10 Best Shows On Netflix To Leave On In The Background

The Smiths are another family who keeps you effortlessly occupied as you’re puttering around the house. Get to know CIA Agent Stan Smith and his quirky wife Francine, their hippie daughter Hayley and awkward son Steve, talking goldfish Klaus, and live-in alien Roger. Before you know it, you’ve binged through an entire season and your laundry is folded. Go, you! [Where to stream American Dad!]

House Hunters is the perfect distraction from anything remotely real life. Our very own Meghan O’Keefe has many thoughts on this series, but we assure you it is all the background noise you could ever need. [Where to stream House Hunters]

Are you being a bum tonight? Knope! Time for some Parks and Rec. Let Leslie and the Pawnee Parks Department keep you company this evening. The best part about leaving this show on repeat is you find yourself humming the theme song hours, even days after you’ve turned it off. It’s just so darn cheery. [Where to stream Parks and Recreation]

The non-committal nature of the Dunder Mifflin crew makes you feel better for being completely non-committed to bingeing this classic workplace comedy. You’ll breeze through seasons of The Office and not even realize it, only perking up when you realize Steve Carrell is no longer sauntering through the cubicles. [Where to stream The Office]

To be fair, sometimes the gang makes certain scenarios hard to watch, so not being perched is a good thing in this case. Let their unmotivated coasting through life inspire you to be your best self in the small window of hours you have to yourself when you get home from a long day at the office. [Where to stream It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia]

Let Neil deGrasse Tyson’s soothing voice guide you through the galaxy (or just your apartment) as you avoid being sucked into the black hole looming in your living room also known as your couch. Every now and then you’ll hear some fascinating tidbit of information, and you’ll smile to yourself because not only are you a shining star of productivity, you’re also a smidge smarter. [Where to stream Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]

You need to get some work done, so sitting around and smoking is out of the question… for tonight. Doesn’t mean you can’t watch someone else toke it up while you get ahead on whatever mindless thing it is you do with Excel spreadsheets. Make it a tad more enjoyable with Kelso and the gang of That ’70s Show. [Where to stream That ’70s Show]

These days, no family is better company than the Belchers. Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene, and Louise create the best background noise. Not only do you not have to wait around for the punch line thanks to quippy, clever writing, but each characters’ voice is so incredibly distinct, you don’t have to be in the same room to hear what’s happening. [Where to stream Bob’s Burgers]

Really, any food travel or cooking show is fantastic for background bingeing (no foodie pun intended), but Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is especially wonderful when you don’t have the time to sit and watch the competition found on Top Chef. We can’t guarantee you won’t stop in your tracks when a burger covered in an array of cheeses and fried toppings pops up on your screen, but hey, at least we warned you. [Where to stream Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives]

And now… the mother of all background binges: Law & Order: SVU. This was the series you watched for hours on end before binge-watching was trendy. Nights and weekends were spent with Olivia and the rest of the Special Victims Unit, and it was so, so wonderful. Until you cut cable that is. Revisit that sweet feeling again because five seasons are available to stream right now on Netflix. There is a god after all, huh? [Where to stream Law & Order: SVU]