Updated August 22, 2023 5.2K votes 1.5K voters 88.1K views
Over 1.5K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Mindless TV Shows To Have On In The Background
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite shows to mostly ignore.
When it comes to TV shows that are perfect to leave on as background noise while doing other things, everyone has their favorite. Maybe it’s a show you’ve already seen several times through, a series with nice background music, or a reality competition you’re not particularly invested in. There’s one thing that the best background TV shows have in common, though: they provide mindless entertainment. You can watch while folding laundry, working from home, checking Instagram, or trying to fall asleep. Plus, if you focus on something else for a while and your mind wanders, you won’t really end up missing too much of the action.
We’re not talking greatest shows of all time here. With some shows, you have to be actively engaged throughout to make sure that you don’t miss any tiny detail that might prove crucial later on. Think Lost, Game of Thrones, Fringe, The Wire. Meanwhile, there are other shows that are just so bad that you can’t even stomach the idea of half-watching. You know - where you roll your eyes and ask yourself why they haven’t been canceled yet. The best shows to watch while doing anything else but watching, however, are somewhere in the middle. You don’t have to be too involved, but you still enjoy their novelty. What're your top picks?
Latest additions: Lethal Weapon, American Dad!, The Ranch
What it is: A political sitcom following the employees of the Parks Department in a small town.
Why it's perfect background TV: Even if you half-ignore the show, it will still make you chuckle. Plus, if you watch Parks while working from home, Leslie Knope will probably inspire you to actually get things done.
Actors: Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt
What it is: A comedy about a consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department who poses as a psychic and solves crimes with his overly cautious best friend.
Why it's perfect background TV: The jokes are hilarious, but the cases of the week aren’t necessarily compelling. However, we recommend you give this show your full attention at least from time to time - it may surprise you.
Actors: James Roday Rodriguez, Dulé Hill, Corbin Bernsen, Timothy Omundson, Kirsten Nelson
What it is: A show about six friends living and hanging out in New York.
Why it's perfect background TV: You’ve probably seen it already. Multiple times. Even if you haven't, you still know the main plot line, because you're a human with access to the Internet. No need to pay full attention, but it’s still nice to laugh at the occasional joke.
Actors: Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry
What it is: An animated series following the adventures of a New York City pizza delivery boy who was cryogenically frozen for one thousand years.
Why it's perfect background TV: Humans of the future will probably still watch this show in the year 3000. It’s funny, it’s sarcastic, it’s the perfect series to fall asleep to.
Actors: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche
What it is: A hangout show about a group of friends set in the 1970s.
Why it's perfect background TV: Like most sitcoms, while the jokes are funny, they don’t usually have much to do with the plot. And just because you have stuff to do and can’t get baked and chill in your parent's basement, doesn’t mean you can’t watch someone else do it.
Actors: Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon
What it is: A show about how everything from hand-crafted to factory-made products are actually put together.
Why it's perfect background TV: The show is interesting, sure, but what makes it really great background material is the narrator’s soothing voice. Even if you’re not particularly curious about what’s on the screen, you’ll find yourself relaxed in no time.
Actors: Mark Tewksbury, Lynne Adams, Brooks Moore, June Wallack, Lynn Herzeg
