We’re always consuming media here at SELF, from the buzziest new books to the most binge-worthy TV shows. With everything going on with the coronavirus crisis, entertainment is a more important part of self-care than ever. So to pass on some recommendations to you, I asked my coworkers to share any form of entertainment that they enjoyed in the month of April—specifically, anything that distracted them, soothed them, kept them afloat, and made them feel a little more okay amid the chaos. Here are the books, movies, TV shows, albums, and games that got us through:
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NBC1 Watched: What We Do in the Shadows
“If you need something that is very easy to watch and equal parts silly and smart, I can’t stop recommending What We Do in the Shadows. It’s about three vampires who are roommates living in Staten Island…now. That’s it. That’s the whole plot. Their failure to grasp various aspects of modern life is hilarious, and the dynamic between the three of them is something every New Yorker who’s had roommates has experienced. The second season is currently airing on FX, but you can catch the first season on Hulu. It’s also based off of a hilarious movie by the same name, which you can buy or rent on Amazon Prime.” —Casey Gueren, executive editor
Watch it: Free with subscription, hulu.com
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2 Read: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
“As shelter-in-place recommendations stretch on, I’ve been looking to reading as something that takes me away from it all—but the amount of good faith time I’ve been giving books to draw me in has plummeted. If I don’t care about the story after five pages, I scrap it. You Are Not Alone got me immediately and held my attention throughout the entire story. The authors—both of whom I’ve read individually and enjoyed but who really get stronger together—did an amazing job building a growing, ominous tension with their main character, Shay, and the group of friends she just wants to fit in with.
“Shay considers the rich, glamorous, and successful Moore sisters her lifeline after she watches their friend Amanda step off a subway platform right in front of her. As she processes the trauma, she gets sucked into their world. Things finally start looking up for her, and she feels like she has only the sisters to thank for her upswing. But as is often the case with things that look amazing from the outside, the real story inside is not nearly as pretty. You’ll find yourself rooting for Shay, but also just begging her to open her eyes a tiny bit wider.” —Christa Sgobba, senior fitness editor
Read it: $25, bookshop.org or amazon.com
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Cadence133 Listened to: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
“When I found out Brené Brown launched a podcast at the end of March—when self-isolation was really starting to impact my mental health—I couldn’t help but feel like it came just in time. I honestly can’t think of a better host than Brown for the ultimate pandemic podcast on mental health, human connection, and the entire range of uncomfortable emotions we’re all going through right now. Brown is an expert on talking about these topics with compassion and always makes even my pessimistic ass feel seen and hopeful (you might know her from her viral TED Talk, ‘The Power of Vulnerability’). I recommend it for anyone who’s having a hard time right now and needs something to keep them company.” —Anna Borges, senior health editor
Listen: Free, Spotify or iTunes
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Netflix4 Watched: Our Planet
“I’ve been telling everyone who will listen this month, like a broken record, that I am trying to find a Planet Earth hookup. The series left Netflix earlier this year, and since no one I know has Disney+, I was sad to miss free access to the whole animal kingdom. All I wanna do these days is watch HD ‘animals doing things’ footage. I’ve been waiting for Netflix to bring it back, but I didn’t realize until recently that Netflix has its own version, called Our Planet. It still has David Attenborough, naturally (we’ll keep him, folks!). I don’t like, but definitely appreciate, that every episode keeps me humble: Every vignette, from adorable penguins in Antarctica to birds in the rain forest, ends with a little guilt trip about how species are dying out and the world is vastly changing because of global warming. I love this stuff though. Keep it coming!” —Lori Keong, commerce editor
Watch: Free with subscription, netflix.com
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5 Played: The NES Classic Edition system
“I am more obsessed than ever with my NES Classic Edition system. It has some classic Nintendo games—Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and my absolute favorite, Bubble Bobble—that transport me back to my adolescence. I think we are all looking for an escape and something that reminds us of happier and less complicated times, and this does it for me.” —Rozalynn Frazier, interim special projects director
Buy it: $158, amazon.com
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HBO6 Watched: Sex and the City
“I watched Sex and the City for the first time right when I moved to New York City, and despite it being vastly unrealistic, it made me feel comfortable in my new home. Now, as I rewatch it, it’s both comforting and escapist. My virtual friends Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte are physically closer to me than my real friends, and investing in their (mostly) trivial problems helps me forget about my own. I’ve been paying attention to the minor details of each episode more than ever—the traffic in the background, the names of the clubs and restaurants, the people crowding into bars, the galleries, the cabs, the alfresco dining, everything. It helps me dream of when my home will once again return and offers welcome entertainment in the meantime.” —Sarah Madaus, editorial assistant
Watch it: Free with subscription, hulu.com or hbonow.com
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7 Watched: Jersey Shore
“This is a judgment-free zone, and rewatching this mess has brought me great joy! These days it’s been really hard to focus on the news, reading, or even watching a docuseries, so I’ve been escaping with a lot of nostalgic television. When Jersey Shore premiered a decade ago, I was definitely one of those people who would mock it but then still loyally tune in every Thursday. Revisiting it now feels like opening a time capsule, and all the memories of watching it with my friends in our college dorms come rushing back. It’s also nice to live vicariously through the Shore group from the comfort of my quarantine couch, as I sip on a deli beer and wonder how the hell they could party at Karma and fight until the sun rises every single day. I can physically feel their hangovers.
“I even got my boyfriend into the show, and it gives us something fun and light to talk about during this pandemic. Plus, we had a fantastic Saturday where we had a Jersey Shore marathon and tried to day-drink tequila like Snooki—tried is the keyword here. And seeing them go out, travel to Italy, and have hilarious and horrendous summer drama gives me some weird hope that we can all do the same soon.” —Lisa Brown, production assistant
Watch it: Free with subscription, hulu.com
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8 Played: Two Dots
“I play this game on my phone constantly now. There is something oddly soothing (as well as addictive) about trying to complete each level, though I’ve been stuck on level 110 for a while. Also, it’s a mindless escape where I don’t have to think about the pandemic. It really is the simple things that can bring extreme joy in a time of such sadness and uncertainty.” —Frazier
Play it: Free, iOS or Android
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9 Watched: The Good Place
“The Good Place is one of those shows that’s been on my list for years. I finally started it during lockdown and it turned out to be perfectly suited for these strange times. It’s so much smarter and funnier than I expected! The writing is witty, the plot twists are legit, and the philosophy/morality geek in me is very content. But I think most of all right now, I’m really appreciating the reminders of the general absurdity of the human condition. And obviously, Ted Danson is just a sheer freaking delight to watch.” —Carolyn Todd, senior staff writer
Watch it: Free with subscription, hulu.com or netflix.com
