Shows that do/don't hold up

[albionmoonlight]

Inspired by a comment in the Mork and Mindy thread: Watching this, I still can laugh at it which is surprising to me as usually when you watch these shows, they're just not quite as funny as you remember.

Mrs. A and I were both big Night Court fans when it was on. We started TiVoing it earlier this year. That show DOES NOT hold up. Not funny or entertaining at all. I have no idea what we saw in it.

The Cosby Show, on the other hand, has held up well when I have caught it on re-run.

Which leads to an obvious thread question--which shows from back in the day have you seen on re-run recently that either have or have not held up in 2008?

[cuervo72]

Hrm...I haven't been watching much recently. But, I still got plenty of laughs from these when they were on Nick-at-Nite some years ago, and I assume I would still:

The Dick Van Dyke Show
I Love Lucy
Mary Tyler Moore
The Bob Newhart Show

Of course, these are considered all-time classics by quite a few. I'd probably add The Honeymooners to this list too, but it's been a while since I've seen that. I'd probably also add the likes of Cheers, Taxi, Newhart, WKRP.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Sadly, Start Trek: The Next Generation hasn't held up all that well.

The best episodes are still great and I still watch them on ocassion, but time has not been well to the crew of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D.

[cuervo72]

Well, the first year or so of ST:TNG was pretty crappy as far as production values go. Past that they hold up pretty well I think.

[Logan]

Well Seinfeld isn't too far back in the day, but considering I still laugh at it like I'm seeing it for the first time, I'm confident it will be.

One show that sadly isn't anywhere near as entertaining at 25 compared to 12 is Saved by the Bell. Although I know that will make MikeVic sad.

[MikeVic]

Well Seinfeld isn't too far back in the day, but considering I still laugh at it like I'm seeing it for the first time, I'm confident it will be.

One show that sadly isn't anywhere near as entertaining at 25 compared to 12 is Saved by the Bell. Although I know that will make MikeVic sad.

Oh come on, it's even more entertaining now!
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And I think Dr. Sak will back me up on this one.

A really old show that stands up for me is Are You Being Served? Saw this as a kid every night on PBS, and thought it was funny. Then I saw it again as a teen and couldn't believe they got away with a gay character and the use of the word pussy. Then I saw it as an adult and still laugh at certain episodes.

[johnnyshaka]

Seinfeld is a standout for sure.

[Greyroofoo]

I think MASH still holds up rather well

[Raiders Army]

Little House on the Prairie.

[Pumpy Tudors]

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air holds up better than any show ever. I will never back down from that statement. Honestly, every time I see an episode, I forget just how old that show is. It's as funny as ever, and it isn't overloaded with early '90s references that would ruin it as time passes.

With regards to the original post, I loved Night Court when I was a kid. I bet there were a ton of jokes that went over my head, but I thought it was hilarious. It's saddening to think that I might not enjoy it as much now, but it's probably true. I've been surprised at how watchable The Cosby Show is these days. I really thought it would seem terribly dated, but it doesn't. It's still good.

There are two other shows that I really enjoyed when I was younger, and I wonder how they'd fare: Perfect Strangers and Mr. Belvedere. I don't think there's much of a demand to ever see those shows again, but I'd give them another shot. When they first came out in syndication, I watched them pretty often, but then they vanished and might never be seen again. Maybe that's a good thing. They might suffer from the whole Night Court thing by now.

[MikeVic]

I agree with Seinfeld of course, and Fresh Prince. Didn't watch much Cosby when I was a kid, but the few episodes I've seen these days were watchable and sometimes funny.

One show that I HATE is Diff'rent Strokes. Never saw it until it took over the Saved By The Bell spot when we got Peachtree TV instead of TBS, but I haven't been able to watch one full episode. Just bad.

[spleen1015]

Friends is still hilarious. Joey and Phebee will always kick ass.

[johnnyshaka]

Oh, just thought of a another one...The Wonder Years.

[Mustang]

I only watched Night Court for Markie Post. So, unless she aged on tape, I should still be safe.

My wife was watching Knight Rider on Netflix the other day.. holy hell was that a joke.

[Sun Tzu]

Gotta agree with Spleen here. Friends is an absolute classic.

"Myyyy Sandwich!?!?!?!"

Two shows that absolutely to NOT hold up are...

Family Matters
Full House

Both of these shows were insanely popular at their peak, but now when I catch them on reruns all I do is wonder how the hell I ever got anything out of them.

PS - Saved By the Bell has got to be the worst popular tv show evar.

[Sun Tzu]

Dola - Another show I just thought of that I still get a kick out of is Home Improvement.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Dukes of Hazzard is still pretty good IMO. Sure, it's corny, but there's enough antics from the characters to make it pretty funny. Sheriff Roscoe P Coltrain and Boss Hogg never get old. Plus, Daisy is quite easy on the eyes.

[gstelmack]

Married With Children holds up very well.

[MikeVic]

Full House is also entertaining!!

[Mustang]

Gotta agree with Spleen here. Friends is an absolute classic.

"Myyyy Sandwich!?!?!?!"



I'm just going to call you Mental Sun Tzu. Bet you always wanted a cool nickname.

[DeToxRox]

Married With Children holds up very well.

+10000

[DeToxRox]

Oz is another show that holds up well in my opinion.

[albionmoonlight]

I agree with MASH. We still watch that on re-run.

[Pumpy Tudors]

One show that I HATE is Diff'rent Strokes. Never saw it until it took over the Saved By The Bell spot when we got Peachtree TV instead of TBS, but I haven't been able to watch one full episode. Just bad.
I used to watch Diff'rent Strokes when it was new, but I can't even imagine watching it now. It would be absolutely painful.

Married With Children holds up very well.
Agreed. This is probably the only show that approaches Fresh Prince territory for me, as far as durability goes. It's partly because I imagine that Al Bundy's life is still going exactly the same way, even 12 years later or however long it's been.

[Eaglesfan27]

Married With Children holds up very well.


Agreed. This and I Love Lucy are 2 of my favorite older shows to watch. On Thanksgiving, we watched a lot of old TV at the in-laws and I Love Lucy by far drew the most laughs and enjoyment out of the most people there.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Oz is another show that holds up well in my opinion.
you can never get enough dicks on your tv screen imo

[DeToxRox]

you can never get enough dicks on your tv screen imo

Says Tanya

[Pumpy Tudors]

Says Tanya
She does like the big prison dick. I can't deny that.

[dolfin]

I have to say, I still enjoy the older episodes of Roseanne.

[Draft Dodger]

Hrm...I haven't been watching much recently. But, I still got plenty of laughs from these when they were on Nick-at-Nite some years ago, and I assume I would still:

The Dick Van Dyke Show
I Love Lucy
Mary Tyler Moore
The Bob Newhart Show



that's a great list, to which I'd also add The Carol Burnett Show

[Marc Vaughan]

A really old show that stands up for me is Are You Being Served? Saw this as a kid every night on PBS, and thought it was funny. Then I saw it again as a teen and couldn't believe they got away with a gay character and the use of the word pussy. Then I saw it as an adult and still laugh at certain episodes.
In those days pussy in England meant cat with slight overtones of sexual organs ... these days its very much the other way around.

Quite a few English comedy shows had gay characters in them early during that time period - for instance:

It aint half hot mum
Porridge
etc.

(the use of 'pussy' in that context was always seen as quite 'naughty' by my parents I recall, but I can't ever remember anyone batting an eyelid at use of the gay chap ....)

I think generally England has always been a bit more 'lax' on the swearing/language front than America with regards to television - I watched 'Britz' (very good drama show*) last night and a fair few of the conversations in it were partially 'cut out' because of swearing which imho spoiled the show ever so slightly (used in context I don't think swearing is wrong in a show, especially a gritty drama show like that one).

*In case anyones interested the show is about British Moslems and follows a moslem student at a British university being recruited by MI-5 (our version of the CIA) and then shows him trying to stay loyal to his culture at the same time as actively attempting to track down potential terrorists within it ... quite harrowing in places and very very fast moving, but well worth a watch.
The first part was on BBC America last night (2 1/2 hours worth be warned) and I believe they're repeating it before showing the second part.

[Marc Vaughan]

I have to say, I still enjoy the older episodes of Roseanne.

Roseanne before they ran out of storylines and gave them money was fantastic ... always wanted to be part of that family when I was growing up ;)

[sterlingice]

I would second or third or whatever Cosby and Cheers. Then again, we're also talking about 'best of all time' type

Old Simpsons hold up better than new Simpsons- that's just sad. Something 5 years old is more dated than something 15 years old- that's how you just know that the older ones are better.

SI

[sterlingice]

Roseanne before they ran out of storylines and gave them money was fantastic ... always wanted to be part of that family when I was growing up ;)

This is also a surprising good call. I never really watched it originally but started watching it on Nick at Nite a couple of years ago and it holds up really well, again, until they run out of ideas.

SI

[dolfin]

Roseanne before they ran out of storylines and gave them money was fantastic ... always wanted to be part of that family when I was growing up ;)

The show always reminds me of my childhood, growing up in a small town in Ohio. Our small town even has a loose meat restaurant that's been there since my dad was a little one.

Ahh, the good ole days!

[BYU 14]

Married With Children holds up very well.

Totally agree.......Cause we can all identify to a degree. :)

[EagleFan]

Do:
- Fresh Prince
- Cheers
- Rosanne (surprising as I didn't like it when it was actually on)
- MASH
- Cosby Show
- Taxi
- Friends (for the most part)
- Coupling
- Sportsnight
- Married with Children

Don't
- Too Close for Comfort (I loved it when it was on but I was a teenage boy looking at two hot chicks so is there a surprise)
- Family Matters
- Saved by the Bell (but it sucked anyway)
- Full House
- Night Court

[Sun Tzu]

I heart this EF...

[rowech]

Agree with what many have said:

Cosby Show
Cheers
Married with Children
The Wonder Years
Roseanne for the first 2/3 of it.
All in the Family
Three's Company
Seinfeld (still needs more time though)
Home Improvement...I know a lot don't like it but it'll stand up I think

I'm curious what folks think about Family Ties...always my favorite show, have been watching DVDs as they come out and I think most episodes stand up well.

Curious why nobody has gone the drama route?

[Raiders Army]

Hey I went with Little House on the Prairie!

[Pumpy Tudors]

As I remember it, Family Ties should hold up pretty well. Then again, when I was a kid, I didn't really get the whole liberal parents vs. conservative teenager stuff, but that might still be watchable. I don't really know. As far as the other types of plots in that show, yeah, it should be OK.

I've never been into dramas on television, not even as an adult. I think it's because most of the episodes are an hour long, and I honestly don't think I have the attention span for that. Maybe if I'm watching on DVD without commercials, I could tolerate them a little better.

Having said that, I really like Mission: Impossible, which my wife keeps buying on DVD whenever a new season comes out. I just imagine that being a very "cool" show when it was new, and it's still cool now. It was serious and a little campy at the same time, and there was almost never a dull moment. Other than that, I don't really know how a drama would look now.

[Sun Tzu]

LHotP had the saddest series finale evar.

[gstelmack]

Curious why nobody has gone the drama route?

Because I've pretty much never liked a TV drama?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Hey I went with Little House on the Prairie!
My big sister loved that show. If I had a little sister, she would've loved it, too. If I had a twin sister, she also would've loved it. If I had a brother, he'd be laughing at you right now.

LHotP had the saddest series finale evar.
No, it was HILARIOUS!

[rowech]

The one drama I wonder about is Hill Street Blues...I wasn't old enough to ever really watch it but I've had many people my dad's age (56) say it was the best show ever.

[Pumpy Tudors]

The one drama I wonder about is Hill Street Blues...I wasn't old enough to ever really watch it but I've had many people my dad's age (56) say it was the best show ever.
That one crossed my mind, too. I never paid attention to it when my parents watched it every week, but I wonder if I'd find it interesting now. At the very least, it had memorable theme music.

[digamma]

I grew up getting home from school and turning on WTBS, the Superstation (known to Atlantans as simply, "Channel 17"). Their after school line up consisted of Leave it to Beaver, The Brady Bunch, The Flinstones and the Jetsons. I loved all four. Obviously, those shows were made long before I was watching them, so they held up at the time, but I'm wondering if they still hold up about 20 years after I was watching them.

[Kodos]

LHotP had the saddest series finale evar.

The writers just wanted to blow things up after years passing with nary an explosion.

[Raiders Army]

My big sister loved that show. If I had a little sister, she would've loved it, too. If I had a twin sister, she also would've loved it. If I had a brother, he'd be laughing at you right now.

I know, it's an unmanly choice. FWIW, I like sitting down with my daughter and watching it. Then again, I could watch Barney with my kids too.

[Raiders Army]

BTW, even though some of the episodes are corny Airwolf holds up pretty well as far as the helicopter goes. I try to overlook the fact that they used stock footage and the same explosions over and over, but Airwolf is still pretty cool.

[GrantDawg]

I'm only ten years behind the times, but have gotten totally addicted to West Wing. This was a really good show (up to season 5. I haven't watched all of it yet).

And I'll be man enough to second Little House. You can keep watching for so long, though. That was the most depressing show on television.

[dolfin]

I still occasionally enjoy ALF's smart ass antics.

[Sun Tzu]

Sleeper pick for shows that DO hold up - Quantum Leap.

[MrBug708]

Xena. I love watching old episodes of the show

[Pumpy Tudors]

I would watch old episodes of the American version of Xuxa, just because I've never seen a kids' show with such sexual energy. It made me really uncomfortable when I was a teenager, and it would make me even more uncomfortable now. I think, technically, that would mean that the show holds up really well.

Edit: I only thought of Xuxa because MrBug708 mentioned Xena, and they both start with the letter X, so there you go.

[cougarfreak]

Sleeper pick for shows that DO hold up - Quantum Leap.

+1, still catch that every now and then. How about Welcome Back Kotter?

[Groundhog]

+2 for Quantum Leap. Love that show.

[BigDPW]

A few I didn't see mentioned but are rather corny...

Mama's Family
Golden Girls


Also +1 for Quantum Leap... What channel is that on now anyway?

[Sweed]

The Dick Van Dyke show was the first thing that came to my mind before I opened the thread. Good to see it mentioned in the first response.

Mission Impossible was one of the favorites of everyone I grew up with. I was fourth grade when it came on tv and had a teacher that made a point of telling us we were all to young to watch a show like that. Yeah, she was serious and thought our parents were terrible to let us watch.

A few more that hold up with some dramas added in.

The Andy Griffith Show (the Don Knotts, as Barney Fife, years)
Hawaii Five-0
Wings (Antonio still makes me laugh)
Perry Mason (the old black and whites from the early 60's)
Law and Order
The Honeymooners


Don'ts...

McGyver (wasn't a big fan but we did watch it)
Threes Company
Coach
Home Improvement

It's a lot easier to name the good ones. I'd have more but most are already listed. The "don'ts" are a lot harder to come up with.

[revrew]

Shows as a genre that generally don't hold up well: prime-time dramas aimed at teen boys

i.e. - Knight Rider, Street Hawk, etc. (Sorry, gotta put Dukes of Hazard here, too. I know, blasphemy, but stil...)

Glad to hear Airwolf might not fall into same category. I would like to believe some of my childhood evening's weren't a waste.

[Draft Dodger]

a lot of the shows mentioned here (Night Court, Airwolf, Knight Rider) were crap the first time around...

[DeToxRox]

Oh one I forgot

Freaks and Geeks for the win

[MJ4H]

Mama's Family


So you're the one

[Groundhog]

McGyver DEFINITELY doesn't hold up. Wow. I watched an episode a few months back - the first one I'd seen in probably 15 years - and it was hilariously bad.

[Kodos]

+1, still catch that every now and then. How about Welcome Back Kotter?

I imagine that show would be EXCRUCIATING to watch today.

[Poli]

Love Boat

[Alan T]

I think it says alot for my difference in tastes compared to the majority here when many of the choices people list as shows that hold up are ones I never liked in the first place: Friends, Married with Children, Mash, Family Matters, Full House, Saved by the Bell, etc.. all are shows I never really enjoyed or got into.

Most of my shows that I did like in the early 80s, when I watch now (thanks to most of them being on netflix or hulu or other places), are no where near as good as I remembered them being.. to the point that I don't even bother watching old shows that I loved anymore.. Shows that I really really liked which seem like garbage now are Airwolf, Knight Rider, A-team, Macguyver, etc.

[Poli]

Small Wonder
Charles in Charge
BJ and the Bear

[Swaggs]

I'll throw a vote in for Freaks and Geeks. Wife and I watched the entire series, via Netflix, a few months ago and really enjoyed it.

How about the Brady Bunch? I haven't watched it for a long time, but it was fairly old when I was a kid and I loved it then.

[Bad-example]

I haven't seen Room 222 on tv in well over a decade. Can't imagine it has held up well.

A lot of the players went on to big careers. I remember this show stinking but it might be cool to see Bruno Kirby, Bernie Kopell, Cindy Williams, Teri Garr, Jamie Farr, Rob Reiner, Anthony Geary, Richard Dreyfuss, Chuck Norris, Kurt Russell and Mark Hamill before they were well known.

(Actor list lifted from wiki)

[jeff061]

Twilight Zone works for me.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'll throw a vote in for Freaks and Geeks. Wife and I watched the entire series, via Netflix, a few months ago and really enjoyed it.



I love me some Linda Cardinelli.

[Sun Tzu]

Also...

The State.

[Marc Vaughan]

+1 Quantum Leap (have the entire series on DVD somewhere around here :D).

[cougarfreak]

The A Team definitely does not.

[thealmighty]

We used to have a group that would watch Monty Python's Flying Circus on PBS at school (I believe Dallas' PBS was the first in the country to have them on. Also, if I remember trivia a bit, it was brought over by the father of Michael Nesmith or someone like that).

Anyway, with BBCA around, I Tivo'd a bunch of the episodes and was horribly unamused. What was once genius is now, to me, mind numbingly inane (there is an occasional skit that kills, but not enough to watch the lot at this point).

Sad day for me. :(

[JonInMiddleGA]

In the same vein as Little House, I'd say The Waltons holds up equally well, maybe even better. Wasn't really my cup of tea then or now, but it's still solid at what it does.

Also holding up well, Homicide:LotS and the more dramatic episodes of Magnum, P.I.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, 21 Jump Street, although I'd argue that it sucked the first time around. same for New York Undercover. Also not holding up well Simon & Simon

[Sun Tzu]

Sanford and Son...of course.

[bob]

It hasn't been off the air for too long, but Ed still holds up pretty well. Now if they would only release the damn DVDs!

[MrBug708]

Home Improvement still does a good job

[Sweed]

All in the Family (the years when Mike and Gloria were still living in Archie's house)


This is probably limited to us that grew up in the late 60's early 70's but it's still funny today.

[Calis]

The Wonder Years is one that really stands out in my mind as holding up well. Still a fantastic show.

[Sun Tzu]

Oh! The Wonder Years. Boy how could I forget about that one. The wife and I still still talk about Winnie, Kevin, Paul, and the rest. We own all of the friends episodes on DVD...and if I were to go for another series this would probably be the one.

[Raiders Army]

Sanford and Son...of course.

Yeah! That was a great one!

[digamma]

Shows as a genre that generally don't hold up well: prime-time dramas aimed at teen boys

i.e. - Knight Rider, Street Hawk, etc. (Sorry, gotta put Dukes of Hazard here, too. I know, blasphemy, but stil...)

Glad to hear Airwolf might not fall into same category. I would like to believe some of my childhood evening's weren't a waste.

Where do you classify Magnum P.I.? I passed many a law school evening with Magnum reruns. Not exactly in the same genre as a Knight Rider, but MacGyver may be a decent comparison.

[cuervo72]

I love me some Linda Cardinelli.

And how (oddly, I saw a teaser for ER last night and thought to myself how much Cardellini Velma >> Gellar Daphne).

It is a crime that Freaks and Geeks didn't last longer. I think the quality of the writers and cast has been established since though.


DD - good call on Carol Burnett.


digamma - Magnum P.I. is classified as a show that makes one feel that it's ok to have a hairy chest. And it has a kick-ass theme song.


Quantum Leap - probably works because most of the shows were already set in other time periods. A reproduction of the 40s/50s/60s plays as well now as it did in the early 90s I'd guess.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I am going opposite of two earlier votes-

Disagree with BigDPW: Golden Girls is not awful. If the entire show was Sophia, it would have been a masterpiece. I don't know if it's good enough to qualify for this thread as holding up, but it wasn't that bad.

Disagree with Poli: Charles in Charge was unbearable to watch then...I can only imagine it's gotten worse.

[GrantDawg]

Where do you classify Magnum P.I.? I passed many a law school evening with Magnum reruns. Not exactly in the same genre as a Knight Rider, but MacGyver may be a decent comparison.


Magnum was a good show all around. For the time period it was great, and still is fun to watch.

Which reminds me of another show: Rockford Files.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Also haven't seen this mentioned yet, but Growing Pains gets a :thumbsup: from me.

[mauchow]

Where would Cheers be on this list? I don't see it mentioned anywhere.

[Logan]

Also haven't seen this mentioned yet, but Growing Pains gets a :thumbsup: from me.

When I was thinking of how Family Ties DEFINITELY holds up, I was trying to think of which 80s show it was that I used to make sure I watched everyday at 2pm or whatever when I was in college. Growing Pains was the one, great show.

[Suburban Rhythm]

When I was thinking of how Family Ties DEFINITELY holds up, I was trying to think of which 80s show it was that I used to make sure I watched everyday at 2pm or whatever when I was in college. Growing Pains was the one, great show.

Growing Pains spinoff Just the 10 of Us does not get the :thumbsup:
I think Mike Seaver made a few guest appearances.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Growing Pains spinoff Just the 10 of Us does not get the :thumbsup:
I think Mike Seaver made a few guest appearances.
C'mon, man! The Lubbock Babes! Let's ignore the fact they weren't really babes...

[MJ4H]

Jamie Luner was so hooooot

[sterlingice]

Twilight Zone works for me.

Considering the age, it holds up quite well

SI

[thesloppy]

Hawaii 5-0 was, is, and will always be the best television show ever made.

[sterlingice]

Where would Cheers be on this list? I don't see it mentioned anywhere.

It was mentioned like 5 times on the first page ;)

SI

[Pumpy Tudors]

Jamie Luner was hoooooot
jamie luner doesnt hold up that well imo

[Logan]

jamie luner doesnt hold up that well imo

This is actually a better idea for a thread. I'll get it started:

Does: Kelly Kapowski, "Saved By The Bell"
Doesn't: Natalie, "The Facts of Life"

[MJ4H]

was .

[Surtt]

Magnum was a good show all around. For the time period it was great, and still is fun to watch.

Which reminds me of another show: Rockford Files.


Rockford Files was the first one I thought of

I am not sure it Firefly counts, it was only on 10 episodes (or so),
but is more popular now, 6 years later, then when it aired.

[Pumpy Tudors]

ok im a jerk i admit it

[Autumn]

I dont' see any of these old shows anymore, so I can't really contribute. But it's great fun to just try to think of those old shows you had forgotten. A lot were mentioned above: Simon & Simon, Night Court

Hardcastle & McCormick?
Blue Thunder?
Webster?
that show with Corky?

[Oilers9911]

MASH and All in the Family are great even today, as is Seinfeld and WKRP and Married With Children. As far as dramas go Hill Street Blues and old Law and Order episodes are still very good. Oh and almost forgot Taxi and Barney Miller.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I dont' see any of these old shows anymore, so I can't really contribute. But it's great fun to just try to think of those old shows you had forgotten. A lot were mentioned above: Simon & Simon, Night Court

Hardcastle & McCormick?
Blue Thunder?
Webster?
that show with Corky?

Life Goes On....was never a fan

[Groundhog]

Seinfeld surprisingly really hasn't held up for me. Some episodes are and will forever remain classics (bubble boy), but most weeks I watch at least 1 or 2 re-runs, and many of them just seem really dated to me.

[Chief Rum]

Two shows that absolutely to NOT hold up are...

Family Matters
Full House

Both of these shows were insanely popular at their peak, but now when I catch them on reruns all I do is wonder how the hell I ever got anything out of them.

Those shows didn't hold up for me after five seconds.

[JetsIn06]

Dola - Another show I just thought of that I still get a kick out of is Home Improvement.

I was just gonna post this. I watch this show all the time...still hilarious to me.

[LloydLungs]

I have nothing much to add to this thread, being offended at the shots taken at Diff'rent Strokes -- which has not held up AT ALL, it's true, but it's the absolute height of unintentional comedy now, which is a good thing! The cream of the unintentional comedy crop. The Brady Bunch can't even hold a candle to this turkey. The very special "message" episodes pretty much every single week... Gordon Jump diddling kids... completely running out of ideas late in its run to the point where they did an anti-hitchhiking episode, complete with the gravely serious Conrad Bain "watch this episode with your kids" intro... ahhhh...

Anyway, that said... I came across an episode of Three's Company recently where -- no, seriously -- A MISUNDERSTANDING was happening, and Jack needed to stop some girl from getting to the apartment. And the dialogue went something like this.

Janet: Maybe we can stop her before she gets here!
Jack: Sure, if she happens to have a PHONE in her CAR!

(raucous laughter)

[lighthousekeeper]

^ raucous lol

[lighthousekeeper]

Thinking back on the tv shows I watched growing up, I sadly come to the realization that I let my mom decide what to watch way too much. Most of the shows I watched extensively as a kid were geared for the 'mom' demographic:

Remington Steele
Murder, She Wrote
Golden Girls
Designing Women
Empty Nest
Hunter
Matlock

And to a lesser extent, shows like:
The Equalizer
Jake and the Fatman
Mike Hammer

:(

[Izulde]

Holds Up Well

The Wonder Years
-My favorite show of all time. It really says something that a show about the 60s resonates with people even today. There's some universalities to growing up and this series nails them -flawlessly-.

Golden Girls
I've watched a few episodes over the last few months and they're actually funnier to me now than they were when I was a kid. Maybe it's because I'm growing older and because the women in my family are too, some of whom remind me a bit of some of these characters.

Doesn't Hold Up Well

ALF
It pains me to say it, because I absolutely -loved- ALF as a kid and had the stuffed animal, collected the Malmacian baseball cards, watched the cartoon show, etc. But it just doesn't cut it now. The acting is horrendous and some of the jokes fall flat. On the other hand, some of them still hold up really well and ALF manages to save quite a few episodes. I'm still going through Season 1 again before I move on to Season 2. It's amazing how many of the episodes I didn't fully remember.

Degrassi Junior High (the original series)
I loved it as a kid, but when I watched Season 1 again on DVD about a year ago, it was amazing how terrible and cheesy it was. I still enjoy it, just on the unintentional comedy scale.

Family Ties
I really liked it when I was a kid, but when I re-watched a few episodes a while back, I didn't laugh once. Needless to say, it hasn't held up at all for me.

Three's Company
To me, this show was okay as a kid and had its moments, but catching re-runs, the acting and dialogue in this series is so awful, it makes ALF's acting look Oscar worthy and I can't even think of a show with worse dialogue off the top of my head.

I'm still trying to decide where a lot of the 80s cartoons of my youth fit in, like Voltron, Gummi Bears, Wuzzles, Rainbow Brite, Care Bears, Silverhawks, Thundercats, and so on, along with shows like Roseanne, Growing Pains, Saved By the Bell, etc. I'll make another post when I get a chance to investigate.

[thesloppy]

Larry Sanders, the Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show, News Radio, the Muppet Show,
SCTV, the Rockford Files, Mission: Impossible and WKRP are all still thoroughly and legitimately enjoyable for me, and CHiPs, Love Boat, and the Dukes of Hazzard are ridiculous enough that they never age.

[thesloppy]

Thinking back on the tv shows I watched growing up, I sadly come to the realization that I let my mom decide what to watch way too much. Most of the shows I watched extensively as a kid were geared for the 'mom' demographic:

Remington Steele
Murder, She Wrote
Golden Girls
Designing Women
Empty Nest
Hunter
Matlock

And to a lesser extent, shows like:
The Equalizer
Jake and the Fatman
Mike Hammer

:(

What, no Cagney and Lacey?

[lighthousekeeper]

...oooh forgot to add Spencer fir Hire and TJ Hooker. Jesus my mom liked crime dramas.

[lighthousekeeper]

'Becker' is a show that was horrible from the beginning and still is horrible, but for some reason when I'm up at 3am (like now) it always seems to be on.

[Chief Rum]

http://operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=25961

[Neon_Chaos]

There are two other shows that I really enjoyed when I was younger, and I wonder how they'd fare: Perfect Strangers and Mr. Belvedere. I don't think there's much of a demand to ever see those shows again, but I'd give them another shot. When they first came out in syndication, I watched them pretty often, but then they vanished and might never be seen again. Maybe that's a good thing. They might suffer from the whole Night Court thing by now.

I loved Perfect Strangers. Best show theme song ever.

[Schmidty]

I know that it's only been off the air for 4 years, but I think Frasier will hold up well for a long time. I've been watching a lot of episodes on youtube, and it's just a brilliant, funny show.

Also, Golden Girls is just as awesome as it was when it was originally on.

[rowech]

I forgot about Perfect Strangers...I think it could hold up to those who watched it but those who didn't would hate it. Mr. Beleveder I can't imagine still working.

[Poli]

A show I could watch all day if I ever saw on TV anywhere...In the Heat of the Night.

[Sun Tzu]

So I just looked up The Wonder Years on DVD, and they don't exsist outside of some people who have copied it over from VHS. Apparently there are some major cost issues associated with the rights of all the songs that played during the show that are keeping it from being released on DVD.

:(

[Swaggs]

Seinfeld surprisingly really hasn't held up for me. Some episodes are and will forever remain classics (bubble boy), but most weeks I watch at least 1 or 2 re-runs, and many of them just seem really dated to me.

I could not agree more.

I loved it during its run and there are a handful of episodes that hold up well over time, but overall it seems really dated to me now.

[albionmoonlight]

So I just looked up The Wonder Years on DVD, and they don't exsist outside of some people who have copied it over from VHS. Apparently there are some major cost issues associated with the rights of all the songs that played during the show that are keeping it from being released on DVD.

:(

Apparently the same thing is true about WKRP. The music rights make it impossible to put on DVD unless the law changes.

[Bad-example]

Apparently the same thing is true about WKRP. The music rights make it impossible to put on DVD unless the law changes.

The Larry Sanders Show is one of the best shows most people have never seen and, sadly, it looks like it will stay that way because of the music issues.

[BYU 14]

I used to really love Wild, Wild West as a kid, wonder why now.

A poor mans James Bond meets Disney Deadwood.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I could not agree more.

I loved it during its run and there are a handful of episodes that hold up well over time, but overall it seems really dated to me now.

I've also noticed this. For me at least, I think it's because most of the shows I have watched and loved since have built on the same type of humor that Seinfeld was the trailblazer for. So therefore, it feels kind of simple and even a little "sitcom-y" compared to AD, 30 Rock, the Office, Curb. All those shows owe a big debt to Seinfeld. I guess it's kind of like Citizen Kane - the movie itself isn't that impressive, but what it did and who it inspired is.

[Raiders Army]

Janet: Maybe we can stop her before she gets here!
Jack: Sure, if she happens to have a PHONE in her CAR!

(raucous laughter)

We watched Scream the other weekend and it doesn't seem as if it's an old movie at all, but we laughed when the cops were interrogating Billy and they asked him, "What are you doing with a cellular telephone?"

Like a high school kid would have a cell phone!

[Senator]

I would watch old episodes of the American version of Xuxa, just because I've never seen a kids' show with such sexual energy. It made me really uncomfortable when I was a teenager, and it would make me even more uncomfortable now. I think, technically, that would mean that the show holds up really well.

Edit: I only thought of Xuxa because MrBug708 mentioned Xena, and they both start with the letter X, so there you go.

You are worshiped by a small but growing group. Prepare for greatness beyond the bounds of this place.

[Sgran]

I was looking for some convincing statistics to prove (yes, PROVE) that the Simpsons is far and away the best television show that has ever been made and will ever be made. I've decided to simply list the movies Troy McClure has appeared in:
7F13] Cry Yuma
[7F13] Here Comes The Coast Guard
[8F01] Preacher With A Shovel (with Dolores Montenegro)
[8F03] The Revenge of Abe Lincoln
[8F03] The Wackiest Covered Wagon in the West
[8F14] Calling All Quakers (with Dolores Montenegro)
[8F14] Gladys The Groovy Mule
[8F14] Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die
[9F07] Dial M For Murderousness
[9F07] The Erotic Adventures of Hercules
[9F20] P is for Psycho
[9F20] The President's Neck is Missing!
[1F21] The Boatjacking of Supership 79
[1F21] Hydro: the Man With the Hydraulic Arms
[2F07] Good-Time Slim, Uncle Doobie, and the Great 'Frisco Freak-Out
[3F15] Muppets Go Medieval (1977) (with Dyan Cannon and The Muppets)
[3F15] The Greatest Story Ever Hula-ed
[3F15] They Came to Burgle Carnegie Hall
[3F15] Meet Joe Blow
[3F15] Give My Remains to Broadway
[3F15] The Verdict Was Mail Fraud
[3F15] Leper in the Backfield
[3F15] Make-Out King of Montana
[3F15] The Electric Gigolo
[3F15] The Contrabulous Fabtraption of Professor Horatio Hufnagel
[5F11] David Vs. Super Goliath
[5F11] Suddenly, Last Supper

Simpson Crazy | Information | Troy McClure's productions etc (http://www.simpsoncrazy.com/information/lists/troy.shtml)

[sterlingice]

To be fair, Time Magazine named it the best tv show of the 20th century (i.e. ever)

SI

[BigDPW]

So you're the one

Actually I haven't seen it in a while but the few times I have flipped by it over the last 5-6 years it is still pretty funny... I remember my grandma would always have that show on when I was a kid.

[MJ4H]

Actually I haven't seen it in a while but the few times I have flipped by it over the last 5-6 years it is still pretty funny... I remember my grandma would always have that show on when I was a kid.

That was one show that, when I watched it as a kid, I could absolutely never figure out how someone could even stand to watch, let alone enjoy. That show has literally baffled me. That old woman impression by Vicki Lawrence, or whoever (I think that's right) was never funny, and it truly blows my mind someone thought it should be made into a show. The fact that it was popular enough to stay on the air for more than a week will mystify me until the day I die.

[Pumpy Tudors]

The Family Feud and wrestling episodes of Mama's Family are pretty much amazing.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Just to demonstrate Xuxa and the sexual energy:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rt9jPnCWPak&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rt9jPnCWPak&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

For those who don't know, the guy in the panda costume is E.E. Bell, probably better known as "Bob Rooney" from Married With Children.

[Poli]

You Can't Do That on Television

Turkey TV

[LloydLungs]

You Can't Do That on Television

You Can't Do That on Television totally holds up -- in fact, I realize now that I really didn't appreciate it as a kid. It's sort of like Monty Python for kids. Obviously not THAT level of genius, but it has the same feel to it.

[molson]

I have a feeling Benson would really hold up....if I could ever find a place to see it again....

[MJ4H]

You Can't Do That on Television totally holds up -- in fact, I realize now that I really didn't appreciate it as a kid. It's sort of like Monty Python for kids. Obviously not THAT level of genius, but it has the same feel to it.

Yep, agreed You Can't is still great.

[molson]

On hulu.com they have great TV shows.

Hulu - Browse TV Shows Alphabetically (http://www.hulu.com/browse/alphabetical/episode)

Shit, that's a good start, thanks.

I remember Benson really fondly from when I was a kid - it seemed crazy - there were special episodes on a pirate ship, in China, a murder mystery, and one where a plane crash-landed and they were stranded in the desert. It all seemed like serious shit when I was a kid. I'd LOVE to see all that stuff now, but I can't find it anywhere.

[Solecismic]

Do:

Family (only seasons 1-2 on DVD, sadly) - I loved this show as a kid, and was surprised how good it was.

Lou Grant - thanks, Hulu.


Don't:

Mork and Mindy - just trendy.

Too Close for Comfort - may be the worst show ever produced.

[thesloppy]

Too Close for Comfort - may be the worst show ever produced.

What? Jim J. Bullock?? Cosmic Cow???

[GrantDawg]

Lou Grant. Good pick-up.

[Dr. Sak]

COPS has held up well.

[MikeVic]

Just to demonstrate Xuxa and the sexual energy:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rt9jPnCWPak&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Rt9jPnCWPak&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

For those who don't know, the guy in the panda costume is E.E. Bell, probably better known as "Bob Rooney" from Married With Children.

You kissed the screen too, didn't you...

[Dr. Sak]

Anyone here watch Zoobily Zoo?

[Qwikshot]

God I loved the Equilizer when I was a kid...Season 1 is out on DVD, I may know what to spend my birthday money on...

I may also gamble and buy the 1st season of Magnum PI, I think that later seasons got away from the grittiness.

Truth be told, I really don't remember much from my kid days, at least evenings, I remember bits and pieces like Night Court, but of all the shows, I really remember The Equilizer.

Maybe because it was the dawn of cable and spent more time watching Showtime, PRISM, and HBO. (Not Necessarily the News is one I remember watching, anyone remember Sniglets?)

[MikeVic]

Anyone here watch Zoobily Zoo?

You know I did. Bill the Beaver, Cockatoo Talkatoo, Whuzzat Kangaroo, that painting lion, Mayor Ben, that fox, and that hip bear.

[Izulde]

Anyone here watch Zoobily Zoo?

I did. I liked it but I don't think it'd hold up.

[MikeVic]

I did. I liked it but I don't think it'd hold up.

I had a couple episodes taped and saw them maybe 5 or so years ago... the fact that you could hear them walking on a stage made it seem really cheap, and it was just... weird watching it again. I can't explain it.

[MikeVic]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l5A2DpRoeN0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l5A2DpRoeN0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

There's a comment on the first page there by a guy named ksmurfer. I bet that's rkmsuf.

[Pumpy Tudors]

You kissed the screen too, didn't you...
My clean answer: Yes.

[JeeberD]

Anyone here watch Zoobily Zoo?

I did. I hated it, but I watched it because it was on AFN and that was the only channel we got on base... :mad:

[Anthony]

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air holds up better than any show ever. I will never back down from that statement. Honestly, every time I see an episode, I forget just how old that show is. It's as funny as ever, and it isn't overloaded with early '90s references that would ruin it as time passes.


this whole post from Pumpy is whack.

word.

[Anthony]

hey zoobilee zoo is like those Furries from second life that people were talking about. that's fucking weird.

i once worked with a gay black man that reminded me of that van go lion.

[bosshogg23]

I watched 'Britz' (very good drama show*) last night and a fair few of the conversations in it were partially 'cut out' because of swearing which imho spoiled the show ever so slightly (used in context I don't think swearing is wrong in a show, especially a gritty drama show like that one).

*In case anyones interested the show is about British Moslems and follows a moslem student at a British university being recruited by MI-5 (our version of the CIA) and then shows him trying to stay loyal to his culture at the same time as actively attempting to track down potential terrorists within it ... quite harrowing in places and very very fast moving, but well worth a watch.
The first part was on BBC America last night (2 1/2 hours worth be warned) and I believe they're repeating it before showing the second part.

Just watched both parts of Britz this weekend. IMO it was excellent. It had the storytelling flow that British television carries(ie Jekyll, The Last Enemy) with enough American action. If anyone has Comcast On Demand its on for free for the next few days.

I totally agree that BBC America bleeping "fuck" but allowing "shit" is pretty ridiculous.

[MikeVic]

Watched Freaks and Geeks for the first time... can't believe it's nine years old. Definitely holds up.

[Dr. Sak]

i once worked with a gay black man that reminded me of that van go lion.

Was his name Ro and did he call you to apologize for a trade he made in the RWBL?

[rowech]

Watched Freaks and Geeks for the first time... can't believe it's nine years old. Definitely holds up.

I posted in the movies thread that I had got the first three episodes from Netflix. I have no freaking clue what NBC was thinking on this one. How they let this show get away is beyond me.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Watching a Dukes of Hazzard marathon on CMT right now. Amusing to relive TV from my youth.

[Uncle Briggs]

Not at all on topic, but when/why did Anthony get banned?

[Suicane75]

He sexually assaulted me. With his face.

I was really amped to get The Norm Show on DVD but it doesn't hold up all that well really. There are some very funny spots obviously, mostly coming from his dialogue/standup but the relationship crap they tried to shoehorn in between he and Faith Ford and the Mexican/Nikki Coxx just doesn't work all that well.