If I Could Choose a Show From My Childhood to Bring Back (Penny Rader)


This month our topic is What show from your childhood would you love to bring back?

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I had a huge crush on Bobby Sherman when I was a kid [HUGE!] and couldn't get enough of Here Come the Brides.  Bobby's character was Jeremy Bolt, the youngest of the Bolt brothers. [big sigh]  Don't get me wrong.  The other two brothers were quite sigh- and drool-worthy, too.  And I'm still a sucker for mail-order bride stories.  I didn't realize the show lasted only two seasons until I looked it up online.  Wikipedia says there were 52 episodes.  Hmm.  That'd make a cool Christmas gift, but when I checked amazon.com I had severe sticker shock, so I don't think that's going to happen.  Funny how nowadays two seasons of a show would be lucky to have 12-24 episodes.   It makes me sad that some shows are barely given three or four episodes before being cancelled.



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Another favorite series of mine was Bonanza.  Hoss, the middle brother, always held a special place in my heart with his sweet, gentle soul yet fierce, protective instincts. I didn't care that he wasn't classically handsome...looks do fade, after all. I especially enjoyed the episodes when he fell in love.  Who could resist such a sweetheart?  But we always knew the girls any of the Cartwrights loved were croakers. Major bummer.



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When I was a little older the school librarian of the tiny Catholic grade school I attended  handed me a copy of The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  No clue why she started me off with the sixth book in the series, but I read it, adored it, and discovered there were more books.  I borrowed every one of them from the library.  The series was such a favorite of mine that I needed to own the entire boxed set.  I was certain that I would receive it for my 13th birthday.  Didn't happen.  I was crushed.  But, where there's a will...  I babysat and babysat and babysat and saved up enough money to buy the entire series.  I still have it, except for the last book which got lost somewhere along the way.  So, when they turned the book series into a TV series, Little House on the Prairie, I was beyond ecstatic.  I didn't care that they deviated from the book series.  They sort of had to, didn't they?  There were only nine books in the series and the show ran from 1974-1983. The important part to me was they stayed true to the characters.

I guess I better stop now.  We were supposed to choose one childhood favorite and I picked three.  All different but with wonderful characters and settings.  

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What show from your childhood would you bring back?

16 comments:

Sandra Dailey said...

Big Valley was my favorite western. Between Mrs. Barkley and her daughter Audra, they showed us that girls could do it too. Not to mention, all three Barkley brothers were gorgeous.

Penny Rader said...

Sandra, I totally agree with you about Big Valley. Nick was my favorite brother. Sooo gorgeous. And then there was Heath who had so much pain behind his eyes. I always thought he needed a really big hug. The gumption of both Barkley women were indeed great examples for us.

When we got cable a couple years ago, I discovered the INSP channel which has a lot of old shows and I was able to watch a ton of Big Valley reruns.

Do you remember the opening of the show, when they showed each character and had their character's name under the picture? I never noticed it when I was a kid, but Jared's said Jared Barkley, Nick and Audra also had Barkley as their last name. But under Heath's name it says Heath. No last name. I wonder if they ever added Barkley as the seasons passed?

Thanks for visiting!

Laura Strickland said...

If I could bring back one TV show from my youth, it would be "Rocky and Bullwinkle". I loved the corny yet clever puns that ended every episode! Nice post--thanks for the memories!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

M*A*S*H is one of my all-time favorites. And Bugs Bunny for obvious reasons.

Penny Rader said...

Thanks for dropping by, Laura. I remember watching Rocky and Bullwinkle. And Natasha and...Boris? Haven't seen that show in ages.

Penny Rader said...

Hi Vicki, I'm getting a kick out of seeing which shows are favorites of other people. Thanks for sharing!

Jana Richards said...

Penny, I had a huge crush on Bobby Sherman too! Were you also a fan of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family? For comedies, some of my favourites as kid were I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched and Gilligan's Island. Thanks for reminding me of all those fun shows!

Ashantay said...

I'm with Laura - Rocky & Bullwinkle! Although, that show is available on DVD, so instead, I vote for Adventures in Paradise. A hunky guy, a gorgeous sailboat, and a different island every week. Yep. That's my choice.

Roni Denholtz said...

My husband and I have been watching older westerns too. Our favorite is "Cheyenne" (It has such good plots and writing!) But my fav old show is "Get Smart."

Pat Davids said...

My favorite old show was Mod Squad. I couldn't wait for it to come on each week. I was so in love with Michael Cole. I wrote him my first and only fan letter. I never got an answer.

Penny Rader said...

Jana, I was definitely into The Partridge Family and David Cassidy. Also loved The Brady Bunch, especially when they sang. And we also watched the other shows you mentioned quite often.

Penny Rader said...

I haven't heard of Adventures in Paradise, Ashantay. Will have to look it up.

Penny Rader said...

Hi Roni, Cheyenne is another one I haven't seen. Maybe it'll make the rounds again. Another old western show I recently discovered and enjoy is The Virginian.

Penny Rader said...

I have vague memories of The Mod Squad, Pat. Bummer that you never received a response to your fan letter. I can't quite picture Michael Cole. Thank goodness for the Internet so I can go take a peek and refresh my memory. :)

Joanie said...

Penny, I loved Here Come the Brides, and Bobby Sherman--loved reading a few years ago how he has worked as an EMT/trainer in his hometown for free all the years since acting. Just makes me smile to think what I great guy I chose to "adore" as a kid. Several years ago we took a family trip to the Northwest and the Seattle song played through my mind the entire time we were there--and I never got sick of the earworm. LOL! But if I could bring back any show out there, it would likely be The Rockford Files. I swear I could watch Jim work his cases every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.

Penny Rader said...

Joanie, wouldn't it be a hoot to be in need of an EMT and wake up in the arms of Bobby Sherman? Excuse me while I swoon, sir, please don't drop me. {sigh}

I also loved Rockford Files. So much fun to watch episodes and see actors who went on to have great careers.