Family TV time
One of my coziest memories of family TV time was of the five of us gathering in the living room to watch “Get Smart,” a new show that surprised and delighted us all with its silly humor. We sometimes made watching it even more of an event by getting takeout Chinese food and eating it from TV trays. The days of family TV seem to be almost gone, now that cable offers hundreds of shows for every niche market, and TiVo allows us to watch shows at our own convenience. What shows did you watch as a family when growing up? What shows do you watch together now?
July 11th, 2007 at 10:24 am
We used to watch “Lost in Space” as a family though I know my mother didn’t find it as amusing and interesting as the rest of us did. My dad and we three children were pretty much in synch and all enjoyed the same things; my mother had different tastes and though she would join us in watching some programs, she would often be off doing something else. The strongest memories I have of family TV are of us three kids watching reruns of “I Love Lucy,” “I Married Joan,” and “Pete and Gladys” on weekday mornings–lying on our stomachs on the floor about two feet from the screen. We loved those shows and had no idea they were already old by then. Our own children still love Lucy, though they are definitely aware that these are not current shows!
July 11th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
My strongest family TV watching memory is the annual “Wizard of Oz” night. We would eat on trays in front of the set (which was a really big deal back then). I think “Wizard” was more magical when it was only shown one night a year — as soon as it became readily available on video I stopped watching it altogether. (Of course, this might have something to do with the fact that my older daughter, who was just a wee lass at the time, watched the video about 600 times in succession. That could explain why the luster wore off.)
July 11th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Strangely enough, family tv time is very important in my family. Of course, it’s only myself and my mom…but it’s important nonetheless. We have acrued quite a selection of shows we are only allowed to watch together. It’s gotten to the point now where our Tivo is whining at capacity saying ‘Watch me or erase me already!!’ But as the stubborn women we of course are, we plough right on through. It is a blessing and a curse, this connection of ours. I say it’s a blessing because we’ve found joy in numerous TV shows together…Lost, Medium, Psych…strange….all one word titles…….and our latest project, Scrubs…..ALSO a one word title……………….
I say it’s a curse merely because we “should” do something more pro-active like two person bicycle riding or tag team tennis but you know what? I’m happy with sharing a home and a living room.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Of course, we all watched Gilligan’s Island together, then Taxi and Cheers, but the one I remember most was an absolute, never miss ritual. All schedules were red tagged when it came to watching Dallas together. No TIVO then….you made no other plans when it came to this weekly family event. And, by that time, I was married, not living at home. Hubby and I made sure we were at Mom and Dad’s at least a half hour early. Enough time to get the trivial conversation out of the way and make popcorn.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Woops!…forgot to address the Now issue. We record Late Night with David Letterman and watch it during lunch…and laugh. We also record the three big political shows on Sunday Morning plus the CBS Sunday morning program. We watch those when we can, and yell at the tv…..like they can hear us screaming that they are a**h***s and idiots.
We never miss Bill Mahr when he’s on. Then we settle ourselves with Oprah and her positive living shows. Finally, like dessert, we watch the PBS Red Green Show to get us laughing again.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I hate to “date” myself, but I grew up on the original “Ozzie and Harriet”, My Little Margie, as well as (aforementioned) Pete and Gladys, and I married Joan (which can still be seen in the middle of the night…somehow, it’s not quite as funny and interesting as I remember!)….later, Gale Storm was in “Oh Susannah” with Zasu Pitts and I loved that show!….I really loved all of TV growing up and became well-versed with the old stars (Ann Sothern too!)….the Little Rascals, gee…I could go on and on I guess…..we only had ONE tv (imagine that!) and I don’t remember watching as a family because my dad was ALWAYS working, but we DID go to drive-in movies as a family, and I really LOVED those nights!
Thanks everyone for sharing your memories!
November 24th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I was repairing and RCA color set in Binghamton N.Y. and I had just finished the repair when I turned the TV on there was Walter Kronkite talking about President John Kennedy being shot and as a coincidence my son Pauls birthday was on that same day.
Oh yes, I was watching TV the day those muslim terrorist flew into the world trade towers and my first thaught was why weren’t the cockpit doors closed and locked?
Just imajine if the FAA issued and order not to deal with high jackers but to land the plane immediatley, 3000live would have been saved.