Los Angeles Times

Need a break from new plot twists and cable news? Try these comfort TV favorites

In the "Peak TV" era, there are literally hundreds of shows on our cable and streaming services. Yet with fresh programming showing up weekly on our home screens, we tend to spend our time with new series or catching up on critically acclaimed shows from the recent past with challenging narratives, edgy humor or award-winning performances.

But sometimes, when the news of the day is frightful and hanging out during the holidays with family and friends puts us in a nostalgic frame of mind, the most delightful choice can be watching an old show where we know everybody's name and don't need to worry about new plot twists.

In the spirit of hunkering down with the familiar, we offer a list of shows that - like a holiday blanket - offer us comfort in challenging times.

Be it the pioneering charms of the MTM comedies, the

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