There are popular shows and then there are iconic shows. Some that remain inedible parts of our childhood and teenage years. This list was originally supposed to be 10 but I realized that I was missing out on some major ones so hence I expanded them to 15. Have a look and let me know if I’m missing any of your favourites.
1) The Wonder Years
There’s never been a show quit like The Wonder Years. First love and the journey from childhood to teenager was showcased so brilliantly on this show.
2) M*A*S*H
What do get when you mix the straight-laced military with comedy, why you get M*A*S*H of course!
3) Beverly Hills 90210
Before there was Gossip Girl there was Beverly Hills 90210 which chronicled the lives of rich teenage high-school students. I’m sure 30 years olds out there who are having a nostalgia trip right now.
4) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Hands up if you watched this show initially because of how cool and funny Will Smith was.
5) The Wire
I know of people who have watched The Wire and have difficulty watching the current crop of shows. IMDB (which is the definitive guide for ratings) ranks this show a 9.5 on 10. Hard-hitting and loosely based on real life cop situations regarding drug trade this show will quite literally blow your mind.
6) F.R.I.E.N.D.S
I probably know each and every FRIENDS episode. Six 20 something New Yorkers who taught us the power of friendship and made coffee shops extremely popular to hang out at. We’ve laughed at Chandler’s dry wit, chortled at Joey’s adorable stupidity and cried with Rachel and Ross end up together. For me this show will always remain my favourite.
7) Full House
As Rashmi our Bollywood Blogger puts it – “This is the show that gave us iconic lines like Have Mercy and How Rude!” This show mades want a cool Uncle Jesse and and adorable Joey in our lives.
8) The Bold and the Beautiful
Growing up in the early ’90s in India, The Bold and the Beautiful was of the first soaps that hit the airwaves in India. And what a show it was – the manipulative Brooke, the dashing Ridge and scheming Stephanie. It’s one of the most watched shows in the world and that give it some serious cred.
9) Sex and the City
HBO gave us a groundbreaking show centered around the lives of 4 single women and talked openly about their sex lives. It addressed many issues such as pregnancy outside marriage, fidelity to one night stands. And who can forget Carrie Bradshaw’s fashion? The popularity of the series later spawned into 2 films.
10) Seinfeld
I have a confession to make, I don’t particularly love Seinfeld but it’s liners and scenes have wormed their way into major Hollywood movies.
11) Family Ties
I wasn’t even born when this show came out, but if you want to know what America surbubia was about in the late ’70s and early ’80s, you ought to check this one out.
12) The Crystal Maze
If you remember the glory days when Star Plus actually aired English shows – you will remember this cracker of a show. If you’re wondering why this is here let me tell you there’s never been a game show quite like this. The host took a series of contestants challenging their minds and phsyical strength in a series of challenges to retrieve a crystal. If there was one show I would want a remake of it would be this.
13) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
If there was ever a strong female character on tv who quite literally kicked ass it would be Buffy.
14) The Cosby Show
It created history for it was the first TV show centered around the lives of an African-American family which aired on prime time America.
15) Three’s Company
Ahead of the curve with a man living with 2 women during the ’70s. It had every man lusting over blonde bombshell Suzanne Somers.
Honourable mentions include Will & Grace, Ally McBeal, Home improvement, Doogie Howser, CSI, The Simpsons.