The Monkees (Syndicated)

Capitalizing on Beatlemania, the 1960s sitcom THE MONKEES followed a group of four hip, floppy-haired young guys in an up-and-coming band as they played music, hung out on the beach, and goofed around. In each episode, band members Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, and Peter Tork fill their idle hours with ridiculous antics and hopeless misadventures, all of which are over-the-top but, predictably, solvable within the show's 30-minute timeframe. Each episode also includes music from the band, which -- despite being assembled just for the show -- managed a handful of folksy pop-rock hits like "Daydream Believer" and "Pleasant Valley Sunday" during its heyday. Eventually, the fictional band became a real touring and album-recording group, cementing their status as Beatles doppelgangers (or, according to some, inauthentic knock-offs) -- and their appeal to the '60s youth culture demographic.

Make no mistake: This show sets out to be corny, and if there are any doubts about its intention, the colorful, goofy costumes and quick-change comedy scenes soon put them to rest. The Monkees excel at, well, monkeying around, blending physical comedy with shtick in a way that's strangely endearing to viewers who don't mind the show's dated feel or the fact that it's in no way related to reality.

It may be a hard sell to get your tweens or teens to tune in, but if they do, rest assured that there's no content to worry about. Brief kisses, some mild flirting/innuendo, and the use of weapons strictly as props are the worst of it. And who knows? Maybe you and your kids will find common ground in some of the band's hits that can still be heard today.