How does one pick their favorite television shows over the
course of an almost 50 year lifetime? Answer: It's not as easy as you'd think!
I started this
fun little idea by simply jotting down all of the shows that popped in my head.
Over the course of a two week brainstorm I came up with a little over 200 show
titles. From there I started to cross off shows that I knew wouldn't make the
top 50. A hundred or so dropped to the wayside during that first cut. Another round of cuts got me down to 52
shows and finally, that list was whittled down to the shows you'll read about
in this countdown.
A new show will
be posted every Sunday and Wednesday until I reach number one. I hope you enjoy
the reading!
#25-Tie: Miami Vice (NBC, 1984-1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjXPY9jOx8
Favorite character: 'Sonny' Crockett
There were cop
shows before and there have been cop shows since, but none of them have
appealed to me in the unique way that is 'Miami Vice'. Artistic. Flashy. Fast
paced. Shootouts. Hip music. Teenage me ate it all up in massive, weekly
spoonfuls. I loved it all.
Crockett's
pastel T-shirts, linen jackets, sockless topsiders, and trademark stubble all screamed
1980's. Don Johnson's character lived on a boat, drove a Ferrari, took on the
bad guys, and was silky smooth throughout. Crockett and QB Dan Marino shared Miami and swag before it was even a thing.
#25-Tie: Family Ties (NBC, 1982-1989)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H3JuQUQTLQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H3JuQUQTLQ
Favorite character: Alex P. Keaton
Sure, there
were interesting storylines and characters outside of Michael J. Fox's
character, but this show was all about Alex P. Keaton for me. Without him, this
show doesn't come anywhere near even my top 100.
The funny moments, his interactions with
family members, and the way he dressed all drew me in. For several of my teen
years I wanted to *be* Fox/Keaton when I grew up, or at least as close to as
good looking, smooth talking, great dressing, and wonderfully humorous as I
could possibly be to one of the most enjoyable and influential
actors/television characters of my lifetime.
#24: I Dream of Jeannie (NBC, 1965-1970)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps3d0qYdeSE
Favorite character: Jeannie (of course)!
This show was
in reruns by the time I was watching it, but either I didn't know or didn't
care at the time. The whole 'genie in a bottle' concept, coupled with the
shenanigans that Jeannie and her 'Master' got into episode after episode, drew
me in. Elementary school me enjoyed the fact that Dr. Bellows could never
figure out what was going on, despite all of Major Nelson's strange behaviors
and madcap antics. And of course, being the red blooded American male that I
am, it must be said: Barbara Eden's outfit rocked!
#23: Gilligan's Island (CBS, 1964-1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfR7qxtgCgY
Favorite character: Gilligan
Another show
that I enjoyed in reruns that ran so often that it's safe to say I've probably
seen every episode. The repeated comedic failures the group experienced when it
came to getting off the island were akin to the coyote catching the Road
Runner; it became blatantly obvious to nine year old me that it was never going
to happen. The accompanying question that begged for me and so many others: If
'The Professor' was so smart, how come he couldn't come up with a way to get
them off the island?
Of course all
of the failed schemes and ideas were a necessity to keep the show alive, and
the entertainment the show brought lied within those failures. The 'stranded on
a desert island' concept has proven to be a repeated winner in our culture (see
'Castaway'/Tom Hanks or in music form, 'Message in a Bottle/Sting'), but
'Gilligan's Island' is the first time I can remember being exposed to the
concept.
And in closing,
my answer to the age old 'Gilligan' question: Mary Ann.
#22: Three's Company (ABC, 1977-1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFC402-9BLE
Favorite character: Jack Tripper
The main
premise of the show came from Jack having to pretend he was gay so that he
wouldn't be kicked out by his landlord, Mr. Roper (and later, Mr. Furley). It's
downright ridiculous and laughable in 2017. Oh how times have changed since the
1970's.
John Ritter's
humor struck a chord with myself and many others, and he was unquestionably the
star of the show. Much to my chagrin, right around the time I became old enough
to enjoy the fact Suzanne Somers was fun to look at, she left the show.
Nevertheless, despite the flaws that stand out even moreso in 2017, 'Three's
Company' makes the countdown because it was a staple of my viewership in the
late 70's and early 80's.
#21: The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960-1968)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lli9ABUFZCU
Favorite character: Barney Fife
Ah, those
legendary characters: Andy. Barney. Aunt Bee. Opie. Floyd. Gomer. Goober. And
of course, Otis. Has there been a show outside of 'Andy Griffith' and 'The
Brady Bunch' that you can throw out over a half dozen character's first names
and immediately picture them in your head? I can't think of any others.
Andy's
professionalism, mixed with Barney's ineptness, led to countless hilarious
situations throughout the episodes and seasons. The fact Barney was only
allowed to carry one bullet, and had to keep it in his shirt pocket no less,
still cracks me up to this day.
The believable
story lines, combined with the show's ability to make the characters feel like
real people, are two of the main reasons this show reached an elite level. As a
kid I could envision myself joining Andy and Opie on a fishing outing, walking
through the quiet streets of Mayberry over to Floyd's shop to get a haircut, or
waving hi to Goober through the back windshield as he pumped gas into my Dad's
car. And regardless of if it was offered when I was 9 in 1977 or 49 in 2017,
I'd never turn down a slice of Aunt Bee's homemade pie.
#20: The Waltons (CBS, 1972-1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpmRcP8S7Bo
Favorite character: John-Boy
While I was
aware of this show in my youth, I really didn't get fully into it until
adulthood. It ran during my boys' naptimes for a summer or two when they were
infants/toddlers, and my wife and I watched together nearly every weekday
during that time span. Since then I've watched off and on over the years.
Good old
wholesome family entertainment is the first sentence that comes to mind here.
John-Boy's experiences and the life lessons he learned were at the center of
the show, at least for me.
In doing some
reading for this write up I've felt the urge to watch it again and have also
discovered I have yet to see all of the episodes, as some of the storylines
I've read about are not familiar to me. I'm pretty sure this is the only show
in the countdown for which this is applicable. I'm suddenly excited! Anyone
interested in joining me for a Waltons marathon day this summer?
#19: Six Feet Under (HBO, 2001-2005)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5JkGY1qC8Y
Favorite character: Nate Fisher
This show and
'The Twilight Zone' are tied atop my personal list for 'most bizarre shows
ever.' Death was the overriding theme and in fact, the first character we meet
on the show dies within the first few minutes of the initial episode. The show
ends with death too, as it goes into the future to show us the demise of each
major character. Despite that gloomy ending, the last six or so minutes of that
final episode are incredibly powerful and undeniably brilliant.
While 'Six Feet
Under' made me uncomfortable at times, the drama within the episodes, the
fantastic acting, and the intriguing story lines more than made up for it.
I can
understand why this show wouldn't be for everyone. For those that can deal with
the fact its' focus is on the topic of death though, the entertainment rewards
are aplenty. If you've seen and enjoyed 'Six Feet Under', you're nodding your
head in agreement. If you haven't and you're reading this thinking, 'Focus on death? What
the ???' I'd recommend you give it a try. You may be surprised at how much you
enjoy it.
#18: Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO, 2000-present)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag1o3koTLWM
Favorite character: Leon Black
This show is
pretty, pretty, pret-tay good. Larry David stars as himself, and the show
follows the 'Seinfeld' outline that sees a mixture of plots converge at the end
of each episode.
As my friend
Paul once said, Larry is always getting into some s**t, and it's repeatedly of
his own doing. The series really took off for me personally when Larry started
dating a black woman whose last name is actually Black. That's when her brother came into the mix and the comedy levels jumped to an elite level
with Leon on the show.
Jeff Garlin's
character (Jeff Greene) deserves mention here too, as his comedy has sent me
into giggling fits time and again. The episode that sees Jeff sleep with Marty
Funkhouser's crazy sister is one of my all-time favorites; it was still vivid
in my mind the day after I first saw it, but I was at school and trying (truth
be told, somewhat failing) to focus on teaching, doing my best to stifle my
giggles throughout the day.
Excited about
the upcoming season nine and hoping Leon gets into as many scenes as possible!
#17: Welcome Back Kotter (ABC, 1975-1979)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI
Favorite character: Vinnie Barbarino
Mr. Kotter and
the Sweathogs was must see t.v. when I was a boy. Horshack's laugh, Epstein's
repeated notes from his mother, Washington's 'Hi there' greeting, and
Barbarino's 'What? Where?' schtick never got old and still get giggles from me
to this day.
The school
setting was a winner and Mr. Woodman's appearances always added to the
hilarity. It must also be mentioned that the show's theme song was fantastic
and actually made it to #1 on the pop charts in 1976.
I didn't fully
realize the impact this show had on my life until 2012 when first Robert Heyges
(Epstein) and then later Ron Paolillo (Horshack) passed away. I shed tears over
both, even though I had of course never met them. They live on in reruns and
every once in awhile I'll pull up a clip of the show via Youtube........and
enjoy being a boy all over again.
#16: This Week in Baseball (WGN, 1977-1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLexuDFeHY
Favorite 'character': Mel Allen
In the summer
of 1977 I was a sports obsessed 9 year old boy. Watching sports, playing
sports, and talking about sports was at the absolute core of my being.
The world was
much different back then. No ESPN. No cable television. No internet. I had the
daily newspaper, various magazines, and the handful of minutes devoted to
sports coverage on the nightly news at my disposal. Those weren't nearly
enough. I was *starving* for more information.
Along came
'This Week in Baseball'. The show was a precursor to Sportscenter, showing the
previous week's highlights throughout Major League Baseball. It was an
opportunity to see players from teams outside of the Sox and Cubs, and Mel Allen's voice was music to my ears.
His voice, along with the show's theme song, still gets my blood pumping these 40 years later.
His voice, along with the show's theme song, still gets my blood pumping these 40 years later.
#15: The Bozo Show (WGN, 1960-2001)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-tJh_GfUc
Favorite character: Bozo the Clown
One of my most
vivid and wonderful childhood memories is making the daily two minute dash from
Hermes Elementary School to home for lunch and 'The Bozo Show'. The highlight
of the show was unquestionably 'The Grand Prize Game', which saw a boy and girl
selected at random from the audience, each having an opportunity to land a ping
pong ball in sequential buckets that were located further from the contestant
than the last. The kid would win a prize with each successful toss, with a
nice, crisp $100 bill as the final reward if one landed the ball in bucket
number six.
My parents
signed up to attend the show when I was a toddler and after a seven year wait,
the tickets arrived. My Mom, Aunt Linda, and myself went to WGN's studio in
Chicago, where I was stunned by the small size of the set. It looked so much
bigger on television! My chance at Bozo bucket glory went down in history as a
near miss, as the arrows landed on my Aunt, who was sitting just to my right (and
was also too old to play).
My
disappointment in not being chosen remains these 40+ years later, but attending
that show was easily one of the top moments of my childhood.
#14: Ray Rayner and His Friends (WGN, 1964-1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceLsw7tS4Dk
Favorite character: Ray Rayner
If you were a
kid in the Chicagoland area in the 1970's, you grew up with Ray. His show was a
staple of my weekday mornings before leaving for school in the mid '70's. My
favorite part was the two- billed cap he wore, with one half of it Cubs and the
other White Sox (you can see one version of it around the 7:00 minute mark in
the above clip).
His show was a
mixture of news reports, sports updates, cartoons, and more. Of course one
cannot talk about the Ray Rayner Show without mentioning Chevelston the (real)
duck, along with Ray's talking dog puppet named Cuddly Duddly.
Ray's suit
would be covered with notes that held reminders of what to do next on the
program, a hilarious habit that I may or may not have recreated a time or two
during my teaching career. One other feature I recall is Dr. Lester Fisher's
segments, which showed him with various animals from the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Gosh how I
would love to see WGN create a DVD season or two of Ray's show so I could have
a little taste of being a kid all over again.
#13 (tie): Super Friends (ABC, 1973-1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVelTwqGNWA
Favorite character: Superman
#13 (tie): Beavis and Butt-head (MTV, 1993-1997)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPeePg2N6QM
Favorite character: Beavis
Spot #13 on the
countdown is shared by the only two cartoons on the list. They featured a
gallery of super heroes........and a pair of idiots.
I was into the
Super Friends for a 2-3 year period. They were on at 7 a.m. on Saturday
mornings, and I was up and in front of that television every single week. I
especially liked the episodes that saw my cartoon heroes square off against the
cast of villains from the Legion of Doom. At ten years old I knew the Super Friends
would eventually prevail in whatever scheme or crime the bad guys conjured up,
but the lack of suspenseful outcomes never put a damper on my enthusiasm for
the show.
Beavis and
Butt-head came along in the summer of '93, just after I finished teaching my
first year in South Beloit. There were only a dozen or so episodes that first
season, and that, combined with my love of the show and the timing of being off
all summer, led to me seeing each episode at least 20 times apiece.
While the two
shows came along at completely different times of my life and in fact were
well, two completely different types of shows, they both grabbed my attention
and for me, they rose above the rest in the cartoon world. None of the others
could preserve justice for all of mankind, nor did they possess the annoying
and addicting laughter of a couple of teen morons.
#12: Catfish (MTV, 2012-present)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMA4x7aXJT0
Favorite 'character': Nev Schulman
On the surface,
one would think this show would be simple: Person A falls for person B, person
A finds out person B has been lying at some level, person A ends online
relationship, the end.
It's so not
that.
So many
episodes, so many different twists and turns. Yes, there are fakes. Yes, there
are liars. There are also stories that make your heart melt, stories that make
your jaw drop, and stories that make your eyes roll.
Favorite
episodes include (spoiler alert!) the slow clapper from season two ('Artis and
Jess'), the paranormal activity episode with Courtney, and of course the Mom's
behavior in the 'Ramon and Paola' episode. Those are just a small sample though
of the craziness that is 'Catfish'.
If you're not
watching yet, do yourself a favor and set that DVR. After you've watched an
episode or two, you'll want to reach out to me so let's just take care of this
right now:
You're welcome!
:)
#11: The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984-1992)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsddoySxOJo
Favorite character: Theo Huxtable
Back before the
public learned what a despicable person Bill Cosby was, he had a very cool show
that was watched and loved by millions. 'The Cosby Show' focused on an upper
middle-class family, parents Cliff and Claire Huxtable and their five children.
The show had
what felt like just the right mixture of comedy and seriousness, and it was
must see t.v. for the bulk of its tenure. The episode in which Cliff's parents
celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary stands out in my mind, with the family
lip sync being the most memorable scene.
I was around
Theo's age when the show was a hit and the fact he was the only boy was an
additional reason I was drawn to his character. Must add I was crushing hard on
Lisa Bonet back then, and really found all of the show's characters to be
appealing. Tempted to close this write up by sharing what I hope (wish?) would
happen to Bill Cosby in 2017, but I think it'd be better if I kept that one to
myself!
#10: Survivor (CBS, 2000-present)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyb2HYSne3E
Favorite contestant of all-time: Rupert Boneham
After watching
the first season of 'Survivor', I was so sickened that I vowed to never watch
again. The thought of Richard Hatch winning a million dollars still makes me
throw up a lil' in my mouth to this day.
I stuck to that
personal vow for several years until a woman I was seeing begged me to watch an
episode with her. It took that one time and there I was again, hooked, lined,
and sinkered.
The lying and
deceit that happens within each season is a definite turn-off, yet I admire a
lot of the players' intelligence too. There's admittedly a sort of love/hate
relationship present for me.
Having a
rooting interest in who wins the money each season is silly on the surface;
it's like cheering for a sports team, even though you've never met any of the
players. Yet, time and again I find myself pulling for one or two individuals
and even if they are eliminated at some point, curiosity brings me to the
viewership finish line.
For me,
'Survivor' is the ultimate reality television show, giving us the various
character traits that we as human beings possess. That mixture of good, bad, and
ugly displayed in my living room each season is fascinating, even after all
these years.
#9: Happy Days (ABC, 1974-1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6zl5x8r9Bs
Favorite character: The Fonz
'Happy Days'
was must see t.v. for myself and countless others back in the 1970's. There was
no better place to be than in front of your television on Thursday nights at
7:00 back then.
'The Fonz' was
the main character and there never was, nor ever will be another one like him.
Snap your fingers and get girls to come running to your side? Hit the jukebox
and make music play? The hair. The sunglasses. And of course, the jacket. Henry
Winkler nailed the role in a way you can't help but think no other actor could
have done.
Richie
Cunningham was a close runner up when it came to fave characters on the show.
Ron Howard grew up from Opie Taylor to Richie, but both were family oriented
characters that audiences found extremely appealing.
It's true that
'Happy Days' took a downturn in quality over the last few years of the show
(see Fonzie jumping the shark episode for reference), but at its peak I simply
couldn't get enough of it, even with the goofy Ralph Malph, Potsy Weber, and
Chachi characters!
#8: The Wonder Years (ABC, 1988-1993)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ob59hsRaFU
Favorite character: Kevin Arnold
For a guy who
cherishes his childhood memories, this show is right up my alley. Although it
was set in a historical time period several years before my own childhood, I was head over
heels in love with the show.
The show was
the first (to my knowledge) that had an adult narrating the life story of
his own character from childhood; I recall reading the mega popular movie, 'A
Christmas Story' used that concept as a direct result of 'The Wonder Year's'
success.
The storylines
that involved family and school scenes were of the highest interest to me. His
love interest (Winnie) plot lines were less appealing, but not enough to sway
me away from the show.
Although it's
been almost 30 years since the first season, the show still holds up well today
and in fact, I re-watched season one recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a
show definitely deserving of its top ten ranking and one I'd highly recommend
to those who have yet to watch it!
#7: Little House on the Prairie (NBC, 1974-1983)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HikMKdl6Rnc
Favorite character: Charles Ingalls
If there was a
television version of 'Father of the Year', Mr. Ingalls, aka 'Pa', surely would
have won multiple times. The guy was in what seemed to be a constant good mood,
worked his butt off, was an exemplary father, spouted wisdom in seemingly every
episode, adopted an unruly child in town, wasn't afraid to cry, played the
fiddle to entertain his family, and pretty much did the right thing in every
life circumstance thrown at him.
Mrs. Ingalls
was a remarkable woman in her own right, but I have to ask: Has any t.v. Mom
suffered more heartache? Without looking anything up (and trusting my memory
wayyyyyy too much), I seem to recall her constantly cooking and/or cleaning,
tending to the children while Charles was working, dealing with Mrs. Oleson far
too often, suffering along with Mary when her daughter went blind, and losing a
child shortly after birth. I'm sure there was a whole lot more in there too!
All that aside,
the show was wholesome, interesting, and simply great entertainment for
childhood me back in the 1970's. In closing I have to ask: How did Mr. Oleson
manage to keep his sanity, considering how he was dealing with Mrs. Oleson, his
nightmarish daughter Nelly, and his troublemaking son Willy on a day to day
basis?!?
#6: The West Wing (NBC, 1999-2006)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JivPEYjYd20
Favorite character: Leo McGarry
The first 3-4
seasons of this show were about as entertaining as t.v. gets for yours truly
(The show drops to #6 on the list however because of those last 2-3 seasons).
The storylines.
The wit. The banter. The humor. The high quality of acting. All of it just blew
me away, time and again.
When this show
first came out I was married and my boys were little. Having a quiet hour, let
alone a scheduled one, with little kids running around your house borders on an
impossibility. As a result, I missed a whole lot that first time around, even
though I didn't actually miss any of the episodes. When I watched the series
through a second (and third, and fourth) time I picked up even more, and fell
in love with the show all over again each time.
Hard to pick a
favorite episode within such a great show, but the season two finale 'Two
Cathedrals' is my personal selection. If you have yet to see the show, I highly recommend you fire up Netflix and start from the beginning. You won't regret it!
#5: Breaking Bad (AMC, 2008-2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HNuAE9WdU
Favorite character: Jesse Pinkman
A chemistry
teacher is diagnosed with cancer and turns to making meth to secure his
family's finances. The twists and turns that come from that decision result in
gripping drama, as Walter White's journey and transformation to Heisenberg is
like no other we've seen on television before.
As brilliant as
Bryan Cranston was in this show, the supporting cast was just as good in my
eyes. Aaron Paul played the lost soul role of Jesse Pinkman to perfection, and his 'Yeah Bitch!'
mantra became as popular as anything related to the show. Hank's obsession with
catching the bad guy was gripping, and I had a back and forth mix of sympathy
and dislike for White's wife Skyler as the story unfolded.
The main
villains from 'Breaking Bad' are legendary: Gus Fring and Tuco are
unforgettable characters, while 'lesser' bad guys Mike Ehrmantraut and Saul
Goodman were fantastic as well.
If you're one
of the 18 individuals on the planet who have yet to watch the series, fire up
episode one and be prepared to be hooked from that point forward, as that
initial episode was as good a start to any series I've come across in my
lifetime.
#4: The Sopranos (HBO, 1999-2007)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLxSUKA--Dg&t=3s
Favorite character: Christopher Moltisanti
Tony Soprano's
life was complicated. He tried to balance the conflicting requirements of his
home life and criminal organization, and many times things didn't go well.
Perhaps the
most amazing part of this show is how the viewers rooted for the bad guys, despite
them being well, bad. Tony, Christopher, Paulie, Silvio, and others were not
good people, but the writing was so good and the storylines so appealing that I
just couldn't help myself. I pulled for them time and again.
Michael
Imperioli's character (Christopher) was especially appealing to me. He wanted
to move up the ranks within the mob, but expressed the frustrations that came
from him not doing such time and again in those early seasons. Alcohol and drug
use impeded him, yet he was an undeniably ruthless and effective mobster. He
was a huge part of my all-time favorite episode ('Pine Barrens'), and I'll of
course never forget him shooting the bakery clerk in the foot (episode from
season one).
A lot of people
focused on how the series ended, but I always felt that was wasted energy. So
many incredible scenes and episodes throughout to focus on, and after writing
this up, I'm feeling the itch to watch the series through all over again for
the umpteenth time.
#3: The Wire (HBO, 2002-2008)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q37dz_Xbss
Favorite character: Omar Little
First and
foremost, I am jealous of anyone out there who has yet to watch this series
from start to finish. As much as I love re-watching it, there was nothing like
that first time through.
Simply put,
this is as good as crime drama television gets. 'The Wire' gives you the
stories from both the good guy and bad guy sides, but there is so, so much more
that goes with that. The way this show interweaves the stories from the cops'
and criminals' perspectives is really unprecedented.
#2: The Brady Bunch (CBS, 1969-1974)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85jKDa2zpus
It was a story
of a lovely lady, who was bringing up three very lovely girls. One day that
lady met this fellow, who was busy with three boys of his own. Their group somehow
formed a family, and a brilliant television concept was born. 'The Brady Bunch'
was the preeminent show of my childhood, hands down.
The list of
notable moments and characters is seemingly endless. Without looking anything
up, I can come up with the following:
The broken vase. Joe Namath. Orange hair. Tiger. Marcia's
nose. The card house. Greg trapped in the meat locker. Davy Jones. Jan's
locket. The slumber party gone awry. Dr. Vogel. Kitty Karry-All. Johnny Bravo.
The fallen toy shelf. (Not) Greg's cigarettes. Alice. The battle over the
attic. The Grand Canyon episodes. Hawaii. The tarantula on Peter's chest. The
tiki statue. Shirley Temple. Deacon Jones. Jan's glasses. Aunt Jenny. Jumping
frogs that land on pizza. Jesse James. The missing earrings. Wes Parker. A goat
named Raquel. Mr. Brady's sketches. Mr. Brady's den turned into a bedroom.
Oliver. Bobby the pool shark. The backyard play of 'Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs.' And oh, those campy song and dance performances!
I show an
episode to my third graders every once in awhile, and I really enjoy seeing
their reactions to the different events in the series. Heck, who am I kidding?
I enjoy my *own* reactions when watching the show, even these 40+ years later.
If I'm lucky enough to live to 100, I'd bet the ranch I'll still enjoy watching
the Bradys in 2067 too.
#1: Seinfeld (NBC, 1989-1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V2sBURgUBI
My all-time
favorite television show is one that has yet to get old. As with 'The Brady
Bunch', the list of notable moments and characters is seemingly endless (and I'll surely be missing some gems in the ensuing paragraph as a result):
The puffy shirt. Mulva. Marine biologist. Double-dipper. Sponge-worthy.
Elaine's dancing. Importer-exporter. Get OUT! Hello, Newman. High talker. Low
talker. Close talker. Hipster doofus. Shrinkage. 'I was in the pool!' In the
vault. Man hands. Conjugal visit sex. Crazy Joe Davola. The kibosh. The Soup
Nazi. Serenity now! 'That's gold Jerry! Gold!' Yada yada yada. And the list
goes on and on and on.......
If I'm flipping
through channels and I come upon an episode, I'll inevitably stop and watch.
Better yet, I find myself looking at youtube clips from the show, perhaps more
often than I'd care to admit.
A favorite
episode is hard to pick. Today it feels like, 'The Chicken Roaster', so I'll go
with that for this write up. Tomorrow though it may be different. One thing
that won't ever change though: 'Seinfeld' is real.........and it's spectacular.
