TV now and then

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carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
Oh, there were gems in the past, no doubt about it. Yeah, some of the old Twilights were wonderful, and I always liked the Addams (much more than their competition, The Munsters, which to me was more formulaic comedy of the time). Laugh-In got away with a lot ("And here's Big Dan Rowan and Big Dick Martin!!"), and in earlier black-and-white times, Ernie Kovacs could be brilliant. I never watched The Fugitive, but it sure had a bunch of people enthralled. And let's remember that Star Trek still lives.

Edited to add:

Mary Ann over Ginger. I like the girl-next-door look. Which may be why I like Betty over Wilma. Betty literally was the girl next door.
Watch this documentary about The Munsters some time and it may change your view of that show. Sure it was more slapstick than cerebral comedy, but a lot of thought went into the making of that show. It really was one of the first shows to deal with "different" people and "race relations" although heavily veiled.

 

Lord Tyrion

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2013
1,582
6,257
I remember in the late 90s, there was a fear that the quality of TV was going to go down as reality TV took over. Thankfully, that did not happen and cable TV got better and better.

One thing I miss from the 90s were the comedy sitcoms. Cheers, Frazier, Seinfeld, Third Rock from the Sun, Married with Children... the list goes on. I still like watching a classic Seinfeld.
 

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2014
9,724
53,642
Colorado
I remember in the late 90s, there was a fear that the quality of TV was going to go down as reality TV took over. Thankfully, that did not happen and cable TV got better and better.

To me, there's a segment of "reality" that drags much of it down. One gets the impression sometimes that the US is a bunch of self-absorbed people doing different things, like being celebrities or being in weird competitions or being involved in niche jobs ,while making up drama and talking incessantly for the nearby camera.

But then you look at different series on different channels, even free ones, and there's a wealth to choose from.

One thing I miss from the 90s were the comedy sitcoms. Cheers, Frazier, Seinfeld, Third Rock from the Sun, Married with Children... the list goes on. I still like watching a classic Seinfeld.

I thought Big Bang Theory was playing itself out last season, but they've stepped up the writing this season. However, it's still a ways from the enjoyment of the earlier seasons. I watch it partly out of enjoyment, partly out of habit and fondness for the characters, even the ones I shouldn't be fond of.

The other contemporary sitcoms that I've watched haven't grabbed me at all - with one exception, The Crazy Ones, and of course it gets canceled! Sooooo annoyed. I loved that show.
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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United States
I will watch Andy Griffith any day of the week. To me, it still holds up. In fact, I still watch it on Netflix. And the little guy I watch (He's 2 and a half) has been asking his mom to watch Andy. lol. It is our duty as the elders of this world to expose our children to the best of the best and to teach them about days of yore.
I finally finished this on Netflix. I just rewatched "Man In A Hurry" to hear the song again. Great episode.