(Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Finals week is fast approaching and, if you're like me, studying can get pretty boring and lonely. Study groups are a good way to provide camaraderie among people trying to survive the same tidal wave of Scantrons and 10-page cumulative essays, but If you don't have a group studying can become dull, and your music library can only carry you so far.
There are a good number of shows on Netflix (and otherwise) to provide white noise. While they are worth a watch, they're also simple enough to keep you entertained through endless study sessions. Here's a small selection I'd recommend.
Community alumnus (no pun intended) and fan favorite Donald Glover's act is surprisingly well made, blending ridiculous stories of family and children with a delivery that somehow manages to be simultaneously calm and excited. There are very few instances of physical humor, as Glover lets his voice handle the show. The bits are performed well enough that even if you miss the beginning, there's enough ending substance to piece the parts together and understand the joke. Long story short, you can listen and enjoy without watching, keeping yourself glued to the books.
Ever have that instance when you have a Saturday off and can't find anything good to watch? Surf to Spike TV, where you'll find Auction Hunters is on, and then proceed to watch because hey, there's nothing else to watch. After the third episode of the inevitable marathon, you find yourself busying yourself with other tasks, looking up once in a while to see Ton find a record player in storage locker or Allen dodge a poor price from a client he's trying to sell a replica rifle to, and then go right back to whatever you were doing.
Fox animation shows
Fox has a big spot on Netflix — nearly everything from Animation Domination is up on the service, sans "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill." They’re all sitcoms, but some of the dramatics found in their live-action brethren could cause distraction. Out of what is available, I’d probably stick with "Family Guy" and "American Dad!" simply because they’re shows that everyone is knows, so close attention isn't crucial. "Bob’s Burgers" showcases H. Jon Benjamin and John Roberts voicing Bob and Linda Belcher. It's easy and endlessly amusing to attach them to their characters' voices, and we can all relate to their oldest daughter, Tina Belcher.
"Cops"
No, this isn't on Netflix, but if you manage to hit that sweet marathon spot of the day on (insert channel here), "Cops" is very easy to let fade into the background while you work. The anecdotes of why officers became officers, on-foot chase scenes and the he-said/she-said arguments between husband and wife become routine to the point where it all just sort of melds together — giving you enough of a distraction to power through a weekend study session. It’s the quintessential background noise TV show.
Reach the reporter at Damion.Julien-Rohman@asu.edu or follow @legendpenguin on Twitter.
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