I'm frankly shocked at how many people are able to do this. I cannot have stuff on "in the background". It's far too distracting and I'll never ever accomplish anything if anything else is consuming my attention.
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2026
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Someone who can read with the TV on is like a wizard to me.
Right? Never whistle while you're pissing. If I'm watching something, that's what I'm doing. If I'm doing something else, TV is just a distraction. If I want background noise, I'll put on some easy music.
it's about background noise. normally listen to the TV at a 10 or 11 volume level. when it's just noise it's at a 3 or 4.
... yeah. Background noise is distracting. Silence or nothing.
fair enough.
Some people are easily overstimulated and others are highly unstimulated by default. 🤷♂️ I could never write an essay, for example, without a good playlist in the background!
I rotate through a bunch of them. Currently Bosch. Before that was Star Trek: DS9.
When I have an active hulu sub, Futurama.
I considered the disc set but would probably have it on constantly and eventually get sick of it.
You will not get sick of it. I have a raspberry pi with the original 4 seasons ripped to it. That is all that is hooked up to my TV, so every time you turn it on it is just playing futurama. I have seen episodes hundreds of times and they are still funny.
it's a lot of stand up comedy and deep dives on random topics on youtube for me lately
All 22 seasons of Taskmaster just got added to US Hulu.
First watch is horrible for background show, but once you've already seen it, it's perfect.
It's like a UK quiz show, and they film the "tasks" over like 6 months then do the studio weekly bit in under 2 months. So they crank out 2-3 seasons a year, it really hasn't been on that long.
Also a great way to get introduced to UK stand-ups
Depending on mood and activity, it'll be either Red Letter Media or The Exploring Series. They're both somewhat popular on YT and have consistent release rates. 👍
Red Letter Media
Holy shit. I thought i'd be the only one too say RLM.
I'll generally fall asleep to old random episodes of best of the worst for some odd reason.
Seinfeld. The Office. Parks and recreation. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia.
Seinfeld
what's the deal with tiktok teens calling me a groomer these days?
/Seinfeld
🤣
I'm a cheapskate so YouTube.
Playing music if I want pleasant sound and
old video essays if I want noise.
I really wish those video essays were podcasts. The graphics are usually stock or AI generated, or just a talking head. It's a distraction for me and when trying to skip forward over ads using my earbud, it skips to The next video which is frustrating...
If you aren't using it yet, get revanced YouTube. It won't fix the skipping to next video issue, at least that I've found, but it has sponsorblock built in so if anyone has marked the in video ads, it will skip them for you, and blocks the regular ads entirely.
The Office.
Just checked and we’ve watched ~2000 episodes in the last 1 year and 10 months.
On the rare occasion it’s not The Office then it’s Parks and Rec, Bob’s Burgers or Modern Family.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Such a well written, ridiculous show making fun of stupid people.
The Ninth Gate, 1999.
Totally underrated movie.
One of Polanski’s best.
I haven't been able to enjoy his movies since I found out he was a child molester.
Not movie or show, but Northernlion streams are the background sound in my house.
I introduced my spouse to American Dad and they loved it, so that’s what’s usually on. The show wisely kicked Seth MacFarlane out of the writer’s room somewhere around season 5 I think and the quality took off running.
Legitimately one of the best yet consistently under rated shows, not just animation.
American Dad is the top contender here too. We literally just watch everything, a week of random YouTube videos, and then again a room n be of AD.
In my house it's usually the Golden Girls.
None. Music if I remember, but I hate the sound of the TV.
The wheel of time, the sopranos, or always sunny in Philadelphia,
I know everybody hates the creator for Dilbert, and as valid as that is, I like the show. I also liked having Come Fly With Me on in the background from time to time. It's highly offense now a days but my god was it a stupid show. Kind of like Family Guy, which I don't watch but find equally stupid. Like South Park, which I used to watch but couldn't leave on.
Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, is dead now, so don't worry about supporting an asshole.
Also, with you on the show. Very fun.
Usually one of the Star Trek series; currently DS9.
Right now the original Twilight Zone is playing in the background during the day, five seasons in random order.
Usually random ass Youtube videos. Right now I'm listening to a list of the largest animals over geological history.
If you're counting YouTube:
Otherwise, it's Star Trek: The Next Generation
I tend to leave any video from the "Quick Retrospective" yt series on in the background.
Not for me, but for my cat, who has decided watching clips of Oblivion is far more interesting than cat TV and therefore allows me to do things without her in the way.
- quantum leap
- unsolved mysteries
- golden girls
- family matters
- days of our lives
Usually i run through a bunch of yt vids i've already watched, or very loud music
MST3K
Stargate SG-1
Star Trek
Dr Who
Knight Rider
Golden Girls
Cheers
X Files
Quantum Leap
Sealab 2021
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Old cartoons
Normally I listen to audiobooks or use TTS to have it read to me while I do things that don't require much focus.