Does anyone else find watching old tv shows soothing?

[GingerbreadCrisps]

I’ve been watching Tales of The Unexpected and while the stories certainly aren’t cosy, there’s still something soothing about seeing the old fashioned haircuts, clothes and decor.

I watch a lot of old shows for this reason. I appreciate that there are many less appealing aspects of certain older shows but I generally find them comforting.

Which old programmes do you find soothing? I’m always looking for more. I’ll leave it to the individual to decide what constitutes old.

For me it's shows like Diagnosis Murder and Murder she wrote. My brain can totally switch off. I think they were on on our hour lunch break at school so watched them then so find comfort in them.

Yes! I have stacks of DVDs of old shows, and spend more time watching them than I do anything modern.

I love series set in the 70s/80s.

Dad's Army for me too. Along with Porridge and Father Ted.

On the buses

I totally forgot Ever Decreasing Circles.

Quincy ME
The Rockford Files
Kojak
Minder
The Sweeney
Strange Report
Gideons Way
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
Magnum PI (original)
Columbo
Banacek

Love retro coronation street - especially late 80s/early 90s with Jack & Vera, Bet & Alec. It’s like a great big hug.

Yes now you mention it I do remember Bluebell.

Loved watching Nanny , also To the Manor Born (my younger self wanted to live in a Manor house surrounded by rolling hills and ride horses all day.
Chancer was another fab series, with Clive Owen

Yes! Usually Beverly hills 90210 or Dawsons creek etc

Randall and Hopkirk ( deceased) is on U & Drama each weekday evening...the Avengers and Return of the Saint too...more comfort tv. It's like having a bedtime story read, I often fall asleep to them.

My comfort favourites are:

Birds of a feather (When it was on bbc1)
Only fools and horses
Goodnight sweetheart
2point4 children
George and Mildred
Bless this house

Op - I know exactly what you mean!

You might like to this article below. They showed all the old celebrities and tv shows in a nursing home and it had a dramatic impact on the people living there. So fascinating!

www.businessinsider.com/ellen-langers-reversing-aging-experiment-2015-4?op=1

Yes totally agree!

The last few Saturday nights/Sunday mornings we've been watching the original All Creatures Great and Small.

I first used to watch it in 1978 when I was 10 years old and was absolutely obsessed with it. Had a massive crush on Christopher Timothy (!!😱) We used to watch it at Sunday teatime, veterinary with hand up cow's bum while we ate sandwiches and cake.

If you told me then, in 1978, I'd be watching it starting at 1.20 in the morning in 2024 with my 29 year old dd and dh, it would've blown my tiny mind

(Currently watching Yes, Minister on That's TV 2)

edited to add sadly no all creatures on tonight 😞

Also it was very soothing to watch these old shows in lockdown

Love a bit of Heartbeat even though it wasn't filmed in the decade it was set. There is something very comforting about the lack of technology. No mobiles or internet. No TV really until the later episodes so people went to to the pub to talk to their friends after work.

I remember Bluebell. It's never been repeated. Also Nanny with Wendy Craig was very good.

Upstairs Downstairs. That's repeated a lot. I didn't much like the follow on series they made a few years ago.

The good thing about DVD's is that you can watch them without the need for a streaming service (especially good when we are away in the MoHo).
The other good thing is that the older the DVD, the more likely it is to be the original transmitted version and not one that has been edited to cater for today's sensitivities.

I absolutely feel what you say, OP.
My top comfort "old" show is Murder she wrote. Angela Lansbury always 🙏

The Upper Hand is the ultimate comfort TV

I love loads of the old shows mentioned here

Oh, I think you are spot on!

I love this Channel!

Fawlty Towers.

Great topic @GingerbreadCrisps I’ve found my people. When I’m next watching ITV3 at some random hour I’ll know I’m not the only one 😊

I think you’ve summed it up well @soupfiend

Goodnight Sweetheart