Andy DehnartThis has been a stressful week/month/year/decade, and with a lot of uncertainty in our futures, that anxiety will probably continue. As I wrote in my newsletter this morning, entertainment and diversion services a vital role, especially in this time of social distancing. And I want to offer a little help.
There are endless options—and this week, many of you shared reality TV that gives you comfort— so this list is by no means exhaustive. Just a handful of recommendations for unscripted shows you may not have thought of immediately. Enjoy whatever you decide to watch or do! Take care of yourselves, and, of course, wash your hands.
Relaxing, quiet reality TV shows
The Great British Bake-Off—which is available via PBS's Passport app, on Netflix, and elsewhere—certainly meets the definition of quiet, relaxing reality TV.
But I just learned of this show, which is on YouTube and begins with Mary Berry saying, "I love it when the evenings draw in and there's a hint of wood smoke in the air—that's the time for comfort food."
In the first episode, she says, "I want to show you some of the hearty and comforting recipes that I always turn to."
Well, I will be turning to Mary Berry cooking comfort food to find comfort, and I'm grateful to have learned of this option.
On Antiques Roadshow, a gentle and quiet show, appraisers donate their time to inspect artifacts and tell people how much they're worth. It's also available free, thanks to PBS.
Ken Burns once perfectly described how "narrative gives us comfort," and that's certainly true of his sweeping documentary series, which tell the story of the past and present through footage, artifacts, and experts.
Now, as actual baseball takes a break, Burns' 1994 documentary series Baseball is back streaming again, on all of PBS's free apps.
A wonderfully charming, quiet doc series about the people inside mascot costumes. Its two seasons are on Hulu.
The first season had mascots from a high school and a pro hockey team, plus UNLV's Hey Reb! and the Milwaukee Bucks' Bango the Buck.
Exactly 20 years ago today, 16 Americans began a competition for $1 million, a show that would change television forever.
That season—and many others—is free with Amazon Prime. Survivor is also on Hulu, and CBS All Access.
Okay, this former Travel Channel show isn't quiet, but if you want to watch someone smart and knowledgeable take control and solve problems in less than an hour, four of Hotel Impossible's seasons are on Amazon Prime Video.
This British show—two seasons are on Netflix—transports us to a new community in each episode, showing off the architecture and history of the UK's buildings, while inside, amateur designers make over rooms and spaces while being as kind and considerate as possible.
Blown Away, a Canadian series that's on Netflix, is far from perfect, but it showcases talented artisans and their work, which is in a medium that I knew nothing about before watching this show: glass blowing.
If you need reassurance that the world is full of good, kind people who respect each other's knowledge and expertise, and who want to help other people restore normalcy, give yourself several hours in The Repair Shop.