September 11, 2007
My brothers and I would come home from school every day and put on our favorite shows. My parents worked, so there was no one home to tell us to turn it off (although my mom didn't let us abuse the tube), and so we had our fill of everyone's favorite '70s shows. And reruns.
And to this day, I'm darned if I know which of those shows we watched during the 3-5 time slot were reruns or new episodes!
So, thanks to Netflix, I've been introducing my kids to some of my childhood favorites–partly for the pop culture education, and partly because I think they're much better (kinder, gentler, easier) than much of the stuff on the tube for kids today.
I started with Scooby-Doo reruns about six or seven years ago, and then the rest of the world caught on, and now we have all sorts of versions: live-action, Scooby & Shaggy only, a brand new season, a nod from Joss Whedon, etc.
My kids have since graduated (although the Scoobies remain a perennial favorite) to The Brady Bunch, The Monkees, and Gilligan's Island (a big favorite)…and they're even introducing their friends to these classics.
I'd love to find DVDs of Get Smart (especially since they're making a movie–check out the cast! I can't wait!!), but they don't seem to be available. Another on my list is Home Improvement, which of course is more recent–but the kids know Tim Allen, and would probably get a kick out of the show.
I still laugh my butt off at Gilligan's Island–Mr. & Mrs. Howell are really funny. And although I wince when the Skipper calls Gilligan names and hits him with his hat, there's a lot of affection between those two characters, and it shines through.
So, what did you watch when you were a kid, just getting home from school? Any favorites?
September 11th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Oh, how about DARK SHADOWS — which is what probably made me fall in love with fanged boys!
GILLIGAN’S ISLAND is still a hoot today — my youngest daughter loved it — she even dressed up as Gilligan when she had to do a state’s fair and drew West Virginia as her state (it’s where Bob Denver lived). I sent him a photo of her dressed up and he sent her an autographed photo which she sill has.
In high school, I used to come home and watch MATCH GAME and TATTLETALES — then my best friend and I (who I’d just seen all day at school) would get on the phone and discuss the shows as if they were the answer to world peace!
September 11th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I watched Bugs Bunny. I still find it hilarious now. I recently went to see THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, and I swear I knew most of the music because I’d seen THE RABBIT OF SEVILLE 10,000 times. LOL! What a way to get an education!
September 11th, 2007 at 9:03 am
i got hooked on days of our lives after school in like 5th grade. ugh! other than that, bewitched just rocked my world.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:05 am
The Beverly Hillbillies and I Dream of Jeannie are two more I loved!
September 11th, 2007 at 10:12 am
My kids are in love with Gilligan. I bet they’ll release the old episodes of Get Smart right before the movie :/
September 11th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Though I may only be 20 years old Get Smart was my favorite TV show growing up, and it is still my favorite show OF ALL TIME. I really hope the movie is awesome I’ve been waiting for it since it got announced 3 years ago.
The issue with the Get Smart DVDs is that Time-Life owns them and so far are only allowing them for purchase and only through their website. You can buy season 1 for $40 or the entire season for $200. Oh, how I wish I was rich. I want those DVDs soooooo bad.
September 11th, 2007 at 10:54 am
I loved Flipper, the Bionic Woman and the Six Million Dollar Man! I also loved The Equalizer. I’m waiting for that to come out on DVD. They are actually making a new movie of it in 2009. So excited!
September 11th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Oh, by the way, HOME IMPROVEMENT is being shown on Nick-at-Night. I love this show — was watching the other day and laughing myself silly. HI was one of my favorite sitcoms — along with EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. I still miss both of them!
September 11th, 2007 at 11:16 am
My dad and I would watch One Life to Live (He looks like Asa) and General Hospital. Really, we did. Drove my mother nuts since she was working in an office.
September 11th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I LOVED Gilligan’s Island! It was a favorite. Others were The Munsters, Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner, The Adams Family, etc.
I think it’s cool that you are introducing them to these shows.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
I was so addicted to Dark Shadows!!! The Monkees and whatever animated happened to be on…X-Men, Bugs, Thundercats, Transformers…They cycled so it was always something different during the hour I had after school a day.
September 11th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
When I was little we lived in Spain and got the BBC. I would get home and watch Absolutely Fabulous. Not exactly wholesome kid TV… but I still love it. And now that I know what’s going on it’s even funnier.
September 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I came home and watched SPEED RACER. I thought he was so dreamy and I would marry him when I grew up. Silly girl!! Oh well, I guess that was my first taste of romance and unrequited love. LOL
September 11th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Bill Kennedy at the movies on TV 50. We got it in the U.P. even though it was a Detroit station. Would just get the tail end of the movie when I got home from school. Thus began my love affair with Bette Davis, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart etc,
And also, the Banana Splits (s that what they were called?)
September 14th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Funny you mention Scooby Doo - I’ve been watching episodes to get the feel so I can write my PTA program about Scooby and the haunted school.
I always watched MASH. I knew most episodes by heart, and had a crush on Trapper.