Entertainment Recommendations to Beat the Shelter-at-Home Blues

These definitely are some uncertain, scary times, to say the least.  The one silver lining to my dad’s recent hospital stay is that I binged a lot of TV, read quite a few books and listened to a bunch of podcasts, which means I have a slew of new entertainment favorites to share with my fellow stalkers.  I hope these recommendations make your self-quarantines a bit more enjoyable and bring some laughs, smiles and distractions in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and stay healthy.  Note – I'”‘”‘ll keep adding to this list as I make new discoveries for the duration we are on lockdown, so check back for updates!

1. Truth Be Told (Apple TV+) – All hail Apple TV+!  Not only did the network create The Morning Show, one of my favorite series of 2019, but two of my picks for this list!  The first, Truth Be Told, is the story of a journalist who, believing a man has been wrongly convicted, begins investigating a 20-year-old murder and podcasting about it.  Word of warning – while the show starts out strong, it does get a little slow in the middle and I almost tapped out.  But I’m so glad I stuck with it because after episode 5, it really picks up again and kept me enthralled to the very end.  If you enjoyed Serial, you’ll love this series.

2. For All Mankind (Apple TV+) – This one is a departure from my typical picks because, while no doubt uplifting, it is also decidedly depressing and tragic at times.  Overall though, the series, about the space race that would have been had Russia made it to the moon first, is so worth it!  The storyline is gripping, the set design drool-inducing, the costumes perfection, and the acting bar none.

3. Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector (NBC and Hulu) – This network adaptation of the 1999 movie The Bone Collector is fantastic!  A little bit Law & Order, a little bit CSI, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector is a gripping character-driven procedural that just seems to get better and better each week.

4. Catch and Kill (Amazon) – Though I’d read excerpts of Ronan Farrow’s groundbreaking 2019 book, which spearheaded the #metoo movement, nothing prepared me for what was covered in its actual pages. Catch and Kill is a riveting account of harrowing abuse, aggressive manipulation, and massive cover-up attempts by many political and Hollywood elite, namely, of course, Harvey Weinstein.  The lengths the studio mogul went to silence his victims is mind-boggling, as is the fact that he got away with it for so long.  Kudos to Ronan – and the journalists he collaborated with, many of whom had tried to reveal the Harvey allegations years prior – for bringing it all to light.  The podcast based on the book is fabulous, as well.

5. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) – This comedy series kept me sane during the initial portion of my dad’s almost two-month-long hospital stay.  My mom and I spent countless hours sitting by his bedside in the ICU watching episode after episode of the hilarious Amazon original on my laptop.  The uh-ma-zing costumes, zingy dialogue and heartfelt relationships between characters had me completely distracted and regularly laughing out loud.  The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is honestly one of the best shows to ever hit the small screen and Rachel Brosnahan in the title role is absolute perfection.  You’ll be hard-pressed not to fall immediately in love with her.

6. Schitt’s Creek (Netflix) – This show is, ahem, “simply the best” though it took me a full season to really get into it and I wasn’t truly hooked until the Season 2 finale.  The characters are so unique, quirky and well-cast that it’s impossible to pinpoint a favorite, though I love anything involving David (Dan Levy) and Patrick (Noah Reid).  My mom and I binged this one at the hospital upon finishing Mrs. Maisel, and Moira (Catherine O’Hara), Alexis (Annie Murphy), John (Eugene Levy) and the gang kept us laughing for the long haul.

7. Your Own Backyard (all podcast platforms) – Before listening to this podcast, I was unfamiliar with the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart.  Journalist Chris Lambert had me hooked from the first word, though.  His research skills are unparalleled (there’s literally no stone he leaves unturned and no avenue he won’t venture down on his journey to get to the truth) and he does an incredible job of breaking down the decades-old unsolved case via seven gripping episodes.  His thoroughness is so extent that it has resulted in San Luis Obispo PD stepping up its investigation.  A search warrant was even recently served on the main suspect’s home.  I truly believe this is one cold case that will be solved in the near future and we’ll have Lambert and his podcast to thank for it.

8. Chasing Cosby (all podcast platforms) – I read quite a few articles on the sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby back in 2014, but had no idea of the full story until listening to this new podcast.  Journalist Nicki Weisensee Egan, who actually began reporting on the Cosby case in 2005 (though her words were largely brushed aside), blows the lid off the countless egregious claims against the once-beloved comedian.  Most episodes left me dumbfounded.  Cosby’s assaults, manipulations, and retaliation against a plethora of women are as bad as those of Harvey Weinstein, if not worse. Chasing Cosby is an enthralling and oftentimes disturbing listen.

9. Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) – This new Hulu series, about a mysterious single mom who moves into a small town and befriends a well-connected socialite, has a very Big Little Lies vibe and I am so here for it!  Bonus – it was shot in L.A.!  I’ve already stalked quite a few of its locations, so expect to see those popping up on the blog soon.  So far only three episodes of the thrilling program have aired, but I’ve loved every minute and am eagerly awaiting the final five.

10. Home Before Dark (Apple TV+) – Though I didn'”‘”‘t love the somewhat open ending of this new Apple TV+ series, I ate up pretty much every other minute.  Centering around a young girl’s attempts at solving a decades-old cold case that involves her father, the show, partly based on a true story, is definitely worth a binge-watch.  It'”‘”‘s like a modern-day Nancy Drew and Brooklynn Prince in the lead role is pure joy.

11. Some Good News (YouTube) – Proving that good can definitely come out of a bad situation, John Krasinski has spent his time in quarantine creating a show that features only cheerful news!  To say the weekly series sparks joy is a massive understatement.  I find myself both laughing and crying happy tears throughout each episode.  And his A-List guests are pretty incredible, too.  Some Good News is a must-watch during these uncertain times!

12. The Holdout (Amazon) – A mix of Serial and 12 Angry Men, this thriller centers around a jury holdout who succeeds in changing the minds of her eleven peers, rendering a not-guilty verdict in a landmark murder trial.  Ten years later, as the group reunites for a reality show/podcast, the holdout wonders if she made the right call – and tries to solve the mystery of a dead fellow juror found in her hotel room.  I couldn'”‘”‘t put The Holdout down!

13. Hollywood (Netflix) – Ryan Murphy’s latest series, the Netflix original Hollywood, is a delightful re-imaging of the Golden Age of Hollywood.  I’m all about feel-good stories, especially during these tough times, and this show definitely fits the bill!  As Ryan told Salon, “I wanted to give a happy ending to so many people who didn’t have it.”  The result is a fun look at what might have been had the Hollywood brass fought convention from the get-go.  As well as a fabulous storyline, the acting is superb, the costumes are divine, and the locations are stunning!  There’s nothing better to binge right now.

14. Blue Bloods (CBS and Hulu) – Though this series started airing ten years ago, the GC and I only just discovered it while sheltering at home with my parents.  The NYC police procedural has pretty much been on constant loop whenever my dad is awake and it did not take us long to get hooked, not to mention fall in love with the Reagans.  Those family dinners, amirite?  We’ve started watching it from the beginning and every season is better than the last!  Consider us smitten.  Bonus – thanks to its long run, there are currently over 200 episodes to binge!

15. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Takeout Edition (Food Network) – I am continually impressed by the creativity that has been exhibited while people shelter at home!  The college student who designed face masks for the hearing-impaired, the Massachusetts family that built a “hug curtain” to safely embrace loved ones, and the TV chef who completely revamped his most popular show in order to record it from the safely of his own residence.  I’m talking about Guy Fieri with that last one.  Instead of rolling out to visit America’s best diners, drive-ins and dives, the frosty-tipped Food Network host enlisted chefs from some of the past restaurants he’s covered to cook with him via Zoom for a special set of Takeout Edition episodes.  The chefs send all the ingredients for their chosen dishes to Fieri and he boils, braises and blanches away in his outdoor kitchen while they instruct him virtually.  It’s truly a family affair with Guy’s eldest son, Hunter, assisting at the stove and youngest, Ryder, operating the camera.  The episodes are incredibly well-done, just as fun to watch as the regular shows (if not more so), and provide much-needed publicity for the restaurant industry, which is suffering terribly right now.

16. Building the Perfect Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeder (YouTube)– During quarantine, popular YouTuber/engineer Mark Rober set out to do some bird watching, but instead found himself observing – and attempting to thwart – neighborhood squirrels’ amazingly ingenious attempts at breaking into his backyard bird feeders.  Never in a million years did I think a 21-minute video about squirrels would keep me entertained (I was actually slightly annoyed at the GC when he pulled it up for us to watch), but it hooked me from the start!  The well-produced, hilarious and informative segment is the squirrel video I never knew I needed!  It is honestly one of the best things I’ve watched over the past two months of sheltering-at-home.  Who knew squirrels were so smart – and entertaining!

17. Upload (Amazon Prime) – Amazon’s new series about a virtual reality alternative to death may not sound heartwarming, feel-good, or funny, but it truly is!  The characters are so perfectly cast (which isn’t surprising being that The Office creator Greg Daniels is at the helm) that I found myself looking forward to my nightly viewings just to spend time with them.  At 18 minutes, each episode makes for a quick binge, too.  Though I was not at all happy with the season-ending cliffhanger, Upload still definitely makes for a fabulous watch.

18. Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story (USA Network) – True crime fans – the latest season of Dirty John is for you!  A dramatization of the murders of prominent San Diego attorney Dan Broderick and his mistress-turned-wife, Linda Kolkena, at the hands of his first wife, Betty Broderick, the anthology series sticks very close to the actual details of the case.  Only two episodes have aired so far, but I am all in!  It doesn’t hurt that Amanda Peet and Christian Slater are perfection in their roles as Betty and Dan, respectively.  Peet even manages to make ‘80s clothing seem chic again!  I’m expecting her simple gold necklace to start trending à la Connell’s Normal People chain any day now!

19. Simon Beckett’s David Hunter Series (Amazon) – I just finished reading The Scent of Death, the latest in Simon Beckett’s series about forensic anthropologist David Hunter, and, if it’s any indication, the popular British author isn’t slowing down anytime soon!  Though the titles – Whispers of the Dead, The Restless Dead, Written in Bone  – are incredibly dark, as are the subject matters, as my best friend recently said, Beckett’s books are somehow “cozy.”  It’s an odd phenomenon, but the author is a master at creating intoxicating settings, ones you want to dive right into.  While I don’t necessarily remember all the storylines of his books after the fact, I vividly remember the locations.  The mysteries at the center of each novel are incredibly gripping, as well.  Note – the series definitely should be read in order, starting with The Chemistry of Death.

19. All Rise Zoom Episode (CBS All Access, Amazon, YouTube) – I’ve been a fan of All Rise since the beginning and the freshman series’ latest episode, “Dancing at Los Angeles,” only served to make me a bigger one. Shot entirely via Zoom at the actors’ homes, at first I didn’t think it could possibly hold my attention.  But I was patently wrong.  The episode took four weeks to execute – with location scouts of each actor’s residence, costume consultations, and rehearsals all held virtually – and it shows.  “Dancing at Los Angeles” is incredibly well done!  The chemistry of the cast is still evident in spades, the topical storyline flawlessly fits in with the series’ overall arc, and it is thoroughly engaging from start to finish.  Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say, and kudos to the cast and crew of All Rise for, ahem, rising to the occasion so adeptly.  Even if you aren’t a regular viewer of the series, the groundbreaking episode is still worth a watch.  And you can read a great article about how it was created here.

20. Defending Jacob (Apple TV+) – Thanks to its rather sinister trailer, I almost chalked this one up as far too dark for my tastes, especially during these scary times.  But thanks to a recommendation from a friend, I reconsidered and am so glad I did.  The limited drama series, about the son of a district attorney accused of killing a classmate, is utterly mesmerizing and beautifully shot!  Though (spoiler!) the open ending left me thoroughly frustrated, Defending Jacob makes for an extremely compelling watch.  Bonus – shot in and around Newton, Massachusetts, the scenery and locations are stunning.

21. The Healer (Netflix) – A feel-good story is just what the doctor ordered right now!  And this film, about a curmudgeonly young man gifted with the ability to heal, certainly delivers!  Mid-viewing, I worried The Healer was going to end sadly, but it wound up being a sweet, heartwarming tale.   It doesn’t hurt that leading man Oliver Jackson-Cohen is easy on the eyes.     And the Abigail character, played by Kaitlyn Bernard, is a dead ringer for Marty (Natalie Portman) in fave movie Beautiful Girls.

22. Natalie Wood: The Complete Biography (Amazon) – This newly-updated biography of film star Natalie Wood is explosive, to say the least!  It has been keeping me up way past my bedtime!  I first heard about the tome thanks to an excerpt published in the June issue of Los Angeles magazine and was immediately hooked.  My fingers could hardly type an order to Amazon fast enough!  The book itself does not disappoint.  At times, it’s hard to believe it’s a true story!  If you’re looking for a literary escape to keep your mind occupied during quarantine, this is it!

Honorable Mention – 22 Hours: An American Nightmare (all podcast platforms) – Initially I loved this podcast about a grizzly home-invasion-turned-quadruple-homicide, but listening to it during the long, dreary days my dad spent in the ICU eventually wore on me and I had to stop tuning in.  Had I been in a better headspace, though, I am pretty sure 22 Hours would be a top pick.  That being said, considering the difficult days we are currently experiencing, this might not be the best podcast to recommend, which is why it is listed as an honorable mention.  If you enjoy true crime, though, and your spirits aren’t easily dampened, 22 Hours is an incredibly well-produced glimpse at the investigation into one of Washington D.C.’s most disturbing cases.

Looking for additional recommendations?  Be sure to check out My Favorite Entertainment Finds of 2018 and 2019.

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