Back when I was growing up, starting in the 70s, Ha, tv shows was the thing to watch. For those that did not have cable had to mess with the antenna to dial in the perfect signal. Most of the time, while watching these episodes, mostly, show that were featured in present time, had many similarities. Scifi, historical, or others, did not seem to fit the bill, just normal day to day tv shows. Shows like MacGyver, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, A Team, and others, all had similiar episodes cleverly disguised with a new plot.

I will list the Top Ten similarities start with Number 10. This is just for fun, and not meant to be an exact tv show by tv show comparison. Not all shows had that same things, but it is funny how some shows do seem to be the same.

-- Episodes that required the character(s) to spend time at a Mission.

Usually a Spanish Mission, with a nun or two, and some kids, were part of the episodes. The missions usually include the main character with working there or visiting, and the nuns are always having visits from bad guys.

-- Episodes that had all the bad guys wearing suits.

There always seemed to be bad guys, even the henchmen, the wore suits and tie, and dress shoes. They always carried a little 6 shooter pistol. Maybe a pump shotgun. But either way, the good guy was always chased by well dressed bad guys.

-- Episodes where someone always has to dress like a cop.

Somewhere in time every tv show has for one reason or another, require a bad guy, or good guy to dress up as a cop, usually either to steal information, or to "off" someone.

-- Episodes that dealt with people in the "hood" or bad parts of town

Some episodes feature the character(s) moving to, working in, or visiting, a particularly bad part of town. They would end up challenged by hoodlums, and some how find their way to a Youth group building, where a lone guy/girl is trying to rehab the neighborhood. There is usually one person, who is the favorite of the youth group, who gets caught up in some neighborhood scandal but in the end, usually does the right thing.

-- Episodes that have a boy/girl, usually 15 yrs old or younger, that is super smart.

Some shows, have character(s) happening across a super child that is incredibly smart. And even though they are smart, some how it tends to get them in trouble. Either they have bad guys chasing them because they are smart, or they runaway looking for their parents, or something.

-- Episodes where a dad or mom is a child abuser and drinker

There is alway a kid running around with bruises, and somehow the character feels the need to go confront the family first, and either gets beat up or is forced away. Usually in the end, the family member sees his/her wrong ways and always promises that he/she will be better.

-- Episodes that have a biker gang, reeking havoc.

There is always a show with a biker gang, that terrorizes certain small towns. The character(s) usually come into town either for a pit stop or forced to stop along the way for some reason. The biker gang shows its muscle, at first. Then somewhere along the line, the good guys prevail, and make the biker gang leave town...

-- Episodes that involves the US Army

For some reason the character(s) of the shows always like to get make the US Army mad at them. Making the army send out artillery and tanks to stop whoever is wondering through their bomb range, even though the characters are always in plain sight, the army just keeps shooting and shooting, but never getting too close.

-- Episodes that somehow require the Dark Side of Characters

Some shows have the character, either taking or been given some sort of drug or electrical application that causes the main character to, just for that episode, show his darker colors, and be evil. It usually wears off at the end of the episode, giving the character ample time to figure a way to apologize, for his/her behavior. Sometimes they just go on, letting everyone figure that was just the way they were.

-- Episodes where there is a double of the character.

They always seem to have a show where there is a another character, of course played by the main character, that is the bad guy. They look just alike except for maybe a facial hookup lol. And somewhere along the way, people start mistaking the good character from the evil character. And the good guy spends the whole episode fending off bad guys, cops, the other guy, until he/she can figure a way to fix it.