Plus, Peacock is constantly creating new shows, which, especially in the comedy sphere, are stunners. Rutherford Falls, Girls5Eva, We Are Lady Parts, and The Resort are all sure to make you laugh. And while plenty of the content is free to watch with ads with a regular Peacock account, you can unlock all your favorite shows with Peacock Premium, and watch them without ads with Peacock Premium Plus. 2. Face Off — Think Project Runway but it’s movie makeup instead of dresses made out of pool floaties and kitchen utensils. Each week, there is a theme, and incredible artists battle to be the best in showbiz. 3. Killing It — I adore this Peacock original starring Craig Robinson and Claudia O’Doherty as regular people-turned-python hunters in an attempt to win the cash prize in a snake-killing competition in the Florida Everglades. But there is plenty to watch on Peacock including the second season of Bel-Air which arrives this month. Cast: Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Simone Joy Jones, Jordan L. Jones, and Adrian Holmes Genre: Drama Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-MA The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is back, but certainly not the way you knew it. Hilary is now a social media influencer, Uncle Phil is running for office, and Carlton is snorting some kind of substance or another in his closet. The new Peacock Original is a grittier reboot of the Will Smith-helmed comedy (think what Riverdale did to the Archie comics) and relies heavily on intrigue and drama. The series was shockingly greenlit when a YouTube fan-made trailer caught Smith’s attention, signaling all amateur filmmakers that if you can put together a good-enough reel, you might be able to break into the big leagues. Bel-Air is very different from its predecessor, but I’d still watch it if it was on Nick at Night. The brand-new second season drops on February 23. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Judah Friedlander, and Alec Baldwin Genre: Comedy Seasons: 7 Episodes: 139 Rating: TV-14 Really, there’s no better way to start a Peacock must-watch TV list than with 30 Rock, a sitcom about the fictional behind-the-scenes workings of NBC. If the show were airing today, you can be sure there’d be a whole season arc about the creation of NBCUniversal’s streaming platform and its place on it. The show, created by Saturday Night Live legend, Tina Fey, saw Fey continue her dominance at the network as Liz Lemon, the head writer of an NBC sketch comedy show (a real stretch for her). With funny people and stars in their own right Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Jane Krakowski rounding out the cast, the satirical look at the world of TV is still perfect for tickling the funny bone. Watch seasons 1 and 3–7 on Peacock for free and Season 2 with a Premium membership. Cast: Glenn Howerton, Lyric Lewis, Mary Sohn, Jean Villepique, Tom Bennett, Patton Oswalt, and Paula Pell Genre: Comedy Seasons: 4 Episodes: 42 Rating: TV-14 If you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and looking for something to watch during the off-season, then might I suggest A.P. Bio? Starring Always Sunny’s Glenn Howerton (the lasciviously deplorable Dennis), this NBC sitcom moved directly to Peacock for its third season and debuts its fourth there this month. Howerton plays a similarly narcissistic character in Jack Griffin, only this time he’s at a high school instead of Paddy’s Pub. Jack, a disgraced Harvard philosophy professor, is now managing a class of teenagers while fending off the school principal (Patton Oswalt) and his secretary (Girls5eva’s Paula Pell). Unlike Always Sunny, though, this irreverent comedy somehow also manages to be just a little sweet. Watch Seasons 1 and 2 on Peacock for free and Seasons 3 and 4 with a Premium membership. Cast: Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, and Anna Paquin Genre: Drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 53 Rating: TV-MA As it turns out, extramarital affairs are messy. Don’t believe me? Watch Noah (Dominic West) and Alison (Ruth Wilson) attempt to have one on the aptly named The Affair. We get to see the pair maneuver their covert relationship and their individual marriages (to Maura Tierney and Joshua Jackson), but the show’s true brilliance is in showing us the same affair from both Noah’s and Alison’s perspectives. The episodes are bifurcated with viewers seeing largely the same events from both vantage points, often to greatly different effect, as two people never remember an event in exactly the same way. Later seasons throw in even more perspectives, flash-forwards, and a few murder plotlines to keep things spicy. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Late-night Talk Show Seasons: 2 Episodes: 36 Rating: TV-MA In a late-night landscape too often dominated by straight, white, cisgender males, this talk show, helmed by Late Night With Seth Meyers writer, Amber Ruffin, is a breath of fresh air. The Peacock Original, which began airing during the pandemic and releases new episodes weekly, sees Ruffin taking over the late-night desk for half-hour episodes packed with monologues, sketches, and jokes. And while some of her counterparts like to steer clear of sticky topics, Ruffin dives into issues such as race, police brutality, and gender with a potent combination of ingenious humor and sharp cultural criticism. The half-hour show is currently sitting on a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, and we’re hoping the success is parlayed into more fresh voices entering the late-night space. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Sports Entertainment Reality Show Seasons: 14 Episodes: 211 Rating: TV-PG As the saying goes, “Those who can’t do…sit on their couch and offer critiques of impossibly superhuman individuals competing on the world’s most rigorous obstacle course.” Or maybe I’m the only one who watches the lithe gods attempt to cross the spinning log while shouting advice at the TV screen. The popular obstacle-course game show pits America’s fittest individuals against one another as they race to complete extremely difficult physical tasks in hopes of becoming the season’s “American Ninja Warrior.” While I (a full-grown adult) was once caught upside down on a ropes course and had to be rescued by a high school student working there, I am fairly confident whenever I watch that I would win the title. Watch Season 14 on Peacock for free. Cast: Emmy Rossum, Martin Freeman, Hamish Linklater, Philip Ettinger, Lukas Gage, Michael Angarano, Molly Ephraim, Charlie Rowe, and Alex Karpovsky Genre: Biographical Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 5 Rating: TV-MA If you lived in the ’80s in Los Angeles, then you definitely know the name “Angelyne.” If you (like me) grew up in a different place and/or in a different decade, then your introduction to the real-life Barbie doll who took LA billboards by storm has arrived. Emmy Rossum is virtually unrecognizable as the mysterious celebrity who became famous for doing nothing long before the age of reality TV stars and influencers. The blonde bombshell with a shadowy past became an actor-singer-model cult of personality based on nothing but her will to do so, and this new miniseries tells the bonkers tale of how she did it. In an I, Tonya-style fictional documentary setting, we not only see Angelyne’s rise to fame but also the quest to uncover who she really is. The show is certainly adjacent to the true crime/scammer miniseries boom happening right now but mostly examines just what made the billboard starlet tick. Instantly engrossing. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Theriot, Olivia Cooke, Nicola Pelz, Néstor Carbonell, and Kenny Johnson Genre: Psychological Horror / Drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 50 Rating: TV-MA If there is a show that the world is SLEEPING ON, it is Bates Motel. This prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic Psycho was buzzy during its first season on A&E before inexplicably fading into obscurity. Now all five near-perfect seasons are available for streaming, and you owe it to yourself and Norma Bates’s corpse to binge this stunner. The Good Doctor’s Freddie Highmore and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga star as the creepily incestuous Norman and Norma Bates, who attempt to escape a life full of secrets by moving to White Pine Bay and buying the Bates Motel. My childhood crush Max Thieriot and should-have-been-Oscar-nominated-for-Sound-of-Metal Olivia Cooke are also in the ensemble. It’s a whirling, creepy, murderous drive to ruin as we near the events of the movie (and a groundbreaking appearance by Rihanna). Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, and Michael Hogan Genre: Science Fiction / Post-Apocalypse / Drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 76 Rating: TV-14 The Battlestar Galactica franchise has spawned several television shows, miniseries, and movies since its creation in the late ’70s, but the iteration held in highest regard is Ronald D. Moore’s early-’00s show. The Sci-Fi Channel original follows the small remnant of the human race after an attack from an android race called the Cylons destroys the vast majority of the human population. The remainder (and their one military ship, the Battlestar Galactica) are off to find the fabled Earth while also trying not to be picked off by the Cylons. One of the great modern sci-fi classics, Battlestar is a must-watch for anyone caught up on Star Trek and The Mandalorian. Watch it on Peacock for free. Seasons: 9 Episodes: 137 Rating: TV-14 These people are MESSY. So, so, so, so messy. Each season of this drama-laced reality show (and its spinoffs) chronicles the journey of a superyacht and its crew as they slip from port to port with a host of über-wealthy vacationers on board. The young, hot, promiscuous, and often not-great-at-their-jobs crew members are always one step away from getting fired or sleeping with a passenger (often both), and we’re along for the ride. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a drunk-out-of-their-mind billionaire get into a shouting match with a horny Australian deckhand. And in the new Peacock Original spinoff Below Deck: Down Under, you can watch nothing but Australian deckhands. If you want to witness a hot-mess express, climb aboard. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau Genre: Comedy/Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Whoever decided to turn The Best Man series into a television show is a GENIUS. I love the original 1999 ensemble film about a group of college friends reconvening for their best friend’s wedding (also available on Peacock), and I love the 2013 holiday-themed sequel. Both films are bursting with rich characters from an all-star lineup of actors, and this television series gives those characters room to breathe. When Quentin (Howard) announces his upcoming marriage, the group descends to a five-star Caribbean resort for the nuptials. Of course, there is plenty of drama to go around including Harper’s novel (about the gang) being turned into a book (the source of the original film’s drama), Shelby’s (De Sousa) role on The Real Housewives of Westchester, and Jordan (Long) trying to find love. A hilarious and heartwarming delight, and if you haven’t watched the films take this as an excuse to catch up. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker, and Joel McKinnon Miller Genre: Police Procedural / Comedy Seasons: 8 Episodes: 153 Rating: TV-14 Another of the SNL-darling-helmed Peacock offerings, this sitcom starring the Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg follows a fictional police precinct in Brooklyn. Not since The Andy Griffith Show has there been a show about law enforcement that’s so charming. The bubbly, lighthearted Samberg leads the way as his team somehow solves cases while also making viewers laugh out loud. Andre Braugher as Raymond Holt (an unapologetically openly gay Black police chief) and In the Heights’ Stephanie Beatriz as Detective Rosa Diaz also ramp up the energy of the show. The series, which originally aired on Fox before being rescued by NBC, is airing its eighth season, so now is the perfect time to catch up. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Jeff Wilbusch, Juliana Canfield, Karen Robinson, Michael Mosley, Tony Curran, Noel Fisher, and Stephanie Szostak Genre: Thriller/Detective/Mystery Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-MA The master of the crime procedural, David E. Kelley, has spun another tale of suspense. From the mind that brought you Boston Legal, Big Little Lies, and The Undoing (complete with Nicole Kidman’s wig), comes The Calling, a New York City mystery about a child gone missing. The pair of investigators tasked with solving the case are Avraham Avraham (his parents liked the name), an eccentric Jewish agent with an incredible ability to read people, and Janine Harris, a plucky young operative hungry to learn his skills. The pair are played by Jeff Wilbusch (who you may remember from playing a very different kind of New York Jew on Unorthodox) and Juliana Canfield (Kendall’s long suffering assistant, Jess, from Succession). I was instantly hooked by the mystery here, and with plenty of interesting suspects, this is a great wintery mystery binge. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, Tim Conway, and Dick Van Dyke Genre: Variety Show / Sketch Comedy Seasons: 11 Episodes: 279 Rating: TV-G A woman? Helming a variety show? In the ’60s? Unheard of. Or so was the thought before Carol Burnett exercised a contractual loophole in her contract with CBS to land a variety show of her own. The Carol Burnett Show, of course, went on to run for 11 seasons as a massive success, launching Burnett into stardom (and an iconic role as Miss Hannigan), obliterating the sexist idea that no one wants to watch women be funny. Each week, Burnett and her ensemble cast, featuring Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway, would act, sing, and improvise to the guffaws of viewers everywhere. The show’s list of guest stars is also a who’s who, with Lucille Ball, Liza Minnelli, my beloved Carl Reiner, and countless others showing up. And every costume is designed by Bob Mackie. I mean, come on. You gotta watch. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Ted Danson, Shelly Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, Geroge Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, and Bebe Neuwirth Genre: Comedy Seasons: 11 Episodes: 275 Rating: TV-PG Due at least in part to the success of The Good Place and Ted Danson’s charm on it, Cheers seems to be having a resurgence. The ’80s sitcom, with Danson as the lead, focuses on a Boston bar (aptly named “Cheers”). The cast, including A-listers Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson, is a bevy of the bar’s employees and patrons who spend the show’s 11 humorous seasons and nearly 300 episodes drinking, gossiping, and falling in and out of love. While certain moments from the show don’t quite hold up to today’s scrutiny (the treatment of women can be rough), watching a group of friends hang out at a bar for some 100-plus hours is oddly comforting. If you’re looking for a lengthy binge, this might be just the ticket. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Peter Gallagher, Hill Harper, and Nic Bishop Genre: Action / Drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 75 Rating: TV-PG The older sister in Cheaper by the Dozen and Ugly Betty’s nerdy boyfriend team up in the CIA to solve crimes. That is the way I would have billed Covert Affairs when it premiered if I were trying to hook you. Now I would just say Piper Perabo goes undercover as a Smithsonian employee with the help of her blind handler (played by Christopher Gorham) to help defend America. The fizzy spy thriller, which originally aired on USA, is akin to Alias as Perabo and her team jet around the globe donning disguises, solving mysteries, and generally kicking ass. I would also just like to take a minute to praise Christopher Gorham, who is a delight here but is also SO FUN on the one-season wonder Harper’s Island, which is a juicy whodunit that apparently only I watched. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Howie Mandel Genre: Game Show Seasons: 7 Episodes: 573 Rating: TV-PG I’m getting a call from the banker. He is offering you the chance to watch hundreds of episodes of Deal or No Deal for free if you sign up for Peacock. Just call me Howie Mandel, the fist-bumping host of the iconic briefcase-centric game show. Every episode, at least one contestant joins Mandel and 26 models (including Meghan Markle for a season) in matching dresses with briefcases. Contestants pick a case with a dollar amount inside and then proceed to knock out the other 25 cases one by one to slowly reveal the amount they’ve selected. The only catch is that the banker will call periodically and try to fend off the contestant with an amount of money somewhere between the minimum and maximum left in the remaining cases. It is an oddly satisfying show to watch, and the models’ 2007-era dresses are fashion moments to behold. Why not throw it on? Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Siobhan Finneran, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan, Thomas Howes, Elizabeth McGovern, and Maggie Smith Genre: Historical Drama Seasons: 6 Episodes: 52 Rating: TV-PG Just because your grandmother loves Downton doesn’t mean you can’t too. The British ITV show, which was transplanted to PBS in the US and now finds a home on Peacock, is a delight on an English-countryside afternoon. The definition of a “comfort watch,” the sweeping historical drama follows the Crawley family, who are living on a palatial Yorkshire estate, along with their dozens of domestic servants. While the drama is sometimes mildly significant and a little soapy (“Is this your long-lost cousin returned home from war disfigured?”), it never veers into something too taxing and often resides in the pleasantly mundane (“Who will be tonight’s second footman?”). Maggie Smith is the scene-stealing matriarch, and Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary is always a treasure. If you don’t watch it, you should at least download the score on Spotify. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, and AnnaSophia Robb Genre: Crime Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Not to be confused with Jack Kevorkian, the euthanasia proponent (whom I originally thought this show was about), the subject of Peacock’s original miniseries Dr. Death is actually Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a narcissistic neurosurgeon who maimed and killed dozens of patients because he was a horrible doctor with a massive ego. In the show, Joshua Jackson (Mr. Jodie Turner-Smith to you) plays this Dr. Death on a rampage at the hospital as his fellow surgeons and local law enforcement attempt to stop him. The cast is rounded out nicely by Meryl Streep’s daughter Grace Gummer, Mr. Robot alum Christian Slater, Alec Baldwin, and AnnaSophia Robb (deflated and sans the violet face). All eight episodes dropped on the streamer, so the binge is waiting for you. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim, and Vincent Martella Genre: Comedy Seasons: 4 Episodes: 88 Rating: TV-PG Everybody might hate Chris, but they certainly don’t hate this show. Created by (the slapped) Chris Rock and based on his life as a teenager, the show parodies other sitcoms and stars a predominantly Black cast, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Terry Crews and The Walking Dead’s Tyler James Williams in the titular role. Created for Fox, then moved to UPN, and finally settling at the CW, the show had a hard time finding a home before becoming a success and being syndicated on Nick at Nite (where the cool kids find their favorite sitcoms). A zippy comedy just waiting for you to enjoy. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Madylin Sweeten, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, and Monica Horan Genre: Comedy Seasons: 9 Episodes: 210 Rating: TV-PG I don’t know why I find Patricia Heaton endlessly hilarious, but I do. The Middle is one of the greatest comedies of our generation, IMHO. I watched every episode of the ill-fated Carol’s Second Act. And of course, Heaton’s breakthrough moment was playing Ray Romano’s wife in Everybody Love Raymond. The sitcom follows Ray and his family through everyday events for nine seasons, with Heaton, Brad Garrett, and the late greats Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle rounding out the cast. Some people may dislike the multi-camera, live-studio-audience approach to sitcoms, but I find that era endearing. Fingers crossed that Peacock gives us another Patricia Heaton show soon. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Emma Appleton, Bel Powley, Marli Siu, Aliyah Odoffin, Connor Finch, Ryan Bown, and Jordan Peters Genre: Comedy / Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 7 Rating: TV-MA If you want a funnier version of a Sally Rooney novel, then may I present to you Everything I Know About Love. I am absolutely smitten with this BBC/Peacock comedy from the wonderful mind of Dolly Alderton, who is both the creator of the show and the author of the memoir it’s based on. I first heard of Alderton when my book club read her novel Ghosts and unanimously adored it (a fate that did not await Where the Crawdads Sing or a pornographic Colleen Hoover novel I slogged my way through). This quippy bite of joy follows two best friends (newcomer, Emma Appleton, and The Diary of a Teenage Girl star, Bel Powley) as they party, date, and attempt to maintain more than £1 in their bank accounts after moving to London in their early 20s. There is nothing groundbreaking on the plot side, but the dialogue and situational humor are so much fun, and I breezed right through the saga of love and friendship. Keep an eye on Dolly Alderton. More great stuff must be coming our way. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Seasons: 13 Episodes: 160 Rating: TV-PG One year on Christmas break at my grandma’s house in Florida, I was channel-surfing and stumbled upon an episode of Face Off. Some seven hours later, I stumbled out of my fake-blood-induced reverie, having polished off a full season (with commercials) in a cable marathon. The show is that engaging. Each season, a handful of contestants are pitted against one another to create movie makeup masterpieces and are eliminated one by one on the path to glory. Whether it’s werewolves, zombies, or old-age makeup, the creations are breathtaking and leave you craving another episode just to see what the artists will dream up next. Watch Seasons 9–13 on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney, and Dan Butler Genre: Comedy Seasons: 11 Episodes: 264 Rating: TV-PG When Cheers came to a close in 1993, the show’s creators decided to try their hand at a spinoff — a feat oft attempted, and usually to disastrous results. In the case of Frasier, however, the spinoff stuck around for 11 years, cementing itself as a sitcom classic and perhaps even overshadowing its predecessor. Following Kelsey Grammer’s psychiatrist, Frasier Crane, back to Seattle, where he takes up a new gig as an advice radio show host, the comedy centered on Frasier’s relationship with his father and brother. Between Frasier and Cheers, you’ve got 22 seasons to watch, so get cracking. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Gaius Charles, Zach Gilford, Minka Kelly, Adrianne Palicki, Taylor Kitsch, Jesse Plemons, and Michael B. Jordan Genre: Sports Drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 76 Rating: TV-14 If you grew up in a small town (and especially a small town in the South, and ESPECIALLY a small town in Texas), then you KNOW how important high school football is to the community. And such is the backdrop to this sports drama about high school football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife, Tami (Connie Britton). Over its five seasons, the team roster evolved and gave the world a number of rising stars, including Jesse Plemons (Mr. Kirsten Dunst to you), Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther’s Killmonger), and Jurnee Smollett (of the recently, unjustly, canceled Lovecraft Country). Even if you’ve never touched a football in your life, you’ll get sucked into the small-town drama, I swear. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Jake Lacy, Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Hendrix Yancey, Mckenna Grace, Austin Stowell, Patrick Fischler, Bree Elrod, and Philip Ettinger Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 9 Rating: TV-MA I’m slightly unclear as to what is a spoiler for this 2022 miniseries based on a 2017 documentary based on a 2003 memoir based on a true crime from the 1970s. BUT I won’t spoil anything even so. Chances are, you will start watching the series and after an episode or two be like me and say, “Oh I remember hearing about this case.” The most basic premise, however, is that two Mormon families are neighbors and become incredibly close with one another until one father abducts the daughter from the other family. From there, all manner of strange behaviors continue for several years from all involved parties creating a story that will leave you agog. Perhaps not worth watching if you’ve already seen Abuducted in Plain Sight, the documentary, but otherwise grab some popcorn and buckle up! Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: George Lopez, Constance Marie, Luis Armand Garcia, Masiela Lusha, Valente Rodriquez, Belita Moreno, Emiliano Diez, and Aimee Garcia Genre: Comedy Seasons: 6 Episodes: 120 Rating: TV-PG I know this may be surprising to you, but the show George Lopez, does, in fact, star George Lopez, and his character’s name is — you guessed it — George Lopez. A classic family sitcom with a Latino twist (something frustratingly rare back in the early ’00s), the comedy revolves around Lopez and his fictional family. Another Nick at Nite staple, the show ran for six seasons before it hit syndication, and it’s a bit of light, frothy viewing that pairs perfectly with your work-from-home lunch hour or the half hour before you go to bed. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell, and Renee Elis Goldsberry Genre: Comedy / Musical Seasons: 2 Episodes: 16 Rating: TV-MA One of Peacock’s best forays into original content is back with a second season. This musical comedy follows the four surviving members of a ’90s girl group who reunite when their one-hit wonder is sampled on the track of a popular rapper. The cast is really an all-hits, no-misses lineup, with Broadway singer, Sara Bareilles, joined by Michelle Williams’s bestie and celeb multi-hyphenate, Busy Philipps, A.P. Bio’s Paula Pell, and Renée Elise Goldsberry (of Hamilton and Waves fame). Oh, and the fifth member of the group is played by Ashley Park, whom you should definitely know from either the Mean Girls musical soundtrack or her stint as the boozy and song-belting bestie of Emily in Emily in Paris. Bowen Yang makes an appearance, as does Tina Fey (PLAYING DOLLY PARTON), and the second season has more fun cameos. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Standup Comedy Episodes: 1 Rating: TV-14 It is often said that people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. Perhaps those fears swap order the older you get, though, because the group of senior citizens in this new comedy special certainly know how to tell a joke. New York resident funny woman, Jo Firestone, is here to make you laugh (and perhaps shed a tear) in her new heartwarming special. Firestone decided to share the limelight with 16 senior citizens as the special follows her teaching them in a comedy workshop. After they spend time honing jokes and telling stories, we get to watch as the crew takes the stage for the first time, bringing down the house with their wry wit and charming tales. Perhaps the inspiration for you to sign up for some stand-up classes as well. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kevin Hart Genre: Talk Show Seasons: 2 Episodes: 22 Rating: TV-MA Kevin Hart may not have hosted the Oscars, but he is the host of a new talk show. The Peacock Original sees the Jumanji star sipping on wine and chatting one-on-one with A-list guests in extended interviews. Episodes drop each Thursday, and the guests so far have included the previous best-of-both-worlds-having, but now singularly worlded, Miley Cyrus; voice of Princess Fiona, Cameron Diaz; and Miss Turnblad’s agent, John Travolta. He also rubs elbows with talk show hosts Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and Kelly Clarkson in what I like to classify as host-versus-host matchups. The second season boasts guests such as Pete Davidson, Kristen Stewart, Chris Rock, and Mike Tyson. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Reality TV / Cooking Competition Seasons: 21 Episodes: 316 Rating: TV-14 COME ON, YOU DONKEYS! If you are averse to profanity, thrown pans, or undercooked beef Wellington (a dish that I have attempted to try in New York City, but it seems to only be on the HK menu), this might not be the show for you. If, however, you’d like to watch a handful of chefs duke it out for a job at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants and also watch a number of them cry and attempt to serve raw beef Wellington along the way, then I’ve got the show for you. No matter how many times the dinner service goes awry, I still can’t take my eyes off the screen. And please, if anyone would like to cook me beef Wellington, slide into my DMs. I’ve been waiting 20 seasons to try it. Watch Seasons 1–6 and 8–18 on Peacock for free. Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Santiago Cabrera, Jack Coleman, Tawny Cypress, Noah Gray-Cabey, Greg Grunberg, Ali Larter, Masi Oka, and Milo Ventimiglia Genre: Superhero Drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 77 Rating: TV-14 Save the cheerleader, save the world. Or so the slogan of NBC’s superhero drama Heroes told us. Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe skyrocketed the success of superhero properties, this Tim Kring-helmed show followed an ensemble cast of ordinary people (including Hayden Panettiere’s indestructible cheerleader) who awaken to find they have supernatural abilities. They then band together to, in fact, save the world. Greg Grunberg is a mind reader, Masi Oka can manipulate space and time, and of course, Milo Ventimiglia can mimic the abilities of others. While the series was eventually canceled because of declining ratings, the first season scooped up plenty of awards, and the show is still a cult classic. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Colin Donnell, PJ Byrne, Kyle Bracknell, Tegan Stimson, and Wayne Blair Genre: Drama/Comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-MA Okay, so it’s like Sister Act but make it Australian. Irreverent, a new comedy that was co-produced with Netflix in Australia and Peacock in the States, follows Paulo, a con-man who inadvertently kills the mob boss’s son. While attempting to patch things up before he’s murdered himself, Paulo flees from Chicago to Australia, where he switches identity with a priest who is being sent to a remote corner of the continent to minister to a tiny beach town. While this seems like an excellent cover, the town seems to be cursed as the last number of priests have all met unfortunate deaths (including the directly previous one who was eaten by a crocodile). The show is witty and suspenseful, artfully blending humor and murder in a Barry-esque fashion. (I was going to try and end this blurb with something that involved “crikey” but just decided it might be better for everyone to skip that joke). Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Genre: Documentary Seasons: 1 Episodes: 2 Rating: TV-MA Did you know there was drama behind the scenes with the purple dinosaur of children’s TV fame? I certainly didn’t. My experiences with Barney mostly involved watching the show as a three-year-old and owning a plush Barney. As I learned watching this documentary, however, the show was not only plagued with controversy behind the scenes (a sex guru played the monster, the show caused the creator to get a divorce, etc.), but also became the focal point for countless hate groups. Death threats. Violent mobs. The early days of internet trolls. Barney was QUITE controversial. The genius documentarians here also con most of their talking heads into singing “I Love You” which is a hilarious stunt and one of my favorite parts of the series. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Rob Kardashian, Kendell Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and Scott Disick Genre: Reality TV Seasons: 20 Episodes: 286 Rating: TV-14 Say what you want about the Kardashian-Jenners, but the family has managed to become an entertainment dynasty second only to the Knowles-Carters. KUWTK is a piece of modern performance art, and I will not abide the naysayers. To watch Kris mom-age her way to the top is what these 20 seasons are about, and the sprinkled commentary of Kourtney and Scott Disick is the icing on the cake. The early seasons, where the clan is finding their footing, are especially provocative, but really — go watch this show, and you will constantly remember wild tabloid stories that had somehow become dislodged from your brain, only to come back in a dopamine rush. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Craig Robinson, Claudia O’Doherty, Rell Battle, Scott MacArthur, and Stephanie Nogueras Genre: Comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-MA This comedy about a pair of ill-fated strangers who enter a Floridian python-killing competition (a real-life necessary evil) is hands down my favorite, and most hilarious Peacock Original to date. Craig Robinson (The Office) is a joy as a struggling entrepreneur trying to earn cash via staple-gunning snakes in order to launch a homeopathic palmetto berry–infused prostate-reduction drug company. Australian Claudia O’Doherty (Love) is his perky sidekick, eternally optimistic despite living out of a tow-behind billboard. And Scott MacArthur (Jimmy from the canceled-too-soon The Mick) is their nemesis. The show is wacky (there’s a whole episode where Robinson has a dead python stapled to his hand), irreverent (there are jokes about touching a dead man’s penis), and gory (someone is constantly covered in blood), and I loved every second of it. I choked on a piece of lettuce from laughing so hard at one point, and as bananas as the show gets, it is always grounded in a heartwarming sweetness. If you don’t watch this show now, I’m going to blow an air horn in your face (you’ll get the joke if you tune in). Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Matthew Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Alyth Ross, Taylor Fay, Amber Rose Revah, Jim High, and Victoria Alli Genre: Post-apocalyptic Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 5 Rating: TV-MA With the world’s oil supply suddenly cut off, the human race is plunged into an apocalyptic landscape, largely without power. Based on the bestselling novel by Alex Scarrow, the miniseries follows the Yeats family, who are spread out across Europe and the Middle East as they try to survive and reconnect with one another amid the turmoil. Lost’s Matthew Fox and Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt play the leads separated because Froggatt’s Elena is in Paris, where her son is awaiting eye surgery, while Fox’s Andy is in the middle of the desert investigating the crisis itself. The thriller is a quick, tight binge expertly acted by the pair. Taylor Fay, who plays their blind son, Sam, is also the cutest, most charismatic child star since Jacob Tremblay and steals every scene he’s in. Cast him in more things stat. Watch it on Peacock starting Sept. 8. Genre: Crime Drama Rating: TV-14 Really, if you’re looking for law and/or order, you’ve come to the right place. This franchise has been an NBC staple since 1990, and Peacock is bursting at the seams with episodes of the original series and its many spinoffs. We’ve got Special Victims Unit. We’ve got Organized Crime. We’ve got Criminal Intent. The franchise has aired more than 1,000 episodes since its creation, and you can watch a lot of them here. So if you’d like to see every Broadway star of the past three decades play a corpse, cop, or cocaine dealer, then have I got months of bingeing for you. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Hugh Beaumont, Barbara Billingsley, Tony Dow, and Jerry Mathers Genre: Comedy Seasons: 6 Episodes: 234 Rating: TV-G While Peacock is certainly well stocked with more recent offerings, it also features a number of stone-cold classics, like this ’50s black-and-white OG sitcom. I grew up watching the same 10 Beaver episodes from a DVD pack my mom dug out of the Walmart $5 bin, so it’s nice to see the full lineup now available without having to change DVDs. This iconic show follows the Cleaver family (June, Ward, Wally, and Beaver) as they navigate everyday suburban life during the mid-century. The plots are simple and fun, the outfits are inspiring, and the whole thing will have you hankering for a slice of apple pie. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Carla Gugino, Margot Bingham, Ana de la Reguera, Nora Arnezeder, Gaite Jansen, Philip Winchester, and Amelia Eve Genre: Thriller Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TBD A new crime thriller starring the mom from Spy Kids? Obviously I will be watching. Leopard Skin is an English-language mystery from Telemundo set at a beautiful, remote Mexican mansion. A pair of women (including Carla Gugino, aka Ingrid Cortez) preparing for a dinner party are interrupted by a trio of espionage artists, one of whom was bleeding. We quickly learn that a diamond-stealing gig went wrong and that the three of them need to hide out at the mansion, with or without the dinner party. The series unravels from there as we try to figure out who is telling the truth, who is lying, and just how much everyone is involved. It’s an engrossing show AND with only half hour episodes, it’s a quick watch. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Ed O’Neill, Katey Sagal, Amanda Bearse, Christina Applegate, David Faustino, Ted McGinley, David Garrison Genre: Comedy Seasons: 11 Episodes: 259 Rating: TV-PG Prior to his stint as the patriarch of the Pritchett family on Modern Family, Ed O’Neill spent 10 years as the sitcom dad of the Bundy clan on this ’90s staple. A blue-collar family living in Chicago, the Bundys spend most episodes bumbling around, scheming, and ultimately shooting themselves in the foot. O’Neill’s Al leads the way as a washed-up football star turned shoe salesperson who is always looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. His big-haired wife, Peggy (Sons of Anarchy’’s Katey Sagal), is along for the ride, and the kids are played by David Faustino and Christina Applegate (who would obviously go on to star in Samantha Who?, Dead to Me, and this awkward interview with Jenny McCarthy). A departure from the witty repartee of Modern Family, but a messy, fun jumble of a sitcom nonetheless. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Reality TV Seasons: 13 Episodes: 144 Rating: TV-14 I, as a freelance writer, am obviously well acquainted with the world of high-end real estate (because I totally own several high-end estates myself). But for you plebs out there who don’t have the inside scoop (like me), you can get a peek into the mansions, high-rises, and bungalows of billionaires on this reality TV show. The cameras follow a handful of LA real estate moguls as they attempt to sell massive properties (like mine) to the über-rich (like me). The square footage and prices will leave you slack-jawed, and the property porn will have you coming back for more. Watch Seasons 1–12 on Peacock for free and Season 13 with a Premium membership. Cast: Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Jeremy Maguire, and Reid Ewing Genre: Comedy Seasons: 11 Episodes: 251 Rating: TV-PG I adore Modern Family, and I do not care who knows! The comedy masterpiece, which ran for 11 seasons over on ABC, racked up 22 Emmy wins and 75 nominations. Following the Pritchett clan around Los Angeles for a decade, the show, which started off as edgy (a gay couple kissing on prime time!), became a bit repetitive for some people, but I call that comforting. Sure, you know that Cam and Mitchell are going to bicker, and Jay is going to talk about closets, but the predictability is just as soothing as the jokes are funny. The adult cast doesn’t include a dud, Sarah Hyland is comic gold, and the episodes where Elizabeth Banks pops up are always spectacular. Whenever I’m down, I just flip on a Halloween or Valentine’s Day episode and laugh away my troubles. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway, Kelly Lynch, Jharrel Jerome, Scott Lawrence, Mary-Louise Parker, Holland Taylor, and Jack Huston Genre: Crime Drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 30 Rating: TV-MA My lord and savior Stephen King never ceases to dish out content ready-made for film and television, and nowhere is that clearer than in the detective series based on his trilogy of novels featuring Bill Hodges. The series follows the retired detective, played by Mad-Eye Moody/clocktower hater Brendan Gleeson, as he enters into a cat-and-mouse game with Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway). The supporting cast, including Emmy winners Jharrel Jerome, Holland Taylor, and Mary-Louise Parker, is solid, and if you were a fan of HBO’s The Outsider, you’ll find a tie-in in the character of Holly Gibney (here played by Justine Lupe instead of Cynthia Erivo). The fate of a fourth season for the show — which was originally made for the now-defunct AT&T channel Audience — hangs in the balance, but the first three are worth a watch in and of themselves. Watch Seasons 1 and 2 on Peacock for free and Season 3 with a Premium membership. Cast: Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Beverley Owen, Pat Priest, and Butch Patrick Genre: Monster Sitcom Seasons: 2 Episodes: 70 Rating: TV-PG Another black-and-white classic sitcom, The Munsters is often overlooked in favor of The Addams Family, which has retained more cultural cachet. This comedy about a monster family who move to the US from Transylvania, however, brings a level of goofiness that its more macabre competitor doesn’t deliver. The family includes a Frankenstein dad, vampire mom, and a werewolf son, but the real comic gold comes with Marilyn Munster, the family’s attractive teenage niece who is branded the ugly duckling by her terrifying relatives. Watching the family magnanimously treat her kindly as a charity case never gets old. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Angela Lansbury, William Windom, Tom Bosley, Ron Masak, Louis Herthum, and Michael Horton Genre: Detective / Crime Drama / Mystery Seasons: 12 Episodes: 268 Rating: TV-PG With 12 seasons, 264 episodes, and four TV movies, Murder, She Wrote is one of the most successful television shows in history. Following Jessica Fletcher (Bedknobs and Broomsticks star Angela Lansbury), a mystery novelist and amateur detective, the show watches the older woman solve mysteries in Cabot Cove, Maine. The definition of a cozy mystery, the show is never gruesome, even as Cabot Cove racks up a homicide count high enough to send any normal citizen running for the hills. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, and Craig Robinson Genre: Mockumentary / Comedy Seasons: 9 Episodes: 201 Rating: TV-14 What more is there to say about The Office than what has already been said? The ultra-popular sitcom is a modern-day classic that’s spawned podcasts, conventions, merch lines, and a horde of die-hard fans. A mockumentary set in a run-of-the-mill office in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the comedy ran for nine seasons and launched the careers of many A-list comedians. Steve Carell (The Morning Show), John Krasinski (A Quiet Place), Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Zach Woods (Silicon Valley) all rose to fame at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, and if you’d like to watch Jim and Pam’s wedding another dozen times, you can, right here on Peacock. Watch Seasons 1–5 on Peacock for free and Seasons 6–9 with a Premium membership. Genre: Documentary/True Crime Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TBD In case you didn’t know BuzzFeed News has some real kickass journalists investigating hard hitting news. Much in the same way, BuzzFeed has some real kickass journalists investigating if you are more of a dragon or a unicorn. BuzzFeed News is now getting the documentary treatment, however, for their monumental work investigating a string of unconnected deaths in the UK and how they are actually tied together through Russian involvement. The six-part docuseries is a fascinating look into how boots-on-the-ground journalism works and makes you question just much shady business is going on behind the scenes of everyday life. If you are a true-crime junky, this one is certainly for you. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, Marianly Tejada, Cooper van Grootel, Barrett Carnahan, Jessica McLeod, Mark McKenna, and Melissa Collazo Genre: Drama, Mystery Seasons: 2 Episodes: 18 Rating: TV-MA In this twisted version of Gossip Girl, dear old GG ends up dead in the first episode. Bayview High is starting a new year of school, and the local gossipmonger/blogger Simon is threatening to expose four members of his class on his drama-thirsty website. Unfortunately for Simon, he doesn’t live long enough to share the dirt he’s dug up. Instantly, attention is thrown onto the four people he was sharing detention with when he mysteriously died. Did one of them murder their classmate to keep their secrets? You’ll have to watch this Peacock Original, based on the bestselling young adult novel, if you want to find out. And as the title declares, someone isn’t telling the truth. Plus, Season 2 arrives on the platform on October 20. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard, Monica Potter, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Miles Heizer, Mae Whitman, and Craig T. Nelson Genre: Family Drama / Comedy Seasons: 6 Episodes: 103 Rating: TV-PG Families are messy. Families are sad. Families are dramatic. Families are hilarious. That is what you will learn from Parenthood if you haven’t already figured it out in real life. The show follows the sprawling Braverman clan, led by Zeek and Camille (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia), as the family maneuvers the highs and lows of life. Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, and Dax Shepard take the lead as the adult children, with plenty of children swirling on the periphery. The show is a more grounded version of This Is Us and also gave us the iconic friendship between Miles Heizer and Mae Whitman, which is the gift that keeps on giving. Watch it on Peacock for free. Genre: Reality Television Seasons: 1 Episodes: 13 Rating: TV-14 For a long time, Paris Hilton seemed to be oscillating between internet punching bag and meme. She’d been a successful reality TV star/party girl who failed to launch a career as an actor or a singer (although “Stars Are Blind” is a certifiable bop). It was cool to hate Hilton. But now the tides are turning, and all the mean internet trolls are having to give credit where credit is due. If you aren’t a fan of hers, then you need to go watch her documentary This Is Paris, where you get a behind-the-scenes look at just how intelligent the “dumb blonde” really is. Her new Peacock docuseries continues this journey of redeeming the pop culture icon, following her as she plans her wedding to investor Carter Reum. It’s a fun romp of a reality show with plenty of great Paris Hilton content. For Real Housewives fans, the show also has some vintage Kathy Hilton for you as a cherry on top. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Paul Schneider, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, Retta, and Billy Eichner Genre: Political Satire / Mockumentary / Comedy Seasons: 7 Episodes: 126 Rating: TV-14 Another great NBC mockumentary, we might as well mention this Amy Poehler–helmed vehicle. The sitcom, which centers on the Parks and Recreation Department (duh) of Pawnee, Indiana, is another ensemble comedy of office politics (only this time, those include actual politics). Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Pratt are all famous now but were largely unknowns when the show originally aired. Oh, and it’s fun to rewatch now because Leslie Knope’s crush on Joe Biden (and his eventual cameo) is extra special. Watch Seasons 1 and 2 on Peacock for free and Seasons 3–7 with a Premium membership. Cast: Paul T. Goldman, Melinda McGraw Genre: True Crime/Documentary Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TBD This is perhaps the weirdest television show I have ever bore witness to, but I say that as a compliment. Prolific television comedy director and the director of the most recent Borat film (which was a feat to say the least), Jason Woliner, was approached by an odd man who goes by the name Paul T. Goldman (I don’t have time to get into this) about his bonkers life story. The (supposedly true) story that Goldman tells involves a Russian mail order bride first wife, a crime ring leading second wife, and a barrage of bizarre subplots. Aside from it being a deliciously ridiculous tale, the show is incredibly clever in how it showcases the real life Goldman, who in addition to being the subject of the doc is also a) reading his memoir version of the events, b) wrote a screenplay of the events, and c) is acting in a production of his screenplay all within this documentary. It is a fascinating character study and extremely meta, but you won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Adam DeVine, Flula Borg, Sarah Hyland, Jameela Jamil, and Lera Abova Genre: Musical / Comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-14 If you’ve been missing Pitch Perfect (I know I have been), and were tantalized by the cast hinting at a possible fourth film (I know I was), then this series might be a little amuse bouche to tide you over. Adam DeVine is back as Bumper, whose career has really washed up since we last saw him. In a desperate attempt to restart his music career, he moves to Berlin where an old rival has set up shop. It’s a music-filled rags to riches story all over again. Sarah Hyland joins the franchise as another aspiring singer (and presumed love interest), which will excite anyone who loved the period of Modern Family where DeVine and Hyland were paired as a couple. We’ve also got Jameela Jamil in the mix as the villain, and PLENTY of a capella numbers. Totally aca-mazing! Watch in on Peacock with a Premium Membership. Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Benjamin Bratt, Hong Chau Genre: Comedy/Drama/Crime Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-MA If you have finished watching Glass Onion and rewatching Knives Out and are looking for more Rian Johnson whodunit content, then you are in luck. Johnson is a writer and director (as well as the creator) of this new crime show starring Russian Doll’s Natasha Lyonne as a free spirit with the ability to tell if someone is lying or not. The show, which harkens back to old staples like Columbo or Murder, She Wrote is in a case-of-the-week format with a fun new mystery being unraveled in each episode. An incredible cast of guest stars fill the roster (including Adrien Brody in the premiere) with Lyonne bebopping around solving cases while trying to evade a casino owner who has it out for her. Here’s to hoping for a Jinkx Monsoon appearance at some point. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-MA For much of the LGBTQ community, Pride is extremely important. It’s the time set aside every year to celebrate being queer, to remember the brave trailblazers who came before us, and to continue the fight for justice. In their new docuseries, filmmakers Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa travel the globe, stopping at a number of Pride celebrations to learn about queer history and what this special time means for people around the world. With pit stops in New York to learn about ball culture; in Calgary, Alberta, to understand more about those two-spirited individuals; and in Palm Springs, California, to see the LGBTQ retirement mecca, the duo provides viewers with plenty of insight into the queer world. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: James Roday, Dule Hill, Timothy Omundson, Maggie Lawson, Corbin Bernsen, Kirsten Nelson, and Anne Dudek Genre: Detective Fiction / Drama / Comedy Seasons: 8 Episodes: 120 Rating: TV-PG So let’s say you were REALLY good at observing your surroundings, and you also had a photographic memory. Do you think you’d be able to pass yourself off as a crime scene psychic? This is the premise of this USA Network comedic detective procedural. In each episode, Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) and his friend Gus (Dulé Hill) are tasked with solving a crime, supposedly through mysterious psychic powers but actually through good old-fashioned detective work. The show has developed such a cult following that it’s already spawned three spinoff films, all of which are also on Peacock. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Katherine Moennig, Pooch Hall, and Jon Voight Genre: Crime Drama Seasons: 7 Episodes: 82 Rating: TV-MA Ray Donovan is a fixer. That means that if one of his wealthy celebrity clients needs something unsavory taken care of, they pay him to make their problem go away. Thus is the premise of this Showtime crime drama featuring Liev Schreiber in the lead role. In each season, Ray must balance his increasingly dangerous profession with his increasingly fragile family life as his wife, father, and children feel the repercussions of what he does. The show was canceled after seven seasons, but a feature-length film came out earlier this year to wrap up the story. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Rating: TV-14 Since the inception of The Real Housewives of Orange County back in 2006, this reality franchise has become a dynastic institution followed by cultlike devotion by many. The original series’ success caused Bravo to launch spinoffs in New York, Atlanta, New Jersey, DC, Beverly Hills, Miami, Maryland, Dallas, and Salt Lake City. Watch middle-aged women squabble over summer home arrangements, skinny-dip, and flip tables to your heart’s content. The entire franchise has moved from Hulu over to Peacock with episodes arriving the day after they air on Bravo. At the moment, my favorite series, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is knee deep its third season, and The Real Housewives of Miami is revving up its fifth Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: William Jackson Harper, Cristin Milioti, Luis Gerardo Mendez, Skyler Gisondo, Nina Bloomgarden, Gabriela Cartol, and Nick Offerman Genre: Mystery / Drama / Comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Step aside, The White Lotus, there’s a new dark comedy featuring a dead body at a tropical resort on the scene. As Peacock continues its comedy domination, it offers us this captivating mystery comedy about an on-the-rocks couple (played by noted mother Cristin Milioti and The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper) who stumble upon a cold case in Mexico from 15 years earlier. Armed with an old flip phone they found on a four-wheeler expedition and a knowledge of crime solving gleaned from TV and podcasts, the pair quickly get in over their head searching for a pair of long-missing teens. The hotel staff is creepy (so let’s hope this isn’t an Old situation), and watching the leads flail in paradise (surrounded by said creepy hotel staff) is endlessly entertaining. The supporting cast, featuring Nick Offerman, Skylar Gisondo, and Dylan Baker, is strong, and the half-hour episodes are easily polished off in a binge. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Ed Helms, Michael Greyeyes, Jana Schmieding, Jesse Leigh, and Dustin Milligan Genre: Comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 18 Rating: TV-14 Another example of Peacock’s blossoming roster of original programming, this delightful sitcom was recently renewed for a second season. In the first season, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms, who recently starred in the fabulous Together, Together), a descendant of Rutherford Fall’s founders, becomes locked in a heated yet entertaining battle with his best friend, Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), a member of the Minishonka Nation, regarding the removal of a statue dedicated to Nathan’s ancestor. The witty show tackles issues surrounding Native American rights in a way that most sitcoms wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole and navigates them deftly and with lighthearted spunk. The cast is back for a second season with Reagan’s cultural center relocated to Nathan’s museum, putting the pair in even closer proximity. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Redd Foxx, Desmond Wilson, LaWanda Page, Whitman Mayo, Don Bexley, and Nathaniel Taylor Genre: Comedy Seasons: 6 Episodes: 136 Rating: TV-PG As with every show created in the 1970s, plenty of problematic content pops up in a 2022 rewatch. That is especially true when a core tenet of the show is tackling race relations head-on. But despite cringe stereotypes, this popular NBC comedy offers viewers a revolutionary television show that dared to put African Americans front and center, navigating issues of race and prejudice on a weekly basis. The cantankerous Fred and his long-suffering son, Lamont, run a salvage yard but are often more concerned with get-rich-quick schemes than with their work. The result is a laugh-out-loud sitcom that often seems shockingly modern as it looks at issues we’re still sorting through all these years later. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Kenan Thompson, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, Tina Fey, and Eddie Murphy Genre: Sketch Comedy / Variety Show Seasons: 48 Episodes: 932 Rating: TV-14 SNL is an American institution. Good luck finding someone who hasn’t seen one of the thousands of sketches the show has churned out over the past four and a half decades. The Lorne Michaels-helmed sketch comedy show has created viral sketches (“Wayne’s World”), quotable lines (“More cowbell!”), and instantly recognizable characters (David S. Pumpkin, anyone?). Perhaps most notable is the constant stream of iconic comedians whom the show has catapulted to stardom. From Chevy Chase and John Belushi to Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler to Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon, there’s hardly a season without some soon-to-be A-lister in the ranks. Watch all 46 seasons in a row, or pop in and out of your favorite sketches. They’re all waiting for you, and new episodes of Season 47 are now dropping weekly. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Haskiri Velazquez, Mitchell Hoog, Josie Totah, Alycia Pascual-Peña, Belmont Cameli, Dexter Darden, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, and Mario Lopez Genre: Comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-14 While the original NBC sitcom is great (and also available on Peacock), I’d like to highlight the streamer’s reboot of the franchise that launched last year (and was recently renewed for a second season). Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is now the governor of California, and after he closes too many low-income high schools, the famed Bayside High gets a batch of working-class students who will have to navigate the usual posh high schoolers already in attendance. Many of the original cast members (including Mario Lopez) are back, but it’s the new cast members — including transgender actor, Josie Totah, who plays the queen bee cheerleader — who steal the show. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Dervla Kirwan, Gemma-Leah Devereux, Seana Kerslake, Niamh Walsh, and Justine Mitchell Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller Seasons: 2 Episodes: 12 If you, like me, love a British or Irish accent, a windy coastline, and an unsolved murder, then you need to check out this Irish thriller. In the vein of Broadchurch and The Killing, the drama follows Val Ahern (Dervla Kirwan) and her family after her husband is found dead at the bottom of a cliff following a family party. Obviously, Val is going to investigate, and obviously, some of the people closest to her are hiding something. GASP Also, the first season is only six episodes long, so if bingeing the entirety of SNL or Cheers seems daunting, this might be more up your alley. Watch on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Gina Torres, Amanda Schull, Dule Hill, and Katherine Heigl Genre: Legal Drama Seasons: 9 Episodes: 134 Rating: TV-14 Let’s be clear: While this law procedural is certainly entertaining, builds upon a genius premise (a law school dropout dupes his way into a New York law firm and has to fake it), and stars a fizzy cast — including Patrick J. Adams (Hardy from Pretty Little Liars) and Gina Torres (forever Anna Espinosa to me) — the real draw is seven seasons’ worth of the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle. Before Prince Harry’s boo ditched acting for a tumultuous life as a member of the royal family (where she was either “silent or silenced”), she played paralegal Rachel Zane on this show. If you’d like to watch the prequel to a royal fairy tale, here’s your chance. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Sakura, Mark McKinney, and Kaliko Kauahi Genre: Comedy Seasons: 6 Episodes: 113 Rating: TV-14 In this house, we stan America Ferrera. From The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to How to Train Your Dragon and, of course, the legendary Ugly Betty, she has been a bright light on our screens. Her most recent sitcom endeavor, Superstore, is no different. The hilarious ensemble comedy focuses on the employees of a Walmart-type store called Cloud 9 in St. Louis. America plays an associate climbing the ranks of the big-box chain, and the cast is filled out with the likes of Ben Feldman (whom you may remember for cutting off his nipple in Mad Men) and Nico Santos (of Crazy Rich Asians fame). The jury is still out as to whether this series made me want to shop more or less at Walmart. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Seasons: 19 Episodes: 288 Rating: TV-14 The world of cable is overrun with cooking competition shows, but the granddaddy of them all is certainly Top Chef. Bravo’s cooking competition pits chefs from around the country against one another in a series of cooking challenges, eliminating them one by one until a new winner is crowned each season. But unlike some cooking shows where everyone gets along and hugs one another over treacle tarts, Top Chef is here for the DRAMA. Someone is always crying in the kitchen, and the stakes are high! Plus, with multiple spinoffs, including All-Stars, your favorites will be returning in their hunt for the crown. Season 18 just dropped on Peacock for your viewing pleasure, and if you’ve never taken the time to watch this show, this is your sign to start the binge. Watch on Peacock with a Premium membership. Genre: Reality Competition Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-14 I LOVE a reality competition show. I love Survivor. I love Big Brother. Hell, I’ll even take Real Housewives (which can be a competition of egos even if there isn’t money involved). In Peacock’s new instantly addictive strategy show, 20 contestants (including 10 all-stars from shows like the ones listed above), settle into a Scottish castle to play what amounts to a larger-than-life version of the card game Mafia. A trio of “traitors” get to “murder” one of their fellow contestants each night sending them packing, and then, the next day the remaining players vote to eliminate another contestant trying to sniff out a traitor but often jettisoning one of “the faithful” instead. With reality TV royalty like Cirie Fields and Rachel Reilly in the mix, the competition is infectious from the start, and some of the newbies are keeping up. PLUS, with all 10 episodes dropping at once, you won’t have to wait to find out who wins. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Hannah Khalique-Brown, Simon Pegg, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Edward Holcroft, Adrian Lester, Alex Jennings, and Mark Rylance Genre: Thriller / Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-MA Okay, so I’m going to be honest with you all and say that this one takes a minute to get into. Set in a near-future version of the UK, the nation is under a cyberattack from an unknown entity (supposedly Russia, but we all know it can’t be that easy) and a team of hackers? Computer programmers? IDK, some kind of tech wizzes are trying to keep the country safe and determine where the malware originated. At the same time, we’ve got political upheaval around a new prime minister, and our protagonist, Saara (Hannah Khalique-Brown), is dealing with the death of her father. Computer programming is a hard activity to make visually exciting for an audience (we get lots of shots of code), but if you can get through the first episode to more of the espionage/interpersonal drama, the whole thing picks up. Veteran actors Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance are in the ensemble cast, so you know the quality of acting is top-notch, at the very least. If you like a brainy slow burn, then this miniseries is a fun weekend binge. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Anjana Vasan, Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, Aiysha Hart, Zaqi Ismail, David Avery, and Shobu Kapoor Genre: Comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-MA A recent addition to Peacock, this British sitcom comes to the US by way of Channel 4. The six-episode season (i.e., a great binge for this weekend) follows an all-female Muslim punk rock band and is sitting on a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Oh, and did I mention that there is plenty of music involved (we love a musical!)? The actors even play their own instruments! Another refreshing dose of representation, this show will leave you nodding your head in more ways than one. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Justin Kirk, Tonye Patano, Romany Malco, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Andy Milder, Allie Grant, and Kevin Nealon Genre: Black Comedy / Drama Seasons: 8 Episodes: 102 Rating: TV-MA Mary-Louise Parker’s dramedy about selling marijuana has finally made its way over to Peacock. Parker plays Botwin, a widow and single mother who starts dealing pot in order to support her family. The Emmy-winning show in the crime-family vein of The Sopranos or Breaking Bad was an instant success, but unlike its contemporaries, it throws in plenty of humor to even out the dramatic antihero plotlines. Elizabeth Perkins is perfect as their neighbor Celia, and with half-hour episodes, it’s a breeze to binge. Watch it on Peacock for free. Cast: Isla Fisher, Josh Gad, Ariel Donoghue, Emma Lung, Anthony Taufa, and Alan Dukes Genre: Comedy / Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-MA It is hard to talk about this Josh Gad and Isla Fisher dramedy without giving any spoilers because the show is high concept and full of strange occurrences. Despite Gad and Fisher’s pedigree as straight-comedy actors, this six-episode series is much more of a moody indie than a sitcom. Gad plays a single father simultaneously struggling to raise his daughter and conquer his grief. Fisher is an aimless woman with a mysterious past and odd behaviors. The pair meet when Fisher sideswipes Gad’s car, and an odd, circuitous journey unfolds from there. I can’t say more, but with the whole thing under three hours, you can easily binge it in one enjoyable sitting. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kate Berlant and John Early Genre: Sketch Comedy Special You know him from Search Party, The Afterparty, and that episode of the A24 podcast where he fawns over Toni Collette. You know her from Sorry to Bother You, that Garfield-filled house in I Think You Should Leave, and the wellness comedy podcast Poog (with roles in the upcoming Don’t Worry Darling and the recently premiered League of Their Own series reboot). John Early and Kate Berlant, who have been making shorts together for a while, are now back with a full-blown comedy special, which serves as an extension of this short about two frenemies negging each other upon reuniting after a feud. Their thinly veiled hatred is hilariously on display here in a “reunion interview” that looks back on a fake sitcom the pair were in but is intercut with other sketches, including ones of them playing beavers going through TSA, horrible book club members, and diners who pay their checks with melted caramel. The whole thing makes no sense in the best possible way, and is a boon for anyone who loves either of these stars. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Danny Huston, and Gil Birmingham Genre: Neo-Western / Drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 39 Rating: TV-MA Taylor Sheridan knows how to craft a story, whether as the writer of Sicario, Wind River, the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water, or his television series Yellowstone. The writer, producer, and director returns to the modern West for this show, which originally aired on Paramount Network and stars Kevin Costner (no stranger to a Western himself). Set at the border of a Native American reservation, a sprawling cattle ranch, and a new land development, the show focuses on the drama that ensues among the competing forces. A fourth season is on its way, and not to be reductive, but if you are a dad or want to watch a show with your dad, look no further. Watch it on Peacock with a Premium membership. Cast: Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, John Clarence Stewart, Peter Gallagher, Mary Steenburgen, Lauren Graham, and Bernadette Peters Genre: Comedy / Drama / Musical Seasons: 2 Episodes: 26 Rating: TV-14 This musical dramedy may have been canceled after just 25 episodes, but what a glorious 25 they were. Jane Levy plays THE Zoey, a software developer who has the ability to hear people’s thoughts as songs (think Twilight’s Edward but less pale and with more dance breaks). Every episode, therefore, contains multiple musical moments, and the cast includes vocalists like Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect) and Alex Newell (Glee). Mary Steenburgen (who wrote “Glasgow,” which I’ve listened to approximately 7,000 times) is also in the cast. RIP to Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. You were briefly on our screens but are forever in our hearts (and on Peacock). Watch it on Peacock for free. Sign up for Peacock Premium for $4.99 a month or Peacock Premium Plus for $9.99 a month after a seven-day free trial.
