Ah, the need for distraction continues. Even though you might say round one of the pandemic can be seen in the rear view mirror, I'm afraid we have entered round two and then....?!? 

One of the best medicines I have is to distract myself. And I do this in a number of ways, one of which is TV viewing--watching shows on my laptop, television or other assorted devices. Over-the-top reality shows, comedies, some dramas and documentaries are regular tools that take my mind off the despair that seems endless.

Here are three upcoming shows I think will be a good bet:

1. Dickinson- The show is based on the poet Emily Dickinson and is a fanciful spin on an enigmatic historical figure. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was a brilliant writer who composed the classic poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." The artist focused on the subjects of immortality and death in many of her writings. She led a solitary lifestyle which likely fed her complex thought patterns. "Dickinson" has been called the 'poet of paradox' because of her skilled use of contrast. Only a few of the 1800 poems written by Emily Dickinson were published before her death. Apple TV put the show on in November 2019 and its popularity has soared. Created by Alena Smith, the program stars the effervescent 24-year-old actress/singer Hailee Steinfeld, who received an Academy Award nomination for "True Grit" at the tender age of 13. Season 2 starts on January 8. I enjoyed season one.

2. Foundation- The sci-fi show is based on the book series by the prolific writer/biochemist Isaac Asimov and was created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman. Asimov's first three "Foundation" books won the Hugo Award in 1966 for the Best All-Time Series. The protagonist of the new program is a mathematician played by the brilliant 59-year-old actor Jared Harris, formerly of "Mad Men" and "The Crown." He designs mathematical models that predict when the Galactic Empire will crumble. And he also works on algorithms in the hope of mitigating the expected end of the Empire. The show has a big budget so special effects should be spectacular. Apple TV is developing the series. The release date has not been announced.

3. Ms. Marvel- This looks like a good one that will be released late this year. The show is being developed by Disney TV and is written and executive produced by Risha K. Ali. It is based on the brand new Marvel Comics superhero, Pakistani-American Kamala Khan. The Canadian teen actress Iman Vellani, the daughter of Muslim immigrants, will make her on-screen debut in the much-anticipated series that is scheduled to lead into a Captain Marvel 2 series. Kudos to Disney for highlighting a character from another country. After all, we live in a multicultural world and media should reflect that.

That's a wrap from my small lineup. Happy viewing!