PSA: These Are the Best Shows on Peacock and They're Available to Stream Right Now
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Peacocking is usually a term that would get an *eye roll* because it means that some guy is being over-the-top in an obnoxious attempt to impress a woman. Hard pass. But now, "peacocking" has the potential to be the new "Netflix and chill." NBCUniversal, whose parent company is Comcast, launched its very own streaming service (yep, just what we all need—another one) called Peacock. What separates it from the rest of the flock (see what I did there?) is that NBCU owns a bunch of channels—E!, USA, Bravo, etc.—meaning they have access to both nostalgic fan-faves like Friday Night Lights and contemporary hits, like Law & Order: SVU.
Before Peacock's launch in July 2020, NBCU—in a true boss move—made an agreement to pluck (the bird puns won't stop, friends) some of their most popular shows like The Office from rival streaming services once the contract expired. That's right: if Jim and Pam's voices put you to sleep every night, you're going to want to add Peacock to your list of streaming services because The Office is leaving Netflix in January 2021. Whether or not you're a fan of The Office, Peacock is worth $5 a month, IMO. Don't believe me? See for yourself.
30 Rock
Tina Fey is my queen, mmmkay? There's nothing she can't do. Anyone who can nail impressions on Saturday Night Live, write Mean Girls, and, oh yeah, create an Emmy-winning series is someone who has my respect *for life.* The aforementioned Emmy-winning series is 30 Rock, which follows head sketch-comedy show writer Liz Lemon's life in NYC. If that sounds a tad like SNL, that's because it's loosely based on it.
Law & Order: SVU
There are certain facts I stand by in life. If I ever need surgery, I want Grey's Anatomy's Dr. Meredith Grey to be the one to operate, and if I'm ever the victim of a crime, I want Olivia Benson as the lead detective on the case. There's a reason SVU is the longest-running scripted series in television history. With over 600 episodes, you'll have plenty of content to binge.
Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med are all worth watching. Law & Order creator Dick Wolf is the genius behind the Chicago shows, so you know they're going to include a solid mix of action and personal stories that'll keep you hitting "next episode."
This Is Us
I've been a This Is Us stan ever since Milo Ventimiglia showed off his impressively-toned tush in the first trailer. I mean, even his co-star, Mandy Moore, called the view "nice" in an interview. Regardless of Milo's bod, This Is Us is one of the best shows airing right now. The writing, directing, and acting are all on point. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy. Actually, make that two boxes.
Downton Abbey
This one's for all you posh readers. You know who you are—you eat "biscuits" with your tea and only date Brits. Downtown Abbey is an excellent historical drama about the Crawley family, their servants, and their massive estate, and if you haven't seen all six seasons yet, what are you even doing?!
Heroes
My boyfriend Milo is in this one, too. I don't want to give too much away, but the show is about seemingly ordinary people who realize they have super powers and therefore have to, you know, save the world and all that.
Parenthood
Based on the 1989 comedy, Parenthood is another series that will make you feel all the feels. Three generations of a family learn how to put aside their differences in order to be good parents. I guarantee that you will see every single member of your fam in these uber-relatable characters.
Suits
High stakes? Check. Meghan Markle? Check. Hot lawyers? Double check. Suits has it all. Plus, it'll give anyone who has ever wanted to be a lawyer without going to law school a smidge of hope.
Saturday Night Live
SNL is reliably unreliable in a delightful way. Sometimes every sketch makes you LOL, other nights they fall a bit flat; the musical guest is either your favorite artist of all time...or you've never heard of them before. Kate McKinnon is always excellent, and that's pretty much all you need to know.
Yellowstone
I fought watching this for a couple of years. Cowboys? A ranch? Montana...? But don't pull a me and write off this series led by Oscar- and Emmy-winner Kevin Costner. Behind all of the ranch drama, it's about the lengths a person will go to protect their family. And that, my friend, is universal.
Parks and Recreation
Like 30 Rock, Parks and Rec was produced by an SNL alum, Amy Poehler. The downright hilarious comedy shows Amy's character, a mid-level bureaucrat in an Indiana Parks and Recreation Department, face obstacles as she sets out to improve her town while boosting her career.
House M.D.
Remember how I admitted to wanting Dr. Grey on my medical team? Well, Dr. Gregory House can be there as well. Even though House's bedside manner is bad enough to make a stone-cold killer cry, he's definitely also a genius. The only, um, problem is that he's addicted to painkillers. Despite this, he still manages to be a "medical Sherlock Holmes" in the fictional Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's diagnostic unit, and finds time to mentor young doctors. What could possibly go wrong?
Friday Night Lights
Last, but definitely not least because Friday Night Lights is one of my favorite shows of all time. It has everything that's important: Authentic acting, a realistic script, well-written characters, and storylines that you become invested in without even meaning to. Coach Taylor, played by Eric Chandler, leads the Dillon Panthers on Friday nights, but he also serves as a moral guide for both the characters and viewers. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. *Wipes tear.*
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