For non-football fans, the Super Bowl actually doesn’t start at the advertised 6 p.m. time but at 1 p.m. when the pregame hoopla gets underway. If you are in a divided house with more than one TV (and one cable connection) there are some solid alternatives for you to choose from. There is a little of everything on this short list: drama, comedy, and a reality show; shows from the 80’s, 90’s 2000’s, and 2010’s; long running TV series, a popular movie franchise, and a mini-series. So even if you plan on watching the game you can tune in for a while or have a backup plan if the game ends up being an early blowout (a 17 point advantage is rarely overcome).
1. ER (Hulu)
In the Fall of 1994, NBC put in its primetime lineup a show about the professional and personal lives of doctors and nurses who worked in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital. After more than 25 years, Hulu has picked up 330 episodes to air. For those who are late to watching the series, the first season lineup included soon-to-be stars Noah Wyle (“The Librarians”) as John Carter, Julianna Margulies (“The Good Wife”) as Nurse Carol Hathaway, Anthony Edwards (“Top Gun”) as Dr. Mark Greene, George Clooney (“Gravity”) as Dr. Doug Ross, Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton, and Sherry Stringfield (“Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”) as Dr. Susan Lewis. The early years are the best of the bunch, and you will also find William C. Macy (“HBO “Shameless”) and Ving Rhames (the Mission Impossible franchise) making appearances.
2. The Hunger Games (TNT)
The Hunger Games never seems to get old (at least not yet) and because it is on TNT you can watch it for free if you have cable at all. It starts at 2 p.m. so you can settle in to an early start and watch “Catching Fire at 4:30 followed by “Mockingjay” at 7:15. The good thing is there will be enough commercials for you to fight for the food in the fridge.
3. Chappelle (Comedy Central)
Dave Chappelle’s comedy routines are some of the best in the business, and Comedy Central has enough sense to compete with the Super Bowl by scheduling “Chappelle’s Show” just after the 4 p.m. pregame babbling should be winding down. It will continue to run until 11 p.m. Chappelle’s standup routines are generally better than his TV series, but this show is a great way to relax on a Super Bowl Sunday.
4. Monk (WE)
Tony Shalhoub is not the most commonly heard household name when it comes to a television series, but his portrayal of Monk in this detective series drama is definitely a change of pace from others in its genre. The premise of the show is that Monk’s wife was killed by a bomb he believes was intended for him, which sends his psychological gyroscope spinning out of control. That makes him quirky enough to be interesting and talented enough to solve cases. The Sunday serving begins at 10 a.m. and runs through Monday at 1 a.m.
5. Duck Dynasty (FYI)
What list would be complete without a reality show? The Duck Dynasty will start at 4 p.m. and run well into the wee hours of Monday morning. The show ended less than a year ago, so if you miss it and the adventures of the Robertson’s, Super Bowl Sunday is as good a time as any to catch up or re-run.
These recommended shows are intended to get you to do one thing — grab a comfortable chair, a fair amount of snack foods and drinks, and settle in for a non-competitive day in front of the TV. After the game you will get a 6 month reprieve from football, though not everyone in your house may feel the same way.
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