Growing up, I was a television addict. In the 70s and early 80s, most of my friends were lucky to get two channels, four, if one included french language stations. One day, my dad showed up with a rectangular box about a foot long with numbers and letters. Cable TV at it is finest for 1978. I remember getting up and sliding this flimsy plastic piece across from right to left, left to right, to change the channels. And that was considered a luxury!
Well, during the pandemic, many retreated to various forms of broadcast media. Here is my list of my some of my favorite if somewhat obscure shows as a child. All influenced my creativity in so many positive ways.
H.R PufnStuf: One of the earliest live-action children’s shows. The tale of a young outcast who discovers a magical talking flute wanted by a mean but hilarious witch. Psychedelic and symbolic. At the same time, deeply profound and meaningful. Looking back, this show influenced much of my idealism and imagination.
M*A*S*H: I watched this show religiously before I was a teenager. The funniest sitcom of all time in its first three to four seasons, before it became more serious. The character of Hawkeye influenced my wise-cracking mischievous teenage years.
WKRP in Cincinnati: “As God is my witness, I swear I thought turkeys could fly.” Say no more. Best sitcom episode ever.
St-Elsewhere: This show was one of the first medical dramas of the 80s and took on very bleak and sensitive topics. I watched it as a teen and maintain it remains the best medical drama series ever. The finale, where we learn the show was nothing but the imagination of an autistic child, was brilliant and mind-numbing. The show introduced me to the subtle genius of dark comedy.
The Morning Show with David Letterman: True confession. On rainy summer days, I watched either game shows in the morning or daytime soaps in the afternoon. One morning, I stumbled upon this irreverent and totally different morning variety program. It was David Letterman before he became that David Letterman. The show was soon canceled. Years later, that strange, silly everyman reappeared when I became a true teenage night owl. David Letterman’s shows were my TV comfort food from my teens through my college years. Making up satirical top ten lists became an obsessive hobby.
I would love to hear about shows and hidden gems that influenced you.
M*A*S*H: I watched this show religiously before I was a teenager. The funniest sitcom of all time in its first three to four seasons, before it became more serious. The character of Hawkeye influenced my wise-cracking mischievous teenage years.