Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong generation. I’m a millennial, but sometimes don’t feel as if I am a part of that age group. One of the reasons is that I love watching old T.V. shows and movies from the 1950s onward. I grew up watching reruns of I Love Lucy and Gomer Pyle, as well as, Doris Day movies and many, many others. To this day, I enjoy watching a favorite episode (or several) to bring me back to my childhood.
Nostalgia is one of the more important reasons I love this type of entertainment. It is the nostalgia of going back to my childhood and the nostalgia of going back in time. There is a sense of escaping everyday life and traveling through a digital time machine to another reality. There is nostalgia in the fact that these programs somewhat resemble the life that my grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. had, and helps me feel connected to them. I love learning about the early to mid-1900s. While there were difficulties, social issues, and injustices in that reality, sometimes these classic shows and movies don’t show those issues and reflect a more innocent time. By revisiting and viewing classic T.V. shows and movies, we are able to put our current world away for a moment and live in another time. This reality is one that is portrayed to be easier, simpler, with problems solved in a thirty to ninety minute timeframe. We are able to have a break from our normal lives and live in other worlds, such as I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched. There is a comfort in knowing that you can escape into the past for a little bit and then travel back to the present. And there is comfort in knowing that you can do this as much as you would like.
There is also a predictability in knowing the outcome of the episodes and movies. Today’s world is crazy, full of busyness, and stress. When a viewer already knows the ending, they are able to relax more and take in the moment, because we know everything is going to be okay in the end. Yes, Beaver may get into trouble, but he will always find his way out. Yes, Doris Day may have career troubles with romantic problems thrown in, but everything will be sunny again before the credits roll.
Counseling psychologist and the founder of Insight Alchemy, Ishina Choudhary, stated in an interview for the article “Here’s why watching the same TV shows and movies over and over again is so comforting” that “In stressful times, our brains and bodies desire comfort and one of the places we find comfort is in entertainment we have consumed previously…to put it simply, because you know the ending already, you also know how it will make you feel.” Lastly, part of the nostalgia and familiarity is getting to know the characters of the T.V. shows and movies. Viewers are building a relationship with the characters and feel like they are experiencing life in the 1950s with them.
Another aspect of classic T.V. shows and movies that I love are the storylines. Some of the storylines are realistic, while others are not so much. A few episodes of shows have storylines that wouldn’t make sense today or are just plain funny because there is no possible way something like they would happen in reality. It seems as if the shows on air today have more of a message to them. They seem to be trying to prove a point or make a statement at times. However, when you watch a beloved episode of a T.V. show from 50 years ago, the plot may be telling you nothing at all, except to just sit back, watch, and enjoy.
Classic T.V. shows and movies will always hold a special place in my heart. It is what I grew up on and what I continue to watch today. My T.V. lineup does include current shows and movies, as well, but sometimes nothing can beat the storylines of the past.
