Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, is Election Day in America, the culmination of more than a year of announcements, primaries, mudslinging, potential arguments with friends and family, campaign ads and incessant coverage.
Many folks will be tuned in to their TVs and devices today to find out the election results. But what if you’re either too stressed out and nervous to watch election coverage, or are simply too tired from the politics of the past year and lack the energy or will to tune in? Don’t worry. For you, there are other things to watch on Election Day besides election returns, even though other networks have by and large stayed away from scheduling new programming against the election (but not entirely). Here are a few primetime highlights for those looking to get away from the election for a bit.
Nov. 8 Election Day 2016 Non-Election Primetime Programming Highlights (All Times ET)
Vegas Rat Rods — Discovery Channel, beginning at 1pm. I’ve honestly never heard of this show, but if you’re into refurbishing hot rods, you might want to tune in for this marathon that goes deep into the night on Election Day.
The Curse of Oak Island — History, beginning at 11am. This marathon of episodes from History’s reality series runs into primetime and late in the evening.
Too Cute! — Animal Planet, beginning at 3pm. Beginning Election Day afternoon and continuing late into the evening, nothing could be more soothing to jangled political nerves than this marathon of episodes featuring lovable and fuzzy kitties and puppies.
Impractical Jokers — truTV, beginning at 3pm. Several hours of the network’s hit prank show go on well into the evening on Election Night.
Escape the Election — The Weather Channel, beginning at 3pm. Weather Channel offers a nine-hour “chill” marathon that includes the most beautiful, awe-inspiring and calming weather video and scenery. This is probably my “pick to click” tonight and may be my go-to to flip away from poll numbers once in a while.
Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies — All day and night on Hallmark Channel. Hallmark Channel seems to get a jump on the holiday season even sooner than retail stores do, but today might be an especially good day to turn your mind toward all things merry and bright.
If Loving You Is Wrong — OWN, beginning at 4pm. A marathon of episodes from Tyler Perry’s primetime soap opera.
Cops — WGN America, beginning at 4pm. I suppose if you’re really desperate for an escape, you can tune in to many hours of the long-running reality show, which goes late into the evening.
Haunted Collector — Destination America, beginning at 7pm. Several episodes of the paranormal series.
Life Below Zero — National Geographic, beginning at 7pm. Several episodes of Nat Geo’s reality series.
College Football: Western Michigan at Kent State — ESPN2, 7:30pm live.
The Flash: “Flashpoint” — The CW, 8pm. The CW is the only broadcast network not airing live election coverage, and they must realize many people will be tuning in to the political coverage. So rather than air a first-run episode, they are repeating the Season 3 premiere of The Flash, which first aired Oct. 4. Following this, you can also watch the repeat “No Doubt” episode of the network’s new series, No Tomorrow.
Rawlings Gold Glove Awards Show — ESPN, 8pm. Host Karl Ravech, and analysts Alex Cora and Doug Glanville, lead coverage of the ceremony that gives out the iconic award honoring baseball defensive excellence in the American and National Leagues. The telecast will include interviews with the 2016 award winners and a special edition of Baseball Tonight‘s “Web Gems,” highlighting the best defensive plays of this past baseball season.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 — FX, 8pm. Back-to-back airings of the 2014 animated feature.
The Simpsons — FXX, beginning at 8pm. A few hours of the long-running animated family’s misadventures should take your mind off the state of things.
The Big Bang Theory — TBS, beginning at 8pm. TBS is sticking to its usual Tuesday night marathon of TBBT episodes.
WWE SmackDown — USA Network, 8pm. Wrestling lets up for nothing! Maybe you’ll want to watch people fighting over non-political reasons, for a change. Now that Dean Ambrose is the top contender, what’s next for champion AJ Styles? Also, Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss finally throw down for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Tonight’s telecast originates from Glasgow, Scotland.
Channel Zero: Candle Cove: “Guest of Honor” — Syfy, 9pm. One of the few new episodes airing tonight, the latest installment of Syfy’s creepy freshman series finds Mike (Paul Schneider) and Amy (Luisa D’Oliveira) hunting for the creator of Candle Cove. But Mike soon learns that the creator isn’t who he thought it was. Meanwhile, a brutal crime shocks the Iron Hill police force.
Aftermath: “What the Thunder Said” — Syfy, 10pm. Another new episode of a Syfy series. With volcanic Mount Rainier about to erupt, a mysterious figure tells the family their only salvation is back on the deadly mountain.
Streaming Services — If nothing non-election-related on your cable or satellite service appeals to you, then tonight might be a good time to discover, or finish watching, some hot original streaming shows. I would recommend Marvel’s Luke Cage, Stranger Things, Black Mirror or The Crown on Netflix; Chance on Hulu; and the Aussie crime thriller Deep Water on Acorn TV.
DVR — If you’re like most people, you have a lot of stuff cluttering up your DVR. I suppose if worse comes to worst tonight and you can’t find any other programming to enjoy, you can go back in and watch some of the shows that have been collecting cobwebs in the dark corners of your DVR.
