It's great if you love sports.

For those of us who would rather do just about anything other than watch, there are other options.

Sure, we could opt out of sports altogether, but some sports adjacent entertainment can be enjoyable for sports fans and sports dreaders alike. 

For people who want to root for a team without having to sit through every play we've compiled a list of recommendations. 

1) All American

All American has only been going for a season and a half, but it's already a hit, and there is no question as to why. This series is woke. It addresses so many social issues such as privilege and prejudice while doing its best to avoid cliches.

Football is front and center when it comes to plots and plays. The Football scenes are there just the right length for people who like the sport and people who are watching to avoid it.

Still, the sport is addressed on the grander scale of how playing and playing well affects the lives of the teens involved. Main character Spencer James, played by Daniel Ezra, has his whole life changed because he's good on the field. And that change changes the lives of those around him.

James's character, and the show in general, is based on the real-life of NFL Linebacker Spencer Paysinger, giving the show a sense of realism that comes across to the audience.

No question, if you're looking for a good teen football drama, this is a good pick.

2) Ballers

What does a rich NFL Football player do after he retires? Why, manage other Football players' finances, of course. At least that's what Spencer Strasmore does on HBO's Ballers.

The show highlights the rich, privileged life someone can have after a successful sports career. Some intense issues come up, but most get resolved easily. The show is meant as a light and fun guilty pleasure.

And who doesn't get some pleasure seeing Dwayne Johnson smiling at them through the screen?

The writers and actors did something right because the show lasted five seasons, wrapping this past October. It's an easy binge option for those looking for some light sports fun.

3) Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights is the show that defined the high school football drama in the 21st Century, showing how school sports can be a character in it's own right.

But Friday Night Lights is about a lot more than football. As a show that takes place in rural, suburban Texas, AKA The Heartland, Friday Night Lights has a lot of heart. It's small town meets big dreams. 

And as someone said to me when I mentioned I had hadn't got around to watching the show, "with as much as you love a good 'ship, you really need to get on Friday Night Lights."

Because this show is full of shippable couples and relationship drama, as well as those sweet moments that remind us why we ship in the first place.

And, oh yeah, there's football.

4) The Game

The Game is about the women behind the men because as we all know, behind every great man is a great woman. 

The Game was a spinoff series, but while it's parent series Girlfriends only lasted three seasons, The Game was able to last nine. It seems the writers were doing something right.

There were even talks about a reboot for a while. Sadly, that isn't happening, but nine seasons is still pretty good, especially considering how many times the show almost went off the air.

This is not an intense drama about football. It is a lighter dramedy focusing on what happens behind the scenes and what it is like to be involved with, married to, or the mother of a professional football player. 

A show about football that is also about powerful women? What else do you need?

5) Pitch

Women behind men are great, but women who don't stand behind anyone? In this day and age, that's what it's all about.

There was an outcry from fans when Pitch, a series about the first female pitcher to make it to the Major Leagues got canceled after only one season. 

There were talks with Disney in 2019 about a revival, and it came really close to happening but, alas, it was not to be. That shouldn't stop you from binging season one though. A lot can happen in ten episodes.

And once you make to the end, you can add your name to the list of fans imploring Disney to revive the show.

6) Sports Night

What's happening on the field matters, but how do folks at home know about it? Usually by watching ESPN or some other sports news network.

Sports Night takes a look at the lives of those behind and in front of the camera.

It may be more or less a news show, but when the news is sports-focused the show spends a lot of time focusing on sports.

Sadly, this sitcom only lasted two seasons, but isn't that just the perfect amount to binge?

7) Brockmire

Another show that focuses someone covering sports, Brockmire is a sitcom about a "retired" sports announcer trying to get back in the game. And by retired we mean he humiliated himself when he had a meltdown a decade ago.

The show has a great comedic cast. Hank Azaria, or as I like to call him, David from Friends, plays Jim Brockmire. The dude is hilarious, so it would take some awful writing for him to bomb.

The show got renewed for a fourth season, so there must be something funny and likable about it. It's hard to believe that ten years ago Brockmire was just a guest character on the web series Funny or Die, and now he's got his own show.

If you want to watch complicated plays and angsty drama, probably don't binge this. But if you want to watch some sports clips and laugh your butt off, I'd give it a try.

8) Aril$$

This sports agent sitcom was loved by some and truly hated by others. Many thought the show was abysmal, unfunny, and inaccurate in it's portrayal of sports.

Still, it was popular enough to last for seven seasons on HBO. And it had Sandra Oh from before she was the household name she is today though, so take that with a grain of salt.

The show got hit with a lot of criticism back in the 90s, and I mean A LOT, but it seems that it holds up pretty well today. Maybe the world just wasn't ready for a sports satire like this.

If you liked Ballers, you might like this show. There's no harm in giving it a shot. It 's only a half hour. You can always switch to something else if it's as horrible as some people say.

9) Lights Out

Not at all a sitcom, Lights Out takes a look at the dangers of being a professional boxer. The main character Patrick (Lights) Leary, played by Holt McCallany, had to leave boxing when he got diagnosed with a neurological disorder caused by too many hits to the head. 

The show deals with the dark, gritty realities of sports injuries and what people do when they feel they don't have a choice.

While the show had a lot of promise, many people discounted it as something we've seen a million times and it got canceled after only one season.

It's not a huge time investment if you want to binge this one and decide whether or not the network made a mistake in pulling the plug.

10) White Shadow

Before All American or even Friday Night Lights, there was White Shadow. This show was incredibly ahead of it's time and still resonates with people 40 years later, so says Peter Botte of The New York Post. 

Ken Reeves, played by Ken Howard, is a professional basketball player turned coach. We've heard this story before, but it was pretty new back then.

The show addressed so many social issues that we still deal with today, key among them being racial issues. Reeves was coaching at a predominantly black inner-city school, and the show acknowledged all the issues that the students dealt with.

It was groundbreaking by showing how a series about sports could be about people and issues they face every day. This may be pretty commonplace now, but it was a pretty new concept back in the '70s

This is what we call and oldie but a goodie. 

11) Coach

This series focuses on, surprise, surprise, a coach. He coaches a university team and is a little too football-obsessed, even for a coach.

That's the joke at least, because this is a sitcom. And it was funny enough to go for nine seasons.

Or maybe that was just because Craig T. Nelson plays coach Hayden Fox. Or, did Craig T. Nelson become Craig T. Nelson because he played Coach?

The only way to find out is to watch it.

12) Hellcats

This show addresses football a bit, but the main focus of Hellcats is another sport: Cheerleading. Because yes, cheerleading is a sport. These girls are athletes, and the show did a great job of showing just how grueling cheerleading is.

That's not to say there wasn't a lot of non-sports related drama. The show addressed financial hardship and class differences, religion, and the legal system.

The cast brings their A-game. To this day, I will say this was the best role Ashley Tisdale ever played, much more likable and relatable than Maddie or Sharpay. 

There were also some great 'ships, the kind you could spend years rooting for or would have if the show hadn't been tragically canceled after one season.

As someone who watched it at the time, I can say I was personally very disappointed that I will never find out what happens to the engaging and lovable leads of this show.

13) One Tree Hill

You can't talk about high school sports dramas without talking about One Tree Hill.

Okay, so it might be a bit of a stretch, but everything on One Tree Hill started with Basketball. And yeah, it got crazy, and there was drama, but for at least as long as both Scott brothers were on the show, Basketball was an important character.

The sport changed the lives of Lucas and Nathan, as well as those in their lives. They found hardship, drama, and eventually family and it all started on the court. 

Some of the most epic scenes take place on the court. Like a certain kiss by a certain fan-favorite couple. Because yes, this show is "shippy" as heck.

14) My Boys

My Boy's leading lady P.J. Franklin, played by Jordana Spiro, writes about sports, loves sports, and plays sports. Okay, so she doesn't play professionally, but she loves to play.

Much in the style of Sex and the City, P.J. uses sports metaphor's to talk about her life in her column and the audience gets to hear her take with a voiceover.

The show is about a tomboy who loves sports and has all male friends but is still girly enough to have one female friend with whom she talks about boys. So maybe it's a little stereotypical. It's still cute and relatable, or as relatable as a sitcom can be expected to be.

The characters are fun in their antics and quirks. There's sitcom-level drama and romance and lots and lots of poker. Because while P.J. and her friends live for the cubs, the big game in their lives is clearly their regular poker game.

All and all, it's just a fun show. Like most sitcoms, it's best not to think too hard about it.

15) Make It or Break It

Remember when I said cheerleading is a sport? Gymnastics is like cheerleading on steroids.

Make It or Break It came out in 2009, three years after Stick It successfully portrayed gymnastics drama on the big screen. In the beginning, it seemed like the show was caught up in petty rivalries and boy drama, but it soon hit it's stride, lasting three successful seasons.

The show was full of teen drama, but had the advantage of being mostly outside of normal high school, allowing it to focus exclusively on the athletes and the people in their lives. 

If you are into ABCFamily/Freeform originals, this is the sports show for you.

16) Dance Academy

Grouped with cheerleading and gymnastics, dance is another underrated sport. This Australian teen drama focused on a private dance school where teen hopefuls worked tirelessly to achieve their dreams of joining a major ballet company.

It's full of all the good, fun drama that a teen high school show would have. Yes, there are ships. And there are friendships and rivalries. And there are injuries and eating disorders. It 's the whole teen sports show package.

The show ran for three seasons. Years later, a movie hit Australian theaters catching up with the characters after graduation as they tried to make their careers.

Not living in Australia myself, I was bummed to miss the premiere, but the movie eventually hit Netflix.

17) Bunheads

We can't talk dancing shows and not talk about Bunheads. This show was much lighter than Dance Academy and had way less drama. Then again, there was a death in the first episode, so I guess it's all relative.

Bunheads dealt with different generations of women (and men) who were passionate about dance and made it their life. Dance wasn't as prominent a character in the show as it could have been, but that wasn't really why we watched, was it?

A lot of people watched because Amy Sherman Palladino created the show. It was her comeback after Gilmore Girls.

Unfortunately, a lot of people were expecting it to BE Gilmore Girls. Some of the same cast were involved and drawing the line between what was the same and what was different about the two shows became difficult.

That's probably why the show only lasted eighteen episodes. They were good episodes though, and the show is worth binging, even if you'll be left wishing there was more.

13 Reasons Why Pitch NEEDS to Be Renewed!

Open List

So, what did you think of our list?

Did you find some good sports but not sports content to binge?

Did we miss something?

Let us know in the comments.

The post Binge-Worthy Sports-Related Shows For Those Who Hate Sports appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The freshman series aired their first and only finale, as well as dropping the bomb that the Tom Welling-produced show will not return next year. 

As disappointing as this news is, we still have a new episode to discuss. So wipe your tears and let’s get to it.

With hopes of a second season, Hellcats didn’t get the proper ending viewers hoped for. Somethings were left in the air and some people were seriously missed. 

It was nice to finally have some cheerleading back on a cheerleading based show. Once again, the cast displayed amazing talent with their Nationals routine.

It would have been benefitting to see more of this throughout the season. The tumbling was insane, the stunts were flawless, and it even got Vanessa back on the mat. Maybe having more scenes like this could have helped the show.

Savannah and her family have really come full circle since the first episode. She definitely made the right choice in staying with her sister. Family first. I was pumped for her stepping down to let Alice become captain. She needs it more than Savannah does, and honestly, I think she is the better person for the position. There was a pretty big hole in the story. No way that Savanna’s father is sending postcards or letters when he is on the run. And even if he was, why send them to Charlotte instead of Savannah? Wasn’t she supposed to be the strong one?

A highlight of “I’m Sick Y’all” was the scenes between real life sisters Aly and AJ Michalka. The girls definitely delivered the best acting of the cast. It’s a shame that there won’t be any new episodes, because the father storyline finally took an interesting turn.

The problem with not knowing you are about to get canceled is leaving the finale open ended. Marti’s father being alive, Vanessa getting fired, Alice becoming captain. These are all things that would have played out interestingly next year. Even with these arcs wide open, there were some things I took issue with. Such as….where was Julian and Red?? The two couples with actual chemistry had no screen time together, in fact Julian & Red had no screen time at all. Even if you didn’t know this was the ending, the writers should have taken the time to include at least one scene of Julian and Marti. They had become the spotlight of the series over the past few episodes. What about Red? There definitely would have been some verbal smackdown between him and Emily when he found out about Vanessa’s firing. At least we can enjoy the idea that all of the couples, Dan/Savannah and Alice/Lewis included, were still going strong.

Although I thoroughly enjoy the cheerleading aspect, the couples should have made it into the finale. Much more so than Lewis being locked in a bathroom or the pre-Nationals dinner.

On a side note. The other squads joining the Hellcats on stage was an instant reminder of the Season 3 cheerleading classic episode of One Tree Hill, wasn’t it? 

All in all, the finale was solid. Sure it lacked some things, but it had set the stage for a sophomore season that I firmly believe would have found it’s stride. I look forward to seeing Aly Michalka, Robbie Jones, Ashley Tisdale, Matt Barr, and most definitely Heather Hemmens in new projects. Maybe even one of the new CW shows!

What do you think, TV Fanatics? Was the CW wrong in canceling Hellcats? Will you miss the squad or agree that it just wasn’t working? Sound off and let us know what you thought of the season series finale of Hellcats. 

The post Hellcats Finale Review: Farewell Hellcats, It Was Nice Knowing You! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

One Tree Hill, for example, will return for a ninth and final season in January. New episodes will introduce us to Brooke and Julian as parents; Brooke and Haley reopening Karen’s Cafe; and the return of Dan Scott.

Nikita has been renewed for 22 episodes.

Hellcats has been canceled.

Secret Circle has been picked up. It stars Britt Robertson as a young girl who loses her mother and learns that she is a witch. Based on LJ Smith novel.

Ringer will bring Sarah Michelle Gellar back to TV, as she plays a troubled recovering alcoholic on the run from some dangerous individuals. Also stars Nestor Carbonell, Kristoffer Polaha, Tara Summers, Mike Colter and Ioan Gruffudd.

Hart of Dixie teams Rachel Bilson up with Josh Schwartz again. She portrays a New York City doctor who inherits a small medical practice in the South.

The post The CW Pick-Ups, Renewals: Secret Circle, One Tree Hill and More! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But we do know what will go around: strep throat. An outbreak of this illness will cause serious problems for the squad as they prepare to take on the country at Nationals.

Savannah doesn’t appear to be affected by the disease. At least not in the following sneak peek. Watch her flip out (literally!) at the team practicing a routine and then return to TV Fanatic soon after this episode airs for a full rundown…

The post Hellcats Finale Clip: Flip Out! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But before the team leaves Lancer University to compete against the best in the country, an epidemic of strep throat will infect a number of members, leaving the squad close to disqualification. Hence the episode title “I’m Sick Y’all.”

Elsewhere…

• Marti and Deidre hit some road bumps as they try to get to know each other better.
• Aly Michalka and AJ Michalka’s band, 78violet, will perform the track “Belong Here.”

The post Hellcats Season Finale Preview: Off to Nationals! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Shortly before competition, Charlotte goes into labor and Lewis gets locked in a bathroom by Nasty Kathy. He breaks a window and is able to make it back in time but Savannah doesn’t. The members of Nationals get an anonymous call that some of the squad is competing with strep. After finding three more members sick, the Hellcats are banned from competing. The squad performs after the competition for arts sake.

Marti and Dierdra get closer until Marti answers her phone with their father on the other line. 

Savannah steps down as captain and gives the position to Alice so she can be there for her family and the new baby.

The Athletic Director and Emily fire Vanessa for knowingly allowing students to compete sick.

The post Hellcats Season 1 Episode 22 Recap: I’m Sick Y’all appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Julian drops a bomb. I knew he had to be too good to be true. No one is that good looking and dripping in all the qualities women want without some skeletons in the closet.

After abruptly canceling dinner with Marti, she goes to find out what the deal is. Turns out my new personal favorite lawyer has a daughter and an ex-wife. Sort of. Legally separated, divorce pending. Whatever…still a major secret. Not that Julian needed to tell Marti this information at this point.

Just last week they were sneaking around and they hadn’t even had their first official date yet when she found out. Unless something is still going on, no use getting upset now. In the wise words of Wanda, “You are too pretty to waste.” That goes for the both of them, especially Marti in that little black dress. (P.S. The two hooking up at the end = HOT.)

Dance Fever. How sweet is Lewis trying to win his dad a car? Although it did seem a little out of left field since we hadn’t heard about his family since the beginning of the season. Doesn’t matter. This provided the chance for Lewis to get rid of Nasty Kathy and get back where he belongs. With Alice. Throughout the past several episodes, you could see the changes in the resident mean girl. You could tell her feelings for Lewis have been legit and she actually was trying to do something without anything in it for her. I couldn’t help but smile as Lewis grabbed her hand and went in for the kiss. These two have great chemistry and fit better than anyone else Lewis has been with.

Savannah’s Family Falls To Pieces. After getting released on bail, Savannah’s dad decides to make a run for it. This situation has its ups and downs, but mostly, it’s dull. The adult characters and their arcs do not need to take up to much time and this story is running its course. Here is hoping the writers let Mr. Monroe keep driving without looking back.

With all this going on, there was little time for some of the other favorites. Dan’s few minutes of screen time were not enough and Red and Vanessa were completely missing. They brought in Red’s ex to stir up trouble, and she wasn’t even mentioned in “Land of 1,000 Dances.” Hopefully they make some fun out of this or the build up would have been for nothing.

Also missing tonight? Marti’s sis. Can’t really say she was missed, though. Ciara made a guest appearance and showed how to really dance (What was up with the old couple in the competition??)

Next week marks the season finale of the freshman series. The Hellcats are headed to Nationals and we will be able to enjoy some long overdue cheerleading. What hangs in the balance for the squad? Make your guesses below and check back next week to discuss the first season finale. 

The post Hellcats Review: “Land of 1,000 Dances” appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Savannah’s dad is released from prison on bail with Julian and the church’s help. He decides to run after being released. He makes a phone call to Savannah asking her to take care of the family as he drives away with a map.

Marti is supposed to have a dinner date with Julian who unexpectedly cancels. She stops by and finds out he has a daughter and although is legally separated, he is not divorced yet. He makes it up to her by cooking her dinner and she spends the night with him. 

The post Hellcats Season 1 Episode 21 Recap: Land of 1,000 Dances appeared first on TV Fanatic.

After a season’s best episode last week, the rookie series returned with “Warped Sister”, an overflowing hour of new secrets, hook-ups and even an arrest. Time to dig in.

The New Love Triangle – Well who didn’t see this coming? With Emily returning to Lancer, Red & Vanessa knew they were in for some trouble. Now on top of the football program issues, Red is dealing with an ex who isn’t over him. Derrick’s exit made it so easy for the rekindled couple that throwing another person in the mix can only make for some fun.

Daddy Issues – Pulling Savannah’s scholarship was a twist I didn’t see coming, and neither was finding out her father is a crook. This might be the thing to knock Mrs. Monroe off of her high horse. Marti and her half sister spent some time together, which of course, resulted in some singing. I’m on board for the new mini family of the girls + Wanda, so here is hoping Deidre sticks around for a bit.

Saving The Best For Last – Hellcats did it again; a pretty good hour that saved the perfect scene for last. Who else was thrown when Marti and Julian had acted like nothing happened between them? I was ready to get pissed that they teased this hot new couple to only forget about it the next week, but it pulled through at the end. There is no comparison to this couple’s chemistry from any of the other current relationships on the show. Only thing that could make this better? Not waiting until 9:58 to to see it.

Some after thoughts …

• The real life sisters put on a pretty good rendition of “Mississippi” by Bob Dylan.
• Anyone else think Dan gets hotter each episode? 
• There are only two episodes left of the season. Any guesses on what is to come for our favorite cheerleaders?

Sound off below on “Warped Sister” and your guesses for the seasons end.

The post Hellcats Review: “Warped Sister” appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Savannah loses her scholarship due to the cheating scandal. Her dad writes her a large check and is arrested at Charlotte’s baby shower for fraud. 

Julian ran a background check on Marti’s father as a favor. She spends time with Deidre after finding out she is her half sister. 

Emily is looking into the football program and admits to Red she isn’t over him. 

Marti goes to Julian’s to thank for him for looking into her father. He invites her in and the two hook up. 

The post Hellcats Season 1 Episode 20 Recap: Warped Sister appeared first on TV Fanatic.