Nostalgia TV Makes a Comeback
Graziadio Faculty Member, Melva Benoit, Quoted in L.A. Times
Melva Benoit, a digital media professor at the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School
and former network executive, is quoted by writers Meg James and Yvonne Villarreal
in the Los Angeles Times. James' and Villarreal's article focuses on nostalgia TV. By breathing new life into
old classics, digital platforms like Hulu and Netflix are competing with hits like
"Games of Thrones" on HBO and "This Is Us" on NBC, both of which are successful in
an era that challenges traditional, network-driven storytelling.
In offering binge-friendly classics, digital platforms avoid production and development
costs while offering viewers something attractive and time-tested. Those familiar
with shows like "Friends," "The Golden Girls," and "The West Wing" enjoy a sense of
nostalgia, while new viewers enjoy these shows with fresh perspective. Benoit notes
that newer shows are sometimes too edgey and that these older shows can be safer for
families to watch together.