One of the dumbest first-word problems is that empty feeling when you're between shows. That time after you've finished your latest binge but have yet to find your next obsession. I know this feeling well. Alien: Earth ended, and now I need a new show.

TV is The New Movies

The way that movies were the dominant form of storytelling in the 20th century, TV series have become that for the first quarter of the 21st century. There are, of course, the well-known series from the golden age of TV dramas, like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Saprinaos, or Deadwood. 

Don't forget about the legendary sitcoms from this time. We have The Office, Parks and Recreation, Arrested Development, Abbott Elementary, 30 Rock, and The Good Place.

And while The Walking Dead became more of a soap opera, it was still remarkable that we got not just one, but several shows set in a zombie apocalypse. A golden age indeed.

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Too Many Shows! What To Watch

With the growth of streaming TV, there has been an amazing number of TV series produced over the last couple of decades. Sure, a lot of the stuff is garbage or just kinda basic. But there has also been soooooooooooo much great stuff made too. But, because of the glut of shows, they get lost in the mix.

Tired of Rewatching The Office? Try These 2 Underrated Sitcoms Instead

This is where I come in. As a person who has been an avid TV watcher for nearly five decades, I have seen so much good stuff that I want to tell you about. I've found some great TV that's perfect for those cold South Dakota nights when you just want to curl up, snack, and find your next favorite show.

Playing House (2014–2017)

Playing House originally aired on the cable channel USA. They made 27 episodes over three seasons. It's the story of childhood friends, played by the super-funny Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair. They also created the show.

Maggie (Parham) and Emma (St. Clair) have been best friends all their lives. Emma left their hometown for the corporate life, while Maggie stayed, got married, and works as a nurse. When Maggie gets pregnant and finds her husband cheating, they split up. She is broken, scared, and needs her best friend. Emma drops her life, quits her big executive job, and moves home to help.

The story is told with such honesty and warmth. It's a fun, funny, heartwarming tale of found family and real love. And it's FUNNY. Parham and St. Clair are seasoned comedians, and they put together a cast that blows try-hards like Modern Family away. We have Keegan-Michael Key as Emma's high school love, Zach Woods as Maggie's brother, and Jane Kaczmarek as Emma's mom.\

It's not streaming anywhere as I write this, but you can buy it on Amazon and Apple.

Grand Crew (2021-2023)

Grand Crew is a sitcom produced for the Peacock streaming service, but it deserved to be on Must-See TV Thursdays. Its two seasons are a 21st-century (better) version of Friends.

Set in LA, it's about a group of young professionals who know each other from college, childhood, or family. They hang out in a wine bar and get up to all sorts of fun misadventures.

It stars a couple of my favorite sketch and improv performers, Nicole Byer and Carl Tart, and a crew of great and very funny folks.

Like Playing House, it's real. The people, the relationships, and the things they do are real. And it's very funny!

As I knew it's still on Peacock, don't miss it.

MORE: Nostalgia Overload! Do you Remember Pizza Hut’s Priazzo Pizzas?

Fire up these gems, and you'll be able to put off that empty 'no-show' feeling until at least Christmas.