Every September, while other kids were lamenting the end of summer vacation, I was secretly a little happy. Not because I didn't love going to camp or having barbecues in my backyard. Summer was fantastic, but September came with two of my absolute favorite things. One was school supplies. The writer in me was there from a young age, and the thought of new pens, pencils, erasers and fresh blank notebooks made me giddy.
The second was the restart of all my favorite shows. In the ’70s, ’80s and even the ’90s, most shows went on hiatus in the summer. Many left us with cliffhangers such as “Who shot J.R.?” and wondering why a presumed-dead Bobby Ewing was seen happily showering in his ex-wife’s house.
A lot has changed in the past decade regarding TV viewing. More channels and streaming services now offer new viewing content.
Although the current Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has postponed the start dates of some series, there’s still plenty to watch. So, if you’re looking for a binge-worthy series, here are seven to choose from. And a bonus: Each includes at least one fabulous female over 50 (FFF) character.
Shrinking (1 Season), Apple TV+
If you’ve been missing Jason Segel since How I Met Your Mother went off the air in 2014, you are in luck. Segel plays Jimmy, a widowed therapist navigating single parenthood, grief and taking care of his patients. While the whole show is excellent, I am partial to the FFF character Liz (Christa Miller), Jimmy’s nosy neighbor, who tries to step in as a pseudo-mother to Jimmy’s daughter, Alice, while also dealing with her soon-to-be-retired husband, Derek (Ted McGinley). And bonus FFF Wendie Malick plays the doctor/love interest of Jimmy’s boss, Paul (Harrison Ford). The show renewed for a second season but has not announced a premiere date.
Firefly Lane (2 Seasons), Netflix
Based on the book of the same name by Kristin Hannah, this show grew on me. I just loved watching the dynamic of childhood friends Kate (Sarah Chalke) and Tully (Katherine Heigl) navigate the ups and downs of life together. From high school to after college, dating, marriage and kids, the two depict what it means to be soulmates and there for each other in sickness and health. Spoiler alert: The last few episodes will remind you of movies like Beaches and Terms of Endearment, so keep the tissue box nearby.
And Just Like That … (2 Seasons), HBO Max
If you’ve ever wondered what happened to our old friends Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte since we left them in their 30s, And Just Like That… has the answers. Three FFFs — Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis — reprise their roles from the original Sex and the City. Season 1 had the ladies dealing with widowhood, divorce, parenthood and dating in their 50s. Season 2 should be good!