The five most influential TV shows in Repman's life

Since AdWeek just saw fit to name their 100 most influential TV shows in history, I thought I'd cull from their favorites to tell you the five programs that have had the greatest impact, positive, negative, or otherwise on me.

They are (in chronological order):

1) "Leave it to Beaver" (CBS and ABC. Original air date: October 4, 1957). Wally and the Beav ran for six or seven seasons, long enough for me to become positively addicted to the cool ways in which Beav always got in trouble, Wally always got the girls and evil Eddie Haskell cheated and scammed his way through Mayfield High. I also developed my first, serious crush on Beav's second grade teacher, Ms. Landers.

2.) "The Twilight Zone" (CBS. Original air date: October 2, 1959). Submitted for your approval, TTZ was unlike any other show on TV. It simultaneously scared, mystified and intrigued me. I still watch the re-runs. Favorite episode of all? 'Willoughby', which featured a harried, Ed Moed-type ad executive whose regular Metro North commuter train somehow becomes a time machine that enables him to escape to a fictional Victorian town named, you guessed it, Willoughby.

3.) "All in the Family" (CBS. Original air date: January 12, 1971). The first, real counter-culture sitcom, AITF featured the quintessential racist, Archie Bunker, his 'dingbat' wife, Edith, 'meathead' son-in-law Mike Stivic and Mike's wife/Archie's daughter, Gloria, whom Archie always called 'Little Girl.' (Note: That's what I've always called my Catharine. Talk about influence).

4.) "Seinfeld" (NBC. Original air date: May 31, 1990). Hands down, the most influential show in this blogger's life. I often find myself copying Jerry's mannerisms and speech, and constantly referring to previous episodes in my everyday business life. Just yesterday, for example, Peppercom's Teddy Birkhahn scared the bejesus out of me when he sidled up silently behind me. I stuck a tin of Altoids in his pocket to prevent any such future ambushes.

5.) "The Sopranos" (HBO. Original air date: May 31, 2000). Incredible show with an incredible cast. Mediocre final episode, but such is life. My world stopped every Sunday evening at 9pm when T, Carm, AJ, Meadow, et al, took center stage. Favorite episode: the botched murder of a Russian mobster in the New Jersey Pinelands.

Honorable mention: "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men." I adore both AMC series (note: neither made Ad Week's list).

So, how about you? What TV show(s) had the most influence on you and why? Inquiring bloggers want to know.

Comments

[JulieFarin]

I see some folks here have named their favorite shows in addition to the ones that have had the most influence on their lives. Under favorite shows, I'd say "Mad Men" tops the list. (AMC had better not bite the hand that put that network on the map).

As far as TV shows that had a profound influence on my life, I'd have to say the major one would be THAT GIRL. As a little girl growing up in front of the TV in the 1960s, the only role model I had was June Cleaver and Donna Reed. But Ann Marie opened me up to the possibility that I can live as a single woman with a career in NYC and still be ok. And for that, I will forever be grateful to Marlo Thomas.

[RepMan]

Chappelle deserves an honorable mention for sure, Ray. Stay tuned for another blog on a similar theme next week.

[RepMan]

I'd have to say 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In' trumped all of those shows for me, Greg. But, I did enjoy Bud and Lou (and Hillary Brooks).

[RepMan]

Point taken. It was influential to be sure (or is it shore).

[Lunch_boy]

1. Magnum P.I.
What a lifestyle; lived in Hawaiian mansion with access to a Ferrari, a butler and carried a gun legally. Plus, he always got the girl - at least for a night. Bonus: one of his best friends had access to a helicopter.

2. The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Not a one will ever match his dry sense of humor on TV. Conan is close, but no cigar.

3. The Price is Right
Playing hooky from grade school to stay away from math and pre-algebra, Bob and his girls were a late morning must-watch.

4. 24
No other show got the blood pumping like this one. Crazy plotlines sure, but the flow of the show was unreal.

5. Modern Family
It’s funny because its real!

[RepMan]

Thanks Lunch. I'm amazed Carson was left off the list. His humor definitely influenced my own take on the absurdity of life. Thanks for sharing.

[RepMan]

Thanks Lunch. I'm amazed Carson was left off the list. His humor definitely influenced my own take on the absurdity of life. Thanks for sharing.

[DSalazar]

1)Samurai Jack
By far my favorite show. Wasnt able to watch it that much growing up because I didnt get cartoon network at home but when I first moved to NY I watched every episode like it was my first time. Its a perfect mix of serious ninja fighting and goofy childish humor. Highly recommended.
2)South Park
Even though I didnt understand much of what was going on in this show many of the one liners my friends and I would use came from South Park. I would sneak in a couple of episodes a month at friends' places or late night when everyone was sleeping because of the mature content that Im sure my parents would still not approve of to this day. I have very fond memories of laughing a lot with friends when we spoke about this show.
3)Seinfeld & 4) 3rd Rock from the Sun
These shows were especially memorable for me not so much because of the content but more because it was a show my whole family liked. I remember a lot of laughs and smiles when these shows came on.
5)The Screen Savers
Im sure no one in NY heard of The Screen Savers on TechTV but for me it was a pivotal part of my interest in computing. It was about a half a dozen computer geeks talking about anything having to do with electronics everyday for an hour. I remember taping shows and getting super excited when it came on.

[ghost]

1.) The Sopranos. During the show's heyday, I found myself at tense meetings uttering things like, "You got a problem with that?" That said, I disagree that the finale was mediocre; while I certainly felt let down when viewing it, with time the lack of closure now feels like a stroke of creative brilliance...much like everything else in the show.

2.) The Twilight Zone. I don't know if anyone has influenced me more as a writer than Rod Serling. It wasn't just science fiction -- it was the underpinning of a social message within the story. "Willoughby" is one of my favorites, as well, although I always pictured the train diver to be Penchansky, not Moed.

3.) Monty Python's Flying Circus. My first dose of truly high-brow humor. They really set the stage for the comedy troupes that followed. Absolute brilliance. And, unlike other comedies, has aged very well.

4.) The Brady Bunch. To me, the Bradys were the microcosm of America: The straight-laced parents and the Astroturf backyard we all longed for. Our embracing of them, when we knew damn well they were neither realistic nor something worth admiration, says so much about us as a society. Imagine how the show might be different if developed today.

5.) The original SNL. Groundbreaking and incredibly hip. Much the same way the Sopranos reconfigured your Sunday night, SNL had a similar impact on Saturdays. Also, much the way the Sopranos captured the essence of New Jersey in the 1990s-2000s, SNL from 1975-1980 was the quintessential New York show of that era.

[JulieFarin]

Many of the folks here have indicated their favorite TV shows in addition to the most influential ones. For me, my favorite for the past 5 years has been "Mad Men" (and AMC had better not screw it up!).

The most influential show, however, would have to be THAT GIRL. As a kid growing up in front of the tube in the 1960s, my only role models with June Cleaver and Donna Reed. Ann Marie showed me an alternative where I could be single, live in the city, have a career and a boyfriend, and still have a full life. And for that, I will always be grateful to Marlo Thomas.

[RepMan]

Superb list, Ghost. Moed belongs on the train to Willoughby, though. Also, I'd pick Fawlty Towers over Python. Cleese was absolutely amazing as Basil Fawlty.

[Gaetano LePoer]

Hey Rep just thought of another All Time Influential Show...1970 Monday Night Football...I don't think I missed a Monday Night game the first ten years that it aired...it took the nation by storm and made the NFL the successful business that it is today. I will never forget the on air chemistry of Howard, Dandy Don and my least favorite Frank.

[RepMan]

Nice, Julie. Nice. I guess my role model of that era was Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. He showed me that even truly mediocre talent can take one to the top.

[RepMan]

Good stuff, Dan. That said, I'm definitely not familiar with a couple of these. Seinfeld seems to be the great equalizer among generations.

[RepMan]

Spot on, Gaetano. The original MNF was a social phenomenon

[Sam_Ford]

An interesting post and question, Mr. Cody. As far as the most influential shows in my life...Top of the list for me is Friday Night Lights: in terms of capturing the feel of everyday life, small town community, and a community of compelling and real characters, there's never been a show like it.

Other than that, when it comes to personal impact, there's "As the World Turns" (wish I was a member of the Hughes family, and a Guinness Record holder in terms of the number of actors who were in the same role for 50+ years).

There's WWE Monday Night RAW, and its predecessors (the regional "weekly wrestling show" back in the network days)--no fictional entertainment show has been that kind of mainstay staple on cable television.

And, when I think about the shows that my mind often goes back to and draws from, there's Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm; Breaking Bad and The Sopranos; The Shield and Dexter and West Wing...and so many others that run close seconds.

But, as others say, the base of that go back to Rob Petry and Mary Richards; Archie Bunker and the crazy Tates on Soap; and don't think I've seen any reference to Det. Columbo, Ralph Kramden, Dick Loudon, or...my personal favorite, for reasons I can't even explain...Thelma Harper.

[RepMan]

I was wondering why our resident soap opera expert had yet to weigh in. Thanks Sam. 'The Hooneymooners' loomed large (pun intended) on the original AdWeek list but, truth be told, Ralph Kramden never really resonated with me. I'd definitely add 'Curb' to my honorable mention list, though. Thanks for reminding me.