Well, it is kind of late on Tuesday, but it’s still TV Tuesday!

Nick at Night is celebrating 20 years of giving us “classic” television in the evening. This year’s new show is the classic 80s sitcom Murphy Brown. Murph and company join the rotation of such sitcoms The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, The Munsters, Green Acres and many, many more that help introduce new generations to the great comedies of yesteryear.

This week, we take a look at the shows on Nick-at-Night.

1. Of the many shows that run on Nick-at-Night, what is the one that you would most enjoy sitting down and watching a marathon of?
Well, it’s not on Nick at Night any more, but when it was on I really enjoyed Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I remember watching the show when I was young and it was funny then; watching the re-runs on Nick at Night, it is STILL funny.

2. What classic show from yesterday has not made it to Nick-at-Nite yet, but you’d like to see it there?
Oh, let’s see. I like the show The Magician with Bill Bixby. I also liked the show The Second Hundred Years with Monte Markham.

3. Have repeat on Nick-at-Night given you a new appreciation of an older show? Which one?
Not really. I have watched a number of the old shows, but most are those that I either didn’t or couldn’t watch regularly back in the day.

4. What show that is currently on the air do you think our kids will be watching in 20 years on Nick-at-Nite?
Well, since I don’t watch hardly any network TV, I’m probably not the one to answer that. I hope to God that they don’t have any of the reality shows on then, though.

5. What is one show that Nick-at-Nite currently runs that you question if the classic label applies to?
I’d take issue with Roseanne. I thought the show was crass and the only redeeming feature on it was John Goodman. I’m not too crazy about Murphy Brown, either. I didn’t watch either one much when they were “popular”.

~ BONUS ~ Are there some shows that don’t repeat well in later years because they rely on topical humor? (For example, a lot of the Murphy Brown jokes rely on a knowledge of current events when they were produced) Do you sometimes find yourself getting the jokes that younger generations don’t? Do you think this topical humor helps or hurts shows from having a long life in repeats?
The shows that repeat well are those that have time-tested values that are reinforced again and again. Topical shows are not always the best for that. A show that will live forever in repeats is Little House on the Prairie. It’s all about the family values and love and togetherness. Another one is Touched by an Angel. (Of course another series of short-subject films that will live forever is The Three Stooges!!)