Looking to camp out on the couch and take down a show that will keep you up way too late and help you procrastinate from doing more important tasks? Here are five shows to stream.
GAME OF THRONES
Premise: HBO adapts fantasy author George R. R. Martin's masterwork with the reverence, cast and budget it deserves, telling a saga of kingdoms locked in conflict, all but oblivious to a darkly magical threat that could decimate civilization.
Stars: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey.
Service: HBO Go.
Why it's impossible to stop watching: If you're not obsessed with this show, surely you're at least surrounded by those who are. When new episodes air, people discuss everything that happens in every episode Sunday nights online and Monday mornings in the office. In what is sure to be one of the landmark TV events of the year -- if not all time -- the eighth and final season debuts April 14.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Premise: An oddball-filled government worker office in fictional Pawnee, Indiana. The premise owes much to "The Office."
Stars: Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones.
Service: Hulu, Netflix.
Why it's impossible to stop watching: When the show was originally released in 2009, Poehler was the biggest name. But hilarious writing and pitch-perfect performances helped lift Plaza, Offerman, Pratt and Ansari to fame. In retrospect, this was one of the most talented sitcom casts ever assembled.
MR. ROBOT
Premise: A savvy hacker struggles with mental health issues and deception from employers and family members as he seeks out the truth about his life and tries to do good while keeping his personal life stable.
Stars: Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Portia Doubleday, Carly Chalkin.
Service: Amazon Prime Video.
Why it's impossible to stop watching: Most viewers hail the first two seasons as the best, but the drama's fan base continues to thrive. Tight, creative storytelling and excellent acting keeps things interesting. The fourth season, its last, is expected to debut sometime this fall.
CHEF'S TABLE
Premise: The docuseries focuses on some of the nation and world's finest chefs, exploring their personal lives, origins and motivations to make their work come alive.
Stars: Various chefs.
Service: Netflix.
Why it's impossible to stop watching: A must for foodies, the show goes beyone the standard Food Network treatment to tell in-depth stories that make the material fascinating even to those who don't care about cooking. The four-episode sixth season came out in February and maintains the series impeccable standards.
THE CHI
Premise: Set in Chicago's crime and poverty-ridden South Side, a tapestry of interconnected characters struggle to find acceptance, success and love despite continuous setbacks.
Stars: Tiffany Boone, Ntare Mwine, Jacob Latimore, Jason Mitchell.
Service: Showtime Anytime.
Why it's impossible to stop watching: Series creatore Lena Waithe, known for the seminal Netflix comedy "Master of None," draws on her own experiences growing up in Chicago, and her emotional connection shines through in the writing. This is one of the grittier and more brutal shows on TV, so prepare for heartbreak. Season two debuts April 7.
Phil Villarreal Amazon Author Page
Phil Villarreal Rotten Tomatoes
