I am a 50s child too. But only just.
I remember the 80s programmes mentioned above. By comparison, when Neighbours started, it seemed a premium programme! I got sick of everyone moving round the street like musical houses. People just decided to move in with a neighbour and that was that. A couple of weeks later - they were moving in with someone else. Like Eastenders. The houses are elastic.
Give me a Dennis Potter play anyday.