Nothing influences our pop-cultural paradigm quite like television . Unlike in the movies, a TV show gives a sense of recurring familiarity — making the audiences feel as if they and the characters on screen are old friends.
It got me thinking that there are probably quite a few incredible TV shows that the younger generation isn’t even aware of — and probably never heard of. Have a look and see which ones you remember .
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*Wishbone*
I give full credit to Wishbone for helping to foster an early love of reading and a deep appreciation for fiction. Every episode, this lovable mutt would explore a different literary classic that would allegorically relate back to whatever problem his owner Joe was having.
*Gilligan’s Island*
This beloved short-lived comedy classic ran for only three seasons yet has been on the air in syndication for more than 50 years! The hilarious slapstick antics of Gilligan and the Skipper still slay me to this day.
*Mr. Bean*
The character of Mr. Bean proved to the world that sometimes — words are redundant. Rowan Atkinson never said a single word during his entire tenure as Mr. Bean (at least on TV) yet he was still one of the funniest comedic actors around.
*Fraggle Rock*
If you grew up worshipping The Muppets then you no doubt have had a run-in with Jim Henson’s lesser-known critters — the Fraggles of Fraggle Rock .
I know this will make me sound old but I really hate how CGI has all but replaced puppetry entirely.
*Married…With Children*
Have you ever been watching an old TV show and thought to yourself “well, this certainly wouldn’t fly in today’s culture.”
That’s Married…With Children to a “T.” Be forewarned that there are certain satirical aspects that have most definitely not aged well.
*Mork & Mindy*
Mork from Ork was the character the helped propel Robin Williams from the fringes of the unknown to the absolute forefront of the Hollywood spectacle. And to think, it’s all thanks to a random Happy Days episode.
*Shining Time Station*
This is one of those TV shows that fills me with equal parts nostalgia and embarrassment. The production is poor, the acting is dismal at best, but there’s something about Shining Time Station that just reminds me of home.
*Are You Afraid Of The Dark?*
I have incredibly deep psychological and emotional trauma and it’s all thanks to an utterly terrifying Canadian TV show called Are You Afraid of the Dark? I swear, I will have nightmares of “The Ghastly Grinner” until the day that I die.
*Recess*
If you really want to understand what life on the playground was like for a kid growing up in the ’90s, there’s no better show than Recess . The adventures of TJ and the gang will immediately transport you back to your childhood.
*Xena: Warrior Princess*
Lucy Lawless was a force to be reckoned with on Xena: Warrior Princess . She was a badass to boot and proof that not all heroes were musclebound men. Also, this show was incredibly violent in its later years and helped break down barriers for same-sex TV couples .
*Welcome Back, Kotter*
Do you know what a “Sweathog” is? Prepare to find out. Long before John Travolta rose to fame, he was cutting his teeth on the classic ’70s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter . And yes, that is Gabe Kaplan rocking a giant afro.
*Happy Days*
No matter how many years pass by one thing will never change: there will never be anyone as cool as Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli (aka The Fonz) ever again. I mean, just look at him — he’s positively dripping with machismo.
*Taxi*
What would you say if I told you that Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, Tony Danza, Judd Hirsch, and Christopher Lloyd were all once on the same TV show together? It may sound too good to be true, which is why you should really watch Taxi .
*M.A.S.H.*
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic: M.A.S.H. is the greatest TV sitcom of all time. It’s hard to watch at times, and to say that the language is outdated would be an understatement. But if it wasn’t for M.A.S.H. — the modern sitcom as we now know it simply wouldn’t exist.
*Cheers*
The younger generation may still remember Frasier but I’d be willing to wager that not many realize that Frasier is actually a spin-off of Cheers . And at Cheers — everybody knows your name!
God, I really do love that theme song .
