Summer Binge Guide: 15 TV shows to watch in air-conditioned comfort

“Empire,” “Better Call Saul,” “Master of None” and “Veep” are great binge options. (草莓传媒 collage via AP/Thinkstock)

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April 19, 2026 | 草莓传媒 offers ideas for summer TV binge watching (Jason Fraley)

WASHINGTON 鈥� Summer will soon get so unbearable that staying in is the only appealing option. A summertime strain of cabin fever sets in. All that air conditioning? Not cool.

Fortunately, we live in a miracle age, one of streaming video and cable TV, and nothing breaks up that cabin-fever monotony like a good binge.

With so many good shows available 24/7, there鈥檚 nothing stopping you from binging 鈥榯il the temperature drops, which should be sometime in 鈥� what, November?

Here are some good dramas, comedies and “dramedies” to start your binge.

So Netflix, chill and stay hydrated.

‘Arrested Development’ Mitchell Hurwitz鈥檚 gloriously weird family sitcom is hard to describe. Let鈥檚 start with the Bluth family themselves. Take the Carringtons of 鈥淒ynasty,鈥� double their dysfunction 鈥� and then subtract all their wealth.聽Then watch as the patriarch is thrown in jail on charges that include 鈥渟ome light treason.鈥� Jason Bateman was born to play wiseacre/straight-man Michael Bluth, the good son just trying to keep his formerly rich family together. The supporting cast (Tony Hale, David Cross, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambour, Jessica Walter) is equally memorable. Heck, they鈥檙e pretty much legendary. Each could anchor a spinoff if it ever came to that. And : Jokes upon jokes upon jokes, some of which go unnoticed until a second or third viewing. Considered by some to be the greatest sitcom ever, 鈥淎rrested Development鈥� was ratings-challenged in prime time, despite FOX TV鈥檚 best efforts. But it maintained a cult following, and seven years later, Netflix gave it new life with a fourth season. A fifth is officially now in the works as well. After all, there鈥檚 money in the banana stand. WATCH IT ON: Netflix

‘Law & Order’ It鈥檚 the comfort food of television. The beats are as steady as a drum machine鈥檚: 1. 鈥淚n the criminal justice system 鈥︹€� etc.
2. KUNG-KLUNG.
3. FADE INTO pedestrians鈥� inane conversation. Pedestrians stumble over dead body. Tragic.
4. CUT TO detectives sizing up the scene. Detective cracks a funny.
5. Here鈥檚 the song. There are three reasons why it stuck around for 20 seasons: The writing is solid, the acting is generally fine and Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) is everything good and decent about America. WATCH IT ON: Cable. ION Television (WPXW-TV) has marathons on Wednesdays and Fridays. TNT and We TV have it as well (with on-demand streaming available through the Sling TV app). Or perhaps you would like 聽for only $295? It鈥檚 guaranteed to impress her on that first date.

‘Catastrophe’ U.S. boy meets British girl. Boy gets girl pregnant. Boy and girl get married 鈥� even though they barely know each other. So begins 鈥淐atastrophe,鈥� developed originally for Britain鈥檚 Channel 4 and available on Amazon Prime here in the U.S. The raunchy sitcom follows the gritty reality of newlyweds Rob (Rob Delaney) and Sharon (Sharon Hogan) through parenthood, postpartum depression, in-law weirdness, alcoholism, aging and even infidelity. Heavy stuff, yes, but this smart romantic comedy navigates it with wit, honesty and heart. WATCH IT ON: Amazon Prime

‘House of Cards’ Frank Underwood is a role model. Think about it: He鈥檚 ambitious. He values his marriage. He鈥檚 in touch with his family history. And he believes in bipartisanship (when it鈥檚 convenient). The Netflix original series just wrapped its fifth season and it looks like ol鈥� Frank (Kevin Spacey) isn鈥檛 about to change his stripes. Neither is wife Claire (Robin Wright), bless her heart. The writing can be a stretch, even amid the current D.C. climate. But this American adaptation of the 1990 British miniseries is delicious fun. Spacey and Wright are in their prime on screen, and they capably sell even the most complex and implausible plot points. And besides, if we really wanted realistic political drama, we鈥檇 just watch C-SPAN. So, order up some barbecued ribs and rehash the exploits of D.C.鈥檚 most beloved power couple. WATCH IT ON: Netflix

‘Veep’ Just wrapping its sixth season, HBO鈥檚 brilliant comedy has been called an accurate portrayal of how this town works (Sens. Al Franken and John McCain, as well as various political staffers, have advised behind the scenes). And unlike the cloak-and-dagger brutality of 鈥淗ouse of Cards,鈥� this sitcom鈥檚 brutality comes in the form of gloriously filthy, profanity-laced insults 鈥� usually directed at somehow-successful jerk Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons). As Selina Meyer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has crafted a persona that has only grown nastier through the years. And there is no weak link in the supporting cast. It鈥檚 the perfect binge when, in Selina鈥檚 words, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a hundred and f**k degrees鈥� outside. WATCH IT ON: HBO Now (all seasons) or Amazon Prime (first two seasons)

‘Empire’ Lucious Lyon was once a rap phenomenon. He鈥檚 now a music mogul 鈥� and he鈥檚 dying. So let鈥檚 talk succession. Which young Lyon is the heir? Well, it鈥檚 not so apparent: -Andre the CFO is shrewd, but knows nothing about music.
-Jamal, the talented artiste, doesn鈥檛 care about money.
-And Hakeem, the brash hot rapper, has drama issues. But what鈥檚 this? Lucious鈥� ex-wife, Cookie, is out of prison 13 years early, and she鈥檚 rather eager to take over the company 鈥� after all, it was her $400,000 in drug money that helped launch Empire Entertainment. FOX’s epic prime-time musical drama is worthy of the buzz. The music is catchy (R&B producer Timbaland is a consultant), and the acting is decent, with Terrence Howard leading a solid cast. And then there’s D.C. native Taraji P. Henson, who is magnetic as Cookie. The character is a bit reminiscent of Alexis Carrington, but this tough Cookie has flavor: Henson breathes vulnerability and depth into the role. Now鈥檚 a good time to catch up before Season 4 rolls out in the fall. WATCH IT ON: Hulu

‘Mozart in the Jungle’ Inspired by the book 鈥淢ozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music,鈥� this comedic drama chronicles the colorful lives (see book title) of musicians in the New York Symphony as it struggles to stay relevant. The acting in particular is terrific here. As the eccentric maestro (based on Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel), Gael Garcia Bernal owns every scene he鈥檚 in. Standouts in the supporting cast include Malcolm McDowell as the maestro鈥檚 predecessor and Bernadette Peters as the symphony鈥檚 president. It鈥檚 also well-shot: New York has never looked better. WATCH IT ON: Amazon Prime

‘The Leftovers’ Two percent of the world鈥檚 population just disappeared in an instant. What does this mean? Is The Rapture at hand? Tom Perrotta builds on his novel of the same name with the help of screenwriter/producer Damon Lindelof (鈥淟ost鈥�), and the result touches on both the divine and the metaphysical.聽(草莓传媒 Entertainment editor Jason Fraley calls it an amazing allegory for 9/11 survivor guilt). The third and final season just wrapped up on HBO to much critical acclaim (it really kicks up in Season 2), so rest assured: You won鈥檛 be ending this binge with a cliffhanger. WATCH IT ON: HBO Now

‘Gilmore Girls’ 鈥淕ilmore Girls鈥� features volumes of the sharpest, funniest dialogue ever put to paper. Credit creator/writer Amy Sherman-Palladino 鈥� and what likely were medical-grade amounts of caffeine. As Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel capably handled that machine-gun dialogue for seven seasons (2000-2007). Netflix brought them all back for a good four-movie run last year and it all proved to be no less adorable. The plot lines can be teen soapy at times, but the residents of this quirky corner of Connecticut are all lovable and exceptionally well-crafted. Liza Weil (type-A overachiever Paris Geller) and Melissa McCarthy (B&B cook Sookie St. James), in particular, are memorable standouts. Like autumn in New England, 鈥淕ilmore Girls鈥� has a timeless charm. WATCH IT ON: Netflix

‘Better Call Saul’ How could you not enjoy the meth-fueled rise and fall of Walter White? It was disturbingly violent, occasionally funny and it taught us all that a chemistry teacher can mount a remote-controlled machine gun inside a car trunk. 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� justifiably tops many critics鈥� 鈥渂est-of鈥� lists 鈥� not to mention many 鈥減lease-stop-nagging-me-about-this-show鈥� lists. Part of its appeal was slimy lawyer Saul Goodman, a part that was supposed to have a limited run originally. But the great Bob Odenkirk was so watchable that he managed to (spoiler) survive the 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� season finale. The events of 鈥淏etter Call Saul鈥� give us Saul鈥檚 back story: a well-meaning con artist evolving into the flashy cut-rate criminal lawyer you know and love. It also brings back 鈥淏reaking Bad鈥� fan favorite Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), an ethically conscious tough guy whose stare somehow toes the line between serenity and boredom. WATCH IT ON: Netflix

‘Master of None’ Each episode of this beautifully shot sitcom tackles a particular subject as it relates to our protagonist, commercial actor Dev Shah (Aziz Ansari). While the general premise, on paper, seems a little familiar (30-something pursues love and happiness in New York with his friends), this Netflix original touches on subjects that have been mostly ignored by conventional network sitcoms: e.g., the experience of a first-generation American; connecting with your immigrant parents; parenthood; aging; etc. Not only does 鈥淢aster of None鈥� touch on such material, it does so with maturity and sensitivity. And yes, it is funny. Ansari and co-creator Alan Yang have crafted something that鈥檚 even smarter than the late great 鈥淧arks and Recreation,鈥� their old job. Bonus points to Ansari for having the funniest comedic whine ever. WATCH IT ON: Netflix

‘Bosch’ Titus Welliver is a character actor who has racked up a pretty impressive IMDB bio, yet has somehow managed to stay below the radar. It鈥檚 fair to say there aren鈥檛 many sandwiches named after him. But as the lead in the Amazon Prime series 鈥淏osch,鈥� that should be changing. Welliver is outstanding in the title role of Harry Bosch, a world-weary Los Angeles detective with a dark past and a habit of annoying his superiors. (As TV has taught us, good detectives are unorthodox and regularly upset the boss.) In fact, Welliver is a natural. It鈥檚 almost as if he were genetically engineered to anchor a cop procedural. The series, now in its third season, is based on the Michael Connelly novels and is beautifully shot around Southern California. This cop drama gets extra bonus points for employing alumni from 鈥淭he Wire鈥� (Lance Reddick! Jamie Hector!). WATCH IT ON: Amazon Prime

‘Peep Show’ Credit the Brits for exporting this twisted take on an odd couple: slacker archetype Jeremy (Robert Webb), who sponges off his roommate, the uptight and semi-responsible Mark (David Mitchell). The material is surreal, dark and certainly not for everyone. Point-of-view shots and 鈥渕ind-reading鈥� voice-overs are terrific narrative gimmicks. Factor in the great writing and it鈥檚 easy to see why 鈥淧eep Show鈥� lasted nine seasons on Channel 4 鈥� and earned more than its share of awards in Europe. 鈥淧eep Show鈥� wrapped in 2015 (although rumors swirl about another season). And unlike some shows that stuck around too long, it consistently maintained its edge. The 鈥淢oroccan dinner” party episode in Season 9 defies superlatives. Warning: Jeremy and Mark are terrible people. Ergo, 鈥淧eep Show鈥� is one of the more offensive binges of the bunch. WATCH IT ON: Hulu

‘Big Little Lies’ Based on a Liane Moriarty novel and adapted by David E. Kelley (鈥淎lly McBeal,鈥� 鈥淏oston Legal鈥�), this HBO murder-mystery is a smart take on upper-class, middle-age drama. The utopian setting of California鈥檚 Central Coast belies the marital strife and dark secrets shared among friends Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and single-mother Jane (Shailene Woodley). 鈥淒esperate Housewives鈥� this is not. Instead of soapy camp, 鈥淏ig Little Lies鈥� is mature and, at times, very difficult to watch. 鈥淏ig Little Lies鈥� is artfully shot and stocked with top-shelf acting (Adam Scott, Laura Dern, Alexander Skarsg氓rd). Kelley’s writing is in top form as well, with painfully honest dialogue and well-constructed storytelling. Director Jean-Marc Vall茅e (“Dallas Buyers Club”) presents it all in a gorgeous, dreamlike style. It鈥檚 easy to see why another season might be on the way. WATCH IT ON: HBO Now

‘Stranger Things’ For a couple of kids who weren鈥檛 middle schoolers during the 鈥�80s (*emphatically pounds cane on floor*), Matt and Ross Duffer sure seem fascinated by Steven Spielberg鈥檚 heyday, when his summer blockbusters were a capital-T Thing. And they should. Spielberg was printing mountains of box office cash with those engaging, heartfelt fantasies. (Try to watch 鈥淓.T.鈥� and not cry.) Those of us in that demographic will see the plot lines, characters and settings of 鈥淪tranger Things鈥� as an uncanny tribute to Spielberg鈥檚 kids-can-be-heroes-if-they-ride-their-bikes-fast-enough films, which were the toast of the food court set. Oh, and amid its ’80s pop culture tributes, there鈥檚 a missing kid (see 鈥淧oltergeist鈥�), evil government scientists (see 鈥淓.T.鈥�), an inter-dimensional monster that鈥檚 scarier than New Coke and a group of pre-teen nerds banding together with their new supernatural friend (see 鈥淕oonies鈥� and, again, 鈥淓.T.鈥�) to save the day. It all feels familiar at times, but it鈥檚 so much fun. And hey, look 鈥� it鈥檚 Winona Ryder! Where ya been? Wanna go to the mall? WATCH IT ON: Netflix

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