# Vintage shows I wish they'd air instead of reality shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204 "2008-01-19T23:53:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/1 "2008-01-19T23:53:04Z")
I’m sure there is some good reason they aren’t doing this, but I wish, instead of reality shows, the networks would dig out some old shows that were pretty good, but haven’t made it on to video yet, to give us some reason to continue watching TV during the strike. Now I don’t buy much in the way of DVD’s so don’t jump all ovet me if these really are available, but I’d turn off the computer to watch Tenspeed and Brown Shoe again…or Moonlighting…or “V”…or…quite a few others. I don’t have cable or satellite, and I’m not the only person out there who doesn’t, so don’t roll your eyes at me! What old shows would you like to see again? This was partly inspired by a recent article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer recommending what to rent on DVD if you are pining for your favorite show…they had a nice list of old series that had similar themes. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/2 "2008-01-20T00:08:51Z")
That would be [Frank’s Place](http://imdb.com/title/tt0092354/), a superb comedy with lots of serious thought and drama. Tim Reid is a Boston professor whose long-lost father dies and leaves him a restaurant in New Orleans. There would be an added benefit these days since Katrina in checking out the show that had a lot to say about that city. One season only, but great stuff. Won three Emmys, nominated for another four, picked up TV critics award and viewers for quality award, nominated for Golden Globe as well. Superb cast went well beyond what could have been a hackneyed premise. Highest quality writing and no laugh track. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/3 "2008-01-20T00:10:41Z")
I don’t watch much TV, so the writer’s strike doesn’t really affect me, but if they took this opportunity to start broadcasting rerun marathons of **Columbo** , **Quincy M.E.** , and **The White Shadow** , I don’t think I’d leave the house. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/4 "2008-01-20T00:48:40Z")
[QUOTE=Hometownboy] That would be [Frank’s Place](http://imdb.com/title/tt0092354/), [/QUOTE] Damn, that was a good show. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/5 "2008-01-20T00:54:35Z")
Barney Miller. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/6 "2008-01-20T01:13:36Z")
WKRP in Cinncinati. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/7 "2008-01-20T01:18:06Z")
Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and Get Smart! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/8 "2008-01-20T01:18:42Z")
I’m hard pressed to think of an old show that I WOULDN’T watch in favor of a reality show. ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/9 "2008-01-20T01:33:14Z")
The Prisoner Man from UNCLE The Honeymooners The Smothers Brothers the orginal Twighlight Zone One Step Beyond Combat! Soldiers of Fortune ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/10 "2008-01-20T01:35:37Z")
**Quark** **Time Tunnel** **Captain Nice** ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/11 "2008-01-20T01:46:25Z")
**The Lone Ranger**. I just got hooked this week, weirdly. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/12 "2008-01-20T01:52:07Z")
[He & She](http://imdb.com/title/tt0061261/) (esp. since it’s not available on DVD) [Fractured Flickers](http://imdb.com/title/tt0056756/) [Get A Life](http://imdb.com/title/tt0098802/) And some silents & foreign films shown elsewhere besides on TCM after Sunday midnight. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/13 "2008-01-20T01:58:19Z")
Even though it was really strange, I’d like to see **Cop Rock** again. Also for me: **Night Caller** and **Moonlighting** **That’s Incredible** and **Real People** would be fun to check out again. Not my cup of tea, but I bet they’d get big ratings with \*\*Dallas Falcon Crest \*\* & such ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/14 "2008-01-20T02:28:00Z")
“My World and Welcome To It”. Anybody remember that? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/15 "2008-01-20T02:29:19Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] “My World and Welcome To It”. Anybody remember that? [/QUOTE] Of course! William Windom starred! All based on James Thurber, no? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/16 "2008-01-20T02:46:30Z")
Does **Freaks and Geeks** qualify as _“vintage”_? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/17 "2008-01-20T02:52:27Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Of course! William Windom starred! All based on James Thurber, no? [/QUOTE] Yeah! One of my favorite character actors, and one of my favorite short story writers (and cartoonist). Hell, they could rerun some of the made-for-tv movies I remember while they’re at it. Start with “Shirts/Skins.” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/18 "2008-01-20T02:56:36Z")
**Quantum Leap**. I don’t think it will happen. Those shows have long passed into the nirvana that is syndication, and the networks don’t have the rights to air them anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/19 "2008-01-20T03:01:31Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] “My World and Welcome To It”. Anybody remember that? [/QUOTE] yes…I do…It was good. tsfr ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204/20 "2008-01-20T03:07:09Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] …Also for me: **Night Caller** and … [/QUOTE] I think I meant **Midnight Caller** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vintage-shows-i-wish-theyd-air-instead-of-reality-shows/434204.md?page=2)