TV Envy: Characters, Lifestyles And Things We Want

[zxy556575]

I'm not sure if aspirational TV is still a thing, but were there ever people or objects on TV that you seriously envied?

As a young teen, I needed Laurie Partridge's entire life to replace my own -- the bus, the singing, the cute older brother, the groovy bell bottoms, the perfect hair.

Later I was jealous of Monica Geller's West Village apartment -- that awesome balcony window! -- including furnishings and Monica herself as a neat freak roommate who would do all the cleaning and cooking.

I'd also surely like to move to the fictional city of Longmire, Wyoming and meet Chief Mathias.

Edited April 10, 2017 by Lord Donia

[Raja]

I was just old enough to understand the relative economics when CHiPs made its run thinking that there was no way Jon and Ponch could afford their beach side digs and weekly adventure sports on a Traffic Officer's salary. But I did want that offduty lifestyle

[Blergh]

Lord Donia,

 

 I think virtually all soaps and night time dramas have been designed to entice viewers to envy watch -especially since many viewers at least have had friends/relatives with soapy lives but without the fancy clothes, homes and trips!

   As for me? Oddly enough, I'd have loved to have lived in some of the Britcom locales like the Yorkshire Dales in "Last of the Summer Wine" or spend my workweek in Jean Pargetter's (Judi Densch) London townhouse capping it off with weekends at her in-law's country estate!

  I think this topic's going to get filled VERY quickly, Lord Donia! LOL

[Snow Apple]

I wanted a family life and loyal friends like the gang in Happy Days. 

I also wanted to be Wonder Woman's sister (Lynda Carter's TV version). My own big sister was Wonder Woman herself, of course. Who doesn't want superpowers winning against the bad guys and look beautiful doing it? We even made a string of beads pretending it was the lasso of truth.

[shang yiet]

I envy those women who can move to small towns or somewhere remote where the nearest neighbour is half a mile away and within 48 hours, they will meet the town's only eligible bachelor who will fall in love with them.

[DearEvette]

Whn I was younger I was jealous of the Brady Bunch kids  that they had their own bathroom. Sure they had to share it among the six of them (now that I am thinking about it, it isn't envy worthy) but back then having your own bathroom as a kid just seemed like something to aspire to.

I also wanted Denise Huxable's entire wardrobe aesthetic.  It just felt like such effortless chic.

Now having watched Big Little Lies, I wonder how have I survived all my life without a fabulous oceanfront home that is all windows and decks with an artful array of comfy outdoor furniture? And of course Perry and Celeste's closet?

[amaranta]

Quote

Now having watched Big Little Lies, I wonder how have I survived all my life without a fabulous oceanfront home that is all windows and decks with an artful array of comfy outdoor furniture?

Agreed on the fabulous beach house, except I want Grace and Frankie's. Everything about it screams My Dream House.  And it's in La Jolla, which is so pretty.  I also wish, when I reach my 70's (got almost 15 years to go...), I could look like and be Frankie.  Have a huge and well-lit art studio, a good friend who has your back, a cool farmer boyfriend, and apparently still able to eat any kind of junk food imaginable while continuing to look and feel great.  Yeah, I want all that.

Now, excuse me, I must go and find my Tums.

[Ohwell]

I've dreamed about living in a nice cabin (nothing too rugged, lol) with Cheyenne Bodie (Clint Walker) and lying on a bearskin rug by a fire with him.  He had a big chest so I imagine me with my head on his chest.  For starters. : ) 

[LilWharveyGal]

5 hours ago, Blergh said:

... or spend my workweek in Jean Pargetter's (Judi Densch) London townhouse capping it off with weekends at her in-law's country estate!

That's an excellent choice!

I absolutely loved Emily's beach house on Revenge.  Of course, Grayson Manor wasn't too shabby, either.

[Hope829]

If I could only move to Stars Hollow....sigh.

[ratgirlagogo]

Morticia Addams, Emma Peel, Sheena Queen of the Jungle - but at age eight I don't think there is any life I wanted more to have when I grew up than Honey West's.  The animal print apartment, the hip wardrobe, the Shelby Cobra, the PET OCELOT.........like a much cooler grown up Nancy Drew.

But of course I wouldn't have been interested in Sam.  I would have been dating Ilya Kuryakin.

Edited April 9, 2017 by ratgirlagogo

[HoboClayton]

I wanted to be a grim reaper like George from Dead Like Me. Still out in the world, "living." I wanted to live in Hilda and Zelda's house from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. 

[selkie]

From the first few seasons of Elementary I saw, I want Holmes' apartment and Watson's wardrobe. 

[BabyVegas]

3 hours ago, HoboClayton said:

I wanted to be a grim reaper like George from Dead Like Me. Still out in the world, "living." I wanted to live in Hilda and Zelda's house from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. 

See, I just wanted her ability to instantly zap myself anything I wanted, particularly the whole "getting ready for the day in a split second" thing and the teleporting. An extra hour of sleep every day sounds amazing.

I covet the work life of so many TV people. Work for like, fifteen hours a week and yet still afford basically anything. And Supergirl's apartment. All that natural light and big, open spaces. I spend a lot of time coveting TV apartments, but Supergirl's apartment is probably my number one apartment want.

[Minneapple]

2 hours ago, selkie said:

Watson's wardrobe. 

This is EXACTLY what came to mind when I saw this thread. Joan Watson's wardrobe. And it wouldn't hurt to have Lucy Liu's body to put those clothes on!

[zxy556575]

18 hours ago, Hope829 said:

If I could only move to Stars Hollow....sigh.

Oh, nice!

As for entire towns, I was more in tune with Cicely, Alaska. It could also be a bit twee, but more ruggedly so. My imaginary eccentric-but-lovable self would rather hang out with alcohol in The Brick all day than a coffee shop.

Edited April 10, 2017 by Lord Donia

[Haleth]

Lately I've been lusting for Chrisjen Avarsala's wardrobe on The Expanse, starting with (but not limited to) this outfit.

[DearEvette]

14 minutes ago, Haleth said:

Lately I've been lusting for Chrisjen Avarsala's wardrobe on The Expanse, starting with (but not limited to) this outfit.

Her clothes on that show are pure FIYAH!

[kassygreene]

3 hours ago, DearEvette said:

Her clothes on that show are pure FIYAH!

And the jewelry!  I've got to slow down the credits and find out who is providing those beautiful rocks!

[Epeolatrix]

I'd always wanted to be one of the Addams Family: a loving family, awesome house, and wonderfully morbid. Now it's also things like I envy Hannibal's handwriting, Hannibal's office/study/library, and Vanessa's wardrobe (Penny Dreadful).

[meep.meep]

I am already on record as having a jones for the two high-backed wing chairs, upholstered in embroidered blue satin, from Zilpha's parlor on Taboo.  Unfortunately, they filmed everything with a lens set to filth, so it's rare that you can actually appreciate them, but I neeeeeeed them.

That and any of the beach houses on Big Little Lies.  Crashing waves put me to sleep.

[bmoore4026]

I wanted the Wayback Machine.  And The Muppet Theater.

[DisneyBoy]

I realize it's probably a little suicidal but I think I'd want to live for a summer in Melrose Place. Those apartments were so nineties and comfortable and affordable and there was always interesting stuff happening all around.

[Minneapple]

I thought of another one. Quantico is crap but I'd kill for Alex's hair. Seriously, Priyanka, tell me your hair secrets.

[paulvdb]

When I was a kid I watched Knight Rider and I wanted to have my own KITT.

[andromeda331]

Leverage you get to commit crimes, take down bad guys and help people. Plus it would be really fun to hang around Parker, Hardison, Sophie, Elliot and Nate. The cool cars that kept showing up on Burn Notice.

Edited April 11, 2017 by andromeda331

[Haleth]

17 hours ago, meep.meep said:

I am already on record as having a jones for the two high-backed wing chairs, upholstered in embroidered blue satin, from Zilpha's parlor on Taboo.  Unfortunately, they filmed everything with a lens set to filth, so it's rare that you can actually appreciate them, but I neeeeeeed them.

I want her hat.

[Moose135]

Magnum PI: Living in Hawaii and driving a Ferrari...

[Guest]

I used to truly enjoy when Jon Stewart would eviscerate pundits.  Not making jokes about them, but when they would come on his show (Jim Cramer) or he would go on theirs (Crossfire).

Oh, to publically and humorously shred an executive from my cable company or landscaping service for the good of all man and womankind.

Edited May 17, 2017 by ParadoxLost

[GaT]

It's been 16 years since Buffy The Vampire Slayer aired Once More With Feeling, & I still lust after the red shirt that Buffy wore during the Life's A Show/Something To Sing About number.

[biakbiak]

No one lusts after Tara's outfit.

[Irlandesa]

Big Little Lies was one of the most recent house porn episodes I envied. 

But the traveliest travel porn I've seen in the past year was in The Night Manager, especially the snowy scenes in Switzerland and the sunny Mallorca.  I wanted to go to both places, even if I'm not normally a sun person.

[proserpina65]

On ‎04‎/‎09‎/‎2017 at 3:15 PM, amaranta said:

Agreed on the fabulous beach house, except I want Grace and Frankie's. Everything about it screams My Dream House.  And it's in La Jolla, which is so pretty.  I also wish, when I reach my 70's (got almost 15 years to go...), I could look like and be Frankie.  Have a huge and well-lit art studio, a good friend who has your back, a cool farmer boyfriend, and apparently still able to eat any kind of junk food imaginable while continuing to look and feel great.  Yeah, I want all that.

Now, excuse me, I must go and find my Tums.

I thought Private Practice was a lousy show, but I coveted Addison's beach house, hair, clothing, and relationship with Tim Daly.  Oh, and except for all the nearly dying over the years, I want to be Cristina Yang.

On ‎04‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 11:33 PM, Minneapple said:

I thought of another one. Quantico is crap but I'd kill for Alex's hair. Seriously, Priyanka, tell me your hair secrets.

Pantene? ;-)

[topanga]

20 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

Big Little Lies was one of the most recent house porn episodes I envied.

OMG. I can't figure out whose house I want most--Madeline's, Laura Dern's, or Celests's.

Laura Dern's (can't remember her character's name) house was sleek and modern without being cold. Celeste's had that killer master closet. But Madeline had the perfect combination of modern and transitional--hers was renovated AF but still was the most homey.

 

1 hour ago, proserpina65 said:

I thought Private Practice was a lousy show, but I coveted Addison's beach house, hair, clothing, and relationship with Tim Daly.  Oh, and except for all the nearly dying over the years, I want to be Cristina Yang.

Me too. I also liked her glasses.  And remember those salmon scrubs (back on GA)? Loved them.

I liked Cristina's hair.

[NutMeg]

Please let me have Diane Lockhart's (and/or Renata's) wardrobe and Madeline's house. I'll take care of the rest.  

[slf]

Witchy shows and movies tend to have the houses I want (Practical Magic has the best house (and overall aesthetic) but that's a movie) like Charmed and The Witches of East End.

[ChromaKelly]

When I was a kid, I wanted a house with the bedrooms upstairs and a front and back staircase like on The Cosby Show. I also thought having a finished basement with a TV and couch would be the best thing ever.

Now I want the craft room of Allison on Orphan Black and I'm constantly admiring TV kitchens. I want the fridge on Black-ish. Sadly, my real life kitchen is more like The Middle. 

[editorgrrl]

On 4/9/2017 at 9:43 AM, Blergh said:

I'd have loved to have lived in some of the Britcom locales like the Yorkshire Dales in "Last of the Summer Wine."

I want to live in Shetland (aka the Shetland Islands). A temperate maritime climate. Northern lights. In midsummer, you can read outside at 11 p.m.

[Maharincess]

I always wished I was Ethel Mertz so I could be Lucy's best friend and do all of her crazy schemes with her. 

[zxy556575]

Being Mary Richards seemed like a lot of work to me, but I definitely would have changed places with Rhoda.

[legaleagle53]

2 hours ago, Maharincess said:

I always wished I was Ethel Mertz so I could be Lucy's best friend and do all of her crazy schemes with her. 

IF you don't count the fact that more than half the time, Lucy had to talk, beg, cajole, guilt, and nag Ethel into doing those crazy schemes with her -- and into covering for Lucy if Ricky ever got wind of them.

[Quof]

Quote

When I was a kid, I wanted a house with the bedrooms upstairs 

Your bedrooms weren't upstairs??? What did your mother say instead of "Don't make me come up those stairs!!!"? 

[ABay]

I'm sure I've said this before, but I've always wanted to live in a soap opera. When you're in Oakdale, Springfield, Genoa City, Pine Valley, wherever, you are guaranteed to be gorgeous, with gorgeous clothes, a gorgeous house, and many gorgeous lovers. You'll have a fabulous, glamorous job for which you have no discernible qualifications and only have to spend 2 hours a day working at. Any children you have will develop Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome and disappear for years so they don't get under foot. Yes, you will occasionally go blind, get amnesia, go to jail, and/or contract a rare tropical disease but only for 6 weeks. Any crimes you're accused of will ultimately be discovered to be the work of your evil twin.

[Macbeth]

3 hours ago, Lord Donia said:

Being Mary Richards seemed like a lot of work to me, but I definitely would have changed places with Rhoda.

Not me.  I didn't want to live in that cramped attic.

No Mary's apartment...  Those loft ceilings and all that light.  That was different. 

[Irlandesa]

6 hours ago, editorgrrl said:

I want to live in Shetland (aka the Shetland Islands). A temperate maritime climate. Northern lights. In midsummer, you can read outside at 11 p.m.

When I watched this, part of me so wanted to live there because of the temps and the rustic landscape.  But the other part of me would miss trees.  And I don't think getting there is a piece of cake for people, like me, who get motion sick.

Maybe The Highlands would be better. 

[zxy556575]

7 minutes ago, Irlandesa said:

When I watched this, part of me so wanted to live there because of the temps and the rustic landscape. But the other part of me would miss trees. And I don't think getting there is a piece of cake for people, like me, who get motion sick.

Right? The ocean views were lovely, but it struck me as desolate in some ways. Certainly un-leafy.

It reminded me of a friend from the wide open plains of North Dakota. She and I took a trip to Cape Cod and she wasn't a fan -- said she felt hemmed in and a bit claustrophobic with all the foliage, trees and small winding lanes.

14 minutes ago, Macbeth said:

I didn't want to live in that cramped attic.

That's what I liked! Rhoda had the idiosyncratic attic, scarves, bohemian ways, and cutsie boyfriend.

[auntlada]

12 hours ago, Macbeth said:

Not me.  I didn't want to live in that cramped attic.

No Mary's apartment...  Those loft ceilings and all that light.  That was different. 

That show was what made me think studio apartments were cool. I really wanted one when I was a kid. I still like the apartment, but now that I'm an adult, I prefer to have rooms with walls.

11 hours ago, Lord Donia said:

Right? The ocean views were lovely, but it struck me as desolate in some ways. Certainly un-leafy.

It reminded me of a friend from the wide open plains of North Dakota. She and I took a trip to Cape Cod and she wasn't a fan -- said she felt hemmed in and a bit claustrophobic with all the foliage, trees and small winding lanes.

As another person from the Great Plains, I'm with your friend. I thought those photos looked great. Wide open. I'd like to go to the tops of the hills and be able to see forever (when there's no fog, of course). And the description of average winds of 15 mph sounds pretty normal.

[proserpina65]

On ‎06‎/‎03‎/‎2017 at 1:49 PM, editorgrrl said:

I want to live in Shetland (aka the Shetland Islands). A temperate maritime climate. Northern lights. In midsummer, you can read outside at 11 p.m.

 

I wouldn't mind having a vacation house there, but living so far from everything would drive me insane eventually.  I'd end up as the killer that Douglas Henshall arrests at the end of the episode.  Not that I'd mind THAT.

[cpcathy]

On ‎6‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 11:33 AM, Maharincess said:

I always wished I was Ethel Mertz so I could be Lucy's best friend and do all of her crazy schemes with her. 

 

When I was little I wanted Lucy's wardrobe, all those beautiful dresses and the gown with the cigarette pants!

[ChromaKelly]

On 6/3/2017 at 5:26 PM, Quof said:

Your bedrooms weren't upstairs??? What did your mother say instead of "Don't make me come up those stairs!!!"? 

Ha! Right? I thought I was so deprived with no upstairs bedrooms. We lived in a house that was a converted carriage house. My bedroom was kind of a weird attic/loft area, others were on the main floor. Then we moved to a Cape Cod style house. My parents had one upstairs bedroom, made the other a junk room, and my brother and I were on the main level. My house now is a traditional bedrooms upstairs house. My kids don't know how lucky they are!