Stuck inside this holiday with nothing in front of you but hours of "A Christmas Story" on a loop? (Not that that's a bad thing!) If you need a diversion from the seasonal programming -- or a diversion from seasonal guests -- we won't judge. Here are some suggestions to distract yourself over the holiday break. Our first pick is <strong>"The Wire." </strong>If you missed it during its five-season run on HBO, it's better to be late to David Simon's masterpiece than never to have witnessed a virtually perfect TV series. HBO is showing it remastered in high definition through December 31
What to binge-watch this holiday —
Stuck inside this holiday with nothing in front of you but hours of "A Christmas Story" on a loop? (Not that that's a bad thing!) If you need a diversion from the seasonal programming -- or a diversion from seasonal guests -- we won't judge. Here are some suggestions to distract yourself over the holiday break. Our first pick is "The Wire." If you missed it during its five-season run on HBO, it's better to be late to David Simon's masterpiece than never to have witnessed a virtually perfect TV series. HBO is showing it remastered in high definition through December 31
Paul Schiraldi/HBO
Our second pick is obvious: Netflix's <strong>"House of Cards."</strong> Between Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, an easy-to-binge format and a third season launching February 27, this should be at the top of your "to-do" list. Click through for 14 more ideas:
What to binge-watch this holiday —
Our second pick is obvious: Netflix's "House of Cards." Between Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, an easy-to-binge format and a third season launching February 27, this should be at the top of your "to-do" list. Click through for 14 more ideas:
Melinda Sue Gordon/Knight Takes King Prod.
<strong>"Broad City": </strong>To ward off the holiday blues, cruise through the 10-episode first season of this excellent Comedy Central breakout hit. You'll wonder why you haven't been paying more attention to Ilana Glazer, left, and Abbi Jacobson, and will immediately pencil the second season's January 14 premiere into your calendar.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Broad City": To ward off the holiday blues, cruise through the 10-episode first season of this excellent Comedy Central breakout hit. You'll wonder why you haven't been paying more attention to Ilana Glazer, left, and Abbi Jacobson, and will immediately pencil the second season's January 14 premiere into your calendar.
Comedy Central
<strong>"True Detective":</strong> From its premiere in January, HBO's "True Detective" took off like wildfire. You're used to seeing Matthew McConaughey, left, and Woody Harrelson in more comedic roles, but they nail their characterizations as Louisiana detectives haunted by a gruesome murder.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"True Detective": From its premiere in January, HBO's "True Detective" took off like wildfire. You're used to seeing Matthew McConaughey, left, and Woody Harrelson in more comedic roles, but they nail their characterizations as Louisiana detectives haunted by a gruesome murder.
HBO
<strong>"Orange Is the New Black":</strong> Critics have hailed Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" as one of their favorite shows of 2014, and with good reason. The premise doesn't sound funny -- a middle-class woman is sent to a prison filled with some rather unique inmates -- but the dark comedy from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan has as much humor as it does heart. Even better, the second season is just as rich and binge-worthy as the first.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Orange Is the New Black": Critics have hailed Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" as one of their favorite shows of 2014, and with good reason. The premise doesn't sound funny -- a middle-class woman is sent to a prison filled with some rather unique inmates -- but the dark comedy from "Weeds" creator Jenji Kohan has as much humor as it does heart. Even better, the second season is just as rich and binge-worthy as the first.
Lionsgate Television
<strong>"Transparent": </strong>Score one for Amazon original programming. The Jeffrey Tambor-led comedy "Transparent," about a dysfunctional Los Angeles famiily with some major secrets, has received rave reviews and awards season nods to match.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Transparent": Score one for Amazon original programming. The Jeffrey Tambor-led comedy "Transparent," about a dysfunctional Los Angeles famiily with some major secrets, has received rave reviews and awards season nods to match.
Amazon
<strong>"The Americans": </strong>Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell are captivating in this FX '80s-era series about a pair of Russian spies undercover as suburban American parents. With season three on the way on January 28, now is the perfect time to get lost in this suspenseful drama.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"The Americans": Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell are captivating in this FX '80s-era series about a pair of Russian spies undercover as suburban American parents. With season three on the way on January 28, now is the perfect time to get lost in this suspenseful drama.
FX
<strong>"Being Mary Jane": </strong>If you weren't paying attention in 2013, you might have missed this dramedy from "Girlfriends" creator Mara Brock Akil. It stars Gabrielle Union as the famous face of a cable news network whose life is far less polished behind the scenes. The eight episodes of the first season fly by, and will leave you hungry for the start of the second season on February 3.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Being Mary Jane": If you weren't paying attention in 2013, you might have missed this dramedy from "Girlfriends" creator Mara Brock Akil. It stars Gabrielle Union as the famous face of a cable news network whose life is far less polished behind the scenes. The eight episodes of the first season fly by, and will leave you hungry for the start of the second season on February 3.
BET
<strong>"BoJack Horseman": </strong>If you've wondered why you're not getting enough Will Arnett in your life, you can easily remedy that with this Netflix original series. Yes, this comedy's animated, but no it's not for kids -- and the humor is more sophisticated than you're thinking.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"BoJack Horseman": If you've wondered why you're not getting enough Will Arnett in your life, you can easily remedy that with this Netflix original series. Yes, this comedy's animated, but no it's not for kids -- and the humor is more sophisticated than you're thinking.
Netflix
<strong>"Luther":</strong> With official word that a fourth season of this addictive British crime drama will arrive in the UK sometime in 2015, it's time to revisit the first three seasons. Idris Elba, right, makes his mark in the starring role of morally complex detective John Luther.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Luther": With official word that a fourth season of this addictive British crime drama will arrive in the UK sometime in 2015, it's time to revisit the first three seasons. Idris Elba, right, makes his mark in the starring role of morally complex detective John Luther.
BBC
<strong>"Sherlock": </strong>"Luther" isn't the only British import you should spend time with this holiday. Star Benedict Cumberbatch, right, who plays Sherlock Holmes to Martin Freeman's Watson, has been lining up plenty of movie work lately, but his take on this classic character remains one of our favorites. If you haven't yet bought into the Cumberbatch love, this will do it.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Sherlock": "Luther" isn't the only British import you should spend time with this holiday. Star Benedict Cumberbatch, right, who plays Sherlock Holmes to Martin Freeman's Watson, has been lining up plenty of movie work lately, but his take on this classic character remains one of our favorites. If you haven't yet bought into the Cumberbatch love, this will do it.
BBC
<strong>"Black-ish": </strong>All of the worry about whether ABC's new fall comedy "Black-ish" would hit its mark have been soothed after an entertaining stretch of the first season episodes. If you've been missing out on this Anthony Anderson comedy, which stars the actor as the patriarch of a family that he frets will lose its cultural identity, use the holiday as an excuse to watch all 10 episodes that have aired.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Black-ish": All of the worry about whether ABC's new fall comedy "Black-ish" would hit its mark have been soothed after an entertaining stretch of the first season episodes. If you've been missing out on this Anthony Anderson comedy, which stars the actor as the patriarch of a family that he frets will lose its cultural identity, use the holiday as an excuse to watch all 10 episodes that have aired.
Adam Taylor/ABC
<strong>"Downton Abbey":</strong> If you're late to the "Downton Abbey" party, the holiday week is the perfect time to catch up before the fifth season arrives on PBS on January 4. You'll have to commit -- there are four seasons of this addictive British drama to get through -- but it'll be worth it if only finally to understand those Dowager Countess jokes.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Downton Abbey": If you're late to the "Downton Abbey" party, the holiday week is the perfect time to catch up before the fifth season arrives on PBS on January 4. You'll have to commit -- there are four seasons of this addictive British drama to get through -- but it'll be worth it if only finally to understand those Dowager Countess jokes.
Carnival Films
<strong>"Game of Thrones": </strong>This year, the HBO epic surpassed "The Sopranos" as the most popular series in the network's history. If you have yet to delve into this saga based on George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books -- or if you could just use a refresher course -- the holiday break is the perfect time to tune in before the fifth season arrives.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Game of Thrones": This year, the HBO epic surpassed "The Sopranos" as the most popular series in the network's history. If you have yet to delve into this saga based on George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books -- or if you could just use a refresher course -- the holiday break is the perfect time to tune in before the fifth season arrives.
HBO
<strong>"Breaking Bad":</strong> Sometimes, TV fans don't know what we've got until it's gone. In the case of "Breaking Bad," the sheer brilliance of the AMC drama didn't truly come into full view until it ended with its fifth season in 2013.
What to binge-watch this holiday —
"Breaking Bad": Sometimes, TV fans don't know what we've got until it's gone. In the case of "Breaking Bad," the sheer brilliance of the AMC drama didn't truly come into full view until it ended with its fifth season in 2013.
Ursula Coyote/AMC