Shows that do/don't hold up

[albionmoonlight]

Inspired by a comment in the Mork and Mindy thread:

Originally Posted by rowech

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Oh come on, it's even more entertaining now!


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]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

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]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

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]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

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.

Originally Posted by gstelmack

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]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

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]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

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

you can never get enough dicks on your tv screen imo

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

you can never get enough dicks on your tv screen imo

Says Tanya

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by dolfin

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]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

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]

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

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]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

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]

Originally Posted by rowech

Curious why nobody has gone the drama route?

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

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Raiders Army

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.

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

LHotP had the saddest series finale evar.

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

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

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.