The Best Comfort TV Shows to Watch When You Need Something New for Fall
There’s something for everyone.
I watch a lot of TV for work, but it’s not always the stuff I’d put on to unwind.
My beat typically includes procedural dramas like The Rookie and NCIS and competition series like Dancing With the Stars and The Voice. So when I’m choosing something just for myself, I look for good old-fashioned comfort TV. I return to those shows over and over, whether for a quaint setting or a relatable storyline.
I have my own favorites—hello, Abbott Elementary and Brooklyn Nine-Nine— but I also asked my fellow editors for their go-to comfort shows. Now, I have quite the list for when I’m looking for a hug in the form of a show.
Drop your favorites in the comments!
Abbott Elementary
“I’m obsessed with all the hijinks the students and teachers get up to at this elementary school, and the writing from Quinta Brunson is A+ in my book! I particularly love to put this on when I’m just getting ready for bed, because that way I end my days with laughter rather than worrying about what the next day will bring.”
—Adrianna Freedman, Associate News & Entertainment Editor
Happy Endings
“Happy Endings is one of those shows that I wish had gone on for many more seasons, but alas, I just watch the first three on repeat as I fall asleep, listening to my good ‘friends’ banter. The writing is pithy, the actors keep me laughing despite countless rewatches (I mean, it has a Wayans brother and Casey Wilson) and it generally just feels like you're hanging out with a fun group of pals going about their early 30s lives.”
—Brie Schwartz, Director of Editorial Commerce
Hart of Dixie
“I’ve never lived in a small town, but I like to imagine it would be just like Bluebell, where this show takes place. Bluebell has exactly one of everything—a nice restaurant, a less nice restaurant, a church, and a coffee shop—and everyone knows each other. The romances are sweet, and the stakes are low. I tend to watch it in the fall, which is when I’d visit Bluebell if it existed.”
—Juliana LaBianca, Deputy Digital Editor
The Great British Baking Show
“The Great British Baking Show is my favorite comfort show. I love the old Mel and Sue days, the endless puns (“If you get caught taking someone’s crème anglaise, you can get taken into custardy!”), and contestants who are somehow all kind, genuinely sweet, and emotionally there for each other while their soufflés collapse. And now that Nigella Lawson is a judge? I am seated. Listening to this culinary icon speak is just pure, sultry poetry.”
—Susan Choung, Senior Food Editor
A Different World
“Getting a peek into the life of college students was always part of the appeal of this show, but what really kept me was the romance and comedy. Seeing Whitley and Dwayne’s relationship blossom over 6 seasons is just one of the reasons I watch over and over again. Plus, the show has really great celebrity guest appearances.”
—Cameron Jenkins, Staff Writer
Murder, She Wrote
“I aspire to be like Jessica Fletcher when I’m her age, just accepting invitations far and wide to visit friends and give talks. It’s the ultimate feel-good show because there’s never any doubt that Jessica will solve the mystery at hand.”
—Marisa LaScala, Deputy Editor
The Golden Girls
“My grandparents loved it and always had it on so it reminds me of being cozy at their house. Just hearing it in the background gives me the warm fuzzies.”
—April Franzino, Senior Beauty & Style Director
Sister, Sister
“This was one of my favorite shows growing up. I would watch it any time it was on TV and I was thrilled when it finally made it to streaming. I’m obsessed with the theme song, plus Tia and Tamera are effortlessly funny. From the humor to the 90s nostalgia, it’s an all around feel-good show.”
—Cameron Jenkins
Virgin River
"Whenever I'm craving a good comfort show, I watch Virgin River. Mel and Jack's love story paired with the charm and beautiful scenery of the small mountain town can easily keep me entertained for hours."
—Monique Valeris, Home Design Director
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
“I discovered Brooklyn Nine-Nine after watching Andy Samberg for many years on Saturday Night Live. I immediately fell in love with the concept of the inner-workings of a New York City police station. Whether it be the character pulling off epic pranks or them experiencing consequences for cases gone wrong, there’s always something to laugh at with this show. And since there are eight seasons, there’s always another episode I can drop into!”
—Adrianna Freedman
Gossip Girl
“One of my requirements for a comfort show is having so many episodes that I forget what happens between rewatches. Gossip Girl has 121, and while the first 10 or so are etched into my memory forever, the later episodes feel like a new and completely absurd journey every time. (Remember when Blair marries a prince?) I put it on as background TV during Thanksgiving last year and will probably make it an annual tradition.”
—Juliana LaBianca
Gilmore Girls
“The thing about a comfort show, I think, is that it's less about the show itself and more about the memories you associate with it. Gilmore Girls isn't a perfect show, but my family used to watch it together when it first aired. Rewatching it now feels familiar in the best way. Plus, it's hard not to be transported to the cozy town of Stars Hollow every time you hear that familiar la la la.”
—Michelle Manetti, Group Digital Content Director
Younger
“I can’t even remember how many times I’ve re-watched the show Younger starring Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff. It was on Hulu for quite a few years, and I was so bummed when it retired in 2021—but now that it’s on Netflix, it’s pretty much always on in the background of my apartment and I usually fall asleep to it.”
—Amanda Fama, Senior Deals & Trends Editor
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