8 TV Shows to Get You Through the Worst Month of the Year
DYOR Dave
February is right around the corner and Australian’s are now suffering through arguably the worst period of our sporting calendar. With the Men’s Ashes retained once again, and still another month until NRL season kicks off, dribblers around the nation are stuck in a state of limbo, without proper entertainment.
Sure there are a few NFL playoffs and Women’s cricket matches every now and then, but the hype and excitement pails in comparison to gods summer and winter games. February is filled with long, boring nights with nothing to watch on TV, so I thought I’d help out the Punter and the Dribbler by suggesting a few shows that can pass the time until the real entertainment kicks off again.
Community
I’ll fight anyone who says Community isn’t the greatest sitcom of all time. Before he rose to fame as the creator of Rick and Morty, Dan Harmon assembled an all-star cast including Chevy Chase, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie and Donald Glover to deliver a near-perfect sitcom family. The six seasons gave rise to a cult following that fell in love with the flawed characters and their eccentricities, as well as the show’s ingenious dedication to callback jokes and pop culture references.
Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia
If you’ve ever wanted to somehow experience the real effects of the world’s craziest drugs without having to deal with all the legal problems, this show is for you. Hamilton Morris explores the stories behind psychedelic toads, fish, mushrooms, Cactuses, ketamine, meth and much more, all while documenting his experiences under the influence. It’s as eye-opening as it is mind-blowing and takes a serious look at some of the craziest substances on earth.
Rake
One of the greatest and most underrated Aussie TV shows of all time, Rake follows the tumultuous life of barrister Cleaver Greene, who balances criminal clients, criminal friends, drugs, gambling, and the sex worker he’s in love with, all while winning cases in Sydney court. It’s Aussie larrikinism exposing the absurdity of our justice and legal systems, and it’s as relevant and hilarious as ever in today’s world.
Twin Peaks
If you’ve ever watched a show and thought to yourself, “this is far too simple and not nearly confusing enough,” Twin Peaks is the show for you. With two seasons, a movie, and then another season 25 years later, David Lynch’s creation centres around an idiosyncratic FBI agent investigating mysterious killings in a small town. It’s everything that Stranger Things wants to be and more, with the added option of a 4 hour YouTube video explainer to enjoy upon completion of the series.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
There are few ideas more comforting in today’s society than knowing that however fucked our country is, America is probably worse. ‘It’s Always Sunny’ is essentially 15 seasons of thinking “wow this is insane but also probably happening somewhere in the US.” Danny DeVito and Charlie Day lead a group of friends that own a bar and somehow avert numerous disasters of their own making, as their ignorance and selfishness provides the basis for unwavering hilarity.
Futurama
Were it not for the overwhelming shadow of its older brother The Simpsons, Futurama may become a cultural icon exploited past its used by date and still running a 30th season. Instead, we only got 7 seasons, 3 finales and 2 re-pilots, all subtle and witty, with a mix of absurdist humour and societal observations that still ring true today. With a writers room full of PhD’s, Emmy’s and comedians, the show is ageing like a fine wine, and is showing its influence in many of today’s sci-fi comedy productions.
Mr Robot
Before he portrayed Freddy Mercury on the big screen, Rami Malek donned the signature black hoodie of hacker Elliot Alderson and attempted to take down America’s biggest bank with a few lines of code. Basing many aspects on real-world corporations and events, the show’s intensity stems from both the tremendous acting as well as the societal implications. With mind-bending twists in the first and second season, the show makes Fight Club look as simple as Dora the Explorer, it’s definitely worth a watch.
The League
I’m yet to see a show that even comes close to the amount of dribble spouted in The League. Centering around a group of friends in their 30’s and the Fantasy football league that takes priority over their real lives, this show is the wet dream of any dribbler who wishes their group of mates possessed elite dribble and a thriving fantasy league. With cameos from (now former) NFL players, and Seth Rogen guest-starring as porn producer Dirty Randy, The League is a forgotten gem that would probably struggle to get made again in this day and age.
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