I have spent countless hours watching TV. Through every physical ailment, lost sports game and sisterly argument, TV always had my back. I repeat the same routine every time: I crawl into my bed, lay in a fetal position and cuddle up with my favorite show playing on my screen. Most of these shows are sitcoms. I’ve seen all the faithful classics from “Friends” to “Gilmore Girls” and the more contemporary sitcoms like “Abbott Elementary” and “New Girl.” These series never fail to comfort me, no matter what blow life deals.
That’s what’s so great about television: it has the power to heal us from life’s most devastating moments. When it feels like nothing can make you laugh anymore, television gives you a giggle. Even when those struggles change and morph, these shows can still fill that void. Looking back on my high school and college years, four sitcoms stand out to me. Out of countless others, these are the ones that have helped me get through even the toughest parts of life.
“New Girl”
I first watched “New Girl” during my freshman year of high school. My best friend and I started watching it at the same time. We would text each other whenever one of the characters said something silly or our romantic predictions came to fruition. My friends often told me I reminded them of the protagonist, Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel, “Yes Man”), which to me was a huge compliment, because Jess was always so energetic and kind to everyone around her. After I first heard this comparison, I watched the show through a completely different lens. Just like deciding I want to be a superhero after watching a Marvel movie, I wanted to be like Jess in many other ways. I loved how she dressed and the various hobbies she had, like crafting and playing the guitar. Naturally, I also started to mirror her behavior. I’m not saying that I copied her personality by any means, but I definitely took inspiration from her. In an era like high school, where everyone is awkwardly finding out who they are, Jess was a role model for me and the way I wanted to present myself to the world.
“How I Met Your Mother”
I watched “How I Met Your Mother” during my biggest life transition to date. I was 17, getting ready to go to college. While said college was only down the street from my parents’ house, there were still so many new things I needed to learn how to navigate, like making friends, joining clubs, taking college-level classes and adjusting to the campus culture. I had always dreamt of what it would be like, but I was also super nervous. I knew that the University of Michigan was a big campus and wasn’t sure if I’d find my people. That’s where “How I Met Your Mother” comes in. When I felt anxious about the major transition to come, the nine-season series kept me afloat. The continuous storyline meant that I was able to carry a piece of my life from before college to my life in college. Because it was so long, I was able to stretch the show out over three years, so whenever I needed a pick-me-up in freshman, sophomore or junior year, that show was my solace.
“The Mindy Project”
“The Mindy Project” is a six-season series starring Mindy Kaling (“The Office”) that follows her life in New York as a doctor. Throughout the series, we see Mindy juggle work, family and romance. From my perspective, she is a great portrayal of a strong, independent woman. Mindy is smart, funny, flirtatious — and also so much more. When I was watching the show, I was in my sophomore year of college. I had one year under my belt and had started to get my bearings, but I didn’t feel too connected to the University community. I was a part of one smaller organization on campus and felt that the way to find what I was looking for was to join more. I rushed multiple professional fraternities and applied to The Michigan Daily. While I’m not necessarily a shy person, it was difficult to put myself out there on such a visible stage. But through her confidence, Mindy taught me to not take the vulnerabilities of the rush process and The Daily submissions too seriously and to just go for it. And when I did, it paid off immensely. I took that leap and got everything I had been looking for: new experiences on campus and new friendships to boot.
“Abbott Elementary”
One of the hallmark qualities of every sitcom is romance, and “Abbott Elementary” is no exception. When the tension between Janine (Quinta Brunson, “Quinta vs. Everything”) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams, “Let it Shine”) first started to build, I was just starting to talk with my current boyfriend. We were going through those first awkward dates and moments people have when they’ve just started talking. We were in the, “Do we hold hands, do we kiss each other at the front door, which seats do we sit in at the coffee shop, how do I politely eat my food” stage. Navigating the beginning of our relationship was difficult for me because I tend to be a bit shy at that phase, afraid that I might do something that will scare the other person away. While I was feeling those emotions, it was obvious that Gregory from “Abbott Elementary” was, too. Between him and Janine, Gregory tends to be the shyer of the two. In season one and two, he always danced around the topic of their relationship, not wanting to ruin what they had as friends while knowing he desired more. It eased my nerves, being able to watch someone on screen go through those same anxieties as myself. I’m glad that I had someone to look to in an on-screen romance as I was actively experiencing those same feelings in real life.
Other sitcoms have been there during emotional moments of my life, and I’m sure even more will in the future. But thanks to these four, I know I can always return to a select few shows in times of need. TV is a gift, and the shows that we laugh, cry and cheer along to are often the most vital for those tough days.
Daily Arts Writer Eliza Shearing can be reached at elizamae@umich.edu.
