How to Choose a New TV Show

Finding a Show You'll Love

1. Read reviews to get expert or fellow viewers' opinions. A professional review can give you an unbiased look at a show, looking at everything from the quality of its actors and directing to the overall arc of the show. To find professional reviews, simply google a show name and 'review,' or go to any major news or entertainment website and check out their TV section for reviews of new shows and seasons.^[1]

   1. You can also look at reviews from viewers, especially if you're looking on websites that offer streaming, like Amazon Prime and iTunes.
   2. Watch out for spoilers! Most professional reviews will avoid spoilers or put a warning at the beginning of an article, but viewer reviews might not extend the same courtesy.

2. Watch trailers to get an idea for the show's tone and plot. Google 'TV show trailers' or check out a YouTube channel that gathers and posts trailers for different shows. Trailers are a great way to feel out a show's plot, characters, and overall tone, but remember that they're released by the company that makes the show, so they'll be engineered to get you to want to watch.

   1. You can take a look at the comments section of the video to see if viewers are saying anything about the trailer being misleading or—as is often the case with comedies—giving away all the funniest lines. Watch out for spoilers, though!

3. Ask friends for recommendations. If you have a friend that shares your tastes or just watches a lot of TV, chances are they'll want to share some of their knowledge with you. Tell them you're looking for a new show, describe the kinds of shows you've liked in the past, and ask if they have any recommendations. A bonus: they might join in and watch with you!^[2]

4. Look for recommendations based on what you've watched before. Streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime will often provide users with lists of new shows to watch, curated from information about what you've enjoyed already. Check out these recommendations, or look for new ones by googling 'shows to watch if you liked…' and the name of a show you love. Websites and blogs often have articles pointing you to new shows you might enjoy, based on what you've already watched.^[3]

   1. For example, you could google 'shows to watch if you like 'The Office,'' and come up with recommendations like 'Parks and Recreation' or '30 Rock.'

5. Take an online quiz to find shows you might not have considered. Try googling 'What show should I watch next?' and your first few hits will probably be online quizzes. While some of these might just be for fun, try taking a couple and seeing what recommendations you come up with. A well-thought-out quiz might point you in the direction of a show you never thought you'd be interested in.^[4]

   1. Look for quizzes from websites you know and trust, like Buzzfeed, rather than sites that look untrustworthy or like clickbait.

6. Choose a random show to try something totally new. Lots of viewers tend to watch the same kinds of shows over and over—it's what they like, and what's most often recommended to them by friends and sites. If you're really looking to mix it up, though, try something outside your comfort zone. Look up a list of shows and pick one randomly, or click on a genre you've never watched before and choose the first show you see. Give it 1-2 episodes and see if you're interested.

   1. For example, if you usually watch suspense shows or crime dramas, try something totally different, like a sitcom or romantic drama. If you tend to watch reality TV, try a documentary show.
   2. If you prefer watching on your TV, turn it on at the top of the hour and go to a channel you don't usually watch. See what's on and give it a try!

7. Look on websites that collect and sum up reviews for convenience. If you don't want to read full reviews, check out a website that condenses and summarizes dozens of them for you. You'll be able to look at one score or a selection of short clips from different reviews to get an idea of how well-received a show has been. You can also choose a site that lets you filter by genre or tone, so you can browse through shows to find something new.^[5]

   Look at websites like:

   Metacritic

   Jinni

   IMBD

   Rotten Tomatoes