How Many of These Did You Watch?

Some TV shows stand the test of time while others really don't. What you would consider an iconic classic, your kids would see as a snore-worthy ancient relic. Here are 20 classic TV shows your kids would never recognize today.

ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons

1. I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy was centered around the funny antics of wacky but lovable housewife Lucy. It might’ve been one of the hottest shows back in the 1950s but there’s no way your kids have seen it. 

CBS Television on Wikimedia Commons

2. Cheers

This 80s comedy produced some big stars like Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson and although the jokes are still pretty funny, it’s undeniably dated. Almost the whole show takes place in a bar, which I’m guessing would seem pretty static to your kids. 

MECU on Wikimedia Commons

3. The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone has been described as “Kafkaesque” in its unsettling ambiance and mysteriously chilling plot lines. Your kids probably haven’t seen it but they should!

Bureau of Industrial Service on Wikimedia Commons

4. M*A*S*H

The whole idea of a war comedy-drama would be weird to today’s audience, but back in the 70s when the Vietnam War was raging on, a little army-related comic relief was needed. The story centers around three military surgeons and a nurse whose nickname is “Hot Lips” –needless to say, this show is dated!

CBS Television on Wikimedia Commons

5. Bewitched

This show about a witch who marries an ordinary man was one of the most popular TV shows in the 60s. Your kids might know it thanks to the 2005 remake starring Will Ferrell, but chances are they wouldn’t recognize the original TV version. 

ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons

6. The Brady Bunch

This show from the 70s followed a blended American family adjusting to their new lives together. While it didn’t have a ton of success in its original run, it quickly became a rerun favorite and lent itself well to countless spin-offs. You may recognize the signature intro with the characters in a blue box, but your kids probably wouldn’t. 

ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons

7. Happy Days

This show revolves around a 1950s working-class American family and contains countless catchphrases like “sit on it” and Fonzie’s famous “ayyyyy.” These expressions may still make an occasional appearance in today’s vocabulary, but chances are that’s about all your kids would recognize from this show.

ABC Television on Wikimedia Commons

8. The Jeffersons

One of the longest-running sitcoms in history, The Jeffersons is centered around an affluent Black couple in Manhattan. It was cutting-edge for its time, tearing down stereotypes and getting shockingly candid about some heavy topics, but it pales in comparison to today’s shows.

CBS Television Network on Wikimedia Commons

9. I Dream of Jeannie

This 1960s show is about a 2,000-year-old (very stylish) genie who falls in love with an astronaut. The plot line may sound silly, but it grappled with pretty deep themes like changing gender roles. 

NBC Television on Wikimedia Commons

10. The Addams Family

This show, about an eccentric antisocial family with supernatural powers, practically invented the gothic sitcom genre. Your kids might have some inkling of an idea that this show existed thanks to the recent spinoff “Wednesday,” but chances are they wouldn’t recognize this relic. 

Otterbein University Theatre & Dance on Wikimedia Commons

11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Unless you were a teenager in the 90s, you probably haven’t seen this supernatural TV drama about a teen girl tasked with fighting off dark forces. The central character, Buffy, grapples with the horrors of adolescence while fighting actual monsters, it’s the perfect coming-of-age story. 

David Shankbone on Wikimedia Commons

12. Golden Girls

Golden Girls is a show about a group of retired women who live together in Miami. It’s one of the few shows centered around people in this age group, but your children probably won’t relate to it for a long time.

Photo by Alan Light on Wikimedia Commons

13. The Dick Van Dyke Show

This 1960s gem is about a man who worked as a writer for a TV show. Many modern shows have been influenced by it as it lent itself well to countless gags, but its jokes would probably seem old school to your children.

CBS Television on Wikimedia Commons

14. The Andy Griffith Show

Another show from the 60s named after a guy, “The Andy Griffith Show” revolves around a sheriff of an American small town where there are hardly any crimes. The show had a healthy foundation for endless clever plotlines, but your kids would likely find it dull.

Rogers & Cowan on Wikimedia Commons

15. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Preacher-turned-TV personality, Mister Rogers, became a household name thanks to his gentle and soothing TV show for young children. Kids on the show were respected as grown-ups and taught valuable lessons. At some point, it was the longest-running kids’ TV show, but it has since been removed from the re-run rotation.

Photo by unknown author on Wikimedia Commons

16. The Cosby Show

“The Cosby Show” was a sitcom about a well-to-do Black family living in New York. It reinvented the African-American TV family and although it was lighthearted and humorous, it dealt with some heavy themes and challenged numerous conventions.

Ajay Suresh on Wikimedia Commons

17. Roseanne

Another family sitcom from the 1980s, Roseanna was hailed for its realistic portrayal of a working-class American family. It was a number-one hit in its day for its relatability, but wouldn’t likely make the same impact on today’s audience.

Photo by Stand-Up Sucks on Wikimedia Commons

18. Get Smart

“Get Smart” was James Bond in Mel Brooks fashion. This comedy was ridiculous even for its time, with endless catchphrases and slapstick humor that your kids would surely roll their eyes at if they saw it.  

NBC Television on Wikimedia Commons

19. The Jetsons

This cartoon about a futuristic family was aired on Saturday mornings for decades. Despite its space-age setting, “The Jetsons” looks like a relic from the past with its old-timey family dynamic and beehive hairdos.

Photo by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. on Wikimedia Commons

20. All In the Family

One of TV’s most influential comedies, “All In the Family” is a show from the 1970s centered around a working-class family headed by lovable bigot Archie Bunker. It broke down barriers in its day, breaching topics like menopause, racism, and feminism, and if your kids haven’t seen it, they should!

Photo by CBS Television on Wikimedia Commons