Why do I find old TV sit-com reruns silly?

The really old ones were good back in the day when I was a youngster, but our tastes change as we age and also the times change. Those shows are quaint in a way, but too simple for me, so seeing a rerun now is not something I want. I do sometimes watch old Seinfeld episodes on the small kitchen TV when I'm in there eating, still get some smiles out of that show, good writers and cast. Just individual taste Deb.
 
There was a time during the late 60's & early 70's that defy reason, it was during the 'acid' trips, psychedelic, Timothy Leary days. I watch movies from that time, usually turn them off realizing how dated they are, most of them still assault my senses. I had just returned from the service, gung-ho to defeat communism & was offended by the 'flower' children's protests. I got over that, started a career, family,,,etc. But, still never could get into the entertainment genre of those days.

I didn't like long hair bothered my ears, did try the platform shoes for a day, sat in my closet until discarding, shins recovering from the strain. Didn't wear bell-bottoms, smoked 'dope' or wore beads either. Recently since retirement, we've sat down several times to do a little marathon watching of TV reruns on Hulu & Netflix. Seinfeld, Cheers, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith & the more current fare, 'Breaking Bad'. Those still hold up today. I watch TCM for the older classics, some are great, some are fluff, but they make more sense than the aforementioned time.

I usually find that remakes lack. There are a few who have actually done a better job at it. I watched 'Man in the Wilderness' with Richard Harris, good movie, interesting. Last night I got a DVD copy of 'The Revenant' with Leonardo. Intense, great movie. Much more realistic than Harris's orginal. Also, on AMC was the remake of 'True Grit', I am a fan of John Wayne, but that remake was much better.
 

Television was very simple in those days, writing for TV audiences was in its very elementary stage and sets, costumes and everything else really low budget. Also there were a lot of restrictions and censorship, people seemed to be much more conservative then. Needless to say, today's audiences are huge and very sophisticated and also very intelligent. Television has come a long way since the 50s.

I very rarely watch those old classic TV shows, but some of them are interesting to me for the costumes, sets, and locations.
 
Cookie said:
Television was very simple in those days, writing for TV audiences was in its very elementary stage and sets, costumes and everything else really low budget. Also there were a lot of restrictions and censorship, people seemed to be much more conservative then. Needless to say, today's audiences are huge and very sophisticated and also very intelligent. Television has come a long way since the 50s.

I very rarely watch those old classic TV shows, but some of them are interesting to me for the costumes, sets, and locations.
Click to expand...

Ooh, I beg to differ.

Judging by what is new on the tube, today's audiences are shallow, mean and lack intelligence.

There are no more shows with morality plays written into them; now it's all jokes about bodily functions, divorce and sex.

At least Andy never got too steamy when Barney was around.

Yes, I still prefer the "classics" - I watch The Honeymooners, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy - they're universally and consistently funny, but they're not filthy. Was never a fan of F Troop, Gilligan's Island or Gomer Pyle - not saying they weren't funny - they just weren't to my taste.

Johnny Carson - The King. All the subsequent hosts were pretenders to the throne.

The old crime dramas were well-written and had plots. The new ones? All blood and guts.
 
Phil, there's no accounting for viewer's tastes. I think the old shows that my parents used to like were a bit on the mundane two dimensional side.

I don't watch actual TV shows on television set - but get TV shows on Netflix and have seen some really high quality British mysteries, detective shows (no profanity) and have enjoyed some great American TV too. I choose. And we have a lot to choose from now, unlike in the old days.

There is such a broad audience spectrum now, I really wouldn't want to generalize and say its all bad, there's something for everyone, much of it doesn't appeal to me either.
 
I'm not sure how far back some of these go. Loved the Mary Tyler Moore Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Taxi, and All in the Family. I guess Everybody Loves Raymond is too recent. Yeah, Lucy was great. If the early shows seem simpler, lets remember there were many restrictions on what they were allowed to write. Maybe that was a good thing, but then again, maybe not. The shows are written for the audience that watches them. Most of us are no longer the target audience.
 
SifuPhil said:
Ooh, I beg to differ.

Judging by what is new on the tube, today's audiences are shallow, mean and lack intelligence.

There are no more shows with morality plays written into them; now it's all jokes about bodily functions, divorce and sex.

At least Andy never got too steamy when Barney was around.

Yes, I still prefer the "classics" - I watch The Honeymooners, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy - they're universally and consistently funny, but they're not filthy. Was never a fan of F Troop, Gilligan's Island or Gomer Pyle - not saying they weren't funny - they just weren't to my taste.

Johnny Carson - The King. All the subsequent hosts were pretenders to the throne.

The old crime dramas were well-written and had plots. The new ones? All blood and guts.
Click to expand...

I'll just pretty much second this without writing my own post. ;)

I will add The Man from U.N.C.L.E., good westerns, and some Saturday-morning cartoons. Mission Impossible was good too; I didn't care for it, but looking back I think it was very popular and well done.

What '60s and '70s movies, son? I'm drawing a blank other than James Bond (I still enjoy those occasionally if I can catch one without commercials. I honestly can't think of any others right off the bat).
 
Guitarist said:
What '60s and '70s movies, son? I'm drawing a blank other than James Bond (I still enjoy those occasionally if I can catch one without commercials. I honestly can't think of any others right off the bat).
Click to expand...
Valley of the Dolls
To Sir, with Love
The Born Losers
I Am Curious
In Like Flint
The Trip
Our Man Flint
The Alamo
The Green Berets
Convoy
White Lightening
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Smokey and the Bandit
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Ballad of Cable Hogue
Anything with Tom Laughlin

To name a few, actually the James Bond movies were ok, it was spoofs that came later on. The original Pink Panther was good, but the next 25 Pinks were really lame.
 
Cookie said:
Phil, there's no accounting for viewer's tastes. I think the old shows that my parents used to like were a bit on the mundane two dimensional side.
Click to expand...

I prefer mundane over forced stylishness and complexity.

I don't watch actual TV shows on television set - but get TV shows on Netflix and have seen some really high quality British mysteries, detective shows (no profanity) and have enjoyed some great American TV too. I choose. And we have a lot to choose from now, unlike in the old days.
Click to expand...

I agree there is some great Brit stuff, but American? Sorry, I'll hold my position. Sure, if you have Netflix/etc. you can be choosy - I meant broadcast / cable TV, the Great Wasteland.
 
SifuPhil said:
I prefer mundane over forced stylishness and complexity. I agree there is some great Brit stuff, but American? Sorry, I'll hold my position. Sure, if you have Netflix/etc. you can be choosy - I meant broadcast / cable TV, the Great Wasteland.
Click to expand...

I watched TV like everyone else when I was growing up (starting in the 50s when television was just a toddler) and sure there was some pretty good stuff on. But I think I'm past the point where I would be satisfied watching re-runs of Andy Griffith or the Beverly Hillbillies or Gilligan's Island, although I loved them back then.

When I didn't see anything worth watching back in 2003, I knew it was time to throw out the TV and do something else and only got Netflix last year Sometimes the pickins are pretty slim there too. OK I admit it, I really enjoyed Gossip Girl (on Netflix) which is very American, and its pretty stylish and maybe even a little complex. Sometimes a bit of escapism is a good thing. I find reading reviews helpful to sift through it all.
 
Cookie said:
I watched TV like everyone else when I was growing up (starting in the 50s when television was just a toddler) and sure there was some pretty good stuff on. But I think I'm past the point where I would be satisfied watching re-runs of Andy Griffith or the Beverly Hillbillies or Gilligan's Island, although I loved them back then.
Click to expand...

Do you think your tastes have changed, or you've become more sophisticated, or programming has become better, or ... ?

When I didn't see anything worth watching back in 2003, I knew it was time to throw out the TV and do something else and only got Netflix last year Sometimes the pickins are pretty slim there too. OK I admit it, I really enjoyed Gossip Girl (on Netflix) which is very American, and its pretty stylish and maybe even a little complex. Sometimes a bit of escapism is a good thing. I find reading reviews helpful to sift through it all.
Click to expand...

Well, at least you went without for a while. It doesn't sound like you're one of those people who had it going 24/7.

I know escapism can be a good thing - I regularly indulge in it with Andy and Barney and Aunt Bea. ;)
 
I really enjoy watching some of the old 60s shows once in awhile, like Petticoat Junction, Beverly Hillbillies, I love Lucy, Green Acres. Those are so stupid they are funny!! Well, at least the hillbillies and Green Acres are!!
 
I think that perhaps nostalgia for the good old days when simplicity reigned supreme, via Andy Griffith et al, is far more palatable if one enjoyed their life during that era. Otherwise it becomes a bitter reminder of how fantasmagorical such an existence was for many.
 
Phil, Yes, I think some of the programming is better quality, it has to be, the technology is much more advanced now. If you think TV is bad, its just a reflection of what appeals to the mass audiences.

Of course our tastes change from when we were kids and young adults. I'd like to think I'm more sophisticated, having been around the block a few times, worked in various places, read a book or two and been to some places in the world and met a few people. As we age we probably don't relate to a lot of the stuff that is geared towards the younger crowd. I'm finding that.

There was a show on when I was a kid that I really loved, called Topper, about a man who could see ghosts and some of the situations he's get into, based on a movie from the 40s.
 
I have no idea why I just sat through two episodes of The Andy Griffith show. I was channel surfing was surprised to see it pop up though I would take a quick peek for old times sake, and there I am. Two full episodes later. :D
 
It reminds us of the shows...perhaps already in syndication at the time...we watched growing up. "Dennis the Menace" with Jay North. In today's world he would be on meds or possibly juvie hall by now. But back then he had a slingshot and could drive Mr. Wilson batty...oh and Mr. Wilson didn't start any lawsuits...how about those innocent days?
 
fureverywhere said:
It reminds us of the shows...perhaps already in syndication at the time...we watched growing up. "Dennis the Menace" with Jay North. In today's world he would be on meds or possibly juvie hall by now. But back then he had a slingshot and could drive Mr. Wilson batty...oh and Mr. Wilson didn't start any lawsuits...how about those innocent days?
Click to expand...
Hahahaha
 
A person can still be sophisticated and watch a few oldie shows!! Just for the heck of it! No need to analyze it to death.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top