# TV shows and movies set approximately 30 years in the past **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540 "2019-10-09T17:58:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/1 "2019-10-09T17:58:30Z")
It seems like in recent years there has been a wave of period TV shows set in the 1980s – _GLOW_, _Stranger Things_, _The Americans_, and _Halt and Catch Fire_ are recent ones I can think of. I have always heard this get chalked up to the idea that it takes about 30 years for people to become nostalgic for things. Now that the 1980s are a little over 30 years in the past, people are beginning to become nostalgic for that era. So I’m now wondering if we can think of other shows or films from other eras set about 30 years in the past at the time they were released – shows from the 2000s set in the '70s, 1990s shows set in the '60s, 1980s shows set in the '50s, etc. For the 2000s I can think of _Life on Mars_, the original British version came out in 2006, it was set in 1973. I know someone will probably mention _That '70s Show_, but I don’t think that counts since it started in 1998, even though it was still on the air in the 2000s. I can’t think of any 1990s shows or movies set in the 1960s. Maybe you guys can. I can’t think of any 1980s TV shows set in the '50s (_Happy Days_ was late 1970s), but for movies most of _Back to the Future_ took place exactly 30 years in the past in 1955. Straying off the TV and film, I definitely remember there being a lot of nostalgia for the 1950s when I was a kid, with teachers at my elementary school throwing sock hops, and holding '50s theme days, and that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/2 "2019-10-09T18:05:51Z")
I missed the edit window, but we can count individual individual episodes of TV shows, too, if the majority of the plot takes place in a flashback, time travel scenario, or setting that resembles 30 years ago (I’d count the _Black Mirror_ episode “San Junipero”, for example). And since I mentioned Black Mirror, it probably goes without saying that individual episodes of anthology series count. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/3 "2019-10-09T18:13:27Z")
\*The Untouchables \*from 1959, 30 years after the the time period where Chicago gangs were at their peak. _The Roaring Twenties_ was talking of an era just over 30 years from its premiere in 1960. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/4 "2019-10-09T18:20:53Z")
I wonder if there’s maybe just a threshold value for that sort of nostalgia instead of some kind of definite window; Happy Days, That 70s Show and Tour of Duty are all set roughly 20 years prior to their actual air dates. And Mad Men is set some 60 years ago, more or less. Same for Astronaut Wives Club and Pan Am. Derry Girls is set in the 1990s. So is Fresh Off the Boat, if I’m not mistaken. My guess is that about twenty years have to pass, and then people are somewhat nostalgic, with that only growing over time. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/5 "2019-10-09T18:21:30Z")
Regarding WWII, the heyday was the 60s\* but we have to [look](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_TV_series#1970s) to the 70s to qualify. The only big time one was _Baa Baa Black Sheep_ and it started in 1976. For Korea, while _MASH_ started in 1972, it ran until 83 covering the 30 year margin in its later seasons. For Vietnam there’s \*Tour of Duty \*(1987–1990) and _China Beach_ (1988–1991). So both somewhat early for the period the shows covered. In terms of war TV shows it looks closer to 20 years than 30 years. - _Combat_, _12 O’clock High_,\* The Rat Patrol\*, etc. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/6 "2019-10-09T18:31:28Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I wonder if there’s maybe just a threshold value for that sort of nostalgia instead of some kind of definite window; Happy Days, That 70s Show and Tour of Duty are all set roughly 20 years prior to their actual air dates. And _The Wonder Years_ was set exactly 20 years prior to its actual air date. So maybe you’re onto something. Maybe roughly 20 years is the sort of minimum threshold where people start becoming nostalgic, with it growing stronger between 20 and 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/7 "2019-10-09T18:50:55Z")
Freaks and Geeks and the Wonder Years are roughly 20 years prior. Starsky & Hutch(film, 2004) is about 30 years from Starsky & Hutch (TV series, 1975) Austin Powers(1997) is initially set in 1967 ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/8 "2019-10-09T19:02:02Z")
The Goldbergs premiered in 2013 and is still on. The show takes place in “1980something”, so it fits the 20 -30 year time span well. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/9 "2019-10-09T19:05:41Z")
It the movie ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/10 "2019-10-09T19:06:07Z")
_The Sandlot(1993)_ takes place in 1962 _Stand By Me(1986)_ takes place in 1959 _It (TV miniseries 1990)_ takes place in 1960 _It (film, 2017)_ takes place in 1988 ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/11 "2019-10-09T19:06:50Z")
The British comedy **The Grimleys** was set in “the mid seventies” (I’d call it early seventies for the first season and maybe 1977 by the third season) and the pilot episode was produced in 1997 with the actual production run starting being broadcast in 1999. So about a 25 year distance. It was a good show. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/12 "2019-10-09T19:09:15Z")
Of course, westerns mess up the curve. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/13 "2019-10-09T19:13:00Z")
_Some Like It Hot_ is a classic example. Made in 1959. Set in 1929. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/14 "2019-10-09T19:28:14Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I can’t think of any 1990s shows or movies set in the 1960s. _Apollo 13_ (1995) _Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery_ (1997) _Awakenings_ (1990) _The Bridges of Madison County_ (1995) _A Bronx Tale_ (1993) _Deep in My Heart_ (1999) _The Doors_ (1991) _Girl, Interrupted_ (1999) _Heat Wave_ (1990) _JFK_ (1991) _The Krays_ (1990) _Malcolm X_ (1992) _Mermaids_ (1990) _Sleepers_ (1996) _That Thing You Do!_ (1996) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/15 "2019-10-09T19:28:40Z")
There have been numerous British shows set during WW2 including: **Dad’s Army** (Comedy) first broadcast 1968 **Colditz** (Drama) first broadcast 1972 **Allo Allo!** (Comedy) 1982 \*\*Allo Allo! \*\*is basically a comedic parody of **Secret Army** (Drama) 1977 **Shine On Harvey Moon** (Drama set immediately after the war) 1982 **Danger UXB** (Drama) 1978 **Camomile Lawn** (Drama set immediately before and during the war) 1992 **Tenko** (drama) 1981 **It Ain’t Half Hot Mum** (Comedy) 1974 **Brideshead Revisted** (Drama set between 1922 and into WW2) 1982 I suspect writers (to this day) use WW2 since, like any war, it obviously gives great dramatic potential. Plus in most of the shows I’ve mentioned the writers (or the authors of the original books for **Brideshead Revisted** and **Camomile Lawn** ) actually lived through the war. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/16 "2019-10-09T19:33:27Z")
_Atomic Blonde_ (2017 movie set in 1989). Edit: to me this was a double - both scratched the “late cold war Berlin” atmospheric nostalgia niche, while in structure being a throwback to 1960-70s spy thrillers that were big in the 80s (le Carre et al.) ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/17 "2019-10-09T19:42:00Z")
**Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy** was a book set in and published in 1974 (although influenced by actual events in the 1960s) and made into a TV show five years later in 1979. Then in 2011, thirty years after the TV series and nearly forty years after the book, was made into a film. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/18 "2019-10-09T20:12:53Z")
Hijacking my own thread a bit: Last night I started watching season 3 of _GLOW_, which was what made me think of this topic. No real spoilers in this post, but I’ll just mention that the first episode takes place on the day of the Challenger disaster. And that made me wonder something else – _Mad Men_ had an episode set the day of the Kennedy assassination. _GLOW_ had the episode I just mentioned involving Challenger. I wonder at what point in the future we will see the 9/11 terror attacks become a plot point in some period drama? I guess you could argue that the play _Come From Away_ already has, but that’s a play literally about the events immediately after the attacks, not a drama that just happens to be set in the early 2000s that weaves the events into the plot. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/19 "2019-10-09T22:00:33Z")
I don’t think it’s so much that it takes time for nostalgia to develop; you also have to wait for the nostalgic people to become established in careers and have disposable income. ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540/20 "2019-10-09T22:19:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t think it’s so much that it takes time for nostalgia to develop; you also have to wait for the nostalgic people to become established in careers and have disposable income. Or have kids - as a littleun I remember _Sha na na_ was one of the weekly TV highlights because my parents had that kind of music on all the time. And part of the attraction my kid claims towards _Stranger Things_ is it leads to me digging out cassette tapes or D&D books or something. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-and-movies-set-approximately-30-years-in-the-past/841540.md?page=2)