From Saturday Morning to Streaming Marathons: Every Show That Raised Me (And Still Does)

If you catch me on a random Tuesday night with snacks in hand and a blanket over my head like a cape… mind your business—I’m probably deep in an old-school rerun or seven. My TV love language is simple: comfort, chaos, crime, and a little supernatural sauce. I grew up on appointment television—no DVR, no “skip intro,” just you, the couch, and a prayer you made it home before the theme song. Now, streaming lets me time-travel: one minute it’s Living Single, the next it’s Star Trek warp speed, then boom—Olivia Pope is fixing somebody’s whole life.

Below is my true-to-me watchlist: the classics that raised me, the mess that entertains me, the crime that keeps me guessing, and the supernatural that lets me escape. Yes—every single title you shouted out is here. Let’s binge!

Comfort Sitcoms I Quote Like Scripture

These shows are warm mac & cheese for the soul—forever rewatchable, forever iconic.

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

• Living Single

• Family Matters

• Martin

• The Wayans Bros.

• The Cosby Show

• The Jamie Foxx Show

• Everybody Loves Raymond

• The Nanny

• Friends

• Seinfeld

• Home Improvement

• Married… with Children

• Frasier (yes, I hear the blues a-callin’)

• Sister, Sister

• Ellen (I dip back to the sitcom era)

• Girlfriends (Toni & Joan = forever convo)

Why they still hit: They’re funny without trying too hard, they gave us one-liners that live rent-free, and they feel like a living room full of cousins.

Teen Dreams & Coming-of-Age Feels

Messy crushes, school hallways, and life lessons set to peak ‘90s/’00s soundtracks.

• Moesha

• Dawson’s Creek

• Beverly Hills, 90210

• Roswell

• Seventh Heaven

• That ’70s Show

• Clueless (movie energy that I revisit like a comfort cupcake)

• Sabrina the Teenage Witch (study, spell, repeat)

Why they still hit: These shows were the diaries we didn’t write. They gave us permission to be dramatic, dreamy, and a little delusional—in the cutest way.

Witchy, Supernatural & A Little Bit Spooky

Wands out, stakes sharpened, EMF reader ready.

• Charmed (both on my altar and in my queue)

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer

• Angel

• Ghost Whisperer

• The X-Files (Mulder/Scully forever)

• Tales from the Crypt

Why they still hit: Life is crazy; sometimes you need literal demons to make the metaphor make sense.

Crime, Conspiracy & Courtroom Crushes

When the vibes say “I love you, but also let me solve a case.”

• Law & Order—all of them (Original, SVU, Criminal Intent…run me the dun-dun)

• The Blacklist

• Matlock

• Fatal Attraction

• Snapped

• Good Girls

• Queen of the South

Why they still hit: The chase, the twist, the “I knew it!”—elite serotonin.

Big-City Sass & Prime-Time Drama

Grown, stylish, and just messy enough to keep me hollering at the screen.

• Scandal (Olivia Pope = white-coat warrior)

• Sex and the City (+ all the movies, obviously)

• Working Moms / Workin’ Moms (same show, I watch both spellings 😅)

Why they still hit: Killer monologues, friendship that shows up, and the outfits—chef’s kiss.

Reality TV & “I Shouldn’t But I Do” Classics

Yes, I’m judging. Yes, I’m invested. No, I’m not turning it off.

• The Real Housewives of Atlanta

• Bad Girls Club

• Anything on MTV (from TRL to The Real World era—if it’s messy or musical, I’m there)

Why they still hit: Group-chat energy before group chats existed.

Game Night, Cartoon Chaos & Comfort Weird

Brain teasers, satire, and giggles that never age.

• Wheel of Fortune

• Jeopardy! (sometimes—I like to feel smart on Tuesdays)

• South Park

• The Simpsons

• Dragon Ball Z

• Mr. Bean (I LOVE HIM!!! forever and ever)

Why they still hit: Sometimes you just need absurdity and a theme song that tucks you in.

Sci-Fi Royalty & Space I Will Gladly Get Lost In

When the mission is “take me away from bills and bring me back with wisdom.”

• Star Trek—ALL OF THEM (TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, the new crews… beam me up every time)

Why they still hit: Hopeful sci-fi with moral math. Plus, the captains stay fine.

My Current Streaming Rotation (AKA The Couch Is Calling)

When I say “one episode,” I mean “see you tomorrow.”

• Sistas

• Zatima

• Psych (comfort rewatch champion)

• Friends / Frasier / Seinfeld (my sitcom shuffle)

• Ghost Whisperer (candles lit, vibes curated)

• Good Girls & Queen of the South (antiheroine double feature)

• Girlfriends (self-care choice, actually)

Domestic Goddess Era (Judge Me Not)

Sometimes a little homemaker fantasy is self-care.

• Martha Stewart—anything (recipes, crafts, a well-timed linen closet read? yes.)

The Master Watchlist (A–Z, every single one you named)

Angel; Bad Girls Club; Beverly Hills, 90210; The Blacklist; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Charmed; Clueless; Dawson’s Creek; Dragon Ball Z; Ellen; Everybody Loves Raymond; Family Matters; Friends; Frasier; Ghost Whisperer; Girlfriends; Good Girls; Home Improvement; Jeopardy!; Law & Order (all series); Living Single; Martha Stewart (anything); Martin; Married… with Children; Matlock; Moesha; Mr. Bean; “Anything on MTV”; Psych; The Jamie Foxx Show; The Cosby Show; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; The Nanny; The Simpsons; The Wayans Bros.; The Real Housewives of Atlanta; Roswell; Sabrina the Teenage Witch; Scandal; Seinfeld; Sister, Sister; Sistas; Star Trek (all series); Tales from the Crypt; That ’70s Show; The X-Files; Wheel of Fortune; Workin’ Moms / Working Moms; Zatima; Queen of the South; South Park; Seventh Heaven; Sex and the City (+ movies).

(Told you I had you. Every. Single. One.)

Talk to Me: What Should I Add Next?

If you’re a crime-show binger, drop your best “you’ll love this if you love SVU” recs. If you’re witchy-world royalty, tell me your favorite Charmed power. If you’re a Star Trek scholar, which captain are you riding for? And if you’re here for pure nostalgia, sound off: Fresh Prince or Living Single—who wins your Friday night?

This is Shalena Speaks: equal parts comfort TV, chaos TV, and the kind of marathon that turns into a personality trait. Now pass the popcorn and the remote—we’re not done.