Best TV Shows To Watch While Working From Home

TV shows — that is, the right TV shows — are the perfect background noise when you're working from home. But here's the rub: You can't turn on anything too intricate, too visual, too smart or too serialized, because it'll pull your focus away from where it's most needed: your livelihood. So TVLine has come up with several suggestions for the best series to watch while you're working from home.

BOTCHED (Available via E! and Hulu)

Because when you've scrubbed in for three Brazilian buttlifts before 11 a.m., can anything your boss throws at you that day really faze you? —Kimberly Roots

DUCKTALES (Available via Disney XD and Disney+)

Waddle over to Duckburg — the 2017 reboot version, that is — if sharp writing, stellar voice-acting and "d-d-d-danger" are needed to get you through the workday. —Nick Caruso

LITERALLY ANYTHING ON FOOD NETWORK (Available via Food Network)

From competitions like Chopped to how-to shows like Pioneer Woman, allow all the cutting, sautéing, plating and presenting wash over you in a pleasingly never-ending stream of recipes you're never going to try and dishes you'll never have to clean. —Kimberly Roots

FRIENDS (Available via TBS and Nick at Nite)

They're not on streaming right now, but the Central Perk gang still hangs out on TBS and Nick at Nite for multiple hours each day, and their low-stakes '90s hi-jinks are certainly a soothing balm for these trying times. —Dave Nemetz

GOLDEN GIRLS (Available via Hulu)

Putting aside for a moment that Dorothy, Blanche, Rose and Sophia are part of an extremely high-risk group: Can you imagine a cozier quarantine situation than hunkering down at the ladies' Miami home? —Andy Swift

LITERALLY ANYTHING ON HGTV (Available via HGTV)

If we all have to be trapped inside our homes 24/7, why not look at some pretty houses for design inspiration (and a bit of house envy)? —Vlada Gelman

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE SERIES (Available via Disney+)

It can get a little cheesy at times — there's a certain demographic being targeted here, after all — but this fresh take on the High School Musical films is sunny, upbeat and perfect for long work days inside the house. The only downside? Those HSM songs will get stuck in your head. —Rebecca Iannucci

RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE (Available via VH1, Hulu and Logo)

Work day got you down? Merely glance at your TV for a guaranteed pick-me-up in the form of a sickening runway show, campy impression or jaw-dropping lip sync battle at any given moment. (Disclaimer: This is only a recommendation for returning viewers. If you've never seen Drag Race before, wait until you can give it your full attention.) —Andy Swift

SEINFELD (Available via Hulu)

Yes, a timelessly hilarious show, but also: Jerry was against "close talkers" way back in 1994, before we realized what a health hazard it could be. Between that and the show's famous "no hugging" edict, they were way ahead of the whole "social distancing" trend. —Dave Nemetz

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (Available via NBC, regular USA Network marathons and Hulu)

Benson and Stabler? Benson and Amaro? Benson and Rollins? It really doesn't matter who's investigating New York City sex crimes — the procedural's format is comforting, its cops competent and its details... yeah, it's probably best if you're not paying too much attention to the lurid details. —Kimberly Roots

THAT '70S SHOW (Available via Netflix)

Hangin' out in this crew's circle is always a far-out time — plus, Kitty and Red Forman forever! —Nick Caruso

THE OFFICE (Available via Comedy Central and Netflix)

If you've never watched NBC's beloved sitcom, then it deserves your full attention some other time. But for those already familiar with the series, The Office is an ideal background show: fun, light, easy to follow... and a good reminder that at least you don't work for Michael Scott. —Rebecca Iannucci

THE PRICE IS RIGHT (Available via CBS)

With its gloriously corny mini games that seem frozen in the '70s, it's the exact same show (well, maybe minus the host) you enjoyed while staying home sick from school as a kid... and now it's kind of like we're all staying home sick from school, all at once! —Dave Nemetz

LITERALLY ANTHING ON MeTV (Available via MeTV)

Whether filling the 10 o'clock hole in my life on Tuesdays or killing time until SNL starts up, the home of retro TV is a great place to passively revisit classic Star Treks, realize what a total player Buck Rodgers was/stone cold fox Wilma was, or puzzle again and again whether Hogan was supposed to actually be speaking German when he'd go undercover as a Nazi. —Matt Webb Mitovich

BLUE BLOODS (Available via CBS, CBS All Access and Hulu)

After my weekly visit to Hawaii with McGarrett, Tani et al, I tend to wind down my Friday night by having Sunday dinner with the Reagans — in part to marvel at how this well-watched drama will have entire scenes where the average age on-screen is 64, but also to play Spot the New York Stage Vet/One Life to Live Alum among the guest stars. —Matt Webb Mitovich

SHARK TANK (Available via ABC and Hulu)

Because you can quickly get a sense of whether a product is a "hero or a zero" based on the Sharks' level of enthusiasm, which makes it easy to switch back and forth from active to passive viewing between pitches. —Ryan Schwartz

THE BACHELOR/THE BACHELORETTE/BACHELOR IN PARADISE (Available via ABC, limited seasons available via Netflix and Tubi)

Sure, self-quarantine can be maddening at times... but at least you're not stuck inside a mansion (or on an island) with Bachelor Nation contestants, who do the exact opposite of social distancing on ABC's reality franchise. (Only one Bachelor season is streaming on Netflix, but assorted seasons of all three shows are available for free on Tubi — including the first-ever Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons, if you want a fascinating snapshot of early-aughts pop culture.) —Rebecca Iannucci