Where To Watch
Seven iconic MeTV shows that premiered in October
Fall into classic TV!
The Everett Collection
October wasn’t just a fall month—it was a turning point in TV history. Before the pumpkins, there were premieres. From The Andy Griffith Show to I Love Lucy, these classic TV shows made history.
Check out 11 iconic TV shows that all had their premieres in October.
Watch The Andy Griffith Show on MeTV!
Weeknights at 8 & 8:30, Sundays at 12 & 6 PM
*available in most MeTV markets1. The Honeymooners
Premiere date: October 1, 1955, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 1
Fan-favorite episodes: "The $99,000 Answer," "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," "Better Living Through TV," "The Golfer" and "The Man from Space."
Fun fact: The four main characters from The Honeymooners became the blueprint for The Flintstones characters in 1960.
2. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Premiere date: October 2, 1955, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 7
Fan-favorite episodes: "Man from the South," "The Glass Eye," "The Right Kind of House," "Lamb to the Slaughter," and "Man with a Problem."
Fun fact: Alfred Hitchcock directed 17 of the 268 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
3. The Twilight Zone
Premiere date: October 2, 1959, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 5
Fan-favorite episodes: "Eye of the Beholder," "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," "To Serve Man," "Time Enough at Last," and "Living Doll."
Fun fact: Rod Serling wanted Richard Egan to do the narration because of his rich, deep voice. However, strict studio contracts at the time made that impossible.
4. The Andy Griffith Show
Premiere date: October 3, 1960, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 8
Fan-favorite episodes: "Convicts-at-Large," "Barney's First Car," 'Christmas Story," "The Haunted House," and "The Pickle Story."
Fun fact: In many episodes, Barney refers to Andy Taylor as "Ange." That was Don Knotts’ real-life nickname for Andy Griffith, combining his first and last names.
5. The Dick Van Dyke Show
Premiere date: October 3, 1961, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 5
Fan-favorite episodes: "It May Look Like a Walnut," "That's My Boy?," "Coast to Coast Big Mouth," "The Impractical Joke," and "October Eve."
Fun fact: Carl Reiner requested CBS to depict Rob and Laura Petrie sharing a bed, but the network denied the request, adhering to the era's television standards.
6. Leave It to Beaver
Premiere date: October 4, 1957, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 6
Fan-favorite episodes: "In the Soup," "The Bank Account," "Beaver and Andy," "Wally's Test," and "Wally's Big Date."
Fun fact: Jerry Mathers auditioned for Leave It to Beaver in his Cub Scout uniform. Producers found it endearing, leading to his casting as Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver.
7. I Love Lucy
Premiere date: October 15, 1951, on CBS.
Number of seasons: 6
Fan-favorite episodes: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," "Job Switching," "Lucy and John Wayne," "Harpo Marx," and "The Freezer."
Fun fact: Sometimes Desi Arnaz’s distinctive laugh can be heard on the I Love Lucy laugh track, especially when he couldn’t control his laughter.
