Classic TV
While I consider myself a classic film buff I wouldn't necessarily say the same about classic TV. That is mainly because while there are certain classic TV shows I know very well there are so many I don't. And while there are still tons of classic film I haven't seen it is much easier being an expert on a wide variety of film than TV.
That being said I have grown up watching classic TV mainly on Nick at Nite (which sadly is well past its glory days). As a kid some of my favorites were I Love Lucy Bewitched I Dream of Jeanine The Mary Tyler Moore Show The Dick Van Dyke Show Green Acres The Brady Bunch Mister Ed and Get Smart. There may have been more as well but these stick out in my head. I think now as an adult I think my top favorites from this list would be I love Lucy and Bewitched (although as an adult I really have grown to dislike Darrin).
Although as an adult I have also gotten into classic series that I have not really experienced as a child and perhaps because I got into them when I was older I am even more into them then I was the above series (seeking out fandom and extended medium). It seems I get into roughly one series a year. I still have a strong affection for all of these even if I don't participate in the fandoms as much
Hogan's Heroes This lasted a bit longer than a year because I got into when I was unemployed. Came about because of discovering Richard Dawson on Match Game. Favorite characters: Newkirk, Lebeau and Carter but I pretty much love everyone except Hogan. The series main weakness to me is the female character roles. As for best episodes almost all are enjoyable or have memorable scenes when I really think about it but somehow I always go back to Everybody Loves a Snowmen.
Star Trek TOS Actually I do have some memories of watching TOS as a kid because I distinctly remember liking Kirk and I remember Spock but I can't remember much else. I couldn't even remember Doctor McCoy who ended up being my favorite character (I also love Kirk and Spock and enjoy the rest of the crew). Obviously some Star Trek TOS eps are absolutely horrible (especially in season 3) but it is also has a lot of classic episodes that it is hard to pick just one favorite but off the top of my head City on the Edge of Forever, Amok Time, The Empath, The Immunity Syndrome, and the Tholian Web (the last two specifically because of the great Spock and Bones scenes)
Classic Who Classic Who is weird because I was a casual fan since 2007 but only became obsessed when I discovered the 2nd Doctor era. I had favorite Doctors but never a favorite Doctor until Troughton. However getting into Troughton actually increased my love for the rest of Doctor Who as well. Discovering Big Finish only made that love even stronger. Favorite Troughton serials Mind Robber, the Invasion, and Evil of the Daleks. I love Two and all his companions but of course Jamie is my favorite. For non 2 serials my favorite is City of Death.
Maverick Current obsession sadly unlike the above 3 series it doesn't have a very active fandom (so I don't know how much fun I can have with the series once there are no episodes left) but I do love it. I think it is a bit surprising that I would get so into a Western. I don't dislike the genre but it is also not my favorite but then again Maverick is in many ways an anti-Western as it goes against a lot of the established rules of the genre. Bart as I mentioned in previous entries is my favorite but I also adore Bret and their relationship as brothers the best of all. My favorite side characters are Samantha Crawford and Dandy Jim Buckley (wish they were used more). Favorite one off characters were probably the La Contesse de Barot and Baron Dulot in The Game of Chance really wish they had came back. As for favorite eps I have a top 8, this will be whittled down eventually but since this is my current obsession I can't choose between these Savage Hills, The Jail at Junction Flats, Shady Deal at Sunny Acres, Prey of the Cat, Game of Chance, A Tale of 3 Cities, Maverick Spring, & Maverick and Juliet All top favorites are from the first 3 seasons.
Two other classic series I came to love as an adult would be Alfred Hitchcock presents (which I did watch at times as a child but I was mostly too scared). Favorite episode of that is definitely Breakdown with Joseph Cotten.
And The Twilight Zone which I watch on syfy almost every New Years and July 4th, it's become a tradition. Too many memorable eps of TZ but for me the most underrated is The Silence. Special mention also goes to A Stop at Willoughby.
Because they don't have a regular cast of characters I am not really into the fandoms for Hitchcock and TZ, although it is fun to discuss TZ with other fans during the yearly marathons.
That being said I have grown up watching classic TV mainly on Nick at Nite (which sadly is well past its glory days). As a kid some of my favorites were I Love Lucy Bewitched I Dream of Jeanine The Mary Tyler Moore Show The Dick Van Dyke Show Green Acres The Brady Bunch Mister Ed and Get Smart. There may have been more as well but these stick out in my head. I think now as an adult I think my top favorites from this list would be I love Lucy and Bewitched (although as an adult I really have grown to dislike Darrin).
Although as an adult I have also gotten into classic series that I have not really experienced as a child and perhaps because I got into them when I was older I am even more into them then I was the above series (seeking out fandom and extended medium). It seems I get into roughly one series a year. I still have a strong affection for all of these even if I don't participate in the fandoms as much
Hogan's Heroes This lasted a bit longer than a year because I got into when I was unemployed. Came about because of discovering Richard Dawson on Match Game. Favorite characters: Newkirk, Lebeau and Carter but I pretty much love everyone except Hogan. The series main weakness to me is the female character roles. As for best episodes almost all are enjoyable or have memorable scenes when I really think about it but somehow I always go back to Everybody Loves a Snowmen.
Star Trek TOS Actually I do have some memories of watching TOS as a kid because I distinctly remember liking Kirk and I remember Spock but I can't remember much else. I couldn't even remember Doctor McCoy who ended up being my favorite character (I also love Kirk and Spock and enjoy the rest of the crew). Obviously some Star Trek TOS eps are absolutely horrible (especially in season 3) but it is also has a lot of classic episodes that it is hard to pick just one favorite but off the top of my head City on the Edge of Forever, Amok Time, The Empath, The Immunity Syndrome, and the Tholian Web (the last two specifically because of the great Spock and Bones scenes)
Classic Who Classic Who is weird because I was a casual fan since 2007 but only became obsessed when I discovered the 2nd Doctor era. I had favorite Doctors but never a favorite Doctor until Troughton. However getting into Troughton actually increased my love for the rest of Doctor Who as well. Discovering Big Finish only made that love even stronger. Favorite Troughton serials Mind Robber, the Invasion, and Evil of the Daleks. I love Two and all his companions but of course Jamie is my favorite. For non 2 serials my favorite is City of Death.
Maverick Current obsession sadly unlike the above 3 series it doesn't have a very active fandom (so I don't know how much fun I can have with the series once there are no episodes left) but I do love it. I think it is a bit surprising that I would get so into a Western. I don't dislike the genre but it is also not my favorite but then again Maverick is in many ways an anti-Western as it goes against a lot of the established rules of the genre. Bart as I mentioned in previous entries is my favorite but I also adore Bret and their relationship as brothers the best of all. My favorite side characters are Samantha Crawford and Dandy Jim Buckley (wish they were used more). Favorite one off characters were probably the La Contesse de Barot and Baron Dulot in The Game of Chance really wish they had came back. As for favorite eps I have a top 8, this will be whittled down eventually but since this is my current obsession I can't choose between these Savage Hills, The Jail at Junction Flats, Shady Deal at Sunny Acres, Prey of the Cat, Game of Chance, A Tale of 3 Cities, Maverick Spring, & Maverick and Juliet All top favorites are from the first 3 seasons.
Two other classic series I came to love as an adult would be Alfred Hitchcock presents (which I did watch at times as a child but I was mostly too scared). Favorite episode of that is definitely Breakdown with Joseph Cotten.
And The Twilight Zone which I watch on syfy almost every New Years and July 4th, it's become a tradition. Too many memorable eps of TZ but for me the most underrated is The Silence. Special mention also goes to A Stop at Willoughby.
Because they don't have a regular cast of characters I am not really into the fandoms for Hitchcock and TZ, although it is fun to discuss TZ with other fans during the yearly marathons.