TV shows for 2AM

These are some good shows to watch when up in the middle of the night with a restless baby/small child. They’re easy to follow, taken in small doses, and won’t teach your kids any dirty words in addition to the ones you might already teaching them. They can all be regularly found on streaming services or in syndication if you set your DVR.

The Office (US): If you’ve seen the show already, it’s easy to dive back in and watch any episode with little context. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a good watch from the start, funny and easy plot lines, and each episode is only about 21 minutes long without commercials. 

Impractical Jokers (US): 4 friends carry out competitions on each episode in which they play pranks on unsuspecting people in public places. The adult humor will mostly go right over a small child’s head and you can walk in and out of the room and still follow along. 

Mr. Bean (UK): This is a silent film-style slapstick comedy show from Britain in the early 1990’s that aired on HBO at the time. Some of the episodes are now available for streaming. The hi jinx and awkward situations Bean finds himself in are a perfect match for the hi jinx and awkward situations a parent might find themselves in with a child who’s up in the dead of night.

The Twilight Zone (US): This classic show needs little background, and is tailor made for viewing in the middle of the night. The dark twists and plots will likely go unnoticed by your kids since more was left to the imagination with 1960's TV, similar to a Hitchcock film, or they’ll just be bored to oblivion by these standard definition black and white images on the screen and fall back asleep. Either way you win.

Seinfeld (US): Another classic that allows you to dive right into any episode at any time, abundant with subtle humor and innuendos that can also bore your small child back to sleep. I imagine Seinfeld to kids today is what The Honeymooners might be to people of my generation: an off kilter comedy for the old folks.

The Carbonaro Effect (US): This hidden camera show follows illusionist performer Michael Carbonaro as he befuddles people with his magic and convincing trickery in everyday scenarios. While you're watching in the wee small hours of the morning, you'll wonder if some of his improbable creations are on your TV, or just sleep deprivation induced hallucinations.

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