New TV shows are constantly being conceptualized, filmed, promoted and watched. Despite the constant influx of new media, many people find themselves going back and watching or even rewatching older TV shows. Some oldies but goodies from the early to mid 2000’s are “Gilmore Girls,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Gossip Girl,” “Modern Family” and “Breaking Bad,” just to name a few.
Many WCHS students were not old enough to watch these shows when they originally aired. However, the consistent popularity of these shows has created some questions over the preferences of new TV shows versus older TV shows. Many students find comfort in watching these older shows and find themselves rewatching as opposed to just watching new shows.
“I think that newer TV shows are generally better made than older ones because of all of the technological advancements that allow things to look more seamless,” WCHS junior Sophia Campbell said. “I still love and sometimes prefer older shows because of the emotions that they invoke and the calm and nostalgic feeling they bring.”
Despite great new TV shows that have many fans, older TV shows have a certain cozy feel that only shows from the 2000s can capture. In particular, many of the sitcom-style shows seem to handle serious issues in a way that is easy to understand and is more digestible. It is also more enjoyable for some audiences to follow the mellow lives of characters instead of watching constant action.
“Overall older shows are more enjoyable to me than newer shows because they can transport you to another time instead of being reminiscent of the present,” Campbell said. “Shows like ‘Gilmore Girls’ and ‘Gossip Girl’ also remind me of my innocence when I was younger and even the lower quality in comparison to newer shows adds to the cozy charm.”
Older sitcom shows from the 2000s have a very unique and nostalgic ambiance. Shows like “Gilmore Girls” and “How I Met Your Mother” define the genre, and simply follow the daily lives of the characters which feels very realistic for audiences. This adds to the comforting feeling that these shows have and why people return to these shows to continue watching and rewatching. Many newer shows are very action-packed and lack relatability to audiences.
“While I watch a mix of both I tend to watch newer shows because they are more engaging and exciting,” WCHS junior Suki Lin said. “I prefer shows that are more complex and have plot twists which is more common in newer shows. But I do like that most older TV shows are more genuine and realistic as compared to newer ones.”
Older TV shows also have the added perk that all of the episodes are already released. Audiences do not have to wait weeks or even months to see what happens to their beloved characters next. Additionally, many older TV shows have already aired for more seasons and have a larger episode count per season than many newer shows.
“Older TV shows create a more nostalgic feeling and tend to have simpler storylines which makes them easier to follow and watch without having to pay too close attention while still being engaging,” Lin said. “Many older shows also have a lot of seasons with shorter episodes and are done being produced which allows viewers to better understand the characters throughout seasons and to not have to wait for more seasons or episodes to be released.”
