20 TV Shows That Are Still Popular

There are tons of TV shows out there to watch. Nothing beats the classic ones from the 1970s-1990s. They still hold up to this day. Thomas West, a writer for the MSN.com page YardBarker, has compiled a list of 20 TV shows that are still popular

Ironically, I actually watch quite a few of these shows. Such as The Golden Girls, I Love Lucy, The Carol Burnett Show, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, Murder, She Wrote

1. The West Wing

-This political drama gives a good side to government. It shows that there are people who work in government offices who really do have the best interests of the people as their top consideration. This show is a great reminder of alternative options to handling situations

2. The Nanny

-It's a pretty hilarious sitcom. There was humor all around, from Fran Drescher's character to the kids, and there was romance between Fran Fine and her boss Mr. Sheffield. Then, of course, was the long running rivalry between C.C. and Niles. Overall, the show had a good heart as well

3. Maude

-Bea Arthur is mostly known for playing outspoken, sarcastic Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls. Prior to this, she starred on the 1970s television show Maude, as an outspoken feminist. She played a fiery feminist not afraid to speak her mind about the issues of the day, including abortion. And who doesn't love Bea Arthur?

4. All in the Family

-This 1970s-era television show dealt with all of the issues in the world at that time, such as gay rights, feminism, abortion, etc. There was an almost constant battle of the wits between Archie Bunker and his  daughter and son in law. The issues they debate about are still hot topics to this day and it makes the show feel relevant

5. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

-For many who grew up in the 1990s, Will Smith will always be The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There is a strong sense of culture clash, as Will's character came from the working class area of Philadelphia and suddenly finds himself in the affluent area of Bel-Air, California. His humor is constantly present, making the show funny and also an overall good show to watch. It even spawned a new spin off called Bel-Air

6. Seinfeld

-There is not really much of a premise or plot to the show. It's a show about nothing. Somehow, it's found popularity with people. It's still popular thanks to streaming services. The characters still resonate with people, despite going off of the air nearly thirty years ago

7. Star Trek

-This is one of the most influential sci-fi shows around. It still holds up well to this day. The costumes and special effects seem incredibly outdated, especially in a world that now uses CGI and AI to do special effects. But, it's the outdated costumes and special effects that people love most. The show provided something that was joyful, exciting about the extents that it would go to regarding progressive points of view. It's from a time where things were far simpler. It's still popular to this day and finding new fans almost constantly

8. Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

-There have been few animated characters who have had a long, successful career. One of them is Scooby Doo. He is one of the most successful animated characters, inspiring spin off TV shows, television movies, such as Zombie Island, Alien Invaders, etc. Airing in the late 1960s, the show featured a cowardly Great Dane and five kids solving mysteries the old fashioned way, with clues and investigations. It's a reminder of the days when Saturday morning cartoons were a tradition with kids while others love the simply fun of an old fashioned mystery

9. Gunsmoke

-One of the many Western television programs on TV, they were quite popular in the 1950s. While many of the shows have been long since forgotten, Gunsmoke is not one of them. This show ran twenty seasons, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Today, it might seen as old fashioned, but it still holds up well. Many love the show for the great performances of James Arness, Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake

10. The Jeffersons

-This show was a revolution in TV. Staying on the air from 1975-1985, it showed an upwardly moving black couple and their family. It showed this family in a positive way in an era where black actors and actresses often got stuck in typecast roles. The show appealed to many because of the heartfelt and humorous relationship between Louise "Weezy" Jefferson and her husband George, played by Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hemsley. To this day, this show is still popular and is also gaining new fans

11. The Carol Burnett Show

-This show is still popular thanks to streaming services. When it aired on TV, it was sure to be a night of laughs and music. The lady for whom the show is named, Carol Burnett, starred in sketches along with comedic actors Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Many of the sketches are still remembered to this day, like the spoof of Gone with the Wind. In the case of the show, it was Went with the Wind. And there were so many guest stars, both actors, actresses and musicians, that everyone loved to see who was going to turn up in a sketch, from Julie Andrews to Jim Nabors to Maggie Smith to The Jackson 5 and more. Each episode of the show would end with the current guest star signing their autograph in a book for Carol. This show even inspired a spin off called Mama's Family, starring Vicki Lawrence as the titular Mama. Carol Burnett would appear from time to time playing Eunice

12. The Mary Tyler Moore Show

-Despite being something straight out of the 1970s, and a second wave of feminism following, the show is still popular. It was revolutionary at the time because it featured an unmarried, independent w

13. Designing Women

-Similar to The Golden Girls, this program, created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, focused on a group of four women who run a design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. This show dealt with touchy topics, such as HIV / AIDS. It was on TV during the 1980s and 1990s and is still a beloved TV show to this day

14. Cheers

-Everyone knows the iconic theme to this show centered around a Boston bar. This show was the very definition of workplace sitcom. It centered on Sam Malone, a bartender running a Boston bar and the various people who enter and leave the bar. Despite being on in the 1980s, it seems dated by today's standards. It's still popular for those looking for a good laugh. And some can even quote the show, like people quoting Norm by saying "It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear"

15. M*A*S*H

-This TV show was based on a book of the same name. It told the story of a medical unit in Korea during the Korean War. It found the right balance between drama and comedy, creating tear-inducing laughing and heartbreaking grief. It's easy to see why this show still holds up today

16. Murder, She Wrote

-This show takes place in the Maine town of Cabot Cove. It centers on a murder mystery writer named Jessica Fletcher who always manages to find herself at the center of a juicy mystery. Angela Lansbury plays this role perfectly. There's just something about this show that people love. Whether it's the cozy, timeless feel of it or that it's good old fashioned detective work, this show never gets old

17. The Twilight Zone

-Rod Serling and his show The Twilight Zone, have remained one of the most thought-inducing programs out there. Each episode had a moral to learn. So it was as much educational as it was entertaining. Rod Serling had the ability to take anxieties people felt and turn them into stories that were terrifying to watch for the time. When you watch it, it takes you back to 1950s era America and the concerns plaguing the world at that time and their relation to current events

18. Kolchak: The Night Stalker

-This was a short lived television series. It had just 20 episodes. Despite its short run, it did make an impact on some people. It was said to have even inspired The X-Files. Darren McGavin played the title character and the stories were quite scary for the time period. While it doesn't rely on special effects, it relies on an eerie atmosphere, which is the reason it's still entertaining to watch

19. I Love Lucy

-Two of the most remembered episodes of this program were "Lucy Gets a Job" and Lucy Does a Commercial." There's no doubt Lucille Ball was the genius of comedy in the 1950s. She was thrown into superstardom with her program I Love Lucy. Despite airing in the 1950s, something about the show just makes it loveable. Her comedy style was hilarious, joyful and a refreshing change. Lucille Ball is a master of physical comedy as well as sarcastic remarks and facial expressions. It's no wonder the show is still highly popular, thanks to streaming services allowing people to re-discover this show and new fans to discover the show

20. The Golden Girls

-No one can deny the comedic genius of Bea Arthur (Dorothy), Estelle Getty (Sophia), Rue McClanahan (Blanche) and Betty White (Rose). Despite going on the air in 1992, the show was funny, heartfelt, with great actors and actresses, and politically relevant for the time period. They often discussed issues that were just as relevant then as they are now, from same-sex marriage to care and concerns for the elderly and the problems with aging. They tackle these issues with comedy, and cheesecake, of course

April Birthdays

Since it's April, time to say Happy Birthday

Jet Li

-Birth name: Li Lian-jie

-DOB: 4/26/1963

-Where: Beijing, China

-While filming the fight scenes with Anthony Anderson in the 2000 film Romeo Must Die, he sustained bruising on his ribs

Ritchie Blackmore

-Birth name: Richard Hugh Blackmore

-DOB: 4/14/1945

-Where: Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England

-He is often known to be moody, erratic and headstrong

Jeremy Clarkson

-Birth name: Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson

-DOB: 4/11/1960

-Where: Doncaster, United Kingdom

-He's known for his frequent outspoken nature

Eddie Murphy

-Birth name: Edward Regan Murphy

-DOB: 4/3/1961

-Where: Brooklyn, New York

-He paid for the funeral for comedian Redd Foxx, who inspired him to pursue stand up comedy

Roddy Piper

-Birth name: Roderick George Toombs

-DOB: 4/17/1954

-Where: Saskatoon, Canada

-DOD: 7/31/2015

-Where: Los Angeles, California

-He passed away in his sleep from a heart attack. His wife, Kitty, says that she was thankful he was at home with her when he passed away

Sebastian Bach

-Birth name: Sebastian Philip Bierk

-DOB: 4/3/1968

-Where: Freeport, The Bahamas

-He left Skid Row after a disagreement with his bandmates over whether they should open for Kiss on their 1996 reunion tour

Federico Castellucio

-DOB: 4/29/1964

-Where: Naples, Italy

-He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and media arts

Al Pacino

-Birth name: Alfredo James Pacino

-DOB: 4/25/1940

-Where: Manhattan, New York

-His first film was an independent film called The Panic in Needle Park

That Metal Show Top Moments

For those of us who had the luck of having VH1 Classic as a channel on TV, we could watch That Metal Show, a show about three experts in music (two of which are also stand up comedians) interview their favorite musicians. The people at Loudwire.com have compiled a list of the Top 10 Awesome That Metal Show Moments.

For those not familiar with this show, That Metal Show centers around music expert Eddie Trunk and his two co-hosts, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, both of whom are fellow music experts and stand up comedians who often infuse their comedy with music references. This show centers around interviewing musicians. This show features "That Metal Show Top Five", which involves the three hosts choosing their own top 5 lists and then combine those together to create the TMS Top 5. Then there's "Stump the Trunk", which involves either musicians themselves or guests in the audience asking Eddie Trunk questions. If he gets them wrong, they win a prize. Miss Jennifer, the attractive blonde who appears on set, will be the one to bring a box labeled "Eddie Trunk's Box of Junk" and inside will be something music-related, such as a DVD on a band, a CD of a new band, a book, etc. Other skits included "The Throw Down" where people would pick a topic and debate it. There's also the "TMS Pick of the Week", where one of the hosts would choose a book, CD, DVD to highlight and give it publicity. Ironically enough, on the episode of That Metal Show with Rick Allen of Def Leppard, the TMS Pick of the Week was Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath by Tony Iommi. I have that book and have read it numerous times.

Also, there may not be pictures for each one. The link this is from had videos showing each episode. But your best bet is to seek the episodes out on YouTube or see if they are on VH1.com

L-R: Jim Florentine, Don Jamieson, Eddie Trunk

1. Alice Cooper Reveals Holding a Gun up to Elvis Presley

-Shock rock legend Alice Cooper reveals that he once held a gun up to Elvis Presley. He jokes about what history would have looked like if he shot Elvis

2. Mike Portnoy Names His Top 5 Hard Rock Drummers

-Dream Theatre drummer Mike Portnoy reveals his personal list of his top 5 drummers. The episode of Mike Portnoy has them throwing down who they believe are the best hard rock drummers

3. Jake E. Lee gives guitar to "Stump the Trunk" winner

-Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee gives his guitar to the winner of "Stump the Trunk". In each episode, there is "Stump the Trunk", where either an audience member or a musician themselves come on and ask questions, in the hopes of baffling the local music expert Eddie Trunk. If they manage to stump him, Miss Jennifer and her "Eddie Trunk's Box of Junk" appear and the winner reaches in to pull out a prize. On this episode, a fan asked a question about Thin Lizzy. It was where Phil Lynott played his final show with Thin Lizzy. Eddie was stumped and the audience member won a guitar from the famous guitar legend

Eddie Trunk and Jake E. Lee

4. Lemmy Kilmister mocks Eddie for drinking Vitamin Water

-The famous Motorhead frontman mocks Eddie for drinking Vitamin Water. Eddie recalls a long day and night of drinking and woke up with a hangover. He chose wisely to drink Vitamin Water, and guest star Lemmy Kilmister mocks his choice of drink

5. King Diamond tells the story of his triple bypass surgery and return to the stage

-Musicians are human beings. They have the same frailties as we regular people do. That also includes medical issues. The iconic front man for Mercyful Fate tells the story of how he underwent a triple bypass surgery on his heart and how he returned to the stage after recovering. Heart surgery is hard on anyone. It's even harder on someone who is in a physically taxing career, like music, which involves running around on stage

6. Steve Harris and refusing to conform to label pressure

-Iron Maiden are known for their steadfast refusal to compromise their music to the tastes of popular demand. They are known for being who they are, doing straight metal and not changing to pop, light rock or other genres. Bassist / founding member / primary songwriter Steve Harris talks about when the band released "Flight of Icarus" as a single and how the label, at the time, was disappointed that it was not another success like "Run to the Hills"

7. Corey Taylor talks his book Seven Deadly Sins

-Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor talks about his New York Times bestseller Seven Deadly Sins and what the book is all about

8. Vinnie Paul talks about Vulgar Display of Power cover art

-The artwork for Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power can certainly get one's attention. Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul talks about the work that went into the album and the fact that a man did get punched several times in the face until the perfect shot was captured. It's not known if the band paid for the man to have his jaw reset or the man just paid for it himself

9. Dave Mustaine talks surgery and wearing a neck brace before a show

-The Big 4 show involved four of the biggest thrash bands known to metal-Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth. The spotlight was on them and each aspect had to be perfect. Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine talks about being in a neck brace literally minutes before going on stage with Megadeth at the Big 4 show in New York at Yankee Stadium

10. Lars Ulrich talks early days of Metallica

-Jim Florentine, one of the hosts and a stand up comedian, talks of driving Metallica around in 1983, when the band stayed at Megaforce Records own Jon Zazula's house. Lars looks back on the early days of Metallica and what the world of metal music looked like then

Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, opens up about his battle with pancreatic cancer

Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, had recently undergone a battle with pancreatic cancer, but had luckily undergone treatment and also did early detection, which saved his life.

Monty Python actor Eric Idle has recently set up the Bright Side Fund to aid with Stand Up to Cancer to aid in promoting early detection of cancer. Idle hopes that his early detection of pancreatic cancer will inspire others to get themselves checked out. Statistics show that the five year survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer is around 11%, but Idle hopes to change that. "I think we can make a difference. The good news is that we are starting to fight back."

In connection with Stand Up to Cancer, Eric Idle had set up the Bright Side Fund to promote research and early detection. In his interview with People Magazine, he said "They're doing great work. I think if we can spread the word a little and try and raise some money, we can put it in the right direction." He recently appeared on the music television show The Masked Singer. Thanks to early detection, he was able to catch his cancer very early on. "My doctor specializes in preventative medicine, and he makes me go for blood tests every year. He noticed a difference in the markers from the previous year, so he ordered an MRI and asked them to add contrast. That lit up the pancreas, and there it was." He talked about the surgery related to it. "It was a partly robotic five hour surgery. I had a fantastic surgeon...and he cut it all out because it wasn't attached to anything; it was intact. The technicians had never seen it in that state before because they'd never seen it that early. A lot of the research is studying early warning signs."

When Idle had gotten the all clear, he said "I cried. You can resign to whatever fate you're in. You put yourself in the hands of the doctors, and off you go. You keep smiling and whistle and then look on the bright side. And then when they tell you that you're going to survive, I mean, that was quite a moment." The actor gives credit to his wife Tania, son Carey and daughter Lily for their strong love and encouragement. "They rallied around me. We had to move quick, and we did. There was no time to lose." Since the news of his cancer battle came out, there has been an outpouring of love and support from all over. "I wanted to be honest and come out about the cancer and encourage people because this is very good news. I got extraordinary responses from people."

He is looking ahead. "I'm a father, so I really enjoy my kids, and I love seeing them. I don't look very far in advance. I'm a writer, so I tend to get up and start early on whatever problems I've set myself. And that's a good way of avoiding any anxiety. You just spend your time trying to solve them."

Mike Myers

He's one of my favorite comedic actors. He always seems to do an Irish or Scottish accent and it ends up being hilarious

Birth name: Michael John Myers

DOB: 5/25/1963

Where: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Trademark

-Known for appearing in his underwear in films

-Mimicking a Scottish accent

Trivia

-His parents were both English and had, respectively, served in the Royal Air Force

-He collects model soldiers. He considers building and painting them to be relaxing

-After graduating high school in 1982, he was immediately accepted in to Toronto's Second City Comedy group

-As a teenager, when he would go to parties, he would act out the character who would later achieve fame in film as Wayne to girls

-He named his three dogs after hockey players

-While in Toronto, he took dancing lessons

-When he was on Saturday Night Live, one of his skits, Coffee Talk with Linda Richman, was based on his ex-mother in law, Linda Richman

-When he was nine, he appeared in a commercial on TV with Gilda Radner. On the last day of shooting, he cried. This led to his brothers dubbing him "Sucky Baby"

-In many interviews, he has stated he regards himself as British and as such, carries a British passport

-Prior to moving to Canada and starting a family, his mother Alice studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

-His film production company is called Eric's Boy. It's named after his father Eric, who was an encyclopedia salesman who died from Alzheimer's disease on 11/22/1991

-He's the youngest of three sons

-Because his parents, Alice and Eric, were British citizens, this explains why Myers regards himself as British and carries a British passport

-Because his parents are also from Liverpool, England, this is why Myers also supports the local football team Liverpool FC

-On the TV program Inside the Actors Studio with James Lipton, Myers said he met his ex-wife Robin Ruzan in a bar after going to a hockey game where he caught a puck. Later on, when they were together, they went to a hockey game and she caught a puck

-He is a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. This is why in the third Austin Powers film, Austin Powers Goldmember, Mini Me is wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey in the prison scene

-He stated his Saturday Night Live character Lothar of The Hill People was inspired by the days of playing Dungeons & Dragons as a child

-On 6/25/2003, he received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame in Toronto

-To honor and remember his father Eric, Myers wears the ring his father received from the Encyclopedia Britannica company for Salesman of the Year as his wedding ring

-He attended Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute and graduated from Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Canada. Actor Eric McCormack also attended these schools

-He owns the last letter ever written by former Beatles member George Harrison. He framed it immediately, stating it was one of the greatest things that has ever happened to him. It was given to him shortly after Harrison's death while Myers was filming the 2002 film Austin Powers in Goldmember. The letter compliments him on the Austin Powers series and asks for a Mini Me doll.

-He received a call from Barbara Streisand in 1993, asking him to appear as his Saturday Night Live character Linda Richman as Streisand's opener at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas - the first concert she's performed at in 22 years.

-He's a huge fan of rock bands Queen and Aerosmith

-Because he's a huge fan of Aerosmith, he tried to meet the band but was not successful. While filming Wayne's World on Saturday Night Live, unknown to Myers, Aerosmith showed up as a birthday gift because it was his birthday that day. His reaction to seeing Aerosmith was genuine

-The same day he graduated high school is the same day he was accepted into Toronto's Second City Comedy group. His last exam in school was at 9:00 am, his audition for the company at 12:00 noon and he was hired by 3:00 pm

-He is seen frequently wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs Darcy Tucker #16 hockey jersey

-He became good friends with comedian Neil Mullarkey while performing in the English comedy group The Comedy Store Players. In fact, Mullarkey has an appearance in two of the Austin Powers films: International Man of Mystery, where he played a British government official and Austin Powers in Goldmember, where he played a physician

-His father Eric died on actor Joe Son's 21st birthday. Joe Son would appear in Austin Powers International Man of Mystery as Random Task

-He shortened his name from "Michael" to "Mike" to avoid confusion with the iconic serial killer of Halloween fame. He said in an interview that he was unaware of the Halloween films and when people kept making jokes and references to his name being the same as the Halloween killer, he was made aware of the similar name situation

Filmography

May Birthdays

Since it's May, time to say Happy Birthday

Blaze Bayley

-Birth name: Bayley Alexander Cooke

-DOB: 5/29/1963

-Where: Birmingham, England

-He has the birth and death date of his wife Debbie Hartland tattooed on his arm

Yuki Tsunoda

-DOB: 5/11/2000

-Where: Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

-He was considered to be the youngest Formula 1 driver in the entire 2021 season since he was only 20 years old

Tim McGraw

-Birth name: Samuel Timothy McGraw

-DOB: 5/1/1967

-Where: Delhi, Louisiana

-When he was a child, his favorite baseball player was Tug McGraw and had the baseball card for him taped to his bedroom wall. When he was 11, he learned that Tug McGraw was his biological father

Zhou Guanyu

-DOB: 5/30/1999

-Where: Shanghai, China

-He is the first Chinese-born Formula 1 driver

Chow Yun-fat

-DOB: 5/18/1955

-Where: Lamma Island, Hong Kong, China

-He was offered the role of Morpheus in The Matrix, but turned it down. The role went to Lawrence Fishburne instead

Mike Myers

-Birth name: Michael John Myers

-DOB: 5/25/1963

-Where: Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

-He runs a film production company called Eric's Boy. It was named after his father, Eric Myers, who was an encyclopedia salesman who died on 11/22/1991 from Alzheimer's Disease

Cher

-Birth name: Cherilyn Sarkisian

-DOB: 5/20/1946

-Where: El Centro, California

-Her half sister, Georgeanne LaPiere, was actor Michael Madsen's first wife

Eric Singer

-Birth name: Eric Doyle Mensinger

-DOB: 5/12/1958

-Where: Cleveland, Ohio

-He joined KISS in 1991 and stayed until 1995. He rejoined the group in 2000 following the departure of former drummer Peter Criss and left once again in 2002 when Criss came back. He joined the band once more for good after Peter Criss left the band for good and then started wearing the makeup and costumes

Phil Campbell

-Birth name: Phillip Anthony Campbell

-DOB: 5/7/1961

-Where: Pontypridd, United Kingdom

-Replaced "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar in Motorhead until the band broke up in 2015 following the death of the band's iconic front man, Lemmy Kilmister