Author Renee Savage

If you’re like me, sometimes WFH gets kind of lonely. Spending all day every day at home is definitely nice for a homebody like me, but I do miss the conversation of an office. To solve this problem, I turn to ambient TV.

I define ambient TV as anything that can be on TV, doesn’t require my full attention, and meets the stimulation part of my brain without consuming it. Everyone has a different threshold for background TV shows. For me, I can’t do anything with a plot. So classics like Parks and Recreation, The Office, or Friends, capture too much of my attention.

So here are my top recommendations for ambient TV that provides background noise, something nice to look at once in a while, without being too engaging.

Rick Steves

Rick Steves is one of my oldest friends. Not that we’ve actually met, but I have been watching his travel shows since I was a kid. I think I’ve seen every episode. There are several seasons available on Prime and on PBS Passport. Rick is casual and pleasant as he strolls through European towns and countrysides. The cinematography is lovely, matched by pretty soundtracks, and narrated in a calm voice.

The only downside to this program is that you may find yourself planning a European vacation by the end of the day.

Monty Don

I only discovered what British gardens have known for decades. Monty Don is the face of numerous BBC gardening shows, including Gardener’s World, Big Dreams Small Spaces, Paradise Gardens, and Secrets of British Gardens, and more. While they were on Netflix, I watched his French and Italian Gardens obsessively.

He’s got a very relaxed way of talking about gardening, accompanied by beautiful shots of plants, ponds, and lawns. It’s all very interesting, but after a few watches, it becomes a delightful screen saver. Right now, I watch what is available on Prime, Acorn, and IMBD.

The Wine Show

I will admit, I started The Wine Show because I have a big, old crush on Matthew Goode. He and Matthew Rhys travel through Italy learning the ins and outs of good wine, while wine experts travel the world. It’s exceedingly interesting and I don’t even care that much about wine.

It feels like a podcast, but it comes with some really beautiful scenery (which, you may be catching on, is important to my ambient TV experience). The boys are charming and self-effacing, and their good moods and attitudes rub off on you as you work. Writing is best paired with a glass (or two) of wine when you watch. I watch on Prime with my Acorn subscription.

Treasure Houses of Great Britain

Think MTV Cribs but for the anciently rich and famous. Treasure Houses of Great Britain enables you to tour massive estates like Chatsworth, Blenheim Palace, and Holkham Hall. It is an almost overly sumptuous feast for the eyes. It is also strategically dull. I’m very interested in antiques, but there are only so many times you can explain where marble and granite came from before it drones out. Also, many of the lords in residence make an appearance, and they are not great on camera. It’s awesome.

The homes are beautiful, and the show prioritizes long, steady shots of each place you visit. Rather than rushing around, you see the full room and ceiling views, as well as big vistas for the grounds. The host is usually quite calm. No one gets excited. I watch this on Prime thanks to my Acorn subscription.

PBS Great Performances

I am a big PBS fan. As soon as I had a regular paycheck I become a contributing member. One of my favorite programs to watch while I write is Great Performances. This can be anything from a symphony, to a round-up of Broadway hits or modern masters. The variety is exciting and you can choose whichever appeals to you. I love classical music and often select episodes focused on that.

There are several episodes you can watch for free, but all contributing members get Passport access. I started with a donation of 5.00 a month.

Acorn TV

You may have noticed I mentioned Acorn TV a few times. I subscribe to Acorn for 5.99 a month in exchange for British programming. They have tons of great travel shows (Coastal Railways with Julie Walters), big house shows (Mount Stewart: The Big House Reborn), and historical shows (Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball). It is varied and full of lovely, ambient shows.

Some honorable mentions for my favorite shows are This Old House (PBS), The Great British Baking Show (Netflix), and Samantha Brown’s Places to Love (PBS).

What are your favorite background shows? I’m always looking for more!