{"id":21006,"date":"2020-09-24T16:09:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-24T23:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=blog&p=21006"},"modified":"2022-03-11T11:35:52","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T19:35:52","slug":"comfort-viewing-what-filmmakers-and-writers-are-watching-to-get-through-it","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/blog\/comfort-viewing-what-filmmakers-and-writers-are-watching-to-get-through-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Comfort Viewing: What Filmmakers and Writers Are Watching to Get Through It"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are YOU watching to provide comfort during these trying times?<\/span><\/p>\n

Filmmakers, artists, critics and writers chimed in with their personal favorite shows and films to watch when in dire need of checking out and calming down, which, let’s face it, is pretty commonly needed these days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See what they came up with below.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, since you asked, I’ll give you just a few of mine (thankfully, I have many go-to shows and movies I curl up with when going into the fetal position, which is 2020’s favorite pose). In no particular order and with no deep introspection about why, other than that these all make me feel better about the world while distracting me from the worst elements in it, I give you: Parks & Recreation, The Simpsons<\/em>, Breaking Away<\/em>, Local Hero<\/em>, Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service<\/em> and every other Miyazaki movie, every Powell & Pressburger film, Singin’ in the Rain<\/em>, Great British Baking Show<\/em> and Making It<\/em>, Young Frankenstein, Adventure Time<\/em>, What We Do in the Shadows<\/em>, Community<\/em>, and, as a child of the 80s, MASH<\/em>. My partner can’t get enough of any Agatha Christie adaption ever made, and Maine Cabin Masters<\/em> to remind her of gentle people actually getting stuff done and built without tearing each other down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, without further ado, here are the contributions we’ve received from various talented people during this time of pandemic and anxiety.<\/p>\n

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Lawrence Carter-Long <\/strong>(curator\/cohost <\/span>TCM<\/span>‘s <\/span>#ProjectedImage, author of The Evolution of Disability in Film: After the Accolades, the Work Continues<\/a><\/em>) writes: <\/span>“Been revisiting ‘Very Special Episodes<\/strong>‘ of sitcoms and made-for-TV movies of the ’70s\/80s\/90s with my colleague & friend,<\/span> @infamouslyshort<\/span><\/a>. A blast from our recent past on social issues can be quite refreshing when pondering the difference a few decades can make.”<\/span><\/p>\n