I know, I know... you've got a lot of free time on your hands and you can already recite all the lines from your favorites by heart. Well, it's time for some new-to-you shows with enough seasons to fill that void.
#1. M*A*S*H
Starring: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit
11 Seasons
Aired: 1972-1983
M*A*S*H centers around a U.S. army field hospital during the Korean War, a long running comedy with serious undertones that get quickly wrapped up in 25 minutes per episode. The show addresses subjects that are all too relatable during our current pandemic: toilet paper shortages, inept leadership, scarcity of vaccinations, and excessive casualties. The surgeons unwillingly drafted into the war deal with their struggles through humor and generous servings of dry martinis. Half the time, the characters are executing lightning quick repartee through surgical masks:
Frank Burns: Why don't you guys like me?
Hawkeye: Because you're a lousy doctor and a rotten person.
Frank Burns: Aside from that.
B.J.: Well, there's your pimples.
There are just so many reasons to give this show a shot. The first three seasons of the show overlapped with the Vietnam War, and the anti-war overtones are undeniable. Guest appearances include many familiar (but now youthful) faces: Lawrence Fishburne, Terri Garr, Leslie Neilsen, Shelley Long, John Ritter, Patrick Swayze, Jefferey Tambor... I could go on!
While I haven't made it to the 2 hour series finale yet, I feel confident in recommending a show that was featured in the Smithsonian, won 8 golden globes, and regularly features a character in drag.
Available to stream on Hulu
See Also: "What MASH Taught Us" by Howard Fishman for The New Yorker:
#2. Star Trek: The Next Generation
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes
7 Seasons
Aired: 1987-1994
With CBS promoting and airing their new "Picard" series, the time is ripe to refresh (or discover) "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Set far enough in the future when humanity has long since passed the difficulties of our current pandemic, this science fiction series follows the adventures of the starship Enterprise as it explores the Milky Way Galaxy.
While I didn't enjoy the show when I was younger, I've found it to be a delight as an adult. My favorite episodes center around Data (Spiner), a self-aware and sentient android who is on the quest to become increasingly human. Data immerses himself in subject matters that pull at your heart strings: drama, dance, sex, reproduction, and family. He also encounters a great deal of discrimination within Star Fleet despite his obvious contributions.
The crew of the Enterprise often visit strange planets, holodeck programs or are beamed into alternate realities and timelines, which allows for variety in plot lines. Sometimes, I feel like the writers just threw these episodes in so the cast could exercise their acting range, or so the costume department wouldn't die from boredom. It *is* fun, though, to watch the Star Fleet uniforms evolve slightly through the series...
The prevalent availability of the show on streaming platforms is a testament to its success and popularity. Maybe you'll find yourself becoming a Trekkie, too...
Available to stream on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, CBS, and Philo