Let me say at the outset: I'm not sitting home binge-watching Survivor, Real Housewives, American Idol or reruns of Seinfeld. But I have been thinking about some film and television treasures that might be good choices for you while we're sheltered in place. Here are some ideas.

Centennial. Based on James A. Michener's 1974 book (published in the lead-up to America's bicentennial in 1976), Centennial, was a 12-part made for television mini-series. While not a chronicle of actual events, the sweep and depth of the story, the characters and the fictionalized history of this 21-hour production is outstanding. It's not perfect but then what television is? The cinematography, inter-woven story lines, and the historic and contemporary issues of America's western migration come together beautifully. The large ensemble cast (100+) also helps make this worth 21 hours of your life.

Centennial's cast includes Raymond Burr, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad, Richard Crenna, Chad Everett, Brian Keith, Sally Kellerman, Donald Pleasence, Lynn Redgrave, Dennis Weaver, Timothy Dalton, Andy Griffith, Gregory Harrison, David Janssen, Robert Vaughn, A Martinez, Chief Dan George, Clint Walker and more.

Do you have a prefererence for real history as opposed to television history? Try The World At War. The WWII series, first broadcast in 1973, is a thoroughly compelling look at how the world went to war (long before Pearl Harbor), how allied partnerships were created, and who were the ultimate victors were. Narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier, the marriage of archival footage and contemporary (1973) interviews makes for an amazing journey. Baby Boomers and younger generations will be drawn in. High school and college-age students, used to getting their information from video and film should watch too. It is (or was) available on an 11-disc DVD set with a total running time of 22+ hours. Even if you believe you know the story, the series will give you plenty to think about.

Connections. This BBC series, produced in 1978, is the creation of James Burke. Born in Northern Ireland, educated at Oxford, Burke developed a keen sense for science and injected this production with just enough humor—often dry.

In the original 10-part series, Burke looks at the relationship between invention and discovery and how often seemingly unrelated events find themselves tied together. For example, in one episode he asks "How did a test of gold's purity revolutionize the world 2500 years ago and lead to the atomic bomb?" In each of the ten episodes he connects the dots in an entirely unexpected and compelling fashion.

Woodstock: As I've written before, almost everyone who tells you they were at Woodstock in 1969 probably weren't. The closest I got to the festival was living 900 miles west in Wisconsin. That weekend in August 1969 changed the music business in many ways, not the least of which was its confirmation of the power of music on an entire generation. Luckily the event was captured on film.

Director Michael Wadleigh's final cut runs 225 minutes and contains performances by Crosby Stills & Nash, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, The Who, Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, Country Joe and The Fish, Arlo Guthrie, Jefferson Airplane, Melanie, Santana, Sly & the Family Stone, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Feel the music, feel the times.

In addition to Woodstock, I have other music-documentary films to offer. All three were directed by Robert Mugge. Bob and I met in 1993 when I picked up his film Pride & Joy: The Story of Alligator Records (BMG Video). It was one of those films that almost didn't happen. But it did, and as it turned out Bob and I would make an additional 3 films together in 1994 including Gather at the River.

He also produced and directed Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage at the Crossroads and Hellhounds on my Trail: The Afterlife of Robert Johnson.

Deep Blues (1990, 90 minutes) is perhaps his best. L.A. Times writer Michael Wilmington might agree. He wrote, "Robert Mugge's "Deep Blues is a movie no blues lover, no popular music aficionado, and no devotee of American culture and folkways should miss. It's a genuine document, deep and earthy; a peek into our national soul." Bob is like that. He digs deep and delivers.

Hellhounds on my Trail (1999) is one of those films that Bob and I talked about doing together. We didn't get to complete it while I was at BMG, but happily the film got made in 1999.

For the uninitiated, Robert Johnson was a Delta Blues pioneer. An original. In his short life (27 years) he could not have anticipated that his influence would be felt by a generation of rock & rollers in the 1960s, including Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones. His influence continues today.

The title of the film is based on a legend, a truth, or perhaps an apochryphal tale. The story goes that Johnson, who died in 1938, sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads, and in return he was given mastery over the guitar. The New York Times' Stephen Holden wrote about Hellhounds on My Trail: The Afterlife of Robert Johnson.

The movie focuses on a week-long tribute to Johnson presented in September 1998 by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. Part academic study, part concert film, the movie features some wonderful performances of Johnson's music.

Performers include Robert Lockwood Jr., Chris Whitley, Rory Block, Tracy Nelson, Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Bob Weir, Joe Louis Walker, Billy Branch, Keb' Mo', Roy Rogers (of Delta Rhythm Kings fame), Sonny Landreth and Bill Morrissey.

The final Bob Mugge film I want to mention is Gather At The River: A Bluegrass Celebration. During an extended road trip (about a month, as I recall) Bob shot almost all of the footage for three films. The centerpiece, Gather At The River was a revelation for me. Filmed during the 1994 annual celebration at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky it features performances by Tim O'Brien, Del McCoury, Ralph Stanley, Doc Watson, Johnson Mountain Boys, Hazel Dickens and Peter Rowan. Rowan narrates much of the film and his presence makes a world of difference. I'm forever thrilled about my time on the road with Robert Mugge and watching him at his craft.

While we're sheltering in place, try any of these film and television titles for a distinctly wonderful diversion from the outside world. Search the web for a streaming availability. Any one of these titles will be worth your time and good for the soul.

Pictured above: Robert Mugge, Irma Thomas, and Morgan Freeman.