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20 Classic TV Shows To Watch Before You Grow Up
A 16 y/o girl (my daughter) has recognized there are some gaps in her cultural literacy. To wit: she has never watched "Friends" and doesn't get any of the many references to the show. Ditto "Seinfield".
We are discussing what TV shows she should watch, at least several episodes of, both to fill these gaps and as a general education in the cultural history of American TV. I'm thinking that popularity alone isn't the test. For example, "Moonlighting" and "thirtysomething" were very popular in their day, but I'm not sure how much you miss, either in grasping references or in appreciating the history of TV, if you've never watched an episode. As you get to older shows, seems to me the bar is raised because they are not referred to much today, and thus their main value is historical. Which can, admittedly, be huge. For example, "All In The Family", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". But, some shows of that era are still relevant today, like "Star Trek". There are some shows that I think are notable just for visual style. "Miami Vice" or "Hill Street Blues", maybe. And some shows were simply so well written or acted that perhaps they should be watched, just to appreciate the craftsmanship. Maybe a show like "Fraiser". This is a project around older shows, by the way. We're not really thinking about shows later than 2000. What would your list be? Let's limit it to 20 shows. I'll burn DVDs and send them weekly to her at camp this summer. She and the other kids can spend their hours off work getting educated in classic TV culture and, hopefully, not drinking and who knows what else. Last year I sent her daily reports on the Tour de France. I've been advised to raise my game this year . . . Last edited by jyl; 03-15-2013 at 12:32 PM.. |
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03-15-2013, 12:27 PM
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I think you need examples of all the typical genres: situation comedy (star-based and ensemble), medical drama, crime drama, western, prime-time soap, sci-fi, etc. In no particular order:
MASH I Love Lucy Honeymooners You Bet Your Life Twilight Zone All in the Family Mary Tyler Moore Show Dragnet Gilligan's Island Hill Street Blues St. Elsewhere Love American Style Law and Order Bob Newhart Show (original, not Newhart) Dallas Bonanza Taxi Hawaii 5-0 Sonny and Cher (or Carol Burnett Show) Plenty of others though... |
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03-15-2013, 12:38 PM
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Get off my lawn!
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Cheers & Taxi.
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Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
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03-15-2013, 12:41 PM
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that's very good start...
throw in Lawrence Welk just to hear her.. WTH is that.. use the Beatles intro to the US.. Rika |
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03-15-2013, 12:42 PM
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Excellent project, John, and wow, what an excellent list, Todd. I would throw in a few hours of Bugs Bunny with all the classic characters.
 Funny that even after all these years, the theme song from Taxi still runs through my head two or three times a week. _ |
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03-15-2013, 12:53 PM
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Model Citizen
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Smothers Brothers
Batman (With Burt Ward) Rowen and Martin's Laugh in Leave it to Beaver Combat The Jetsons (the original '62, '63 version, not the '80s version) The Dick Van Dyke show
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"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome" Last edited by herr_oberst; 03-15-2013 at 12:57 PM.. |
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03-15-2013, 12:54 PM
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I like the NS list, but have opinions on two of them:
MASH - has anyone tried to watch one lately. I did I saw very little humor in it, though when it was first on I thought it was hysterical. I Love Lucy - this show blows me away as the humor is still so very very relevant and still makes me laugh out loud. A little OT - but I had each of my kids watch Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List one time as a late teen.
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David 1972 911T/S MFI Survivor |
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03-15-2013, 12:56 PM
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Ayo Irpin, Ukraine!
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Hawaii Five O
Gunsmoke Get Smart Knight Rider Magnum PI Mission Impossible The Waltons Dr Who Monty Python Charlies Angels and of course....... BJ and the Bear Man O Man..
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03-15-2013, 01:03 PM
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Twilight zone for examples of great writing...
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03-15-2013, 01:06 PM
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Get off my lawn!
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I guess I bet get to watching.
I have not grown up yet. I have no plans to grow up. It's never too late for a happy childhood!
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Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
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03-15-2013, 01:08 PM
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Mayberry, R.F.D.
The Rifleman Gentle Ben Flipper Wild Wild West Early "60 Minutes"
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94 turbo 3.6 74 carrera RS race car 05 denali XL "We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us." Charles Bukowski |
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03-15-2013, 01:14 PM
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Don't forget the automotive theme of Cannonball in the '60s. Gunsmoke, Ponderosa. Saving Private Ryan does it for me. Anything with Carole Burnett too.
 The Ed Sullivan show was great. Lawrence Welk show was not my style. |
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03-15-2013, 01:15 PM
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Regenerated User
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Quote:
I agree with these MASH I Love Lucy Honeymooners Twilight Zone All in the Family Dragnet Gilligan's Island Bob Newhart Show (original, not Newhart) Dallas Bonanza Taxi Hawaii 5-0 Sonny and Cher (or Carol Burnett Show) I would add: Cheers The Flintstones Perry Mason Star Trek Leave it to Beaver Magnum PI Fantasy Island The Love Boat Happy Days/Laverne and Shirley Fat Albert Gomer Pyle Andy Griffith Dukes of Hazzard Wonder Woman Six million dollar man Hogan's Heroes Adam's Family Beverly Hillbillies Pink Panther Mr. Magoo Rocky and Bullwinkle The incredible Hulk Chips The Lone Ranger Mr. Roger's neighborhood I dream of Genie Bewitched Scooby Doo The Jetsons Superman Looney Tunes Abbott and Costello Dick Clark's dance show Kung Fu (David Caradine) The League of Justice
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My uncle has a country place, that no one knows about. He said it used to be a farm, before the motor law. '72 911T 2,2S motor '76 BMW 2002 |
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03-15-2013, 01:17 PM
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Quote:
Regarding MASH - depends on what season. It really was at least two different shows. The first 3-5 seasons were much more comedy, and it went more serious/pious after that. It certainly could be heavy-handed but it broke ground as comedy tackling bigger issues. The first 3 seasons with the original cast though - magic. Also agree that either Flintstones or Jetsons should be on the list as examples of early prime-time cartoons. Since Simpsons is still going strong no need to add that. I personally loved WKRP in Cincinnati but not really a cultural "must have". |
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03-15-2013, 01:23 PM
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Regenerated User
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Need to add
The Brady Bunch Father Knows Best
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My uncle has a country place, that no one knows about. He said it used to be a farm, before the motor law. '72 911T 2,2S motor '76 BMW 2002 |
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03-15-2013, 01:40 PM
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If I watch,
Andy Griffith Leave it to Beaver The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet My Three Sons I wonder where I went wrong with my kids!
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1987 Carrera |
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03-15-2013, 01:57 PM
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least common denominator
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Quote:
However recently watched an eposode of and Hawkeye comes of as a whiny little bey-och and a little hard to believe all army nurses are hotties... Friends, never could stand that show, truth in advertising it should have been call "Very good looking white people having sex with each other". +1 on Andy Griffin (the black and white) Dick Van Dyke, Lucy, etc. And Batman!
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Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone  1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
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03-15-2013, 02:19 PM
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Neat topic. Only an especially responsible parent would think of this.
. You boys have impressive memory banks. 
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Don . "Fully integrated people, in their transparency, tend to not be subject to mechanisms of defense, disguise, deceit, and fraudulence." - - Don R. 1994, an excerpt from My Ass From a Hole in the Ground - A Comparative View |
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03-15-2013, 02:20 PM
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Takin' hard left turns
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No mention of:
The Greatest American Hero? Tenspeed and Brownshoe? |
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03-15-2013, 02:28 PM
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So they get a dose of "counte" Culture:
Saturday Night Live...the Belushi, Akroyd and Murphy years.
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Jim 1987 Carrera 2002 BMW 525ti 1997 Buell Cyclone cafe project 1998 Buell S1W: "Angriest motorcycle I've ever ridden." |
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03-15-2013, 02:33 PM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
Carrera
Lexus RX350
1972 Porsche 911 T/S 1971 2,2S
Gretta
Hansel
