Top 10 Shows That Got Us Through 2020
#10: “Search Party” (2016-)
Top 10 Shocking Moments on Search Party
Despite the fact that this show premiered in 2016, it felt like it was only this year that everyone started talking about it. We’re not sure why it didn’t get attention before now because the premise is an engaging one: Alia Shawkat (who you’ll recognize as Maeby from “Arrested Development”) plays a millennial who decides to become an amateur sleuth when an old acquaintance goes missing. The tone is darkly comedic, which perfectly fits this year’s mood. As of 2020, “Search Party” is available on HBO Max, making it easy to stream.
#9: “PEN15” (2019-)
Anyone who wants to relive their awkward teenage years will delight in the Hulu comedy “PEN15”, which features comedians Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle playing 13-year-old versions of themselves. The rest of the cast are played by actual teens. The show is set in 2000, so it’s particularly relevant to anyone who came of age at the turn of the millennium. Fair warning: some plot points are almost unbearably cringe-worthy, filling us with second-hand embarrassment, but reliving some of our own youthful memories has proved a great distraction this year.
#8: “Emily in Paris” (2020-)
Top 10 Cringiest Emily in Paris Moments
Created by Darren Star, who is also known for creating “Sex and the City”, “Emily in Paris” was the perfect frothy escapism we needed in 2020. Focusing on a young American who finds herself taking a job in the French capital, this show makes for perfect guilty-pleasure viewing. It features lush scenery, plenty of handsome Parisian men, and fashion galore, supplied by the incredible Patricia Field who famously worked on “Sex and the City”. While some watched this show because they truly loved it, others seemed to love to hate it because of the contrived plotlines and plentiful stereotypes.
#7: “Insecure” (2016-)
Top 10 Moments from Insecure
Comedian and writer Issa Rae created and stars in this series, which premiered on HBO back in 2016 but experienced a resurgence in popularity this year when the fourth season was released in April... just weeks after most of the world went into lockdown. The show is about two college friends, Issa and Molly, who are both black women living in LA, dealing with the modern experience of dating and simply existing as women of color. Though the tone is fun and lighthearted, it does still address serious issues, and can be deeply poignant and relatable. Not to mention, you’ll be looking up every song from the soundtrack on Spotify.
#6: “Modern Family” (2009-20)
Top 10 Modern Family Bloopers That Broke the Whole Cast
After 11 seasons, “Modern Family” aired its final episode in April of 2020, and the press surrounding the series finale seems to have reminded TV audiences how hilarious this show is. Considering it had been on the air since 2009, it was certainly nothing new, but the show managed to find a whole new viewership this year. People love to get into a show that has binging potential, and since this one has 250 episodes to catch up on, you’re in for many hours of entertainment. It’s a show that’s incredibly easy to watch and appeals to viewers of many ages, making it perfect to watch with your own family.
#5: “Superstore” (2015-)
Top 10 Funniest Superstore Running Gags
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down production of many TV shows and movies, but one show that managed to power through somewhat was “Superstore”. This show, which is set in a fictional big-box store, premiered in 2015. In February of 2020, a sixth season of the show was confirmed, and at the end of October it premiered, with some episodes set during the global health crisis. While some of us may have wanted to completely avoid Coronavirus in our entertainment this year, “Superstore” managed to bring some levity to a real-life situation that is the opposite of lighthearted.
#4: “The Good Place” (2016-20)
Top 5 Reasons You Should Be Watching The Good Place
One of the last truly good things to happen in 2020 was the series finale of “The Good Place” airing in January. With the show ending its final season this year, many new viewers became attracted to its fun premise that tackles big philosophical questions with a whole lot of humor. While the final season brought us plenty of joy with the way everything was cleverly tied up, many were prompted to start the show all over again to delight in the twists and turns while knowing how it all turned out.
#3: “New Girl” (2011-18)
Top 10 Best TV Shows of 2020
“New Girl” has a simple premise: a newly single girl moves into an apartment full of dudes. But the show became so much more than a simple roommate comedy because of the lovable characters and the relationships they formed with one another. “New Girl” concluded in 2018, but as of April 2019, all seven seasons of the show became available on Netflix, making it the perfect show to watch when you’re looking for something funny and light. In 2020, many people decided to do a full rewatch, because what’s better than having 146 episodes of your favorite show to binge?
#2: “Never Have I Ever” (2020-)
Top 10 Shows to Binge in 2020
Released at the end of April 2020 on Netflix, “Never Have I Ever” was the soothing balm we all needed in a spring of anxiety and uncertainty. Created by Mindy Kaling, this show focuses on the life of Devi, an Indian-American teenager who is mourning the loss of her father, while just trying to be a normal teenager. While the plot is, at times, emotionally evocative, it’s more often just good plain fun, and is reminiscent of John Huges teen movies from the ‘80s. The candy-colored cinematography and perky soundtrack bring it all together to create one of the most delightful shows to be released in this bleak year.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Love Is Blind” (2020-)
The Premise of This Netflix Reality Show Was Just Wacky Enough to Keep Us Watching
“Sweet Magnolias” (2020-)
This Wholesome Romantic Drama Was Pure Southern Charm
“Outer Banks” (2020-)
This Teen Drama Gave Us the Intrigue We Needed
“The Great” (2020-)
Who Knew History Could Be So Exciting?
“Tiger King” (2020)
Did Anyone in the World NOT Watch This Docu-Series?
#1: “Schitt's Creek” (2015-2020)
Top 10 Most Hilarious Schitt's Creek Bloopers
This little Canadian sitcom became one of the biggest sensations of 2020. “Schitt's Creek” premiered back in 2015 and concluded in April of 2020 after six incredible seasons. The combination of the series finale airing and much of the show being available on Netflix made this one of the year’s most popular viewing options. Because of the outlandish characters and quaint setting, we were able to completely absorb ourselves in the Rose family’s increasingly ridiculous problems, and forget the issues taking place in the real world.
