Looking for something new to watch? It can be fun to watch a show that’s based in your city. You’ll love watching characters meet up at locations you’ve driven by or even been to yourself. Fortunately, there are many shows as well as movies that have used sunny Miami, Florida, as a beachy backdrop. That’s why today we’re looking at a selection of TV shows in Miami.
In fact, there are numerous streaming services that offer TV shows of various genres, including comedies, dramas, mysteries, and suspense-driven options. Netflix, Apple TV, Disney+, and Hulu all have amazing shows to offer.
With most of us staying home now, it’s a great time to catch up on all the TV shows you may have missed over the years. And, since you’re retired now you can get to the shows you’ve missed in the past that you never had time to see.
No matter what type of TV show you’re interested in, there’s definitely an option for you and if you’ve retired to Florida you’ll enjoy seeing the palm trees and sunshine of your home environment appear on the screen!
To that end, here are some of the best TV shows for seniors that take place in and around Miami, Florida.
Best 5 TV Shows for Seniors in Miami, Florida
1. Golden Girls
You can be any age and still enjoy the hilarious antics of Rose, Blanche, Dorothy, and Sophia. The popular ‘80s sitcom “Golden Girls” lives on thanks to reruns and streaming television. Set against the backdrop of a retirement community in Miami, the Sunshine State takes a starring role in this comedy.
The show was on the air for seven seasons, from 1985 to 1992, and over the years viewers enjoyed the four unique personalities of the women who shared a home together in their retirement years.
Through dating, marriage, kids, jobs, and relationships, the women’s bond never faltered, proving that no matter how many years go by, friendship is essential and important.
Treasured actresses Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Betty White, and Bea Arthur starred as the main characters in this show, and these unforgettable women brought their own zest to these well-written characters.
“Golden Girls” won multiple awards, including Golden Globes and Emmys over the years. It is considered one of the best TV shows of all time, and if you haven’t seen it, do so now! If you have, revisit your favorite episodes with the entire series streaming on the Hulu platform currently.
2. Dexter
If you’re a crime TV junkie or you enjoy reading about true crime, you’ll easily get sucked into “Dexter.” However, don’t watch if you’re overly squeamish – Dexter is a blood analyst by trade and has a nighttime hobby as a serial killer!
The show first aired on Showtime and ran for eight seasons. Fans weren’t pleased about the way the series ended, but the journey to get there is exhilerating, exciting, fast-paced, and full of cliffhangers!
Dexter goes through the ups and downs of life as a member of the police department in Florida. He goes from being a bachelor to a husband and a father, and experiences turmoil at work and at home when his job and his hobby collide.
Dexter doesn’t consider his hobby as a killer to be anything but just desserts for the murderers he disposes of; it’s a form of vigilante justice that Dexter was taught by his now-deceased father, Harry, who was also a police officer.
Harry is seen in flashbacks and played by the wonderful actor James Remar and is kind of Dexter’s conscience as the episodes go by. It’s a drama for sure, and you’ll get caught up in Dexter’s life, always wondering if he’ll get caught, all set against hot, sunny Miami! Watch on Amazon Prime or Netflix.
3. Cougar Town
Courteney Cox and Busy Phillips star in this comedy sitcom about a woman (Cox) who tries to survive post-divorce life in a fictional town in Florida. The humor comes from watching her manage her life, teenage son, work, and friendships after the age of 40.
The show offers six seasons to binge, and it’s lighthearted, funny, relatable, and cute. Cox is great at comedy, as we’ve already seen on “Friends,” so it’s no surprise that she is very likable on this show, too.
Of course, throughout the series you’ll see cameos of some fellow ‘Friends,’ including Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry. Throughout the show, Cox’s character attempts to date and find love after getting a divorce, setting her up for many hilarious situations.
She works as a real estate agent, and things go a little nuts when one of her colleagues ends up with a crush on her teenage son! This is just one storyline that makes “Cougar Town” a fun departure from more serious shows.
If you’re stumped on what to watch this summer and you’re looking for Florida-flavored fare, give “Cougar Town” a chance! You’ll find it on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
4. Miami Vice
Remember Don Johnson and his white suits? If you feel like something a little nostalgic that also takes place in the great state of Florida, “Miami Vice” may be just the right show for you!
This cop drama offers everything we loved about the ‘80s – the music, the fashion, the hair! Crockett and Tubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas) are two undercover police officers in Miami, Florida.
Throughout the five seasons of this show, we see the pair investigate everything from drugs to murder in a surprisingly dramatic action show that successfully combined the most popular music of the decade with taut storylines and suspenseful elements.
Though we may laugh at the fashion now, in those days, the men were seen as fashion icons! You may have had some of these outfits yourself back in the day.
The show was also seen as inventive due to its bright visual effects and colors, making it unique among other shows of the era. However you can definitely see the influence of MTV, or music television, in this series!
The episodes were loosely based on real crimes that happened in Miami, and the show was largely filmed in Florida as well. Catch the neo-noir cop drama on Hulu or Amazon Prime.
5. I Dream of Jeannie
There’s nothing more engaging and fun than binging on one of your favorite shows from a bygone era. Though “I Dream of Jeannie” took place in Cocoa Beach, it’s close enough to count, and it’s too fun not to include!
This fictionalized fantasy happens when an astronaut finds a bottle washed up on a deserted island. He finds that it contains a beautiful genie, played by the lovely actress Barbara Eden. He takes the bottle home and continues an interesting life with Jeannie by his side!
Larry Hagman, who plays astronaut Major Tony Nelson, enjoys life with a genie that can literally make his any wish come true. Of course, Jeannie tends to do magic without being asked, resulting in many hilarious situations that Major Nelson ends up in!
Major Nelson tries to hide Jeannie from friends and others in this silly sitcom. The series ran from 1965 to 1970, and though of course it does feel like it has aged, it’s refreshing to see such fun, innocent humor today!
Of course, as the show progresses, Major Nelson and Jeannie fall in love and become married, with Major Nelson having to hide the fact that Jeannie can do magic from his colleagues, other officers, and his friends. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
How to Choose a TV Show to Stream
Comedy vs. Drama
What are you in the mood for? If you want to delve into something hard-hitting that will keep you engaged and perhaps leave you on a cliffhanger, then a drama may be right for you. If you typically enjoy crime shows, it’s always fun to seek out ones you haven’t seen before.
However, if life is hard enough and you just want to enjoy yourself and laugh, then it’s a good idea to stick with something a little less dramatic and a bit more humorous!
Sometimes a good drama can pull your focus so you’re not concentrating on things that make you worry, but sometimes a good laugh is all you need!
Modern vs. Nostalgic
Often whenever life gets hard, we look to the past for comfort. Sometimes it’s like a balm for the spirit to watch something older and more nostalgic to go back to a simpler time and maybe think about when times were a bit easier or more innocent.
However, if you feel like you grew up with older shows and prefer to catch up with modern TV you’ve missed instead, then why not catch up with current television?
Or, you can alternate one and then the other so you get the best of both worlds!
Half-hour vs. Hourlong
You may only be able to sit comfortably for a half-hour or so, or simply would rather engage in something short and easy to watch. In this case, select a half-hour show that goes by quickly in bite-sized increments.
But, if you enjoy getting caught up in another world and you have the time to spare, sitting down for an hour can be very rewarding! Most shows aren’t a full hour, anyway, and many dramas and crime shows hover near the hour mark.
Don’t miss a good show just because it seems long – once you get into it, the time will fly by!
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