We’ve been through a lot this past year. Some, sadly, more than others. Between lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, closed businesses, and quarantines, it can be a challenge to find any sense of normalcy in our world’s current state.
But when things get stressful, when things don’t make as much sense as they once did, I often reach to sitcoms as a quick remedy. Sure, the problems outside still exist, but for that half-hour – or a full season of episodes – you can escape to a happier time when things didn’t seem so grim.
As humans, we all tend to gravitate toward the familiar: familiar sights, sounds, voices, people, objects. We find comfort and peace in them. That’s why many people put up their Christmas decorations early in 2020 and started listening to Christmas music in November; it reminded them of better times that these we’re currently in.
For me, Wings is one of those shows. A sitcom that delivers laughs, entertaining characters, and leaves me happier when the credits roll than I was before. Call it Happiness Therapy. Call it Escapism. Or just call it Entertainment. Either way, sometimes watching a show you know can be a nice respite from the disorganized chaos of our current world.
We all have a favorite TV show, movie, book, or podcast that we use to escape. My favorite sitcom list is too vast to mention here, but Wings has always been one of them, ever since I saw my first episode at the gym in 1998. When a show almost makes you fall off the treadmill from laughing too much, you know you have a keeper!
And each time I moved for college or work to a new place, it was the shows that I knew that helped get me through the rough patches and challenging days. Sometimes getting a laugh from a show I’ve seen dozens of times can be the best medicine.
So, as we soldier on into January 2021, take a moment to think about that show, movie, or book you enjoyed in the past. Maybe it’s a comedy like I Love Lucy or The Office, or even a drama like Lost or Firefly. And in those moments this year when you’re feeling down, check out your favorite episode or season and give your mind and your emotions a much-needed break.
This is the final Wings Wednesday post. I truly enjoyed interviewing Dave Hackel and talking about the series. I hope you enjoyed these posts as well.
Oh, and if you’re curious, here’s a shortlist of my favorite escapist shows: I Love Lucy, Wings, Frasier, Two and a Half Men, Perfect Strangers, Full House, The Munsters, 227, Married…with Children, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, and the list goes on and on.
What are some of your escapism shows, movies, books, or podcasts? Leave a comment and share below.