Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, when awake, my television is on pretty much all day. Mostly it’s on HGTV or Food Network for background noise. Serious television-watching is reserved for the evening hours.

Netflix and cable are my only options. DVR is essential. Watching network TV without fast-forward is torture. Finding something to watch has never been a problem so I haven’t subscribed to additional streaming services. If you’ve run out of stuff to watch, here are several I enjoy.

I was telling friends to watch Tiger King (Netflix) weeks before it hit the news. The title character is one-of-a-kind, but the entire cast is bonkers. Think crazy cat ladies with guns without regard to age, gender, or sexual preference. You can’t make this stuff up. I predict the much-rumored movie will pale in comparison.

As a somewhat stereotypical Broadway-show-loving gay man, I’m crazy about Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC). People around Zoey burst into songs (sometimes with big production numbers) nobody else sees or hears. The songs reveal inner feelings and secrets of the singer. Musical selections span the decades and range from hilarious to heartbreaking.

While we’re on the subject of LGBT TV, Rupaul’s Drag Race (VH1) remains one of my favorite shows. These kids have talent out the wazoo. Winners and standouts from previous seasons have become almost as famous as Momma Ru.

The Masked Singer (Fox) is a fun twist on singing competitions. Celebrities in elaborate costumes perform before a live audience and a B-list celebrity panel. The contestants come from a variety of fields and are often quite surprising. I rarely have any idea who’s behind the mask — sometimes even after the reveal.

Songland (NBC) is an inside view of the making of a hit song. Aspiring songwriters pitch tunes to a panel of hit-making music producers and a different guest performer every week. Each prouder works with a finalist to tailor the song to the guest artist of the week who then must select one of the three to record. The show ends with a video of the recording.

For no good reason, I continue to fast-forward through episodes of the Bachelor/Bachelorette. I quit watching the Paradise editions, and haven’t watched the new musical version. The formula is stale and more than a little broken. We haven’t seen happily ever after for several seasons.

Enter Love is Blind (Netflix). A group of bachelors gets to know a bunch of single ladies sight unseen via one-on-one dates through a screen. Couples form, but can’t meet without getting engaged. The show follows the newly engaged couples through weddings four weeks later. Some say “I do,” some don’t. A follow-up episode a year later is good too.

My last recommendation is a 2017 movie: Bad Moms Christmas. Doesn’t matter that it’s out of season. Three friends (Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn) deal with highly disruptive Christmas visits from their mothers (Christine Baransky, Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines). I laughed until I cried.

Watched something you think I’d like? Let me know. I’d add it to my list. Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, stay safe, sane, and healthy!