Totally taboo to talk about tv, I mean it’s a true time waste and it rots your brain right? Whatever. And I hate to sound all hippie and millennial but we are one of those annoying families that lives without cable, but don’t worry we are not born again tv haters. We still watch the boob tube, but just in a less expensive, more intentional (who knew you could even be intentional with your time wasters) and maybe even sometimes non actual television watching way. I thought about it a lot and then talked with Chris about it some more, there are 5 shows that we are constantly suggesting to people. And it seems that these same 5 shows were the ones that changed the way we wasted out time watching tv. So if you haven’t seen these (none of them are new so probably have), you totally should…

THE WIRE – It was the 2nd (maybe 3rd) deep all-encompassing drama series that Chris and I got hooked on. Like series that you watch, back to back to back. It is easily one of our top favorites and probably the one show we tell everyone they NEED to watch, it is just all around fantastic. The fictional story premise is based around drug trade and crime in Baltimore. The first season is super confusing, but it’s very worth it to power through as the second season is when it all starts to make sense. HIGHLY recommend.

BREAKING BAD – I know, you’ve totally seen it but if you haven’t? Man you better jump to it! Probably the best tv series we have ever seen, the writing the character arch’s, the whole shebang is truly amazing. The first season is totally depressing, but it does get less melancholy. I’m not gonna talk much more about it, because I’m sure you already know what it is about. Not the same but also check out: True Detective, the first season was primo and totally worth all the hype.

THE SOPRANOS – Between this and Six Feet Under, I couldn’t decide. Both were the very first “movie” style shows (is that what you call them?) we got hooked on. Like we didn’t leave our couch for days, cause we could.not.stop (obv before kids) watching, sorta hooked. It’s great, and literally changes the way you look at regular tv shows. Also totally worth watching: The Walking Dead (not just about zombies), Game of Thrones (get past the first season, it gets better) and Hannibal (this one was a huge shocker, but it’s really awesome – gruesome but awesome).

BAND OF BROTHERS – The first show that made me realize watching history could be super interesting and entertaining. It’s sad, exciting and totally heartbreaking. Out of anything that is WWII based, this is my ultimate favorite. It’s a 10 part mini series, so it’s okay to get hooked cause it doesn’t last forever. I haven’t seen another show based on actually historic events done this well. More shows that are based on history (these a little more loosely): The Tudors and Vikings (so far, we really love Vikings).

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT – Umm, I don’t think I have ever seen a show I have loved so much that made me laugh so hard. Like, in all honestly most of my jokes I probably stole from here. Chris has probably seen the whole series at least 10 times, the last (new) season that aired on Netflix was pretty meh but the rest? MUST WATCH. Also tops our must watch comedy list: 30 Rock. And because so far it’s pretty great even though it’s more of a Dramadey then a comedy: Silicon Valley

There are a few others we really like but these are the ones that made us look at other shows differently. Ones that made us want to get rid of most of the fluff (most). So tell me, what are your favorite tv time wasters? The ones you were really deeply sad about when they ended or the ones you talk to your friends about with tons of excitement?

Since we are talking intentional time wasters: 12 Favorite Documentaries and 12 More Favorite Documentaries.