What makes retro TV shows retro? Well, it’s a number of different factors. Retro TV speaks to a time before the modern day run of television shows, and it’s shows that have captured our hearts form the very beginning. These are the shows that have contributed numerous different catchphrases and slogans into our collective consciousness. In a nutshell, they are shows that are well loved and hardly easy to forget. It’s just a matter of tapping in to the right list of shows to start your experience right?
Now, one question that we always get is whether or not you have to be from the era of these TV shows to appreciate them. Don’t worry if you’re too young to remember some of these shows. You can pick up a lot of these shows on DVD now, so it’s not like you can’t have a great experience watching them.
OK, that’s enough chit chat from us — check out the following list of 7 old TV shows favorites that you have to check out!
1. I Dream of Jeannie
What would you do if you had your own genie? While we think that our life would be perfect if we had a genie that could make all of our wishes come true, but it doesn’t really work out that way for Tony Nelson, an astronaut that discovers a mysterious bottle that contains a real life genie, Jeannie! The series ran for about five seasons, and there were always some wacky antics to be had between Jeannie and her new “master”. Barbara Eden in the genie role was pretty easy on the eyes as well, which made the series even more interesting.
2. The Addams Family
The Addams family was a Gothic pleasure and a mindtrip all of its own. Comedy from this era had its own formula, but the Addams family tended to border on the offensive — yet it never really was. Between the madman billionaire Gomez Addams and his vamp wife Morticia, along with their kids and eccentric relatives, there was always something to think about when it came to the Addams family.
3. Hawaii 5-O!
You can’t have a retro TV list without adding in a crime drama. Hawaii Five-O really fits that bill, considering that it was a mix of comedy as well as action. The theme music was catchy enough to stay in your head for days. After all, who didn’t run around the house saying “Book ’em, Danno!” at least every now and then?
The series ran for 12 seasons, which is absolutely long when you compare it to some of today’s television shows.
4. Family Ties
Ready for a retro sitcom? Try Family ties on for size! This is a show that definitely reminds you of the power of family. If you’re a Michael J. Fox fan, you will love this show because it features Michael J. Fox in his finest form. The show is basically a time capsule of political commentary, humor, and a reminder to focus on family no matter what.
5. Roseanne
Yet another sitcom, but the focus is a little bit different. This is one of the first sitcoms that had a blue collar family just trying to make ends meet, which was a completely different perspective than what was on television at the time. Both parents on the show worked outside the home, which was another thing that just wasn’t done at the time. You had to understand that this was definitely a different time — nowadays, we really don’t think about the show’s themes as anything legendary — partially because of these retro sitcoms leading the way, of course.
Roseanne Barr is witty, sympathetic, and downright funny in the title role, and you have to check it out as soon as you can.
6. Gilligan’s Island
Here’s another show that has a theme song that will get stuck in your head. If you’re a fan of black and white sitcoms, then you will like Gilligan’s Island very much. There are a lot of cultural references that came into being thanks to this show, and the later episodes have even been colorized to make them more interesting to watch.
7. Laverne and Shirley
If you’re a fan of Happy Days, then you will definitely like Laverne and Shirley. The show is definitely a mix of classic sitcom comedy and slice of life perspectives. If you’re not a fan of just looking at a window on people’s lives, then you might want to skip over Laverne and Shirley and go with something that has a lot more action. However, if you’re really serious about going with a retro classic, you really have to see at least one or two episodes of L&S!
Could we go on and on with this list? Sure we could — there’s a lot of great retro television shows out there, but we could only pick a select handful to share with you. Now, does that mean that our list is complete? Definitely not — make sure that you sound off in the comments with the shows that we missed! Have fun!