It’s been a while since we visited TV land and reminisced over our favourite shows and characters. Today, with so many of us enjoying the summer sunshine and weather with loved ones, we figured it would be fun to revisit some TV families that just haven’t left our minds. Let’s dive in and take the ultimate nostalgia trip!
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The Ricardos / The Mertzes (I Love Lucy)
It’s a real tragedy that most young folks haven’t watched or even heard of I Love Lucy. The show was – and remains – a total phenomenon, filled to the brim with laughter and crazy comedic antics. At the centre of the show’s plotline? The Ricardos, portrayed by real-life husband-and-wife duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Even their son had a role, playing the Ricardos’ son, Little Ricky. Everyone’s favourite screwball redhead, Lucy always found a way to get into the zaniest situations. Who could forget the iconic fight with their best friends, the Mertzes, over a second-hand washing machine – complete with a scene where it soars to the ground from their apartment balcony? Or, how about the time Lucy and Ethel started their own “homemade” salad dressing company, only to blow their budget and panic trying to keep demand? Or, who could forget the time Lucy and Ricky switched household chores, with some pretty sticky and scary/hilarious consequences!
Look, we want to list a dozen other hilarious and iconic moments, and it hurts not to, but we’re just going to leave those memories for you to make when you watch the show. The Ricardos are one wholesome, entertaining, loving family and a significant part of what made I Love Lucy so very, very special. It holds up as a must-binge even today as a result.
The Simpsons (The Simpsons)
We’d be crazy not to include the world’s favourite yellow family on this list: The Simpsons is one of TV’s most iconic and beloved cartoons, and its namesake household is always breaking new boundaries in entertaining us! Homer, Marge, Maggie, Bart, Lisa, Grandpa, Snowball, Santa’s Little Helper… the list of crazy characters in this clan goes on! From the time Marge started her own pretzel-making business (and literally fought against other local foodies) to when Homer managed a run-down farm to grow Tomacco – tomatoes crossbred with tobacco and just a hint of plutonium – this family just doesn’t say no to any new adventure! Of course, you also need to factor in the large cast of side characters, which number in the hundreds and have been an endearing-meets-hilarious presence for many decades.
The Tanners (Full House)
Sometimes, tragedy and hardship is what brings a family together and helps everyone come out of their shells. Full House is known for its sad start when Danny Tanner’s wife is killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver. The show follows his adventures – and misadventures – in raising his three girls, at first on his own and then with the help of his rock musician brother-in-law in addition to a best friend who is a comedian. Living together under one roof, antics take place and it’s never a dull moment. This group sticks together through thick and thin, and they become a unique, fun-loving family in their own special way.
The Golden Girls (The Golden Girls)
Who says family strictly means related by blood? Put four older women in a house in Miami, turn the clocks back to the 1980s, and you have the perfect setup for memory-making, bonding, and hardly ever a “normal” day. The Golden Girls is another iconic show that promotes friendship and inclusiveness, but it sure doesn’t pull any punches in the laughter department! From Dorothy’s famous sarcastic quips that cut like a knife to Rose’s sweetness-meets-innocence, these gals are a quirky mix of personalities. There are clashes (often to a side-splitting extent), emotional dramas, and those wholesome moments that bring everyone together. Just like a real family!
The Starks (Game of Thrones)
Winter is always coming, whether we want to believe it or not. Nobody knows this better than the Stark family on HBO’s massive hit series, Game of Thrones. While most of us would like to pretend the final season was very, very different, we still can’t help but love the everlasting bond the surviving members of this Northern clan have. Arya, Sansa, Bran, and even previous outcast Jon Snow all banded together to stay as strong as possible in the face of hardship. And honestly, it’s because of them that the show remained so endearing for so many over the years, not to mention the huge cast of fascinating characters that we either rooted for or against.
The Gilmores (Gilmore Girls)
What’s tougher than raising a child in a strange new place? Having to revisit the past as part of the plan to move forward. This is the lead-up to this show’s main story arc, where mother Lorelai and daughter Rory move to the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, to make their own lives free from prejudice. However, to get there, a loan is needed from Lorelai’s high-society parents, who provide it under the condition that the girls have dinner with them every Friday. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? Well, family members aren’t always on your side if what they cherish is put at risk. In this family, the stresses of merging high-society life with attainable goals and dreams for a wholesome existence lead to many seasons of drama, laughter, love, loss, and character-building. It’s a cherished classic and must-watch for that reason.
At Accora Village, we believe families come in all shapes, sizes, and lifestyles! From completely unconventional oddball groups to sophisticates struggling to remain relevant to those timeless iconic households we could never forget, there’s a TV family out there that each of us can connect with.
So, what’s your favourite? Let us know!
