what is your opinion of the cutoff for a "classic"?

[Dean Winchester]

I got to wondering this after the TV Land thread.

I remember awhile back there was a poster who detested all things Facts Of Life, seeing it as the show that ruined N@N, and saying it was way too "modern" for the network, even tho the same person had no problem with Taxi and Mork And Mindy being on N@N many years prior, two shows that premiered only one year before Facts did. So out of curiosity, what event changed things that makes 1978 "classic" and 1979 "modern"?

IMO, I think a classic is any show that left an indelible mark on pop culture, and years after its demise, people are still talking about the show and watching.

[Pus$y Galore]

Funny - I was thinking of doing the same thing! After reading the thread I googled "classic television" and from what I could see for the mostpart, they would go back 20 years. They listed Highway to Heaven and another 80s show so I'm guessing that 20 years would be the cutoff.

The Golden Years of Television are considered to be the 50s and early 60s I think.

I agree with you though, I consider it to be a very good show that still has people wanting to watch it and it made an impact somehow.

[barwars]

Even though my favorite series are from the 80s and 90s.... I do have to say that the 1970s seem to be the time period in which television peaked.

Anyways, to me, a classic can come from any time period.

In my honest opinion, I truly believe Arrested Development is just as much of a classic as The Honeymooners. I would say it's on par with I Love Lucy, but, to its credit, it did redefine the sitcom, and thats something that will never happen again.

IMO, a show has to be instantly recognizable in order to be a classic. If you're flipping through channels and you have to stop and wait to figure out what show you're watching -- you're not watching a classic. I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Gilligan's Island, All in the Family, Taxi and Cheers are all instantly recognizable, whether you love them or hate them. There are countless others, but these are some of the more obvious examples.

I suppose for dramas, its a little different. Dramas have a harder time living up to a classic level, seeing that most dramas don't exactly repeat well. But I guess I'm a bit biased when it comes to dramas, I think they've never been better than they are today.

[dawsongirl]

IMO, I think a classic is any show that left an indelible mark on pop culture, and years after its demise, people are still talking about the show and watching.

Sounds good to me. And as far as 1979 is concerned...if it was airing the same year I was born, it's hardly modern.