We’ve all had quite a 2018, right? Well, I found quite a lot of viewing on Hulu that made me remember a simpler time. Take a look with me at some full series on Hulu to stream a binge-night that will prepare you for next year!
Boy Meets World | ABC Network | Aired: September 24, 1993 to May 5, 2000
Boy Meets World was an innocent yet poignant coming-of-age story told over seven seasons on ABC’s 90’s TGIF line-up. At times, it’s silly and rather innocent fluff but comes out with a moral usually within every single story of Cory Matthews‘ episodic puberty. It’s never too much and it’s got a lot that many kids can relate to, while even tossing some topical items in as well. The characters have flaws, which worked because it showed they were good kids deep down but had to learn some act right towards the episode’s end. The show deals with some heavy topics as the kids get older, things like drugs, predatory cult behavior (man, that episode was GOOD) and things like relationships as teens grow up. This was a show that, once it came out onto Hulu, I made sure to binge the heck out of it with my own kid. Good stuff for family time or just to remember the good ol’ days of tween/teen television in the 90’s.
The Golden Girls | NBC | Aired: September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992
Before we get into why The Golden Girls is one of my FAVORITE Binge-able shows EVER, check out Next of Ken’s video up here that shows 33 times Sophia couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself. It’s just a taste of why this show STILL works. Telling the story of four women in their fifties plus living together in sunny Florida once their kids are all grown and they’re without their husbands, it’s a hilarious and sometimes touching series. What do you do when your youth is behind you and now you’ve learned so many lessons? Well, these women found new lessons to learn. I’ve been obsessed with The Golden Girls at different periods of my life. As a kid, I used to watch it because it reminded me of my amazing Great-Grandparents. I never understood the jokes but then, when I grew up myself, I found a totally new appreciation. While plenty of times, you’ll be cringing at some of the language that we don’t quite use today, you’ll be able to realize you know SO many relatives who you mock for the behavior. If we could give Dorothy a stern look every time she gets on Blanche for her constant dating habits, we would. LET HER LIVE HER BEST LIFE!
Bea Arthur is a stand-out as the somewhat most relatable character in the series, somewhat as a voice of reason surrounded in chaos. However, Betty White, Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan prove quickly why they were dynamite as an ensemble quickly during this series. Getty, who was actually younger than Bea Arthur (who played her daughter) will have you in stitches as Sophia Petrillo. Before you know it, you’ll be picturing Sicily yourself.
Lost in Space | CBS | Aired: September 15, 1965 – March 6, 1968
If you can imagine it, the origin year for this series set in the future was 1997. Back in the 60’s, this is what people had thought/hoped we’d be encountering in the late nineties, which is just too precious. Following a family that is heading off of an overpopulated Earth to try and find a new planet to call home (semi-based on Swiss Family Robinson), Lost in Space has pretty much everything a Sci-Fi sitcom fan may love. Sure, you’ve got Star Trek and their numerous series, but check into Lost in Space and giggle at what family dynamics in a space-encapsulated future may look like. The best thing ever is the somewhat lovable rogue Dr. Zachary Smith played by Jonathan Harris. A villain who ends up stranded with the family he was trying to thwart from coming near his work? A villain who has no choice but to TRY and get along with a space-age family? It’s almost too amazingly written. Make sure to check this show out if you haven’t and get the family into it.
Speed Racer | ABC | Aired: April 2, 1967 – March 31, 1968
Listen, there’s no doubt quite a few of you have seen at least a fraction of the fifty-plus episodes of Speed Racer in some form or another, right? It’s wild even now, as Hulu put some beautiful copies of the entire series with the English dubbing included. Speed Racer was one of the first wave of episodic television cartoon series that were coming from overseas to be slipped into the TV sets for children in the late sixties. While a lot of argument was that kids weren’t going to be able to follow episodic television and that the reason for one-off stories per episode was in case a kid had missed an episode, they wouldn’t be thrown off and still enjoy the show.
They couldn’t be more wrong back then, however, and Speed Racer became immensely popular and started more episodic television animation for young people that even their parents could enjoy. Follow along with the Racer family, Trixie and even Chim-Chim the monkey as they uncover the mysteries behind those races, the villainous Racer-X (What a crazy story!) and more. This will be a fun series to sit down to all over again, I promise.
