Last week Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch died. While these shows only ran for about three years, they have become part of the fabric of our culture. They continue to air in syndication and in our memories.
What made these shows so popular? Granted, the theme songs were catchy and we could all most likely sing them if called to do so.
These shows portrayed families. They were families of birth, choice or circumstances. We can relate to this concept.
We all have families into which we are born. We also have our family of friends whom we choose and those at work with whom we share situations.
One of the things that made the shows a success was that there were different personalities and stories each week. The family members each played a role. It was usually predictable. The dynamic between actors created comedy, tension or drama.
Like families in our own lives, we play roles and experience a range of emotions as well. The feelings vary depending on the situation and the players involved.
While our lives do not run in 30-minute segments, the accumulation of stories creates a series we call life.
Is your story one that you would choose to watch again in syndication?