Are you looking for a new series to binge-watch on your day off? Or maybe you’re just tired of pop culture references going over your head. Either way, there are certain television shows that it seems like everyone has seen already—or at least, almost everyone.
Don’t worry. It’s never too late to catch up on the classic pop culture shows.
Here at CultureFly, we like to think of ourselves as a hub for all things fandom-related; our pop culture store has any pop culture gifts you may need! That said, we know a thing or two about television and pop culture history. Some of our favorite tv shows have become a huge part of American culture. So, without further ado, let’s kick off this list of the five best pop culture TV shows you should be binging!
#1 Friends
If you’re a superfan, you are likely familiar with the origins of American pop culture references like:
- The Rachel haircut
- Asking people, “how you doin?”
- The famous excuse “WE. WERE ON. A BREAK.”
Friends is a classic piece of nostalgia for viewers who watched it on-air in the 1990s. But after nearly two decades since the series wrapped, new generations of TV lovers continue to flock to this popular television show for laughs and a warm, cozy feeling.
The Premise of the Show
Why do people seem to love Friends so much? Well, just like the theme song promises, this show will be there for you. With 10 full seasons, plenty of recurring jokes, and more than a few saucy romances, you’ll quickly feel like these 20-something New Yorkers are becoming your friends.
For the true fans – Once you’ve fallen head over heels for Friends, you can celebrate your newfound fandom with a Friends subscription box from CultureFly. With a quarterly subscription, you’ll get a new box four times per year with exclusive superfan merchandise. Surprise products — ranging from stylish apparel to adorable plushies — will be delivered directly to your doorstep for $35.95 per box!
#2 Seinfeld
Back in the 90s, there was a firm belief that two types of people existed in this world: Friends people and Seinfeld people.
If you tried Friends and had trouble stomaching all the hugging and learning, it may be time to switch over to the witty, sarcastic, and real New York side.
Seinfeld is a half-hour sitcom about comedian Jerry Seinfeld living in New York with his three friends: his ex-girlfriend Elaine, his stocky, bald friend George, and his unhinged neighbor Kramer.
The Premise of the Show
Seinfeld is often described as “a show about nothing,” but in the nothingness of daily life lies the true comedy that makes this show unique:
- Awkward interactions
- Arguments with strangers
- The difficulty of getting a table at a Chinese restaurant
These are just a few examples of how Seinfeld can turn frustrating activities into laughable plotlines.
Throughout the series’ nine glorious seasons, you’ll discover the meaning of all the pop culture references you’ve probably been missing. From the joyous celebration of Festivus to the frighteningly delicious offerings of the Soup Nazi, there are tons of hilarious inside jokes that can only be explained by binging Seinfeld.
For the true fans – Being part of a fandom with no merchandise to prove it will have you screaming “serenity now” a little too often (don’t worry, you’ll get that joke later). That’s why we made a Seinfeld box of collectibles for true Seinfeld superfans. For $39.99, you’ll get a pop culture box of laugh-out-loud Seinfeld merchandise. From a Kramerica t-shirt to Black and White cookie vinyl figure, you never know what you’re going to get with this subscription box.
#3 The Office
Now that we’ve covered the 90s, let’s fast forward a bit to the mid-2000s—the time of low-rise jeans, flip phones, and the rise of mockumentary sitcoms. That’s right, we’re talking about the king of all mockumentary series: The Office.
If you don’t know much about The Office, we’ll give you a brief rundown. The American version of The Office is an adaptation of a British series with the same title. The star and creator of the British series is none other than comedian Ricky Gervais. In 2004, Gervais passed the torch to American comedy legend Steve Carrell.
The Premise of the Show
The Office follows the lives of workers at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Despite the intentionally boring setting, The Office manages to turn everyday situations into comedy gold. Of course, it wouldn’t be possible without the hilarious cast of characters the show has to rely on. Carrell’s character Michael Scott is probably the worst boss you could possibly ask for. From offensive jokes to burning his foot on a George Foreman grill, Michael Scott causes a lot of problems for the Scranton branch every episode.
Beyond Michael, we also have a number of other characters who are rife with pop culture references.
- Dwight Schrute is perhaps the most well-known character from The Office, and fans of the show can attest to his many hilarious jokes (from his prized beet farm to his unsettling bobblehead of—well—himself).
- Jim and Pam are a couple within the show that many people consider “relationship goals.”
- Ryan and Kelly are a hysterical, toxic duo that could be described as the anti-Jim and Pam.
For the true fans – Once you’ve binged the show, longed to taste Kevin’s famous chili, and sat through the dreaded “Dinner Party” episode (we’re sorry in advance), you can begin to indulge your fandom with The Office Box. Don’t worry, this is no Scott’s Tots situation—for $35.99 per box, we’ll send you a quarterly subscription with exclusive The Office merchandise. From stylish Dunder Mifflin apparel to Schrute Farms cutlery, CultureFly’s unique collectibles will have you feeling like a true Scranton local.
#4 Game of Thrones
So we’ve knocked the pop culture sitcoms off your watch list, but what about dramas? For this genre, we recommend starting with one of TV’s most beloved fantasy dramas: Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones is a show based on a series of novels by fantasy author George R.R. Martin. Starting in 2011 and spanning eight nail-biting seasons, there’s a reason the HBO drama gained one of the biggest fandoms in recent television history.
Starring Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Sophie Turner, and plenty of other big names, the cast of this show is by far one of its best qualities.
The Premise of the Show
Game of Thrones isn’t just about Khaleesi’s dragons or Bran’s warg powers. The show is also a deep dive into politics, war, and deception. Plus, watching will explain tons of popular references you may have missed, such as the red wedding and the meme of the decade, “hold the door.”
For the true fans – After you’ve binged GoT, attempted to recreate Daenerys’ intricate braids, and heard the phrase “winter is coming'' more times than you ever wanted to, it’s time to celebrate your newest obsession with CultureFly’s Game of Thrones Box of collectibles. You’ll get a wide selection of exclusive GoT merchandise. From a Jaimie Stark golden hand oven mitt to a House Sigil stamp set, these unique collectibles are sure to blow any fan away.
#5 Supernatural
Another drama on this list, Supernatural is one of the biggest mystery series of the millennium. Premiering in 2005 and lasting a whopping 15 seasons, there’s a reason fans can’t get enough of this unique series.
The Premise of the Show
Supernatural follows the frightening adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester—two brothers who specialize in taking down demonic creatures. After their mother is killed by one of these horrific monsters, the Winchesters’ father begins teaching them the ins and outs of demon-slaying.
In addition to the thrilling stories and major plot twists, Supernatural is, like the other television shows on this list, a veritable goldmine of American pop culture references. From the iconic Dean and Castiel ship (which was finally made canon in 2020) to the meta “Ghostfacers” show within the show, this long-running series has a lot to offer in terms of romance, inside jokes, and recurring bits.
For the true fans – After joining the SPNFamily, you’ll need an outlet for all your fandom needs. With the Supernatural Join The Hunt subscription box, you’ll get over $100 worth of exclusive Supernatural merchandise. From fun apparel to cool collectibles, this collectors box is perfect for super Supernatural fans.
One-Stop Pop Culture Shop With CultureFly
Here at CultureFly, we aim to be a home for all things nerdy, geeky, and fandom-galore! Whether you’re a diehard comedy junkie, pop culture anime fanatic, or a full-blown fantasy fanatic, we are stocked with pop culture collectibles, apparel, and subscription boxes for you.
All our merchandise is handcrafted by fans for fans. From the mockups to the final product, we take special care every step of the way. This ensures CultureFly customers get access to exclusive collectibles you can’t get anywhere else.
So go ahead, make your fellow fans jealous. We have surprise boxes from your favorite characters, super heroes, anime, nerds and even gaming subscription boxes for hard core gamers. Get all of your one-of-a-kind collectibles with CultureFly!
We also have exclusive offers of Friends, Game Of Thrones, Supernatural, The Office merchandise.
Sources:
Screenrant. 15 Pop Culture References Created from Supernatural. https://screenrant.com/pop-culture-references-supernatural/
US Visa Group. Ten TV Shows That Represent American Culture. https://usvisagroup.com/ten-tv-shows-represent-american-culture/