TV We’re Thankful for in 2020: Ted Lasso, Julie and the Phantoms, Supernatural, and More

This year, being able to escape with television or find a TV character who makes you feel a little better about life has been more important than ever. 

As is our Thanksgiving tradition, the Tell-Tale TV team is once again considering what we’re most thankful for when it comes to television, from specific shows, the ways we watch, and the fact that TV was an escape in general. 

Here are 30 things we’re thankful for when it comes to TV this year:

1. Shows That Kept Us Company

I am thankful for the comedy shows that kept me company and made me laugh. I am grateful for the workplace comradery of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore; the supernatural shenanigans of Julie and the Phantoms’ three goofball ghosts; and the residents of Schitt’s Creek, who reminded us that love and laughter go together brilliantly.

This year my love for TV waivered, and I had no desire to watch anything remotely dark or complex. But thanks to these hilarious, heartfelt TV shows, 2020 didn’t take away my love of a good punchline.

– Alicia Gilstorf

2. Julie and the Phantoms

I’m thankful for Julie and The Phantoms on Netflix. I don’t think my 30-year-old self is exactly the market demographic Netflix was going for, but here I am, someone who has bought a Sunset Curve shirt and blares the soundtrack in the car whenever she can.

This show brought me so much joy that was desperately needed this year. There’s great representation, amazing ships, beautiful friendships, and heartwarming stories about family and loss. It was the perfect escape, and if Netflix doesn’t renew it for a Season 2, there will be words.

– Allison Nichols

3. Borgen

I am thankful that Netflix brought the Danish political drama, Borgen, to our streaming screens. I had been trying to find a way to watch it for years! Now I can watch and rewatch to my heart’s content until the fourth season premieres in 2022.

– Erin Allen

4. Sanditon (and Sex Scenes!)

I thank my lucky stars for Sanditon and sex scenes! 2020 has been decidedly unromantic and unsexy. Sanditon with its moving score, luscious ballroom dancing, and Theo James rowing a boat in regency garb makes my Austen-shaped heart hopeful. Likewise, shows with amazing sex scene have helped me not socially isolate from passion. We can watch Elite, Vida, Love & Anarchy, Good Girls, and Outlander to make staying at home a steamfest.

– Janelle Ureta

5. The Complex Women of Wynonna Earp

I am thankful for the gloriously complex women on Wynonna Earp. This is a show that I had been meaning to watch for a while and it came to me at just the right time when I needed a set of strong, flawed, and heroic women.

I am also especially grateful to the Earpers who fought so hard to get Season 4 back, and for the dedicated cast and crew behind the show that completed the season despite the pandemic. It’s not only been a bright spot of 2020, but it will continue to be in 2021.

– Lauren Busser

6. Feel-Good TV in General

I’m thankful for television that makes people happy. Not every show needs to dole out gritty hot takes on the darkness of humanity and dwell in the suffering of life. I’m thankful for shows like Riverdale, Schitt’s Creek, Teenage Bounty Hunters, and Star Trek.

In a year like the one we’re living through TV that makes people feel good is more important than ever, providing an escape from the darkness closing in around us. There’s something to be said for a happy ending, after all, it’s the storytelling blueprint for a reason.

– Samantha Casey

7. Short-form Storytelling

I’m most thankful for miniseries and limited series this year. Their short-form storytelling has been making a resurgence over the years, but with Devs, Mrs. America, Normal People, and The Good Lord Bird, among many, many others, limited series have been incredibly strong watches this year that add so much to their respective platforms.

That’s not to mention the many great documentary series that continue to come out, with I’ll Be Gone in the Dark as the one that caught my attention the most. Short-form television has been fantastic in 2020.

– Kevin Lever

8. The Final Season of Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.

I’m thankful for the final season of Agents of SHIELD. From start to finish it was an entertaining season filled with memorable moments and great storytelling. As a FitzSimmons family stan, I especially loved the Deke Squad episode and meeting Alya. Most importantly, the show nailed the finale episode and gave us a satisfying goodbye with the characters we’ve grown to love.

– Breeze Riley

9. Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.’s Finale

I’m thankful to the Agents of SHIELD finale. After seven seasons and the wild ups and downs that the agents had, it’s amazing to see how exceedingly well they were able to stick the landing. The writers managed to give each character a well-earned ending to this specific chapter in their lives while hinting at some wonderful beginnings to the next one.

– Brianna Martinez

10. Coroner

It’s been a tough year all around, and network TV also struggled, but because of that struggle Coroner came to the U.S. I’m thankful for it. It surprised me because of its authenticity and willingness to have important conversations about mental health.

I’m also grateful for new comfort shows like Julie and the Phantoms and Sweet Magnolias. Shoutout to shows giving me something to look forward to in the future like Selena: The Series and Cruel Summer.

– Esme Mazzeo

11. Streaming Entertainment

I’m thankful for streaming services getting me through this pandemic and allowing me to experience new shows that I’ve come to love. Netflix has been my saving grace as I’ve rewatched Schitt’s Creek probably over 6x entirely through. Some of my favorite series that I’ve had the pleasure of binging this year is P-Valley, Lovecraft Country, The Mandalorian, The Boys, Killing Eve, and Lucifer.

– Cade Taylor

12. Supernatural

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about how thankful I am for the finale of Supernatural this year. This show has given me so much joy and comfort over the past 16 years. 15 seasons is quite a feat and for a show to manage that and remain fairly consistent the whole time is even more amazing. My heart will always lay with The Winchesters.

– Mary Misasi

13. The Outpost

I am extremely thankful for the escapism I am able to achieve through The Outpost. Many other shows I watch have turned towards current events to mold their season. While that is fine in and of itself, I enjoy a good 45-minute romp through another world that can take me away from the stresses of reality and replace it with magic and monsters.

– Charles E. Henning

14. Shows That Got Creative When Times Got Tough

I’m thankful for the shows that stepped forward during quarantine to offer episodes shot using Zoom and other platforms. These gave us some great season finales for shows like All Rise that were cut off in filming, and some wonderful reunions for shows like Parks and Recreation that we otherwise might never have seen.

We saw just how dedicated and innovative the people involved with these shows could be, and it was a comfort to see our shared experiences onscreen.

– Caitlyn Wyneken

15. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

I’m thankful for the absolutely sublime final season of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Noelle Stevenson and her team built a beautiful love story over four seasons culminating in its perfect 5th season. Every bit of angst and moment of joy was earned and deeply satisfying.

Despite being a show that caters to kids, She-Ra takes on themes of redemption, forgiveness, and healing with more sophistication and nuance than most shows written for adults. On top of that, having a kids show with so many queer characters and a queer romance at its center is truly groundbreaking and special. It makes me so happy for all the kids who get to see themselves reflected in their favorite adventures.

– Sarah Fields

16. The Mandalorian

I’m thankful for The Mandalorian and its further adventures into lore from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. A weekly Star Wars adventure is already a highlight of the 2020 dumpster fire, but going deeper into Rebels and Clone Wars mythos makes each episode more exciting.

Not to mention that Katee Sackhoff plays Bo Katan on all three shows! If other shows are looking for a model for which to create their larger franchise universes…this is the way.

– Nick Hogan

17. Never Have I Ever

I am thankful for Never Have I Ever; not only is it Mindy Kaling’s finest, freshest, and I’d dare say, funniest work to date, but it was exciting to see a heroine of color at the center of the story, who was so unabashedly herself.

Watching Devi balancing her thoroughly American approach to life while also navigating how to honor her family’s culture hit close to home, but its meaningful rumination on grief and all its forms was a real sucker-punch to my heart, in the best possible way.

– Cristina Iskander

18. Ted Lasso

I am thankful for Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. It’s the gift that keeps on giving in that I’ve told so many of my loved ones to check it out over the course of the year.

It’s something we can all talk about and appreciate together, even if it’s over a Zoom call. It makes me believe that there’s still good in the world, that overwhelmingly kind and caring people like Ted and his team still exist. It’s also incredibly funny and always there when I need a warm hug or a nice laugh.

– Shelby Elpers

19. Classic Comfort TV

It’s been a wild year, and there’s been nothing more imperative to my sanity than revisiting my favorite comfort shows. Being able to immerse myself in these fictitious worlds that help me feel safe and protected from the very real and never slowing disasters of reality has been a saving grace of 2020.

Whether it be shows like Hart of Dixie, Gilmore Girls, or Dawson’s Creek — shows that literally provide towns built for escapism — or comedies like New Girl and The Office which will always, without fail, make me laugh and forget all my problems — comfort TV has kept my heart warm, and my anxiety low.

– Kat Pettibone

20. Javicia Leslie as the New Batwoman

I’m thankful for Javicia Leslie as the new Batwoman. Seeing a strong, confident, proud bisexual Black woman with natural hair in the iconic Batsuit is an image I’ve been waiting my whole life to see. It’s inspiring to know she’s a hero my nieces will be able to look up to.

– Stephanie Holland

21. Science Fiction

I am thankful for the escapism that the return of science fiction to television this fall and winter has provided. With The Mandalorian, Star Trek: Discovery, and in a few weeks, The Expanse, all airing new episodes, these shows provide new looks into the future and different worlds, ones that don’t include COVID or elections. And Baby Yoda?! What’s not to be thankful for?

– Amanda Reimer

22. Idealism

I’m thankful for idealism in television, during this year I’ve been comforted by being able to count on happy endings, even in gritty and dark shows. For example, Criminal Minds, which I binged all 15 seasons of this summer, the team always gets the unsub, they always overcome their profession and even when they lose, they are able to overcome those losses and come out better in the end.

I’m grateful for the ability to escape into a world like The Bold Type, where everyone is fashionable and fabulous, where morality overcomes the capitalistic need for sales and where you can truly get through anything with a few good friends. I am comforted by any superhero show where a group of loveable misfits and rogues come together to accomplish the common goal of saving the city/world/multiverse.

– Carly Herriges

23. Satisfying Series Finales from The Good Place and Schitt’s Creek

I’m particularly thankful this year for satisfying series finales! The Good Place and Schitt’s Creek (two comedies that could have gone on forever, in my opinion) came to a close this year and tied their stories up with a nice little bow. Instead of being disappointed that the shows were ending, it was a bittersweet moment watching really great characters end on a high note!

– Marissa Crenwelge

24. Saved by the Bell

This year, I’m thankful for the new Saved by the Bell. Having something to look forward to on television was important this year, and the new sequel series feels like a gift.

The nostalgia and the nods to the original series are funny and smart, but it also takes me back to my childhood in a comforting way. The new series is also telling a meaningful story all its own. 

– Ashley Bissette Sumerel

25. Blindspot’s Finale

The series finale of Blindspot may have had a divisive end, but I maintain that it was the perfect conclusion for a series that was all about identity.

The final season was a gift to viewers that really pushed themes the show had been playing with from the start in a new direction. It was the kind of finale that you can sit with and be comfortable, even if the last few minutes left you wondering what had just happened.

– Lauren Busser

26. Schitt’s Creek’s Emmy’s Sweep

I would be remiss not to be thankful for the historic Schitt’s Creek Emmys sweep. As a Canadian myself, watching this ground-breaking comedy series written and produced by Canadians, filmed in Canada, with an almost entirely Canadian cast, win every single category it is nominated for is indescribable.

The virtual ceremony allowing the cast and crew to accept those awards from Casa Loma in Toronto, just miles away from where they filmed the series, was something else. I am thankful Schitt’s Creek will go down in Emmys and television history as the iconic masterpiece of love, laughter, and representation it was but, I am also thankful the series got to do it with a little Canadian flare.

– Alicia Gilstorf

27. Waverly Earp

I’m thankful Waverly Earp was back on my TV screen this year. After a year-long delay, Wynonna Earp’s fourth season finally premiered this summer. I knew I was excited because I adore the show but I didn’t realize just how much I missed Waverly until those first frames of her in the trailer.

There’s never been a character I love quite as much Waverly and as long as there are new seasons of Wynonna Earp, seeing my favorite bisexual half-angel will always be at the top of the list of things I’m thankful for.

– Sarah Fields

28. Pen15

I have to mention how grateful I am for a pitch-perfect second season of Pen15. So many shows suffer from sophomore slumps but Pen15 actually elevated itself in its second set of episodes, hitting all the right nostalgic and emotional beats.

Few seasons of television have excelled in balancing pathos and comedy like Pen15 did this past season, and it’s thrilling to imagine where it will go from here.

– Cristina Iskander

29. WWE Programming

I’m also thankful for the WWE. Through all the bad days this year, WWE programming has been the one thing has consistently made me smile and given me something to look forward to each week.

Superstars like Asuka, Drew McIntyre, and The New Day have never failed to entertain fans at a time when we’ve desperately needed it. It’s the reason I’m still watching after all these years.

– Stephanie Holland

30. Being Able to Play Catch-Up on Old Favorites

I am especially thankful for streaming sites this year. With the world getting shut down this year there was more time freed up to watch TV. Thanks to streaming sites I was able to start watching The West Wing and Suits.

I was also able to go back and rewatch all of Supernatural from the beginning before the final episodes aired. This really helped keep me grounded through personal loss and the confusion of having all our lives flipped upside down.

– Mary Misasi

 

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What makes you thankful when it comes to TV this year? Let us know in the comments below!

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