I Want That! 5 Things From Our Favorite TV Shows That We Wished We Had!

Television is a big factor in American culture. Of course, television is entertainment and escapism, but it's also much more. You may come home from a long day of work or school, and immediately turn on your television as a way to relax, forget about your day, or simply be entertained. However, the power of television in American culture goes way beyond entertainment -- television is also influential. Do you remember that house from the most popular sitcom that looked so cool, and it suddenly made you want to live in L.A.? Or how about that cool car from the best cartoon there is? Oftentimes, we envision ourselves wanting the things that shows make look so next-level, and that's simply the influence of television. If you can relate, continue reading as we take a deep dive into fictional shows that influenced the things we wanted or wanted to try that we never knew we needed!

1. Pear Phone from "iCarly"

If you’re a part of Gen-Z and grew up watching Nickelodeon, there's a safe chance you probably already know what popular TV show the Pear Phone comes from. "iCarly", an American sitcom that originally aired from 2007 to 2012, is home to the pear phone. In the show, the plot was centered around the main character Carly Shay creating a web show with her best friends Freddie and Sam. To communicate, the characters used a phone that resembled an iPhone; however, the phone was called a pear phone. As you probably can guess, the phone was shaped like a pear. A phone with a fire aesthetic that wasn’t like the standard phone? Who wouldn’t want it?! Before "iCarly", a phone shaped like a pear was rarely, if ever, seen, and that led viewers to want a pear phone. Despite the phone being a parody of Apple products, many people are living out their childhood and have purchased devices similar to the pear phone.  

2. Krabby Patties from "SpongeBob SquarePants"

It’s hard to resist watching "SpongeBob SquarePants" and not think about wanting to try a Krabby Patty from The Krusty Krab, one of the fictional fast food restaurants that many of us wish were real. The way "SpongeBob SquarePants" made those Krabby Patty burgers look so appealing, even through a cartoon, is unreal. The sizzle, the patty thickness, the toppings, and the lines across the Bikini Bottom for these burgers all had us wanting to try them. The hype around the Krabby Patty secret formula created even more suspicion as to why these burgers were getting so much attention, as well as the fact that the character Plankton did everything in his power to get the formula to improve the inflow of customers at his restaurant, The Chum Bucket. Krabby Patties give main character energy, and we all want a bite.

3. Backyard Rollercoasters and Time Machines from "Phineas and Ferb"

"There’s a hundred and four days of Summer vacation, and school comes along just to end it, so the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it.” Just like the "Phineas and Ferb" theme song states, finding a good way to spend Summer vacation is important for a child. If you were like me, you probably watched "Phineas and Ferb" and thought about all of the cool inventions that you wish you could have in your backyard. Phineas and Ferb did it all within just 104 days.  A rollercoaster in your backyard? Sounds crazy, right? But Phineas and Ferb perfected it and made us want it. A time machine that allows us to see the past, present, and the future in just a few buttons? Fictional, but it really piqued our interest.

4. Seeing Into The Future from "That's So Raven"

"That’s So Raven" is one of Disney Channel’s most iconic sitcoms. Originally airing in 2003 and ending in 2007, Raven had us wanting to see into the future. Her ability to glimpse into the future and be prepared for sticky situations or avoid chaos was so cool, and it made the show. We're sure many of us pictured ourselves having visions like Raven and thought about what we would do with that ability. Raven’s superpowers weren’t the only thing we wanted -- Raven’s fashion sense was also swaggy. Her outfits were so trendy and she was, by far, one of the best-dressed Disney characters. Her clothes matched her personality: unique, bold, and creative. Raven was an all-around “It girl”! 

5. Living In A Cool Hotel from "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody"

"The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" made the hotel experience more enjoyable for kids. Seeing the main characters, Zack and Cody, live luxuriously in The Tipton Hotel -- with room service, cool events, interesting elevators, and a staff that's cool -- made every viewer wish they could live in a hotel like that. With barely any chores due to the staff taking the heavy load, always something fun to do, and people to hang out with, as a kid, you may have thought to yourself, "Why can’t this be me?" A setting where your mom's coworkers feel like family is so dope. "The Suite Life" never lacked a dull moment; everything felt like a very long vacation that we all hoped and dreamed of, except this was the reality of Zack and Cody’s life.

If you’ve ever secretly wanted to live the lives of these characters or have the things they’ve had, you're not alone! We can definitely relate.