""Dexter""
(For those sudden, violent urges)
Serial killing is a fun hobby. Unfortunately, it's not a socially accepted form of recreation. Thankfully, we can all live vicariously through Michael C. Hall in Showtime's portrait of a serial killer, ""Dexter."" Whether you're in need of a distraction or an obsession, ""Dexter"" is a great way to waste away the hours as the titular blood-splatter analyst dispatches his numerous victims —but only victims that deserve it, of course. The best aspect of the show is that it makes Dexter's hunger for murder so identifiable that the viewer becomes just as addicted as he is, though most people act out their addiction through less violent means, such as watching more ""Dexter."" And the icing on the cake: the first two seasons of ""Dexter"" are on Netflix Instant, so you don't even need to waste time torrenting them—not that The Daily Cardinal would ever encourage such behavior, no sir.
—Todd Stevens
Game Shows
(Particularly old, vintage game shows)
Finals television is tricky. If you watch something too mindless, like ""Friends,"" you risk falling into a coma, only emerging for Pop Tarts and gin, certainly not textbooks. If you watch something with actual entertainment value, you'll be sucked in, and once you realize how much more enjoyable ""Mad Men"" and ""Arrested Development"" are than studying, you won't stand a chance.
And thus I recommend some game shows. Unless you're a Game Show Network junkie, you've usually gotten your fill after an episode or two. They'll keep the brain juices flowing, helping your transition into studying go a bit smoother once Pat and Vanna finish up with their oh-so-endearing banter.
Game shows of the past are the real gold. ""Let's Make a Deal,"" ""Supermarket Sweep"" or ""Press Your Luck!"" are all great choices. Plus, if you manage to find some vintage episodes of ""Jeopardy,"" not only will the trivia stimulate your noggin, but Alex Trebek's mustache will stimulate something that really gets the blood pumping.
—Jacqueline O'Reilly
""Skins""
(Like ""Gossip Girl,"" only British and witty)
This British series is ridiculously addictive. Each episode is presented through the perspective of a different member of a group of teenagers growing up in Bristol, England. The stories are refreshingly original and true to life. This makes sense as the series' writers are all under the age of 25. Although the accents and slang are sometimes hard to understand, the witty and quick dialogue makes up for it. A delicate balance is seen between exploring each character's individual story and the group dynamic comprises the first two seasons. ""Skins"" currently has four seasons, with an almost entirely new cast introduced in season three. This allows the show to avoid the usual downfall of most teenage television series: beating the plot lines to death and creating far too many love triangles.
—Abigail Cardinal
""Summer Heights High""
(Ever wonder if Borat were a teacher?)
From their surfboards to their accents, Australians are all but universally accepted as the coolest people on the globe. The coolest of the cool? It's Chris Lilly, who wrote and starred in ""Summer Heights High,"" possibly the most hilarious thing ever to come out of Austrailia.
Taking a ""Da Ali G Show""-like approach, Lilly stars as three separate characters. Mr. G finds Lilly teaching drama and composing Avril Lavigne-inspired musicals. With Ja'mie King, Lilly does his best Regina George impression as a spoiled private school girl. But it's in the role of Jonah Takalua, a school bully who graffitis penises all over the school and obnoxiously pranks his teachers, that Lilly really hits his stride.
Originally airing in 2007 on an Austrailian network, ""Summer Heights High"" only ever made it through eight episodes of production. And while some might be wishing for more from the hilarious Lilly, we should just take solace in the fact that we can get through the entire season in a few hours—and still have time to cram those last few o-chem equations into our brains.
—Jon Mitchell
""Community""
(Community college is cool again)
What better way to distract yourself from finals than to watch a bunch of community college slackers distract themselves from their finals? Fully embracing the second season of ""Community"" is a scary thing as it's always two bad-rating weeks away from being canceled. Losing this show would be the biggest disaster since losing ""Arrested Development"" prematurely. You should be watching this show because it's one of the best comedies on television right now and just a few seasons away from being one of the best of all time. It's also rare that we get a comedy that's actually about something. ""Community"" has a meaningful core hidden beneath its jokes and hilarious characters. These slackers are standing on the edge. Like many students at Madison, they are scared to make that leap into their future. Watching their struggles and shenanigans is simply one of the best pleasures TV has to offer.
—Mike Kujak
