11 things to watch instead of the final presidential debate

Is this election over yet?
 By 
Nicole Gallucci
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Is this election over yet?

Unfortunately no, but hang in there, the third and final presidential debate is happening this Wednesday night.

With Election Day quickly approaching, some might consider this final debate a crucial time to see what these candidates are made of, but if you're so totally over watching Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton butt head, it's time to watch something else.


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Instead of spending the 90 minutes between 9:00 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET viewing the debate, here are 11 things to watch instead:

1. Political Saturday Night Live sketches

The 2016 presidential election has basically become indistinguishable from an SNL sketch, so why not take a break from watching the real Clinton and Trump and enjoy the terrifyingly accurate comedic stylings of Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. You can even take a break to jam to this brilliant Lemonade parody.

2. Hocus Pocus

Sure, it's almost election time, but it's also Halloween time. In case you weren't aware, Halloween is eight days before Election Day. So instead of the debate, you should probably just watch the iconic '90s film Hocus Pocus (featuring both Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler), which Freeform conveniently happens to be airing on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET.

3. Beyoncé's visual album, Lemonade

Speaking of Lemonade, once you're done watching the SNL parody a few times you can squeeze in a viewing of Beyoncé's flawless visual album. Lemonade is 65 minutes (and 32 seconds) of epic poetry and lyrics full of female empowerment and elevation of the black community -- two crucial topics relevant to the 2016 election. And hey, Beyoncé is 35 years old now, which means she's officially eligible to be our next president if Clinton and Trump don't work out.

4. The Cubs game

After 108 disappointing years, it looks like the Chicago Cubs might finally be well on their way to winning a World Series. Sorry, presidential debate, but the Cubs have been bringing the heat this season, and fans will not want to miss the team take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at 8:08 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

5. Cory in the House

There may never be a better time to revive the That's So Raven Disney Channel spinoff, starring Raven's clever and money-hungry brother Cory Baxter. While we await our new president, it's important that we revisit 2007, when Cory in the House's President Martinez ruled Washington, D.C., and Cory and his dad, the new White House chef, had the honor of chilling in the White House.

6. Southside with You

If you're just not ready to accept the fact that President Barack Obama has almost completed his eight years in office, you can use 84 minutes of the 90-minute debate slot to watch Southside with You -- the 2016 film about Obama going on his first date with now-FLOTUS Michelle Obama back in the summer of 1989.

7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Let's also consider using this valuable time to throw it back to 1992, when poor Kevin McCallister embarked on some wonderful New York adventures after once again being forgotten by his vacationing family. This feel-good film even includes a cameo by Donald Trump, so your night won't be completely rid of presidential candidates.

8. American Horror Story

It seems perfectly appropriate to take a break from the real life American horror story that is this election to watch the hit show American Horror Story. Chapter 6 of the sixth season, entitled, "American Horror Story: Roanoke," overlaps with the debate, so at 10 p.m. ET AHS fans are definitely going to want to change the channel to FX.

9. Napoleon Dynamite

Talk about a tense presidential election. If you're tired of watching Trump and Clinton go head to head, Napoleon Dynamite is the movie for you. Watch in amazement as quiet underdog Pedro Sanchez goes up against the popular Summer Wheatley to win the coveted title of high school class president in a nice election featuring truly excellent campaign T-shirts, buttons and posters. Perhaps if Clinton and Trump busted out some Dynamite moves we'd be able to tolerate another debate. Vote for Pedro 2016.

10. A little over 1/2 of The Sound of Music

Honestly, with the hustle and bustle of modern-day society, who has time to sit down and watch this beloved 2-hour-and 54-minute-long classic musical anymore? By not watching the debate, you'll automatically free up a solid 90 minutes of your life, and once you've experienced 90 minutes of Julie Andrews' angelic voice and the charming Von Trapp family you'll have no choice but to finish the other 84 minutes. Hopefully your faith in America will come alive again with the sound of music.

11. Cute cats GIFs

It's like Hillary Clinton said in regards to Donald Trump's news take-over at a fundraiser in San Francisco. This election "makes you want to unplug the internet or just look at cat GIFs." In fact, Clinton herself admitted to seeking solace from the political chaos by binging on cute cat GIFs so instead of watching this debate, let us do the same. And of course, there's always Mashable's debate night ASPCA Kitten livestream.

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Nicole Gallucci

Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.

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