Do you watch older sitcoms?

While looking for something new and interesting to read awhile back I picked up a Murder, She Wrote novel based on the old TV show.. and ended up getting hooked. I'm now in the process of reading all the novels.

Then last week my husband and I happened to notice the first season of the show, Murder, She Wrote on DVD, so we bought it and started watching it.

I know at the time it was a very popular show.. but I can't get over the terrible acting! Not by the main characters of course.. but some of the extras are just awful! The plots themselves are good.. but the directing pretty much stinks too. The drama scenes are a bit overdone.. you can tell it's just so phony and faked.

I'm guessing that's just how the older TV shows were made. My husband used to watch the old Knight Rider episodes, and I saw the same phony acting and cheesy drama.

For me, it certainly takes away from the enjoyment of the show. These days television shows seem far more seemless.. as if they're more real life than a TV show. I guess that's just what I'm used to these days.

Have you ever watched an older TV show or sitcom and noticed phony acting and overly dramatic scenes?