The Top 25 TV Binges Teachers Can’t Wait to Catch Up On
By: Jeff Nazzaro
When summertime comes, teachers FINALLY get a minute to catch their breath…and catch up on all the bingeworthy shows they missed while grading papers and doing lesson plans! Last month, our teachers shared with us the summer books they were settling down with, and now they’ve given us a top 25 binge list! Here’s what teachers from Riverside, Moreno Valley, Jurupa, and Val Verde school districts will be watching when school’s out for summer!
Thanks for all the hard work you teachers do to help us raise and educate our children. We appreciate you, and hope you have a great summer break!
Abbott Elementary (FIVE STARS!)
The story of a group of dedicated, passionate teachers who find themselves at a Philadelphia public school where they are determined to help their students succeed in life. They are outnumbered and underfunded, but they love what they do -- even if they don't love the school district's less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.
Bridgerton—ALL seasons!
A period drama series about love and happiness in London high society.
Lost in Space
After crash-landing on an alien planet, the Robinson family fights against all odds to survive and escape.
The Crown
Re-watching 1-4 so that I can be ready for Season 5 in November 2022. They always re-invent this series with new actors every two seasons so it’s fresh and surprising.
Life & Beth
Amy Schumer writes, directs, executive produces, and stars as an apparently successful woman forced to rethink her life.
All of the Star Wars prequels
The Star Wars prequel trilogy is a series of epic space-opera films. I’d like to watch them 50 times.
Atlanta
The Hip-Hop drama starring Donald Glover finally returns.
The Great
A satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia's history. (Racy!)
WeCrashed
WeWork was a Silicon Valley success story that turned into a disaster almost overnight. Stars Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway
Julia
Super excited for the series on HBOMax inspired by Julia Child’s extraordinary life, and is the chef who essentially invented food television.
2022 American Idol
No spoiler alerts, please, because we won’t have time to watch it until June! Can’t wait to see who wins.
Outer Range and Yellowstone
Two modern rancher family sagas—but one goes to the supernatural!
Gaslit
A Watergate drama and political thriller about Martha Mitchell, who sounded the alarm on Nixon’s activities, and left the presidency and her personal life in ruins.
Outlander
A historical drama that follows a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743.
Upload
An American Science Fiction star-crossed love story that’s sweet, smart, and funny!
Stranger Things
Season 4 comes out just in time for the end of school! It’s a mix of investigative drama alongside supernatural elements portrayed with horror, science fiction and childlike sensibilities.
Ozark
A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss. Keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Pose
A thoughtful and inspiring series about New York City's drag ball culture scene, an LGBTQ subculture in the African-American and Latino communities, throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Better Things
About a working actor and single mother of three who has little time for herself. Sam embraces each moment, and each member of her family, with a fierce love, raw honesty and biting humor. Good lessons here.
When my kids are home, we’ll be watching some inspirational classics about teachers!
School of Rock!
Posing as a substitute teacher, Jack Black gives a fun and amazing performance. One of my all-time favorites.
The Great Debaters
A biographical drama profiling debate coach Melvin B. Tolson. Denzel Washington is awesome. Debate team members—watch up!
Stand and Deliver
A movie from 1988, it’s the story of math teacher Jaime Escalante in a Latino school in East LA. It was an Oscar-nominated performance for Edward James Olmos.
Won’t Back Down
The story of two determined mothers, a car dealer/bartender (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and a teacher (Viola Davis), who look to transform their children's failing inner city school in Pittsburgh.
Finding Forrester
More than 20 years old now, this film is about a black teenager (Rob Brown playing Jamal Wallace) who is invited to attend a prestigious private high school. By chance, he befriends a reclusive writer through whom he refines his talent for writing and comes to terms with his identity. A wonderful performance by the late Sean Connery.
Freedom Writers
Based on the DC program called “City at Peace,” this 2007 movie is still timely and highlights a book by teacher Erin Gruwell and her Long Beach students who compiled the book out of real diary entries about their lives.