Recommend some non-violent TV
July 1, 2014 7:24 AM Subscribe
Season 4 of Game of Thrones was brutal, full of death and gore. Now we're watching Penny Dreadful, True Blood, Fargo and catching up on Hannibal, Dexter and Vikings. All of this is enjoyable, but the violence and gore has become a bit rote and unnerving. Recommend some lighter tv stuff, please.
Examples of what we've liked and disliked below the cut.
Lighter TV fare we're previously enjoyed: Lilo and Stich, Big Band Theory,Archer, Arrested Development, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Mindy Project (Don't ask), New Girl, Girls, Brooklyn 99, Parks & Recreation, Community, Happy Endings. Lighter Fare we haven't enjoyed: Venture Bros, Veep, Enlightened, Eastbound and Down, Entourage. Hung was ok. Louis CK is ok.
Please, NO BRITISH COMEDIES, 'cause ugh, British comedy. Same thing with Dancing with the Stars, American Idol or anything like that.
Special Note: LOVE the HBO comedy Getting On, for its dry humor and no laugh track. Reno 911 was a similar love.
Lighter TV fare we're previously enjoyed: Lilo and Stich, Big Band Theory,Archer, Arrested Development, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Mindy Project (Don't ask), New Girl, Girls, Brooklyn 99, Parks & Recreation, Community, Happy Endings. Lighter Fare we haven't enjoyed: Venture Bros, Veep, Enlightened, Eastbound and Down, Entourage. Hung was ok. Louis CK is ok.
Please, NO BRITISH COMEDIES, 'cause ugh, British comedy. Same thing with Dancing with the Stars, American Idol or anything like that.
Special Note: LOVE the HBO comedy Getting On, for its dry humor and no laugh track. Reno 911 was a similar love.
You will love Party Down but there were only two seasons.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:30 AM on July 1, 2014 [7 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:30 AM on July 1, 2014 [7 favorites]
Ugly Betty! It morphs into 2 or 3 different shows over the course of the run and they're all awesome.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:30 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:30 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Best answer: They're short (between 5-15 min each) but High Maintenence is freaking awesome.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:33 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:33 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Have you seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
posted by something something at 7:36 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by something something at 7:36 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
It isn't a comedy, though it is british: The Hour was fantastic.
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:37 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by you're a kitty! at 7:37 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Lilo and Stich
This seems to be not like the others, but since you went there #1: Adventure Time!
posted by 0 at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2014
This seems to be not like the others, but since you went there #1: Adventure Time!
posted by 0 at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2014
Best answer: Flight of the Conchords!
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2014 [11 favorites]
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2014 [11 favorites]
Another non-comedy recommendation: The Booth at the End.
posted by jbickers at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by jbickers at 7:41 AM on July 1, 2014
Broad City, Review, Pushing Daisies, Rick and Morty
posted by 6ATR at 7:42 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by 6ATR at 7:42 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
For funny haha, we've loved Scrubs and Bob's Burgers.
For slightly less funny and more darker fare, we loved Battlestar Galactica, LOST, Sherlock.
Have you ever thought about investigating some K-Dramas? Hulu is FULL of great ones such as Pasta and Coffee Prince to name our two favorites.
posted by John Kennedy Toole Box at 7:44 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
For slightly less funny and more darker fare, we loved Battlestar Galactica, LOST, Sherlock.
Have you ever thought about investigating some K-Dramas? Hulu is FULL of great ones such as Pasta and Coffee Prince to name our two favorites.
posted by John Kennedy Toole Box at 7:44 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, Lexx is greatest show in the history of the two universes.
posted by 0 at 7:45 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by 0 at 7:45 AM on July 1, 2014
Don't Trust the B* in Apt 23.
posted by vignettist at 7:45 AM on July 1, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by vignettist at 7:45 AM on July 1, 2014 [6 favorites]
Lilo & Stitch + Archer + 90's Flash Animation = Home Movies
posted by jeffkramer at 7:48 AM on July 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by jeffkramer at 7:48 AM on July 1, 2014 [5 favorites]
How about nonviolent drama? Showtime's Masters of Sex, about Masters and Johnson's study of sex is terrific.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:52 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:52 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
The best new comedies of 2014 have been Comedy Central's "Review" , HBO's Silicon Valley (created by Mike Judge) and USA Network's "Playing House".
posted by inturnaround at 8:00 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by inturnaround at 8:00 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: We are enjoying the heck out of The Good Wife.
I was repulsed based just on the title, knowing nothing about it, but it's really good. Reasonably smart, doesn't take itself too seriously, GREAT characters. And no gore.
posted by BrashTech at 8:02 AM on July 1, 2014 [13 favorites]
I was repulsed based just on the title, knowing nothing about it, but it's really good. Reasonably smart, doesn't take itself too seriously, GREAT characters. And no gore.
posted by BrashTech at 8:02 AM on July 1, 2014 [13 favorites]
I asked the same thing a few years ago and got some good suggestions!
posted by theraflu at 8:12 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by theraflu at 8:12 AM on July 1, 2014
Psych. Crazy hyper silly fun.
Suits. Sexy guys & girls being all smug & cool and winning legal cases. The dialogue makes this show as does Louis, the one not so sexy guy.
posted by wwax at 8:28 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Suits. Sexy guys & girls being all smug & cool and winning legal cases. The dialogue makes this show as does Louis, the one not so sexy guy.
posted by wwax at 8:28 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm currently binge-watching Six Feet Under. The show is about death and people who live at a funeral home but it doesn't usually get gory or violent. Each episode starts with someone dying, but it's usually weird rather than gross or bloody. Dead bodies are shown at the funeral home, including nudity, but in a matter-of-fact rather than exploitative or gory way. May not be to your taste but it has some great writing and acting.
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:35 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:35 AM on July 1, 2014 [4 favorites]
Pushing Daisies. There's death involved, but it isn't gory or brutal. The show is almost painfully charming.
posted by Safiya at 8:36 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Safiya at 8:36 AM on July 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Seconding 'The Good Wife', Six Feet Under, and a long-ago amazing series was 'Northern Exposure'.
posted by nanook at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by nanook at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Dead Like Me
posted by desjardins at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by desjardins at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2014
Portlandia
And if you like Pushing Daisies, you might also like Bryan Fuller's older series. Wonderfalls is delightful and weird. I'm binging on Dead Like Me on Amazon Prime right now. Mandy Patinkin is a joy to watch and the humor is offbeat and more than a little perverse.
Kind of fun to compare Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Six Feet Under, as they all touch on very similar ground.
posted by mochapickle at 8:50 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
And if you like Pushing Daisies, you might also like Bryan Fuller's older series. Wonderfalls is delightful and weird. I'm binging on Dead Like Me on Amazon Prime right now. Mandy Patinkin is a joy to watch and the humor is offbeat and more than a little perverse.
Kind of fun to compare Dead Like Me, Pushing Daisies, and Six Feet Under, as they all touch on very similar ground.
posted by mochapickle at 8:50 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
I find a lot of British dramas to be low on violence and high on interesting characters and good writing. So, The Hour, and Call the Midwife, and so forth.
Also, Northern Exposure is lovely and relaxing, although it doesn't have much narrative drive. There's no violence, and the characters and writing are great.
posted by suelac at 8:54 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, Northern Exposure is lovely and relaxing, although it doesn't have much narrative drive. There's no violence, and the characters and writing are great.
posted by suelac at 8:54 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree that Dead Like Me would be a terrific choice. Also, if you haven't watched Veronica Mars and/or Friday Night Lights, get on it!
posted by janey47 at 9:23 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by janey47 at 9:23 AM on July 1, 2014
Seconding Good Wife. When I'm feeling stupid in a Reno 911 way: Trailer Park Boys.
posted by quixotictic at 9:23 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by quixotictic at 9:23 AM on July 1, 2014
2nd Party Down and Home Movies.
posted by WeekendJen at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by WeekendJen at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2014
Freaks and Geeks?
posted by ITheCosmos at 9:44 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by ITheCosmos at 9:44 AM on July 1, 2014
Raising Hope.
posted by teleri025 at 9:45 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by teleri025 at 9:45 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
Have you ever watched Twin Peaks?
Streaming on Netflix :)
posted by christiehawk at 9:52 AM on July 1, 2014
Streaming on Netflix :)
posted by christiehawk at 9:52 AM on July 1, 2014
Call the Midwife is the perfect antidote to Game of Thrones, if you're not squeamish about intense birthing scenes. It manages to be sweet and uplifting without being sappy.
Longmire is also great, if you're OK with non-graphic murder investigations.
posted by tully_monster at 9:55 AM on July 1, 2014
Longmire is also great, if you're OK with non-graphic murder investigations.
posted by tully_monster at 9:55 AM on July 1, 2014
Since Game of Thrones ended, our weekly TV watching group has started on the US version of House of Cards on Netflix. No gore, but similar intrigue and ironic humor. We just watched the first two episodes of the first season and we're already hooked.
posted by E3 at 9:59 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by E3 at 9:59 AM on July 1, 2014
Regular show
posted by likeatoaster at 11:13 AM on July 1, 2014
posted by likeatoaster at 11:13 AM on July 1, 2014
The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife (not AT ALL like it sounds) are pure comedy gold. Basically, I haven't watched sitcoms since "Scrubs," but I am eager for the fall season of these two. So eager.
posted by zizzle at 11:27 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by zizzle at 11:27 AM on July 1, 2014 [1 favorite]
The Middleman has some cartoonish violence, usually involving silly, gloppy aliens, but it's kind of adorable. It's a little sci-fi comedy based on a comic book. The worst thing about it is that there are so few episodes.
And zizzle, I hate to burst your bubble, but Trophy Wife was canceled after the first season.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:40 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
And zizzle, I hate to burst your bubble, but Trophy Wife was canceled after the first season.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:40 AM on July 1, 2014 [3 favorites]
Drama without a lot of gore: Mad Men, Scandal
Not exactly light comedy though.
posted by SLC Mom at 1:21 PM on July 1, 2014
Not exactly light comedy though.
posted by SLC Mom at 1:21 PM on July 1, 2014
Seconding Rick and Morty. We just finished our second watching and it was so much fun the second time.
American Dad is hilarious once it figures itself out around the third season. By then, Roger's in full swing character mode and he's just so funny. Plus Sir Patrick Stewart is a regular and they use him really well. And one episode morphs into a film by Werner Herzog. I did not like this show the first time I saw it and now it's one of my favorites. Highly recommended.
posted by danabanana at 2:08 PM on July 1, 2014
American Dad is hilarious once it figures itself out around the third season. By then, Roger's in full swing character mode and he's just so funny. Plus Sir Patrick Stewart is a regular and they use him really well. And one episode morphs into a film by Werner Herzog. I did not like this show the first time I saw it and now it's one of my favorites. Highly recommended.
posted by danabanana at 2:08 PM on July 1, 2014
Slings & Arrows is a classic 18 episode TV comedy from Canada (six episodes over 3 years).
posted by apennington at 2:21 PM on July 1, 2014
posted by apennington at 2:21 PM on July 1, 2014
Allie McBeal and The Rockford Files are both streaming on Netflix.
posted by rfs at 7:04 PM on July 1, 2014
posted by rfs at 7:04 PM on July 1, 2014
Maron on IFC and Louie on FX...both back seasons are on netflix. denis leary's rescue me on netflix,
posted by Jewel98 at 7:55 PM on July 1, 2014
posted by Jewel98 at 7:55 PM on July 1, 2014
I'd like to recommend Treme. It does have violent acts (of which, as far as I recall, only one happens on-screen) but they're few and far between and when they happen, they matter - i.e. they disrupt people's lives and have a lasting impact. For the most part, though, it's decent people doing the best they can under incredibly difficult circumstances (post-Katrina New Orleans).
posted by rjs at 10:35 AM on July 2, 2014
posted by rjs at 10:35 AM on July 2, 2014
Also: Boston Legal. The first two or three seasons are genius.
posted by rjs at 10:41 AM on July 2, 2014
posted by rjs at 10:41 AM on July 2, 2014
• Andy Richter Controls The Universe
• Jon Benjamin Has A Van
• Kroll Show
• Childrens Hospital (No apostrophe!)
• The Larry Sanders Show
• Cougar Town (at least the earlier seasons) especially if you like Scrubs
• I haven't been able to get into The League but I haven't given up on it yet. In theory you should like it!
• Whose Line Is It Anyway?
• One more vote for Party Down
• The best jokes are a little insider-y, but I think Joey is underrated.
• Oh, and if you liked Friends the first time around give it another a go. It holds up really well.
(I'm also a huge fan of Reno 911. I can't believe it's not streaming anywhere.)
Huh. Good work, Friends cast.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:08 PM on July 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
• Jon Benjamin Has A Van
• Kroll Show
• Childrens Hospital (No apostrophe!)
• The Larry Sanders Show
• Cougar Town (at least the earlier seasons) especially if you like Scrubs
• I haven't been able to get into The League but I haven't given up on it yet. In theory you should like it!
• Whose Line Is It Anyway?
• One more vote for Party Down
• The best jokes are a little insider-y, but I think Joey is underrated.
• Oh, and if you liked Friends the first time around give it another a go. It holds up really well.
(I'm also a huge fan of Reno 911. I can't believe it's not streaming anywhere.)
Huh. Good work, Friends cast.
posted by Room 641-A at 3:08 PM on July 2, 2014 [1 favorite]
Since you like animation (Lilo and Stitch), have you seen "Avatar, the Last Airbender" series? Really good!
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 7:39 PM on July 2, 2014
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 7:39 PM on July 2, 2014
We have similar tastes when it comes to sit coms. Have you seen Police Squad!?
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:01 PM on July 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 6:01 PM on July 5, 2014 [1 favorite]
Nthing Better Off Ted. So great and totally rewatchable.
posted by getawaysticks at 3:58 PM on July 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by getawaysticks at 3:58 PM on July 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Lately I'very been re-watching My Name is Earl. Nice little feel-good shows.
Nthing Better Off Ted.
posted by vignettist at 8:36 PM on July 21, 2014
Nthing Better Off Ted.
posted by vignettist at 8:36 PM on July 21, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
I know you said no British comedies, but I'm going to cheat and say you should be watching Rev on Hulu. Everyone should be watching Rev. Seriously, just try it once. I'm sorry I broke the rules.
posted by Think_Long at 7:29 AM on July 1, 2014 [7 favorites]