TV Shows
Synopsis
A high school sitcom about a filipina-american teenage girl who has cancer and her best friend. 4 seasons. Though cancer is an important recurring theme, it manages to strike a great balance where the whole show is not about the cancer.
Includes BIPOC representation 
Testimonial
I don’t enjoy too many high school shows, but this one is so wholesome (if a bit cheesy at times). This is the friendship we all aspire to. The ending of the first episode made me cry because it was so sweet. They really do have each others’ backs through everything and not only are the girls best friends but their families are also best friends and that’s what I need in my life.
Warning: Themes of cancer.
About
The series starts with Bob surviving a heart attack and immediately falling in love with his nurse, Abishola. Abishola is a no-nonsense woman from Nigeria. Even though they are very different, they work well together.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonials
“This is great show around extended family, second marriages, and cultural differences. I enjoy that story this transcends race. I enjoy the love story here. I watch it regularly – I seem to recall the first few episodes were a little rough but I really enjoy it now. I love how much work Bob puts into learning about Nigerian culture and embraces their differences rather than trying to make Abishola be more “American”.”
Synopsis
A sitcom created by Kenya Barris (creator of Blackish). One season, 8 episodes in total. It stars Barris as a fictionalized version of himself, and “uncovers the messy, unfiltered, and often hilarious world of what it means to be a ‘new money’ Black family”. The family is based on his real life family, with the 6 children being loosely based on his actual kids.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“This show is hilarious and manages to be educational/ informative without feeling too heavy-handed. It’s set up as a documentary that one of the daughters is creating for her application for film school, so you get some great confessionals/interviews. The premise is beautiful because this girl is just following her parents as they do the wildest stuff.”
Synopsis
Comedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD’s 99th Precinct.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“An incredibly funny show that gets funnier throughout the seasons! Definitely a light-hearted sitcom, often matched with heartwarming moments and politically important messaging.”
Warning: Violence
About
Kim’s Convenience depicts the Korean Canadian Kim family that runs a convenience store in Toronto. The show centres around Appa, Umma, daughter Janet and estranged son Jung.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonials
“I think this is one of the greatest Canadian shows of all time. Appa is one of the funniest characters ever.”
About
A behind the scenes look at a video game design company. They have the top game on the market and want to stay there. Created and stars Rob McElhenney.
Testimonials
“Amazing show that keeps you laughing while not dumbing it down. I have watched the bonus quarantine episode over and over again as the love the characters show for each other while dealing with the emotions of the pandemic is phenomenal.”
Synopsis
Created by Mindy Kaling, this sitcom is loosely based on her own childhood experiences. Devi Vishwakumar is dealing with the sudden death of her father, and also trying to have a more successful social life at high school.
Includes 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation 
Testimonial
“This show balances silliness/high school drama with some really heavy topics. I love that we get to see Devi make mistakes and grow and try to deal with things better. We love to see the South Asian representation.”
About
Follows the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Stars Amy Pohler, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Rob Lowe, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, and lots more.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonials
“This is one of those shows you can watch over and over and laugh every time. The cast is incredible. Honestly, as the seasons go on it gets better and better. And as an added bonus you can keep an eye out for when Chris Pratt books Guardians of the Galaxy and suddenly returns to the series super fit! Rob Lowe and one of the writer/producer/directors are now doing a podcast called Parks and Recollection so you can watch the show along with them and hear the behind the scenes secrets. And make sure you google the outtakes. Absolutely hilarious.”
About
A wealthy family loses all of their money and has to move to the small town of Schitt’s Creek.
Includes 2SLGBTQIA+ representation
Testimonials
“This show is set in a world where homophobia pretty much doesn’t exist and I think that’s very cool of them. Eventually, a gay relationship is the main relationship on the show. To paraphrase Dan Levy (creator and star) – we often see queer characters get tragic endings, or they are happy and then it ends immediately. In this show you get to see the queer characters soar. It can take a while to get into this show, but the characters grow on you, and they each have such wonderful growth over the 6 seasons it’s honestly beautiful and very very wholesome. This show has been a safe haven for a lot of queer folks (especially teens and kids) and I love it. Watch the farewell special after and you will WEEP.”
“David memes are my life. Watch and join us in the love that is Schitt’s Creek”
Synopsis
Awkward teen Otis’ mother is a sex therapist. Otis ends up offering a secret sex therapy service at his high school when he and his friends realize that their peers know absolutely nothing about sex or sexual health.
Includes 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“This show is nothing short of revolutionary. Never before have I seen sex talked about like this, in such an open, wholesome, and affirming way, and certainly not targeted at high schoolers. Beyond the sex therapy, it’s also got a great cast of complicated and wonderful characters who have their own journeys. Some difficult and emotional moments for sure. The show is ongoing so I don’t know how it’ll end but I’m confident it won’t be tragic because this is mostly a comedy.”
Warning: Sexual violence
Synopsis
American college football coach Ted Lasso heads to London to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League football team. The show was initially conceived by stars Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt – who play Lasso and Coach Beard, respectively – over 20 years ago, when the pair were performing as improv comedy troupe Boom Chicago.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“Ted Lasso helped me get through the first year of the pandemic. Unlike so many shows out there, this show just left me feeling good. Ted’s positive attitude and genuine respect (and love) for other people is endearing when so many other programs want to entertain though adversity. He shows forgiveness and patience for people when many of us wouldn’t. He discusses mental health head on and doesn’t cheapen the impact of loss or bullying. I have watched the series several times and will continue to do so.”
“Ted Lasso is an excellent intro to creating psychologically healthy and safe teams!”
About
It’s a highschool reunion and after the reunion is the afterparty. Some friends … some not so friendly get together and someone is murdered. Each episode is the party from another party goers perspective as they tell their version of what happened to the Detective (Tiffany Haddish). The cast is stacked with comedy talent including Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer and Ben Schwartz.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonials
“Do you love a good mystery? I DO! And I love this show. I admit I didn’t solve the mystery and that only made it better. I wish they made more shows like this.”
Warnings: Someone dies (but that’s the point).
Synopsis
Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) dies and wakes up in “The Good Place”, where only the top 0.001% of humans get to end up. She was put there as a mistake, and must figure out how to grow as a human to actually fit in.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonials
“It’s well written, funny, wholesome, intelligent, has excellent commentary on society (which just gets better and more on point each season), and it has the absolute best messaging I think I’ve ever seen in a live action TV show. It’s also got my favourite take on soulmates ever across its 4 seasons. The entire cast is perfect. Make it to the end of season 1, and then the whole show reaches a new level. Every season finale I was like, where the heck are they gonna take this? And every season they delivered.”
“I love this show – but my advice is don’t google it too much. You don’t want to spoil any of the surprises.”
Synopsis
The story of four female freshman roommates at a college in Vermont. They don’t know each other and come from varying social, financial, and cultural backgrounds. The show is about discovering themselves in every aspect, including sexuality.
Includes 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“Another project from Mindy Kaling. I didn’t think I would love this show as much as I did. I only wish I had as much fun in university as these roommates are having. I binged watched the season and then lost it when I realized that I have to wait another year for more. Seriously???”
Warning: Nudity
Movies
Synopsis
Based on the true story of the first ever Jamaican bobsledding team. A top Jamaican runner gets tripped on his Olympic qualifying run, and decides to get to the Olympics through bobsledding instead. Bobsledding is done on ice and Jamaica is famous for having no ice. Hilarity ensues.
Includes BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“This movie was one of my absolute favourites growing up. The characters and dialogue are so memorable. It’s a great underdog story. The whole movie is just fun and wholesome and inspiring.”
Warning: Some very dated jokes.
Synopsis
A forty-something couple (Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrn) decide to adopt kids through a foster-to-adopt program. Lizzie, a teenager, makes an impression, but she has two younger siblings who the couple decides to foster/adopt with her as well. Based (partially) on a true story of the director’s own journey with adoption. Heartfelt comedy.
Testimonial
“You might see that Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrn are in this and think, oh, this will be just a fun light-hearted movie! And you would be wrong. It’s hilarious for sure, but it packs an emotional punch as well. It’s very wholesome to see this family come together. I’ve watched it at least 5 times and cried happy tears each time.”
Synopsis
A classic tale of Guy likes Popular Girl, Guy asks Nerdy Girl who writes other people’s essays for money to write a love letter to Popular Girl for him, Nerdy Girl also loves Popular Girl.
Includes 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC representation
Testimonial
“The main character is a closeted, socially awkward, Asian-American lesbian and I love her. As much as I absolutely love the quiet pining and the gay panic rampant in this movie, my favourite thing is that the main relationship/love story in this movie is actually the friendship between the guy and the main character and I just find that very wholesome as a change of pace.”