1. “The Americans“
This classic 80s spy show takes you into the world of secret meetings, killer gadgets and unimaginable disguises. Set during the Cold War, Russian spies live among Americans, performing intricate undercover work to take secrets back to the Russian government.
Centered around a married couple living the American dream with their children, the two main characters make friends with neighbors, go to dinner parties and enjoy friendly BBQs, fitting in with the enemy, making it easy to fall for their characters.
Season two is airing on FX now, but season one is available on Amazon, so there’s time to catch up.
Thanks to the real-life events of Piper Kerman, people can get a firsthand look into what prison life is like for a shy, timid white women. Her memoir “Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” has been turned into one of TVs hottest shows.
Following Kerman as she enters prison, viewers get a variety of quirky, overbearing and downright dangerous characters. This comedy-based prison show will leave you on the edge of your seat, dying to find out what happens to Kerman next.
Season two is premiering on Netflix now, so veg out on the couch and catch up on prison life.
3. “Hot In Cleveland“
If you think shows on TVLand are for an older audience, think again. TVLand’s “Hot In Cleveland” delivers laugh after laugh.
Three women migrate from Los Angeles to Cleveland in search of a less complicated life. They buy a house together and come across the home’s caretaker, Betty White’s character.
The four women navigate their way through disastrous dates with men who occasionally have odd quirks, learn what it means to truly be there for a friend and are visited by numerous celebrity guests. This comedy is sure to be on your favorite list.
Season five is airing on TVLand, but you can watch the rest on Amazon.
4. “Awkward“
Take high school and multiply the amount of awkward encounters you had by 10. This is the life of a Jenna Hamilton. With her parents embarrassing her every chance they get and a best friend who is “queen of acronyms”, speaking a mile a minute and having a serious obsession with popularity, Jenna tries to navigate the torturous days of high school.
Jenna uses her blog to chronicle her struggles in life, including being bullied and having a major crush on the popular boy at school. This is a coming-of-age story that leaves you wanting more when the credits start rolling.
Season four is airing on MTV but catch up with the other seasons on Amazon and delve into the life of an awkward teenager.
5. “Hemlock Grove“
Most of the shows on my list were comedies, but this one is not for the faint of heart. This eerie drama includes werewolves, but is a far cry from “Twilight”. It’s based on the novel of the same name, “Hemlock Grove“, written by Brian McGreevy.
Bizarre murders keep happening in the Pennsylvania-based town and two misfits, Peter and Roman, set out to solve the mystery. Watch the show for its amazing special effects and stay for the nail-biting plot. Catch up with season one on Netflix before season two airs in July.
