watch Guide: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, Trophy Wife image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Missing Your Favorite TV Shows This Summer? Here's What to Watch Instead by [Samantha Grossman](/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 14, 2014 1:00 PM CUT by [Samantha Grossman](/author/samantha-grossman/) ## Samantha Grossman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 14, 2014 1:00 PM CUT For regular people, summertime is a _happy_ time: full of sunshine and warmth and good feeling. But for diehard TV fans, the summer can get pretty bleak: all your favorite shows are off the air, and you start to feel like you’re just sitting around wondering why all the meaning has been sucked out of your life. Sure, you could go outside and get some fresh air, or even read a book or two — but that’s silly. Instead, you should spend this summer binge-watching shows that are similar to your favorites from the past year. With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to help satisfy your TV needs and tide you over until your shows come back on the air. Plan your binge-watching schedules accordingly. ### If you’re missing _Game of Thrones_, watch _Spartacus_ _._  Megan Osboe Starz Plenty of graphic violence, explicit sex and epic battle scenes — i.e., the key parts of _Thrones_ you know you’re craving. There’s no Peter Dinklage, of course, but this will definitely hold you over. In fact, it might be even _more_ bloody and salacious than _Game of Thrones_, if you can imagine that. _Time commitment:_ **Medium.** There are only three seasons, but episodes are about an hour long. _Where to watch:_ iTunes, Netflix (DVD only) ### If you’re missing _Modern Family_, watch _Trophy Wife_.  TROPHY WIFE - "The Minutes" - After Kate saves Diane from choking, she takes over the PTA and finds it harder to navigate than she thought. When faced with blackmail, she turns to Diane to make sure "it's handled." Meanwhile, Pete and Jackie confront their former neighbors after they forbid their son to go to the school dance with Hillary, and Warren tries to get Vanessa Hudgens to be his date, on "Trophy Wife," TUESDAY, APRIL 8 (9:31-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Michael Ansell) MARCIA GAY HARDEN, MALIN AKERMAN Michael Ansell—ABC You still get the ragtag crew of weird but lovable family members and a steady supply of laughs, with a little less sappiness. Good if you want something cutesy but smart, entertaining and not mind-numbing. _Time commitment:_ **Low.** There’s only one season and each episode is 22 minutes long, so you’ll breeze through it. (Note: don’t get _too_ attached to this show, as it was [cancelled](http://time.com/96695/a-trophy-wife-eulogy/ "undefined") and won’t get a second season.) _Where to watch:_ Hulu Plus ### If you’re missing _Louie_, watch _Curb Your Enthusiasm_.  HBO Like _Louie, Curb_ centers on a fictionalized version of a famous comedian and often features a series of realistic vignettes, bucking the traditional sitcom format. If _Louie_ makes you sometimes laugh till your stomach hurts and other times just _cringe_ until your soul hurts, _Curb_ is likely to have a similar effect. _Time commitment:_ **High.** With eight seasons to get through, you’ll want to carve out a decent chunk of time if you plan to tackle the whole series. _Where to watch:_ HBO Go ### If you’re missing _The Good Wife_, watch _Damages_.  DAMAGES: Glenn Close as stars as Patty Hewes on the season premiere of DAMAGES airing on Wednesday, Jan. 7 (10 pm e/p) on FX. CR: Andrew McPherson / FX Andrew McPherson—FX If you’re looking for another legal drama with a strong female lead, _Damages_ should scratch your itch. Do beware: it’s a little more violent. _Time commitment:_ **Medium.**The series has five seasons, but you’ll probably get so sucked in that you’ll fly through it. _Where to watch:_ Netflix ### If you’re missing _Broad City_, watch the original _Broad City_ web episodes.  Lane Savage—Comedy Central If you’re panicking about how long you have to wait until this hilarious new comedy returns for its second season, it’s worth the time to go back and see where it all started: as a very low-budget but _super_ entertaining web series. These early episodes are less fleshed out, but the humor is still strong. _Time commitment:_ **Low.** The episodes are just a few minutes long, so you’ll get through them all pretty quickly. There are some bloopers and extras to check out, too. _Where to watch:_ [Broadcitytheshow.com](http://www.broadcitytheshow.com/#episodes "undefined") ### If you’re missing _House of Cards_, watch _24_.  24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY: Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY is set to premiere Monday, May 5 with a special season premiere, two-hour episode (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2014 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Greg Williams/FOX Greg Williams—Fox All the scandal and intrigue and twists — but at a faster pace. Instead of watching Frank Underwood slowly plan out his careful schemes, you’ll watch Jack Bauer taking on terrorists head-on. _Time commitment:_ **High.** With just over 200 episodes, fully committing to _24_ is no small task. _Where to watch:_ iTunes, Netflix (DVD only) ### If you’re missing _Parks and Recreation_, watch _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_.  BROOKLYN NINE-NINE: From Emmy Award-winning writer/producers of "Parks and Recreation" and starring Emmy Award winners Andy Samberg (L) and Andre Braugher (R), BROOKLYN NINE-NINE is a new single-camera workplace comedy about what happens when a hotshot detective (Samberg) gets a new Captain (Braugher) with a lot to prove. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE premieres Tuesday, Sept. 17 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2013 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Patrick Eccelsine/FOX. Patrick Eccelsine—FOX _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_ was created by Michael Schur and Dan Goor, both of whom worked extensively on _Parks and Rec._ The parallels are clear: a workplace comedy featuring an ensemble cast full of wacky weirdos; shenanigans ensue. But _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_ is still finding its footing, and is likely to continue developing a distinct identity. _Time commitment:_ **Low.** Just one season! (This one season was enough to earn the series the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Series.) _Where to watch:_ Hulu Plus ### If you’re missing _True Detective_, watch _Rectify_.  Quantrell Colbert—SundanceTV Everyone seems to be talking about _True Detective_, but fewer people are talking about _Rectify._ This crime-focused drama shares a few key characteristics with _True Detective:_ it’s character-driven, morally complex and moves at a kind of dreamy pace. But, like _True Detective_, it’s also thrilling and grabby and addictive. _Time commitment:_ **Low.** The show is currently in its second season. _Where to watch:_ Netflix for season one, iTunes for the current season ### If you’re missing _Bob’s Burgers_, watch _Home Movies_.  Cartoon Network Like _Bob’s Burgers_, this show was the brainchild of animator and voice actor Loren Bouchard. You’ll notice some direct parallels — some of the characters are voiced by the same actors, for example — but you’ll come to appreciate both shows for their distinct sets of quirks. _Time commitment:_ **Medium.** There are four seasons’ worth of episodes, but you’ll still enjoy the show if you pick and choose random episodes. _Where to watch:_ YouTube, Adultswim.com, Netflix (DVD only) ### If you’re missing _Orange Is the New Black_, watch _Weeds_.  Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy Botwin and Justin Kirk as Andy Botwin (Season 8: episode 13) - Photo: Michael Desmond/SHOWTIME - Photo ID: WEEDS\_813\_0114 Showtime Both shows come from creator Jenji Kohan and center on wealthy, white female leads who commit crimes. Otherwise, though, there are plenty of difference in the shows’ humor, characters and plot lines. And if you already watched _Weeds_ when it aired, it’s especially interesting to go back and compare it to _Orange_. _Time commitment:_ **High.** Eight seasons, with just over 100 episodes. But you can do it. We have faith in you. _Where to watch:_ Netflix ### If you’re missing _Mad Men_, watch _Masters of Sex_.  Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters and Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson in Masters of Sex (season 2, episode 3) - Photo: Courtesy of SHOWTIME - Photo ID: MastersofSex\_SG\_203\_0011 Showtime They’re both period dramas that take place in the mid-20th century, so they’ve got a similar retro vibe. And as TIME [pointed out](http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/18/working-women-masters-of-sex-virginia-and-lillian-are-the-new-joan-and-peggy/ "undefined") when _Masters of Sex_ wrapped up its first season, the show often plays out like a more feminism-minded _Mad Men._ So you get the mid-century hairstyles and costumes you crave, plus a tad more gender equality — and also, more nudity! _Time commitment:_ **Low.** If you catch up on the first season quickly, you’ll be able to watch the second season — which just premiered on July 13 — in real time. _Where to watch:_ iTunes, Showtime ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2973359/best-binge-watching-shows/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2973359/best-binge-watching-shows/"},"headline":"Missing Your Favorite TV Shows This Summer? 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