Watching TV has been a common pastime for us for decades, with many great shows that have come and gone that we still love today. There are classic TV shows that we keep going back to and have stuck around for new generations to enjoy.
The Twilight Zone (1959)
A show that thrived on the strange and unusual was The Twilight Zone. The narrator and guide was Rod Serling through the “fifth dimension.” Each episode is a standalone story that explores science fiction themes and delves into the supernatural. Characters face their own demons, from their fears to their flaws and the consequences of their beliefs and actions. Episodes often end with a lesson and a plot twist ending that takes viewers by surprise. Watch now on Prime.
I Love Lucy (1951)
A beloved classic of the 1950s is I Love Lucy, starring Lucille Ball as Lucy and Desi Arnaz as Ricky. Lucy is a housewife who yearns for a life in show business, often scheming wacky plans to break into Ricky’s act. He is a band leader turned actor who gets exasperated by Lucy’s antics. By their side are their best friends and landlords, Fred (William Frawley) and Ethel (Vivian Vance). Watch now on Paramount+.
Bewitched (1964)
With a twitch of her nose, Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) brings magic and laughter into our homes. Bewitched is a show about Samantha, a witch, who marries a regular guy, Darrin (Dick York and Dick Sargent), and is trying to live a normal suburban life. Samantha’s magic often leads to comedic chaos. Watch now on Prime.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970)
If you’re looking for a show that defied how women were portrayed on TV and began a change in the tide in an entertaining and hilarious way, watch The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary Richards is a single woman in her thirties with a career in TV news production. It balances work humor through interactions with her colleagues and friends and the dating experience of the 1970s as a woman in her 30s. Watch now on Hulu.
The Donna Reed Show (1958)
A sweet and wholesome classic is The Donna Reed Show. It portrays the ideal suburban family of the 1950s following a nuclear family. Donna is a stay-at-home wife with a husband and two kids. It is a heartwarming show that focuses on the importance of family and learning valuable lessons. Watch now on Peacock.
The Andy Griffith Show (1960)
The Andy Griffith Show takes place in the sleepy town of Mayberry in North Carolina. Andy (Andy Griffth) is the town sheriff, a man full of wisdom and balanced by his quirky partner Barney (Don Knotts). Aunt Bee, Opie, Andy’s son, and the rest of the characters on the show add humor, eccentricity, and a touch of innocence. Watch now on Paramount+.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
Rob (Dick Van Dyke) plays a TV writer in The Dick Van Dyke Show for comedy shows in the 1960s. The show blends his work life, where he deals with other writers, actors, and tight deadlines. In the evenings, he navigates his home life with his wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), and son. Between the quirkiness at his job and his loud but friendly neighbors, the show is a funny and realistic portrayal of family and working life. Watch now on Peacock.