I love watching television shows from the 1950s to the 1980s. The acting is terrific, but the stories are what keep me watching. The best television shows are all about the writing. Great scripts make a great show.
As my mother ages, she prefers to watch old TV shows on DVD. I’ve been collecting some of her favorites and watching them with her. Between the laughter and memories, I find myself marveling at the quality of the writing. Many of the most popular shows are written by the same fantastic writers.
Recently, I found myself creating characters for my latest fantasy novel, and I realized the characters act and sound like the two best friends from the 2006-2014 hit show Psych. My characters are talking creatures from the Middle Ages, but they sound like Gus and Sean arguing. I love knowing that the skilled writing of a television show inspired my book characters.
I also use books for inspiration and to improve my writing skills. While reading classic mystery novels to inspire my forthcoming mystery series, I came upon The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen. (Affiliate Link) The book is excellent. But did you know there was an Ellery Queen television show? In 1975, a TV show based on the Ellery Queen mystery novels premiered. It only lasted a year, but I loved watching this show as a child. Especially the ending where the detective (a mystery writer, of course) invites viewers to solve the mystery before the big reveal.
After watching an episode of Ellery Queen on YouTube, I’m now searching for the entire series. What made the show so enjoyable besides the incredible cast and directing? The writing. Each week, skilled writers took a well-written book or short story and turned it into a watchable plot. A murder that had to be explained and solved in less than an hour. Whew!
What other classic TV shows have recently inspired my writing? Here is a list of some television shows from the 1950s until the 1980s I recommend to writers and anyone who enjoys well-written shows. Warning: humor has changed over the years, so the writing reflects the culture and events of the period. If you can handle a little culture shock, then studying the best-rated shows of these times will improve and inspire your own storytelling. Plus, they are so much fun to watch.
Pick a genre you write in, and check out these classics.
1. Comedy
There is so much to choose from. Where do I begin? For great storytelling and dialogue, watch The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). The plots may be as simple as Sheriff Andy’s son shooting a bird with a slingshot and then taking on the responsibility of raising the orphaned babies. A sweet and touching episode. The Andy Griffith Show made you laugh, cry, and wish for small-town values and characters in today’s busy world.
The same is true of the famed I Love Lucy (1951-1957). Yes, Lucille Ball and the cast were comedy geniuses’, but the scripts were pure gold. Viewers tuned in each week to discover what crazy scheme Lucy and Ethel were up to next. Would Ricky ever let Lucy be on his show?
For those interested in comedies set during World War 2, there are Hogan’s Heroes (1965-1971) and McHale’s Navy (1962-1966). How can war be funny? It’s not, but life is, and the writers managed to create well-written and thought-provoking sitcoms.
Need your TV in color? Check out the hilarious Sanford and Son (1972-1978) and the Happy Days spinoff Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983). Enjoy the complex characters and incredible physical acting, then look carefully at the plots. How did the writers create an interesting story and entertain you each week? Think of the questions they raised about the characters that kept you watching, hoping for their dreams and ambitions to come true. Would the characters find happiness at the end of the series? Tune in next week to find out.
One of the reasons people watched these shows was to tune in and laugh. To escape their problems and everyday stress and enjoy the healthy benefit of laughter. If you write humor, you are providing that same benefit to readers. Watch these old comedies and learn more about timing, setting up a joke, and making readers laugh.
2. Mystery
Here’s where I began this post with Ellery Queen (1975-1976). When I rewatched an episode, I realized how similar it was to other TV mysteries, like the popular long-running Murder She Wrote (1984-1992). Here, we have another writer solving crimes. Every episode is the perfect template for how to write a cozy mystery. Study the writing in Murder She Wrote and learn the ideal training techniques for cozy mystery writers.
There are many other shows mystery writers could benefit from. Some of my favorites are Perry Mason (1957-1966), Columbo (1971-1978), and Monk (2002-2009). I know Psych and Monk are not as old as the rest, but they are brilliant.
Classic television mysteries start with the detective/police officer or main characters. Writers created characters with family, friends, personal problems, and real lives that we, the viewers, could relate to. Even the villains were given backstories and interesting personalities. There are no shallow characters to bore us and make us change the channel.
3. Thriller/Adventure
Remember the Sci-fi series The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)? This show wasn’t just creepy (I still shiver when I think of the evil Talking Tina doll); it was full of mystery and intrigue and had the best plot twists on television. Every week! Imagine all of those plot twists that most of us never guessed. Rod Serling, the creator and narrator of the show, wrote many of the episodes. Famous actors appeared in each episode, including William Shatner (don’t get a window seat by the airplane wing). Shatner went on to star in his own Sci-fi hit Star Trek (1966-1969).
The original Star Trek is another well-written and thought-provoking show. Other shows that kept us on the edge of our sofas were Mission Impossible, Batman, and The Fugitive. Another childhood favorite of mine is Disney’s Zorro (1957-1959). I started rewatching this classic but through the lens of a writer. I’m impressed by how long they kept Zorro’s identity a secret every week and kept the tension in the show going.
Adventure shows took over 1970s television. While many were typical and predictable, a few well-written gems deserve a second look. Check out the expert storytelling and backstory of characters in Magnum PI (1980-1988). For clever plot twists and the use of ordinary objects as problem-solving tools, watch MacGyver (1985-1992).
4. Children’s Shows
Finally, there are television shows aimed at children. Entertaining but well-written? Have you ever watched the hit cowboy show The Lone Ranger (1949-1957)? This show started on the radio before coming to television. It was written to paint pictures in the listeners’ minds, a difficult task. That same careful writing, aimed at children, is also entertaining and inspirational for adults. Each episode is a short story that is simple, concise, and compelling. Watch the old series to learn how to improve your descriptions of setting and characters. Analyze the elements included in each short story and try adding these techniques to your writing.
Writers can benefit from viewing well-written cartoons and comedies, such as Bugs Bunny cartoons and Hal Roach’s Little Rascals from his Our Gang movies. When you’re through laughing and wiping tears from your eyes, think about the storytelling that created those emotions.
Have I given you a new respect for the hard work and writing that went into television series such as these? I hope I have inspired you to rent or stream these “oldies but goodies.” What’s impressive is when you look up the names of these television writers, you will find that they wrote on many different series. All are well crafted and worthy of teaching writers a few lessons today.
So grab that TV remote and watch some classic television today. It counts as writing research and education, right? At least, that’s what I tell myself as I binge-watch Nero Wolfe mysteries. The A&E 2001-2002 version with Ellery Queen’s, Jim Hutton’s son, Timothy Hutton, starring as Archie Goodwin, is the best.
Maybe I’ll try writing television scripts someday. For now, I’m finishing the third book in my Tales of Enda fantasy series, Manjucatus The Not So Mean, (Affiliate Link), which will be released in February. I wonder what classic TV series inspired that book?
