Best Shows on Hulu that Will Make You a Classic TV Expert

These days, there is no shortage of bingeable shows, and new series and seasons of your favorites seem to be dropping at an increasingly dizzying speed.

If you've got the bandwidth to take a break from the new and delve into some of the more vintage programs available on streaming, though, Hulu's got a whole boatload of classic TV shows that are still worth the watch (and will help make you a star on trivia night). Plus, as reboot and revival fever continues to spread, gaining a knowledge of these shows now will give you a leg up on next year's slate of freshmen series, which will likely include a massive amount of sequels, spin-offs and remakes of classic shows.

Lucille Ball

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I Love Lucy
You've got some 'splainin to do if you've never watched an episode of I Love Lucy. The series defined television during its six-season run and rendered its title star, Lucille Ball, an icon forevermore. Some of the situations Lucy tends to get herself into throughout the show may be a little outdated -- from her buying too many fancy hats to Lucy and Ethel's infamously squishy trip to the vineyard -- but you'll get a kick out of her hilarious hijinks all the same.

The Brady Bunch

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The Brady Bunch
Here's the story of a lovely show... The Brady Bunch may have had a few cultural revivals by way of those hokey mid-'90s movies and the ubiquitous usefulness of that "Sure Jan" GIF, but there's nothing quite like the original. Shows about blended families might not be so atypical anymore -- Step by Step, The Fosters, and Modern Family are a few recent examples -- but The Brady Bunch holds up all the same.

Mary Tyler Moore, The Mary Tyler Moore Show

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The Mary Tyler Moore Show
There's a reason The Mary Tyler Moore Show was such an awards season favorite -- it's good. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the show was celebrated for the genuine narrative arcs experienced by its characters, and that was especially true when it came to the titular character, whose unending gumption and can-do spirit still render her #goals.

Taxi

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Taxi
It may have been a simple sitcom about a team of drivers and their dispatcher at its core, but Taxi also managed to sneak a lot of important storytelling into the picture. With an array of unique characters, an eye towards the bigger picture well outside of the station, and some very sharp humor, Taxi is a real ride.

The Twilight Zone

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The Twilight Zone
Before The Twilight Zone reboot hits the small screen, you may want to revisit the original series to understand what all the fuss was -- and continues to be -- about. Just as Black Mirror now captures the eeriness of modern technology, The Twilight Zone managed to make otherwise ordinary situations very, very scary, from plastic surgeons with a very different concept of beauty to a blinded book-o-phile stuck in a maelstrom of destruction. The show may have a vintage look now, but it's just as effective at crawling under your skin and staying there as it ever was.

Cheers

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Cheers
You don't need to imbibe any spirits to enjoy the company of this Boston bar crew and their favorite regular customers. And while they might not actually know your name, you'll definitely be glad you came to watch Cheers. (Bonus: Its celebrated spin-off Frasier is also available on Hulu.)

The Golden Girls

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The Golden Girls
If you haven't already enjoyed the sassy splendor of the silver-haired quartet in The Golden Girls, you are in for a treat (and you'll no doubt thank us for being a friend in recommending it later). The series centers on four women who are definitely young at heart and have decided to spend their twilight years tearing up the town together in Miami. Chances are, you'll be calling up your bestie to firm up plans to grow old together after watching.

Nicholas Turturro, Jimmy Smits and Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue

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NYPD Blue
Before gritty crime dramas would become standard fare for the small screen, NYPD Blue arrived as an edgy and provocative series that would garner massive acclaim. There's a reason ABC is eying a sequel series for the paragon police procedural -- it's still great.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents
If you're in the mood for some very dark and smart drama, you can't go wrong with an episode or two of the anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Although its title spook-master was only loosely involved with production on most segments, his signature cloak of dreary cleverness is etched into every episode.

Lost in Space

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Lost in Space
Whether you're a fan of Netflix's Lost in Space reboot or not, the original soars. The sci-fi series offered a timely twist on the 19th century novel The Swiss Family Robinson, taking its starring family into space instead of a shipwreck, and between all the cool costumes and creative catch phrases, the show is out of this world.

Hill Street Blues

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Hill Street Blues
The show that really revolutionized the modern cop show concept was Hill Street Blues, an ensemble drama that utilized creative camerawork, complex character dynamics, and effective musical accompaniment to underscore the gravity of its characters' circumstances and the cases they were assigned to. The show was celebrated for its willingness to address some very tough topics, many of which continue to be incredibly relevant in today's social landscape.

The Addams Family

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The Addams Family
Come for the costume inspo; stay for the kooky family dynamics. Much like its rival series The Munsters, The Addams Family brought the Halloween spirit to the sitcom scene through the titular family. Based on a series of cartoons by New Yorker artist Charles Addams, the series gave early screen life to some characters that are fascinating to this day, because who doesn't appreciate the signature snark of Miss Wednesday Addams?

Other Links From TVGuide.com NYPD BlueThe Addams FamilyThe Golden GirlsI Love LucyThe Mary Tyler Moore ShowThe Twilight Zone