45 TV Shows You Could Watch All Day Long

If coming up with reasons to stay indoors all day were an Olympic sport, I’d have a gold medal (as long as it’s delivered directly to my home, because I am not getting off the couch). Whether I’m staying in to avoid 70% humidity or because I had a dream my dog was lonely, there’s one thing I can always count on to keep me entertained: a TV marathon.

As all good athletes know, you need to train well to excel at your sport. In my years of practice, I’ve learned some winning strategies for an all-day TV marathon: Always have a cozy blanket on hand, be prepared with all the snacks, and (most importantly) choose the right show to watch.

There are no strict rules for an all-day marathon — the TV landscape is vast, and everyone has their own preferences. That said, a couple of things can make or break a show’s “marathonability.” The first, naturally, is the total number of episodes. If you’re going for an all-day marathon, you need hours of content to sustain your entertainment needs (sorry to all those Netflix one-season wonders). The second is the variety: Whether it’s the format, dialogue, or plot, some shows offer the same thing over and over each episode (cough, Law & Order: SVU). These series are fantastic comfort watches before bed or while you’re doing chores, but for a marathon, you want a show dynamic enough to keep you locked in for hours.

Below, check out a genre-spanning list of marathon-worthy shows that’ll help you on your way to becoming a staying-in legend, along with where to find the shows as of summer 2023.

Family drama, power struggles, and dark humor — it turns out, watching an ultra-wealthy family battle it out for control of their media empire doesn’t get old, even when you’re four seasons deep.

Starring: Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin

Set in the glamorous ballroom scene of 1980s New York City, the show follows LGBTQ+ individuals who form a chosen family and create their own rules of acceptance, love, and self-expression.

Starring: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Indya Moore

In this show that won over even the most staunch non-Western fans, the Dutton family fights to maintain their cattle ranching way of life, set against the breathtaking landscape of the American West.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly

One of the few series on this list that has just one season out (for now), the lauded drama earns its spot for the journey it takes viewers on through a post-apocalyptic world, both physically and emotionally. With nine episodes in Season 1 that average about an hour, you’ll be occupied for the better part of your day.

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey

The jaw-dropping twists in this high-stakes family drama will have you more invested in the hip-hop music industry than your own life — it’s the perfect show to get lost in for a day.

Starring: Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson

The ostentatious, dysfunctional, and often offensive Gemstone family are a hilarious, blinged-out satirization of Southern evangelical mega-church dynasties. Each of the HBO series’ three seasons raises the stakes more than the last, while still making viewers laugh from the edge of their seats.

Starring: John Goodman, Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine

Another one-season show (with a second on the way), this surprise Apple TV+ hit stars Jason Segel as a grieving therapist who treats his clients with a rather, well, honest, approach with poignant but hilarious results.

Starring: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford

Prepare to fall in love with Issa Dee as she navigates life in Los Angeles over the course of five messy, relatable, and delightful seasons.

Starring: Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji

It’s the FX on Hulu show that got everyone on the internet saying, “Yes, chef.” This inside look at the staff of a Chicago kitchen provides an honest, gritty perspective on food, family, and the high stakes of running a restaurant.

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri

Transport yourself to the glamorous world of New York in the 1950s as Miriam “Midge” Maisel transforms from a jilted housewife into a famous stand-up comedian, challenging societal norms and pursuing her dreams.

Starring: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein

The seven-season Netflix series following the complex inmates at Litchfield Penitentiary will make you laugh, cry, and question the justice system all at once.

Starring: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Uzo Aduba

With an ensemble cast, awkward situations, and so, so many “mess-arounds,” the seven-season comedy has plenty to offer. Jess, Nick, Winston, CeCe, Schmidt, and Coach are so funny and relatable, you’ll want to claim a spot in their Los Angeles loft for yourself.

Starring: Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson

The dedicated teachers at a Philadelphia public school strive to make a difference in the lives of their students while dealing with their own personal and professional challenges. Come for the chaos; stay for the sweet friendships and will-they-won’t-they relationship between Quinta Brunson’s Janine Teagues and Tyler James Williams’ Gregory Eddie.

Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams

In this Netflix hit, Devi is brash, awkward, and lovable as she navigates the complexities of high school, relationships, and her cultural identity. It provides an honest and refreshing portrayal of adolescence with plenty of heartwarming and hilarious moments.

Starring: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Darren Barnet, Jaren Lewison

Humor, cultural clashes, and heartfelt moments blend to create a charming and relatable sitcom following the Korean-Canadian Kim family as they run a convenience store in Toronto.

Starring: Simu Liu, Andrea Bang

Spend your whole day with the formerly wealthy Rose family as they adjust to small-town life. Throughout their detour in Schitt’s Creek, they learn about themselves, love, and how to create the lives they deserve.

Starring: Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Annie Murphy, Catherine O’Hara

American football coach Ted Lasso unexpectedly finds himself leading a soccer team in England. His unyielding optimism and unconventional coaching style uplifts the team — and the fans watching at home.

Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein

Four fiercely fabulous women navigate love, sex, and friendship against the vibrant backdrop of New York City in the late ’90s and early aughts. Grab your cheeseburger, large fries, and cosmopolitan, and settle in.

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis

It’s a watchlist staple for a reason. Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin paper company is staffed with zany and eccentric characters who excel in the art of workplace shenanigans — sprinkled with a few interoffice romances.

Starring: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson

Pawnee, Indiana, isn’t exactly the most aesthetic town to live in, but it’s definitely one of the most fun places to visit for a day (via TV, that is). Leslie Knope’s endless optimism is exactly what you’ll need to see your marathon through.

Starring: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Nick Offerman, Adam Scott

Talk about a blast from the past. The only thing better than the adventures of long-lost identical twins Tia and Tamera — who reunite and navigate high school life together — is the nostalgic ’90s vibes in all the outfits, music, and lingo.

Starring: Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry

Whether it’s a rainy day that’s keeping you indoors or you’re just embracing the “bed rot” trend, the cast of Friends will be there for you. Watch as they navigate the ups and downs of life and love in New York.

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc

The fast-paced chatter of mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore is enough to keep you entertained for hours. But the charming town and its quirky residents will be what will have you sticking around all day.

Starring: Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham

Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer are hot messes — forgive my anachronistic terminology. The 1990s-set sitcom follows their daily misadventures as they (hilariously) let their quirks, neuroses, and cynical observations about life get the better of them.

Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander

Each season will take you on a new, chilling journey filled with horror, suspense, and a star-studded ensemble cast that will creep you out and keep you entertained.

Starring: Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts

Whereas AHS is a season-by-season anthology, Black Mirror is an episodic anthology, meaning every episode is its own self-contained story. It’s perfect if you need a lot of variety to hold your interest — just be sure you’re in the mood to have some deep thoughts about life, technology, and humanity.

Starring: Miley Cyrus, John Hamm

This one’s not for the faint of heart. Real-life unsolved cases and paranormal phenomena haunt this gripping Netflix revival of the 1987 documentary series of the same name. It’ll have you intrigued, unsettled, and pondering the unexplained long after the credits roll.

You won’t find any big stars here, but the suspenseful investigations more than make up for it.

When a couple hires a nanny to care for their reborn doll (yes, seriously), a series of twisted events blur the lines between reality and fantasy, guaranteeing you sleepless nights.

Starring: Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Rupert Grint

Netflix horror king Mike White has released two series that fall under The Haunting’s umbrella: The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Both retell classic horror stories, and both seasons will elicit a lot of feelings — fear included.

Starring: Victoria Pedretti, Kate Siegel, Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Step into the glamorous world of Manhattan’s elite as an anonymous blogger documents the scandalous lives and secrets of a group of privileged teenagers. It delivers drama, romance, and jaw-dropping plot twists.

Starring: Black Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley

A talented young football player from South Central Los Angeles transfers to a Beverly Hills high school. He takes on the challenges of race, class, and identity while pursuing his dreams on and off the field.

Starring: Daniel Ezra, Bre-Z, Samantha Logan

Affairs, scandals, murder — yes, I’m talking about a high school show. This Spanish-language drama spans six (and counting!) seasons following the goings-on at the prestigious (and fictional) Las Encinas school in Spain.

Starring: Itzan Escamilla, Omar Ayuso, Miguel Bernardeau

A group of students join their school’s show choir and turn a whole bunch of popular songs into certified bops for all the musical theater nerds out there. Get ready to sing, dance, and embrace your inner misfit.

Starring: Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron, Amber Riley

Dawson, Joey, and their friends navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery in the small coastal town of Capeside, Massachusetts, capturing the essence of coming of age in the ’90s.

Starring: James Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams

Netflix’s pandemic adventure hit continues to thrill fans with every season. Prepare for sun-soaked treasure hunting, steamy forbidden romances, and mysterious twists.

Starring: Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, Rudy Pankow, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss

The CW’s retelling of Archie Comics follows Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Betty, and their friends through bizarre, twist-filled plot points that will truly have you questioning whether this is a real TV show. (I mean, does anyone remember when Archie *checks notes* fought a bear?)

Starring: Lili Reinhart, Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, Camila Mendes

Four teenage girls’ lives are turned upside down when their friend disappears, forcing them to unravel a web of secrets, lies, and suspense. It’s a captivating and increasingly melodramatic blend of mystery, romance, and fabulous 2010s fashion.

Starring: Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, Sasha Pieterse

With two seasons of heartfelt coming-of-age romance and summer fun, you can transport to Cousins Beach for a full day’s worth of watching sweet friendships and first loves unfold.

Starring: Lola Tung, Gavin Casalegno, Christopher Briney

If “Scandoval” didn’t convince you to finally start watching Bravo’s Emmy-nominated reality series, I don’t know what will. The outrageous fights and messy antics will have you cringe-watching and hitting “play next episode” all day long.

Starring: Lisa Vanderpump, Ariana Madix, Katie Maloney

If you want a real estate-focused show, this isn’t it. This look at the Oppenheimer Group is more interested in the personal rivalries and glamorous lifestyles of the real estate agents the show follows — the fact that it all takes place against a backdrop of stunning, multimillion-dollar properties is just a bonus.

Starring: Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald, Heather Rae El Moussa

Escape to a sun-soaked villa where single contestants compete for love, lust, and a cash prize. The result is a drama-filled reality show that has everyone shipping their favorite couples and talking in fake British accents.

Starring: Maya Jama

Alert! This Netflix reality series is part popularity contest, part social experiment. Contestants compete for influence by curating their digital personas (some true to the individual, some completely made up) in a virtual reality game.

Starring: Michelle Buteau

Celebrities don elaborate costumes and perform in a singing competition while a panel of judges and the audience try to guess their identities, delivering a colorful and entertaining spectacle that keeps you guessing until the big reveal. But just a warning: If you watch it for too long in one day, those kooky characters the celebs dress up as may appear in your dreams that night — and yes, I learned this from personal experience.

Starring: Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger, Robin Thicke

This is a long-standing, fan-favorite culinary showdown. Watch talented chefs face off in intense, fast-paced cooking challenges, using mystery ingredients to show off their creativity and talent under pressure.

Starring: Ted Allen

It’s like Chopped, but make it chill. GBBO welcomes viewers into the charming world of sweet treats and British charm as amateur bakers compete in a cozy tent, showcasing their skills, camaraderie, and occasional disasters. It’s a delightful and heartwarming competition that will soothe you from morning to night.

Starring: Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood