65 votes

What is the oldest TV show you actually enjoy?

This question came up earlier today, and I am curious to see the variety of responses here on Tildes. What is the oldest TV show that you actually enjoy watching? Not just enjoy it "for its time", or respect for its influence, etc, but really enjoy in the same way that you do modern content? I am curious where the cutoff is for most people.

For me it is probably The Twilight Zone, which 1959 and which I just absolutely ate up. But after that there is probably a few decade gap to maybe the 1970s with Rockford Files or maybe 1980s with a couple of shows, including TNG.

145 comments

  1. [10]
    Kranerian
    Link
    MASH (1972-1983) remains one of the greatest shows ever made.

    MASH (1972-1983) remains one of the greatest shows ever made.

    59 votes
    1. [2]
      Killfile
      Link Parent
      I love mash but it's because I miss William Christopher. "Uncle Billy" was my mom's cousin and was always the jokester of our family reunions. He was a warm, patient, thoughtful man who was...

      I love mash but it's because I miss William Christopher. "Uncle Billy" was my mom's cousin and was always the jokester of our family reunions. He was a warm, patient, thoughtful man who was wonderful with children and always seemed to have something wise and yet unassuming to say to adults. He always made everyone feel like they were important and included.

      I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you knew and loved Father Mulcahy, you knew and loved Bill.

      18 votes
      1. gowestyoungman
        Link Parent
        Its really heartening to hear that he was like that in real life. A very lovable character indeed. MASH was a big part of my tv watching as a kid and I still remember watching the last episode and...

        William Christopher

        Its really heartening to hear that he was like that in real life. A very lovable character indeed.

        MASH was a big part of my tv watching as a kid and I still remember watching the last episode and how sad it was to know it was over. Felt like the end of an era to me, and millions of others - still the most watched episode on TV.

        5 votes
    2. insomnic
      Link Parent
      Was watching Scrubs recently (2nd time for me, 1st time for wife) and she mentioned never really watching MASH when I mentioned they were similar medical "dramedy" shows. So we interspersed Scrubs...

      Was watching Scrubs recently (2nd time for me, 1st time for wife) and she mentioned never really watching MASH when I mentioned they were similar medical "dramedy" shows. So we interspersed Scrubs with MASH for a bit and really they kinda worked together and MASH held up better than I thought it would - she loves 'em and doesn't have nostalgia attached to them.

      4 votes
    3. letswatchstartrek
      Link Parent
      This was my first thought (though strictly answering the question my answer would be The Twilight Zone because it’s older). I’m in my early 30s so I was not alive during any of the original run of...

      This was my first thought (though strictly answering the question my answer would be The Twilight Zone because it’s older). I’m in my early 30s so I was not alive during any of the original run of MASH. My mom was a fan and introduced me to the show, and I think she watched the show as it aired. Hawkeye’s humor always reminds me so much of how my grandpa (mom’s dad) was; I just looked for the best Hawkeye quotes and this is the exact kind of thing I could hear my grandpa also saying:
      “Henry: You were ordered to stand down!
      Hawkeye: I did, but I fell up again.”
      https://quotecatalog.com/quote/sheldon-keller-bhenryb-y-b1redPa

      I just absolutely adore Alan Alda.

      And about MASH, I love the mix of comedy and heaviness. It feels so raw and real…I mean, these people were forced into their situation and just trying to make the best of it. It’s so funny and simultaneously so heartbreaking. Such a great show.

      4 votes
    4. Dotz0cat
      Link Parent
      MASH is one of the older shows I actually like. If you want more read the novels.

      MASH is one of the older shows I actually like. If you want more read the novels.

      2 votes
    5. Devin
      Link Parent
      It sounds dumb and it is dumber, but Hart to Hart. Been having a blast watching these, it is so super cheesy that it just coats your brain in nostalgic dumb. And Pete and Pete for the win.

      It sounds dumb and it is dumber, but Hart to Hart. Been having a blast watching these, it is so super cheesy that it just coats your brain in nostalgic dumb.

      And Pete and Pete for the win.

      2 votes
    6. Sparta
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      M.A.S.H is one show that my family would watch when it was on. Love that series.

      M.A.S.H is one show that my family would watch when it was on. Love that series.

    7. Gopher
      Link Parent
      I was thinking mash and all in the family

      I was thinking mash and all in the family

    8. knocklessmonster
      Link Parent
      MASH is definitely the oldest that came to mind for me.

      MASH is definitely the oldest that came to mind for me.

  2. [13]
    mycketforvirrad
    (edited )
    Link
    Columbo Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 43 | Years: 1971–1978 | Country: USA | Genre: Crime drama (Wikipedia) Favourite episode: "A Deadly State of Mind" – S04 E06 A psychiatrist, who specializes in...
    • Exemplary
    Columbo

    Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 43 | Years: 1971–1978 | Country: USA | Genre: Crime drama (Wikipedia)
    Favourite episode:
    "A Deadly State of Mind" – S04 E06
    A psychiatrist, who specializes in hypnosis, murders the husband of his mistress and convinces her to lie to the police; it's up to Lt. Columbo to discover the truth. (IMDb)


    Fawlty Towers

    Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 12 | Years: 1975 & 1979 | Country: United Kingdom | Genre: Sitcom (Wikipedia)
    Favourite episode:
    "A Touch of Class" – S01 E01
    Basil is delighted when a member of the aristocracy chooses to stay at the Fawlty Towers, snubbing the normal guests who frequent the hotel. (IMDb)


    Police Squad!

    Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 6 | Years: 1982 | Country: USA | Genre: Crime comedy (Wikipedia)
    Favourite episode:
    "Rendezvous at Big Gulch (Terror in the Neighborhood)" – S01 E03
    When a woman reports being blackmailed by some thugs, Frank and Norberg open up a key store in the most troubled area. (IMDb)


    Blackadder

    Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 12 | Years: 1986–1987 | Country: United Kingdom | Genre: Period sitcom (Wikipedia)
    Favourite episode:
    "Potato" – S02 E03
    Edmund attempts to impress the Queen by embarking on his own voyage of discovery to the New World. (IMDb)


    Notes:

    The show details are representative of the ones that I continue to watch. Other seasons may/or may not be acknowledged as quality cannot be guaranteed from their watching...

    26 votes
    1. [5]
      sparksbet
      Link Parent
      My dad just put on Columbo and I watched an episode for the first time -- and it was exactly the one you mention as your favorite here! Absolutely fantastic. I love Columbo's demeanor and def want...

      My dad just put on Columbo and I watched an episode for the first time -- and it was exactly the one you mention as your favorite here! Absolutely fantastic. I love Columbo's demeanor and def want to watch more of them.

      10 votes
      1. [3]
        UP8
        Link Parent
        Columbo is a great show but it is so formulaic and repetitive that it's close to impossible to binge watch. I got back into it recently because I saw it on reruns on antenna TV and that's exactly...

        Columbo is a great show but it is so formulaic and repetitive that it's close to impossible to binge watch. I got back into it recently because I saw it on reruns on antenna TV and that's exactly when it is at its best, when you've forgotten how good it is and you need "just one more thing!"

        The first two seasons are exceptionally good, and the first regular episode is a treat because it was one of the first things Steven Spielberg ever directed

        https://columbo.fandom.com/wiki/Murder_by_the_Book

        In measured doses it is one of the best things ever on TV.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          sparksbet
          Link Parent
          Yeah to be fair I guess it was designed for measured doses, since that's how people would've been consuming it back in the day

          Yeah to be fair I guess it was designed for measured doses, since that's how people would've been consuming it back in the day

          5 votes
          1. UP8
            Link Parent
            Yep, it wasn't even on a weekly schedule, instead it was on roughly once per month rotating with four other shows as part of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_NBC_Mystery_Movie

            Yep, it wasn't even on a weekly schedule, instead it was on roughly once per month rotating with four other shows as part of

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_NBC_Mystery_Movie

            3 votes
      2. WindDancer
        Link Parent
        I’ll watch Columbo with my dad when it’s on, but it’s not something I would sit and binge.

        I’ll watch Columbo with my dad when it’s on, but it’s not something I would sit and binge.

    2. [2]
      JXM
      Link Parent
      You’re selling Columbo way too short here. It ran new “episodes” sporadically until 2003!

      You’re selling Columbo way too short here. It ran new “episodes” sporadically until 2003!

      6 votes
      1. mycketforvirrad
        Link Parent
        Oof! I ain't touching them with a bargepole. 🙃

        Oof! I ain't touching them with a bargepole. 🙃

        1 vote
    3. [3]
      mynameisnotdoug
      Link Parent
      Blackadder's info isn't quite right. There are 4 series with 24 total episodes plus some specials.

      Blackadder's info isn't quite right. There are 4 series with 24 total episodes plus some specials.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        mycketforvirrad
        Link Parent
        See my notes section at the bottom.

        See my notes section at the bottom.

        1 vote
        1. mynameisnotdoug
          Link Parent
          I mean, okay. But claiming the show has two seasons is inaccurate. Especially since you don't identify which ones you consider to be actual seasons and which ones you're pretending do not exist.

          I mean, okay.

          But claiming the show has two seasons is inaccurate. Especially since you don't identify which ones you consider to be actual seasons and which ones you're pretending do not exist.

          3 votes
    4. Delayed_Apex
      Link Parent
      Ah yeah Blackadder is just amazing, especially after the first season. Also fantastic to see Rowan Atkinson in a role that isn't Mr Bean.

      Ah yeah Blackadder is just amazing, especially after the first season. Also fantastic to see Rowan Atkinson in a role that isn't Mr Bean.

      1 vote
    5. ClintBeastwood
      Link Parent
      Who are you? And how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And I'm a locksmith.

      Who are you? And how did you get in here?

      I'm a locksmith. And I'm a locksmith.

      1 vote
  3. [7]
    lou
    (edited )
    Link
    I enjoy The Twilight Zone as well. Star Trek TOS is the Trek series I enjoy the most right now. Friends never ceases to amuse me, despite the fact that I have lots of it memorized at this point....

    I enjoy The Twilight Zone as well. Star Trek TOS is the Trek series I enjoy the most right now. Friends never ceases to amuse me, despite the fact that I have lots of it memorized at this point. We occasionally watch Monk, House M.D, and random stuff from the 90s. The latest show I rediscovered on stream was A.L.F.. It's really bad, but the nostalgia is strong on this one. And did you know that the actor who plays the father was Rachel's boss in the first seasons of Friends?

    I'll also watch I Dream of Jeannie and Addams Family if they're on TV.

    36 votes
    1. [2]
      UmDafuq
      Link Parent
      At first, I read Star Trek ToS as "Star Trek Terms of Service" and was very confused.

      At first, I read Star Trek ToS as "Star Trek Terms of Service" and was very confused.

      6 votes
      1. Arlen
        Link Parent
        Lower Decks (which takes place a little while after TNG) lands a good joke where someone refers to the Kirk era as the TOS era, and someone else stops him to ask what he means - he uses it to...

        Lower Decks (which takes place a little while after TNG) lands a good joke where someone refers to the Kirk era as the TOS era, and someone else stops him to ask what he means - he uses it to stand for "those old scientists," but it's a fun wink and nod to the audience.

    2. [2]
      Rocketman7
      Link Parent
      Twilight zone for me as well. The themes of the show have aged very well (very progressive for its time). The fact that the show was shot on film and not on tape (allowing for easy high quality...

      Twilight zone for me as well. The themes of the show have aged very well (very progressive for its time). The fact that the show was shot on film and not on tape (allowing for easy high quality remasters in HD/4K) also helps a lot.

      5 votes
      1. lou
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Yep. Most single camera shows where shot on film until very recently. They where converted to tape for post-production or broadcast.

        Yep. Most single camera shows where shot on film until very recently. They where converted to tape for post-production or broadcast.

        1 vote
    3. [2]
      Gramage
      Link Parent
      I just recently started watching Monk actually, it kinda hits that "something I can just throw on" spot I've been missing. Like if I get distracted during an episode it doesn't really matter much....

      I just recently started watching Monk actually, it kinda hits that "something I can just throw on" spot I've been missing. Like if I get distracted during an episode it doesn't really matter much. Modern shows are more like a long movie, if you miss an episode you'll have no idea what's going on, which is great because there have been some amazing TV series in the past decade but sometimes you just wanna throw something on ya know? Plus Tony Shaloub is great. I only really knew him from getting his head blown off by Tommy Lee Jones lol

      5 votes
      1. lou
        Link Parent
        I wish we had more quality espisodic dramas nowadays, but they don't make commercial sense on streaming. "Binging" is where the money's at, unfortunately.

        I wish we had more quality espisodic dramas nowadays, but they don't make commercial sense on streaming. "Binging" is where the money's at, unfortunately.

        1 vote
  4. [3]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [2]
      Darthvadercake
      Link Parent
      Golden girls immediately came go mind for me too! There are other older shows I enjoy, like Monty Python, but they often come with a lot of old stereotypes or problems (Monty Python is incredibly...

      Golden girls immediately came go mind for me too! There are other older shows I enjoy, like Monty Python, but they often come with a lot of old stereotypes or problems (Monty Python is incredibly racist at times). Golden Girls honestly I don't have anything I would change about. It's already perfect.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. parsifal
          Link Parent
          Agreed. Super progressive. It starts with the fact that it focuses on four women who have brains and full agency.

          Agreed. Super progressive. It starts with the fact that it focuses on four women who have brains and full agency.

          4 votes
  5. [8]
    cloud_loud
    Link
    My favorite show of all time is The Dick Van Dyke Show. Saw it for the first time five years ago when I was 18 and it was a blast. I also love I Love Lucy, that’s as far back as I’ve gone in...

    My favorite show of all time is The Dick Van Dyke Show. Saw it for the first time five years ago when I was 18 and it was a blast.

    I also love I Love Lucy, that’s as far back as I’ve gone in regards to TV though.

    21 votes
    1. [6]
      RadDevon
      Link Parent
      See now, for me, the Dick Van Dyke Show vs. I Love Lucy is the perfect juxtaposition of timeless vs… the opposite of that. 😅 The Dick Van Dyke Show is clever and funny in a way that still holds...

      See now, for me, the Dick Van Dyke Show vs. I Love Lucy is the perfect juxtaposition of timeless vs… the opposite of that. 😅

      The Dick Van Dyke Show is clever and funny in a way that still holds up. When I watch I Love Lucy, I feel like I've opened a time capsule to study what was funny to people in the 50s. It's incredible to me the shows aired just a decade apart.

      At the same time, I went back and tried to watch some TV from the mid-2000s, and that stuff was nearly unwatchable! Just a decade (or nearly two in the more recent example) really can make a lot of difference.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        Akir
        Link Parent
        I'm kind of surprised to hear you say that because I Love Lucy was a fairly subversive show for it's time; IIRC it (inclusive of it's predecessors) was the first TV show to depict an interracial...

        I'm kind of surprised to hear you say that because I Love Lucy was a fairly subversive show for it's time; IIRC it (inclusive of it's predecessors) was the first TV show to depict an interracial relationship in a positive light. And then of course their success had them creating their own studio and making one of the most famously subversive TV shows of it's time: Star Trek.

        But then again, it's been forever since I watched the show and most of the time when you do see it these days it's a rather handpicked collection.

        5 votes
        1. [2]
          solemn_fable
          Link Parent
          Can you expand a little bit on your Star Trek remark??? Are you saying Lucile and Desi had a hand in the origins of Star Trek? That’s mind blowing if true!

          Can you expand a little bit on your Star Trek remark??? Are you saying Lucile and Desi had a hand in the origins of Star Trek? That’s mind blowing if true!

          1 vote
          1. Akir
            Link Parent
            I wouldn’t say they were the ones who were responsible for the best parts or anything like that, but that Desilu logo at the end of the credits is the studio they founded. Honestly it’s been so...

            I wouldn’t say they were the ones who were responsible for the best parts or anything like that, but that Desilu logo at the end of the credits is the studio they founded.

            Honestly it’s been so long since I read about this that I can’t be confident about much beyond that, so I would try to find a book on the subject.

            3 votes
      2. [2]
        cloud_loud
        Link Parent
        I read something a long time ago that quoted Carl Reiner saying something to the effect of “no slang this thing is gonna have legs” in regards to The Dick Van Dyke Show. He knew it had the ability...

        I read something a long time ago that quoted Carl Reiner saying something to the effect of “no slang this thing is gonna have legs” in regards to The Dick Van Dyke Show. He knew it had the ability to be watched decades later so he tooled the show to be timeless in that way.

        I don’t really see a problem with the humor in I Love Lucy, they had clever jokes as well. I will say it is more of its time, but I still find it funny.

        3 votes
        1. Gonzo
          Link Parent
          I love that I knew exactly the scene you meant before I clicked that link. Not that the rest of the show doesn't have a lot of that timeless humor, but that gag was next level.

          I love that I knew exactly the scene you meant before I clicked that link. Not that the rest of the show doesn't have a lot of that timeless humor, but that gag was next level.

    2. merry-cherry
      Link Parent
      I Love Lucy is my pick as well. It's amazing how forward thinking they were on women as well. Consider the time frame it was filmed in, abusing and demeaning your wife was common fare. Lucy...

      I Love Lucy is my pick as well. It's amazing how forward thinking they were on women as well. Consider the time frame it was filmed in, abusing and demeaning your wife was common fare. Lucy manages to come off as a woman who can manage herself in a man's world.

  6. [2]
    JXM
    Link
    The Andy Griffith Show, which ran from 60-68. Don Knotts has absolutely unbelievable comic timing. I also love The Munsters, which ran from 64-66.

    The Andy Griffith Show, which ran from 60-68. Don Knotts has absolutely unbelievable comic timing.

    I also love The Munsters, which ran from 64-66.

    17 votes
    1. Violaceous_Bat
      Link Parent
      Despite loving both, I've always preferred The Munsters over The Addams Family. Fred Gwynne was so lovable as Herman, and the general vibe of the show was different despite both shows being about...

      Despite loving both, I've always preferred The Munsters over The Addams Family. Fred Gwynne was so lovable as Herman, and the general vibe of the show was different despite both shows being about monster families.

      2 votes
  7. [5]
    PixelPop
    Link
    Star Trek Next Generation, The Outer Limits, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Fraiser

    Star Trek Next Generation, The Outer Limits, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Fraiser

    16 votes
    1. Gonzo
      Link Parent
      The Joy of Painting is truly timeless. I don't even paint and I love that one.

      The Joy of Painting is truly timeless. I don't even paint and I love that one.

      4 votes
    2. Shimmer
      Link Parent
      As someone who grew up in the 70's and 80's the modern affection for Bob Ross amuses me. I remember flipping past his show many times back in the day, and never thought it would be so popular all...

      As someone who grew up in the 70's and 80's the modern affection for Bob Ross amuses me. I remember flipping past his show many times back in the day, and never thought it would be so popular all these years later. Kudos to him for being ahead of his time. 😄

      3 votes
    3. kerwox
      Link Parent
      I rewatch TNG/DS9/VOY front to back every couple years. Star Trek rewatch podcast I listen to is most of the way through Voyager now so I'm looking forward to them starting Enterprise which I...

      I rewatch TNG/DS9/VOY front to back every couple years. Star Trek rewatch podcast I listen to is most of the way through Voyager now so I'm looking forward to them starting Enterprise which I think is better than it gets credit for but still not great.

      1 vote
    4. manosinistra
      Link Parent
      TNG for me as well. Muppet Babies brings back fond memories. I vaguely remember it being tongue in cheek and quirky. Not enough to make me actually go look for it and rewatch it. But it just...

      TNG for me as well.

      Muppet Babies brings back fond memories. I vaguely remember it being tongue in cheek and quirky. Not enough to make me actually go look for it and rewatch it. But it just popped up in my head haha.

      1 vote
  8. Primax
    Link
    The main ones that hold up well for me are The Addams Family and Doctor Who.

    The main ones that hold up well for me are The Addams Family and Doctor Who.

    14 votes
  9. [2]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    As a member of Generation X, "old television" for me means the 1960s and 1950s. Here's a sample of my favourite shows from that era. To limit it somewhat, I'm going to arbitrarily omit any show...

    As a member of Generation X, "old television" for me means the 1960s and 1950s. Here's a sample of my favourite shows from that era. To limit it somewhat, I'm going to arbitrarily omit any show that began broadcasting from 1965 onwards (there's a whole batch of shows that began in the 1965-70 era which would make this list otherwise).

    • Bewitched (1964-1972)

    • The Addams Family (1964-1966)

    • My Favorite Martian (1963-1966)

    • The Jetsons (1962-1963)

    • The Adventures of Superman (1952-1958)

    • I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

    9 votes
    1. soymariposa
      Link Parent
      I didn’t realize that the Jetson’s only ran for one year … and now I have the theme song stuck in my head. Hogan’s Heroes started in 1965 just missing your cutoff, but I feel compelled to mention...

      I didn’t realize that the Jetson’s only ran for one year … and now I have the theme song stuck in my head.

      Hogan’s Heroes started in 1965 just missing your cutoff, but I feel compelled to mention it because it’s such a hoot and is still just as funny to watch today. And I have to give a hat tip to this video of Werner Klemperer & John Banner singing Silent Night too.

      1 vote
  10. [2]
    Captain_Ameristan
    Link
    The Honeymooners is still a funny show.

    The Honeymooners is still a funny show.

    8 votes
    1. MrFahrenheit
      Link Parent
      I came here to say this. It really laid the foundation for so much of modern comedy. The episode that immediately comes to mind is S1 E5 - A Matter of Life and Death (1955). The general premise is...

      I came here to say this. It really laid the foundation for so much of modern comedy.

      The episode that immediately comes to mind is S1 E5 - A Matter of Life and Death (1955). The general premise is that Ralph overhears Alice on the phone with the veterinarian about her mother's dog and thinks they're talking about him and that he's dying.

  11. [2]
    mat
    Link
    Dad's Army from 1968. I was surprised when I looked it up that it was that far back because it really doesn't feel that old. I recently found myself watching series one of Mork and Mindy (1978)...

    Dad's Army from 1968. I was surprised when I looked it up that it was that far back because it really doesn't feel that old.

    I recently found myself watching series one of Mork and Mindy (1978) and that's held up amazingly well. I guess if you put Robin Williams in front of a camera that's what happens.

    8 votes
    1. bonedriven
      Link Parent
      Great shout, it's a staple of post-Christmas dinner viewing in my house. I think there are several other BBC shows from that era that hold up really well - Are you being served (1972), Porridge...

      Great shout, it's a staple of post-Christmas dinner viewing in my house.

      I think there are several other BBC shows from that era that hold up really well - Are you being served (1972), Porridge (1974) and of course the timeless Fawlty Towers (1975).

      3 votes
  12. [4]
    arghdos
    Link
    The Prisoner (1967)

    The Prisoner (1967)

    8 votes
    1. mat
      Link Parent
      Oh, yeah. Good call. Also that reminds me that The Avengers (1961) exists and is awesome. Not that silly modern Avengers nonsense with the big chins running around in tights and shouting. The...

      Oh, yeah. Good call. Also that reminds me that The Avengers (1961) exists and is awesome. Not that silly modern Avengers nonsense with the big chins running around in tights and shouting. The original, civilised Avengers who dress in Cardin and drink champagne.

      While we're on the weirder end of 60s British TV, there's also the 1979 Sapphire and Steel which is hard to "enjoy in the same way as modern content" because nothing anywhere near that weird exists these days. It's still great though.

      6 votes
    2. [2]
      NoblePath
      Link Parent
      Man I love The Prisoner. between that and TOS, I have never rewatched so many episodes.

      Man I love The Prisoner. between that and TOS, I have never rewatched so many episodes.

      3 votes
      1. mat
        Link Parent
        There is only 17 episodes of The Prisoner, so lots of rewatch potential. I've been to Portmerion (the village it was filmed in) a few times. It's a very strange place, as you might expect. They've...

        There is only 17 episodes of The Prisoner, so lots of rewatch potential.

        I've been to Portmerion (the village it was filmed in) a few times. It's a very strange place, as you might expect. They've preserved much of it as it was in the 60s, and you can stay in many of the buildings.

        2 votes
  13. Rudism
    Link
    Excluding shows I grew up with (like the Star Treks) to avoid nostalgia contamination, here are the oldest shows I've watched more recently (say the last 10 years or so) and have enjoyed: Monty...

    Excluding shows I grew up with (like the Star Treks) to avoid nostalgia contamination, here are the oldest shows I've watched more recently (say the last 10 years or so) and have enjoyed:

    Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969) - I'd seen a lot of the movies when I was younger, but it wasn't until recently that I found the old TV series had a blu-ray release, so I bought it and ripped the whole thing to my Jellyfin server and have been enjoying the hell out of it.

    Survivors (1975) - British show that follows a group of people in the post-apocalyptic aftermath of a worldwide pandemic. I had watched this for the first time probably in the early 2000s but re-watched during covid times and liked it a lot more this second time around.

    Sherlock Holmes (1984) - The British series starring Jeremy Brett is bar none the greatest Sherlock Holmes adaptation to ever hit the screen. Still great. This is kind of cheating because I did watch some of this with my mom (who was obsessed with it) when I was a kid, but only really caught a smattering of episodes here and there and Sherlock Holmes wasn't really something I was interested in at the time. It's not until recently I started watching it in earnest all the way through.

    Twin Peaks (1990) - I watched this for the first time a few years ago, followed by the 2017 follow up series, and have to say I have come to regard that as the single greatest television media consumption experience of my life.

    8 votes
  14. [12]
    Thrabalen
    Link
    I enjoy some episodes of ST:TNG, but if we're talking a series I can watch every episode of, it's got to be Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If animation counts, I enjoy Transformers (Generation 1),...

    I enjoy some episodes of ST:TNG, but if we're talking a series I can watch every episode of, it's got to be Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. If animation counts, I enjoy Transformers (Generation 1), even if the writing wasn't top notch. (The same can't be said for GI Joe, sadly.)

    7 votes
    1. [6]
      johy
      Link Parent
      I'm watching through DS9 right now for the first time and... It's pretty great! Enjoying it way more than TNG.

      I'm watching through DS9 right now for the first time and... It's pretty great! Enjoying it way more than TNG.

      7 votes
      1. [4]
        Thrabalen
        Link Parent
        It has a better first season, hands down. And once it starts really going, you can't put it down. And the crew dynamic is just phenomenal.

        It has a better first season, hands down. And once it starts really going, you can't put it down. And the crew dynamic is just phenomenal.

        4 votes
        1. [3]
          balooga
          Link Parent
          TNG was better than DS9 for the medium they arrived in, syndicated broadcast on network TV. Anyone could drop into a random episode and figure out what's going on. But DS9 is the clear winner in...

          TNG was better than DS9 for the medium they arrived in, syndicated broadcast on network TV. Anyone could drop into a random episode and figure out what's going on. But DS9 is the clear winner in the streaming / binge-watching era where we're all accustomed to (and able to) enjoy long-form serialized story arc.

          5 votes
          1. Akir
            Link Parent
            It was so surprising to see DS9 rise in popularity! I remember watching a few episodes when it was airing and it was just kind of OK, if not a little dull in comparison to TNG. But when you have...

            It was so surprising to see DS9 rise in popularity! I remember watching a few episodes when it was airing and it was just kind of OK, if not a little dull in comparison to TNG. But when you have the chance to let it cook and you see the character arcs coming to fruition it really starts cookin'. Now Garak is basically one of my favorite characters anywhere. To think that these rich complex characters were there all this time and we just didn't see it the first time around.

            The fact that the writers could weave characters and scenarios this interesting while still being largely episodic is just flabbergasting - I haven't seen a TV show accomplish anything close to it since.

            4 votes
          2. Thrabalen
            Link Parent
            Which is amazing, considering it was syndicated as well, and had to fight tooth and nail with the execs to do arcs and continuity.

            Which is amazing, considering it was syndicated as well, and had to fight tooth and nail with the execs to do arcs and continuity.

      2. Terrh
        Link Parent
        oh man, are you in for a treat. I'd do anything to watch DS9 for the first time again.

        oh man, are you in for a treat. I'd do anything to watch DS9 for the first time again.

        3 votes
    2. [5]
      Glissy
      Link Parent
      Every few years I have a re-watch of DS9. I admit I skip some episodes/skip through some others but I start at Season 1 for the most part and watch it through. It's just such a great series when...

      Every few years I have a re-watch of DS9.

      I admit I skip some episodes/skip through some others but I start at Season 1 for the most part and watch it through.

      It's just such a great series when it really gets going, I don't mind that I've seen it all before either and usually a few years between re-watchings is enough to keep it engaging.

      1 vote
      1. Thrabalen
        Link Parent
        It's okay, we all skip The Storyteller after a couple of watches. :)

        It's okay, we all skip The Storyteller after a couple of watches. :)

        1 vote
      2. [3]
        Arlen
        Link Parent
        "Allamaraine, skip this one..."

        "Allamaraine, skip this one..."

        1 vote
        1. [2]
          Glissy
          Link Parent
          Oh wow, yeah that brought back a terrible memory. That episode reminds me of that terrible Voyager episode where they were trapped in that strange circus themed virtual world with a clown. I feel...

          Oh wow, yeah that brought back a terrible memory.

          That episode reminds me of that terrible Voyager episode where they were trapped in that strange circus themed virtual world with a clown. I feel that one did it better though, weirdly it's probably the most disturbing episode of Voyager in a good way.

          1 vote
          1. kallisti
            Link Parent
            Terrible? That episode is fantastic! It's deeply unsettling and a rare gem in S1-S3 Voyager. Michael McKean does an incredible job as fear clown thing as well.

            Terrible? That episode is fantastic! It's deeply unsettling and a rare gem in S1-S3 Voyager. Michael McKean does an incredible job as fear clown thing as well.

            1 vote
  15. SleepyGary
    Link
    There are so many shows and so little time I rarely go back to old stuff anymore. I used to cycle through all of Star Trek (TOS - ENT), Babylon 5, Farscape and Stargate, but I have like 1 hour a...

    There are so many shows and so little time I rarely go back to old stuff anymore. I used to cycle through all of Star Trek (TOS - ENT), Babylon 5, Farscape and Stargate, but I have like 1 hour a day for television these days so I gotta choose between new series and old favourites. Star Trek TNG is probably the oldest show I'll actively rewatch.

    7 votes
  16. [5]
    gowestyoungman
    Link
    The Carol Burnett Show (1967, 9 seasons). We watched it as a family. A variety show with clean humor and utterly silly slapstick comedy. Carol Burnett was ahead of her time. I can still watch the...

    The Carol Burnett Show (1967, 9 seasons). We watched it as a family. A variety show with clean humor and utterly silly slapstick comedy. Carol Burnett was ahead of her time.

    I can still watch the sketch with Harvey Korman and Tim Conway as the dentist and crack up every time. Watching Harvey Korman losing his composure made it priceless. And the Elephant sketch, the only sketch that made "Mama" swear and the other characters broke out and rolled on the floor with laughter.

    7 votes
    1. [4]
      Very_Bad_Janet
      Link Parent
      Are you able to stream The Carol Burnett Show from a service or website?

      Are you able to stream The Carol Burnett Show from a service or website?

      1 vote
      1. gowestyoungman
        Link Parent
        I just watched clips on youtube the last time. It was on our Firestick too but I tossed that.

        I just watched clips on youtube the last time. It was on our Firestick too but I tossed that.

        2 votes
  17. Matthias720
    Link
    I love the original Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon! The jokes can be dated and cheesy, but there are a ton of wonderful dad jokes and puns that can still get groans today. It had an impact on my...

    I love the original Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon! The jokes can be dated and cheesy, but there are a ton of wonderful dad jokes and puns that can still get groans today. It had an impact on my sense of humor, along with the classic Looney Tunes shorts, much to the chagrin of everyone I've ever worked with. Inane premises with even worse punchlines aren't exactly high art, but watching Boris Badenov get blown up by his own explosives for the hundredth time is still entertaining, even now.

    7 votes
  18. tomf
    Link
    The Virginian is probably the oldest show I regularly watch. Its from the early 60s and is fairly wholesome... long episodes and lots of them, too.

    The Virginian is probably the oldest show I regularly watch. Its from the early 60s and is fairly wholesome... long episodes and lots of them, too.

    6 votes
  19. [2]
    pseudochron
    Link
    1966 Adam West Batman is one of my favorite shows. Also love Fleischer Studios cartoons from the 30's.

    1966 Adam West Batman is one of my favorite shows.
    Also love Fleischer Studios cartoons from the 30's.

    6 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      It's kind of a shame that Fleischer's legacy has largely been forgotten by the public. As much money as Disney was able to pull in and how many innovations they created, Fleischer was just as deep...

      It's kind of a shame that Fleischer's legacy has largely been forgotten by the public. As much money as Disney was able to pull in and how many innovations they created, Fleischer was just as deep in the game and creating works that would inspire animators for decades to come. The flying robot from the Superman shorts is such an iconic design that has been copied so many times. By the end of their hayday they had a camera system so they could animate their characters in front of real, three dimensional backgrounds without the need for optical compositing.

  20. [2]
    defragc
    Link
    Man I love Gunsmoke. Even the radio drama is awesome. For some reason older shows, movies, radio plays, etc are comforting and relaxing for me.

    Man I love Gunsmoke. Even the radio drama is awesome. For some reason older shows, movies, radio plays, etc are comforting and relaxing for me.

    6 votes
  21. edenist
    Link
    Gumby Original episodes on Howdy Doody from 1955–1956 The Gumby Show 1957–1969 It was old even when I watched it as a kid, but it's still fun to watch with my own kids now, even though many of the...

    Gumby

    Original episodes on Howdy Doody from 1955–1956
    The Gumby Show 1957–1969

    It was old even when I watched it as a kid, but it's still fun to watch with my own kids now, even though many of the early episodes are completely batshit weird.

    5 votes
  22. bd_rom
    Link
    I still love the OG Addam's Family. It's genuinely funny to me, plus Morticia is legit a stone cold fox.

    I still love the OG Addam's Family. It's genuinely funny to me, plus Morticia is legit a stone cold fox.

    5 votes
  23. Ionlydateteachers
    Link
    Off the top of my head I'd have to say The Sopranos. After it aired my expectations for television were forever changed. I've tried to watch some childhood favorites like Macgyver, A Team and Tour...

    Off the top of my head I'd have to say The Sopranos. After it aired my expectations for television were forever changed. I've tried to watch some childhood favorites like Macgyver, A Team and Tour of Duty but I can't get into it.

    5 votes
  24. MC_Travesty
    Link
    I know it's not the oldest show, but as far as watchability goes Seinfeld really does it for me

    I know it's not the oldest show, but as far as watchability goes Seinfeld really does it for me

    5 votes
  25. PantsEnvy
    Link
    Alfred Hitchcock Presents is almost as good as Twilight Zone, but started 5 years earlier.

    Alfred Hitchcock Presents is almost as good as Twilight Zone, but started 5 years earlier.

    5 votes
  26. ras
    Link
    Star Trek: The Next Generation is probably the oldest show I go back to again and again.

    Star Trek: The Next Generation is probably the oldest show I go back to again and again.

    5 votes
  27. [5]
    FriendCalledFive
    Link
    I think it is a bit hard to separate the influence of nostalgia from being able to see something and say "this definitely holds up today". There are some shows I loved as a kid that are horribly...

    I think it is a bit hard to separate the influence of nostalgia from being able to see something and say "this definitely holds up today". There are some shows I loved as a kid that are horribly dated now. I rewatched Cheers recently and that still works. As someone else mentioned, Dads Army is always funny, though I think getting a millenial to watch it would be hard work.

    4 votes
    1. [4]
      mat
      Link Parent
      I think my sister is a millenial and she likes Dad's Army. That said, I don't really understand this whole generational horoscopes thing people do now. edit: is your username a Blossom reference?

      I think my sister is a millenial and she likes Dad's Army. That said, I don't really understand this whole generational horoscopes thing people do now.

      edit: is your username a Blossom reference?

      3 votes
      1. [3]
        FriendCalledFive
        Link Parent
        What is a generational horoscope? No, never heard of Blossom.

        What is a generational horoscope?

        No, never heard of Blossom.

        1. [2]
          mat
          Link Parent
          This whole Gen A/B/C/whatever thing people do, as if the year someone was born is really all that indicative of anything much. Makes about as much sense to me as whether Saturn was in Lemonade or...

          This whole Gen A/B/C/whatever thing people do, as if the year someone was born is really all that indicative of anything much. Makes about as much sense to me as whether Saturn was in Lemonade or whatever.

          Blossom was a kids show from the 90s and she had a friend called Six.

          1. FriendCalledFive
            Link Parent
            I am not overly fond of the gen thing, but if I refer to youngsters, at my stage of life that is anyone under 40! My username is from a Tubeway Army song Down In The Park from 1979.

            I am not overly fond of the gen thing, but if I refer to youngsters, at my stage of life that is anyone under 40!

            My username is from a Tubeway Army song Down In The Park from 1979.

            1 vote
  28. syzygy_ng
    Link
    I love The Dick Van Dyke Show as well, and if I'm in the mood for something a lil campier I'll go for Hogan's Heroes.

    I love The Dick Van Dyke Show as well, and if I'm in the mood for something a lil campier I'll go for Hogan's Heroes.

    4 votes
  29. NoblePath
    Link
    I just thought of two more shows I really enjoyed and would most likely quite enjoy today. Welcome Back, Kotter, which features a young John Travolta and a very ethnic 1970s Brooklyn, and Land of...

    I just thought of two more shows I really enjoyed and would most likely quite enjoy today.

    Welcome Back, Kotter, which features a young John Travolta and a very ethnic 1970s Brooklyn, and

    Land of the Lost (I learned there have been a couple remakes, I'm referring to the 1974 original. The Will Farrell movie wasn't bad, but was a very different endeavor), high quality science fiction for afternoon reruns on the kid block. The other sid and marty kroft productions were pretty lame, although H.R. Pufnstuff may have corrupted me.

    4 votes
  30. ki10butt
    Link
    I Love Lucy is always an old favorite of mine. I'll also always love Golden Girls

    I Love Lucy is always an old favorite of mine. I'll also always love Golden Girls

    4 votes
  31. yeahwellokay
    Link
    The Phil Silvers Show (Sgt. Bilko) 1955 - 1959. I first heard the audio of an episode on an airplane in the early 2000s and spent a long time thinking it was a radio show. Shout Factory released...

    The Phil Silvers Show (Sgt. Bilko) 1955 - 1959.

    I first heard the audio of an episode on an airplane in the early 2000s and spent a long time thinking it was a radio show.

    Shout Factory released the complete series a few years ago.

    4 votes
  32. [3]
    FrillsofTilde
    Link
    WKRP in Cincinnati is an awesome show that just doesn't get the love because of how hard it was to get in syndication with the actual music. I work with a bunch of ex radio hosts and they confirm...

    WKRP in Cincinnati is an awesome show that just doesn't get the love because of how hard it was to get in syndication with the actual music. I work with a bunch of ex radio hosts and they confirm it is very true to life!

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      Very_Bad_Janet
      Link Parent
      WKRP was one of my favorites growing up. Where do you watch it?

      WKRP was one of my favorites growing up. Where do you watch it?

      1 vote
  33. [2]
    Very_Bad_Janet
    (edited )
    Link
    I just watched Father Ted for the first time. It gets name checked on these kinds of favorite shows lists for a reason. Hilarious and shockingly (to me) irreverent. I'm really surprised they got...

    I just watched Father Ted for the first time. It gets name checked on these kinds of favorite shows lists for a reason. Hilarious and shockingly (to me) irreverent. I'm really surprised they got away with so much.

    I also started Bottom. Also very funny, but also purposefully grim and grimy. Definitely feels very 80s British.

    4 votes
    1. Meetin_potato
      Link Parent
      Father Ted has become my Christmas eve go to while I prep the Christmas dinner. Absolutely brilliant show that is still as good as the day it aired.

      Father Ted has become my Christmas eve go to while I prep the Christmas dinner. Absolutely brilliant show that is still as good as the day it aired.

      2 votes
  34. HowDoYouDo87
    Link
    I Love Lucy. Still one of my absolute favorite shows! Whenever I watch it I laugh just as hard as the first time I saw it.

    I Love Lucy. Still one of my absolute favorite shows! Whenever I watch it I laugh just as hard as the first time I saw it.

    3 votes
  35. Minty
    Link
    The Twilight Zone (1959) as well, then I think a lot of nothing until 40 years ago i.e. Knight Rider (1982), MacGyver (1985), and so forth. I don't count Doctor Who (1963) and Star Trek (1966)...

    The Twilight Zone (1959) as well, then I think a lot of nothing until 40 years ago i.e. Knight Rider (1982), MacGyver (1985), and so forth. I don't count Doctor Who (1963) and Star Trek (1966) despite watching some of the later ones because I didn't actually like the original series'.

    3 votes
  36. trebond
    Link
    I absolutely love "Murder, She Wrote". I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie and love everything about the show. Planning on copying Jessica Fletcher's wardrobe when I retire.

    I absolutely love "Murder, She Wrote". I'm a big fan of Agatha Christie and love everything about the show. Planning on copying Jessica Fletcher's wardrobe when I retire.

    3 votes
  37. 314xel
    Link
    MASH and currently rewatching Seinfeld

    MASH and currently rewatching Seinfeld

    3 votes
  38. [3]
    Flossie
    Link
    A couple that I haven't seen mentioned yet are The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Blakes' 7. Both sci-fi shows, but of wildly different tone. And both hold up well today.

    A couple that I haven't seen mentioned yet are The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Blakes' 7. Both sci-fi shows, but of wildly different tone. And both hold up well today.

    3 votes
    1. FriendCalledFive
      Link Parent
      Am glad you can still enjoy B7. I loved that as a kid, but watched a few bits on YT recently and was shocked at how bad it was to my now very much older eyes.

      Am glad you can still enjoy B7. I loved that as a kid, but watched a few bits on YT recently and was shocked at how bad it was to my now very much older eyes.

    2. GGnPhx
      Link Parent
      Hitchhikers Guide, excellent choice, but be sure to bring your towel!

      Hitchhikers Guide, excellent choice, but be sure to bring your towel!

  39. Proton
    (edited )
    Link
    For me it is definitely The West Wing. For years, I ignored it because it seemed dated and lacked the modern sensibilities I was conditioned to expect from a “good” political drama (e.g. gritty,...

    For me it is definitely The West Wing. For years, I ignored it because it seemed dated and lacked the modern sensibilities I was conditioned to expect from a “good” political drama (e.g. gritty, edgy, or dark). However, this show is something truly special and awakened in me a deep appreciation of good writing. The dialogue is engaging and intellectually stimulating, without ever coming off as pedantic or self-absorbed in my estimation. The characters are richly developed and complex in a way that was ahead of its time. It somehow manages to humanize the people in the White House while also inspiring the viewer with an aspirational vision of democracy. The show’s writers also demonstrate an almost preternatural ability to anticipate the issues that would be at the forefront of American politics years (and in some cases decades) after the show’s airing. It’s easily one of my favorite shows of all time.

    3 votes
  40. adamthinks
    Link
    Honestly, I don't think there are any eras of television that don't have multiple great shows that hold up. I Love Lucy is still one of the greatest comedy sitcoms ever made and that started...

    Honestly, I don't think there are any eras of television that don't have multiple great shows that hold up. I Love Lucy is still one of the greatest comedy sitcoms ever made and that started broadcasting in 1951.

    3 votes
  41. fifty50
    Link
    Get Smart (1965), a comedy TV series by Mel Brooks(blazing saddles, young Frankenstein). A non serious period alternative to the ultra cool and competent James Bond, Maxwell Smart's bumbling...

    Get Smart (1965), a comedy TV series by Mel Brooks(blazing saddles, young Frankenstein). A non serious period alternative to the ultra cool and competent James Bond, Maxwell Smart's bumbling genius still makes me laugh.

    3 votes
  42. WhyCause
    Link
    I stay up late every Saturday night to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which ran from '64-'68. I never saw it or heard of it before I stumbled across it one night late, and it's become one...

    I stay up late every Saturday night to watch Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which ran from '64-'68. I never saw it or heard of it before I stumbled across it one night late, and it's become one of the few shows I make time to watch.

    Even older than that, though, is my favorite Western, Have Gun, Will Travel, which ran from '57-'63. This one came on a lot in my Gen-X youth; I loved it then, and I still love it today. I watch it every time I see it while channel-surfing.

    2 votes
  43. Black_Gulaman
    Link
    yeah, it was Seinfeld. I love that I can mostly relate to them because I lived those situations and experienced some of them IRL. also I can jump into any episode and would have missed almost...

    yeah, it was Seinfeld. I love that I can mostly relate to them because I lived those situations and experienced some of them IRL. also I can jump into any episode and would have missed almost nothing because the show was about nothing

    2 votes
  44. zaktmt
    Link
    I grew up watching The Virginian with my grandpa. I love it. The premise is silly but it’s actually got really good acting. I grew up during an era of Nick@Nite when it had The Brady Bunch and I...

    I grew up watching The Virginian with my grandpa. I love it. The premise is silly but it’s actually got really good acting.

    I grew up during an era of Nick@Nite when it had The Brady Bunch and I Love Lucy. And I also remember when Disney Channel had the old Mickey Mouse Club and Zorro.

    Zorro was so cool to me. My family would find random Zorro things for me as gifts and I just remember finding the premise so cool.

    2 votes
  45. fineboi
    Link
    The Golden Girls was watched religiously every night, with my grams, before I went to bed.

    The Golden Girls was watched religiously every night, with my grams, before I went to bed.

    2 votes
  46. SpruceWillis
    Link
    Seems there's been a few shows mentioned already that I've watched and loved, TNG, Twilight Zone and Fawlty Towers so I won't cover those but a show I've found myself going back to time and time...

    Seems there's been a few shows mentioned already that I've watched and loved, TNG, Twilight Zone and Fawlty Towers so I won't cover those but a show I've found myself going back to time and time again is The X-Files.

    Id say its my favourite TV show and I think the last time I watched it was my 5th run through.

    The chemistry between Mulder and Scully is immediately apparent, the characters are engaging and well written, the mytharc is mysterious and the MotW episodes are fun. Season one is strong right off the bat but my god seasons 3-6 are just absolutely unstoppable TV.

    I love this show.

    2 votes
  47. [2]
    g33kphr33k
    Link
    UK TV watcher here and I grew up in the 80s and 90s. Dad's Army, Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, M.A.S.H., The Invisible Man, Mr Ed (the horse) all come to mind as some of my favourite shows...

    UK TV watcher here and I grew up in the 80s and 90s.

    Dad's Army, Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, M.A.S.H., The Invisible Man, Mr Ed (the horse) all come to mind as some of my favourite shows that I watched back then, and I've seen random episodes and enjoyed them in the past couple of years.

    I cannot say I've sat and watched a straight season out of those except Only Fools and Horses which still remains one of the best comedy shows made.

    2 votes
    1. Glissy
      Link Parent
      I have been going back and watching some of the very old Steptoe and Son series, they're all on YouTube. Surprisingly good!

      I have been going back and watching some of the very old Steptoe and Son series, they're all on YouTube. Surprisingly good!

      2 votes
  48. letswatchstartrek
    Link
    I can’t believe The Twilight Zone wasn’t my first thought, but it would definitely be the most accurate answer for me given the age of the show. I still love to watch episodes and I’ve been trying...

    I can’t believe The Twilight Zone wasn’t my first thought, but it would definitely be the most accurate answer for me given the age of the show. I still love to watch episodes and I’ve been trying to watch through all of the ones available on Paramount Plus. There are still some episodes that I’ve never seen on reruns and NYE marathons back when I had cable TV.

    My first thought was actually MASH, and I added a comment under the parent comment mentioning MASH about how much and why I love the show. It feels so raw and real and I love the mix between the heaviness of war and pain and death with the humor of trying to cope with that situation. It is such a compelling show and done so well. I was born in the early 90s so I didn’t see any of it on its original run, but I used to watch reruns on cable every day when I was a teenager.

    My other choice for a slightly newer show but still over 30 years old: Star Trek: TNG. This is probably my absolute favorite show of all time. It still holds up, at least for me. I loooove the dialog and slow paced-ness of this show. I find it so incredibly comforting and peaceful. The way everyone is so in touch with and open about how they feel and think and having these conversations and debates that are so civil and inclusive and thoughtful! They truly trust each other and respect each other and can disagree without being mean or cruel. It touches something deep inside my soul and brings me so much joy. Oh and the space mysteries! I love that part of it too.

    2 votes
  49. Ontix
    Link
    I still enjoy episodes of What's My Line? from the 1950s which is quite impressive for being nearly 50 years older than me. You can easily find episodes on archive.org or YouTube. Here's an...

    I still enjoy episodes of What's My Line? from the 1950s which is quite impressive for being nearly 50 years older than me.

    You can easily find episodes on archive.org or YouTube. Here's an episode from 1959 with Groucho Marx as a panelist. I think it (mostly) still works, but panel shows are more resilient than most other programs.

    I agree with you about the original Twilight Zone. Shows about the human condition, character over spectacle, and really solid writing are still great fun to watch - even if they are in grainy black and white and 4:3.

    2 votes
  50. Good_Apollo
    Link
    The Twilight Zone is probably my oldest. Not a stretch to say the second oldest would be Star Trek TOS.

    The Twilight Zone is probably my oldest. Not a stretch to say the second oldest would be Star Trek TOS.

    2 votes
  51. Knight37
    Link
    Cheers for me, granted it's not that old, but still!

    Cheers for me, granted it's not that old, but still!

    2 votes
  52. eric3a
    Link
    The 3 Stooges still crack me up

    The 3 Stooges still crack me up

    2 votes
  53. Gramage
    Link
    Gotta be Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired long before I was born. When you meet another Python fan the quotes and in-jokes just start flowing! Mate, this bird wouldn't "voom" if you put...

    Gotta be Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired long before I was born. When you meet another Python fan the quotes and in-jokes just start flowing!

    Mate, this bird wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!

    2 votes
  54. Pavouk106
    Link
    I would love to see once again "Hry bez hranic" (Games without borders - basically team kinda wipeout/sport/skill games where each teamof I believe 6 or 8 ordinary people represents one country,...

    I would love to see once again "Hry bez hranic" (Games without borders - basically team kinda wipeout/sport/skill games where each teamof I believe 6 or 8 ordinary people represents one country, these were popular in late 80s or early 90s in Europe, mainly eastern I suppose).

    I would also love to see original Fort Boyard.

    Too bad you can't find them (in Czech) and they don't brodcast them. Otherwise I would loveto watch them all again. These would be the oldest.

    2 votes
  55. GGnPhx
    Link
    The Beverly Hillbillies, still makes me smile.

    The Beverly Hillbillies, still makes me smile.

    2 votes
  56. guts
    Link
    Two and a Half Men. I am from LATAM so I still enjoy once in a while a Mexican show called Chespirito or Chavo del Ocho.

    Two and a Half Men.
    I am from LATAM so I still enjoy once in a while a Mexican show called Chespirito or Chavo del Ocho.

    1 vote
  57. basicbaconbitch
    Link
    Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Family Matters, Little House on the Prairie (especially the episodes with teenage and adult Laura).

    Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Family Matters, Little House on the Prairie (especially the episodes with teenage and adult Laura).

    1 vote
  58. kandace
    Link
    That's easily King of the Hill for me. I've watched it several times the whole way through, which is not a normal habit of mine. So good.

    That's easily King of the Hill for me. I've watched it several times the whole way through, which is not a normal habit of mine. So good.

    1 vote
  59. geckospots
    Link
    I am a huge fan of Granada’s late 80s Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett, and similarly the Poirot series with David Suchet. The production values are high, the adaptations are...

    I am a huge fan of Granada’s late 80s Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett, and similarly the Poirot series with David Suchet. The production values are high, the adaptations are well-written, and the casting is unbeatable.

    1 vote
  60. c0w
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    It's not really that old as it was made in 2000, but i've been watching a lot of curb your enthusiasm lately and have been enjoying it. Only just heard about the show recently.

    It's not really that old as it was made in 2000, but i've been watching a lot of curb your enthusiasm lately and have been enjoying it. Only just heard about the show recently.

    1 vote
  61. TheSkysPaw
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    Classic Doctor Who (1963-1989)

    Classic Doctor Who (1963-1989)

    1 vote
  62. GalileoPotato
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    Probably the Super Mario Brothers Super Show. I curate the kosher/appropriate stuff for my niece.

    Probably the Super Mario Brothers Super Show. I curate the kosher/appropriate stuff for my niece.

    1 vote
  63. llehsadam
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    Star Trek TOS is the oldest from the US (1966), but I also enjoy stuff from the other side of the iron curtain, Czterej Pancerni i Pies is a classic that I can always rewatch. It's a Polish TV...

    Star Trek TOS is the oldest from the US (1966), but I also enjoy stuff from the other side of the iron curtain, Czterej Pancerni i Pies is a classic that I can always rewatch. It's a Polish TV series incidentally also from 1966.

    1 vote
  64. Akir
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    I just realized someone mentioned Muppet Babies but nobody mentioned The Muppet Show, and I am irrationally upset about it. Even if nobody knows the celebrities anymore, most of the comedy is...

    I just realized someone mentioned Muppet Babies but nobody mentioned The Muppet Show, and I am irrationally upset about it.

    Even if nobody knows the celebrities anymore, most of the comedy is timeless.

    1 vote
  65. EnigmaNL
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    I still love the A-team but that's mostly due to nostalgia. The show itself is actually pretty cringe worthy. They shoot hundreds of bullets but nobody ever gets hit. Every episode has a happy...

    I still love the A-team but that's mostly due to nostalgia. The show itself is actually pretty cringe worthy. They shoot hundreds of bullets but nobody ever gets hit. Every episode has a happy ending. But I still love it because I watched it when I was a kid.

    1 vote
  66. Stranger
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    If you like The Twilight Zone and are interested in old TV, then I'd highly recommend Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

    If you like The Twilight Zone and are interested in old TV, then I'd highly recommend Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

    1 vote
  67. stoicSometimes
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    There's an episode of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1951 - 1958) with Jack Benny that is so funny. I mean they are all funny, but the scene starting at around 20:30 in the episode...

    There's an episode of The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1951 - 1958) with Jack Benny that is so funny. I mean they are all funny, but the scene starting at around 20:30 in the episode "Gracie Thinks She's Not Married to George" that words can't express.

    I also really like the old iSpy (1965 - 1968) show; it never fails to amuse. It starred Robert Culp and Bill Cosby. After I started watching the reruns long ago my mother told me how Culp was supposed to be the big star but the young Bill Cosby stole the show.
    Yes, Bill Cosby did wrong, but the show stands the test of time, for me anyway.

    My brother loved The Saint (1962 - 1969). Roger Moore really did well in it. I put it on sometimes and always enjoy it but it's not a standout for me. I mention it to call attention to it for those who never watched it.

    1 vote
  68. GinandTonic
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    Some older ones in general that I enjoy The Flintstones The Honeymooners The Twilight Zone (obviously) Columbo Star Trek (Original & TNG) Three's Company The Benny Hill Show

    Some older ones in general that I enjoy

    • The Flintstones
    • The Honeymooners
    • The Twilight Zone (obviously)
    • Columbo
    • Star Trek (Original & TNG)
    • Three's Company
    • The Benny Hill Show
    1 vote
  69. OBLIVIATER
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    Probably Seinfeld for me, I grew up watching it so it still rings my bell. Anything much older feels pretty out of touch and unfunny. Though I used to really enjoy Hogan's Hero's

    Probably Seinfeld for me, I grew up watching it so it still rings my bell. Anything much older feels pretty out of touch and unfunny. Though I used to really enjoy Hogan's Hero's

  70. Jedi
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    Well, The Twilight Zone is an obvious one, so I’m going to go unique. Dark Shadows (1966–1971). I have watched all 1,225 episodes (including the lost one) and thoroughly enjoyed it. One day I’ll...

    Well, The Twilight Zone is an obvious one, so I’m going to go unique.

    Dark Shadows (1966–1971).

    I have watched all 1,225 episodes (including the lost one) and thoroughly enjoyed it. One day I’ll rewatch it.
    Sure, it’s a soap opera, and yeah, it’s cheesy at times, but so what? If I had an ungodly amount of time in my life, I’d love to remaster and recut it all.

  71. Nememess
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    Golden Girls is my go to. I watch it all the way through, then start it again.

    Golden Girls is my go to. I watch it all the way through, then start it again.

  72. Comment removed by site admin
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