Rohan Browne, star of the smash hit stage musical Singin’ in the Rain, is happy when it rains. You can be, too. Picture: Liam Kidston

Losing Bowie, Prince, Alan Rickman and Gene Wilder all in the same year. That dang Game Of Thrones season seven leak ...

If you can’t shake a general sense of doom and gloom about the world right now after Donald Trump’s election, we’ve got the antidote.

We asked the experts — from writers and reviewers to the folk who make the entertainment we love — to take us to their happy place: the songs, TV shows, movies and books that never fail to put a smile on their dial.

Think of it as your Happiness Survival Guide.

Use it this weekend and everything will be OK (at least for a period of three minutes to two hours).

As Pharrell once said: Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the woman who gaffes her way to the White House in the must-see Veep. Picture: FoxtelSource:Supplied

ANNA BRAIN

Switched On TV reviewer

We won’t be hearing the words “Madam President” any time soon, so console yourself with Veep (season four onwards, though we won’t argue if you binge the whole thing) — a glorious imaginary world in which Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has awkwardly scrambled her way to the top, despite gaffes so outrageous they make Trump seem like an etiquette expert. It’s a far-fetched, political comedy set in Washington, a biting satire that rings scarily true.

Find it on Foxtel Play

ANDREW McCLELLAND

Comedian and DJ

Comedian Andrew McClelland has a trick to stop worrying. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a 1964 political satire black comedy. What can you do in the face of cosmic absurdity? Laugh at it. Sure, the world gets destroyed at the end, but straddling that nuclear bomb like a cowboy on a bull is a hell of a ride. Alternatively, Cliff Richard’s 1963 film Summer Holiday is a lot of fun, isn’t it?

PETER KURUVITA

Chef, restaurateur and TV host

Peter Kuruvita’s Coastal Kitchen premieres tonight on SBS at 8.30pm

Feel-good foodie Peter Kuruvita is all about the positive. Picture: Lachie MillardSource:News Corp Australia

When Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy came out, the place I worked was very stressful, and the owner was pushing hard to make our life hell, including removing the radio from the kitchen. When the song came on, my sous chef Stephan jumped up on the kitchen bench and started singing out loud, and we all joined in.

The other reason for my love of this song is it is true: life can’t be that bad, just be happy and move on. This is the way I treat every day, there is always some thing to be happy about, my glass is always half full. Even out of adversity, good things can come if you look for it and be positive.

CHRISSIE SWAN

Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam & Browny

Nova’s Chrissie Swan and her kids have an album that brings on the boogie. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Paul Simon’s Graceland album never fails to cheer me up. I’ve loved it since I was 13 and I know all the words to every song. Every time I put it on my kids get up and boogie with me. It’s our no-risk disc!

FELICITY HARLEY

Women’s Health editor

womenshealth.com.au

Women’s Health editor Felicity Harley recommends Ron Burgundy. Picture: Dreamworks / Everett CollectionSource:Supplied

Watch Anchorman! Laugh at it, loathe it and listen to Ron Burgundy’s brilliant one-liners. Remind yourself that America does produce great self-parodies for the rest of the world to enjoy. As the character Champ Kind said: “It is anchorman, not anchorlady. And that is a scientific fact.”

CAMERON ADAMS

News Corp Australia National Music Writer

Why wait for the weekend? Click and feel good NOW.

Junior Senior are now getting their bills paid by this song being used for department store ads in Australia. It’s been 10 years since they split ... because when this was your first hit, how do you top it?

UK comic David Armand had been doing his very literal interpretation of the lyrics of Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn for a while. Then at a charity show she joined in the fun ...

WATCH: David Armand and Natalie Imbruglia reinvent Torn

What do you get when Mr Bean sings with Kate Bush? This. It’s 30 years old but is a great parody of cheesy duets, with Kate keeping a perfectly straight face.

BLANCHE CLARKE

Herald Sun Books Editor

My LOL book is Girt by David Hunt, which is an irreverent take on Australian history. You get the chance to chortle at a lot of old white guys throwing their weight around — a perfect Trump antidote. True Girt Volume 2 is out this month. Great timing.

Read David Hunt’s Girt for guaranteed Aussie LOLsSource:Supplied

Debbie and Gene never fail to perk us up.Source:AFP

GUY DAVIS

Movie critic (Geelong Advertiser), columnist (The Music)

After a day that mixed steadily-mounting disbelief and increasingly-looming despair, I reached for two things: a good bottle of red and my DVD of Singin’ In the Rain. Gene Kelly’s cocky charm, Debbie Reynolds’ weapons-grade perkiness and the vim and vigour of Donald O’Connor versus the post-election blues? No contest.

DAN ROSEN

ARIA Chief Executive Officer

Don’t miss the 30th Anniversary ARIA Awards on Network 10 and WIN, November 23 from 7.30pm AEDT

ariaawards.com.au

I put on Hi Fi Way by You Am I and play air drums to the end of Purple Sneakers.

CYCLONE WEHNER

Hit Music Reviewer

Coffee, choccy, and a late-night bingewatching The Vampire Diaries and The Originals (again) — epic romances with vampires, werewolves and witches are very transportative. Even the villains have redeeming qualities — and good lines.

Binge on vampires. Forget the real world. Picture: Channel 9Source:Supplied

JENNIFER DUDLEY-NICHOLSON

News Corp Australia, National Technology Editor

The Goonies is more than a coming-of-age film. It’s a tight group of friends rising up against criminals, an Indiana Jones-style treasure hunt and, ultimately, acceptance of someone who was only ever scary on the surface. It also features sweet, homemade 1980s-style gadgets, half of the two Coreys, and the Truffle Shuffle. No one can be sad in the face of the Truffle Shuffle. No one.

This picture of The Goonies may be black and white, but the 1985 kids’ classic is full-colour-fun. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

RICARDO GONCALVES

SBS World News presenter, SBS Finance Editor and Small Business Secrets presenter

Tina Arena’s Aimer jusqu’à l’impossible. My French is very limited, well, virtually non-existent, but I do know that this song says that having the ability to love, even in impossible circumstances, makes everything better. I think. Anyway, the melody is great.

JASON SINGH

Solo singer/songwriter, Taxiride

facebook.com/iamjasonsingh

Any song that Siri picks from Sign O’ the Times works to make me smile. If I Was Your Girlfriend and Strange Relationship, especially, take me to my happy place. Music always does that, no matter when you hear it — your mind goes back to when you first heard it and how you were feeling at that time in your life. With these songs, I’m back to being an awkward teenager discovering what I wanted to be when I grew up.

KATHY McCABE

News Corp Australia National Music Writer

There is one man millions of people have turned to for an instant mood adjustment. Psy. Gangnam Style still exerts its glorious influence over popular culture four years after its horsey dance first delighted the masses. The video has everything you need to turn that sad face upside down from explosions to flash mobs, cute kid choreography to awful fashion. Almost 2.7 billion views can’t be wrong.

ROD CHESTER

News Corp Australia National Technology Writer

Donald Trump might have just beaten one smart woman, but he can’t beat two smart women, especially when they’re fuelled on caffeine and firing off pop culture references at double speed. When the going gets tough, the tough get going to The Gilmore Girls. Think of it also as preparation for the new Netflix series. Start with the series pilot and you’ll be calling for political sanity like Lorelai calling for coffee: Please, Luke. Please, please, please!

The Gilmore Girls are the TV equivalent of a caffeine hit. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Corp Australia

Long may the monarchy reign over us — especially if it’s Netflix series The Crown. Picture: NetflixSource:AP

MARC FENNELL

Host of The Feed on SBS 2

I’m gonna watch s--- tonnes of Peppa Pig because as far as my kids are concerned “Donald Trump” is a new species of radish we just planted in the veggie box. And I’d like to keep it that way. Then I’m gonna watch The Crown on Netflix because the monarchy is looking pretty good to me right now.

ROHAN BROWNE

Leading man in Singin’ In the Rain, the musical, currently touring Australia.

Adelaide season starts December 1; Perth starts December 31.

singin.com.au

Regardless of how I’m feeling, the TV show that will ALWAYS make me feel like life is worth living and that I can face anything the world throws at me is Curb Your Enthusiasm. Because no matter how badly you put your foot in your mouth or how terribly your day has gone, Larry David has ALWAYS done worse and on a much larger scale!

US funnyman Larry David always puts a smile on Singin’ stage star Rohan Browne’s dial. Picture: Chris McCormackSource:News Corp Australia

JENNIFER HANSEN

Smoothfm 91.5’s More Music Breakfast Show

If life is looking a little bleak, I enjoy nothing more than curling up on the couch and watching a favourite TV show or movie that instantly transports you to a lighter, brighter place.

A Place To Call Home takes the viewer to a time when life was simpler — a yesteryear where there were no computers or smart phones, and you can let other people’s family dramas consume you.

Modern Family never fails to make me laugh. I adore all the characters for their individuality and their flaws.

And if I were to pick my top feel-good film, it would have to be the new Bridget Jones’ Baby. I don’t think I’ve ever walked out of the cinema with such a spring in my step as I did after seeing this latest instalment — full of warmth and brilliant humour. An absolute delight.

Bridget Jones’s Baby put a spring in Jennifer Hansen’s step. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

MATT WINDLEY

Herald Sun Sport Reporter

Nothing gets you up more than blasting out a few NSYNC, Five (or 5ive, if you wish) and Backstreet Boys songs in a row. Don’t believe me? You try singing It’s Gonna Be Me and Just Want You To Know back-to-back and tell me you don’t feel up and about.

NATALIE TRAN

Host of SBS PopAsia, #HashtagHits and Miss World Vietnam Australia 2013

Relaxing on a sunny day with my favourite Korean pop band Bangtan Boys, aka BTS, blasting through the speakers ... With friends, my dogs, and an endless amount of sushi being served ... I’ll be one happy girl.

SBS PopAsia’s Natalie Tran counts on K-Pop. Picture: SBSSource:SBS

Fellow PopAsia host Andy Trieu scares away the blues. Picture: SBSSource:SBS

ANDY TRIEU

Host of SBS PopAsia

Nothing beats a good horror movie! Blair witch, The Conjuring etc ... Feeding your brain supernatural fears so you can avoid real life ones — like that election.

CALLAN McAULIFFE

Actor is starring in new Australian film The Legend Of Ben Hall, in cinemas December 1

Watch the trailer here

Aussie actor Callan McAuliffe has a cure for all your ills, my precious ... Picture: Virginia YoungSource:News Corp Australia

Concerning Hobbits, from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack, is so powerfully evocative of the scene over which it originally played that I’d wager there are few maladies in this world so bad as to go uncured — if only for a few selfish minutes — by the visions it recalls of The Shire.