Monday, February 5, 2024

Bad Habits in Old TV Shows

At this time, the only shows I watch on television are Perry Mason and Adam 12, thanks to METV. 

I remember watching Perry Mason starting when I was thirteen. It was on for nine seasons, so I was grown and married when it ended. Though I have never understood any of the complicated plots, I do love Perry’s impeccable grammar and sense of timing. Paul and Della make up the rest of the successful team. The best casting! Most interesting is how everyone everywhere back in the fifties and sixties lit up cigarettes and smoked. The actors did in real life, too, as evidenced by the number of them who died too early of lung cancer. It was an acceptable addiction, one that didn’t cause divorces or family shame.

Adam 12 was a popular cop show in the seventies. I remember my sons watching it when I was going to bridge club. My daughter-in-law said her grandmother watched faithfully in her later years and called the two good looking stars “the boys.” I get it. I also like that it makes me think of situations my husband had to handle when he was a cop, his favorite job. “The boys” use so much wisdom as they confront wrongdoers, victims, as well as innocent parties. The show was based on real situations, and they regularly dealt with drunk drivers. It wasn’t a crime then. We hadn't yet recognized how many people were killed by drivers under the influence of legal alcohol. 

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