When Suzzane was little before streaming took over what we watched on TV, before binge-watching, before “are you still watching?” Friday nights just had a different feel. In our house, TGIF wasn’t background noise — it was the plan for the night.
💗 Our Friday Nights
More times than not my nephew David would spend the night. Suzzie would sit in my front room because we only had one TV with my nephew watching TGIF, completely into the shows. No talking allowed. Especially when Full House came on — that was their show. They didn’t want to miss a second of it.
When Charlie came along, we would rewatch these classic shows from back in the day. Charlie loved Family Matters. The minute Urkel came on, that was it — the whole room changed. You just knew that was going to be “his” show for the night.
Stevie and David always lit up when the fun scenes came on, especially anything with that little car in Family Matters. That car got more attention in our house than most characters did. For me I wanted to have some Cheese with Steve. What about you?
And me? I made sure nobody had to get up once it started. I’d put together easy finger foods so we could all just sit and watch the shows from beginning to end: We didn’t answer the phone we just spent one on one time together eating and watching tv. That was the good ol’ days.
- popcorn
- pizza
- brownies
- anything quick I could grab so we didn’t miss the shows
Once TGIF started, nobody was leaving the living room.
📺 What Those Nights Really Felt Like
It wasn’t complicated. It was just all of us in the same room. Watching the same shows. Laughing at the same moments. Sharing the night without distractions. No phones. No scrolling. No one drifting off to do something else.
Just Friday night TV… and family. That was all we needed.
💗 Why TGIF Stays With Me
When I think back on it now, it’s not just the shows I remember. It’s Suzzie and my nephew watching the shows together before she was gone. Then later on it was Charlie laughing at Family Matters like it never got old.
I remember Charlie and David reacting to the scenes and that little car like it was part of the family. And me in the kitchen putting together simple food just so nobody had to miss anything.
That was our TGIF.
📺 Coming Up Next in the Series
We’ll keep going back through the shows that made those nights what they were — one memory at a time.
Grab your favorite blanket, beverage and snacks and join us for The Shows That Raised Us (TGIF Nostalgia Series). Make sure you can steam the shows so you can relive those times just as my family is doing. If your #Homeschooling these shows can be used as learning lessons.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
