The official start of the 2013-14 television season is just around the corner, but I find myself less excited about the new series set to premiere on CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, and The CW. Perhaps it’s because many of these new shows don’t seem particularly thrilling. Instead, I’ve been captivated by a different kind of television experience this summer: retro TV channels like Me-TV, Antenna TV, This TV, and Cozi TV.
These channels offer a treasure trove of nostalgic shows from the Fifties and Sixties. The Patty Duke Show, Green Acres, Mister Ed, F Troop, Hazel, Father Knows Best, I Spy, The Rifleman, and even Circus Boy are just a few examples. (Circus Boy, for those who don’t know, is a family drama from the Fifties starring a young Micky Dolenz, who later became famous as a member of The Monkees.)
What drew me to write this column was a recent episode of Lassie that aired on Cozi TV. The episode, titled “The Tree,” was from the Fifties and featured young Timmy trying to save a tree rumored to have been planted by Johnny Appleseed. The tree was slated to be cut down to make way for a new highway. Timmy, ever the determined child, wrote a letter to the President of the United States asking for help. Lassie, the ever-faithful dog, delivered the letter to the postman, who kindly ensured it was sent despite the lack of a stamp. In a heartwarming twist, the President responded, and the tree was saved and transplanted to Timmy’s family’s orchard.
Watching this episode, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. The simple, heartfelt storytelling and the earnestness of the characters were a stark contrast to the often cynical and fast-paced nature of modern television. The mournful Lassie theme at the end of the episode even brought a tear to my eye, making me long for more innocent times.
This summer, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to these retro channels. They offer a comforting escape from the constant barrage of bad news and the overwhelming madness of the media. Shows like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour on Encore Suspense have provided a delightful alternative to late-night local news. The youthful celebrity sightings in these old shows are as much fun as watching a Twilight Zone marathon on Syfy.
One night, I watched the first two episodes of Gilligan’s Island. I hadn’t seen them since I was a child, and I was struck by how different the experience was. Back then, everything on TV was in black and white, and we didn’t have the luxury of color television. Watching Gilligan’s Island now, I was reminded of the simple joy of those early TV experiences. Interestingly, in the first season’s theme song, the Professor and Mary Ann weren’t even mentioned, despite being two of the most beloved characters.
While I’m a bit disappointed with Me-TV for recently dropping The Mary Tyler Moore Show from its primetime lineup, I still find solace in other classic shows. Hogan’s Heroes and F Troop have taken its place, and while they’re enjoyable, I could watch an episode of MTM every night if it were available. The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and Bewitched have also disappeared from primetime, but I hope they’ll cycle back in soon.
In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying the simple pleasures of Leave It to Beaver. Working from home and writing about television, I often have the TV on all day. The 9-10 a.m. hour used to belong to Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, but their show became too predictable. Now, I have my morning coffee with the Cleavers, finding new things to appreciate about them as an adult that I never noticed as a child.
Leave It to Beaver, with its easy charm, slow pace, and admirable moral center, once reflected an ideal for millions of American families. Now, it feels like something from another planet, but it’s utterly charming and soothing. It provides much-needed feel-good nostalgia at a time when the media’s madness is almost as overwhelming as the bad news it delivers daily.
In conclusion, while the new television season may bring exciting new shows, there’s something uniquely comforting about revisiting the classics. The theme song of Gilligan’s Island, in particular, sparks a deep sense of nostalgia for the castaways and the simpler times they represent. These retro channels offer a delightful escape, reminding us of the timeless appeal of these beloved shows.
Source: Me-TV, Cozi TV, Antenna TV, This TV
