Classic TV shows retirees love re-watching

After Bob Newhart’s passing in the news this week, I wondered how many classic TV shows I miss from my early preteen and teenage years. I seem to gravitate to mid- to late 1960s shows. That time was when they called it escapism TV. The shows did not reflect real life. The object of Classic TV shows retirees love re-watching was to make a happy place for people to watch for 30 minutes. It is said that this time of TV programming was to counter the daily news about the Vietnam War. These classics are like a warm cup of cocoa with marshmallows to me.

There are many live-action sitcoms and animated cartoons that, when rewatched, are like comfort food to my mind. I know I have watched most of these reruns many, many times. Yet they fill me with happy memories of being at home with family on an evening watching a TV sitcom. Better were Saturday mornings, eating breakfast and watching cartoons until noon. Did you do this?

In the early years, we only had a black-and-white TV with maybe four significant networks and one PBS station. This was long before VHF channels or cable came into play. We have NBC, CBS, ABS, and PBS channels if you live in a suburb or a significant city. We could get the channels without an outside antenna then, and I watched a lot of TV back then. We did not get a color TV until about 1967. I watch most of my young color TV across the street at my neighbor’s house. They had a color TV first on our steeet and cable when it came out.

I am somewhat ashamed to say I was a walking TV guide. I could tell my parents about the prime-time show schedule most nights. I was a mini TV guide at the time in my home. I am sure my school grades suffered somewhat due to doing minimal homework to get more TV time. Now, I watch my TV on my Chromebook everywhere I am.

I have been watching free TV streaming channels with commercials for most of the reruns. Yet, due to ownership agreements or license disputes with the estate of the original owners of these shows, only a few seasons are available for streaming. I do not want to purchase sets on DVD anymore. It just takes up too much storage space. I have bought some sitcom shows via Amazon Prime or Hulu.

Some of my go-to favorites are currently rewatching Maude, My Favorite Martian, Twilight Zone, and Petticoat Junction. Bewitched. I watch newer BBC sitcom reruns: Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, UFO, Thunderbirds, and Ab Fab. I have watched shows, and I recall watching them with my mother. Honey West (Ann Frances), Laugh-in, I want to find the Flipp Wilson Show next on my list. What is on your list of must-see comfort shows?

These 70 shows were popular during the 1950s and early 1960s and have left a lasting impression on many viewers.

1. I Love Lucy
2. The Honeymooners
3. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
4. Leave It to Beaver
5. Father Knows Bestto mu
6. The Lone Ranger
7. Perry Mason
8. Gunsmoke
9. The Ed Sullivan Show
10. Dragnet
11. Lassie
12. The Twilight Zone
13. Your Show of Shows
14. The Phil Silvers Show
15. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
16. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
17. The Jack Benny Program
18. The Danny Thomas Show (Make Room for Daddy)
19. The Adventures of Superman
20. Our Miss Brooks
21. The Life of Riley
22. The Cisco Kid
23. The Milton Berle Show
24. Amos ‘n’ Andy
25. Howdy Doody
26. The Donna Reed Show
27. 77 Sunset Strip
28. The Rifleman
29. My Three Sons
30. Dennis the Menace
31. The Red Skelton Show
32. Bonanza
33. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
34. Maverick
35. The Andy Griffith Show
36. Leave It to Beaver
37. The Beverly Hillbillies
38. Mr. Ed
39. Car 54, Where Are You?
40. The Real McCoys
41. The Dick Van Dyke Show
42. Hazel
43. Rawhide
44. Route 66
45. Peter Gunn
46. Zorro
47. Sea Hunt
48. Wagon Train
49. Bat Masterson
50. Cheyenne
51. Sugarfoot
52. Hawaiian Eye
53. 77 Sunset Strip
54. The Rifleman
55. Have Gun – Will Travel
56. The Deputy
57. The Fugitive
58. The Patty Duke Show
59. The Joey Bishop Show
60. The Defenders
61. Ben Casey
62. Dr. Kildare
63. The Untouchables
64. The Outer Limits
65. Combat!
66. Gilligan’s Island
67. The Addams Family
68. The Munsters
69. Bewitched
70. I Dream of Jeannie

Some of my go-to favorites are currently rewatching Maude, My Favorite Martian, Twilight Zone, and Petticoat Junction. Bewitched. I watch newer BBC sitcom reruns: Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances, UFO, Thunderbirds, and Ab Fab. I have watched shows, and I recall watching them with my mother. Honey West (Ann Frances), Laugh-in, I want to find the Flipp Wilson Show next on my list.

What are your classic TV shows retirees love rewatching in your home?

Top 1960s Sitcoms and Year First Broadcast Date

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