The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell
Though it may not be your typical sitcom, it is a clever mix between DIY fixes and masterfully scripted little sections that blend together to create a feel-good show. The show features Christine McConnell living in a huge and kind of creepy mansion. The house has all sort of weird and wonderful creatures inhabiting it with her, including her faithful sidekick, a raccoon named Rose, a werewolf who goes by the name of Edgar, and a peculiar Egyptian cat-mummy called Rankle.
The curious creations that the title refers to are the delicious desserts Christine bakes up with her favorite friends in her fabulous 50s get up. Christine’s love for all things 1950’s, baking talents, and furry friends comes through in her quirky style, which will pull you into her wonderful, yet slightly strange world.
Crashing
Not to be confused with a US series of the same name, Crashing is based in the UK and follows the lives of six twenty-something people who decide to live together as property guardians of a disused hospital. Living in a place like this has its pros and cons. While the rent may be cheap, there are some pretty strict rules they have to stick to. As you can imagine, they get into all kinds of situations.
There is also some very British humor, the highlight of which has to be the leading lady, Lulu, who manages to show a range of skills as a character. Aside from being very funny, she and the entire cast are very relatable; you won’t be able to help to fall in love with them all.
Big Mouth
Puberty can be tough, and "Big Mouth" is not afraid to talk about the most awkward and embarrassing moments that happen when this colossal shift is taking place. Big Mouth is an animated sitcom series that follows the story of Nick as he deals with life as a 7th grader and the hormonal changes that occur, not to mention his new-found fascination with girls.
If you like your humor to be cringe-worthy, then "Big Mouth" will be perfect for you. Because it’s a cartoon, it can get away with talking about some of the most disgusting things that happen to boys when they transition into teenagers.
Chewing Gum
"Chewing Gum" follows the life of a young girl called Tracey, who is 24 and lives with her religious and conservative-minded family on a council estate (government housing) in London. Tracey is starting to discover her own sexuality despite being a virgin and begins to have wet dreams which revolve around American rapper Jay-Z, some of which end with a crash as she finds herself waking up with a nosebleed.
Tracey’s character is heart-warming and endearing as she figures out a way to make her love for Beyoncé and Jesus not mutually exclusive. It’s an unusual premise for a TV sitcom, but something a lot of teenagers will relate to, reconciling desires with beliefs. The acting is excellent, and they do justice to a well-written script and storyline. This is the kind of show that will get people talking as there are plenty of themes around family, puberty, and sexuality that we can all recognize.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return
A group of scientists finds themselves thrust into the future when one of their experiments goes awry. They mysteriously find themselves surrounded by mutants, androids, and some humans, who quite frankly need to take themselves a bit less seriously. "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return" is a remake of an old cult classic but still retains its tongue in cheek approach to all things sci-fi.
This is a great series to watch, as you can pick it up at any point along with the storyline. Of course, it will flow more naturally if you follow the sequential narrative, but it’s not imperative for your enjoyment. Fans of the original will appreciate how it pays homage, bringing its return up-to-date without losing any of its original charms.