Happy Friday, and thanks for tuning in!
I’ve mentioned before in this newsletter that I am not good at multitasking, and watching TV is no exception. I can’t usually just have something on in the background while I’m working or writing or doing pretty much anything else.
But, as with so many things, there are exceptions. Sometimes, when I just want a little background sound without the risk of fully pulling my attention away from whatever I’m working on, I turn on one of my tried-and-true multitasking series. And if you’re looking for something to provide a little cheerful noise to provide the soundtrack for your own day, try one of these shows.
As always, feel free to share this newsletter with all your friends and enemies, and anyone who distracts you while you’re trying to get work done.
Shows for Multitasking
Bob’s Burgers
Image credit: FOX
This silly, made-for-grownups cartoon is sweeter than you’d expect, with a genuinely loving family at the heart of it. Sure, the dad’s a little grumpy, the mom’s impulsive, and the kids are a bit weird, but they all love each other very much, and they’ll go to great lengths to show it.
The family’s burger restaurant also serves as something of a community hub for some of their town’s many interesting characters, brought to life by a top-notch voice cast. And even though all the characters get up to some wild adventures, this very funny show is also pretty emotionally low-stakes and easy to pop in and out of, making it perfect for background viewing.
All 11 seasons of Bob’s Burgers are streaming on Hulu.
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
Image credit: Netflix
Comedian Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, couldn’t be more different. Jack is young, enthusiastic, up for adventure, constantly cracking jokes and perpetually underdressed. Michael is the opposite; he’d be perfectly content to enjoy his golden years in some fancy club, wearing well-tailored suits and using only the most necessary of pleasantries to talk to the few people he’d have the displeasure of interacting with.
It’s exactly that dynamic that gives this show its charm. Two generations of Whitehall men travel through countries across multiple continents, trying to have something like an enjoyable bonding experience. Sometimes that’s exactly what they get, and sometimes, they fight endlessly, and either way, it’s hilarious. And like so many travel shows, it makes for a great background watch.
All four seasons of Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father are streaming on Netflix.
Grey’s Anatomy
Image credit: ABC
This long-running medical drama is indeed dramatic, and it’s often as over-the-top as you might imagine, but that’s what makes it so much fun. Inter-team romances, an unbelievably high main character death count, and many tears (both happy and sad) shed in and around the emergency room make it so there’s pretty much always something going on. But at the same time, there’s always so much going on that even if you tune out the show for a bit, something else is bound to happen as soon as you tune back in.
The first 16 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy are streaming on Netflix; the most recent season is available on Hulu.
Bonus Features
The first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier drops today. Read an early reaction here.
That’s all for this week! Feel free to respond to this email with any questions, comments, or recommendations of your own.