7 TV Shows I Only Saw After Moving to America

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In today's video, I look at some of the previously unfamiliar television shows I only encountered after moving to the United States of America.
And while you're here, listen to my two guest appearances on 'Travel with Rick Steves': www.ricksteves.com/watch-read.... And the second episode: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read...
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[@NealB123]

It's impossible to fully explain the impact of Fred Rogers on anyone who didn't grow up in the US between 1970 and 2000. He was the ultimate social influencer long before social media ever existed.

[@MrTommygunz420]

@john wallace the man saved public broadcasting in a speech on the Congressional floor almost single-handedly (it's here on KZbin somewhere;) and the fact that it wasn't depicted/reenacted is my only criticism of Tom Hanks' portrayal of him in the movie

[@erichbrough6097]

I watched Diane Jennings YT video reacting to seeing Mr Rogers for the first time - 5 or 6 clips in, she was nearly bawling. He has that effect on people.

[@billcarroll986]

Even though I was well into adulthood, and had no children to share it with, I took the time to watch the final episode, and did so with a dual sense of nostalgia and reverence for the icon he was.

[@evagisele6584]

I’m 46 and I loved Mr. Rogers. I remember standing in line at the public library to sign a community condolence book for his family after he passed away🥰

[@alexrafe2590]

I didn’t see the film because as soon as Tom Hanks was revealed as the star who would play him I knew I didn’t want to. Once again Hollywood casting based on star power rather than fit. Don’t get me wrong, I thought Hanks was great in lots of films, but his personality, or persona, or whatever you want to call it, was nothing like Rogers. I would have loved to have seen someone more suitable for the role play him, though I admit I can’t think of any actors today who might have fit. Don Knotts would have been good I think, or Anthony Perkins if they were alive and the right age today. But I knew I couldn’t have suspended reality and believed Hanks was Rogers. He would just have been Hanks trying, not believably, to play Rogers. Hanks could play wise guys well because there was some of that in him. His rubbery face and good looks served him well in lots of comedies, but he was never in any way nerdy. And that was a crucial Rogers trait. No actor unable to successfully tap into that characteristic is going to successfully portray Mr Rogers. Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister and you could believe it. Goodness, empathy and acceptance emanated from him. No wonder he was good with children. Like young children there was an unworldliness to him, almost an innocence, which I couldn’t see Hanks pulling off, just as he wasn’t good at displaying that quality in his other unsuccessful attempt at such a character, Forrest Gump. How he won an academy award for that performance is beyond me. His accent alone made it excruciating to listen to, but he was also a complete failure at getting across the child-like quality of Gump. From beginning to end I just never believed his performance in that film.

[@joeheid4757]

I remember playing over my aunt's who lived in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh which is where Mr Rogers lived. We were out front playing when along he came and started talking to us! Talk about star struck! He asked us our names and left. 10 minutes later he returned with personally autographed pictures for all 5 of us kids. I only cried for the deaths of 3 people. My mom, my dad and Fred Rogers. He's an absolute legend, especially in Pittsburgh.

[@TheDellaniOakes]

What a beautiful memory!

[@kathybouziane5269]

I'm so jealous ! What a guy 💜

[@jgw5491]

I recently saw a story on KZbin where a mother had been unhappy that her second grade child's teacher had thrown out an assignment (spelling test?) because the child had forgotten to put their name on it. She wrote Mr. Rogers about it and even included the school address and teacher's name. He wrote to the teacher explaining that everything a child created was important to the child and felt like a part of their self and shouldn't be treated lightly. The teacher later told the parent, "I can't believe you tattled on me to Mister Rogers!" Evidently Mr. Rogers answered ALL his mail. That seems like that would be a whole job in itself.

[@fanatic26]

This really is an amazing story and encapsulates what he was about perfectly.

[@twillbdone3273]

That's priceless. Thank you for sharing. Still laughing.

[@notthatyouasked6656]

As a long time autograph collector, I can assure you that Mr. Rogers did indeed answer every letter anyone ever sent him, always signing "Fred Mr. Rogers".

[@theemmjay5130]

That poor teacher, getting scolded by Mr. Rogers.

[@szqsk8]

@@theemmjay5130 Sounds like she deserved it.

[@JonTripp115]

I love the idea of adult Laurence binging Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as part of his sociological research into why Americans are the way they are and/or why they're not more like Mr. Rogers.

[@Blondie42]

I so wish that we were all more like that great man.

[@BillPeschel]

Mr. Roger was not just an excellent TV host, he was a great human being. There were a few small memoirs that came out after his passing, such as "The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers" and "I'm Proud of You," that show he took a great interest in people he met, and would stay in touch with them and see how they were doing. As for TV shows, I'd recommend "Futurama."

[@loosilu]

Fred Rogers convinced Congress to fund public television. He testified before Congress on May 1, 1969, on the importance of using televison to talk to children. His testimony was truly extraordinary. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHzcaJ-gh9djd6M

[@lainiwakura1776]

@@loosilu He was one of the people who helped us keep our VCRs and tapes as well!

[@hello-cn5nh]

@@loosilu well Congress sure abused that suggestion now didn't they? 😢

[@loosilu]

@@hello-cn5nh Abused? We have the most poorly funded public television in the industrialized world.

[@abchaplin]

Fred Rogers had been discouraged by the commercialism of children's shows in the United States, so he was ready to say "yes" to head-hunters from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in the early 1960s. He developed his idea for his "Neighborhood" while working in Toronto from 1963 to '67. (I was growing out of his stuff just as he arrived, but I did occasionally catch it, and the ditty he used to sing at the show's opening still pops into my head.) It was a CBC official who convinced Fred to appear on camera on his eponymous (sort of) "Misterogers". He returned to the U.S. after coming to an understanding that PBS was worth the candle. A market of 200 million into which he had been born would have been understandably more appealing than a slightly foreign one of only about 16 million.

[@Isolder74]

Anyone who grew up with Mr Rogers knows why everyone wishes we still had him around. He had a way to make you feel good even when terrible things were happening and didn't pretend they weren't happening or weren't actually terrible. Look up the shows he did after Kennedy was assassinated and you will understand. More to the point, PBS only exists in the way that it does today because of Mr Rogers. There are those that try to say no one is that good but that man was.

[@Markle2k]

You have a bit of Mandela effect going on. Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood premiered in 1968. But the sentiment is spot on. His testimony before Congress also really did save PBS. In fact, that testimony made for some really good reaction videos.

[@chitlitlah]

@@Markle2k Well then you can watch any of his shows and understand since they all aired after Kennedy was assassinated.

[@diarradunlap9337]

@@Markle2k Depending on the date of first airing, it is quite possible that he COULD have talked about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. EDIT: Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood first aired on February 19, 1968. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 6, 1968.

[@craigchastain7016]

He was awesome. I feel so fortunate to have had him him in my early years. I think he was just a genuine man. There's a clip of him out there joking with Letterman and meeting Eddie Murphy. Oh the stories we can tell. Mr. Rogers is a national treasure, just like Julia Child.

[@craigchastain7016]

I, just not long ago viewed an episode when he talked about divorce and to not feel alone. That's pretty cool, when you are reaching such a young audience

[@jasminedubois6711]

I feel like there are two celebrities who you can never talk badly about: Mister Rogers and Betty White.

[@melliehelen8650]

Dolly Parton, too.

[@hello-cn5nh]

Betty White was brilliant. Her appearance on the Craig Ferguson show is legendary.

[@trickygoose2]

I think the British celebrity that people can never talk badly about is David Attenborough.

[@charlottebowman2056]

I think that is because there really was nothing bad about wither of them. Talented, warm, loving , honest and kind was what they were.

[@juliearmfield2634]

they were both American treasures.

[@tineryn]

Mr Rogers!! He deserves two places on your list. In 1969, the government tried to cut funding for public television in half, so they sent Mr. Rogers to testify before congress in defense of PBS. His testimony was so powerful that the subcommittee chair (who had been against him) was moved to tears, and instead of cutting the funding in half, congress voted to add an additional $2 million. It's my favorite story about him, and you can watch the whole thing on youtube still. My second favorite story about him is the time his car got stolen, and then when the thieves found out that it belonged to Mr. Rogers, they returned it with an apology note.

[@lainiwakura1776]

He also saved VCRs and tapes! He said that children who were not home to watch educational shows when they aired needed a way to watch them later and I think that's what swayed the government.

[@Otokichi786]

Please, show don't just tell: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHzcaJ-gh9djd6M

[@almostfm]

Another thing I really liked was that he always mentioned when he fed the goldfish. Eventually, it was revealed why: A blind girl listened to the show and he talked about the goldfish, but she didn't know if they were being fed. So from that point on, he'd always say when he was feeding the goldfish.

[@MrLyosea]

@@lainiwakura1776 I always bring that up when people mention the good that mr rogers did. I also had a few recordings of mister rogers when I was little on vhs so first hearing that he saved vcrs made me very happy!

[@mournblade1066]

While his testimony before Congress (not once, but TWICE) actually happened, the thing about the car thieves is an urban legend.

[@Kayin2626]

I grew up watching Mr. Rogers and loved him then. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized all he did in real life and also the way his show was structured that I appreciated him even more. He talks about feelings and some huge topics for kids (divorce, death, bullying, etc) in age appropriate ways and for the 80s/90’s, it’s essentially unheard of. I introduced my 18 year old niece to the show on KZbin late one night and she found it strangely calming and relaxing.

[@coffeelvnwmn8706]

He was a genuine man, that was kind and really loved people. I remember that show where he invited the little boy in the wheelchair; and Mr. Rogers explained about the boy's disability. It helped me to understand and to have empathy towards those w/disabilities. He had a way w/words, and even as a child, he was a lot easier to understand, than my mom.😊

[@grievousangelic]

It's a testament to the life and influence of Fred Rogers that so many of the comments on this episode are about him. He was such a great human being. It's difficult to overestimate the effect he had on so many kids of my generation. I'm glad you've discovered him, too!

[@sidneyvandykeii3169]

Nobody is better than Bob Ross at making you feel like you can succeed at painting. Especially when he received a letter from a colorblind person/child who stated they couldn't paint because they were colorblind. He immediately did an episode where he painted with blacks and whites (and greys) to show them that they could paint also. He believed anybody could paint.

[@nanagram13]

I'm giving away my age, but "Dark Shadows" was the only soap opera that I really enjoyed. It had a Vampire in it!

[@julienielsen3746]

The only time I got hooked on a soap opera was when I started watching Dark Shadows on KZbin. They had only the black and white episodes. Never watched it as a kid in the 60s.

[@molsongrrrl]

I was too young to get into Dark Shadows when it aired but I've been watching the episodes. It's a really good show!

[@eywine.7762]

My mother wouldn't let me watch Dark Shadows because she was afraid it'd give me nightmares. I had to sneak and watch random episodes at friends' houses. I found it on Amazon Prime and watched the first few episodes recently. The only scary thing I saw was the terribly bad acting!

[@cindyharrington5958]

I was in high school when it was on. We all rushed home from school to see it. I absolutely loved Quentin Collins.

[@AbsentWithoutLeaving]

I was FURIOUS at my mom for not allowing me to watch Dark Shadows, and then, Where the Action Is, after school. No television while the sun is up was the rule - you needed to be doing homework, or else up and outside, doing things, not staring at the TV. Put me at a serious social disadvantage around the playground at school, I can tell you.

[@Author.Noelle.Alexandria]

Mr. Rogers is the national treasure the entire world would be better off having. Watch the video of him speaking before congress to try to secure funding. If you want to see magic in action, it's the short two minutes it took him to take a hard-hearted politician and turn that man into a child hearing words he needed to hear. And Bob Ross... OMG he's amazing, as is the story behind him and why he became so soft-spoken and peaceful.

[@ScottHillEnglish]

For a few years here in the US, kindness took human form and taught kids that they are worthy of love exactly how they are. That's Fred Rogers.

[@brianm6117]

The talk about Mr. Rogers was very nostalgic and put a much needed smile on my face. My childhood was a little hectic, but Fred Rogers was always there.

[@craigchastain7016]

The guy just had the way about him.

[@katw3070]

I love an old British show “Keeping Up Appearances”. The main character was Hyacinth Bucket who insisted on Bucket be pronounced as “Bouquet”. She wanted so badly to be considered high class, but everyone avoided her like the plague. Hilarious! But, nothing will ever replace Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Fred Rogers was the epitome of kindness and understanding.

[@janethays3408]

The reruns for “Keeping Up Appearances” are currently running on my PBS station, along with “As Time Goes By”. Love both those shows!

[@brianb8060]

I always liked, "Are You Being Served". Are you free Mr. Humphries? I'm freeee.

[@almostfm]

@@brianb8060 What are all these damned Germans doing in the lift?

[@trickygoose2]

@@brianb8060 As a Brit, I would say that both "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Are You Being Served" say quite a lot about our class system. Hyacinth Bouquet would probably be considered lower middle-class but is desperate to appear at least upper middle-class in the former. In the latter, Captain Peacock looks rather down his nose at the lower/working-class Miss Brahms, Mr Lucas and the maintenance man.

[@diwi1942]

Absolutely love Hyacinth. Also "Have You Been Served"

[@jasminedubois6711]

Mister Rogers is an American icon. Lots of kids grew up with him. Myself included. I used to watch him with my mom all the time as a kid.

[@daphnepearce9411]

I loved Mr. Rogers when I was a kid, though I'm drawing a blank as to whether Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green jeans was part of his show?

[@jasminedubois6711]

@@daphnepearce9411 no those were before his time.

[@jenniferrogers2492]

@@daphnepearce9411 : Captain Kangaroo & his sidekick Mr. Greenjeans were on a long-running children’s show on CBS.

[@thecatatemyhomework]

@@daphnepearce9411 Captain Kangaroo and Mr Greenjeans was on in the 1950s. Way before Mr. Rogers.

[@standinthegsp6858]

WKRP was pretty hilarious, most of the humor still holds up today. Les Nessman wanting his own office so badly that he made his own office by putting tape in the floor, the thanksgiving episode, dr Johnny Fever “If everyone really is out to get you, paranoid is just smart thinking”... & all the other characters.

[@TimeLady8]

As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly. Best. Episode. Ever.

[@jasonmistretta4295]

@@TimeLady8 Hahaha!!! "Oh the humanity of it all! The turkeys are hitting the pavement like wet bags of cement"

[@kathyastrom1315]

“Booger.”

[@qqq1q1qqqqqqq]

As as part is, with today's PC war it wouldn't be allowed to air. Chauvinistic men who see women as sex objects...... ❌❌❌ CANCELLED ❌❌❌!!! But all the off color humor was what made it so great!!!

[@DanielleWhite]

I just wish the original music was still in. It had to be removed in syndication due to licensing

[@Orxenhorf]

Around the same time as Bob Ross' "The Joy of Painting" was being made on PBS we also had "The Victory Garden" (usually paired with the Bob Villa version of "This Old House"), "Reading Rainbow", Jeff Smith's "The Frugal Gourmet", Justin Wilsons' "Louisiana Cookin'", and Julia Child's "The French Chef". Saturday morning to afternoon was a good time. Oh, also you can't forget about Peapod the pocket squirrel on Bob Ross's show.

[@Exayevie]

Oh my gosh, add This Old House to the list, I'd be awfully surprised if they had that in the UK

[@TheJazzy1980]

wow, I forgot about the frugal gourmet 😅 and was Louisiana cookin the one with the guy who said "I gua-RON-TEE" ? 😂

[@Orxenhorf]

@@TheJazzy1980 Yep, that was him.

[@coffeelvnwmn8706]

Oh wow! You brought back some wonderful memories... when the LA guy came on, my family and I would take a break before continuing w/the rest.😊 My mom never spoke English, but she LOVED Bob Ross and his soothing voice & tone (my sibs or I would translate, but she'd shush us 😂🤷). I watch This Old House, from time to time; and though it's changed a lot (a long w/the hosts), I'll watch it and remember those Saturdays of long ago.❤

[@zacharyliles8657]

Rick Steves is the absolute greatest. I love that so many of the shows you highlighted were from public broadcasting. PBS is so important to American culture and I love to see it being appreciated

[@MattLovesVinyl]

Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross were definitely part of my life growing up as a kid. PBS was so much better back then.

[@DestinationsChronicles]

I just love how many of these shows are PBS shows. PBS was a mainstay in our family for years!

[@samanthab1923]

Without it, no Monty Python for us

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

It's disgraceful that PBS literally goes begging for operating funds!

[@CaptainFrost32]

@@Blaqjaqshellaq No commercial advertising. Fundraiser pledges, patrons, corporate donations, and government donations. Order some cookbooks, buy some DVDs [I recommend programs from Pittsburgh such as Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and Rick Sebak programs.]

[@JohnWilson-hc5wq]

@@CaptainFrost32 Why Britain has good TV... the television tax (licence). You need a licence to even own a TV set; about $200 US a year. The money goes to the BBC. Imagine if donating to PBS was required by law....

[@CaptainFrost32]

@@JohnWilson-hc5wq Then we would have another tax rebellion, and public television would be lost.

[@KellyS_77]

"Wheel of Fortune" The first time my British spouse watched it he looked at me and very seriously asked "What's the point of the lady that's all dressed up?" (Vanna White) I didn't really have a good answer except that when the show first aired she actually had to turn the letters by hand.

[@CaptainFrost32]

The point now is that the timer to solve begins after she has made her way back to her standby position. Pat Sajak had time off for surgery, and Vanna stepped up as host until he was cleared to return. The pairing also allowed Pat and Vanna to kill time in small talk when run time needed to be padded, and to make mini-game announcements and announce roaming tours to cities. Essentially, the classic role of the sidekick.

[@CptJistuce]

Vanna White is a question for the ages. As I understand things, the studio is actually afraid of losing her because she's super-popular and they've never figured out why.

[@AndrewAMartin]

Two of my favorite PBS shows from before we had cable are This Old House and The Woodwright's Shop. Both were the precursor to the plethora of DIY shows on cable TV today. Speaking of cable, back before A&E went stupid with 'reality' shows, they had two excellent British imports: Sherlock Holmes Mysteries starring the late Jeremy Brett (still my favorite Holmes), and Lovejoy starring Ian McShane (where I learned most of what I know about art and antiques, lol). Duck Dynasty destroyed A&E...

[@julienielsen3746]

He was the best Sherlock Holmes. I miss the old British comedies they used to show on PBS.

[@sallyintucson]

A&E and The History Channel both started off as good channels and then went down the toilet.

[@lainiwakura1776]

My dad would watch This Old House and the New Yankee Workshop, I remember Bob Vila being on Home Improvement and I get the urge to watch New Yankee Workshop now and then, but have nowhere to watch it.

[@diwi1942]

This Old House was better with Bob Villa.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

I have big memories of watching This Old House and The Woodwright's Shop with my dad as a child. There was Sewing with Nancy that either aired before or after and another crafting show too which I watched with my mom. I never realized that other places also saw the shows because PBS was always a local network and those shows were produced in the state I lived in or just across the border in a neighboring state (and where I lived, we got all 3 PBS channels for the 3 states) Thanks for the memories.

[@hcolleen534]

I love how the end seems like a lovely tribute to Mr. Rogers. He really was a wonderful person and a lovely person to find, any time of your life. I was 'too old' when my younger sisters watched Mr. Rogers. I watched with them because it was before 'my shows' (Reading Rainbow and Square One [yes, I'm that nerd ^^ ]). I'm glad you were able to find him too.

[@O2life]

It's okay, I'm that nerd, too. But I also loved Mr. Rogers.

[@sh0rtstr4w]

Another nerd here too!

[@living4mylord]

Right here with you, all the way!

[@cj-seejay-cj-seejay]

Reading Rainbow and Square One were so good!!! (So was Mr. Rogers, though!)

[@O2life]

3! 2! 1! CONTACT

[@TomZ23]

Every time someone mentions Mr. Rodgers, I am so grateful I grew up with him and his entire cast on TV. What an amazing show. I appreciate what he talked about more now that I'm an adult.

[@andrewstoll4548]

But what about Captain Kangaroo????? Ohhhhh yaa.

[@kathybrown6763]

@@andrewstoll4548 don't forget Mr. Green Jean, my gosh I don't remember what he looked like. Now that's sad.

[@caliscribe2120]

Or in Southern California in the 60s, Sheriff John and Hobo Kelly.

[@kayerin5749]

@@kathybrown6763 He was tall and skinny, with a long sad looking face, and of course he always wore green jeans, the original jeans with bib that most farmers wore to work in. I don't know why they called him "Green" jeans though, except to avoid "Blue Jeans"

[@kathybrown6763]

@@kayerin5749 Thanks , that helped. 😊

[@doncarlton4858]

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood started just a little too late for me to get into him as a kid. My equivalent was Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room. I ran across Fred Rogers in my teens and started watching because of the trolley models used in the miniature neighborhood. I remember visiting my grandparents house and my Grandmother would be glued to the TV all afternoon watching those soap operas.

[@shaunculp4221]

The biggest thing with Mr Rogers wasn't just him teaching kids to be good people, it was that he would talk to kids about things even your parents didn't want to talk about. He did episodes about divorce, death and even race relations in America in the 60s. He always tried to make every child not only feel special but to feel normal from talking with a boy in his electric wheelchair or during every episode saying I'm going to feed the fish now because a blind girl was told he had fish on the show and was worried they weren't being fed. That was the real magic of Fred Rogers.

[@spyone4828]

I don't think Fred Rogers was trying to teach how to be a good person, he was just such a good person that it came through in all the lessons he taught. My mom ... she thought that the song that goes "some people are special on the inside, and some people are special on the outside" was Fred's way of sneaking in sex education. (Which she was in favor of, I should note.)

[@ElainetheGARugrat8815]

My 8th grade teacher taught us history for four days of the week - then a Jeopardy contest each Friday of the content just learned. Really great way to quiz ourselves in what was taught during the week. More of that should happen in schools today. This reminds me that my fifth grade teacher started a Wall Street contest at the beginning of the term. We all received a certain amount of virtual dollars and than we all chose stocks and followed the rise and fall for months. Whoever earned the most profit at the end of the period won major bragging rights. Schools really need to follow better learning models like this than they have today.

[@kathyastrom1315]

My high school American history class has a few days of faux 1920s stock market trading, and then the teacher triggered the crash and saw us all lose our minds trying to sell everything.

[@qqq1q1qqqqqqq]

These are the kinds of teacher that bring history back to life!!!!! I admire them so much. That is why I wanted to be a high school history teacher. Sadly, I wasn't a coach so it didn't happen. But those types of things ignited my love of and respect for history.

[@noneofurbusiness5223]

I had couple teachers do that. Totally agree 👍with you.

[@CannonRaw]

Game theory in everyday is uncanny how much it's used. Like some hybrid cars have a tree that grows when you use battery power. And dwindles when you use more gas power.

[@victorhawkins3461]

Hey, hey, hey! Besides being Fred Rogers' actual middle name, "Mr. McFeely" was the "brains" behind "Speedy Delivery" on the show. And I say this while looking at a personalized, autographed publicity still of "Mr. McFeely" said gentleman gave me when I worked with him on a Public Television program...when I was in my early 30s! (And yeah, your Rick Steves impersonation was spot on!)

[@mournblade1066]

Heh heh, yeah, I have an autographed photo I got from Mr. McFeely, too. I was 30 years old when I got it from him. I sadly never got to meet Fred Rogers, but I have many friends who have (including one who worked with him on his show until the series ended). I'm from western PA, so Fred Rogers was a local hero.

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Bob Ross was a stressed out drill sgt. and when he retired, he swore he'd never raise his voice or shout again. He also stopped with the buzz cut. Lol

[@tejaswoman]

Glad I looked through the comments before posting this message so I didn't duplicate it! Found it while looking up stuff to add to his Wikipedia article, into which I have since incorporated this fact.

[@swansox]

It’s hard to put into words how much Mr. Rogers means to me. I’m so grateful I got to watch him as a kid.

[@lynnwelch6223]

The one show all of us pre/teens watch and discussed in detail the next day at school was Dark Shadows - Dark Shadows was an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. After spending 200 years trapped in a coffin, a vampire escapes and returns to his family mansion in Collinsport, Maine. We hung on every episode. I did watch some of it a couple years ago and tried to figure out why we loved it so, ha ha.

[@user-zk9pe2ed6w]

my grandmother was such a fangirl, she bought a ring just like barnabas' as a teenager! i didn't realize how popular it was back then

[@misskittysmom5604]

Ahhhh, Barnabus and Quintin. Great memories!

[@whiteowl4097]

Dark Shadows was the only show I thought was worth watching. It was different and not the typical dreary everyday life drama that they all had in common.

[@samanthab1923]

I watched that in 5th grade. It wasn’t till recently I found out that Dan Curtis the producer did Night Stalker & Strangler movies on ABC.

[@hazyaspect]

Loved Dark Shadows as a kid, and when I found it on Pluto tv a couple years ago I binged it so hard lol. :)

[@FlesHBoX]

In all truthfulness, most American television has become soap operas disguised as other types of shows.... It's truly awful.

[@twiggystardust9573]

Mr. Rogers' was such a huge part of my childhood. I have a legitimate fear that some devastating news will come out about him and my childhood will be ruined. He's been gone 20ish years, though, so maybe it's not that legitimate, but still... a fear. Anyway, I still get choked up if I hear "You Are Special." Every kid needs to listen to that song every day. 💖

[@Otokichi786]

Please, show, don't just tell: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX-xpqVnoNWkacU

[@billolsen4360]

America, at least, has an unhealthy fear of grown men who are kind to children these days.

[@zhengtingz5711]

Every time Mr. Rogers is mentioned it manages to make me a little teary eyed. I don’t know what it is about him and I only really watched him when I was VERY little, but just seeing his face brings me a lot of comfort. If I ever have kids I’m definitely going to have them watch reruns of the show

[@gabe608]

Same I couldn’t stop crying just remembering him and all the great things he did for us youth at the time. Then when I became an adult realized he did do much more than is humanly possible.

[@katehaynes5735]

Yup, saw a You Tube reactor watching Mr. Rogers yesterday and couldn't help but cry.... now doing it again!

[@JeffDeWitt]

There is only one soap opera I've ever really watched, "Dark Shadows", not the silly movie, the 1960's black and white show.

[@HALberdier17]

My mom still watches it on her phone. She watched it three or four times in the past year .

[@TheDellaniOakes]

When my older 2 kids were little (mid 80's) our local PBS station would run marathons of Bob Ross on the weekend. As a working mom, I was exhausted most of the time, and my children hated naps -- but -- they loved Bob Ross. We'd grab pillows and blankets, lie down on the living room floor, and watch the show for hours. Well, more specifically, they would SLEEP for hours, and I'd get 20 or 30 minutes, wake up, and get stuff done. His laid back style was so soothing, it calmed us all down. In fact, they would beg to watch the show. I attribute him, and his happy little accidents, for the fact that these two love to draw and paint.

[@npflaum]

My Grandparents would do the same when we came to visit. If we got tired from lunch and time in the swimming pool, she would lay a blanket down over the scratchy wool carpet and he would soothe us to sleep in minutes. I miss Bob Ross.

[@TheDellaniOakes]

@@npflaum me too

[@dennisswaney644]

There were a lot of afternoon soap operas (that type of program originally started out on radio and were sponsored by soap companies) through the years. You probably would have liked "Dark Shadows" that aired from 1965 to 1971 with a vampire character named "Barnabas Collins". There were prime time soaps also, the first of which was "Peyton Place" running from 1964 to 1969. It was a precursor of later ones like "Dallas", "Dynasty", "Falconcrest", etc.

[@billolsen4360]

I recall Mrs. Slocombe and Mr. Humphreys both liked Dallas

[@MLampner]

I never met Fred Rodgers but knew a number of people who did. While I think his show showed America at its best, the thing I loved most I learned from people who knew him was his love of dirty jokes. What was uniquely Mr Rodgers about this was he'd never tell you one. However, if he heard one he thought was particularly good he'd walk up to someone and tell them ask them to tell you the joke he just told me. Any man who can champion what is best in life but still appreciate a dirty joke - even if he wouldn't - repeat it, but share it - was worthy of praise.

[@OldMan_PJ]

In America we got the British version of Antiques Roadshow as well, always enjoyed both. I used to watch the 3rd act of General Hospital episodes when I was in Elementary School because it was on just before Scooby Doo. Seeing only the 3rd act was non-stop murder, paternity, adultery, really great television for a child's mind.

[@samanthab1923]

It’s funny you even knew what GH was. I was in HS & had friends whose moms watched soaps. Never knew about them.

[@hazyaspect]

GH was my mom's favorite soap, and she'd have it on every afternoon when I got home from school. I was way too young to understand the content, so I just enjoyed the pretty people and their nice clothes lol. :)

[@JohnnyAngel8]

Daytime TV in the 60s was chock full of soap operas. I remember watching some of them whenever I stayed home sick from school. As for the British Antiques Roadshow, I like it more than the American version.

[@lainiwakura1776]

@@JohnnyAngel8 This was a thing in the 90s too, but we also had talk shows like Jenny Jones, and those were always more interesting (or if you had cable, the toddler shows on Nickelodeon).

[@diwi1942]

I'm busy watching it and Antique Road Trip on Pluto tv.

[@wendig3258]

Excellent episode tonight!!! I remember watching Capt.Kangaroo during the week when I was very young. On Saturday was morning cartoons followed by Fury and Sky King at noon. On Sunday evening was Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on a B&W tv followed by Maverick/Bronco/Sugarfoot/Cheyenne alternating weeks. Loved Perry Mason. It’s still on in re runs. Before your time Laurence, I think. Those were the days!

[@steveschainost7590]

I remember all of those but how about RinTinTin and Lassie?

[@elultimo102]

@@steveschainost7590 "Corporal Rusty" just died recently. "Timmy" is 72. Where did the time go?

[@AmberWool]

We tried our best to aggravate our 6th grade teacher by putting on the captain. I don't think any of us cared about the captain anymore, we just knew it bothered her.

[@twillbdone3273]

Mighty Mouse too. I gave up ballet because I missed my Saturday morning TV. Friday night was Mom's and my night. 77 Sunset Strip Paladin Twilight Zone. Mom taught me to iron while she relaxed on the bed. It became a thing. I did the ironing and she relaxed while we watched TV. I was so happy to do it. Strange as it sounds, good times. I still like to iron.

[@carolyngurney5376]

Wow! We loved all those shows too! I still watch reruns of Columbo.

[@DrVonChilla]

I'm 57 years old and will be forever grateful that I lived in the time of Fred Rogers. He is truly a towering American icon, for all the best reasons. When he passed away, I was overwhelmed with sadness and the intensity of my grief took me by surprise. Even today I can get a little teary-eyed at the mere thought of him. All this for a man I never met, but do indeed feel like I knew and loved.

[@spyone4828]

I am a few years younger than you, am equally grateful for all the Mr Roger's Neighborhood that I watched as a child, but a bit appalled that there is a "time of Fred Rogers". The whole reason that he reduced the number of episodes he was making each year was that he had years worth of episodes that could be rerun, and that show really needs to be available to everyone, everywhere, forever.

[@Forced2DoThis1]

This reminds me of the many instances of shock I've suffered due to encountering my fellow Americans who've NEVER HEARD OF RED DWARF!!!!??!!!

[@lisamills3228]

We loved Red Dwarf

[@caliscribe2120]

I'll bite. What is Red Dwarf?

[@wolfe6220]

I remember getting the Red Dwarf book at the mall (yes, back when people read books all the time) and nearly fell down laughing in the first 3 pages (where Lister is driving his cab, a "Hopper", and he drops his cigarette in his lap, then tries to put out the fire by pouring his drink in his lap (a thermos of hot tea), burning himself further, while losing control of the hopper which was careening about the road. 😆

[@Markle2k]

@@caliscribe2120 It’s an iconic Sci-fi comedy show that has been running for decades. It was often shown on PBS.

[@DakotaCelt1]

I love the Rick Steve's Europe travelogues... a beautiful way to travel and learn. Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Electric Company, and Go Zoom are missed. Where in the world is CArmen Sandiego" was another show.. I know Britain has or had versions of the following American shows: Family Feud, (FAmily Fortunes), Match Game (Fill in the Blank?), Name that tune (Pop Quiz) and a couple of others. FAmily Feud was initially hosted by a Briton, Richard DAwson.

[@chuckpatrick1846]

If you listen enough to Rick Steve's you will find his favorite word is "convivial".

[@newstarcadefan]

Well, You are right the UK had some American shows adapted. But Match Game there was called Blankety Blanks, and Name That Tune kept the US name. Pop Quiz was a BBC panel show of the 80s and 90s.

[@cydkriletich6538]

You will likely never see my all time favorite t.v. show, which was called Northern Exposure and ran for approximately 5 seasons back in the mid-1990’s. Around 2005, my hubby bought me the full series DVD, but it seems the company that put out the DVD was unable to obtain the rights to the original music, which was a hugely important part of the show, since one of the main characters was the small town’s philosophical DJ. The music inserted in place of the original sucked! Still, I loved this show. And I also thoroughly enjoy your videos!

[@AbsentWithoutLeaving]

Cyd Kriletich - Northern Exposure was another of my old favorites...didn't know they had the same 'rights' problems as China Beach, which I also loved, and which also loses sooooooo much in its Time-Warner release which is missing so much of the original music. I guess these were shows that broke the barrier of using popular recorded music in their soundtracks. Because it was a new market for older material, the licensing laws were not in place, and there is a whole era of programming that is the poorer for it. 😢

[@paulqueripel3493]

It was broadcast in the UK, channel 4 I think. There's a good chance he's seen it.

[@bariebrewer5293]

I agree I loved Nortern Exposure

[@cydkriletich6538]

@@bariebrewer5293 Looks as if there are some Mooseheads here! 😃💟

[@mircat28]

L-O-V-E-D Northern Exposure!!

[@sonjamcclain9353]

Lol! Father Brown is one of my favorite shows. When I saw him playing Ron Weasley's Dad in Harry Potter, I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. I dragged my mom in the living room to show her and she just asked how I knew about Father Brown. I might be a bit if a nerd. 😸

[@almostfm]

And because all things in British TV connect somehow to Doctor Who, he was Rory's father during the 11th Doctor's run. As does Harry Potter (although the cast for all the movies was so big that couldn't be avoided.

[@veganleigh4817]

He's also in the movie, Stardust (2007)!

[@R.M.MacFru]

Laurence, I'm about 20 years older than you are and the Price Is Right was a thing in the 70's, with the original host, Bob Barker. My siblings and I got very good at guessing the retail price of items in southern California in the early 70's. There may be two other kids shows that are well known in the US, but not the UK. Captain Kangaroo and Bozo the Clown.

[@jwb52z9]

Did you see the original Price is Right that was in black and white, ever in reruns?

[@whiteowl4097]

Captain Kangaroo was the all time best kids show ever made. With Mr. Green Jeans, Bunny Rabbit, and Mr. Moose. My favorite part was always when they dropped all the ping pong balls all over the characters. The Captain was like everyone's grandpa, he was always the perfect grand parent that entertained everyone. Everyone loved him in that era.

[@R.M.MacFru]

@@jwb52z9 ...no. And I just learned it was originally on in the 50's. Thanks! 😀

[@southpaw487]

In my age group (mid-60s), Captain Kangaroo was our Mister Rogers.

[@julienielsen3746]

I liked the Price is Right back in the 70s. Don't care for it now. Could always guess the car prices.

[@youngbeard1]

Funny thing is many of these shows are helpful when you're home sick from school and they help you feel better. The old school Price is Right with Bob Barker was the best remedy for the stomach bug.

[@nariu7times328]

I remember when night time soap operas were the discussion of the playground -especially Dallas "Who shot JR." I had no idea because my parents never watched nor did they let us. At the same time, most of my friends mom's watched daytime soap operas religiously, and I had roommates in college who video taped daytime soaps because they couldn't bear to miss anything. If these are the same people watching now, they would be in or close to the "over 65" bracket so I guess it all fits. :)

[@karenogush5622]

I remember Dallas during the "Who Shot JR" period. I worked at a car repair place at the time and even the mechanics were watching it! They had a betting pool going on what the outcome would be. One of them brought a TV into the shop and everyone stayed after to have a TV watching party and watch the final reveal episode. It was almost like a Super Bowl party, except with a soap opera!

[@tallactordude]

I started watching “Jeopardy!” in the 1960s when it was a network show hosted by Art Fleming. I even saw a taping of the show in 1971 when I was 15. I also remember the original version of “Price Is Right” with Bill Cullen hosting; it was more like the qualifying game now played as the entire game. And like others here I also remember not only “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” but also “Captain Kangaroo.” I’ve even been told I watched “Howdy Doody,” though it since it went off the air when I was only four years old, I have no memory of that at all. I do admit to watching “Antiques Roadshow,” (the US version), too.

[@eywine.7762]

And Romper Room. Anybody else remember that one? I kept hoping Miss Sally would see me through her magic mirror, but she never did.

[@tallactordude]

@@eywine.7762 I think our Romper Room hostess had a different first name, but I definitely remember watching it!

[@kayerin5749]

@@tallactordude You're right. Ours was called Miss Nancy!

[@AmberWool]

@@eywine.7762 Romper Room was a local production of a nationwide chain. I remember the show that was produced in Moline, IL but I don't remember the name of the hostess.

[@richardgelber2740]

@@AmberWool Romper Room was produced by Bert Claster and his wife as Claster Television and other related names, beginning in the early 1950's in Baltimore. Local (licensed) versions were produced in dozens of cities with different hosts who generally were real teachers. Much later on, the company was purchased by Hasbro, Inc., and lasted in one form or another until about the year 2000. I worked on the version in Albany, NY for a few months in 1972.

[@kellyzavandro456]

So excited you got to chat with Rick Steves! Overall, fantastic list

[@PatricenotPatrick]

Don’t reply, just report them as spam. Tagging them throws off the spam detectors

[@DakotaCelt1]

I also love British telly: Time TEam, Dr Who, Eastenders, All Creatures Great and Small, Doc Martin, ARe YOu being served?, Good Neighbors, My Hero, Life on Mars (British version, not the American one), and many, many more

[@julienielsen3746]

Good shows.

[@mikecrawford9323]

Don't forget Monty Python's Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers, Black Books, Father Ted, The Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous, The IT Crowd, W1A, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Blackadder, and many more!

[@julienielsen3746]

@@mikecrawford9323 I used to watch Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and the Vicar of Dibley. The Benny Hill Show. I've been watching him on cable the last few weeks. Who was the comedian that had the missing finger? Used to watch him.

[@sheltiesong]

If everybody tried to spend even part of every day modeling their behavior on what Mister Rogers would think or do, this world would be a far better place. We’re so much poorer for the loss of his goodness and light and wisdom.

[@quintonlaughman717]

Growing up some of my favorite shows were the British comedies that came on our local PBS station Saturday night: Are You Being Served?, Keeping Up Appearances, The Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous, Waiting for God, Red Dwarf, and Mr. Bean were some of favorite. I sometimes wonder if these were so popular in Britain as to come to the US. I also loved The Red Green Show (Canadian)

[@kathyastrom1315]

My favorite night for PBS viewing as a kid in the 1970s and ‘80s was Sunday-the Chicago station had the usual fare like Nature and Masterpiece Theatre (I was scarred for life by the Anne Boleyn episode of The Six Wives of Henry VIII). Then, starting at 10:00, we had a revolving lineup of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, The Two Ronnies, The Goodies, and Dave Allen at Large, amongst others, for the hour before Doctor Who started at 11:00, which usually finished around 12:35 am. Mom wouldn’t let me watch DW until I graduated from junior high, then she said it was up to me if I wanted to be tired at school the next day.

[@ashmituk]

Never heard of Waiting for God, but the rest were very popular in Britain.

[@elizabethtreat]

Most of those are on Britbox :)

[@locqueenMD1]

I loved those shows as a young adult! I even show Mr. Bean clips to my kids occasionally.😄 The Vicar of Dibley was a late night treat on PBS. Laurence's impression of Rick Steve's was spot on! I'm glad he had Jeopardy and Mister Roger's Neighborhood on his list.👍🏾

[@locqueenMD1]

How could I forget, Last of the Summer Wine?! 😅

[@timglennon6814]

The Joy Of Painting has been recently shown on U.K. Tv. It was originally shown from 1983 to 1994 on BBC 2. Then it was repeated in 2020 on on BBC 4. My wife and I watched when it was on BBC 4, and both of us peed off at his ability to turn a blank canvas into a beautiful landscape painting. We really enjoyed watching it.

[@almostfm]

And he'd do it with the same bush you'd use to paint your house. My mom was a painter, and practically every episode, right about when she'd think it was done, he'd start adding more stuff and you were sure he'd just ruined the painting. But of course, he hadn't.

[@DrDaveW]

BBC4 brought it back for a bit of relief during the pandemic.

[@roundron76]

I remember watching it years ago here in the UK, know I never imagined it!!!

[@JPMadden]

There was another painting program on PBS called "The Magic of Oil Painting." It was hosted by the Prussian-born sexagenarian William Alexander, who temperamentally could not have much more different from Bob Ross. The comedian Patton Oswalt did a brilliant bit contrasting the two men [start at the 3:00 mark of the video titled "Patton Oswalt 1997 (part 4)" on the KZbin channel "MEGAEFFINTRON"].

[@andrewstoll4548]

As a kid in the mid to late 70's. Captain Kangaroo was great morning TV. Buck Roger's in the 25th Century was great. You can still catch it on MeTV on Saturday nights.

[@brianabc83]

Admit it you only watched Buck Rogers to see Erin Gray. Me to. LOL.

[@andrewstoll4548]

@@brianabc83 not only Erin Grey. Pamela Hensley also.

[@rckoala8838]

We in the US didn't get to see much British TV before Masterpiece Theatre. I do remember being much impressed by "The Saint" with Roger Moore, "Secret Agent" ("Danger Man" in the UK), and of course "The Prisoner" and "The Avengers"... all, I now realize, before you saw the light of day. Keep up the good work!

[@kayspence7044]

Thank you for mentioning “The Prisoner”! My all time favorite & a brilliant Sci-Fi. Too bad it was broadcast for such a brief period.

[@co7314]

Mr. Rogers was so special because he made us children feel important, heard, and loved. It felt like your father was being kind, looking directly at you and communicating with you as an esteemed fellow human being. That was remarkable at the time (early 80s).

[@RickTBL]

Have you ever seen the original Dark Shadows TV show? Origin of the first sympathetic vampire, Barnabas Collins.

[@you_can_call_me_T]

Oh no, sir. By the time you came to the US, soap operas were declining in popularity. But for many decades, women of all ages LOVED the soaps. You named the last vestiges of the genre, but there were more, including One Life to Live and All My Children. I don't even know how my friends and I kept up with the goings on of Erica Kane and Luke & Laura, being in school and all lol. But we did, especially in the summer.

[@whiteowl4097]

In the 1960's my babysitter would refer to them as her "stories" that she had to watch everyday. I always was told to not interrupt her stories when they were on. That is why I always considered soaps as boring and it's why I hate them to this day. I am glad they are being cut out of network production. Nobody likes them anymore.

[@you_can_call_me_T]

@@whiteowl4097 Lol awww man, you're still traumatized by that lol. Yeah, most soap fans were like that. So much happened in an episode that you didn't want to miss anything. And there's no such thing as a soap opera rerun, so unless you taped it, you would never ever get to see it again. Your sitter should've given you something to do or encouraged you to make your own fun. Did you happen to have a crush on her?

[@peggyjones3282]

Actually nothing ever happened in any episodes. You could hop back on after a year hiatus and still know what was going on. 😆

[@LindaC616]

I'm not so sure. When I was teaching college in the nineties students always talked about watching general hospital

[@you_can_call_me_T]

@@peggyjones3282 Lol well yeah, because they always caught you up in the dialogue.

[@autumncolors1673]

Mr. Rogers was special. He made every kid feel like he was talking only to them. All the little things he taught us, not necessarily because they were educational but because they were cool and he thought we'd get a kick out of them. That sinking feeling when he'd start to put back on his walking shoes and sweater 😭 knowing our time was almost up. He was precious.

[@santamanone]

The very term “soap opera” is due to the time slot they’re aired: during the work day when the only people at home to watch are housewives. Subsequently all the sponsors are selling what the audience buys: soap and household cleaning supplies.

[@JohnWilson-hc5wq]

That's exactly what killed most of them. Changes in culture and the economy. Not nearly as many housewives now as before about the 1980s.

[@Isolder74]

The term came from the age of radio plays and dramas and into television the name stuck.

[@toddswanson9549]

A decade before Mister Rogers was the American Icon “Captain Kangaroo”!!! His show captivated us. Together with Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Moose, Grandfather Clock, a thousand ping pong balls, and clips from Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings, the Captain Kangaroo Show shaped kind, happy children and was a milestone in television history.

[@beachgirl9304]

And before "Captain Kangaroo", there were "The Howdy Doody Show", Andy's Gang" and The Mickey Mouse Club".

[@thecatatemyhomework]

@@beachgirl9304 I believe they all were on at the same time.

[@MikinessAnalog]

Did you know Mr. Fred Roger's car was stolen and when the thief discovered who it actually belonged to, they brought it back with an included apology letter.

[@mournblade1066]

No, that never happened. Urban legend.

[@joermnyc]

1. Alex Trebek was also a genuinely wonderful person who worked with many charities for the homeless, and his family are continuing this (with help from the show). 2. The amazing thing is Bob Ross was painting in real time! Aside from any prep work on the canvas. 3. Always interesting when Antiques Roadshow finds an old guitar that looks like it wasn’t touched for years and it’s worth a crazy amount of money (best remember an old Silvertone guitar from the Sears catalog that was worth a lot because it still had the case with a working built-in amplifier!) 4. Pre-Covid they’d spy on the audience waiting to get in to the Price is Right studio to see who would make for “good TV”. 5. I was more into cartoons when I was younger, and daytime game shows when I was older… the Soaps just seemed so cheesy. 6. Rick Steves is good because he will do segments on local culture, off the beaten path things to do, and what to avoid, not just the touristy stuff. 7. Mr. Rodgers and Sesame Street were my early childhood… until I discovered GI Joe, Transformers and He Man.

[@billolsen4360]

I didn't know that about Trebek. Thanks. Always dislike that he did ads for a certain insurance company.

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Mr Rodgers was just the epitome of kindness. That piano playing, the changing of his jacket.....it entranced a 3 year old me.

[@1972mrgray]

I watched “Days of our Lives” from high school, through college, and well into my working life until I lost interest. Right now, I am heavily addicted to “Antiques Roadshow.” And I’m not ashamed. 😄

[@billolsen4360]

had 2 male college roommates who watched Days of our Lives every day

[@fakereality96]

In the 90's my grandmother and her younger sister lived at the family home, and her sister was a longtime fan of the soap opera All My Children. I really couldn't understand the appeal, nor how she found the time to watch such a show that came on while she and most people were at work. In her retirement years she'd fix her lunch and watch her favorite daytime show like clockwork. I had the chance to be in the audience of The Price Is Right with the former host Bob Barker during spring break one year at college. We spent more time waiting to get into the taping than we actually spent in the studio. All around it was a fun experience.

[@samanthab1923]

My younger brother Terence loved Price is Right. In the 70’s he’d watch it in the summer & then head to the beach every day

[@lainiwakura1776]

"Remember to spay or neuter your pets!"

[@samanthab1923]

@@lainiwakura1776 Yes! 😂

[@spaz61]

I started watching The Young and The Restless way back in High School. My sister-in-law got me hooked. At work, it was a topic of conversation. Heck, my old man still watches it. Crazy drama

[@samanthab1923]

@@spaz61 I didn’t start till college. It was all ABC soaps. Later found out my brother & buddies watched too. Uncle was into One Life to Live. Funny old world.

[@plkrtn]

The Joy of Painting has been on British TV since the late 90s. I used to watch it when I was in college and I left there in 2000!

[@jesselindsey1613]

Fred Rogers saw children not just as under-cooked future adults, but as fully legitimate people whose feelings and worries were important. He espoused empathy and kindness to others, and genuinely believed that everyone had something unique to offer the world whether they knew it or not. He was a gift to the American people, and we've been far worse off without him.

[@joanr381]

I never watch American soap operas…but Coronation Street….can’t get enough of the older episodes. And ‘Are You Being Served’ never fails to make me laugh.

[@samanthab1923]

I can’t remember how I got hooked on East Enders. Started watching on Long Island PBS.

[@katashworth41]

I loved Are You Being Served? As a kid, like Dad’s Army it was on Saturday tea time 😊.

[@whiteowl4097]

"Are you being served" was a comedy sit-com not a soap. That's why it is still one of the best British sit-coms ever.

[@babsbylow6869]

"Mr. Humphries. Are you free?" Mr. Humphries, " Yes! I am free!" adding a silent 'and you can't afford me.'

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

Remember the time Percy Sugden was watching over The Rovers Return overnight? He heard a noise and said "There are four of us, and we have a dog! Rowf, rowf!"

[@AZFlyingCook]

Absolutely spot on Rick Steves impression, mate!

[@renee176]

Bob Ross's voice was everything! The most calming voice I think I've ever heard, I loved that show!

[@Scott_Forsell]

Reverse of Lawrence, I now want to watch old episodes of Sister Wendy. Originally on BBC and then run on PBS in the US. I just adored that woman. Her affect and demeanor and passion. She was genuinely beautifully strange and eccentric. And I learned a lot about art history, too. But mostly, I thought Sister Wendy was cool af.

[@babsbylow6869]

I will always love Sister Wendy for in the days following 9/11 she was a short escape from it. We appreciated that PBS retained their schedules then for something to watch over endless coverage of Ground Zero, Pentagon and Summerset County.

[@stephennaas9214]

Your evaluation/description of Sister Wendy at the end of your comment was very cool and shows great depth and intelligence.

[@shawnasings]

Mr. Rogers has always been my favorite. When I was little (and more so as an adult) I’ve always wished he was my dad. 💖 🚃

[@trinkab]

Pre-intro "...we're obsessed with cardigans." Me: must be talking about Mr. Rogers.

[@robinsmith5442]

I remember watching all the versions of Jeopardy because my older sister did. Shetland is great and so is Father Brown and Sister Boniface are really wonderful. They used to have several more soaps. The Edge of Night and As The World Turns

[@sharoncraig6911]

Loved Mr. Rogers as did my children and Bob Ross as well. My father watched Jeopardy, The Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune every day after he retired. Me and my sister use to watch soap operas during the summer and anytime we were out of school. Never watched them once I grew up. But Friday’s was our favorite with The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family and Love American Style. There are so many shows we grew up watching.

[@gl15col]

I'm American, and my mom watched certain soap operas for 30 or more years. I always found them tedious because I don't have any interest in other peoples self-inflicted problems (same reason I can't tolerate "Friends".Ugh.) I wonder if you've ever seen "Capt. Kangaroo". A great kids show from my antique youth (starting in 1955). It was one of those kids shows with lots of references only adults would understand, if you know what I mean...There are some episodes on youtube.

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

What impressed my mother about CAPTAIN KANGAROO was how low-key it was compared to most TV shows!

[@annettehernandez738]

Mr. Roger's is such an American icon! Thank you for listing him and his show. He touched so many hearts! I'm already a subscriber to Britbox, mainly because of the great shows brought shown on PBS. Great impersonation of Rick SteveS, by the way.

[@hollyking2580]

Soap operas were HUGE in the 1980s. I can remember when there were three or four on every network. The 1981 wedding of Luke and Laura on General Hospital drew 30 million viewers. Reality TV killed the genre.

[@AbsentWithoutLeaving]

I worked with a guy who was so addicted he would sneak out of the office and run across the street to Sears' TV department every afternoon to watch it. Went with him once, and there were dozens of office workers standing around watching the show!

[@angiebee2225]

I went to school with twins named Luke and Laura (they might have actually lived up the street from me, too). I was born in 1981. Their names were not coincidental.

[@tomriddle8933]

@@angiebee2225 maybe they named their kids Jaime and Cersei.

[@angiebee2225]

@@tomriddle8933 maybe, but they took some crap for their names because kids are cruel like that (this was middle school, after all), so maybe they avoided pop culture when/if they had their own kids to name.

[@thecatatemyhomework]

@@AbsentWithoutLeaving 😆

[@charliemac64]

My favorite American TV was a locally-produced sketch comedy show from Seattle called "Almost Live!" It was so popular back in the day, they would delay Saturday Night Live by 1/2 hour to show this program first. Of course, the humor would be lost because a) it's geared toward locals and b) it's from 30 years ago. But man, that was such an awesome show.

[@gwynwellliver4489]

I loved Mr. Rogers as a child and respect him now as I am as an early childhood educator. I also got to hear you on "Travels with Rick Steves" this winter. Way to go Laurence!

[@DataLal]

Growing up in Canada, I feel privileged to have had (and still have) access to PBS television, which is also where most of my introduction to British TV happened. Duckula was my favourite show as a kid, and another favourite was Shining Time Station which is how I was introduced to Thomas the Tank Engine. There was also this storytelling show hosted by James Earl Jones that I can't remember the name of - but I was introduced to yet more British content that way, particularly "The Talking Parcel," which I watched over and over and over again. My Dad had a hand in introducing me to Monty Python at the tender age of 6 - and now I'm a committed fan (not in the padded cell sense...not quite, anyway, lol). I also got to enjoy Canadian local-access and nationally-broadcasted children's television at perhaps its zenith (most of which was also broadcast on Nickelodeon in the States, and most of which can still be found on KZbin in some form today), including... - You Can't Do That on Television (which is like Monty Python and SNL with added slime, but for kids, and it was *hilarious*); - Sharon, Lois & Bram (who sang songs with kids and other musical guests, most frequently Eric Nagler playing his "tubaphone," which was made from plumbing pipes - it was a lot of fun); - Today's Special (set in a department store in Toronto, where Jeff Hyslop as the magic manikin "Jeff" came to life every night to learn life lessons and sing songs with department store attendant Jodie, the muppet security guard Sam and his sentient surveillance computer, and Muffy the rhyming muppet mouse). All this, in addition to a metric TONNE of other great stuff on CBC, including our own Canadian Sesame Street feat. Basil the polar bear, Louis the otter, and Dodi the bush pilot; The Raccoons (which had the best closing theme and the Most 80's Song EVER, "Come with Us"); and two of the longest-running Canadian kids' shows, both of which featured hosts who could be a contender for "Canada's Mr. Rogers": The Friendly Giant, feat. American-born Bob Homme (running from 1958-1985 on CBC, but it originally was broadcast from Wisconsin from 1953-1958, moving from radio in its first year to being among the very first children's shows for television), and Mr. Dressup, feat. American-born Ernie Coombs (running from 1967-1996 also on CBC, running almost concurrently with Mr. Roger's Neighborhood). It's apparent if you watch these shows that there's similar ideas and methods at play. But there's something about Mr. Roger's Neighborhood that just takes this kind of show and steers it in a wonderful direction. I feel like a kid again watching any of these shows - but Mr. Rogers felt like he wasn't just talking directly to kids, but also to any adults watching. You get a sense you're learning something very significant from him.

[@marykleeberg7162]

I was so happy that my son enjoyed Mr Rogers. I liked the way he differentiated between reality and pretend for kids.

[@aardyn8564]

The joy of painting is so relaxing I used to watch it everyday when I got home from school as a kid.

[@ItIsJustJudy]

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was a show I always watched, from childhood through his last episode. I truly believe I learned how to be a kind person from this show. I also love puppets.

[@wilbur9416]

Being a teenager in the 80s if you ever stayed home sick you watch The Price is Right and then the news. Or in my case it was actually Perry Mason that came on after the Price Is Right, soap operas then the news. Now remember that was in the eighties when we had a handful of channels to choose from if you weren't fortunate enough to have cable tv.

[@corrinejacobson9232]

My favorite soap, when I was stationed in England (Air Force at Lakenheath), was EastEnders. I still miss it to this day.

[@lisamills3228]

I used to watch on PBS in Washington DC

[@chrisburp]

I used to watch Eastenders too while stationed at Lakenheath. (‘84-‘86)

[@corrinejacobson9232]

@@chrisburp I was there in the early 90’s. With only 4 channels to choose from, my husband was good with me watching my soaps. No DVR at that time.

[@RyanBlackhawke]

Rick Steves is a real standup guy. He was a major part of us passing legal cannabis and he donated an apartment building to the YWCA to help homeless mothers.

[@TBNTX]

As a youngster, I rarely missed an episode of Mr. Rogers, but alongside him, I also followed the Howdy Doody show until the show ended in September, 1960. One of the players in the show was Clarabell the Clown (played by Bob Keeshan). Mr Keeshan later became Captain Kangaroo. Like Mr. Rogers, Keesham was very soft-spoken and heart-warming..

[@yugioht42]

Mr rogers was a ordained Christian priest before coming up with his show. He gave it all up to teach people. Fred Rogers studied at Rollins College right near Orlando and created a masterful thesis on children’s television back when it was in its infancy. Fred created his show to get kids to open up to adults about the issues of the world like his first serious topic was War. It was the beginning of Vietnam and children were unsure but Fred Rogers taught kids how to open themselves up to talk to there parents about it and their fears about war. Mr Rogers show formula was simple as there weren’t any big sets or overblown budgets it was mostly Fred voicing puppets in the right way and himself puppeteering under the table. If a live segment was needed he would be the one out there talking. No major animation or stuff like that just keep it simple. Fred actually testified in front of the US government for the funding for public television which he did bravely as he was scared but he succeeded getting huge grants that secured the future of public broadcasting. After this he began delving into more everyday topics that weren’t really spoken of like racism, divorce, and being different because of disability. All were done his way. Fred Rogers went out like a hero with a final goodbye to his audience on television in his old age. He died a few days later of cancer. Everyone just was so saddened by his death. Fred Rogers legacy is one of being gentle but firm if needed and he didn’t push just let it happen and eventually it gets better. If you haven’t watched any of his materials please do so quickly as his style isn’t one of shoving it in your face it’s more like a question is asked and Fred does his best to answer honestly but in a way that makes sense. Or Fred asks a question in a character’s voice and tries getting an answer which usually is quite honest. You see it and it works.

[@kimfleury]

I heard him tell one interviewer that he became concerned when his children were young because television shows marketed as being for children were very mean. Think of Soupy Sales, the local Bozo the Clown shows, etc. Lots of pie in the face, slapstick, and double entendre jokes that were supposedly over the kids' heads. So he started a kinder, gentler program for children. He was a minister, Presbyterian, I think. Not a priest.

[@julienielsen3746]

He was a Presbyterian minister/pastor, not a priest.

[@CaptainFrost32]

He also championed for the ability to record programs and play them back at your convenience, in case the children were unable to catch the program episodes as it was aired live. In essence, he is the patron saint of reaction channels.

[@JohnWilson-hc5wq]

@@julienielsen3746 To most non-Christians, the difference isn't obvious.

[@julienielsen3746]

@@JohnWilson-hc5wq Sad. Most people used to know that priests were Catholic.

[@mta4562]

you like detectives? the world's greatest tv police detective is "columbo". absoloutly top-notch.

[@LindaC616]

Kojak, Beretta....

[@banjochris]

Last time I was in the UK about 3 years ago, Columbo was on at least twice a day!

[@stever3658]

Fred Roger's is one of the people who reminds us, even at our most cynical, that there really are good people in the world. Yes, I used the present tense even though he is deceased, because he still continues to exert a positive influence through the reruns of his shows, and the positive effect he had on so many children who have become emotionally and mentally healthy adults due in part to the positive influence of his shows. I remember how he could talk to children and parents without talking down to either group. And, he was able to talk to children about serious topics (eg. bullying, death, divorce, how to welcome people who are different from us), and he did this honestly and in language that children could understand. The lessons he taught to young and old about kindness, compassion, and life still have an influence today. He was also a Presbyterian minister, but he never proselytized about "Christian values" or religion. The only thing he could be said to have proselytized about were universal values like compassion and kindness. A very good man!

[@BonnieBayCrochet]

One of my all-time favorites growing up in the US was "Gilligan's Island!" Much study time after school was neglected watching this show!

[@shawna2boys716]

The Electric Company was shown in our classroom in elementary school.

[@LeesaDeAndrea]

I'm a bit too old to have grown up with Mr Rogers. For me it was Captain Kangaroo. I loved that show so much. I especially liked Mr Green Jeans because his segments often featured animals. It starred Bob Keeshan & Hugh Brannum.

[@thecatatemyhomework]

Yep, Mr. Greenjeans was also my favorite.

[@SSgtBaloo]

I once saw an episode of Antiques Roadshow many years ago. One lady was chuffed to bring in the antique "soup tureen" which had been in her family (and used for that purpose) for several generations, only to have appraisers identify it as an old chamberpot. :O

[@LindaC616]

😆😆

[@richerDiLefto]

I think I remember that one. It really was beautiful and they were so proud of it. 😂

[@matt475]

Back in the 80s and 90s we did have evening prime-time soaps. The 3 most popular were "Dallas," "Dynasty," and "Knots Landing."