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10 shows presidential wannabes should see

From “The Middle” to “Empire,” a summer watchlist for the candidates.

There are now enough people officially running for president to qualify for a TLC show.

But while the entrance of Donald Trump and New Jersey's Chris Christie could add a little punch to "18 Candidates and Counting," the 2016 election is still 17 months away.

For now, I'd rather the men and women seeking our nation's highest office were spending a little less time on our TV sets and a little more in front of their own.

Because, like it or not, television is the national pastime. According to Nielsen, we average four hours and 55 minutes a day watching live TV, the biggest chunk of the more than 11 hours a day spent using electronic media. Our TV choices may not always reflect our real lives, but even the things we watch to escape say something about us.

In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama talked about the show he considered the greatest of all time, "The Wire." Rival Hillary Clinton was said to enjoy "Grey's Anatomy."

Once in the White House, President Obama somehow found time for shows like "Homeland," "Boardwalk Empire," "Game of Thrones" and "House of Cards," and, according to the New York Times, watched "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" on DVD.

Besides sports, President George W. Bush liked A&E's "Biography" series, according to the Washington Post, which said that President Ronald Reagan's favorite show was "Family Ties."

What should the men and women hoping to succeed them be watching to get ready for 2016?

While I'd love for them all to watch PBS' "Nova," here are 10 unscientific suggestions for those hoping to connect with voters:

* ABC's "The Middle." For Clinton, and any of the other 1 percenters looking to woo the middle class this election cycle, this comedy about an Indiana couple (Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn) juggling three children and multiple jobs could deliver the economic wake-up call they're never going to get from "Modern Family."

* The CW's "Jane the Virgin." Tempting as it is to recommend this charming telenovela adaptation for the Donald alone, I choose it not so much for its hardworking Latina title character, who puts his prejudices to shame, as for its anything-can-happen spirit. If there's anything people running for president need to remember, it's that anything can happen. Even an accidental pregnancy via artificial insemination.

* Netflix's "House of Cards." Think of it as a how-not-to guide to the presidency: Kevin Spacey plays President Frank Underwood, who's manipulated (and murdered) his way into the Oval Office with the help of his scary blonde wife, Claire (Robin Wright). If candidates find themselves breaking the fourth wall (or talking to people who aren't there), they'll know it's time to worry.

* FYI's "Tiny House Nation." From "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" to "Hoarders," much of "reality" television is consumed with consumption. For candidates looking outside the box for solutions, a show about people who choose to live inside boxes of less than 500 square feet could bring fresh perspectives about everything from the economy to the environment. Or at least offer a few ideas for furnishing a campaign bus.

* HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Conservatives will point out, rightly, that Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum, isn't likely to play for their team. But his issue-oriented comedy is just that: issue-oriented. From net neutrality to FIFA, he's been out in front of most news shows. He's also responsible for what's probably the hardest-hitting interview yet with Edward Snowden. Best of all, he's already said that it's way too early to be talking about 2016.

* Amazon's "Alpha House." Republican hopefuls may also be wary of "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau's raucous comedy about GOP senators (John Goodman, Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy and Mark Consuelos) sharing a house in Washington, D.C. But it shows a capital that, despite everything, still runs on relationships. And that's news that anyone who's running as an outsider could use.

* SundanceTV's "Rectify." TV drama already leans heavily against the death penalty, but few look at crime and punishment with the subtlety of this show, which returns for its third season on Thursday. Aden Young plays Daniel Holden, who's freed for a new trial after spending 19 years on Death Row for the murder of his high-school girlfriend. Did Daniel do it? Good question. Recommended for candidates on either side of the issue who are willing to risk a bit of uncertainty.

* ABC's "Fresh Off the Boat." The first network sitcom in 20 years to feature an Asian-American family might have something to say to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who famously nicknamed himself after a "Brady Bunch" character and who more recently has said that he's "tired of hyphenated Americans." Both "Fresh Off the Boat" and another ABC freshman, "Black-ish," show that hyphens don't make us any less American. Or any less funny.

* USA's "Mr. Robot." Could a millennial in a hoodie (Rami Malek) bring down the economy with a few lines of code? Anyone running for president should ask instead: Is there a reason he might want to?

* Fox's "Empire." A show about a murderous music mogul (Terrence Howard) who calls the current president "Barack" was one of last season's most popular shows. Make of that what you will, POTUS wannabes, but if his ex, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), weren't a convicted felon, I'd say you could do far worse for a running mate.

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