Television has always been a form of entertainment for the viewing masses.
Sure, you could fill your free time watching the horrors of the real world play out on a myriad of news stations. Or sit back and entertain yourself with endless political bickering.
But why bother with that nonsense when all you really want to do is tune out?
There are so many options for great escapist television. Some shows are mind-numbingly fun; others give you food for thought, but all of the TV shows on our list will make you forget the real world.
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Take a look and let us know which are your favorites when you need to get away!
What We Do in the Shadows – FX
There’s no better way to escape the problems of the real world than watching a group of ridiculous vampires deal with theirs. From trying to fit into the new world of vampires and take control of a city to coping with the outrageous personalities of their small group, What We Do in the Shadows will take you away like no other show on TV.
Happy! – SyFy
It’s always nice to have a friend on your side even if it’s an imaginary one. Nick is a hitman who might think he slipped into some sort of retribution purgatory because of all his past sins, but when a blue-winged horse named Happy enters his life, he starts to look at things a bit differently. Happy! will give you a much-needed reprieve from the woes of your world, and you’ll be much happier for having spent the time with Nick and his imaginary friend.
Santa Clarita Diet – Netflix
Although canceled by Netflix, Santa Clarita Diet is at the top of the list for helping you escape from the real world because in the real world there are no zombies living next door, right. Or are there? This show will have you laughing in no time allowing you to live in a moment of happiness where no troubles exist.
Chesapeake Shores – Hallmark
Chesapeake Shores is a show that allows us to slide into the life of Abby Winters who isn’t exactly living an ideal one. Watching her face and defeat her challenges makes us forget our own and perhaps even helps us look at our problems from a new perspective and realize that things aren’t as bad as they seem.
Superstore – NBC
Walking into a megastore is like walking into an alternate reality at times, and sometimes living in an alternate reality is better than real life. Superstore brings this alternate reality to life with wacky character who have bizarre and hilarious interactions between themselves and their customers. There’s also romance which is always a fun thing to watch when you’re looking for escapist television.
The Great British Bakeoff – PBS
The Great British Bakeoff is a bingeworthy show that will make you forget everything wrong in your life in no time as you watch bakers compete to create seemingly impossible desserts. Paul Hollywood’s quirky quips and low-key insults make the competition even more fun to watch.
GLOW – Netflix
It’s smackdown time with the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling who will take you away on a journey through the world of women’s wrestling. Infighting, romance, and just plain fun, GLOW is the show you never knew you needed to forget about the real world.
Hell’s Kitchen – FOX
Bad day at work? Are the kids driving you crazy? Is the wife on a nagging spree? Well, you’ll forget all about that noise after watching chef Ramsay Bolton lay out the chefs in this cooking competition show. Bolton is a no holds barred kind of guy who has no problem telling anyone what he thinks and why. He gives our explosive fantasies about what we’d really like to say to people who aggravate us to no end a home. If only, right?
Doom Patrol – DC Universe
Everyone needs a superhero in their life and when they’re a group of misfit superheroes like the ones on Doom Patrol, it makes it all the more fun. Even if the rest of the world doesn’t value them as much as we do, their antics and adventures make dealing with the real world a little bit easier.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – NBC
Cops aren’t necessarily everyone’s best friend, but the cops on Brooklyn Nine-Nine are different. They’re funny, smart, and provide us with endless hours of entertainment. They make all our troubles disappear when we get to live in their world and not ours.
The Haunting of Hill House – Netflix
There’s nothing like excellent, scary television to take us into worlds unlike our own. When it’s smart, scary television like The Haunting of Hill House…well, there’s nothing better. Grab a bucket of popcorn, turn off the lights, and indulge. You’ll definitely feel a lot better when you’re done bingeing this show.
Catastrophe – Amazon Prime
Catastrophes happen all the time, but Sharon and Rob’s own personal catastrophe is well worth a watch if you’re looking for some laughs and a few hours of escapist television. How they deal with their current and complicated situation is a prime example of people who just might have it a bit worse than you do.
Claws – TNT
Drama, drama, and more drama, but the best kind of drama is the kind that is part of someone else’s world and not your own. These manicurists will show you what it takes to regain control of your miserable life…and you’ll have lots of fun weave their way through their extremely complicated and convoluted life.
A.P. Bio – NBC
If we all only had a teacher like Jack Griffin. A.P. Bio might fall on the goofy side of television, but canceled or not, Griffin and his band of student misfits will definitely take you away to a happier place than your own.
Magnum P.I. – CBS
There are some people who believe that the only Magnum P.I. that should exist is the original, but this new take is a lot of fun. Sure, Higgins is a woman, but she’s more than a pretty face. Her badassness has saved Magnum more times than he can count and his enduring friendship with TC and Rick puts this team on our must-watch list for excellent escapist television.
The Good Witch – Hallmark
Most everything you find on the Hallmark Channel is light and sappy, but this feel-good show is a can’t miss. You’ll immediately fall in love with Cassie and her good nature and all the twists and turns she has to navigate. You’ll feel much better afterward. We guarantee it.
Gilligan’s Island – MeTV
It’s time to hop into the wayback machine and relive the silly fun of Gilligan’s Island. Sometimes silly is the best anecdote for a miserable day, week, year, or a lifetime. Gilligan and his friends will have you laughing all the way back to the mainland.
Game of Thrones – HBO
So maybe this one is a little more intense, but Game of Thrones is the go-to fantasy we all need. Illicit romances, brutal battles, deception, and a few dragons will enrapture you and make you forget all about the real world.
The Love Boat – MeTV
The Love Boat is another show from the wayback machine, but, boy, is it a gem. If only it existed in the real world. Whether or not you’re looking for love, this show will make you feel so good, all those woes and worries you’ve stored up will fade away into the sunset.
American Gods – Starz
We all know there is good and evil fighting for our very souls which is why sometimes we make bad choices. American Gods brings us into a world like no other where we can contemplate the complexities of life but also forget about it for, at least, a little while.
Hanna – Amazon Prime
Another dark entry that will pull you into a dangerous world and make you forget about your own. Hanna is a girl with special talents who is trained and protected by her father, Erik, an ex-CIA operative. Their world is turned upside down when they are pursued by people who want them dead but between all the thrilling action is a beautiful coming-of-age story and a father/daughter relationship unlike no other.
