tv meme, day 28: first tv show obsession

Ah, the after-school programming. While my early years were spent plopping in front of the TV after a day of school to watch the likes of Darkwing Duck and DuckTales, after a year or two of school, I graduated to a higher level of braininess in my TV choices. Well, okay, maybe not. But I did get hooked on back-to-back reruns of Designing Women.

So how does one know if they've encountered a television obsession? Well, after a daily reran show cycles through an entire seven seasons-worth of episodes and then starts back at the beginning, and you're still keen on tuning in every day, you just might be obsessed. That was the way of it with this highly humorous, Atlanta-set sitcom. And for all the flack it gets for its uber-80s big hair and shoulder pads and synthesizer "moral moments," the show packed a comedic punch. From Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) the pushover single mom with spunky self-deprecating sense of humor, to the former beauty queen Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) the blunt debutante with a brash mouth to match, to Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart) the slow-talking blonde with a heart of gold, to the center of the group Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) an uber-feminist with a no-nonsense attitude and a series of political tirades to entertain each and every potential viewer. Admittedly so, though the show may've been poked fun at a time or two, it's impossible to deny that this wasn't a talented cast. The ladies of Sugarbaker Designs were never devoid of zingers, and even though it suffered a few slight plotlines in some episodes, this 80s series is worth revisiting or seeing for the first time, if only to acquaint yourself with one of those famous Julia Sugarbaker speeches.

tv meme, day 27: best pilot episode

It was a toughie to choose just one particular pilot episode out of many great ones among my favorites on the tube, but the one that stuck out in particular was that of NBC's The Office, a great comedic start to what would become the envy of comedies on network and cable television alike.

Though somewhat panned by critics (strange turn-around as it's now such a massive success in retrospect), I found the pilot episode terribly fun. Perhaps it's because I'd never seen an episode of the original British incarnation of the series. From establishing the rivalry between prankster Jim and straight-laced (to a degree) Dwight with the classic "stuff in Jell-O" battle, to cementing Michael Scott as the epitome of both well-meaning and funny but ultimately useless boss extraordinaire (along with cementing Steve Carell's future career as go-to funnyman), the pilot of this future comedy classic may not be as outwardly zany or manic as some other more well-liked episodes became, but it certainly altered American television for good. It's subdued form of hilarious awkwardness has now become the norm, nearly doing away with laugh tracks and predictable 20-minute storylines in network programming. Watching it now, it's hard to believe that there was a time when the supporting players (now a television treasure - yes, that means you, Angela, Phyllis, Creed, Kevin, etc.) were never in the foreground. And a time when Jim's mop-top was quite so moppy or Pam's pallid demeanor was quite so homely. All in all, though it's undergone some major changes since its humble beginnings, but this pilot predicted great things for the future of this show, and it's more than met my expectations in the six seasons since.

tv meme, day 26: OMG? WTF! season finale

It's quite clear that no one knows how to end a season, or even an episode for that matter, like Showtime. From the famed Dexter season-enders to the recent Nurse Jackie second-season closer, their original programming always goes out with a bang. The show that's perfected the ultimate cliffhanger, though, is Weeds. [WARNING: Major Weeds spoilage to follow.]

The best of the finales of Weeds has got to be the season two finale, in which Nancy's life has gone completely insane. She's begun her own grow house to supply her web of drug dealing marijuana, she's gotten involved with a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) agent who's started to blackmail her, she's stepped on the toes of two competing gangs, and her delinquent son has taken off with a stash of weed that the two competing gangs feel belong to them. And as the episode closes, Nancy is left facing down the barrels of many guns, all of them demanding more money and more product than she could possibly give them. Talk about an "oh s***" moment! After season one, in which Nancy is just getting into the business, buying from a more experienced dealer, this escalation of peril in Nancy's life is what makes Weeds so entertaining. This poor lonely widowed housewife's ascent to drug king-pin (or queen-pin, as it were) is an amazing journey to be taken on.

tv meme, day 25: a show you plan on watching (old or new)

It's amazing that a show that went on to become a worldwide phenomenon managed to somehow completely evade me for its six-season run. But alas, other than a smattering of episodes from the first season, I've not watched that epic series Lost.

And to think of all the intensely specific coverage the shows gets, from headlines to covers to six-page feature stories in virtually every issue of my favorite entertainment magazines, I've managed, for the most part, to avoid hearing about so many plot twists and apparent character deaths. My avoidance of the show was not voluntary. In fact, the reason I didn't watch it from the beginning was simply that I worked on Wednesday nights. Otherwise, I'm sure I would thoroughly enjoy it. So now that it's finished, and nearly all on dvd, it's about time I watch it through. Thanks to the summer blahs, and the fact that the only good shows putting out new episodes right now are Kathy Griffin and True Blood, it's perfect timing to discover Lost.

tv meme, day 24: best quote

Well, this one was obviously a toughie, considering the scads of comedies I religiously watch.  While I was inclined to go with that brilliant bit of dialogue from the season 5 episode of The Office, "Cafe Disco", in which Michael talks baby talk to his workers in order to convince them to attend his dance party ("Yes, I'm your big daddy, and Ima gonna kissa da boo boo."), for some reason YouTube insists on foiling me despite my intentions of heaping praise on the copyrighted material in question.  Why am I simply not allowed to share my love of wonderful clips with my fellow bloggers?!  But I digress... I chose to go with my close second as a stand-in, the incomparable Tobias Funke uttering an unforgettable line following his preparation to be in the Blue Man Group...

tv meme, day 23: most annoying character

Ugh. That's the first "word" that comes to mind when thinking of that pesky little annoyance that is Will Schuester on Glee. Sure, the show has many other faults (disjointed storylines, outlandish plot twists, and Finn), but the true source of this otherwise enjoyable series' woes rests squarely on the obnoxious Spanish teacher at the center.

Whether he's spinning and dancing and rapping to a nauseating extent with his uber-confident, "I'm a stud and I know it" glances or giving one of his end-of-the-episode patented "serious talks" about "real issues," I'm constantly cringing. It's rather unfortunate, really, when you think of the other great things going on around him - Jane Lynch's magnificent zingers, the vocal prowess of the kids on the show, the growing presence of dunderheaded and delightful Brittany. And to top it off, the worst part about the show seems to be one of the things managing to get the most praise from critics' groups. Matthew Morrison (who plays Schuester) has been nominated for a Golden Globe (and mercifully lost, thank goodness) and just today managed to be nominated for an Emmy. I mean, have they even seen the show? He's melodramatic gobbledegook with a dash of self-indulgent playa-ism and a hint of manwhorishness (you said it best, Emma!). Honestly, if they would just have him sing instead of talk (or rap, god forbid) things would be a lot better. His showboating and sad-face are mind-numbing.

tv meme, day 22: favorite series finale

Though my all-time favorite show may've taken a little dip in creativity in its final season, leave it to the congenial writing staff of Friends to, at the very least, deliver the best series finale I've ever seen.

It contained all the perfect elements of a great series finale, in a completely un-rushed, non-bombastic way: a long-time-gone reconciliation (Ross and Rachel), a tearful goodbye (we'll miss you, mysteriously low-rent dream apartment!), and a hopeful new beginning (Can we get a Jack and Erica Bing spinoff soon please? I mean, they can be the Geller siblings for a new generation!). With Rachel pressing to move to Europe for her career, and Ross unsure of his re-blossoming feelings for her, the finale culminates in what everyone's been waiting for - a final, absolute end to the now-idiom "Ross and Rachel relationship" (is that perhaps the biggest cultural impact the show's had - that now-constant reference to a back-and-forth relationship being a "Ross and Rachel thing?"). At last! Enough with the strange Rachel/Joey sequence and Ross' inability to hang onto a wife for more than a few hours. These two kids were obviously made for each other from the blackout confession and the "With or Without You" U2 moments to the birth of their daughter.

Lest we forget, though, that this episode also brought the new Bing babies into the world (courtesy of the hysterical Anna Faris as the birth mother). To see Monica and Chandler finally becoming parents was a lovely way to end this series, which primarily was about young adults learning to become grown-ups in the backdrop of the city. And though Phoebe had a somewhat muted role in this episode (typically not a good sign for me), she did provide probably my favorite comedic moment with her reference to Jack Bing sounding like a '40s reporter name. At least the writers had the sense to realize that those ending shots of various areas around the iconic apartment were necessary - it really was the seventh cast member.

tv meme, day 21: best 'ships

In order to truly make note of my favorite relationships in television, I was able to corner it down to a mere 16 candidates for the honor. Peruse away!

16. Danica McKellar and Fred Savage

The Wonder Years

15. Isabel Sanford and Sherman Helmsley

The Jeffersons

14. Kaley Cuoco and Jim Parsons

The Big Bang Theory

13. Becki Newton and Michael Urie

Ugly Betty

12. Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton

All in the Family

11. Allie Grant and Elizabeth Perkins

Weeds

10. Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey

30 Rock

9. Tony Hale and Jessica Walter

Arrested Development

8. Phylicia Rashad and Bill Cosby

The Cosby Show

7. Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel

Gilmore Girls

6. Maggie Griffin and Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

5. Debra Messing and Eric McCormack

Will & Grace

4. Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski

The Office

3. Matthew Perry and Courteney Cox

Friends

2. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance

I Love Lucy

1. Julie Kavner and Dan Castellaneta

The Simpsons

tv meme, day 20: favorite kiss

Though this always-hilarious show is known more for its witty one-liners and cultural references and its uniquely quirky mother/daughter relationship, Gilmore Girls at its heart was also about the romantic turmoil of Rory Gilmore. And in season one, it was all about the refreshingly slow-moving steps toward romance that she took will local grocery stock-boy Dean. Their all-of-the-sudden, nerves-ridden peck makes the meme!

tv meme, day 19: best tv show cast(s)

10. 30 Rock (NBC)

Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski,

Jack McBrayer, Tracy Morgan

9. Designing Women (CBS)

Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Annie Potts, Jean Smart,

Meshach Taylor, Alice Ghostley

8. Will & Grace (NBC)

Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally,

Sean Hayes, Shelley Morrison

7. The Golden Girls (NBC)

Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty

6. Ally McBeal (FOX)

Calista Flockhart, Peter MacNichol, Greg Germann, Gil Bellows,

Courtney Thorne-Smith, Lucy Liu, Portia de Rossi, Jane Krakowski

5. The Simpsons (FOX)

Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria,

Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, Tress MacNeille

4. I Love Lucy (CBS)

Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez, Vivian Vance, William Frawley

3. Friends (NBC)

Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston,

Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer

2. The Office (NBC)

Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer,

Phyllis Smith, Creed Bratton, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey,

Brian Baumgartner, Paul Lieberstein, Kate Flannery

1. Arrested Development (FOX)

Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett,

Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, David Cross, Michael Cera,

Alia Shawkat

tv meme, day 18: favorite title sequence

This one was probably one of the easiest choices in all the days of the meme. Sure, there are some great opening sequences, mostly of note to me are the recent ones from the Showtime series (United States of Tara, Dexter, Weeds, etc.) and some sentimental favorites ("I'll Be There for You" from Friends comes to mind), but the truly best one has to go to Danny Elfman's and the television animators' wonderful collaboration on the opening for The Simpsons.

First of all, the creativity and sanity to bring a new touch to each and every opening sequence for 464 episodes and counting is astounding. We all know by now the running gag, even those of us who've managed to avoid seeing one episode of the show. Each episode Bart writes something new for punishment on the chalkboard, and it's always worth avoiding the fast forward button. That's how humorous these writers still are to this day. And then there's the couch gag - which isn't always new for each and every episode, but probably for at least half of them. And as the seasons go on, they seem to be more and more elaborate. But beyond the parts of the opening that change for each episode, there are also the wonderful detailed pieces throughout. From Lisa getting kicked out of band practice for wailing on her saxophone too creatively, to Bart skateboarding through a host of local characters, to Homer removing that pesky carbon rod from his safety suit, it's all a visual smorgasbord.

Perhaps the most fun part of the sequence, beyond the chalkboard and couch bits, are the interactions between mother and daughter, Marge and Maggie Simpson. Starting in the grocery store as Maggie accidentally gets misplaced on the conveyor belt (she's worth $847.63, fyi, apparently once the cost to raise a baby in the United States for a month), and then an alarmed Marge grabs her and hops in the car. From there you get a glimpse of Maggie maniacally driving the family car, only to zoom out and see that it's in fact Marge, while Maggie is steering a toy steering wheel. Perhaps the reason I enjoy these two so much is that through it all, Marge and Maggie seem to be the best friends on display in the whole show. So thanks to the quirky fun and now insanely recognizable theme from Danny Elfman and the great attention to detail of the creators of the show, this ranks as my number-one opening title sequence.

tv meme, day 17: favorite miniseries or tv movie

Well big confession here - this was the day in the meme I was probably most looking forward to. I must admit that for a time - which is now seemingly dead - miniseries were actually quite good and dependable and a highly enjoyable method of entertainment. But as cable and network channels alike are abandoning the medium, I'd like to reminisce about the best one ever put to film, A&E/the BBC's Pride and Prejudice.

In what amounts to a five-hour epic that is impossibly loyal to Jane Austen's original work, this particular adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is not only the hands-down best, but it also would rank in my top 50 films of all time had it been a theatrical release. Not to knock the 2005 incarnation, for it certainly had its merits, but there's no beating the Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle match-up. Perfection. I know that viewing the masterpiece is a little bit of an undertaking considering its length, but its so worth your while. Aside from the genius subtle chemistry between the two leads, the series is jam-packed full of great character actors in the minor roles. Particularly of note are Alison Steadman and Benjamin Whitrow as Mrs. and Mr. Bennet. From things constantly "vexing on her poor nerves" to remarking on his daughters as "the silliest girls in all of England," the Bennet parents are eccentric and wholly British fun. And Carl Davis' score is a knock-out - check his comparable work on the film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility for a reference point.

But my miniseries-loving stage didn't pass without yielding a few other favorites. Though none come even close to P&P, there were a few worth mentioning here. First, 2001's ABC adaptation of Anne Frank's story was surprisingly fresh considering how many times this story has been told. Particularly of note are the performances by leads Hannah Taylor Gordon and Ben Kingsley, as well as the fact that the production shows the before and after of the time in the attic, often to harrowing effect. Also, I may've been the only person to watch them, but 2000's NBC epic miniseries The 10th Kingdom and ABC's Arabian Nights from the same year were both highly entertaining works. The former for its creative use of pretty much every fairy tale you can imagine and the latter for its skilled performance from Mili Avital and well-thought-out story of Scheherazade. Finally, I'd like to give one more shout-out to the insanely long, but worthwhile Taken, the 2002 alien abduction epic from the Sci-Fi Channel that, though approaching 20 total hours, bests most full-on television series.

tv meme, day 16: your guilty pleasure show

Now, I suppose because of its accolades from critics and audiences alike, perhaps this isn't quite qualified to be a "guilty pleasure," but nonetheless, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List is a silly reality show. And so, I have to inherently feel a little guilty about it.

Now, Kathy has certainly taken a lot of guff from talk shows and nay-sayers alike, but if people would giver D-List a shot, I think they'd be pleasantly surprised at how human Ms. Griffin is. Sure, you sort of have to enjoy her brand of naughty humor and celebrity bashing, but from her trip to the Middle East to entertain troops in Iraq during wartime, to her visit the Walter Reed army hospital to spend time with families of injured veterans, to the maximum security women's prison set she did to bring her comedy to the inmates on death row, Kathy is definitely not afraid to push barriers with her stand-up. If it's any indication of her ability to feel and act like a normal, emotional human being, just take a look at her very close relationship with her parents throughout the show - one of the true highlights of the series is her standard interaction with her mother, Maggie - the 90-year-old, boxed-wine-loving hoot that serves as Kathy's voice of reason.

But the true pinnacle of D-List awesomeness came last season, when Kathy devoted each episode to at least one meet-up with an "A-list" celebrity. The highlights? Well, she convinced Lily Tomlin to sort of crank call Jane Fonda on a whim, she had a sleepover with Paula Deen in Savannah, Georgia, she convinced Al Sharpton to introduce her set at the Apollo Theatre, and she got Melissa Etheridge to knight her with her Best Original Song Oscar. So in short, with season six just underway, summer programming has certainly never been better. No one should feel guilty about indulging in a show that keeps your laughing so hard you cry for a solid 60 minutes - without fail.