1. The Andy Griffith Show (1960s North Carolina)
2. Seinfeld (1990s New York)
3. Gilmore Girls (2000s Stars Hollow, Conn.)
4. The Bob Newhart Show (1970s Chicago)
5. WKRP in Cincinnati (1970s Cincinnati)
6. Newhart (1980s Vermont)
7. The Simpsons (1990s Springfield)
8. The Dick Van Dyke Show (1960s New York and New Rochelle, N.Y.)
9. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970s Minneapolis)
10. White Shadow (1970s Los Angeles)
11. Roseanne (1980s Lanford, Ill.)
12. Barney Miller (1970s New York)
13. Happy Days (1950s Milwaukee)
Aren't these pretty much your 13 favorite shows before 2002?
ReplyDeleteVery good question--thank you, GoHeath. No, the lists are similar. I was reviewing and revising them both this morning. Monday Night Football is No. 4 on the favorites-without-qualification list.
ReplyDeleteSomebody in the future needs to come out with some sort of virtual-reality situation where I can drive around early 1960s New York and occasionally see Rob Petrie, Don Draper, etc.
The one that I really struggle with is Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which was so, so excellent. I initially had it on this list, as "The Land of Make-believe" ... I mean, come on. That was great. But, ultimately, I yanked it back off because while it effectively creates a time and place, it's not like I actually feel myself transported there. Same deal with Star Trek, for another example. The shows on this list actually do drape me in their time and place, which is a heck of an accomplishment and gift.
ReplyDeleteBut, all of that said, let me just say again, Hooray for Fred Rogers! What an inspiring dude he was. Check out, especially, from 22:10 on of this interview.
Have I ever told you that my Soulard neighborhood is like living in Stars Hollow? It's true. And I do not claim to be either Rory or Lorelai.
ReplyDeleteThat must be very nice. One of my favorite things that they wrote into Gilmore Girls was how Al's Pancake House was a Chinese restaurant that never changed its name.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe I've seen a close approximation of my Madisonville neighborhood on TV, but my mom's neighborhood in Evansville is actually the neighborhood depicted as Lanford, Ill., in Roseanne. One of the creators is from Evansville, and they used still shots from the West Side to establish the environs of the Connors' home.
OH, but I must report that my daughter appears prominently in a currently-running commercial for a local assisted-living facility!
ReplyDeleteWell, heck.
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend, I watched the episode of thirtysomething where Michael keeps having flashbacks to the Dick Van Dyke Show. It was excellent.
ReplyDeleteI love the HP.
ReplyDelete