Here are my Top 10 - in no particular order
1. Cutthroat Kitchen
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Premise according to me:
My roommate actually turned me on to this show: It's a cooking show that's a contest between 4 contestants. There are three rounds and in each round the chefs need to make a basic dish, they have 60 seconds to shop and then the bidding begins. Each chef gets $25,000 at the beginning of the show that they can use to bid on ridiculous items or challenges for their opponents to make their lives miserable. Some of the ones that have been fun? While making a Cubano one chef only had a cigar cutter to use as a cutting implement or making sloppy joes with SPAM, using a tiny cast iron skillet or coffee filters to do all your cooking and mixing, etc. you get the idea. It's impressive to see which chefs actually have the ingenuity to make something delicious and which chefs crumble under the pressure.
Why it's addicting: They are always coming up with new obstacles to throw in the chefs' way and to see the dishes they make with little to none or the completely wrong ingredients is fascinating to someone like me who doesn't cook very often. Plus Alton Brown is a pretty wonderful host.
2. How I Met Your Mother
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Premise according to me:
Told in flashbacks, Ted is telling his children about How he met their Mother but really it's more about the 5 friends and their adventures in New York City. Basically "Friends" but it came out a year after "Friends" ended
Why it's addicting: While I wasn't along for the beginning of this show I hopped on a few season into it and immediately fell in love with this sitcom. It's funny and has memorable characters who surprise you every once in awhile. And while the writing slipped in the later seasons, they mostly show the early seasons for reruns.
3. Fixer Upper
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Premise according to me:
My dad got me hooked on this show when he was visiting me a few weekends ago. This is a couple in Texas who sells couples "fixer uppers" and then proceeds to fix them up. The couple has a great, funny, loving relationship dynamic (they also have 4 kids and multiple animals so having a sense of humor is key) It's always great to see the dumps that they buy and how beautiful they turn out to be.
Why it's addicting: If I could have my own business doing exactly what they do it would be a dream come true, so for me it's fun and interesting seeing their show and how the work and do it all - plus the houses at the end are always gorgeous!
4. Modern Family
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Premise according to me:
Family today is no longer mom + dad + son + daughter and this show encompasses that idea offering a variety of "non-traditional" families. It's hilarious and really it's all about parents wanting the best for their children although they all go about it in different ways.
Why it's addicting: Another sitcom I was late to the game to but am eager to make up for lost time! A funny show with a great ensemble and a loving message at the heart of it all - this is the first sitcom I look for when I'm scrolling through the channels!
5. Flipping the Block
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Premise according to me:
This is actually a new show that is only on Sunday nights (I may have a slight HGTV obsession....) This show features 4 teams of two who each get a condo to remodel, the twist is that they have to live in their remodel while they are working on it. They also have a schedule of which room they have to do at one time and then have a set time to complete it. One thing that I find particularly interesting is that they give each team a lump sum of money and the teams get to decide how much to allocate to each challenge - I really like seeing which teams can really stretch a dollar and which teams spend too much money on their design.
Why it's addicting: Like a lot of reality shows you get invested in the teams and you have your favorites and least favorites however in this case my favorite design doesn't always come from my favorite team which makes me conflicted. It's fun to see the designs as well as all the drama involved in living in a remodel (hint, the twin brothers who sleep on their shop floor are the least whiny during this living situation)
6. Dance Moms
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Premise according to me:
Features Abby of Abby Lee Dance Company and her dancers as they learn routines and attention competions. The drama is of course caused by the overbearing mothers who just want wwhat's best for their daughters. There are also fights every week regarding "The Pyramid" a ranking of the girls based on who Abby likes that week, fights about solos, duets, costumes, etc.
Why it's addicting: SO. MUCH. DRAMA. I was never involved in dance (except dance ensemble at college) so this lifestyle is especially fascinating for me to watch since it's so foreign to me. The girls are amazing dancers so that's always fun to watch but the drama is where it's at. You won't be able to turn away with all the frenemies yelling at eachother during 50 minutes and then hugging it out for the last 10.
7. Love it or List It
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Premise according to me:
I told you I have an HGTV problem. This show is almost always on HGTV so it's a pretty reliable "go-to" if nothing else is on. (It's either this show or House Hunters that is almost always on HGTV, but House Hunters isn't as entertaining - there's only so many times people can complain about paint color before I want to throw things at the TV) Anyway, the premise is that a couple's house isn't functioning well and one partner wants to move while the other partner has faith that they can remodel the house to work. Enter Hilary and David. Hilary is the designer who reworks the space trying to get the couple to "Love It" and David is the relator trying to get them to "List It"
Why it's addicting: Like I mentioned, it's a reliable show that's on more often then not so that helps. It's also always fun to see the house and figure out how they are going to add 3 bedrooms and a bathroom to a teeny-tiny town home. Something ALWAYS goes wrong with the project and therefore the budget. The homeowners always have so little faith in Hilary and David but then are of course wow-ed in the end. Also seeing all the different requests for space is interesting - one couple went on house tours and only talked about how the materials used throughout the house were harmful to the environment.
8. Big Bang Theory
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Premise according to me:
2 physicists are roommates and a pretty blonde moves in across the hallway. That's the basic premise of this funny and quirky sitcom - although all of their friends get in on the fun too!
Why it's addicting: I picked this show up in season one and can quote it extensively. I enjoy the quirky characters and how there hasn't been a sitcom with a science focus that I've ever seen before. The humor is funny - I get most of the references since I've played games like Settlers of Catan and Dungeons and Dragons. The addition of the two other females Bernadette and Amy were great additions and I love the ensemble.
9. 19 Kids and Counting
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Premise according to me:
Jim Bob and Michelle are incredibly religious and have 19 children (because no, they don't believe in birth control instead they are leaving it in God's hands to bless them with as many children as they see fit) This show covers their everyday lives as well as major events like births, weddings, anniversaries, courtships, etc.
Why it's addicting: It's incredibly fascinating to see a family of this size and how the do every day things with 19 children. They have a kitchen that resembles most cafeterias, multiple cars, they do road trips on their charter bus, etc. I also find it interesting since they have such different beliefs then my own. Their rigorous religious upbringing, thoughts about relationships and courtships are things I have never been exposed to and I find it addicting to watch this family that is so unlike my own.
10. Friends
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Premise according to me:
A sitcom about 6 friends living in New York City.
Why it's addicting: I didn't grow up with this show - my mother thought it was inappropriate since there's a lot of sleeping around, but I managed to watch all of them with my roommates the Fall of 2012. It's a hilarious show and brought us so many funny pop culture references "PIVOT!" And since I haven't seen every episode a million times I still find it refreshing and familiar, although not so familiar that I can quote every line.. yet.
Those are the shows I'm flipping to the most - what about you? Any recommendations?
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