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Okay, so I'm sure that headline is a little strange. But I thought why not step outside of the box for these Throwbacks and do something oddly specific?
I'm sure a lot of people can remember what it was like spending weekends, summers or even weeks at a time with their grandparents. Each one of you probably has a few TV shows that were on repeat while you were there, too. From old school crime solvers; Bob Barker reminding you to spay and neuter your pets on a game show; or the ever-popular soap operas.
For me, I spent an awful lot of time at my mother's parents' home in the summers growing up. And there were quite a number of shows I can vividly remember watching.
I thought it could be fun to rank these shows based on how young and older me felt about them. (If I'm honest my opinions haven't really changed since I stopped going... except maybe there's more of a nostalgia factor.)
Side note: To my grandmother who may or may not be reading this I hope you don't disagree too strongly with my rating.
Without further discussion, let's get into it!
MURDER SHE WROTE
Coming in at the bottom of the list is "Murder She Wrote" which first aired in 1984. The show follows mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansberry), an amateur detective, who finds herself solving murders that take place in Cabot Cove, Maine and beyond. The show ran for 12 seasons, ending in 1996. I don't remember quite as much about this show, which is why I've ranked it lower on my list. However, I do remember enjoying Lansberry's role as the very perceptive and often soft spoken Fletcher. The way she presented herself would lead many to believe she was just some retiree putting herself in business that she didn't belong. However, she always managed to run circles around those local law enforcement agents who sometimes doubted her abilities. "Murder She Wrote" can be found on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, fuboTV, Philo and Pluto TV.
MATLOCK
Next up is 1986's "Matlock" which stars Andy Griffith as the titular character. This show is the reason I thought up this review, because the theme song has been playing on repeat in my brain. The show ran until 1996 and followed widower Ben Matlock, a renowned, folksy and popular though cantankerous attorney. Matlock wasn't your average defense attorney. Oh no, he would be all in each episode getting to the bottom of the case and -- more often than not -- exposing the culprit while he questioned them on the stand. I placed this show as number four because it wasn't one that often grabbed my attention. However, I did enjoy Griffith's portrayal of the grumpy defense lawyer who, at the end of the day, wanted to help the people around him. Plus, it does carry a huge amount of nostalgia for me as well. "Matlock" can be found on Pluto TV.
SPONGEBOB
SQUAREPANTS
You might be thinking to yourself "Laura... watching the kids' show 'Spongebob Squarepants' was not your grandparents' choice." Well, you'd be wrong my dear reader. Sure, my grandparents started out watching the hit Nickelodeon show for my fellow grandkids, but they kept watching it well after so it still counts. I ranked it as number three because, however much I enjoyed it and still do, I certainly didn't watch it solely with my grandparents. For those who aren't aware, this show premiered in 1999 and continues today, and follows Spongebob Squarepants (Tom Kenny) and his wacky adventures under the sea. It's a good show, at least up until I stopped keeping up with it at age 12 anyway, and certainly deserves to be on this list. "Spongebob Squarepants" may be watched on Pluto TV, Paramount+, Philo, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Google Play, Apple TV and Vudu.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
This wouldn't be a proper ranking of shows you might have watched with your grandparents' if it didn't include "The Price is Right." It's a pretty universal experience for everyone to have sat down -- sometimes during a sick day -- and watched Bob Barker (now Drew Carey) effortlessly host a game show that's existed through many decades. For me, watching "The Price is Right" was a staple while staying with my grandparents' over the summer. At 11 a.m. my grandmother would prepare our lunch -- a mini pizza or the ever-popular smiley face fries -- and we'd all sit down and watch "The Price is Right." My grandparents would actually try and guess the prices for the objects while my brother, cousin and I would usually just be along for the ride. The nostalgia factor, the colorful and fun games and watching contestants go absolutely insane when they were chosen are the three major reasons why I ranked this one at number two. And Drew Carey has done a decent job of filling Barker's shoes... although I haven't watched many of his episodes. "The Price is Right" can be watched on CBS TVE, Pluto TV, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.
MAGNUM PI
Coming in at number one is the show that had every woman absolutely obsessed for years -- "Magnum PI." Starring Tom Seleck in the main role, it followed Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, a private investigator that finds himself in many a caper and investigation while staying as a guest on a 200 acre estate in Oahu, Hawaii. To me, "Magnum PI" feels like the titular 80s television show with both its style, storytelling and music (it's opening theme is classic and memorable for a reason). And, of course, for many Selleck served as the perfect actor to fill Magnum's colorful Hawaiian shirts. The show ran for eight seasons, from 1980 to 1988 and was even revived in 2018 with a remake -- although I haven't really given that one a shot. A show like "Magnum PI" feels like it should exist as the original and nothing more in my opinion. "Magnum PI" may be watched on Philo, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu and Amazon Prime Video.
So there you have it folks. A trip down memory lane for me, and perhaps for you too. If you haven't watched any or even some of these shows, I certainly recommend you give them a chance. All of them are great in their own right and for their own reasons.
And if you're like me with some of them, maybe you'll just want to relive simpler times.
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Laura Jameson is Managing Editor of The Express.