Many kids are growing up on Nick Jr and Cartoon Network and think that classic TV shows and movies are boring. If you ask a teenager to name a movie that starred Cary Grant, John Wayne or Doris Day, many will probably look at you with a blank look and assume you are as ancient as the dinosaurs {a look I know all too well}. Try a show of hands to see what teenager or child has seen an episode of Gilligan’s Island, Hogan’s Heroes or Gomer Pyle. Kids just don’t understand that classic TV shows that are in black and white are still hilarious pieces of entertainment.
If you have a child under the age of 20, this list is for you. Here are 5 classic TV shows that every adult should at least watch and be able to recognize. And don’t forget to share with the kids!
Gilligan’s Island
A group of 5 passengers and a crew of 2 take what is supposed to be a three hour boat ride {…a three hour tour…}. Instead, they end up shipwrecked on a desert island. This is a comedy that doesn’t take anything seriously and their resourcefulness can be quite amazing. How in the world would you be able to create the things they invented with only the items found on their shipwrecked boat and the tropical island? Gilligan’s Island is clean family fun at its best.
The Andy Griffith Show
Andy, his family and group of friends in the city of Mayberry, North Carolina face life on all levels. The emphasis on family values and loyalty to friends is evident in every episode. For family shows, you don’t get more timeless than the Andy Griffith show. For those who do know the show, take a trip back in time and see the town that this show is based on – Mount Airy, North Carolina – where you can take a ride in a Mayberry era police car, visit Floyd’s Barber Shop and see Andy Griffith’s old homeplace.
Gomer Pyle, USMC
Gomer Pyle was introduced on the Andy Griffith show but then goes off to become a marine. His own show spun off and became its own classic. Gomer is always getting into scrapes with his CO and his fellow Marines but you can’t help but love him and root for him to succeed. His classic way of saying “Go…lly” is unforgettable.
Bewitched
One of my personal favorites was “Bewitched.” Samanatha is a witch who lives a normal life as a housewife in classic America. This blend of humorous witchcraft and honest family relationships will keep you laughing at every episode. They even remade this show into a movie a few years ago, but trust, the classic TV show was much better. No one can twitch their nose like Samantha can.
I Dream of Jeannie
Who wouldn’t want to have their very own genie in a bottle {no, not Christina Aguilera}. An astronaut finds a mysterious bottle and brings home his very own genie. Since no one can know she is a real genie, then Jeannie plays the role of his housekeeper. They are always getting into precarious situations where Jeannie saves the day. This is one of the classic TV shows that I think kids of today will especially enjoy.
Interesting side note, this was a breakthrough series where the exposure of Jeanie’s belly button became a hot topic – very taboo in it’s day – and long before Shania Twain ever thought of baring her midriff.
I love Gilligan’s Island too! My kids are big fans of the castaways and we often try to decide which of our kids i more like Gilligan!
I love this post. The other day my son said something about being strong and asked if he ate spinach like Popeye? He looked completely confused . He had NO idea who Popeye was.
I can’t imagine someone not knowing who Popeye is!
Love the photo at the beginning. I was just thinking about Gomer Pyle yesterday. Loved reminiscing with the blog
This is so funny because I just had a conversation with my daughter about Gilligan’s Island and I was shocked that she had never heard of it and she’s 22! I ordered her to go home and watch TV land! I am so ashamed I shirked my parental responsibilities!
I have no children at all but I love every one of those shows you listed above. Gilligans Island and Bewitched-oh how those shows can make you laugh. And how did you forget I Love Lucy!!
Oh it is definitely not forgotten! I think that I Love Lucy would be one that everyone would think of anyway. 🙂
I used to love watching Gilligans Island and Bewitched, however not to the point of wanting to watch them now. There aren’t really any TV shows from my past that I want to watch.
First- I love that picture. Totally looks like the room we used to have as kids.
We watch METv and (I just drew a blank on the second station), that play nothing but classics. We watch the Addams Family (Gomez sure cherished Morticia), gilligan’s Island, My Three Sons, I love Lucy, and I watch the others like Ironside, Quincy ME, etc.
Great post!
Oh I used to love the Addams Family! I haven’t seen that in forever. And I Love Lucy! I don’t know anyone who didn’t like that show.
I think Bewitched and I dream of Jeannie has been inspirations even to current shows.
We used to come home from school and watch Gilligan’s Island which was my favorite. Thanks for sharing and bringing back the memories.
That is such a great list. We watch Gilligans Island all the time. It is so much fun to watch! And all the others I definitely grew up with.
LOVE this!! My kids actually watch little House on the prairie….and Full House (not THAT old I guess)
My daughter is 17 and she loves Full House. She used to watch it all the time as a child. 🙂
I love Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie.. they don’t make them like they used to.
I feel so bad. I’m 1 out of 5 in your list. The programs that I watched when I was a kid were Beverly Hills 90210, Bioman, Sesame Street, and a lot of Cartoon Network.
Yeah, I am not in that age range either. I grew up on Beverly Hills 90210, too. That was my favorite show as a teen. But I watched many of the older shows in reruns. You should check some of them out. You may really like them. 🙂
Every show you mention here I grew up watching with my family. Our tv was similar to this and sat on a tv stand. You just brought back some great memories for me! Thanks!
I loved bewitched and i dream of jeanie. Also I love lucy.
Just reading this brought back a lot of memories! How could you go wrong with Gilligan???
GI is one of my faves! I remember watching I love Lucy, Sanford & Son, The Three Stooges and the Cosby Show when I was a kid. My kids really love to watch the Cosby Show.
Oh gosh, The Cosby Show! Who didn’t watch that one? What a fabulous show. I saw it flipping through *I think* Hulu Plus the other day and added it to my queue. I might watch it all again from the beginning. 🙂 And Sanford and Son I recall vaguely, but I *may* be getting it confused with another show. Was that the one where they had like a pack rat shop and the guy was always talking about how he was going to die any minute? If so, I thought that show was hilarious!
I loved all of those except Gomer Pyle. He drove me batty! I also liked Little House on the Prairie!
Lol! Yeah Gomer Pyle was more of an acquired taste. 😉 I loved Little House On The Prairie, too! Some of my favorite shows that were on when I was a kid was Wonder Woman and the Dukes of Hazzard. 🙂
I loved all of these growing up! Showing my age I know, but they were all great! I watched The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, I Love Lucy (though before my time) and I still watch them to this day. So my son grew up watching them too. He still loves Andy Griffith!
We were never allowed to watch bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie growing up.. or anything that had to do with witches..
Oh no, that’s too bad. Both of these shows are really cute.
Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie….. I still miss them. Loved both the shows…
I love old TV shows, but my favorite “old” ones are from the 80s–Growing Pains, Family Ties, etc. Love them!
My daughter likes to watch Bonanza
Great list! I still love Bewitched!
I have not watched any of them but these shows seems interesting putting them in my watchlist, thanks for the post Dawn, stay blessed and happy dear 🙂
I think that limited TV time, with educational content, is great for kids of all ages. TV is a scary thing when it gets out of hand, but it is a way of entertainment and children definitely need that. We grew up watching things like Bewitched so why shouldn’t they.