When we think about the days when network television was really intelligent, it’s easy to remember the early days.
But from the late 1950s on, the decline began. For all the love Baby Boomers have for “Gilligan’s Island” and “The Brady Bunch,” these were not shows that radiated intelligence. Even modern cable shows we see as wonderful like “The Sopranos” or “Six Feet Under” are just extremely well done cop shows or family dramas.
“West Wing?” Well done, but still essentially a soap opera.
“X Files?” Very nice, but essentially a modern version of “The Twilight Zone.”
In fact, nearly every good show on network TV fits into one genre or another.
But there was one show on CBS in the 1978-79 season that stood out for its quality. In fact, it lasted the entire 22 episodes before CBS cancelled it, and it was well-regarded enough the first PBS and then Showtime picked it up for 36 more episodes that ran up to 1986.
The Paper Chase
Imagine a show that isn’t just about college, it’s about graduate school. Law school, to be exact. And the center of attention is a classroom and the dialogue is as often as not the Socratic Method.
The Seals and Crofts song that was the theme song was a terrific one too. I’m not sure there was ever a group that was more “70s” than them.
The entire show is available on DVD.
Check it out. You won’t regret it.