TV That Made Me: Josh Rivera

My first favorite shows as a kid: Boomerang cartoons

I was a real cartoon kid. I remember I would always sit in front of the TV and watch the Boomerang network. It had Dexter's Laboratory, The Flintstones, The Powerpuff Girls, Courage the Cowardly Dog and all that Cartoon Network stuff. I was big into Cartoon Network.

And when my parents fell asleep, I would watch Family Guy on Adult Swim, too. Those were the first things I can remember gluing me to the TV — just that sort of mindless, goofy stuff.

The shows that were really formative for me as a teen: Mad TV, Chappelle’s Show, The Colbert Report

I remember a period of time when I watched a lot of Mad TV and Chappelle’s Show, because they were on after I would get home from school. I would get home and put Comedy Central on. I just really like sketch comedy; I think it informed some of my inflections with my friends, when I think about it, and conversationally, how I deliver my humor does sort of align with some of the silly stuff I saw back in the day on those shows.

The lineup for me was Mad TV, Chappelle’s Show and The Colbert Report — those were all right after school. And, weirdly, I think they kind of equipped me for what I do now, just because they’re a bunch of people playing silly characters. In mimicking that, I got a taste for getting out of myself. Maybe that's a bit dramatic, but it's kind of what ended up happening, which is funny because it stems from this really goofy place.

The show I consider to be way ahead of its time: Freaks and Geeks

I don't think this is a hot take at all. Freaks and Geeks is a really great one that I actually watched later on, I think when it started streaming. I remember seeing it on Netflix and being like, “This is an amazing show!” And then I was looking for other seasons, and they didn't make any more seasons. Whatever. But yeah, I imagine it’s probably a popular answer.

The shows that were must-watch weekly viewing for me: Succession, Severance

Succession is finished, and now I'm waiting very patiently for Severance. I'm really excited for that to come back for another season.

But yeah, these are the two in recent memory that I can remember having a hard time waiting, not knowing what was going to happen next.

The show I wish I could rewatch for the very first time: Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

I don't remember which season number it was, but it was the one with Boston Rob, and I think the cop ended up winning it. I just remember being on the edge of my seat. I'm not a big reality TV guy, but Survivor is kind of my exception, just because of … well, I don't know. I just think it's great. That entire season, my jaw was on the floor. It was so good. I would sit and watch that again for the first time.

The show I can watch over and over again: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

We all have those shows where you can put them on, and it's just like comfort food. You’re on your phone, or you're doing chores. Always Sunny is mine. I just watch it all the time. And what’s great is there are so many seasons.

The show I would love to see brought back for one more season: GLOW

I was really, really into GLOW — Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling — on Netflix. I was really sad that it got canceled. I wanted to know what would happen next. That was one of my favorite shows at the time.

The show I would have loved to work on: Search Party

There are obviously a lot of answers, but the first one I’m thinking of is Search Party. There’s something about the energy of that show: it's very dark, but it’s absurd and eccentric and fun. Michael Showalter is a [creator], and he's very good at towing that sort of weird line. I really, really like this show, and I would have loved to be in it.