Remember when coming home meant fumbling with a key on a chain around your neck, dropping your backpack, and turning on the TV before your parents got home from work? The Women Are Plotting podcast takes us back to those formative years when television wasn't just entertainment—it was our babysitter, teacher, and window to the world.
As self-described Gen X "latchkey kids," Etienne, Heidi, and Jane share how their favorite shows shaped their values and worldviews when parents weren't around to do it. Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcoms tackled racism and social issues before many of us understood these concepts. Charlie's Angels inspired neighborhood play that extended storylines beyond the screen. Fantasy Island taught us to be careful what we wish for. And let's not forget those teenage crushes on Tom Selleck and Ricardo Montalban that led to bedroom wall posters and surreptitious fan mail.
Unlike today's on-demand viewing, our television experience was communal—everyone watched the same episode of The Cosby Show or discussed who shot J.R. the next day at school. This shared cultural experience created a unique generational bond that's hard to replicate in today's fragmented media landscape.
What's fascinating is discovering which shows hold up decades later and which make us cringe. The hosts explore this dichotomy while watching classics with their own children—from the progressive messaging of All in the Family to the now-shocking casual sexism of Three's Company. The shows that endure (Golden Girls, Cheers, The Twilight Zone) succeed through timeless storytelling, memorable characters, and universal themes that transcend their era.
Join this nostalgic yet insightful conversation about the television that raised a generation. What shows shaped your childhood? Share your memories with us at [email protected] or find us on all social platforms.

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