Do you make sunny California your home? If so, you may enjoy checking out TV shows in Los Angeles. By that, we mean TV shows that are set in the LA area. Fortunately, there are numerous shows set in glamorous and gorgeous Los Angeles and its surrounding areas.
Whether you’re in the mood for a juicy suspense show or a dazzling mystery, there are lots of options. These range from half-hour sitcoms to hourlong shows that you can really get into.
If you have streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, you have a world of television shows at your fingertips. Hopefully, you’ll never have a chance to get bored!
No matter what your interests are, there’s a show to suit you, and since most TV shows are filmed in LA, it’s natural that many would have the city as its setting! And, if LA isn’t the right environment for you, you could also check out shows set in Miami.
Sometimes getting invested in a good TV show is a great way to distract yourself from your own worries and anxieties and escape to a different world for a bit.
It can also be fun to get into a show with your spouse or a good friend so you can watch together and rehash the episodes and compare your opinions and thoughts.
Best 5 TV Shows for Seniors in Los Angeles
1. Modern Family
There’s a reason this long-running show has won a number of awards. “Modern Family” is the story of a not-so-typical family where chaos reigns and humor comes out of everyday life situations.
The show ran for 11 seasons, so there’s lots to love when you’re in the mood to stream a raucous comedy show set in the suburbs of LA. The show focuses on three different types of families all related by one patriarch, Jay Pritchett, played by Ed ‘O Neill of “Married with Children” fame.
Jay is on his second marriage to Gloria, an enthusiastic and beautiful immigrant from Colombia, played by lovely actress Sofia Vergara. Jay’s children include daughter Claire who is married with three kids and son Mitchell who is married to a man, representing all of the various family types one may find in the modern age.
Most of the comedy comes from normal life, such as work situations, parenting and childcare, and family life in general. The show takes a look at what it’s like to raise kids in a tech-based society as well as the funny moments that can come out of the most mundane situations as well as extraordinary ones.
The show includes themes of adoption, same-sex relationships, and letting kids grow into who they are, making the show popular with all ages. Also, it’s hilarious one-liners make it a favorite. Watch it on Hulu.
2. Curb Your Enthusiasm
If you enjoyed the humor of “Seinfeld,” then chances are you’ll get a kick out of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” which was created by Larry David, who co-created “Seinfeld” with Jerry Seinfeld.
Larry’s signature dry, offbeat sense of humor makes for some hysterical and awkward situations on this Los Angeles-based half-hour cable comedy. The show ran for 10 seasons on HBO and is now in its 11th season.
Larry plays a highly fictionalized version of himself in the show as a retired TV writer in LA. He lives with his wife, Cheryl, and though outlines/storylines are in place, the dialogue in the show is creatively improvised in large part, making it even more entertaining.
One of the funniest things about Larry is his inability to act “normal” in different social situations, leading to many awkward and funny moments when he says or does something considered wrong or inappropriate.
He definitely goes out on a limb to make viewers laugh, and it’s evidenced here. The show won numerous awards, and it’s always different and entertaining, with guest stars popping up as Larry lives his life interacting with friends, colleagues, and family members as well as his wife.
You’ll catch a glimpse of stars like Ted Danson and Richard Lewis when you watch the show on Amazon Prime.
3. Lucifer
If you like fantasy and enjoy the works of author Neil Gaiman, you may like “Lucifer.” This fantasy/suspense drama plunges into the life of Lucifer, who leaves hell for Los Angeles since he’s become bored with his existence.
Naturally, he decides to open his own nightclub, and solve crimes, because, what else would Lucifer do? The show is currently in its sixth season, which will be its last.
Lucifer, played by Tom Ellis, ends up becoming a consultant to the LAPD. The show is therefore considered a crime drama but Lucifer doesn’t just solve human crimes. Throughout the show, he deals with supernatural evils as well as everyday human evil deeds.
Different celestial characters are introduced, making life for Lucifer more interesting, including enemies as well as family members, such as his brother as well as demons who serve Lucifer on Earth as they would in hell.
The series is based on original Neil Gaiman characters, so if you enjoy fantasy and the supernatural with some quirky characters and entertaining dialogue, you’ll no doubt have a great time watching “Lucifer.” Tom Ellis’s charisma has made the devil very likable, making the show a hit.
Catch Lucifer in all his glory on Netflix.
4. Black-ish
In its sixth season, “Black-ish” is a comedic look at the African American experience as seen through the eyes of an upper middle-class family headed up by Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson as the Johnsons.
The Johnsons have a nice life, including good jobs, a lovely home, and four beautiful kids. But to patriarch Andre Johnson, something is missing, so he goes on a journey to delve into his identity as a black man and create something historical for his kids when it comes to the black experience.
The award-winning show is a groundbreaking look at life through the lens of a black family, and it’s written to be as realistic as possible while employing humor and heart. It’s critically acclaimed and applauded for tackling social, political, and personal issues that other shows haven’t.
“Black-ish” is heartwarming and entertaining, and everyone can enjoy and relate to this show. The acting is stellar, the storylines are engaging, and it’s often funny and cute, with relatable storylines including parenting, marriage, and career.
Catch up to “Black-ish” on Hulu and see why the show is so successful it spawned a spin-off called “Grown-ish.”
5. You (Season 2)
If you enjoy a little murder with your suspense, you’ll love “You.” To get to the Los Angeles season, which is season two, you need to watch season one first to get to know Joe, a young man who is more than meets the eye.
In season two, Los Angeles is the setting for Joe as he gets out of New York and starts his life over after a particularly gritty relationship ends and he’s forced to leave town lest he get caught for his not-so-great actions.
Joe is a compelling character, played perfectly by Penn Badgley. He’s creepy but charming, good-looking but shady. In Los Angeles, Joe meets Love, a young woman who has her own set of issues including a grown brother that requires babysitting and a past marriage that ended with her husband passing away.
Joe meets lots of interesting characters in LA and despite his promises to himself to stay out of trouble, trouble seems to follow Joe, including his ex-girlfriend, who he thought he got rid of long ago.
You’ll be glued to the TV to see what Joe is up to and who survives this season of “You.” Yes, there will be a third season, so get up to speed on Netflix.
How to Choose the Best TV Show to Stream
Light vs. Heavy
Some of us like our TV lighthearted while some of us like delving into a juicy and dramatic series that can serve as a great escape from regular life.
Decide what type of mood you’re in before you choose the right series for you. This may be the time for you to sit back and laugh at something light, or get invested in something that can serve as a great distraction from reality.
Television can be a great escape, and sometimes it’s fun to see something so completely different from our own reality or gain new experiences from a different perspective.
Short vs. Long Season
Not in the mood to invest in 10 seasons of a show you’re not sure you’ll like? Then try one that only has a handful of seasons.
Or, enjoy getting to know characters and discover more about them over time? Then a longer-running show may be right for you.
Check how many seasons a show offers before you begin, and see if it’s still running if you’re interested in a show that’s still got more newness to offer.
Based on a Book vs. Original Characters
If you are a reader, you know that the book is usually different from the movie or TV show, but what better way to compare than to watch/read both? “You” is based on two books by Caroline Kepnes, titled “You” and “Hidden Bodies.”
“Lucifer” is based on the character from a graphic novel series called “The Sandman.” It would be fun to compare the show to the series to see how different it is! Or, get to know new characters that were created especially for the TV experience!
Leave a Reply