Summer is finally here. Those beautiful two and a half months of the year where you are free from homework, finals, and days spent languishing in crowded classrooms from eight to three. Summer is a time to relax with friends on the lake, take a long vacation to the beach with your family, and have fun. It's also a time to spend hours upon hours on the couch binge watching all those TV shows you didn't have time for during the school year. Or at least, if you're a Netflix addict like me, that's a big part of summer. So for those days when you have hours to kill and feel you've run out of shows to watch, here are ten of my favorites to fill your summer days with laughs and suspense.

1. "Parks and Recreation" (2009 - 2015)

Made by the same geniuses who gave us "The Office", "Parks" is probably one of the funniest local government-centered comedies ever made. Following the same mockumentary format as "The Office," the show focuses on the Parks and Recreation Department in the small town of Pawnee, Indiana. Assistant Director Leslie Knope, whose eternal optimism, enthusiasm, and sometimes extreme exaggeration make her an unlikely fit to the tedium of local government, and her quirky team of government employees take on the task of turning a huge pit in the middle of their town into a shiny new park. This show not only delivers the laughs within the first few minutes, but also some tears as characters move up and move on from the lower levels of government and from the unique town of Pawnee

Honorable Cast Mentions: Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer, and Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

Number of Seasons: 7

2. "Chuck" (2007 - 2012)

This off-beat spy drama follows Chuck Bartowski, a geeky computer technician who accidentally downloads thousands of government secrets into his head. Now a major target of every enemy to the United States Government, Chuck is assigned two handlers from the NSA and CIA. Hilarity and drama ensues as Chuck has to learn to balance his average life as a Buy More computer repairman, and his secret life as an unwilling government spy.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski, Adam Baldwin as NSA agent John Casey, and Yvonne Strahovski as CIA agent Sarah Walker

Number of Seasons: 5

3. "How To Get Away With Murder" (2014 -Present)

"How To Get Away With Murder" comes from the twisted mind of the same woman who created "Greys Anatomy," Shonda Rhimes. As you could probable guess from the title, the show centers around a criminal law class taught by Professor Annalise Keating. Each year, Professor Keating rigorously chooses four students from her class to intern at her law firm and act as her personal research team. However, through a series of time jumps and flashbacks, the show also follows those very students as they try to cover up and get away with an unknown murder that they have committed in Annalise's own house. "HTGAWM" simultaneously manages to be a murder-mystery drama and a court case periodical show, a task that it accomplishes brilliantly thanks to amazing acting and several of those trademark Shonda Rhimes twists and turns.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Freaking Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, that is all.

Number of Seasons: 2 with another airing this fall.

4. "New Girl" (2011 - Present)

This comedy series follows Jessica Day, an elementary school teacher who finds herself homeless after breaking off a long term relationship. Desperate, she checks out a Craigslist ad and ends up sharing a loft with three single men. The show documents the adventures of these unlikely roommates as they learn to live together and to not meddle in each other's lives. Full of singing, drinking, and a whole episode where Jess is schooled in the art of love by the Artist Formerly Known As Prince, "New Girl" is a light, easy, and quirky comedy that will brighten up any day spent entirely on a couch surrounded by various junk foods.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day, Jake Johnson as Nick Miller

Number of Seasons: 5 with another airing in the fall

5. "Being Human" (U.S.) (2011 - 2014)

"Being Human" is an American version of the very popular British drama by the same name. It follows roommates Aidan, Josh, and Sally who just happen to be a vampire, werewolf, and ghost, respectively. The show focuses on their struggle to assimilate into a human world, and their struggle with their own personal demons. The plot deviates strongly from it's more unpredictable British counterpart, and the characters are compelling as they each learn to accept themselves and to rely on each other. It's primarily a supernatural drama, but also manages to be quite funny at times.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Mark Pelligrino as Bishop, Sam Witwer as Aidan

Number of Seasons: 4

6. "Merlin" (2008 - 2012)

"Merlin" is by far the strangest show on this list. The BBC medieval drama follows the young wizard Merlin as he meets and befriends the mythical King Arthur. It chronicles their adventures as young men before Arthur becomes king of Camelot. "Merlin" has it's ups and downs, like many British shows it sometimes is a bit too silly for American viewers who are used to drama and grit instead of animated dragons and a plethora of fart sound effects. Even though the show can get downright ridiculous, it is still definitely worth the watch and easily binge-able. The acting is good, the characters are very lovable, and the special effects are actually quite good.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Anthony Stewart Head as King Uther, John Hurt as The Dragon

Number of Seasons: 5

7. "Firefly" (2002)

This one-season space adventure drama was created by none other than Joss Whedon. After such success with "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," it was a shock that this utterly original and compelling show was cancelled before it's season one finale even aired. Alas, "Firefly" was either before it's time or way after it, because years after it's cancellation it exploded into a cult classic. The plot follows war veteran-turned scavenger Malcolm Reynolds and his rag tag crew as they carry various illegal cargos across a newly terra-formed, wild west-esque galaxy, all the while avoiding the galactic authorities and several enemy scavengers. This show has a little bit of everything, from a brother helping his telepathic sister escape a corrupt government facility to a preacher with a very mysterious past and more than adept fighting skills. Even with only one season, the characters and the unique plotlines make this show a must watch. There's also a follow up film (also on Netflix) called "Serenity" which ties up some loose ends and answers some of the bigger fan questions.

Honorable Cast Mentions: Everyone

Number of Seasons: 1 + a film sequel

8. "Mixology" (2013 -2014)

Another show that was unfortunately cut down after it's first season. "Mixology" is a comedy/drama that follows ten singles through one hilarious night out at a bar. Couples break up, make up, and meet up over the course of this one night and the show keeps you guessing about who will be going home together at closing time. I can't stress enough how funny this show is, and with episodes only twenty minutes long it's a quick four hour binge if you want to watch it straight through (which I know because I've done it, twice)

Honorable Cast Mentions: The whole cast is pretty good, I loved Andrew Santino as Bruce

Number of Seaons: 1

9. "The X-Files" (1993 - Present)

"The X-Files" is a classic, and it's also a huge binge commitment with 10 seasons and counting. That said, however, this show is a classic for a reason. The plot centers around FBI Agents Mulder and Scully who are assigned to the dreaded X-Files, a collection of unexplained cases involving everything from telekinesis to alien abduction. Mulder is a firm believer in both the alien and the supernatural while Scully takes a skeptical, scientific approach to each of the cases they encounter. The show deals with their relationship, and with the vast government conspiracies and cover-ups they discover along the way. The truth is out there, and it's the truth that "The X-Files" is very good and very binge-able if you're willing to make a long term commitment to it.

Honorable Cast Mentions: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, always Duchovny and Anderson.

Number of Seasons: 10, possibly more to come

10. "Psych" (2006 - 2014)

While I'm usually not a fan of crime solving dramas, "Pysch" is the one exception. This kooky comedy follows Shawn Spencer, a quick-witted bum who uses his superior skills of observation to convince the Santa Barbara Police Department that he is a psychic and con them into allowing him to help solve cases as their one and only supernatural consultant. Along with his best friend Gus, he starts a private investigation agency named Pysch under this pretense, and continues to solve crimes both independently and with the help of a few skeptic detectives. The humor on this show is quick and sometimes very silly, and the characters are very loveable.

Honorable Cast Mentions: James Roday and Dule Hill as Shawn and Gus, Timothy Omundson as Detective Carlton Lassiter

Number of Seasons: 8