# Do you have shows you watch repeatedly just because you like hanging out with the characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491 "2016-09-10T01:30:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/21 "2016-09-10T17:56:47Z")
Maybe a little darker but I do like hanging out with the bromance coupling on _Lonesome Dove_ and on HBO’s _Rome_. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/22 "2016-09-10T18:07:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Star Trek. I don’t care how many times I’ve seen an episode, I just looooove hanging out with the homeboys on the Enterprise and on DS9. Same here. I’ve been watching NG, Voyager, Enterprise and DS9 in a constant loop for years now. I’ll sometimes put the show on just to use as background noise to go to sleep to. If Netflix ever drops them, I will weep. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/23 "2016-09-10T19:47:53Z")
After _Midsommer Murders_ switched over to the new detective, I really began to miss the Barnaby family, so I wound up purchasing most of the earlier series on DVD. Spending more time with Tom, Joyce, and Cully! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/24 "2016-09-11T01:24:17Z")
Has _ **Big Bang Theory** _ been mentioned yet? \*\*\* Frasier\*\*\*? _ **Fawlty Towers** _? _ **Gilligan’s Island** _? _ **Dick van Dyke** _? _ **Batman** _? _ **Columbo** _? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/25 "2016-09-11T01:27:57Z")
Lately, it’s been _The Greatest American Hero_ for me, flaws and all. Also _Firefly_ and _Alien Nation_. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/26 "2016-09-11T01:44:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Has _ **Big Bang Theory** _ been mentioned yet? I came in here to say that the show isn’t that good writing-wise, but I enjoy mostly all the characters and they’re really the only reason I’ll still watch. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/27 "2016-09-11T13:08:29Z")
I thought of another one: _Wings_, about the little airport on Nantucket. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/28 "2016-09-11T14:14:01Z")
I just have to say, **ThelmaLou** , how much I always enjoy your threads. (Also your contributions to them.) This thread has given me a lot of new places to visit when I need to have a break from reality. It’s also reassuring to know that other people put the TV on to familiar shows as background; I thought maybe it was just me. And I forgot to mention MASH. If Alan Alda can’t make you feel better about life, no one can. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/29 "2016-09-11T14:22:30Z")
Quite a few: 1. Queer as Folk. I live near an area similar to Liberty Avenue in the show. 2. Poirot. A fascinating glimpse into the past, not sure I’d really like to live there, but it’s fun to imagine while watching the show as well as reading the novels. 3. Murder She Wrote. Who wouldn’t want a relative like Jessica Fletcher. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/30 "2016-09-11T14:25:33Z")
I never thought about it as liking to hang out with the characters, but there are definitely shows I’ll watch over and over. There are two British comedies I watch repeatedly, that seem to never get old: _ **The IT Crowd** _ and _ **Black Books** _. I frequently go on Aaron Sorkin benders: it usually starts with _ **The West Wing** _, then _ **Sports Night** _, then _ **Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip** _ (_The Newsroom_ doesn’t make this list; I’ve tried re-watching it, but it’s not like the others). I’ve seen every episode of those shows many, many times. Less frequent are Joss Whedon benders: those usually start with _ **Firefly** _, then selected episodes of _ **Buffy** _. It’s rare for me to re-watch all of _Buffy_ or _Angel_, but not unheard of. I actually like Whedon more than Sorkin; I’m not sure why I re-watch his stuff less often. (Maybe because I get more emotionally invested in his 'verses…?) I also re-watch _ **St. Elsewhere** _\* every so often; in fact, I’m currently about halfway through Season 5 and will finish most of the rest of that season today. I’ve recently re-watched all of _ **Frasier** _, _ **Friends** _, and _ **Wings** _. I love them, but need time between viewings. I’m thinking it might almost be time to re-watch _ **The Wire** _ (I’ve seen it twice). I’ve also been thinking about re-watching \*\*\*Carnivale \*\*\* (I’ve only seen it once) and \*\*\*Treme \*\*\*(also only seen it once). \*_Only Season 1 has ever been released on VHS/DVD, but I have bootleg copies from when the series aired on public television – in order, in its entirety – about 24 years ago. I have 135 out of 137 episodes._ ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/31 "2016-09-11T14:51:58Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name Actually, **Cheers** probably would be my number one in this category. I could almost second **Peep Show** , but I"m not sure if I like hanging out with the characters so much as enjoy watching their failures and pratfalls. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/32 "2016-09-11T15:01:32Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name Yeah, this is a difficult one to not include, for me. The Sam and Diane thing, the whole thing … 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/33 "2016-09-11T15:08:37Z")
The friendship between the main characters in **Reaper** and in **Warehouse 13** both make those shows worth watching. (Warehouse 13, otherwise, doesn’t have a ton to recommend it - though it’s not bad). I wouldn’t necessarily say that I’d want to hang out with them - particularly not the Reaper crew, but it’s nice to see a strong bond between the people performing. Like, even without all the explosions and fast cars, the Top Gear trio would still be fun to watch, just because they get along so well. Again, I probably wouldn’t want to hang out with them, but the relationship is fun to watch. I do like Nina, the demoness on Reaper. I’d hang out with her. 😉 The actress really captured a quirky, malevolent, caring cattiness that’s downright cute. Unfortunately, none of the other shows she’s been in have appealed to me enough to even try watching. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/34 "2016-09-11T16:10:48Z")
American Dad. Also, The Incredibles. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/35 "2016-09-11T16:45:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Leverage. I love Harridson, Parker and Eliot, three people who are human, but as close to super heroes as people can be. Well, Parker was only nominally human at the start. The best part of the show was watching all 5 of them change and grow through the years. > [@dalej42](#): > > 1. Murder She Wrote. Who wouldn’t want a relative like Jessica Fletcher. ME! I have absolutely no desire to be charged with murder, even if the psychopath serial killer did end up getting me off by pinning her crime on someone else. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/36 "2016-09-11T17:14:41Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I keep going to Harlan, Kentucky Me too. This is one of my favorite binge watches and I have made the rounds a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/37 "2016-09-11T17:15:38Z")
Old and geeky, I guess, but I’ve rewatched Babylon 5 through four or five times over the years, in small part because I do like to hang out with the characters, and because it’s one of the very few fictional universes I’d like to John Carter into. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/38 "2016-09-11T17:32:29Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Murder She Wrote. Who wouldn’t want a relative like Jessica Fletcher. Yeah, but would you invite her to your next birthday party? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/39 "2016-09-11T17:55:09Z")
Northern Exposure is one of these 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491/40 "2016-09-11T18:02:31Z")
_ **Rat Patrol** _. The only thing comparable to manning the gun turrets on the _Millennium Falcon_ would be cruising around North Africa in jeeps with Sgt Troy and crew, blowing Nazi convoys away with .50 calibre machine guns! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-shows-you-watch-repeatedly-just-because-you-like-hanging-out-with-the-characters/765491.md?page=3)