There’s a three day weekend coming up and whether you’re still recovering from holiday travel, have one last weekend at home with your folks, or it’s just too cold to venture outside, you’ll probably end up wanting to watch a couple of episodes of TV or a movie. If you’re like me (crazy) and have multiple streaming subscriptions (admittedly I have HBO, Hulu, Netflix, AND Amazon Prime, although I only personally pay for two of those) the mass amount of content can be daunting. Here’s a list of recommendations by category/genre and streaming service to help get you started.
If You Like Standup
The Standups: Nate Bargatze (Netflix)
If we’re being perfectly honest I don’t normally love standup, but if you don’t find Nate Bargatze funny, there is something seriously wrong with you. Bargatze is a comedian hailing from Old Hickory, Tennesse that has appeared multiple times on both Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Bargatze specializes in commentary mostly on funny and embarrassing moments from his every day life. Major plus: it’s all clean, so it’s great to enjoy with the whole family.
Also On Netflix: Don’t Think Twice, Adam Sandler 100% Fresh, John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous, & Dave Chappelle: Deep In The Heart of Texas
HBO: Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady, VEEP
What Do You Mean You Haven’t Seen ________?
The Departed (Netflix)
If you’re friends with anyone that is particularly passionate about movies, or really if you just have friends in general, you’ve probably heard that annoying question, “what do you mean you haven’t seen ____!?” It’s a dumb question really, because there is only so much time in a day and there’s too much content to consume. You have to make choices. If you’re like me you probably keep a running list of these “cultural blindspot” misses of yours. Some of my big ones include Legally Blonde, Bourne Identity, and Apocalypse Now.
Here’s my pitch to put The Departed at the top of your personal to-watch list. The Departed is Martin Scorsese’s mob thriller, loosely based on the life of Whitey Bulger and the corrupt FBI agent John Connolly. Come for the absolutely stacked cast of Leo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson (doing a particularly awful Boston accent), Marky Mark, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson (yes that Anthony Anderson), and Alec Baldwin. Stay for the classic Martin Scorsese pop soundtrack and incredible twist at the end. (seriously it’s my favorite twist of any movie ever). This incredible film sits at the top of my all time favorite movies, and probably isn’t going anywhere.
Also on Netflix: Good Will Hunting, Pulp Fiction, Schindler’s List
Hulu: Apollo 13, Gangs of New York, Rain Man
HBO: Inception, GoodFellas, Game Of Thrones, Big Little Lies
Mockumentary
7 Days in Hell (HBO)
Two decorated tennis players: bad boy and adopted brother of Venus and Serena Williams (Andy Samberg) and child prodigy (Kit Harington) face off in the longest tennis match in history. Truly one of the funniest things Andy Samberg has ever created.
Also on HBO: Tour de Pharmacy (spiritual sequal to 7 Days in Hell)
Netflix: Documentary Now!: “Juan Likes Chicken & Rice”, American Vandal
What We Do In The Shadows (Amazon Prime)
Ever wonder what life would be like for modern day vampires living together in a flat in New Zealand? Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords) and Taika Waitit (director of Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Thor: Ragnarok) did, and made a hilarious horror-comedy out of it. Watch in preparation for the TV series that comes to FX this Spring!
No Need To Fast Forward
We’ve all been there before; you’re watching a movie with the whole family, and it hits you. You’re the only one who’s seen this particular movie before and completely forgot about that mortifyingly raunchy sex scene. You dash to the kitchen, sweating, and pretend to get a drink of water until you’re pretty sure the scene has ended. You go back to the couch, careful to avoid making eye contact with your parents. Your significant other shoots you a glare rivaling that of Medusa for leaving them without warning. Here are a few flicks and shows that will help you avoid that trauma.
Single Parents (Hulu)
Apologies to all of you The Good Doctor-heads out there, but there are very few network dramas/comedies worth watching these days. In the era of “prestige TV” it’s hard to get me hooked on a network show like Single Parents. However, I gave it a try last September and was immediately on board. Single Parents stars Taran Killam (SNL), Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), and Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) as well as lesser known Kimrie Lewis, and Jake Choi as five single parents trying to navigate dating, “adulting”, and the PTA. By no means is this the most sophisticated show on TV, but dang is it enjoyable.
Also on Hulu: Wonder, Glory Road
Netflix: Baby Mama, Planet Earth II, Boyhood, Coco,
Queer Eye
Amazon: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Short Term 12, Wonder,
The Big Sick, Lady Bird
HBO: The Greatest Showman, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Paddington 2,
The Princess Bride
Hanging With HS Friends
Schitt’s Creek (Netflix)
To say that Schitt’s Creek is just Canadian Arrested Development would actually be doing it a disservice. Not because one is better than the other, but just with general American sentiments towards our neighbors, one might assume that Schitt’s Creek was just a nicer version of Arrested Development. Though they are similar – rich family loses everything, antics ensue – Schitt’s Creek is it’s own snowflake of a show. Anchored by an unbelievably hilarious Catherine O’Hara and rounded out by the equally funny Annie Murphy, Eugene Levy and his irl son Dan Levy. This show makes for great background noise as well as an enjoyable solo/group binge.
Also on Netflix: Big Mouth, I Love You Man, Set it Up
Hulu: Trial & Error
Blockers (HBO)
It’s rare to see a raunchy teen comedy where the focus is on the teen girls in a meaningful way. This is one of the many things that makes Blockers so delightful. Three high school girls are being portrayed as they really are, not just sexual conquest devices a la most R-rated studio comedies. In fact, in Blockers the boys get to play that role. And that’s just the secondary focus on the film after the actual Blockers: their three overprotective parents. This film is simultaneously my thesis for Leslie Mann being one of the best moms alive, and John Cena being a great comedic actor.
Also on HBO: 17 Again, Game Night, IT
Coen Brothers Syllabus
The Coen Brothers happen to be my favorite filmmakers out there. If you’re not familiar with their work you’re in luck, because not only are a lot of their works on streaming services, there’s a lot of movies/shows with similar style out there as well for those of you who are already fans. For those that aren’t familiar, the Coen Brothers are known for their genre-bending films featuring tones of irony, black humor, and cons-gone-wrong.
Burn After Reading (Netflix)
This is a classic Coen Brothers plot line in which stupid people do stupid things that have hilarious (but oftentimes deadly) consequences. This is truly one of my favorite Brad Pitt performances of all time. Long live Chad Feldheimer.
Also on Netflix: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Hell or High Water, In Bruges, No Country for Old Men, The Big Lebowski, Shuan of the Dead
Amazon: Bernie
HBO: Fargo, Phantom Thread
Hulu: Little Miss Sunshine
Bonus: 2018 Awards Season
Looking to catch up on some 2018 critical darlings you didn’t get to see in theaters? Look no further!
Netflix: Black Panther, Roma, Private Life
Amazon: First Reformed, Eighth Grade, Beautiful Boy, Hereditary, Leave No Trace, You Were Never Really Here
Hulu: Annihilation, Sorry to Bother You, Support the Girls, Minding the Gap
Trim Pickings 
