The TV Shows That Raised Gen X (and Xennials)
Generation X was raised on hose water, neglect, and lots and lots of TV. From the moment we were born, TV was a big part of our Gen X lives. There were shows made for us throughout every part of our childhood…as soon as we flipped on the tv, those shows started teaching us things.
We got an entire education outside of the classroom. And we all learned the same lessons from the same shows and the same episodes.
These are the TV shows that raised Generation X (and Xennials).
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https://youtu.be/Xs1wb51A2u8?si=_SajkCAPS0lXxxQh
https://youtu.be/AuclxuZaJI8?si=MMOrT9PLH07whvSn
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcy46rom3PGlSPlXGOQj6B-w-thWdZkOG&si=to9jtaSeZ1oOaasu
@kevinramsey417
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
3-2-1 Contact was the shiznit and most of us watched it during school. I straight up started kindergarten knowing how to read because of the phonics techniques I learned watching The Electric Company. Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno are gods in my house. And of course Mr. Rogers was the GOAT.
Fun Fact: Marvel let EC use Spider-Man for free because Stan Lee thought it would get kids to read comic books.
@TheNique74
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Reading Rainbow met me after-school, the song still plays in my mind. Mr. Rogers taught me kindness and using your imagination brings joy 🎉 PBS and Nickelodeon were my only TV options as a kid. I love the 80s 🎉🎉
@Karmas.Wasabi
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
I remember when my kids were little I threw a fit and ranted about how they ruined Sesame Street by spending most of the show on just Elmo. They took away everything that made it great. You rarely saw many of the other characters anymore. I think Blues Clues was good for their generation. You can tell it was heavily inspired by Mister Rogers.
@karinporter9849
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Don’t forget degrassi!!!!!!!
@MatthewMcCurry
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
There’s an article somewhere out there written by Mr. Rogers’ actual neighbor. You should seek it out. It’s a great piece! I read it shortly after he passed and it was rough but well worth the read!
Also, been following along since you started this journey and have been loving the content! I’d love to see you do a video on the darker side of TV, which was also amazing during our formative years; UP All Night, Saturday Nightmares, Commander USA, local horror hosts… you get the picture! Keep doing what you do!
@karinporter9849
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Don’t forget Barkley!!
@karinporter9849
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Don’t forget about New zoo review and boomerang
@georgerogers9402
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Why wasn't Captain Kangaroo added to this clip?
@anubis7173
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Talk about a mind blank.
I'll do it Gen X style
What a mind for fu. Ck.
That's a mindf$ck…
I haven't thought about some of these memories since I was actually living them in real time I'm now 54 years old so I would say it's been a minute!!
Sorry about the language but oh my Lord you have no idea how you are rushing me back into time..
Now I feel like one of those old people that were in my life when I was seven and eight.
Now I'm one of those old people…
Good times man those were good times
@josephlittleton5887
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
My mom told me when I was little she would have me watch Mr. Rogers to put me to sleep… Also born in 1977 here…
@TheMerFree
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
To the sweetheart of a content creator who made this fabulous documentary, I am very thankful. You did such a wonderful job on this!
@TheMerFree
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Our public educational television was kind of a lifesaver. To those of us who may have had parents that were absentee or busy or unengaged, these shows were extremely helpful and encouraging. I’m so thankful. Especially for Mr. Rogers!
@danacoleman4007
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Don't forget about "Inside Out". it would be cool if you could take a look at that show also!
@anonymousteacher4875
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Gen X is the best educated, and least populated, generation. We are also the gen ravaged by cancer.
@fakeyname6888
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
I didn't watch the news one per se, but when i was in middleschool in Urah there was a show called channel 1 we would watch that was basically the same thing, although hevily sponsored. Gatorade, C&h, and Nike are the 3 i remember running the most ads. Does anyone else remember this?
@fakeyname6888
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Once i was in a theological discussion about if Jesus came back but didn't know who he truly was who would fit the bill? The inly person we could think of that would truly, truely meet that standard.
@Sherlocksmom-rb3jq
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
I was 6 years old when Mr Rogers Neighborhood came out and it is one of my fondest memories from childhood television. Oh and Romper Room was fun. She didn’t call my name often but when she did?’oh yeah made my day! LOL
@KrypticArt
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Wow, a blast from the past
@benbelzer8303
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
17:13, Little Teeny Super Guy, soo good, and I was a huge fan of Letter People Land, Today's Special was probably my top favorite out of all of these.
@damiandarc8643
May 11, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Oh snap! 321 contact!
Bro, Reading Rainbow… Mr. Wizard… Electric Company… Mister Rogers…Encyclopedia (look it up!),…Fraggle Rock… Good times, man…