Six years ago when I was pregnant with my son, waiting to have a homebirth for a week while dealing with intermittent horrendous contractions (he weighed 11 lbs and had a huge head — it took that week to mold it), we discovered the world of viewing cable TV series via DVD.
We had no cable and were not TV watchers, but Six Feet Under and then The Sopranos pulled us through those long days . . . bless my husband, he was on vacation that week with me. That was our first introduction into viewing television sans cable and has started a trend in our “television” viewing.
Then, flashback even further: I’m twentysomething and have my first child, a daughter, and this amazing television series starts with these “older” people on it and, hey, what’s going on? They are speaking the language of my life.
In thirtysomething, Hope and Michael are dealing with becoming new parents to Janey and all of the angst that goes with it: what kind of sitter dare I leave my child with? to work or not to work — I should be contributing more, but how do I leave my precious baby . . . look at how different my life is now to my single and/or childless friends . . . oh, no is our friend’s marriage in trouble?
I lived to watch thirtysomething. I scheduled my life around watching thirtysomething and when thirtysomething’s run ended, I literally mourned. thirtysomething was my first real foray into LOVING a television series.
Flashforward to now: I’ve skipped through my thirtysomething years, my first “baby” is almost 22 and I rarely watch commercial television. The minute I heard that season 1 of thirtysomething was out we ordered it through Netflix. My husband and I snuggle in bed and watch episodes on one of our laptops on nights we can stay awake long enough.
The surprise? It is every bit as good as I remember. It deals with real everyday issues of parenting and living life creatively and with a talented, clearly connected cast. And I’m reminded that it wasn’t Ally McBeal that created those surreal “Ally McBeal moments,” it was thirtysomething.
I’m addicted. Again.
And with these surprisingly short television series seasons out there (excuse me, season 3 of Mad Men is already over??? It just started a couple of months ago . . .) I am sooo excited that there will be many episodes to get me through a wintry night.
Oh, and watch the thirtysomething first season holiday episode sometime this winter. Tears. Even my husband.
View this clip for an overview:
