Battle for Black and White Supremacy

In a world of HD 3D CGI, can black and white programming have any relevance to our culture?

Judging by the depth of emotion our panelists have displayed when judging these programs, I'd say the answer is yes.

Whether these votes are driven by a personal nostalgia or a genuine appreciation for production values that were ahead of their time, I can't say.

But I can say that we're going to have a hard time figuring out which of these iconic shows deserves the Hulu Award for Best Classic TV Show.

Remember, Hulu Review readers and the general public can vote on their pick in the comments section of this post. The audience vote will have the same weight as one panelist.

Here are the 6 proposed nominees, and what our panelists had to say about them:

The Addams Family
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Bewitched
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Three Stooges Collection 1934-1936

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Sam from http://axiomsedge-scifi.blogspot.com (read his full, witticism-filled post for more)

Bewitched: This was really my only easy choice. Elizabeth Montgomery brought a grace and beauty to the small screen that has rarely been challenged and, for my money, never truly equaled. Supporting cast Dick York and Agnes Moorehead formed one of the best two or three supporting casts in sitcom history. An amazing show that really stands up over time.

The Three Stooges: N’yuk, n’yuk, n’yuk. Need I say more?

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John from http://axiomsedge-scifi.blogspot.com (read his full, witticism-filled post for more)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents – Presented well crafted stories with unexpected twist endings framed by Hitchcock’s sardonic quips as series host. Why can’t they do good anthology shows anymore?

The Three Stooges Collection 1934-1936 – Those who did not grow up watching the Three Stooges on television likely will not understand the choice. To them I say: “Oh, wise guy eh?”The

Addams Family – This series about lovable eccentrics with a zest for life had to have been a major influence on Tim Burton.

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Emily from http://eclairefare.wordpress.com/:

The Addams Family - Much better than The Munsters, which also started its run in 1964, this show's premise has a classic appeal: the close-knit but "different" Addams have trouble fitting in in their community. This theme of otherness is certainly relatable 40+ years later, which is part of the reason this show has been remade many times over, in forms ranging from movies to cartoons. The cast of kooky characters are what makes this show stand out - not its silly plots. What other show (aside from Twin Peaks) has such a bizarre ensemble, from the morbidly cheerful patriarch, Gomez, to the bizarre relatives like Cousin It and Uncle Fester, not to mention the grumbling butler, Lurch, and the house "pet" (a disembodied hand), Thing.

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Lindsay from linzmcc.blogspot.com :

Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I can't remember which Hitchcock show I remember watching. But I don't think it matters. One of his shows should be on here because he is one of the most well-known and influential writer/directors since film was invented.

Bewitched. I just love Samantha and her wiggling nose. Plus, if you can replace one of your main actors and the show continues to thrive, you must be doing pretty well.

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Rae from www.ramblingsofatvwhore.com

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - Can anyone argue that Alfred Hitchcock is truly a classic among classics? As a Hitchcock fan this one is a must for me and the "Hour" won out over "Presents" because it has more episodes available. Plus, I liked a lot more of Alfred's introductions for the Hour show versus Presents.

Bewitched - I had a hard time choosing between Samantha and Dick Van Dyke. However, in the end, I can't deny the charm of that twitching nose. This show never fails to make me laugh and is a classic among sitcoms.

The Addams Family - Are we sensing a pattern here? I do like the weird and the supernatural and I might have been tempted to pick this one for its theme song alone. However, it's also the quintessential story of a family of misfits and not being afraid to be yourself, no matter how weird others find you. Not only was it funny but it also had heart beneath all that macabre humor

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Antonice from http://antlouis.wordpress.com/

The Addams Family-- Quirky show about a family supposedly they are bizarre and weird to the outsider but, they considered themselves to be the average American family. It just shows the everyday goings ons of the family with some laughs here and there. I loved it!

Bewitched--I nominated this show because, this started my love affair with shows that dealt with magic and witches. This opened the door for Charmed, Buffy, Angel and any other show out there that dealt with the subject of magic. It was a good wholesome show. It never got too dark or scary and it kept us laughing till the end.

The Dick Van Dyke Show--There were a lot of these variety type shows on air back in the 70's. I guess back then, it was about which show was the best because they had a number of people carrying these shows like Carroll Burnett that loved doing the sketch comedy type show. I followed him to his show after Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. As you can see, I had great loyalty to an actor that I liked from something previously!