Five courses tailor-made for couch potatoes

Teachers are always on the hunt for ways to get their students to relate to their lessons, and TV provides a great opportunity for that. While there's no substitute for the traditional classroom, enrolling in Living Room University isn't an entirely ridiculous notion. Consider the following potential classes:

Syllabus: "The Good Wife"

Course description: Broadcast TV's finest drama, which concludes this season, offers examples of how to navigate national and local campaigns while convincing the press that your personal life is running smoothly.

Extra credit: "Veep"

Syllabus: "Narcos"

Course description: Based loosely on the life and crimes of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, this show puts an emphasis on street slang that is missing from most textbooks.

Extra credit: "Jane the Virgin"

Syllabus: "Manhattan"

Course description: This behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the first atomic bomb focuses on fictional characters, but it does include some real historical figures, such as scientist Robert Oppenheimer.

Extra credit: "The Big Bang Theory"

Syllabus: "Billions"

Course description: This new offering shows how tycoons stay one step ahead of the competition with an unprecedented work ethic combined with sharp gambling instincts.

Extra credit: "Empire"

Neal Justin