Meditative TV is having a moment, from Painting with John to How To with John Wilson to Chillin Island

GQ

"At first glance, it’s fair to assume other shows streaming on HBO Max like How to With John Wilson (which was recently renewed for a third season) and Chillin Island (which just wrapped its first) have nothing in common with Lurie’s anti-painting lesson show, besides sharing a network," says Jason Diamond. "But speaking as somebody who is usually anti-binge, I found myself tearing through all three shows. Watching Lurie’s show, had the same impact on my mood as Chillin Island, a show where three New Yorkers and a guest or two go way, way out of their element into nature, as did How To With John Wilson, the titular host’s quirky, off-beat love letter to New York City. Compared with other television shows, watching these required little to no involvement on my part. I didn’t have to get caught up in anything. I didn’t have to process a ton of drama. I never felt a little worse or more upset than I did before I turned them on. In fact, I usually felt refreshed. But there’s more that goes into meditative television. It’s not the same as what The New Yorker dubbed 'Ambient TV'; in fact, I find myself highly engaged."