We all need an escape from real life- especially now – from time to time. Something to recharge the batteries, revitalize the spirit: something fun. With that in mind, here’s my list of a few films/TV series to lift the spirits and bring a few laughs.

First on my list: the hilarious mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. Don’t care if you prefer the film or the TV series, they’re both wonderful. Favorite moments: in the film, the scene where the vampires are chasing the human Nick around the house. In the TV series, the Vampire Tribunal in season 1 and all it’s self-referential celebrity cameos. Kristin Schaal is a delight as the chamberlain/guide in that episode. Three words: Colin Fucking Robinson!

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 is not only a great sequel, it may even be BETTER than the original. The amazingly creative (and often hilarious) food/creature names: Tacodile Supreme, Shrimpanzees, Hippotatomus, and of course, Barry, are just icing on the cake. The real message of the film is the danger of hero worship, which we see all too well in real life.

Despicable Me 2 is another sequel, and while it covers some of the same ground as the first, the new characters are brilliant and engaging, the spy-type gags are wildly entertaining, and naturally the antics of the Minions are practically worth the price of admission all by themselves. Watch for the brief cameo with personal favorite Kristin Schall’s voice as Gru’s blind date.

WKRP in Cincinnati is the throwback entry, and for good reason: it was a cutting edge comedy, and much of the material they covered is still relevant today, though a good many episodes are dated. Still one of the best character-driven situation comedies of all time, it’s about the madcap employees of a third-rate radio station and the day-to-day hijinx that ensue.