Guilty Pleasures: Top 10 Must Watch TV Shows (IMO)

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Let’s face it. Watching television for most parents is a luxury at best, definitely a guilty pleasure when we’re able to sit down and enjoy some alone time with the ol’ tube and escape our own reality for a little while. Which of course can also be done with some chai tea and a good book, but sometimes TV is worth the watching.

Here is my own top ten list of must watch shows! (Not in any order, except number 1.) Some are old school, but worthy of bringing back in case you missed them the first time, like I did! My taste in music and television is all over the map, as evident in my choices below. Let’s dive in!

  1. This Is Us (HULU/ABC) Oh. My. Gosh. I don’t want to talk too much about this one if you haven’t seen it because explaining it will not do it any justice. I am certainly not alone in my opinion that this is one of the best television shows ever crafted. It’s a very raw, real family drama with some comedic relief thrown in here and there. Do yourself a favor and catch up on HULU before the series returns on NBC. January 10th, 8/9 central. You’ll see what we all mean!
  2. Jane the Virgin (Netflix/CW) I was hesitant to dive into this one but I’m glad I did. It’s a series that sort of pokes fun in an artsy way at Telenovelas (which are short story soap operas in espanol) and is ridiculously entertaining! Gina Rodriguez stars as the main character, Jane Villanueva, who is a virgin saving herself for marriage when she becomes pregnant artificially. You can catch up on Netflix or CW Online before it returns to the CW channel on January 23rd! 
  3. The OA (Netflix Original) Binge watched this mysterious thriller in a day. With only 8 episodes, it will leave you with many questions and last I read, whether or not season 2 is coming remains a mystery too. Prairie, a young blind woman missing for seven years, returns home with her sight restored. Whether she is dangerous or a miracle is the biggest uncertainty.
  4. Black Mirror (Netflix Original) Another one easy to binge watch due to super short seasons. This one is creepy and definitely not for younger viewers. A mix of sci-fi, satire, black comedy, drama and British techno paranoia – each episode is different. Be sure check it out!
  5. Queen Sugar (Own/Amazon) I really love this show. It’s refreshing, relatable, and well-directed with some excellent talent. Estranged siblings return to the heart of Louisiana to claim an inheritance, an 800 acre sugarcane farm, from their recently departed father. The gravity of their father’s death is felt through each sibling on the screen. Powerful. Don’t miss this one.
  6. The People Vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story (FX) More than anything it felt like this drama is relevant for our time, even though the actual crime occurred 20 years ago. Addressing many topics like racism, sexism and injustices in the criminal justice system, it was voted Best Show of 2016 by TV GUIDE and it’s not hard to see why. Captivating and necessary.
  7. Pretty Little Liars (Netflix/Freeform) Yes, yes I know. This show was on for years (since 2011) but I always passed it by because it appeared to be one of those “teen dramas” that was not meant for me. I decided to watch one boring night and have been hooked, trying to wade through 6 seasons and find out who “A” is before the final season is aired sometime this year. SO good.
  8. White Rabbit Project (Netflix) My science and physics loving 8 year old is obsessed with this show. The build team from Mythbusters returns and promises to go into the “rabbit hole of the internet” to investigate urban legends and the very weird. You can expect lots of experiments, projects, tests, a little blowing things up, and a lot of learning something new each episode.
  9. The Ranch (Netflix) A failed footballer returns to his hometown to help on the family ranch. It took me a few episodes to really enjoy this one, but it’s pretty funny! With Ashton Kutcher, Debra Winger and Sam Cooke, it’s sure to be entertaining and it is! Give it a chance. 
  10. The Fosters (Freeform/Netflix) Love, love, love this show. Another one that I passed by on regular television and caught up with on Netflix. It has a unique storyline with wonderful actors. It is a foster family drama you don’t want to miss. I’m really anxious for a new season to be announced!

There you have it. Now, I wouldn’t call this list comprehensive and is certainly not the best of in 2016-17, just what’s on my watch list. Currently anyway. Happy watching!

What’s on your list? Post below so we can partake in your favorites!