10 Best Comfort Shows To Binge In One Weekend, From ‘The Office’ to ‘Modern Family
There is a great variety of brilliant TV shows that exist today. Some are capable of entertaining viewers with their action and intensity, and others challenge audiences with deep and thought-provoking themes. Then there are those that fill their viewers with a lazy warmth — perfect to indulge in while lounging around and snacking. Ideal for those moments when you’re in a bad mood, or horrifyingly stressed out, comfort food TV shows often come to the rescue — always satisfying and low-pressure.
This list of the top ten best comfort food shows consists of the ideal bingeworthy TV series that have a feel-good appeal. From hilarious works like Derry Girls to heartfelt charmers like Heartstopper, this list of shows provides its audience with an entertaining treat that’s perfect to pair with a favorite snack.
10
‘One on One’ (2001–2006)
Created by: Eunetta T. Boone
One on One is a good time for all, exploring the challenges for parents and their kids. The family sitcom features single dad and sportscaster, Flex Washington (Flex Alexander), whose life is turned on its head when his teenage daughter Breanna Barnes (Kyla Pratt) comes to live with him full-time.
One on one is definitely that feel-good sitcom from the early 2000s that many tuned into. Fans of the series loved the on-screen look of a healthy father-daughter relationship and a positive portrayal of a Black family. One on One stands as a go-to comfort show due to its fun, lighthearted comedy, and its bingeability while lazing in bed. Many fans revisit the series, enjoying the sight of a loving family, hilarious comedy, and an early 2000s flair that throws in a bit of touching nostalgia.
- Release Date
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2001 – 2005
- Network
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UPN
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Amanda Carlin
Mrs. Sullivan
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Andrew Ableson
Faculty Member
9
‘Emily in Paris’ (2020–Present)
Created by: Darren Star
This romantic comedy is a guilty pleasure for its offering of lighthearted fun and escapism. Emily in Paris centers around a young American marketing professional, Emily Cooper (Lily Collins), who makes the move from Chicago to Paris for an unforeseen job opportunity. With a change of environment, Emily is forced to embrace the challenges of a new culture, as well as workplace obstacles.
Viewers are drawn to Emily in Paris for its playful and lighthearted tone. Emily is a very optimistic character, who has several comedic encounters as she tries to tackle life in Paris with open arms. Even with the show’s lack of realism of life in Paris, fans can’t help but stay locked in. The upbeat show is perfect for lounging in bed while snacking, providing bright visuals, humor, and intriguing drama.
8
‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)
Created by: Elizabeth Meriwether
This quality sitcom blends touching friendship moments with quirky humor. New Girl centers on Jessica “Jess” Day (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky teacher who, after a bad breakup, moves into a Los Angeles loft with an equally quirky group of singles: Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Winston (Lamorne Morris).
Audiences find themselves captivated by the group of lovable characters and their amazing chemistry. The roommates’ dynamic often leads to complicated but extremely comedic situations. Charming viewers with its witty dialogue and running gags, New Girl easily became the perfect go-to comfort show, leaving it to stand as a relaxing form of entertainment nestled on this quality list.
7
‘Derry Girls’ (2018–2022)
Created by: Lisa McGee
This underrated coming-of-age comedy features hilarious moments, a tight-knit friend group, and a historical backdrop. Derry Girls centers around five teenage girlfriends in the 1990s, living in Derry, Northern Ireland, as they navigate life the only way they know it to be lived— clumsily and comically.
The authentic series hosts incredibly sharp writing that can charm any audience who takes a chance on it. With bold laugh-out-loud humor, each episode is packed with quality entertainment, featuring sticky situations for the group of over-the-top characters. The series is perfect for a lazy afternoon or a cozy evening. Showcasing lovable characters, with 20–25-minute episodes filled with hilarity, Derry Girls is a good time that earned its spot on this list of comfort food shows.
6
‘The Office’ (2005–2013)
Created by: Greg Daniels
The mockumentary-style sitcom, The Office, follows the daily life of employees of the Dunder Mifflin paper company. The show stars the cringe-inducing but well-meaning boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell), as he attempts to lead his team of workers, despite his hilarious awkwardness.
The Office is a comfort show staple. The popular series is host to many unforgettable characters and their quotable scenes. Even minor characters of the show tend to be memorable, providing a unique personality and humorous moments for audiences. Standing as one of the top comfort food shows— and with good reason — The Office is an extremely entertaining watch that tends to cheer viewers up with its lovable ensemble of characters.
5
‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)
Created by: Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan
This sitcom is equal parts wholesome and hilarious, providing a great blend of heartfelt scenes and quality comedy. Modern Family centers around a big, blended family living in Los Angeles. The series offers audiences a view of family life as the group navigates everyday events, including school projects, holidays, and family dinners, greatly highlighting lighthearted humor and heart.
Modern Family is widely popular with its witty writing that appeals to all ages. Viewers love the family moments in the show, finding them hilarious and extremely relatable. The series’ tone is consistently uplifting and positive, even when chaos ensues and characters experience conflicts, which leaves audiences feeling happy and at ease. Modern Family deserves this spot on this list of the best comfort food shows for its mood-boosting qualities, no matter the day they had.
4
‘The Boondocks’ (2005–2014)
Created by: Aaron McGruder
The Boondocks is a severely underrated animated series that is cherished by the few who know of it. The comedy series-particularly aimed at adults-follows the lives of the Freeman family: 10-year-old Huey Freeman (Regina King), whose wit and smarts are beyond his years, his 8-year-old brother Riley (Regina King), a troublemaker who is in love with the hip-hop culture, and their hilarious but greatly irritable Granddad, Robert Freeman (John Witherspoon).
The Boondocks is definitely not a show one might call conventional. The animated series’ humor is sharp and wildly bold as it discusses controversial topics. The brothers of the show stand as the heart of the story, providing viewers with mischievous antics that make for hilarious drama. Audiences who desire to chill out and laugh frequently while snacking on a bag of chips often turn to The Boondocks, enjoying it to the fullest, one binge-watchable episode at a time.
- Release Date
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2005 – 2014
- Directors
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Seung Eun Kim, Kim Sung-hoon
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Huey Freeman / Riley Freeman
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John Witherspoon
Robert Freeman
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Cedric Yarbrough
Tom Dubois
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3
Heartstopper (2022–Present)
Created by: Alice Oseman
This British teen drama-romance captures the hearts of its audience with its moving wholesomeness. Heartstopper stars openly gay and anxious teen, Charlie Spring (Joe Locke), and kind-hearted rugby player Nick Nelson (Kit Connor). After the two meet, a friendship is formed, and romance startles them both with its fierceness as it begins to consume, confuse, and, bewitch them completely.
Heartstopper offers viewers sickeningly sweet moments that give audiences adorable chemistry between the protagonists. With an amazing positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community, audiences of the show flock for more season after season. For the warm, fuzzy feeling of budding romance and self-discovery, Heartstopper stands as a peak comfort show for a cuddle in the sheets and a date with a few treats.
2
‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011–Present)
Created by: Loren Bouchard
Bob’s Burgers is an animated series that follows the comedic Belcher family. The series features father and chef, Bob Belcher (H. Jon Benjamin), his upbeat wife Linda (John Roberts), and their three hilariously quirky kids, Tina (Dan Mintz); Gene (Eugene Mirman), and Louise (Kristen Schaal), as they live their day-to-day getting into complicated and often humorous situations.
Bob’s Burgers has seen almost instant success since its debut. The quality animated series is not only known for its hilarity but also for the genuine warmth beneath its jokes. The oddball mix of characters is a big draw for audiences. For many viewers, the series is easily bingeable while lazing about – perfect for unwinding. Bob’s Burgers stands as one of the top comfort food shows for its low-stakes drama, feel-good family dynamics, and its highlight, the eccentric comedy provided by an eccentric group of characters.
1
‘The Great British Bake Off’ (2010–Present)
Created by: Anna Beattie and Richard McKerrow
Known for its gentle and wholesome atmosphere, instead of the usual cutthroat competition, The Great British Bake Off makes baking feel like a cute team-building exercise. The series stars amateur bakers as they face off in weekly themed challenges. The bakers strut their stuff, creating quality pastries, cakes, and the like, all in an effort to impress the two expert judges.
The Great British Bake Off is known worldwide for its positive and calming vibe. Unlike the more generic competition cooking shows, the wholesome series hosts contestants who tend to cheer on their peers despite their drive to win. The Great British Bake Off caters to a wide range of viewers, and most audiences find the series to be extremely relaxing and insanely comforting. With feel-good and low-stress content, fans find themselves unwinding easily while watching the entertaining series, leading it to rank high on this list of comfort food series.
