Best Free Shows on Peacock, IMDb TV and More – CNET [CNET]

View Article on CNET

CNET logo Why You Can Trust CNET

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement

30 Rock, Downton Abbey, Battlestar Galactica. Enjoy some of the best free shows on Peacock without spending a penny.

rickbroida
rickbroida

Rick Broida Senior Editor

Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET’s popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook “I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie”).

We need “comfort TV” now more than ever. But at what price? Thankfully, if you have an internet connection fast enough for streaming, that price is zero. With NBC’s Peacock service, there’s more great free TV to watch than ever. Below I’ve rounded up a handful of the best free shows on Peacock and other services you can watch from start to finish, no charge.

The catch, of course, is that you’ll have to sit through commercial breaks, same as with classic broadcast TV of old. But here you can watch entirely on-demand, on your schedule, and on just about any device you want.

This is my must-see-free-TV list; hit the comments with your picks.

Read more: The best streaming device of 2023

“,”credits”:”NBC”,”imageData”:{“id”:”70c8a981-7d36-4702-9575-f9fc2022bb80″,”title”:”30 Rock (2006-2013)”,”filename”:”30-rock-cast.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/dd9i6hER6Qacwkah1GsxPU4M12M=/2020/07/17/70c8a981-7d36-4702-9575-f9fc2022bb80/30-rock-cast.jpg”,”caption”:”

Tracy Morgan, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski y Jack McBrayer en ’30 Rock’ (2006-2013)

“,”size”:351219,”width”:1920,”height”:1080,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-07-17 14:49:16″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-07-17 14:51:03″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”NBC”,”alt”:”30-rock-cast”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”70c8a981-7d36-4702-9575-f9fc2022bb80″,”imageAltText”:”30-rock-cast”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”NBC”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”30-rock-cast.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/07/17″,”imageWidth”:1920,”imageHeight”:1080,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”NBC” data-key=”cnetlisticle__29a0f32f-8980-4fb7-af76-9afd06a2f17e” position=”1″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

30-rock-cast

NBC

Tina Fey’s SNL-inspired workplace comedy remains as underrated now as it was during its seven-season run. That’s a shame, because it’s sharp, smart and laugh-out-loud hilarious — and doesn’t feel the least bit dated. The show took maybe half its first season to really find its footing, but by the end of S1 it was firing on all cylinders.

“,”credits”:”NBCUniversal”,”imageData”:{“id”:”6d569d9c-e5c2-48cf-9734-49ba0b28c605″,”title”:”battlestar-galactica-promo-image”,”filename”:”battlestar-galactica-promo-image.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/Z0nFaezJxdu7or24PpnweJqfvsc=/2019/10/19/6d569d9c-e5c2-48cf-9734-49ba0b28c605/battlestar-galactica-promo-image.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:195021,”width”:1800,”height”:1012,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2019-10-19 18:42:46″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2019-10-19 18:42:52″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”NBCUniversal”,”alt”:”battlestar-galactica-promo-image”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”6d569d9c-e5c2-48cf-9734-49ba0b28c605″,”imageAltText”:”battlestar-galactica-promo-image”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”NBCUniversal”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”battlestar-galactica-promo-image.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2019/10/19″,”imageWidth”:1800,”imageHeight”:1012,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”NBCUniversal” data-key=”cnetlisticle__d1b6028c-75fc-421b-b4ef-c85b9316cddd” position=”2″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

battlestar-galactica-promo-image

NBCUniversal

You don’t have to like sci-fi to love Battlestar Galactica, and you don’t need to know a single thing about the campy ’70s series that preceded this reboot. You just have to enjoy blistering drama, phenomenal acting and more plot twists than you can fit in an airlock.

If you’ve already seen the series and are getting ready for a rewatch, check out my list of the 15 top moments from Battlestar Galactica. (Warning: It’s nothing but spoilers.)

“,”credits”:”E!”,”imageData”:{“id”:”4ba98f6d-4ea7-46a0-b8c1-1c1dfb2bb9f8″,”title”:”burning-love-tv-series”,”filename”:”burning-love-tv-series.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/r-C3WOKJWd168ULGwEPr_C6jAD0=/2020/07/30/4ba98f6d-4ea7-46a0-b8c1-1c1dfb2bb9f8/burning-love-tv-series.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:215859,”width”:1440,”height”:750,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-07-30 17:57:41″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-07-30 17:59:03″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”E!”,”alt”:”burning-love-tv-series”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”4ba98f6d-4ea7-46a0-b8c1-1c1dfb2bb9f8″,”imageAltText”:”burning-love-tv-series”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”E!”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”burning-love-tv-series.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/07/30″,”imageWidth”:1440,”imageHeight”:750,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”E!” data-key=”cnetlisticle__a54e6df9-3493-4374-928e-1a7a40406c83″ position=”3″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

burning-love-tv-series

E!

Even if you’re not a fan of reality shows like The Bachelor, this criminally overlooked parody series (of shows like The Bachelor) will have you howling. It’s packed with familiar faces (Michael Ian Black, Kristin Bell and Jennifer Aniston, to name just a few — and that’s just in season 1), all of whom bring their comedy A-games to this sharp send-up. 

“,”credits”:”PBS”,”imageData”:{“id”:”5f88a168-5762-449c-ac58-b83a58edc546″,”title”:”Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Classic”,”filename”:”downtonabbeypbs.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/XtTvacgCMmFb0ADWI6j-UdnRYeI=/2019/09/24/5f88a168-5762-449c-ac58-b83a58edc546/downtonabbeypbs.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:591752,”width”:1000,”height”:563,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2019-09-24 20:52:25″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2019-09-24 20:52:54″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”PBS”,”alt”:”downtonabbeypbs”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”5f88a168-5762-449c-ac58-b83a58edc546″,”imageAltText”:”downtonabbeypbs”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”PBS”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”downtonabbeypbs.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2019/09/24″,”imageWidth”:1000,”imageHeight”:563,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”PBS” data-key=”cnetlisticle__678ee67d-c9a6-43d5-b41a-fec83fe259e7″ position=”4″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

downtonabbeypbs

PBS

Has there been a finer TV drama in the past decade? I think not. Downton Abbey proves that shows don’t have to be dark and depressing and populated with anti-heroes. Sure, it has bleak moments, but it’s also fun and funny, with characters you can’t help but love. Don’t think it’s your cup of Earl Grey tea? Watch one episode; I guarantee you’ll be hooked.

“,”credits”:”NBC”,”imageData”:{“id”:”beaf2913-f26b-4640-961d-a008e12f917c”,”title”:”Friday Night Lights [2006-2011]”,”filename”:”friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2018/09/21/beaf2913-f26b-4640-961d-a008e12f917c/friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula.jpg”,”caption”:”

Basada en la película homónima de 2004, la serie Friday Night Lights (2006-2011), creada por Peter Berg, es considerada como uno de los programas que dio origen a la actual era dorada de las series de TV, con 96 nominaciones (y 13 victorias) en los premios Emmy.

“,”size”:150800,”width”:1200,”height”:720,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2018-09-21 23:18:31″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2018-09-21 23:18:59″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”NBC”,”alt”:”friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”beaf2913-f26b-4640-961d-a008e12f917c”,”imageAltText”:”friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”NBC”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2018/09/21″,”imageWidth”:1200,”imageHeight”:720,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”NBC” usepricing=”false” data-key=”cnetlisticle__98c37261-0b01-47a8-ad7c-98369b9186b7″ position=”5″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

friday-night-lights-podria-ser-de-nuevo-una-pelicula

NBC

Just as Battlestar Galactica isn’t about spaceships, Friday Night Lights isn’t really about football. It’s a fully realized human drama, one that hums with relatable stories and lovable, often deeply flawed characters. The show came to IMDb TV a couple of years ago; it’s now available on Peacock as well.

“,”credits”:”AMC”,”imageData”:{“id”:”2606a737-e7be-45dc-8ee7-ce68b09ef4d0″,”title”:”mad-men”,”filename”:”170717-madmen-don.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/_OOEQXBbEBZ1ib2u-XvqHcG5uoE=/2020/07/02/2606a737-e7be-45dc-8ee7-ce68b09ef4d0/170717-madmen-don.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:5813228,”width”:3328,”height”:2219,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-07-02 04:32:13″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-07-02 04:32:41″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”AMC”,”alt”:”170717-madmen-don”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”2606a737-e7be-45dc-8ee7-ce68b09ef4d0″,”imageAltText”:”170717-madmen-don”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”AMC”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”170717-madmen-don.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/07/02″,”imageWidth”:3328,”imageHeight”:2219,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”AMC” data-key=”cnetlisticle__10a8c03c-15ae-40b0-892e-e74809ed6ecf” position=”6″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

170717-madmen-don

AMC

Mad Men is a slow burn, a show that takes time to flesh out its stories and characters. At first you’ll echo the first season’s underlying question, “Who the heck is Don Draper?” Then, in subsequent seasons, you’ll wonder, “What is Don Draper?” Hero? Villain? Something in between? It’s easy to see why this soapy slice of ’60s melodrama took home a suitcase full of Emmys.

“,”credits”:”ABC”,”imageData”:{“id”:”8cd4b707-548c-426d-88a6-d7374ad610c5″,”title”:”the-middle-2″,”filename”:”the-middle-2.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/oPpUp4rQ1KbfgRwcH5XL14Q0elU=/2020/07/28/8cd4b707-548c-426d-88a6-d7374ad610c5/the-middle-2.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:33846,”width”:740,”height”:416,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-07-28 20:50:41″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-07-28 20:50:45″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”ABC”,”alt”:”the-middle-2″,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”8cd4b707-548c-426d-88a6-d7374ad610c5″,”imageAltText”:”the-middle”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”ABC”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”the-middle-2.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/07/28″,”imageWidth”:740,”imageHeight”:416,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”ABC” data-key=”cnetlisticle__cb1d9963-1ca7-4144-b28f-120b2907afa1″ position=”7″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

the-middle-2

ABC

During its amazingly strong nine-season run, The Middle aired right after Modern Family, offering the perfect bookend to that show’s moneyed milieu. This quirky family lives a decidedly middle-class lifestyle in the middle of the country. The kids are weird, but not in a sitcom-y way. The parents work unglamorous jobs and would rather watch TV than, well, parent. It’s all wrapped in a funny, relatable, often sweet show that feels more real than most.

“,”credits”:”ABC”,”imageData”:{“id”:”6473c7b7-c744-437e-ad29-4d96f8797fb9″,”title”:”pushing-daisies”,”filename”:”pushing-daisies.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/2020/07/29/6473c7b7-c744-437e-ad29-4d96f8797fb9/pushing-daisies.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:210657,”width”:1200,”height”:680,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-07-29 19:30:53″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-07-29 19:30:57″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”ABC”,”alt”:”pushing-daisies”,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”6473c7b7-c744-437e-ad29-4d96f8797fb9″,”imageAltText”:”pushing-daisies”,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”ABC”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”pushing-daisies.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/07/29″,”imageWidth”:1200,”imageHeight”:680,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”ABC” usepricing=”true” data-key=”cnetlisticle__eb6982b3-60e1-4039-8e11-d73b96a0c4e2″ position=”8″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

pushing-daisies

ABC

Though it lasted just two short seasons, Pushing Daisies made a lasting impression. How can you not love a show about a lovestruck pie-maker who brings people back from the dead to help solve their own murders? And who literally cannot touch the object of his affections lest he send her back to the dead? It’s creepy, funny (the first episode is called “Pie-lette”), fantastical and oozing with charm.

“,”credits”:”Netflix/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET”,”imageData”:{“id”:”833d6167-9072-4fb7-94c8-9152a380620c”,”title”:”schitts-creek-1″,”filename”:”schitts-creek-1.jpg”,”path”:”https://www.cnet.com/a/img/hub/2020/04/20/833d6167-9072-4fb7-94c8-9152a380620c/schitts-creek-1.jpg”,”caption”:”

“,”size”:187718,”width”:1600,”height”:838,”dateCreated”:{“date”:”2020-04-20 18:55:17″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”dateUpdated”:{“date”:”2020-04-20 18:55:27″,”timezone”:”UTC”,”timezone_type”:3},”needsModeration”:false,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”deleted”:false,”credits”:”Netflix/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET”,”alt”:”schitts-creek-1″,”restricted”:false,”startDate”:null,”endDate”:null,”preferred”:false,”watermark”:false,”doNotCrop”:false,”doNotResize”:false,”primaryCollection”:null,”vanityUrl”:null,”notes”:null,”crop”:null,”cropGravity”:0,”preservedRegion”:null,”isNew”:false,”keywords”:[],”primeColor”:null,”hasWarning”:false,”typeName”:”content_image”},”uuid”:”833d6167-9072-4fb7-94c8-9152a380620c”,”imageAltText”:”schitts-creek-1″,”imageCaption”:”

“,”imageCredit”:”Netflix/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET”,”imageDoNotCrop”:false,”imageDoNotResize”:false,”imageWatermark”:false,”imageFilename”:”schitts-creek-1.jpg”,”imageDateCreated”:”2020/04/20″,”imageWidth”:1600,”imageHeight”:838,”imageParallax”:””,”imageCrop”:””,”imageEnlarge”:false}” overridecaption=”

” overridecredit=”Netflix/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET” usepricing=”false” data-key=”cnetlisticle__fde0ccb2-9e7d-4e9f-9f20-694fd69b2c94″ position=”9″ contenttype=”Product Advice” pagelayout=”Default – Article Page” showdetails=”true”>

schitts-creek-1

Netflix/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET

This is the one series here I haven’t yet seen, but you can bet it’s on my watch-list. That’s because everyone I know won’t shut up about it and it keeps appearing in “best series of the year” stories. In fact, Schitt’s Creek won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.

You can watch the first five seasons on IMDb TV; it’s also available on CW Seed.

katz-entertainment

Watch this: David Katzmaier’s tips for upgrading your home entertainment during COVID-19

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best BuyWalmartAmazon and more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page.

More home entertainment

Services and Software Guides

Other Services & Software