--- title: The New Class of Comfort TV: 16 Shows to Watch When You Run Out of Friends and The Office description: Finished 'The West Wing'? Try 'Borgen' canonical: https://time.com/5930114/best-comfort-tv-shows/ author: Judy Berman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2021-02-10T16:30:24.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-12T16:20:26.000Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: The New Class of Comfort TV: 16 Shows to Watch When You Run Out of Friends and The Office og:description: Finished 'The West Wing'? Try 'Borgen' og:url: https://time.com/5930114/best-comfort-tv-shows/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte389581b45eeb086/698a170e09208f3117417a90/the-new-class-of-comfort-tv.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: the-new-class-of-comfort-tv og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The New Class of Comfort TV: 16 Shows to Watch When You Run Out of Friends and The Office twitter:description: Finished 'The West Wing'? Try 'Borgen' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte389581b45eeb086/698a170e09208f3117417a90/the-new-class-of-comfort-tv.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The New Class of Comfort TV: 16 Shows to Watch When You Run Out of _Friends_ and _The Office_ by [Judy Berman](/author/judy-berman/) and [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/) Updated: Dec 12, 2023 4:20 PM CUTPublished: Feb 10, 2021 4:30 PM CUT  From left: Issa Rae’s Insecure should satisfy Friends fans; Ted Lasso would make Leslie Knope proud; Teenage Bounty Hunters assumes the mantle from Buffy From left: Issa Rae’s Insecure should satisfy Friends fans; Ted Lasso would make Leslie Knope proud; Teenage Bounty Hunters assumes the mantle from BuffyGetty Images (2); Apple TV+; HBO; Everett (2); Netflix (2) by [Judy Berman](/author/judy-berman/) and [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/) Updated: Dec 12, 2023 4:20 PM CUTPublished: Feb 10, 2021 4:30 PM CUT What did you stream, in the early months of the pandemic, to feel normal for an hour? Did you mainline [_Tiger King_](https://time.com/5807284/tiger-king-netflix-true-story/ "undefined"), as Nielsen says 34 million viewers did in its first 10 days on Netflix? Or did you return to an old favorite—something from NBC’s classic 1990s Must See TV lineup or a prime-time soap that luxuriates in the white noise of rich-people problems? No matter what show you turned to last spring, chances are that, nearly a year later, you could use something new to soothe your still-locked-down soul. Happily, TV has in the past year achieved what [_New York_ magazine calls “Peak Comfort.”](https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/peak-comfort-tv.html "undefined") Netflix has invested in some [diabolically addictive reality shows](https://time.com/5782392/love-is-blind-review-netflix-reality-tv/ "undefined"), and streaming service [discovery+](https://www.discoveryplus.com/ "undefined") launched in January with lifestyle content from Food Network, HGTV and more. Dozing off to _House Hunters_ isn’t just for cable subscribers anymore. A beloved scripted series is harder to replace, but don’t worry: while _Friends_ may be a finite resource, [hangout comedies](https://time.com/5818529/best-hangout-shows-social-distancing/ "undefined") spring eternal. Did you know that the minds behind _Bob’s Burgers_ and _The Good Wife_ have new shows out? Here are our picks to replace—or just complement—your comfort TV standbys. ## If you’ve finished _Friends_, try _Insecure_ Maybe you followed [_Friends_](https://time.com/3635722/friends-viewing-guide-for-newbies/ "undefined") from Netflix to HBO Max; maybe you’re a longtime HBO subscriber who turned to the streaming juggernaut when the new service launched midway through a long, empty pandemic year. Either way, at under 25 minutes apiece, 236 episodes might’ve gone by more quickly than you expected. If you’re looking for a similar vibe of young adult pals figuring out their lives and loves in a big city, click over to [_Insecure_](https://time.com/4856245/issa-rae-insecure-hbo/ "undefined"). [Issa Rae](https://time.com/4475616/issa-raes-breakout-moment/ "undefined")’s observant dramedy follows an underachieving Los Angeles nonprofit worker (played by Rae) who’s staring down 30 with three close girlfriends and their parade of imperfect suitors. Stream both shows on HBO Max. ## If you’ve finished _The Office_, try _What We Do in the Shadows_ Missing [_The Office_](https://time.com/5763852/best-the-office-memes/ "undefined")? [_What We Do in the Shadows_](https://time.com/5558376/fx-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-review/ "undefined") is basically just that, but with vampires. Based on a film of the same name from Jemaine Clement ([_Flight of the Conchords_](http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1873115,00.html "undefined")) and [Taika Waititi](https://time.com/5781434/taika-waititi-apple-keyboard/ "undefined") ([_Thor: Ragnarok_](https://time.com/4996646/thor-ragnarok-review/ "undefined")), this hilarious show about undead roomies is shot mockumentary-style. In fact, the series even plays homage to _The Office_ through one of its characters, an “energy vampire” who unleashes his dullness on unsuspecting office workers to zap them of their energy. Stream _The Office_ on Peacock and _What We Do in the Shadows_ on Hulu. ## If you’ve finished _The West Wing_, try _Borgen_ Throughout the, er, [tumultuous Trump years](https://time.com/5922973/donald-trump-presidency-art/ "undefined"), many left-of-MAGA viewers escaped into the liberal fantasy of turn-of-the-millennium White House drama [_The West Wing_](https://entertainment.time.com/2013/04/19/revisiting-the-west-wing-a-stirring-comforting-fantasy/ "undefined"). Casting Martin Sheen as the thoughtful President Josiah Bartlet, creator Aaron Sorkin chronicled political intrigue while defending the dignity of the executive branch. The acclaimed Danish series [_Borgen_](https://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/18/the-danish-political-drama-borgen-is-the-hottest-show-in-europe-here-are-5-thing-to-know/ "undefined"), which imagines how the tenure of that country’s first female Prime Minister might look, would make a perfect binge during this period of regime change. Brigitte Nyborg, played by the wonderful Sidse Babett Knudsen, is a fascinating character: a woman so centrist her party is called the Moderates, whose sharp political instincts are tempered by a fundamental disdain for corruption. The first three seasons are streaming on Netflix, where a fourth is set to arrive in 2022. Stream _The West Wing_ on HBO Max and _Borgen_ on Netflix. ## If you’ve finished _Gossip Girl_, try _Dash & Lily_ When the CW’s rich-kid soap _Gossip Girl_ was good, it was obscenely, addictively good. But let’s be honest: the second half of its six-season run bordered on unwatchable. Besides, who really has an appetite for spoiled uptown teens and their [real-estate-mogul dads](https://time.com/5408337/kristen-bell-trump-tweets/ "undefined") these days? [_Dash & Lily_](https://time.com/5909889/dash-lily-review-netflix/ "undefined"), on Netflix, is a very different kind of show about the love lives of Manhattan high schoolers. Austin Abrams and Midori Francis play the title characters, two oddball old souls who flirt from afar after he finds a notebook she left behind at a bookstore and strikes up a correspondence. Come for the romance, stay for one of TV’s most authentic depictions of the teenage city. Stream _Gossip Girl_ on HBO Max and _Dash & Lily_ on Netflix. ## If you’ve finished _Schitt’s Creek_, try _Kim’s Convenience_ Leave it to Canada to come up with a show so gentle and funny, it made America fall in love with family sitcoms again. And while the [Roses](https://time.com/5560209/catherine-ohara-schitts-creek-interview/ "undefined") of [_Schitt’s Creek_](https://time.com/4259152/eugene-levy-schitts-creek/ "undefined") may be irreplaceable, at least we still have their CBC neighbors the Kims. Based on Ins Choi’s play of the same name, _Kim’s Convenience_ follows a Korean-born couple (Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Jean Yoon) who own a corner store in Toronto and, in their meager spare time, lovingly meddle in the lives of their two 20-something children (Andrea Bang and Simu Liu). Though it’s more grounded than Dan and Eugene Levy’s farce—the generation gap between immigrant parents and their Canadian kids is a big theme—both series feature quirky characters who care deeply for each other. There are four seasons of _Kim’s_ so far, and the CBC has already renewed it for two more. Stream both shows on Netflix. ## If you’ve finished _Parks and Recreation_, try _Ted Lasso_ Most comedies earn laughs with cynicism. It’s harder to build a show around an unflappably optimistic character, as [_Parks and Recreation_](https://time.com/tag/parks-and-recreation/ "undefined") did with the ebullient [Leslie Knope](https://time.com/4567871/leslie-knope-open-letter-donald-trump/ "undefined"). But the titular hero of _Ted Lasso_ would make Leslie proud. An American football coach tasked with running a British Premier League soccer team, Ted meets fans and players’ jeers with can-do aphorisms and basic human decency. What a comforting thought that one kind person can heal a community, one home-baked box of biscuits at a time. Stream _Parks and Rec_ on Peacock and _Ted Lasso_ on Apple TV+. ## If you’ve finished _The Good Wife_, try _The Good Fight_ Maybe it’s cheating to point [_Good Wife_](https://time.com/4322155/good-wife-finale-feminism-politics/ "undefined") fans toward the show’s woefully underappreciated spin-off. But with this newer series, creators Robert and Michelle King have injected adrenaline into the legal drama genre: [_The Good Fight_](https://time.com/4672460/the-good-fight-donald-trump/ "undefined") lives up to its name and brazenly skewers real-life political figures. It’s perfect for anyone who takes comfort in righteous indignation. Stream both shows on CBS All Access. ## If you’ve finished _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, try _Teenage Bounty Hunters_ [_Buffy the Vampire Slayer_](https://time.com/collection-post/3101301/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/ "undefined") was a once-in-a-generation show, transforming supernatural teen pulp into an allegory for growing up and becoming a stronger, more complex and, in some ways, more wounded person than you ever thought you’d be. [_Teenage Bounty Hunters_](https://time.com/5884175/best-shows-august-2020/ "undefined")—a Netflix dramedy about a pair of twins (Maddie Phillips and Anjelica Bette Fellini, in two of last year’s most charismatic performances) from a wealthy, super-Christian Georgia family who moonlight as, yes, bounty hunters—is not Buffy. And, sadly, it has already been canceled, after just one season. But if you’re seeking a show about smart, tough teen girls who kick ass, navigate coming-of-age rites and exchange witty banter, _Bounty Hunters_ should hit the spot. Stream _Buffy_ on Amazon Prime or Hulu, and _Bounty Hunters_ on Netflix. ## If you’ve finished _BoJack Horseman_, try _Harley Quinn_ [_Harley Quinn_](https://time.com/5882902/harley-quinn-suicide-squad-animated-series/ "undefined") has more on its mind than poking fun at superhero tropes. The show begins with Harley’s breakup with the Joker, and while the series doesn’t shy away from acknowledging just how toxic that relationship is, it quickly turns its focus toward Harley’s blooming friendship with a [Daria](https://time.com/4687094/best-female-tv-cartoon-characters/ "undefined")\-esque Poison Ivy. Like [_BoJack Horseman_](https://time.com/5774893/bojack-horseman-finale-recap-review/ "undefined") before it, this excellent animated show for adults is interested in the psychology of relationships. Unlike _BoJack_ it centers on joyful, not dour, ones. Stream _BoJack_ on Netflix and _Harley Quinn_ on HBO Max. ## If you’ve finished _Silicon Valley_, try _Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet_ Mike Judge’s HBO comedy [_Silicon Valley_](https://time.com/48931/hbos-silicon-valley-is-as-silly-and-mundane-as-the-real-one/ "undefined") captured the absurdity of the 2010s tech industry, where a small army of guys with huge egos, high IQs and astonishingly little common sense competed to build companies that were invariably described as “Uber for \[your service-industry niche here\].” Its spiritual descendant is [_Mythic Quest_](https://time.com/5789786/best-shows-february-2020/ "undefined"), a wonderful Apple TV+ sitcom set in the similarly nerdy, cutthroat world of the video-game studio behind a breakout MMPORG in the [_World of Warcraft_](https://time.com/tag/world-of-warcraft/ "undefined") mold. Created by [_It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_](https://time.com/4671705/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-mac-coming-out/ "undefined") vets, with a cast that includes F. Murray Abraham and _Community_ standout Danny Pudi, the show skewers tech-culture misogyny without marginalizing female characters the way _Silicon Valley_ sometimes did. A bonus episode shot remotely during the pandemic may well be the best half-hour of TV to come out of quarantine. Stream _Silicon Valley_ on HBO Max and _Mythic Quest_ on Apple TV+. ## If you’ve finished _Killing Eve_, try _The Flight Attendant_ _The Flight Attendant_ knows exactly what it is: a pulpy mystery that revels in its twists. Even bloodier and more absurd than [_Killing Eve_](https://time.com/5228977/killing-eve-isnt-your-average-mystery-series/ "undefined"), the drama centers on a flight attendant (Kaley Cuoco, who scored a Golden Globe nomination for her performance) accused of murder. She careens her way across the globe, looking for clues to absolve her and drawing police attention in the process. She’s a hot mess, and you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from her. Stream _Killing Eve_ on Hulu and _The Flight Attendant_ on HBO Max. ## If you’ve finished _Downton Abbey_, try _Bridgerton_ This [Shonda Rhimes](https://time.com/collection/firsts/4898572/shonda-rhimes-firsts/ "undefined")–produced costume drama scratches the same romantic itch as [_Downton Abbey_](https://time.com/tag/downton-abbey/ "undefined"), but it caters to a more modern audience. Diverse casting, string arrangements of songs like Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” and steamy sex scenes drag a staid genre into the cultural zeitgeist. Stream _Downton Abbey_ on Amazon Prime or Peacock, and _Bridgerton_ on Netflix. ## If you finished _Full House_, try _The Baby-Sitters Club_ [_Full House_](https://time.com/4235582/full-house-fathers/ "undefined") is the kind of sitcom that could give adults a toothache, but in times like these, who could blame a person for missing their old, familiar friends waiting just around the bend? The revival, [_Fuller House_](https://time.com/4235830/fuller-house-review/ "undefined"), though? Unforgivably bad. For a similarly kid-friendly treat without the saccharine aftertaste, try Netflix’s [_Baby-Sitters Club_ reboot](https://time.com/5860339/baby-sitters-club-netflix-review/ "undefined"), which updates [Ann M. Martin’s beloved middle-grade books](https://entertainment.time.com/2011/03/25/top-10-kids-book-series-we-miss/slide/ann-m-martins-baby-sitters-club/ "undefined") for a new generation. The characters have depth, their families feel both specific and authentic—and there are plenty of jokes that will land with viewers over 13. Stream _Full House_ on Hulu and _The Baby-Sitters Club_ on Netflix. ## If you finished _Curb Your Enthusiasm_, try _Dave_ Spite stores. Chat-and-cuts. Improperly secured soup and insufficiently respected wood. With [_Curb Your Enthusiasm_](https://time.com/5765717/curb-your-enthusiasm-best-cameos/ "undefined"), _Seinfeld_ co-creator and “social assassin” [Larry David](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1993876,00.html "undefined") has brought us more than two decades’ worth of cringe comedy based on his privileged life. _Dave_, the semi-autobiographical FX sitcom by rapper [Lil Dicky,](https://time.com/5572791/lil-dicky-climate-change-earth/ "undefined") presents a slightly warmer, millennial take on this character—an essentially well-meaning but also hilariously selfish and neurotic Jewish guy navigating fame-adjacent life in L.A. Every episode could end with the _Curb_ theme song. Stream _Curb_ on HBO Max and _Dave_ on Hulu. ## If you finished _Awkward._, try _Never Have I Ever_ Before MTV swore off scripted programming to make room for more shows about catfishing, teen pregnancy and a now-middle-aged _Jersey Shore_ cast, it had one of cable’s best depictions of 21st-century adolescence. The black comedy _Awkward._ followed an anonymous high schooler who inadvertently gets the attention she craves after her classmates misinterpret a freak accident as a suicide attempt. Like that show, whose star Ashley Rickards embodied both the pain and the exhilaration of youth, [Mindy Kaling](https://time.com/4012844/9-questions-with-mindy-kaling/ "undefined")’s Netflix comedy [_Never Have I Ever_](https://time.com/5829254/best-shows-april-2020/ "undefined") stands out from the crowd thanks to an irresistible young star: [Maitreyi Ramakrishnan](https://time.com/5827768/maitreyi-ramakrishnan-never-have-i-ever/ "undefined"). As a 15-year-old brain who’s distracting herself from the sudden death of her father via an ill-conceived campaign for popularity, Ramakrishnan’s high-spirited performance wrings humor out of trauma. Watch _Awkward._ on Amazon Prime and _Never Have I Ever_ on Netflix. ## If you finished _Bob’s Burgers_, try _Central Park_ [_Bob’s Burgers_](https://time.com/3457510/bobs-burgers-die-hard-laugh-harder/ "undefined") is—with apologies to _Futurama_ but not to _Family Guy_—Fox’s best animated comedy since [_The Simpsons_](https://time.com/5743465/best-simpsons-episodes/ "undefined"). And while the team behind it attempts to hit again on the network with the debut of _The Great North_ on Valentine’s Day, creator Loren Bouchard has already given us a delightful follow-up in [_Central Park_](https://time.com/5838264/central-park-apple-tv-plus-review/ "undefined"). In place of the burger-slinging Belchers, the show introduces the equally odd and endearing Tillermans, who live on the very grounds of the Manhattan oasis thanks to patriarch Owen’s ([Leslie Odom Jr.](https://time.com/4608373/leslie-odom-jr-hamilton-holiday-album/ "undefined")) park-manager gig. In a bonus New York tribute that plays to Bouchard’s past strengths, the series is also a musical, featuring original songs belted by [Tituss Burgess](https://time.com/4367177/hamilton-titus-unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-audition/ "undefined"), [Daveed Diggs](https://time.com/5342742/blindspotting-review/ "undefined") and other A-list Broadway alums. Watch _Bob’s Burgers_ on Hulu and _Central Park_ on Apple TV+. **Correction, Feb. 11** _The original version of this story misstated the setting of_ Teenage Bounty Hunters_. 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