The opening credits to “The Simpsons,” which debuted in 1989 and is currently the longest-running American sitcom, end with Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie — the titular dysfunctional, but lovable, nuclear family — squeezing into their respective spots on the couch as their TV flips on. From episode one, it emphasized to its audience the value of watching something together. Your mileage may vary on “The Simpsons,” but there is no denying that movies and TV as communal experiences are foundational, breeding and benefiting from myriad nostalgic influences. It’s why I grew up renting every Rogers and Hammerstein musical on VHS, and the reason everyone in my immediate family has seen most episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy.”  What follows is a choose-your-own-adventure for when you’re planning that next night in with your nearest and dearest.  NOTE: as of publication, nearly everything mentioned below is available to stream on a platform somewhere on the internet. If physical media is your preference, scope out your local library. “Stop Making Sense.” Real people doing real things (plus puppets)  “The Muppet Show,” which ran from 1976 to 1981, was never aimed at children, but the presence of the Muppets themselves smoothed over any potentially sassy edges the celebrity hosts might provide. It’s timeless and immensely watchable. A new version, produced by Seth Roger and Sabrina Carpenter, among others, just launched a pilot episode this month. “Stop Making Sense,” a concert film on the band The Talking Heads, directed by Jonathan Demme, is nothing but impeccable vibes, with music that will have all ages dancing. (“Jackass” may require a bit more explanation to your chosen audience, but it’s still funny and, as the seasons and movies progress, surprisingly poignant.) “Ponyo.” Drawing outside the lines  I recently watched five episodes of “Bluey,” an animated show out of Australia, and by the end I was sobbing (compliment). This show is for people who have always wanted more scenes from “The Holiday” with Jude Law and his young daughters. The movies “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “The Iron Giant” are about families, both biological and found, and feature some of the best voice acting, bar none. (Please also spend a few moments on YouTube looking up videos of how they recorded the dialogue, specifically George Clooney as Mr. Fox.) The works of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki are gorgeous and timeless. “Ponyo” loves ham, and “My Neighbor Totoro” features a giant cat bus. The rest is up to you to discover.  “The Baby-Sitters Club.” Television that hugs you back, but also sometimes punches you in the heart The short-lived Netflix adaptation of “The Baby-Sitters Club” is one of the most charming productions that the streaming platform has produced to date — especially resonant if you grew up checking 12 of those books out at a time from the library. Do you need a reminder of how politics can be inspiring and motivating? Grab everyone you know and watch all seven seasons of “The West Wing.” And, while you’re there, you can also cue up “Gilmore Girls” (bring snacks) and “Anne of Green Gables,” the latter of which is a Canadian production and was a staple on PBS in the late 1980s. Some of us (redheads) are still swooning over Gilbert Blythe. Are you a sitcom family? “Superstore” is one of the most underrated shows of the past decade, touching on everything from unionization to immigration to reproductive rights in its distinctive comedic style. (It hits extra hard if you’ve ever worked retail.) “Sister Act.” Movies are for everyone, but especially you  By law, I’m required to recommend “Newsies,” the highly fictionalized musical tale of the newsboys’ strike of 1899 — either the original from 1992 or the filmed Broadway production that was released in 2017 is acceptable — and, if you buy me a cookie, I’ll tell you how long I wore suspenders in middle school due to its influence. The 2023 film adaptation of Judy Blume’s formative novel, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” is tender and funny and features Rachel McAdams as a Hall of Fame movie mom. Whoopi Goldberg leads an all-star cast in “Sister Act,” and it will have you singing church hymns on a weeknight of your own accord. “Titanic” is a perfect family movie because it truly has something for everyone: star-crossed lovers, to-this-day incredible VFX, facts on facts for the history buffs and the opportunity to, inevitably, tell your pet that you’re going to draw them like one of your French girls.  Johanna Lester is a pop culture critic who mainlines movies, TV and the best cookies Rochester has to offer. She’ll also hold that grudge on your behalf. Follow her @theauntjojo.   The post What to watch when you’re watching together appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture.. ...read more read less