The arrival of autumn means the kids are headed back to school, the leaves are changing color (unless you're like us and you live in Los Angeles, in which case the palm trees remain distinctly green) and, most importantly, fall TV is back! As we were perusing the TV listings we couldn't help but notice that a lot of the new and returning shows reminded us of many of the classics we've released on DVD. So with that in mind, here are some shows paired like a fine wine with recommendations from the Shout! Factory catalog that have similar themes, tackle the same subject matter or quite simply paved the way for the TV of today.
If You Like: FOX's New Girl
Check Out: That Girl
Because: You'll see how Marlo Thomas’ cute, late-1960s fashion statements and signature bangs influenced the adorkable Zooey Deschanel.
If You Like: MTV's Awkward
Check Out: Freaks And Geeks
Because: It's pretty much the best-ever portrayal of genuine high school awkwardness. And that's really saying something, because we here at Shout! Factory know high school awkwardness pretty well. No, wait... We were totally super-popular!
If You Like: FOX's Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Check Out: Barney Miller
Because: Barney Miller pretty much created the police station sitcom genre, paving the way for Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
If You Like: ABC's Modern Family
Check Out: All In The Family
Because: Modern Family is a funny portrait of a mostly-functional family, but All In The Family focused on the hilarity of extreme dysfunction. It also lasted for nine seasons and often averaged over 30 million viewers because it was so groundbreaking and funny. If a show averaged 30 million viewers today, it would be crowned the God of television.
If You Like: ABC's Once Upon a Time
Check Out: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Because: You like fairy-tales, so why not watch a magical, live action musical of one of the all-time fairy-tale classics?
If You Like: Showtime's Homeland
Check Out: Prisoners Of War
Because: The reasoning here is obvious: Prisoners Of War is the series that Homeland is based on, so our recommendation is basically like saying, "Do you like Homeland? Well then check out the original Homeland!!"
If You Like: The CW's Vampire Diaries
Check Out: Hemlock Grove
Because: Smoldering, small-town vampires. Werewolves and supernatural goodness. The stakes are extremely high, here. Oh come on, we can't do some vampire puns? You suck the fun out of everything.
If You Like: ABC Family's Switched At Birth
Check Out: My So-Called Life
Because: No show quite mastered old-fashioned teen angst and family drama like My So-Called Life. Plus, you can see where Claire Danes got her start!
If You Like: ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Check Out: Marvel Knights
Because: Marvel, duh!
If You're Gonna Watch: Syfy's Z Nation
Check Out: Day of the Dead
Because: We're guessing you're into gory zombie apocalypse action if you're watching Z Nation. Day Of The Dead is exactly that, with lots of disgustingly great practical effects that are sure to leave you screaming for more.
If You're Gonna Watch: ABC's How to Get Away With Murder
Check Out: L.A. Law
Because: People have been trying to get away with murder long before this new series. Just look at L.A. Law, a legal thriller filled with intense twists and turns. And also Corbin Bernsen!
If You're Gonna Watch: ABC's Forever
Check Out: Quincy M.E.
Because: Quincy was the original medical examiner drama that started it all.
If You're Gonna Watch: NBC's A to Z
Check Out: Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis
Because: You're a sucker for romance, but it's also fun to watch a show about falling in and out of love within minutes, and that's Dobie's signature move!
What fall TV shows are you most excited for? Let us know!