America's Favorite TV Shows to Fall Asleep to

Ahead of World Sleep Day (March 13) and amid daylight saving time (March 8), Casino Guru USA surveyed 3,000 Americans to delve into watching TV as a sleeping ritual, revealing just how common it is across the country and in every state, and of course, the favorite shows to fall asleep to.

Key findings:

More than 30 years on since it first aired, Friends is still America’s favorite show to fall asleep to, taking the top spot in 12 states

• The Office ranks #2, topping the list in 9 states, followed by Family Guy, which is favored by 7 states
• Nearly a third (31%) of Americans say they watch TV a few times a week to help them fall asleep, while more than a quarter (28%) do so every night
• This habit appears to work for many, with 42% saying they fall asleep within 30 minutes of watching TV
• Gen X follow this sleeping ritual the most with 73% reporting that they use TV at least once a week to catch some Zs, compared to Gen Z at 71% and Millennials at 68%

America’s favorite TV shows to fall asleep to

From nostalgic shows that remain well-loved decades after concluding to animated and easy-to-follow plots, Americans are choosing light-hearted comedies for optimal relaxation and easy sleep.

Friends ranks #1 as the most popular TV show for slumber – and it’s the top choice in 12 states, including Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas. A familiar favorite, this classic sitcom is an easy watch that requires little attention – and for many fans who’ve seen the episodes countless times, drifting off as it plays means you’re not going to miss anything you haven’t seen.

The Office sits in second place and takes the top spot in 9 states, including California, Nevada, and New Jersey. This may be the perfect option for those that need something well known with a low intensity while preferring a show that lacks a laugh track.

In third is Family Guy, which is the favorite for hitting the hay in 7 states, like New York, Georgia, and Virginia. With non-continuous episodes, there’s no need to rewind to catch up on anything missed after dozing off – and the familiarity of the voices and jazzy music in between scenes is bound to be comforting for avid watchers.

TV sleeping habits in America

According to the research, millennials are most reliant on watching TV to help with sleep – a staggering 44% reported watching TV to fall asleep at least once a week, with more than a quarter (27%) saying that they do so every night.

Gen X comes next, with 27% watching TV at least once a week to doze off, followed closely by Gen Z at 22%. When it comes to Baby Boomers, their sleeping habits differ drastically, with only 7% watching TV to help with shut-eye at least once a week.

Familiar shows prove to be the favorite, with almost half (49%) reporting that they choose something they’ve already seen before, while one-third 33% said that they would choose something light-hearted or funny. And of course, a simple storyline means less need for focus and more time for relaxation – so it makes perfect sense that 32% said they choose a TV show with a predictable and easy plot.

Those who opt for comedies appear to drift off the fastest – 49% say they fall asleep in under half an hour, compared to only 29% who opt for a suspense-filled drama instead. So, that complex plot of your go-to show that keeps you on the edge of your seat might not be doing you any favors.

Conclusion

According to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Chivonna Childs, some people use TV to help with sleep as it acts as a distraction from feelings of isolation and mental restlessness: "It is soothing, it is calming to us, it's almost akin to having white noise."

This highlights why comedies are the clear favorite when it comes to choosing a TV show to fall asleep to. Sowhether it’s an old favorite like Friends with iconic one-liners or something crude and risque like Family Guy, these shows allow you to distract yourself from life’s stresses, to help you sleep better.

Methodology

In March 2026, we conducted a survey of 3,000 Americans, asking about their experiences with watching TV to fall asleep and their preference of genre and shows.

Respondents were sourced from across all 50 states, with sample sizes weighted to ensure geographic and demographic representation.

Fair use

Feel free to use the data or visuals on this page for non-commercial purposes. Please be sure to include proper attribution linking back to this page to give credit to the authors.