In that one moment, the countdown to “Happy New Year!” was the pinnacle of Winter Break.
But the semester started four days later, and now, in the middle of March, Spring Break welcomes us.
It’s been a couple of months since you’ve kept up with what’s on television because boring family nights at your parents’ house quickly turned into cram sessions in Starbucks.
If you find yourself a day or two during Spring Break where the plans aren’t as wild or elaborate as the rest of your vacation’s, catch up with some quality entertainment.
After you’ve finished a full season – or series – of one of these shows, it will be Spring Semester 2011: Take Two faster than you know it.
“Parks and Recreation”
Season Three
hulu.com
The Amy Poehler-led mockumentary chronicles the Pawnee, Ind., Parks and Recreation Department as it prepares for a harvest festival to save the department. Rob Lowe and “Party Down”’s Adam Scott return as full members of the cast to see to it that the department makes changes. Along the way, there’s a time capsule, a flu epidemic and lots of Lowe’s utterance of the word literally. Look for guest appearances from former “Saturday Night Live” player Will Forte and Nick Kroll from “The League.”
“Dorm Life”
Seasons One and Two
dorm-life.com
In order to get through something, sometimes, you just have to laugh at it. There’s no better way to realize your problems with your roommate(s) and dorm room aren’t exclusive to you. Check out this web series that follows a floor during all the stereotypical college happenings you can name. Of note is former “All That” star Jack DeSena. The characters talk to their web cams to provide another dose of mockumentary for a bed-ridden day. Also, since it’s a web series, the episodes are around four minutes, making the series an easy one to watch.
“The IT Crowd”
Series 1, 3, 4 – Watch Instantly
Series 2
netflix.com
It might be time to sign up for a month of free Netflix. This show, which narrowly escaped a U.S. version with Joel McHale, shows the insides of an information technology unit in the basement of a seemingly rather nice building. The second series isn’t on Watch Instantly, but if you hurry, maybe it will come by the time you’ve completed the first series with these “standard nerds,” as Chris Morris’ character calls them, and their new boss. Also, nothing tops Richard Ayoade’s character’s parted Afro.
“Weeds”
Seasons 1-5 – Watch Instantly
Season 6
netflix.com
If the bite into a caramel-filled chocolate bar made a sound, it would be almost as smooth as Mary-Louise Parker when she says, “Previously on ‘Weeds.’” This is the show everyone wants to watch but few find it difficult because of Showtime-lackin’. Well, make use of that month of free Netflix and a rainy day to follow the Botwin family from day one of drug-pushing. Of course the program bursts out of the mold of its tagline: a mother of two who deals drugs to keep up her suburban lifestyle. Find nuance, great music and a dormant love for danger with this one.
