One thing I've noticed on these forums over the years is that there's a disproportionate preference of reruns over new programming, which makes me a little sad. I like the classics as much as the next guy, but there's a prevailing notion here that once a cable network stops being rerun-heavy and starts getting into original programming, it's no longer worth watching. Because of this belief, many of you are missing out on some of the best television ever made.

So I ask again, why do so many of you stick with the old stuff? Is it a yearning for what's comfortable, is it just not being able to connect with this generation of scripted shows (for whatever reason), or is it something else entirely?

I agree that there are a ton of terrific programs on cable. Some of my favorite television series (American Horror Story, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead) are on cable networks that didn't have original programming just a few years ago.

Cable networks can only air repeat programming of series for so long. Original programming brings in more revenue than repeats. Why else do people think so many networks are trying to get rid of repeats?

My problem isn't with the original cable series as I watch quite a bit of it. My problem is with the rest of the programs on their channels. USA has some good original series but they rerun other show's to death. That's just one example. AMC does have The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad which are good but their movies suck. It's not the same channel that I used to watch all the time and sometimes half the night when they had their preservation festival. That's my big gripe. I can go on and on. They can still show classic tv and keep their originals but they won't do that so I only watch the series that I like and ignore the rest of the channel which is most of the time.

I'm more of a fan of family comedies and multi-camera sitcoms so there isn't a whole lot that interests me.

It doesn't mean I don't watch new shows, just that there's more older shows in the genres to appeal to me than nowadays. Especially those of which I haven't seen, so they're almost like new shows to me.

With an old, proven rerun you know what you are getting.

I personally can't get into most new shows, because they are a little too brash, and abrasive. Every line has to be funny in a show like Two and A Half Men, or Two Broke Girls.

The 1 comedy I do like is Modern Family, because it's a bit slower paced, and more relaxed.

I'm more of a fan of family comedies and multi-camera sitcoms so there isn't a whole lot that interests me.

It doesn't mean I don't watch new shows, just that there's more older shows in the genres to appeal to me than nowadays. Especially those of which I haven't seen, so they're almost like new shows to me.

I am the exact same way. The shows I like have been off the air for a while. I am a very picky person when it comes to what I watch or listen to.

I personally don't like modern TV due to the fact that it is overloaded with reality programming.

Most People who grew up in the 70's 80's and 90's have an obsession with old nostalgia sitcoms for some odd reason those show's have better entertaining story plots and acting skills then shows in the 2000's now, i cant find anything thats funny nowadays, 13 years ago back in 2000 their was always lots of shows for people to choose to watch on TV but now cant find one show thats worth watching on a channel lol

I just don't like modern television I think the older shows are far superior in every way,but of course that's my opinion. And it's not only the older regular shows like comedies,dramas and so on that are superior,but every type of older show like game shows,cartoons,talk shows etc.--The problem with the cable channels is not so much the fact they show some original programming,it's when they get into original programmming they let the rest of the channel go down the drain.Anyhow, that's why it's great that channels like Antenna/Me-TV have stepped into the picture,so people who like the older shows/classics no longer have to rely on cable channels to watch them on a TV station.

I just don't like modern television I think the older shows are far superior in every way,but of course that's my opinion. And it's not only the older regular shows like comedies,dramas and so on that are superior,but every type of older show like game shows,cartoons,talk shows etc.--The problem with the cable channels is not so much the fact they show some original programming,it's when they get into original programmming they let the rest of the channel go down the drain.Anyhow, that's why it's great that channels like Antenna/Me-TV have stepped into the picture,so people who like the older shows/classics no longer have to rely on cable channels to watch them on a TV station.
Exactly. It's not the original series that I have a problem with. It's that they let the rest of the channel go down the drain.

The answer to this question is simple Wit the exception of Mad Men all of today's TV shows are crap.

One thing I've noticed on these forums over the years is that there's a disproportionate preference of reruns over new programming, which makes me a little sad. I like the classics as much as the next guy, but there's a prevailing notion here that once a cable network stops being rerun-heavy and starts getting into original programming, it's no longer worth watching. Because of this belief, many of you are missing out on some of the best television ever made.

So I ask again, why do so many of you stick with the old stuff? Is it a yearning for what's comfortable, is it just not being able to connect with this generation of scripted shows (for whatever reason), or is it something else entirely?

I like both, new and old but TV today is not as good so most of us tend to lean on the old days lol

Exactly. It's not the original series that I have a problem with. It's that they let the rest of the channel go down the drain.
These channels could (and should) have easily stuck to their original formats that first put them on the map,and just added some original programming to the mix.But instead they decided to take the low road and that's one major reason why cable TV has become a sea of mostly useless channels.

These channels could (and should) have easily stuck to their original formats that put first them on the map,and just added some original programming to the mix.But instead they decided to take the low road and that's why cable TV has become a sea of mostly useless channels.


Yes so many of them are useless

Weatherscan

Bloom

Disney Jr

OWN

Aspire

I think its because of the quality and respect of the channel. In other words, when you watch ME-TV or Antenna TV, you know what your getting. Classic shows in full, no reality tv, no end credit crunch etc. TV Land has a show that I'm going to try to watch which is Forever Young. I think the problem people, me being one of them, is that TV Land uses there network as a vehicle for there reality tv. It gets to the point that there reality or orginial programming takes presedence over the classic tv shows. I mean how could enjoy classic programming when you know that for a lot of these channels its a chore just to put them on the air?

New isn't better when it's filled with bloated reality shows. And sitcoms are a lot less funny than they used to be, the only great one currently airing is The Middle. Too many shows try to go for the raunchiness factor, a wholesome show like The Waltons wouldn't be greenlit today.

The only show worth watching on tv is the series Lost

It seems ever since reality shows came in, TV as we know it died!

I was watching "ALF" on The Hub last night with someone in one of my brother's girlfriend's family's house and one of them was a child of probably 4 and she enjoyed watching "ALF".

I just wish that nostalgia I enjoyed would be seen to the next generation....

I just wish that nostalgia I enjoyed would be seen to the next generation....

Introduce them to the classics at an early age and it will!

Anyone who says things like "all TV today is crap!" is being closed-minded, if you ask me - just as much as anyone who rejects all TV made before the '90s. There are plenty of amazing TV shows on the air today and to write them all of them off, you're depriving yourself of tons of great stuff. Besides, there's so much TV today that I'm sure literally anyone could find a show that suits their interests. There was also plenty of bad TV made in the 60s, 70s and 80s and to suggest that literally every show made back then was superior to anything being made now is just pure nostalgia.

I also don't quite get the suggestion that reality TV has taken over television. There's a lot of it, yeah, but there's still just as much, if not more, scripted content as there was in the pre-reality TV days. If you're not a fan of it, it's not at all hard to ignore it. To not watch TV at all because there's reality shows on sometimes is...bizarre, to me.

Anyone who says things like "all TV today is crap!" is being closed-minded, if you ask me - just as much as anyone who rejects all TV made before the '90s. There are plenty of amazing TV shows on the air today and to write them all of them off, you're depriving yourself of tons of great stuff. Besides, there's so much TV today that I'm sure literally anyone could find a show that suits their interests. There was also plenty of bad TV made in the 60s, 70s and 80s and to suggest that literally every show made back then was superior to anything being made now is just pure nostalgia.

I also don't quite get the suggestion that reality TV has taken over television. There's a lot of it, yeah, but there's still just as much, if not more, scripted content as there was in the pre-reality TV days. If you're not a fan of it, it's not at all hard to ignore it. To not watch TV at all because there's reality shows on sometimes is...bizarre, to me.


Not all of Today's TV is bad when you have shows like Big Bang, two broke girls, and the Office but it will never be on the level it was during the 70's and 80's

Anyone who says things like "all TV today is crap!" is being closed-minded, if you ask me - just as much as anyone who rejects all TV made before the '90s. There are plenty of amazing TV shows on the air today and to write them all of them off, you're depriving yourself of tons of great stuff. Besides, there's so much TV today that I'm sure literally anyone could find a show that suits their interests. There was also plenty of bad TV made in the 60s, 70s and 80s and to suggest that literally every show made back then was superior to anything being made now is just pure nostalgia.

I also don't quite get the suggestion that reality TV has taken over television. There's a lot of it, yeah, but there's still just as much, if not more, scripted content as there was in the pre-reality TV days. If you're not a fan of it, it's not at all hard to ignore it. To not watch TV at all because there's reality shows on sometimes is...bizarre, to me.


Not all of Today's TV is bad when you have shows like Big Bang, two broke girls, and the Office but it will never be on the level it was during the 70's and 80's

I think the best of today's TV can stand up to the best of TV from that era. Then again I also wouldn't consider any of those to be great shows (except for the earlier Office seasons) so I guess we just have differing opinions.

One thing I despise about today's TV Programming is the weaving of political propaganda in many series, usually leaning to the left. Christians are viewed as being extremely narrow-minded or even bigoted. When I turn on my TV Set each evening I want to escape the real world and immerse myself in a world where everything comes out alright, problems are solved, the good are victorious and the bad are vanquished. IMO most of today's programming just doesn't cut it for me, although I do have a few programs from this decade on DVD, so yes, there are some good programming out there. Seek and ye shall find! :D

I feel like I'm unlike so many television fans on this site, in that while I still watch my fair share of classics, my viewing habits favor the new. In addition to yearning for something fresh, I'm also a videophile and prefer to watch mostly HD programming.

I find much fault with the shabby way cable networks and syndication treat the classics, so I don't care anymore which show is airing on which channel. When I watch my old favorites, I do so mostly via Netflix, Hulu or Blu-ray/DVD, as it's usually uncut and in much better video quality than on the networks.

Anyway, thanks for all the input.

If you been reading, some of the comments it because the classics are better and the new shows SUCK!! Growing up in the 80's and early 90's, was one of the best errors for televison...:D

One of the things I like best is being able to see episodes of older series for the first time -- for example, until recently I've never seen many eps of Make Room for Daddy at all. So those are "new to me."

And back then, lots of episodes were produced per season. With the lighter production schedule of current sitcoms, I can easily catch up to what I've missed. I'll queue up a group of episodes of The Middle and watch through in relatively short time (-- especially by getting through without watching all of the commercials).

I think when a person gets older, he/she becomes more interested in what aired during their youth and earlier -- and that can take dominance over stuff aimed at the next generations, which we know will be around for a while.

Back then TV Shows in the 1990's era were worth sitting down with a big box of pizza and a large drink knowing in your mind that your going to be entertained for 30 minutes watching your favorite show, i cant do that nowadays theirs nothing on TV to watch but crappy reality shows about rich boring people bragging about how much money and nice cars they have lol

If you been reading, some of the comments it because the classics are better and the new shows SUCK!! Growing up in the 80's and early 90's, was one of the best errors for televison...:D
I grew up in the '80s and '90s, and spent my free time watching way too much TV. While some of my favorite shows come from that era, there was just as much crap polluting our airwaves (per capita, of course) as there is now.

As humans, we tend to view the way things were during our childhood with rose-tinted lenses, forgetting that for every gem like Cheers, The Cosby Show and ER, there were turds like Small Wonder, Out of This World[ and Manimal. I'm sure the same can be said for the '50s, '60s and '70s.
One of the things I like best is being able to see episodes of older series for the first time -- for example, until recently I've never seen many eps of Make Room for Daddy at all. So those are "new to me."
I love that! That's how I became a fan of M*A*S*H: I bought the season one DVD set upon its release after reading that it had an alternate audio track sans canned laughter (I had money to blow and a curiosity to satisfy). I immediately became a fan of the show and had the treat of eleven seasons of a wonderful "new-to-me" series ahead of me.
And back then, lots of episodes were produced per season. With the lighter production schedule of current sitcoms, I can easily catch up to what I've missed. I'll queue up a group of episodes of The Middle and watch through in relatively short time (-- especially by getting through without watching all of the commercials).
Sad but true. Now we have shorter seasons and shorter episodes. It would certainly be interesting to see if today's casts and production crews can handle thirty-nine 26-minute episodes per year as opposed to ten to twenty-four 21-minute episodes.
I think when a person gets older, he/she becomes more interested in what aired during their youth and earlier -- and that can take dominance over stuff aimed at the next generations, which we know will be around for a while.
Most of what I watch is designed for the 35-and-up crowd, but I totally get what you're saying.
Back then TV Shows in the 1990's era were worth sitting down with a big box of pizza and a large drink knowing in your mind that your going to be entertained for 30 minutes watching your favorite show, i cant do that nowadays theirs nothing on TV to watch but crappy reality shows about rich boring people bragging about how much money and nice cars they have lol
There are several shows currently in production that I consider "appointment television," all of them scripted dramas and comedies; none of them reality.

Again, many of the greatest shows of all time are being made today; you just have to know where to look. For me, this is truly the "Golden Age of Television."

Not too many FALL BACK SHOWS that are current

Most of those were in the past

Not too many FALL BACK SHOWS that are current

Most of those were in the past
I don't follow.

I just wish there was more variety of shows today. It seems that 90 % of the shows I watch are crime shows. Although I like them, it can be a bit much.

I don't follow.


Shows that were easy to watch and just fall back and enjoy. You don't see a lot of those shows in 2013, they stopped making in 2002 lol

I just wish there was more variety of shows today. It seems that 90 % of the shows I watch are crime shows. Although I like them, it can be a bit much.
That's true. In fact, most of CBS' dramas are crime shows. Sadly, this won't change until they're no longer the highest-rated network.
Shows that were easy to watch and just fall back and enjoy. You don't see a lot of those shows in 2013, they stopped making in 2002 lol
That's a matter of opinion. There are tons of downright addictive current shows that people spend hours watching in marathon sessions—on DVD/Blu-ray, on Netflix or on demand.

I find much fault with the shabby way cable networks and syndication treat the classics, so I don't care anymore which show is airing on which channel. .
That I pretty much agree with.I mean it's good when any channel airs classic TV shows,but the way a lot of channels treat them is a little like selling you a book with a third of it's pages cut out.--When someone starts a thread about TVLand for example,I'm thinking--who cares what they air....The same goes a lot of other so-called channels.I do not even consider most stations nowadays TV channels for various reasons.There's only a few channels I can actually take seriously these days--Antenna and Me TV and a few others-that's it.

I prefer the 1990s sitscoms over the reality shows!!!