Let’s be real, television has been the ultimate sidekick to our lives, shaping not just our couch potato habits but the very fabric of society. So grab your popcorn, folks, because we’re diving into the TV shows that had us all saying ‘I’ll be there for you’ to our screens before Netflix even became a thing.
Friends 1994 2004
Friends, the show that turned coffee shops into the new living rooms and ‘How you doin’?’ into a pick-up line for the ages. This sitcom wasn’t just a hit; it was the quintessential ’90s phenomenon that had us all believing in the power of a good sofa and even better company. With fashion choices that are still haunting thrift stores today and lingo that somehow made ‘We were on a break!’ universally understood, Friends was more than a show; it was where an entire generation hung out after school and work.
Sure, the show’s final episode may have aired 19 years ago (!!), but its cultural impact has remained…and Jen has been busy making bank and stacking her chips ever since.
Did you know? In 2000, the Friends cast signed a contract that allowed them all to get a cut of any royalties from reruns, which is kinda rare, tbh. Talk about friends with benefits!
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 1990 1996
Now this is a story all about how Will’s life got flipped-turned upside down. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air tossed humor and social commentary into a blender and served up a cultural smoothie we couldn’t get enough of. It wasn’t just about Will’s fresh moves or Uncle Phil’s stern looks; it was about crossing boundaries and breaking down stereotypes one laugh at a time.
At arrival in the Bel-Air mansion, his streetwise and flippant attitude, as well as his overuse of slang terms shock his uncle, and while his aunt tries to stay neutral on the matter, it is made clear that Uncle Philip doesn’t appreciate his influence over his sheltered daughter, Ashley.
Will’s journey from West-Philadelphia to Bel-Air was more than just comedic gold; it was a fresh take on family dynamics and class clashes. And let’s not overlook how it catapulted Will Smith into being… well, Will Smith.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 1997 2003
If you thought high school was tough, try adding vampires to your list of problems. Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn’t just flip the script on horror tropes; it staked them right in the heart. Buffy wasn’t your average damsel in distress—she was the hero with a quippy one-liner for every occasion.
Jowett argues that Buffy is characteristic of the ways in which postmodern popular culture simultaneously subverts and reifies binary constructions of gender.
The show managed to carve out a spot in academia too! Buffy scholarship spans across cultural studies to anthropology because let’s face it, when you’re fighting evil by moonlight, you’re bound to cover some ground.
The Simpsons 1989 present
The Simpsons, oh where do we start? From its humble beginnings as animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show to becoming an institution in its own right, this yellow-skinned family became America’s favorite dysfunctional household. And let’s not forget their psychic abilities—predicting Trump’s presidency? That’s some crystal ball they’ve got!
The Simpsons has surpassed all expectations and continues to captivate audiences with its witty humor and unique storytelling.
With accolades up the wazoo including Emmy Awards and their very own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, it’s no wonder they’ve been around longer than some of us have been alive.
The Sopranos 1999 2007
Welcome to New Jersey, where Tony Soprano’s problems range from dodging FBI surveillance to deciding what kind of ducks he likes in his pool. The Sopranos didn’t just redefine TV dramas; it turned them into an art form. Complex characters? Check. Exploration of American Dream? Double-check.
The Sopranos had an undeniable and far-reaching impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
It paved the way for other heavy-hitters like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. And let’s not overlook the Writers Guild of America naming it the best-written TV series in 2013—talk about leaving a mark!
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