What's good "on in the background" tv for working from home?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Meetings on Zoom aside, tv in the background is fine for most of my tasks (some tasks it's bloody necessary as it has its dull parts).

Since March I've re-watched The Crown, a friends, Modern Family and Big Bag Theory.

I tried Gossip girl and couldn't get away with it.

I'm not working but am writing to fill the time.

I put on formulaic things, any cooking competition (top chef, sugar rush, masterchef from other countries), or houses being done up (tiny house nation, interior design masters).
Though currently I'm alternating between sister sister and cheesy Christmas romances.

Not what you asked but I have the radio on. I couldn't watch something like The Crown and work at the same time.

I couldn't have the TV on and work! I salute your brain, I used to have BBC news website open on a tab and check that a few times a day and look at the lunchtime news. Ditto the radio. If I'm working I need to concentrate and anything that makes a noise distracts me! Luckily I don't work anymore as I am now full time carer for my sick DD so I have an audiobook or podcast on while I do housework . Even the news on the TV now is distracting me!

Any radio station that is primarily talk based (my choices are R4 & BBC Radio London.

Anything you've watched before and enjoyed is the best bet otherwise you get distracted if it's good! Have gone through breaking bad, peep show (3x since the first lockdown), friends (almost twice since first lockdown...) and sister sister so far!

Do agree with the suggestion re:formulaic telly but I get too drawn into competitive cooking/sewing!

I've had stuff like Gogglebox (4od) on this week. Don't have to pay too much attention to it. Either that or music on YouTube.

I've rewatched Fleabag

The Handmaid's Tale

After Life

Desperate Housewives
Lost
Ally McBeal

Netflix fake fire

I have Radio 4 on. I've learned loads and the comedy is really good.

The Repair Shop. Although that’s my answer to just about every tv question, tbh

I have the BBC news channel on in the background when I'm working. It's dull enough not to distract me from my work, but interesting enough to feed my FOMO (self-confessed news junkie).

I couldn’t do it though! I’m impressed that you can. Radio, maybe ... tv, no.

How I Met Your Mother
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel

I can MN or faff on Facebook when I'm watching TV, but can't begin to see how I could be giving work enough attention with the TV on.

The most I can manage is Classic Radio, and even then I need to turn off at times when the spoken bits and adverts get too intrusive and distracting.

tv doesn't work for me in the background as I have to keep looking at who is saying something, or get an idea of the place being talked about.

prefer radio - find most of radio 4 smug and insular. However as someone with not much education like parts of radio 4 extra (hate the comedy) but many of the books / plays they do are things I wouldn't ever get round to reading. eg some classics. And the detective series can be good (too many repeats) and if you miss something you can always go to the web site and listen again to the plot twist you missed.

Fascinating when they broadcast plays first aired in the 70s or 80s! Some of the attitudes ....

Friends, Gilmore Girls, Dawsons Creek and One Tree Hill are all background shows that I can have on while working. They create enough background noise to get me in the work zone, without me being too distracted by them.

Also, crap reality shows, as long as you don't get too invested in them.

Sky news

Law & Order Special Victims Unit - but you must actively watch the first 10 minutes or the rest doesn’t make sense

(sorry, 1st five minutes)

Those of you who have TV on in the background what type of work or tasks do you do? I can occasionally have radio 4 on or a podcast if I'm doing something repetitive but I really need science most of the time. I wonder if it's my brain or the type of work I'm doing?

Once I've caught up on emails I listen to podcasts. A lot of my work is quite repetitive and I get quite bored working alone so its nice to have some chatter in the background and I can zone out from it when I need to concentrate.

I've gone through Come Dine With Me and Four In A Bed series. Also Benefits Britain intrigues me!