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Our favourite retro TV shows

Retro rewind: The Today's Parent staff reveal their favourite childhood TV shows.

By Laura Grande
Our favourite retro TV shows

Our favourite retro TV shows

And now for a retro rewind...

We can all get caught up in the nostalgia of remembering our favourite TV shows from our childhood.

Whether you loved the popular shows like Happy Days or more obscure animated adventures like The Animals of Farthing Wood, re-watching these shows can take us back to a simpler time. And now, if we're lucky, we can share them with our own kids.

Read on to find out which retro TV shows the Today's Parent team loved when they were wee.

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto: Raia/iStockphoto

Family Ties (1982-1989)

With their relaxed, post-hippie parenting style, I wanted Steven and Elyse Keaton to be my parents more than anything. Wait — scratch that — I would have traded my entire Barbie collection to be Mallory Keaton. Now that I’m married to a fellow Family Ties addict, I can’t wait to watch them all over again with my own kids. — Nadine Silverthorne, Todaysparent.com managing editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

ALF (1986-1990)

I was obsessed with this show. When I look at the clips and pictures now, I think I should have been terrified of this lumpy, goofy alien creature, but I have fond memories of my mom, sister and me watching it together, cuddled up on the couch. — Ariel Brewster, Today's Parent senior editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Rainbow Brite (1984-1986)

I can’t remember exactly what it was that made me love this show, but I do recall growing up wanting to be Rainbow Brite, sleeping in hand-me-down Rainbow Brite sheets from my sister and being obsessed with puffy boots and headbands. — Carly Deziel, Today's Parent editorial coordinator

I essentially lived and breathed this show during the early years of my life. I think I was drawn to the fact that the hero of the story was a strong female — as were many of her friends. I still sometimes catch myself humming the (very '80s-sounding) theme song.
— Laura Grande, Todaysparent.com editorial coordinator

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Charles in Charge (1984-1990)

Scott Baio! Scott Baio! Seriously who didn’t love Charles in Charge (“of our days and our nights” — to quote the theme song)? This show was my inspiration for when I was old enough to start babysitting. It was also a show I could finally get my sister to watch with me, since she was older and a fan of Happy Days. Our mutual love for Scott Baio brought us together. — Carly Deziel, Today's Parent editorial coordinator

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Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

The Monkees (1966-1968)

Even though I was born in the '80s, I was practically a child of the '60s thanks to the influences of my parents. While I also loved The Partridge Family, Little House on the Prairie, Gilligan's Island and the Adam West Batman, my favourite '60s-era show was The Monkees. The series didn't last very long (and if you re-watch an epsiode as an adult, it's not surprising that it didn't last), but when you're a child under the age of eight, all the bright clothing, funny hair, slapstick humour and catchy songs made it the best series ever.
— Laura Grande, Todaysparent.com editorial coordinator

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

The Facts of Life (1979-1988)

My seven-year-old daughter has started watching The Facts of Life on Netflix and it brings back so many good memories. Tootie on roller skates, snobby Blair, funny Natalie, serious Jo (I was a Jo fan, myself) and, of course, George Clooney! I absolutely loved this show. — Kristy Woudstra, Todaysparent.com online editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)

I just loved Charlie’s Angels! I couldn’t miss an episode of “Charlie’s” because I thought their lives were so glamorous at the time. I was seven and wanted to be Cheryl Ladd. — Kerrie Lee Brown, Today's Parent executive editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Jem and the Holograms (1985-1988)

This show combined my love of '80s fashion and glamour (at a very young age), along with catchy pop songs. I recall the show tackling some pretty complex storylines: I remember one episode featured song by The Doors, along with a character who was experimenting with the drug Speed.
— Carly Deziel, Today's Parent editorial coordinator

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

A Different World (1987-1993)

I was really into A Different World, which was a spin-off of The Cosby Show. Denise Huxtable (played by Lisa Bonet) goes away to college, at a fictional, historically black university in Virginia. Quite the departure from my very homogenous childhood in small-town New England! I even had my own flip-up glasses, just like Dwane Wayne. For your viewing pleasure, here is an entire Tumblr dedicated to the show. — Ariel Brewster, Today's Parent senior editor

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Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Beetlejuice (1989-1991)

After the popularity of the 1988 Tim Burton film Beetlejuice, an animated TV series was produced the following year. And, oh, how I loved this rude, crude little cartoon. I'd wake up early every morning in order to get my fix of vulgar humour and gothic creepiness. I remember that my mom thought it was gross, but what kid doesn't love the "ick" factor? — Laura Grande, Todaysparent.com editorial coordinator

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

The Animals of Farthing Wood (1992-1995)

Does anyone remember The Animals of Farthing Wood? My brother would always try to turn the TV to Ren & Stimpy or Rocko’s Modern Life, but I was determined to find out what happened to Fox, Toad, Owl and Vixen…gosh, though, sometimes that show made me cry!
— Hannah Terry-Whyte, Todaysparent.com editorial intern

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Sailor Moon (1992-1997)

I loved this show for the superpowers. Also, Sailor Moon loved to eat and was always getting herself into awkward and embarrassing situations (which I could relate to), but then she would transform and kick bad-guy butt. — Kate Stewart, Today's Parent assistant editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon

Road to Avonlea (1990-1996)

I grew up with this series, and loved it right from the start. It was the rare TV series that my whole family could enjoy — an amusing, sweet and simple Canadian series about the (fictional) community of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island during the early 20th century. I just loved watching the kids — Sarah, Felix and Felicity — get up to no good.
— Laura Grande, Todaysparent.com editorial coordinator

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1995)

I used to watch the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I liked that they had two girl Power Rangers (I wanted to be Trini, the yellow Ranger), and I actually thought it was so scary at the time! One of the episodes — featuring a monster that ate the Power Rangers — used to give me nightmares!
— Cassandre Cadieux, Today's Parent contributing copy editor

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Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

Happy Days (1974-1984)

I can still sing the theme song in my head. I loved this show. I think it was the only one that my sister (who is seven years older) and I could agree on watching together. Mrs. C always reminded me of my mom and the Fonz was just so cool. But I think my favourite character was Pinky Tuscadero. Her pink jumpsuit was the best.
— Kristy Woundstra, Todaysparent.com online editor

Our favourite retro TV showsPhoto via Amazon.

For some more retro rewind...

Our favourite retro TV shows
This article was originally published on Apr 19, 2013

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