Quarantine-themed TV episodes we’d like to see
Most TV shows are shut down due the coronavirus pandemic right now, but that can’t stop us from imagining what quarantine-themed episodes might look like.
Fans and creators alike have spent time wondering how beloved characters might address the subject.jerry Seinfeld said he was most curious to see how George from “Seinfeld” would deal with social distancing.
“I feel like the others would really like it and really enjoy the lack of social difficulties that they always have,” he added.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” stars Rachel Brosnahan and Zachary Levi have also imagined their characters under quarantine.
“I’m just gonna go out on a limb and say it would not be going very well for Midge or Abe or Susie or Rose,” Broshnahan said during a virtual benefit for Covenant House. “They maybe would have all murdered each other by this point, but she’d have a lot of great material coming out the other side.”
Levi, who plays a doctor on the show, said his character would be “a hero.”
“He’d be on the front lines saving lives like he always does,” he added. “You passed up on a good man, Midge!”
Some TV writers have shared how they imagine a coronavirus episode of their show playing out. And the cast of “Parks and Recreation” went a step further, reuniting for a Zoom call-inspired reboot of the NBC comedy.
But we’re curious about characters from other shows. Not all are still airing, but for our purposes, we’ll assume they’re set in 2020.
‘The Office’
Toby (Paul Lieberstein) has to explain to Michael (Steve Carell) that paper isn’t an essential service, so everyone needs to work from home. Michael doesn’t take it super well, insisting that families need to stick together in times of crisis. (Thankfully, “corporate” ensures everyone at Dunder Mifflin works from home.)
Meanwhile, Kelly (Mindy Kaling) makes sure she and Ryan (B.J. Novak) quarantine together. Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) try to create fun moments for themselves and the rest of the office virtually, even if they can’t hang out at the reception desk. Dwight (Rainn Wilson) has been planning his whole life for something like this, and has enough canned beets to
share with Mose (Mike Schur) for the next 10 years.
‘Glee’
While schools are closed, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) enacts a new challenge for New Directions: They have to perform songs about how they’re feeling in quarantine during Zoom choir practice. Rachel (Lea Michele) sings Celine Dion’s “All By Myself,” Puck (Mark Salling) chooses “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars, and Blaine (Darren Criss) goes with “Waving Through a Window” from “Dear Evan Hansen.”
After they perform, the Glee kids open up about how they’ve been struggling while stuck at home and missing out on end-of-year school activities amid the pandemic. Hoping to ease their anxieties, Mr. Schue closes the episode with Billy Joel’s “Vienna” to remind his students that they have exciting futures waiting for them when quarantine ends.
‘Black Mirror’
Netflix just moves this apocalyptic anthology series from the “Sci-fi/fantasy” category to “Docuseries.”
‘Sex and The City’
Charlotte (Kristin Davis) can’t stop making banana bread. Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is ignoring the six-foot social distancing rule, if you catch our drift. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), furious at everyone who isn’t following stay-athome orders, contemplates a run for elected office so she can take care of things herself. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) can’t help but wonder if humanity is the real virus.
‘Schitt’s Creek’
The Roses are all too happy to steer clear of the other Schitt’s Creek inhabitants, though they can’t stop complaining about being holed up in the motel. Alexis (Annie Murphy) attempts to paint the mural she saw on Instagram onto her bedroom wall, but quickly realizes she’s not as artistic as she thought she was. David (Dan Levy) creates a different face mask for each “vibe” of his wardrobe. Johnny (Eugene Levy) gets stuck on a four-hour Facetime session with Roland (Chris Elliott), who takes full advantage of Johnny’s open schedule. Moira (Catherine O’hara) rotates her wig every hour and binge-watches only things she’s appeared in.
‘Bob’s Burgers’
Just before quarantine begins, Louise (Kristen Schaal) cons her way into winning a major poker tournament and manages to make enough money so the Belchers can survive without visitors to their beach town. Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) uses the restaurant’s temporary closure to test out some new recipes, like the “Social Fish-tancing burger,” technically a fried fish sandwich, and the “Quaran-bean burger,” which is vegetarian-friendly.
Gene (Eugene Mirman) insists on having nightly themed family dinners: Tonight is “Phantom of the Opry,” when the dress code requires looks inspired either by turn of the century operagoers or country music stars. Nobody else gets it, but Linda (John Roberts) is proud of him for being so creative. Tina (Dan
Mintz), who has been wistfully watching Jimmy Jr. (Benjamin) from her window, writes “friend fiction” about when they’ll finally be able to reunite and, obviously, fall in love.
‘How I Met Your Mother’
Ted (Josh Radnor), desperate to find “the one” under any circumstances, goes all in on dating apps, conducting as many virtual dates as possible. But he always turns back to watching the news, All the while, he has the news turned on so he can keep tabs on Robin (Cobie Smulders), who’s reporting on feel-good stories happening in New York.
Without laser tag, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) falls into a major Fortnite obsession, while Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) spend their time learning dances so they can become Tik Tok famous.
‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Social distancing is Larry’s (Larry David) ideal situation. He’s fine.
‘Stranger Things’
How do you fight a monster when you have to stay at least six feet away from each other? The kids of Hawkins, Indiana, have to get creative with walkietalkies and Elle’s (Millie Bobby Brown) extrasensory perception power – which allows her to view things remotely – to figure out how to stop their new enemy.
‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’
Mister Rogers opens the episode a little differently. Instead of coming home and greeting viewers from his living room, he exits his house and stands on the front porch, facing the camera in his front yard because he can’t exactly welcome his neighbors inside right now.
Teaching new words like “social distancing,” Mr. Rogers calmly explains that school and playdates are going to happen over video calls for a while to keep people from getting sick. He reminds kids that whatever they may be feeling is valid, and that asking their parents questions might help.
“I’m so proud of you for helping the people you love,” he says. “I’ll see you soon, neighbor.”