The Channel Surfing staff chimes in with its TV-related hopes for 2009 as a lackluster calendar year draws to a close ...
That if the rumored death of a “Brothers & Sisters’’ character can’t be Tommy (a.k.a. “the lame Walker’’), it can at least be that pathetic excuse for a mustache he’s been sporting.
That “24’’ rewards fans who suffered through a sub par Season 6 (it was torture all right) and a painful writers’-strike delay by delivering a season that proves both worth the wait and worthy of bringing Tony Almeida back from the “dead.’’
That “ER’’ redeems itself for botching the return of Dr. Mark Greene by somehow getting George Clooney’s Dr. Doug Ross to show up in the final season to remind us why we’re still watching.
That “Desperate Housewives’’ doesn’t stumble on the invigorating skip down Wisteria Lane it has been on ever since this season’s five-year flash forward has given it glorious new life.
That somebody gives us sentimental saps missing the likes of “Gilmore Girls,’’ “Everwood,’’ “Once & Again’’ and “Party of Five’’ a sweet family drama with a little heart.
-- Kendra Meinert
That somehow, some way, “The Office” slaps itself upside the head and starts producing actual comedy once again.
That the new “Flight of the Conchords” season is everything we’ve been hoping for and more — especially after that enticing early premiere on Funny or Die.
That Spencer from “The Hills” is shot by Heidi’s family, placed in a coma, and ultimately “unplugged” by Mrs. Montag-Pratt herself.
That, please for the love of God, a new season of “Project Runway” airs … somewhere.
That 2009 will be the year people finally stop watching “Grey’s Anatomy” for good, leaving Whiney McWhinerson Meredith — with her immense self-absorption and hair wispiness — completely alone.
-- Sara Boyd
That renewed clarity on “Lost” delivers a memorable, time-bending fifth season with Ben, Locke, Faraday and Desmond front and center.
That a Barack Obama administration doesn’t keep cable TV’s best satirists like Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher from doing what they do best — skewering politicians for the sake of comedy, not partisanship.
That the Green Bay Packers consider an offer from HBO to film “Hard Knocks” during training camp. Ted Thompson will never let it happen — just look at what the cameras did for the Dallas Cowboys’ disappointing season — but no other show on TV can humanize professional athletes like the documentary series. Plus, it’d be cool to play “spot the camera crew” in random Green Bay locations.
That “Life on Mars” builds on the promise of its “Twin Peaks”-ian cliffhanger and trades in the Hallmark cheesiness for some darker entry points into Sam’s murky coma-induced/time travelin’ past. The “Mars” cast is far too talented to waste on such weak writing.
That rumors of an “Arrested Development” movie become reality, but only if the original cast and crew are all present. Need a few extra bucks to make it happen? Remember, there’s always money in the banana stand.
-- Thomas Rozwadowski
That Harvey Weinstein and NBC Universal get their collective fabrics together and give “Project Runway” a new home on any channel. Or Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum could always “go rogue.”
That “Pushing Daisies” creator Bryan Fuller either revives the festering sore that is “Heroes” or gives it a quick and easy death it truly deserves.
That “Mad Men” doesn’t falter in its third season after a brilliant and critically-beloved start in seasons 1 and 2 (hint: keep Joan, Betty and Peggy in the center of the storylines).
That even though “The Wire” is no longer alive on television, alums of the show continue to pop-up on networks with regularity in 2009 (and not, say, in “Punisher: War Zone”).
That someone — anyone, really – creates a show with the pop-and-zing writing of “The West Wing” and “Gilmore Girls” because the void in smart television is painfully obvious and obviously painful.
Well, apparently TV Guide took a bite of our our Election-tinged greatest character contest to present a list of TV character possibilities for newly-elected President Barack Obama's cabinet.
I'll give it to them -- it's a list that spans the gamut from suggesting "Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan for Secretary List to "The Office's" beet-farm man Dwight Schrute as Secretary of Agriculture.
Other nominees include: Alan Shore of "Boston Legal" for Attorney General, Oprah Winfrey for Secretary of Commerce, Ben Linus of "Lost" for Secretary of Transporation, Jack Bauer of "24" for Secretary of Homeland Security ("Heckuva job, Jackie"). Read the rest of the list here.
While I don't overwhemingly disagree with any of the choices, here are a few suggestions the President-Elect should also consider if he's taking this approach to fill his cabinet:
Jack McCoy of "Law and Order" for Attorney General: On the season premiere of the show on Wednesday had a nicely edited-in sound bite where a reporter asks McCoy about the rumors that he might join the Obama administration. A veteran prosecutor with a penchant for pushing the envelope of Constitutional law, McCoy has worked with both Democrats and Republicans in office. He's a perfect addition to the Obama cabinet, even if he's only had one term in the district attorney's office. (The runner-up is Kevin Walker of "Brothers and Sisters" -- he just got fired from his law firm and he's a gay Democrat working for a Republican Senator).
Miranda Bailey of "Grey's Anatomy" for Secretary of Health and Human Services: As much as TV Guide's suggestion of Dr. House is intruiguing, Bailey's no-nonsense personality is much more in line with a management position like this. She's a great doctor, but a human being first.
Leroy Jethro Gibbs of "NCIS" for Secretary of Defense: I don't watch this show with regularity, but I can't think of a better option to head up the DOD than Agent Gibbs (plus he's already in with the Washington crowd). A former Marine with an obsession with detail and organization, Gibbs is exactly who Obama needs to lead the country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides, the former sniper is a quick shot. If ever you'd need that in a cabinet secretary. Lorelai Gilmore of "Gilmore Girls" for Secretary of Labor: Ok, so she's not on the air anymore. Even more reason for this do-it-yourself, single mom, small business owner to take over this oft-forgotten cabinet position. Who else would understand the plight of the millions of unemployed and underemployed that will continue to grow if our economy goes in the tank? Her advice would be snappy and to-the-point.
All you need is hate: TV characters that get under your skin
Channel Surfing's smiling, happy faces on the right side of this page would never, ever condone taking your aggression out on a TV character -- even one as universally despised by our blogging crew as, oh I don't know ... a certain JAN LEVINSON from "The Office."
So ... following our hatefest with "Son of a Preacher Jan" a few posts below, this lighthearted "24 TV Characters Who Just Turn You Off" photo gallery from Entertainment Weekly readers seems pretty timely.
While I can't agree with the inclusion of Miss Piggy (really? hate for a Muppet?) or Brian Hackett (don't ever disparage "Wings" in my presence), some of the listed actors/actresses/characters definitely annoy (cough, Ellen Pompeo, cough) even though I've never watched their shows.
Among the more interesting suggestions from "EW" readers:
Ross from "Friends" (David Schwimmer): "Ross is by far the TV character I have hated the most. Whiny, pathetic, almost never funny — and yet somehow still unsympathetic."
Carrie Bradshaw from "Sex and the City" (Sarah Jessica Parker): "I think Carrie Bradshaw, Meredith Grey, and Ally McBeal can all go in one jar together and be placed on an island for no one to hear from again."
House from "House" (Huge Laurie): "I hate House. If any doctor ever spoke to me or a member of my family that way, I'd punch him in the nose. He's an obnoxious creep who needs a comeuppance, and soon. Did I mention I hate him?"
Squidward from "SpongeBob SquarePants": "The one TV character I really don't like is Squidward Tentacles, from SpongeBob SquarePants. I mean, he is so egotistical, arrogant, self-centered, snobbish, and grumpy! Who would put a guy like that in a show involving a cheerful, happy guy. I even like the tiny, one-eyed evil green thing."
Dawson Leery from "Dawson's Creek": (James Van Der Beek): "Even as a 13-year-old I thought he was whiny, manipulative, and self-obsessed, especially given that every single one of his friends had a far harder life than he did. I was so disappointed when the show didn't end in his death."
Lauren Conrad from "The Hills": "It may not be a true ''TV character,'' but she tries to portray the innocent, perfect, never-at-fault girl, and it comes off holier-than-thou and shallow. Get a life, please!"
Ooh, that LC one is gonna burn Boyd up good! She'll scratch your eyes out if you come at homegirl too strong! ROWR!
So, blog readers ... care to share with us which TV character you absolutely can't stand? Can be reality TV or otherwise. We don't care. The Channel Surfing crew will chime in soon depending on whether we get another overkill appearance from Jan on tonight's "Office." There's only so much hate to spread around, you know.
You might remember the diligent work of Adam Reinhard in bringing you the Greatest TV Theme Song of All-Time contest that resulted in record hits and comments that have yet to be duplicated (and likely never will) on Channel Surfing.
In a pathetic attempt to link that bit of You Tube-happy nostalgia to this current post, it seems one of my favorite TV critics, Alan Sepinwall, got a bit upset when he read TV Guide's list of the "Best TV Pilots of All-Time". And with good reason.
No "Twin Peaks?" No "Freaks and Geeks?" Do the people at TV Guide actually watch TV, or is too much "American Idol" coverage rotting their collective brain?
Anyway ... Sepinwall's post and the subsequent reader suggestions are worth checking out. And as all good writers do, Sepinwall found a way to pimp his past work by busting out a "Best TV Intro of All-Time" column he wrote back in 2003. His list is about as well-researched as it gets. It also feeds in nicely with my recent completion of "Six Feet Under" -- ooh, I just pimped a future post of mine! -- which I cited as probably my second favorite TV intro of all time. Numero uno? You know it had to be Martin Starr and his big, cheesy grin with Joan Jett bellowing "Bad Reputation" in the background.
Five of my recent favorites, including "Freaks," are below. I can't recall that many REALLY impressive ones, to be honest. These are simply picks off the top of my head -- that even after several viewings, I don't just blindly skip past. It probably makes sense that these are shows I continue to watch and love. Guess I don't pay that much attention to TV intros, unless they're really, truly awful like "Thunder in Paradise." (OK, I take it back, that "Transformers"-like super boat is AWESOME!)
So, anybody want to go to bat for a really great TV intro? Adam, you can make an argument for "Perfect Strangers." I won't judge you. (Ahem.)
Oh, and as a bonus, my two favorites from childhood. Peter Scolari, that guy from "The Burbs," a Billy Joel singalong and (?) Barbara Bush.
And finally, I can't even describe how brilliant the "Police Squad" intro (which had a different guest star assassinated every week) truly is. "Tonight's episode: The Broken Promise." Friggin'. Genius.
Need your TV viewing affirmed or disavowed by pasty wordsmiths who get paid to watch "The Two Coreys?"
TV Week's semi-annual critics poll -- which covers shows between Jan. 6-June 20 and tabulates votes from the nation's top TV critics -- is out. And that Jeremy Bentham guy is gonna be pretty happy with the results.
Despite a dip in ratings the past two seasons, a 2010 end date seems to have given "Lost" renewed purpose in Season Four -- all leading to a pretty solid finale that revealed Locke (a.k.a. Bentham) to be in the flash-forward coffin.
“The most creatively recharged show of the season, ‘Lost’ thrillingly reclaimed its position this year as TV’s most adventurous and emotionally compelling action drama,” TV Guide’s Matt Roush wrote. “Playing with time and with our expectations, the show raised the bar in its fourth season by teasing us with glimpses of the Oceanic Six in their tortured post-island life while continuing to play out gripping intrigues on the island and with flashbacks.”
While "Lost" takes the top spot -- it was second last year to "The Sopranos" -- the rest of the Top 10 is below. I'm pretty certain that "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Flight of the Conchords" ended before the cut-off date, so that might explain their absence. The entire list can be viewed here.
1. "Lost," ABC
2. "The Wire," HBO
3. "30 Rock," NBC
4. "The Office," NBC
5. "Friday Night Lights," NBC
6. "House," Fox
7. "Battlestar Galactica," Sci-Fi
8. "Breaking Bad," AMC
9. "John Adams," HBO
10. "In Treatment," HBO
As for the worst: Fox's "Moment of Truth" has no equal on that front, with "The Return of Jezebel James," "Quarterlife," "Living Lohan" and "Big Brother" rounding out the Top Five. It must have been against the rules to list "MTV" as your number one choice.
In the end, what does it all mean?
Nothing much when you consider more people watch "Moment of Truth" than a now-cancelled Fox show called "Arrested Development." But hey, at least we Bluth fans will have our moment of redemption soon enough, right?
Picture, if you will, a 10-year-old me: Already a grotesquely tall, awkward cornstalk of a kid — a brier patch of hair and glasses that make his eyes look five sizes too big — who suddenly discovers his purpose in life. The year is 1990, and "Ducktales: The Movie" is about to open in theatres.
To fully grasp how big of a deal this was for me, imagine all the hoopla and whoop-de-doo made about the recent "Sex and the City" movie; replace Sarah Jessica Parker with Scrooge McDuck, all those damn shoes with Huey, Dewey and Louie, and the nudity and naughty language with Rip Taylor voicing a genie. Boom — that was "Ducktales: The Movie." If life truly is like a hurricane, then "Ducktales: The Movie" was a freaking tsunami for young Adam.
Looking back at it now, it's possible I overreacted a little. Not only was the movie SPOILER ALERT not that great, but I was under the impression at the time that no other television show in history had ever made that monumental leap to the big screen. Ah, poor, naive idiot-child. Or could it be possible I actually had faith in the ability of Hollywood to concoct original film ideas?
Such faith is long since murdered, of course, and you need only look to this summer's movie line-up to find the culprit. This year alone we have film versions "Speed Racer," "Sex and the City," "Get Smart," and a new "X-Files" movie, all looking to turn a quick buck off ravenous fans of the original series.
Not all TV-to-movie adaptations have been bad, of course. And to celebrate this not-suckiness, the good folks over at RottenTomatoes.com — that web site that compiles reviews of movies in order to assign them average scores and designate them as "fresh" or "rotten" — have assembled a very good list of the top 50 TV-based movies ever made. This is not, mind you, a carefully rationalized compendium chosen by film scholars and movie geeks who spent weeks pouring over DVDs and scribbling notes. These are the top 50 based on the already existing Rotten Tomatoes scores. That's how "Borat" ended up being #1, because it's the best-reviewed movie based on a TV show (or TV show character, in this case) of all time.
This obviously exposes the list to reams of criticism and snarky feedback, which is kinda the point. "The Simpsons Movie," for example, comes in at #3, while the (in my opinion) superior "South Park" movie is #7. Six Star Trek movies make the list, the highest being "Star Trek: First Contact" at #6. (You can almost hear Shatner screaming "KAAAAAAHN!!", as "The Wrath of Khan" only made it to #7.) Last summer's awful "Transformers" made the list (#37), which sucks, but it is surpassed by "The Powerpuff Girls Movie" (#31), which rules. Also, "The Muppet Movie" sits pretty at a respectable #9, but is narrowly defeated by, of all things, "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" at #8. Seriously, what the hell is a wild thornberry, anyway? (Is it anything like a schnozzberry?)
Missing from the list? I don't know, only "Ducktales: The Frigging Movie," that's all. However, another childhood favorite, "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm," swings in at #19, even beating Adam West in "Batman: The Movie" at #29. (Yeah, suck it, Rozwadowski.)
Any of your favorites not there? Wanna dispute the rankings? Any TV show you can't believe hasn't been made into a movie yet? ("Darkwing Duck," hello?) Drop us a line.
I know pop culture list-making is writer's code for, "Man, we're really low on ideas and just need to stir up some drama in easy-to-digest fashion." But I found Entertainment Weekly's latest gallery ranking the "25 Funniest People in America" somewhat interesting.
No cast of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?" No Flight of the Conchords? Really, EW? And since Ricky Gervais is on the list, clearly you don't have to be American to be funny in, well, America. Diablo Cody at No. 20? I mean, "Juno" was good for a few heartfelt laughs, but was "honest to blog" really a knee-slappingly hilarious addition to the public lexicon? And Craig Ferguson? What, was Jim Belushi not eligible for the list?
Carell, Colbert, Stewart, Ferrell, Fey ... OK, the usual suspects are there. And while I don't have an issue with the cheap "Judd Apatow and gang" selection (that's a pretty big net to cast, E-Dub) for No. 1, having just watched "Superbad," I can't help but think that Apatow needs Paul Feig to re-enter the picture as the little devil on his shoulder.
Having struggled for years to find mass appeal on any number of critically-revered projects, I'm really happy that Apatow is making serious bank in the world of raunchy teen comedies. But as much as I enjoyed specific moments in "40 Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up" and "Superbad," it appears -- at least to me -- that Feig, the other creative force behind my all-time favorite TV comedy, "Freaks and Geeks," was the grounded figure in that partnership.
Granted, "Freaks" was made for network TV, so who knows, maybe if they were on HBO they would have ramped up the raunch factor for Daniel Desario and Co. But there was also something sweetly sadistic about Sam Weir running naked in the hallway with a blue dot over his naughty bits, or Sam, Neal and Bill having a PG-13, not R-rated, discussion about French kissing girls for the first time. I think that's where the warmth of those characters comes from -- that they were innocently and naively having mature first-time discussions, and much of what could potentially cross the line was left to the imagination. They weren't just teens with raging hard ... er, let's just say they weren't easy excitable and in a position to know everything about the opposite sex.
I mean, the awkwardness of Nick Andopolis (as played by Jason Segel) is a perfect example. If his perversion had moved beyond just being slightly creepy, would his lovestruck stoner persona have been as endearing to the "Freaks" viewership? Let's just say "Lady L" hit the right chords for that show. He didn't need to dry-hump a pie to prove a point about his desperation. Having watched the "Superbad's" of the world (and enjoyed them for the most part) I think Feig was a big part of striking that comedic balance. Not everything should be a dirty joke, you know?
It's like the infamous porn episode of "Freaks," with Sam getting grossed out by mature acts he's not quite prepared to see as an uninitiated freshman. Even in comedy, restraint can be a good thing.
Anyone agree with me, or at 28, am I just not in a position to find (rhymes with stick) jokes all that funny?
This seems highly appropriate considering the recent "Kids in the Hall" announcement and March Madness-style rank-a-thon we just had of our own at Channel Surfing.
As you'd expect, old "Saturday Night Live" and "Monty Python" sketches dominate, and its hard to dispute the overwhelming inclusion of two ground breaking shows. There's also a smattering of "Kids," "Mr. Show," "Chappelle's Show," "SCTV" and awesomely enough, MTV's "The State." (Three cheers for "Monkey Torture!") Amy Poheler's pre-"SNL" project -- the grossly underappreciated "Upright Citizens Brigade" -- also makes the cut, but sadly, Ben Stiller's old Fox show does not.
The clips are awesome, and even if say, Will Ferrell's Neil Diamond "Storytellers" sketch would be my personal choice over "More Cowbell," it's hard to argue with the latter getting the 50 spot. Sketch comedy lovers could argue for days about what should be here -- and generational bias most certainly would play a role in my putting too many "Kids" and "Mr. Show" sketches to count -- but hey, kudos to the list makers for taking a stab in the first place.
Speaking of stabs, here's a favorite of mine that made the list.
(Yes, "Kids in the Hall" will be taking over the blog from now until June 1. Also, as if knowing this is what I'd be craving this morning, here's a fresh "Kids" interview from the A.V. Club. As a buddy of mine said today, these guys could just sit and talk on stage for 90 minutes and it'd be phenomenal.)
Entertainment Weekly and I are on the outs after they dropped a major spoiler from the fifth and final season from "The Wire" without any warning (one minute I'm chuckling at a pithy statement on John Stamos, the next I'm throwing my copy across the room - it's very traumatic). But I'm willing to let bygones be bygones.
A few weeks ago PopWatch had a poll, asking readers which TV characters readers would want to date with a few rules (no TV show hosts, which sadly disqualifies both Jon Stewart and Conan O'Brien from my list). Now here are the results.
Number one is a an obvious choice - everyone's favorite "Office" crush Jim Halpert - but I'm happy to see that my all-time TV love made the list (Josh Lyman from "The West Wing"). Still there are some oddballs on the list: MacGyver? Jemaine and not Bret from Flight of the Conchords? Really?
Then there are the oversights. There's no George Clooney or Noah Wyle from "ER." And although I'm pleased Linda Cardellini's Lindsay Weir from "Freaks and Geeks" made the cut, where's the love for James Franco's bad boy burnout Daniel Desario?
Thoughts on anyone who's not on the list who should have made the cut?
Every worthwhile enterprise eventually expands, and Channel Surfing couldn't ignore Press-Gazette reporter Sara Boyd's devotion to the idiot box any longer. "The Brady Bunch" had Cousin Oliver. "Full House" had Nicky and Alex. "Growing Pains" had that DiCaprio kid.
Meet Sara Boyd. Our DiCaprio.
Spend one hour with me and my friends and I can guarantee – you’ll want to kill us. I mean, we’re nice girls but we tend to annoy any newcomer to our group who’s within earshot.
You see, we’ve contrived a bit of our own language – something that could only be described as the language of using “Friends’” quotes for any and all situations in everyday life. And yes, we've had many complaints because of this.
Those who don’t get the inside jokes or obscure “Friends” references are dealt a swift, cold, “It’s from Friends, you wouldn’t get it.”
Sure, it may be harsh but I think it illustrates my love – nay – life obsession with TV.
If you think about it, there's really nothing else that is as loyal and loving as TV. As a child, the television becomes your first babysitter – luring you in to the sounds of Captain Kangaroo and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, while mommy sneaks away for some peace and quiet and a large glass of wine.
Television gives you your first taste of violence, sex and drugs when your older brothers make you watch COPS with them or trick you into a viewing of America’s Most Wanted by telling you it’s not real – yet John Walsh begs to differ.
It’s TV who gets you through your adolescence by constantly showing you what you should look like, what to wear and who you should unattainably try to be – beginning with Brenda’s bangs on “Beverly Hills, 90210” to Rachel’s layers on “Friends.”
It follows you through your high school and college days creating “Grey’s Anatomy” viewing nights in the dorms and perfect opportunities to invite that attractive co-ed over for “Entourage.”
Once you hit the real world – no TV pun intended – let’s face it, TV becomes your life. Finding yourself with no social life, lame co-workers (excluding the ones in this blog, natch) and money for the cable premiums, you live and breathe TV. If you could, you would send out Christmas cards to family of you and your beautiful TV set and cable box. OK, maybe you wouldn’t. But I would and that’s why I’ve decided to be a part of this blog.
All-time favorite TV shows: Friends, Seinfeld, Sex and the City, Law and Order, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Current favorite shows: The Office, Flight of the Conchords, Project Runway, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl, Friday Night Lights, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, Law and Order: SVU, So You Think You Can Dance
Guilty pleasure: Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew, Making the Band 4
Go-to channel when there's absolutely nothing on: Bravo – I’ll pretty much watch anything they put on the air
All-time TV crush: This is a tough one. I’d say JTT on Home Improvement was a big crush of mine for most of the 90s, but has now been replaced with Jim Halpert on The Office.
Pick your TV family for one day: Jason Seaver (of Growing Pains, the all-time wanna be cool but is a huge nerd dad), Marge Simpson (yes, she’s a cartoon, what’s your point?), Rachel Green (could you imagine being able to share her wardrobe? Oh wait, I’m not a size –2) and Cory Matthews (of Boy Meets World – he always hung out with hot friends). If there’s room, I’d want to adopt Leonardo DiCaprio and have Charles in Charge baby-sit on the weekends.
If you could be an extra on a TV show: a random audience member that Conan O’Brien makes fun of
If you had to save one TV on DVD set from a burning building: Friends, season four
Reality show you're not ashamed to admit you like: So You Think You Can Dance – I probably should be ashamed, but it’s too good.
Favorite old-school show from childhood: The Cosby Show – non-Raven era.
Show you are into that others could care less about: Making the Band 4
Show others are into that you've never paid attention to (but wish you had): Lost, The Wire
TV channel I wish I could afford on my journalist's salary: I’ve sacrificed food, shelter and warm clothing for all the premiums.
Favorite TV-related Web sites: This one, of course.
What's worse: Jerry Springer or Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire?
With my DVD player on the fritz, I've been reduced to watching actual television all week - gasp - and it hasn't been pretty.
Then I saw this EW list of the 20 most appalling shows and, sadly, noted that I had watched not one - but at least two of the highlighted shows over the last week, including the much maligned "Moment of Truth." (Out of curiosity, I promise!) In fact, several of the shows we've written about here at Channel Surfing appear on the list, which begs the question - what exactly makes a show "appalling?"
Is it the show's sub-human premise (as in the case of "Temptation Island") or the participants' lack of anything resembling human decency?
EW doesn't quite explain the methodology behind the listing, although they say they were inspired by Fox's "Moment of Truth" to "look back at new lows in broadcasting." You can vote on the appalling-ness of each, show, by the way. If you're counting, MTV ran away with 80 percent voting a number of its shows including "Room Raiders," "A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila," and "Date My Mom" as "con queso (too cheesy to count)."
Although EW has clearly stuck to its guns with reality television at its most shameful, I think a few other non-reality shows deserve to be added to the list: "According to Jim," "Baywatch," "She's the Sheriff" and "Saved by the Bell: The College Years."
Any thoughts on other appalling programs that deserve to be highlighted?
Favorite show: Hoping to find it in 2008. With both "Gilmore Girls'' gone and "24'' a big bummer in 2007 (see below), I'm without that one show that always got priority viewing on the TiVo list -- the one you just can't wait to see. If the return of "Lost'' is anywhere close to as good as last year's final episodes, my money's on that one to fill the spot. I've grown quite fond of the Walkers on "Brothers & Sisters,'' too.
Favorite new show: "Dirty Sexy Money.'' Drama, comedy, mystery, sex, politics, greed, transexuals ... You could spend all week getting that from your TV viewing, but with "DSM,'' it's all right there, deliciously packaged, in one hour. Plus, put Donald Sutherland in anything, much less at the head of the table of a highly dysfunctional family, and it's worth tuning in.
Favorite character: Abby Lockhart on "ER.'' Yes, 300 episodes in, and I'm still watching. Whenever I wonder why, I remember that it's becasue Maura Tierney's Abby is still the strong, stubborn, flawed and very real heart and soul of that show. Her scenes with Luka (Goran Visnjic) in the last episode of 2007 were painfully uncomfortable and heartbreaking at once. Does she have an Emmy yet? Honorable mention: Freddy Rodriguez's Gio, the sandwich guy with big dreams, on "Ugly Betty.'' Crushin' on him.
Favorite obsession: "House Hunters'' on HGTV. Can't explain it. Can't resist it.
Best "No, F'n way!" moment: Marie Osmond faints on "Dancing with the Stars'' and Tom Bergeron & Co. just look on at the crumpled pile of satin and sparkles at their feet. Gotta love live TV. Little did we know that a few episodes later, when the dance-challenged Marie overstayed her welcome and Osmond overexposure reached unbearable levels, we'd have given anything for Tonya Harding to take her down with a whack to the knees.
Most disappointing show: A diehard "24'' fan, it pains me, like it must've pained Jack to put a bullet in Curtis, to say it, but for a series that routinely blows viewers away, Season 6 just plain blew. There were flashes of its former self, but for the most part, it never got a good head of steam going. It wasn't for the lack of action, it was for the lack of character development. Wayne Palmer was no Charles Logan in the White House. Audrey Raines -- Worst. Love. Interest. Ever. -- continued to be a whiny drain on every scene she was in. Farmer Hoggett from "Babe'' (James Cromwell) as Jack's evil papa never worked. And would someone please explain what Regina King was doing in that season -- period? Should Season 7, stalled by the writers' strike, ever see the light of day, here's hoping the writers keep Jack's family out of it (has Kimbo taught them nothing?), give us a real villain and pause the clock long enough to put some depth into their characters.
Most tired storyline: Pick one, any one, involving Meredith on "Grey's Anatomy.'' Meredith and McDreamy aren't really together ... but they are ... well, kind of. Meredith doesn't know what she wants ... or wait, does she? Meredith won't accept Lexie ... and, six episodes later, still won't accept Lexie. Thank goodness for the addition of the characters of Lexie Grey and Erica Hah, because our girl Meredith has become a drag. And would someone please give Sandra Oh's Cristina a post-Burke storyline, stat!
Hopes of 2008: That David Letterman shaves off that horrible -- worse than Matthew Fox's in the "Lost'' flashforward -- beard. It made his return to TV Wednesday night after an eight-week hiatus look like he went missing for 80 years.
That medical dramas quit with the corny animal storylines. Izzie saves a deer hit by a car on "Grey's Anatomy.'' A nativity scene camel shows up on "ER.'' Leave the animal rescues to Animal Planet, please.
That Bret Michaels picks up a non-life-threatening but horribly uncomfortable STD for agreeing to do "Rock of Love 2.''
It's that time of year again -- to reflect on all the things that made television in 2007 good, bad and sometimes just plain ridiculous. This has been anything but a year of normal, so I'm going to break from the traditional "Top Ten" format to bring you my version of the Top Eight TV Moments of the Year. It'll catch on, I promise.
8. Lorelai Gilmore's heart-wrenching karaoke version of "I Will Always Love You" on "The Gilmore Girls."
Thanks to this episode, I will finally stop associating this song with Kevin Costner. In one of TV's most bittersweet moments, Lauren Graham perfectly captured the heartbreak over her relationship with diner owner Luke, proving again how misguided Emmy voters have been to overlook her for one of their shiny prizes. Although the last season suffered creatively from the departure of writer and creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, this moment reflected how Gilmore fans felt about the timely end of their beloved show - brokenhearted but always in love with it.
7. The season finale of "Friday Night Lights."
I don't think I've almost cried over anything sports-related since the Houston Astros choked in the 2005 World Series (and that was just out of sheer frustration), but I felt like I was tearing up when the fictional Dillon Panthers won the state championship at Texas Stadium. At the same time, the off-field drama was pitch-perfect with just enough sentiment to make us sad to see the season end.
6. Jim asks Pam out to dinner on the finale of "The Office."
For Jim-Pam enthusiasts everywhere, this has been three seasons in the making. True, their subsequent romance has overshadowed what "The Office" is all about, but they simply could not have dragged on the "will-they-won't-they" drama for another season.
5. David Letterman doesn't let Paris off the Hook
Now, I've always been partial to Leno, but Letterman got my respect when he refused to let Paris Hilton off the hook after her infamous 23 days in jail. After he threw endless questions at the vapid socialite about her time in the big house, Paris pouted and said she didn't want to talk about it anymore. Letterman didn't back down, saying: "This is where you and I are different, because (that's) all I wanna talk about."
4. The "Flight of the Conchords" episode with Bowie.
I'll spare you my ode to Bret and Jermaine (inspired by the show, I'm already penning a tune). This episode features an excellent cameo from Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman (PC from those Mac commercials) and is a tribute to Ziggy-era David Bowie. Plus with lyrics like this "Are you OK, Bowie?/What was that sound?/I don't know man/I'll have to turn my ship around" capture the glorious wackiness of the show.
3. "South Park's" Imaginationland trilogy.
A three-episode arc that unleashes fictional characters from both the "South Park" world and ours, the Imaginationland trilogy seamlessly transitions from biting satire of the real world to ridiculously crude fun. Basically, it's "South Park" at its finest. (Plus, there's an appearance from the Cavity Creeps!).
2. Alec Baldwin's brilliant performance of a therapy scene on "30 Rock."
Proving once again why this is the funniest show on television, Baldwin’s over-the-top NBC executive Jack Donaghy does a one-man recreation of Tracy Jordan's (Tracy Morgan) family in a therapy session that could be borderline offensive if it weren't so preposterous and hilarious.
1. Stephen Colbert declares his candidacy for President on "The Colbert Report."
Sadly, the electoral system has even less of a sense of humor than the talking heads on the now defunct "Crossfire" and Colbert's efforts to get on the ballot in South Carolina are flatly denied by the state's Democratic Party. Still, for two glorious weeks, Colbert managed to outshine actual candidates in the polls and gave a whole new meaning to corporate sponsorship. Nacho Cheese Doritos, anyone?
I'm sure I missed a few key moments, so feel free to let me know if any others belong on this not-so-complete list.
True, end-of-the-year lists are about as plentiful as holiday fruitcake tossed in the trash. But everyone in the know seems to be taking a crack at it, so these waning, wintry days of December seem like an appropriate time to reflect on a medium that -- let's face it -- has a pretty dark cloud hanging over its head rolling into 2008.
Ah, memories! Like reruns, it's all we have for the time being.
Favorite show: "30 Rock"
"Bee Movie" overexposure aside, the Jerry Seinfeld cameo was a great kickoff to the season and should have cemented "30 Rock's" status as a major ratings player, not just a critical darling. That hasn't happened, but Tina Fey is becoming too ubiquitous for NBC to deny the show its full support. The Thursday night comedy has such an amazing cast (real-life blowhard Alec Baldwin is actually likeable as a fictional blowhard), talented bit players like Frank, Toofer, Pete and Josh haven't needed much airtime to register laughs this season. And what more can be written about jack-of-all-trades Fey, a geeky scribe turned unexpected sex symbol. "Me want food?" No, me want more "30 Rock."
Favorite new show: "Flight of the Conchords" and "Pushing Daisies" (tie)
Most comedies start at square one and spoonfeed safe laughs before hitting stride. "Conchords" skipped about 10 steps and jumped headfirst into brilliant music parodies of Daft Punk, Godley and Creme, David Bowie, M.I.A. and Pet Shop Boys as if pop culture savvy and a rock 'n' roll PhD were the ultimate prerequisite. Not since "Arrested Development" has a comedy broken so many rules and catered to a select audience that hangs on every word ... or in Bret and Jemaine's case, lyric. Having built the show around songs already constructed for stand-up comedy gigs, let's hope a new season and fresh batch of tunes prove just as hilarious. And speaking of bending the rules, far too many people have told me, "Oh, 'Pushing Daisies?' I've heard of that show but haven't watched." It's not on HBO, so no excuses, folks. The "Pie Ho" joke from "Bitter Sweets" is an all-time classic. Slices of TV are rarely so scrumptious.
Favorite character: Olive Snook
My crush on "Pushing Daisies'" Kristin Chenoweth couldn't be more obvious. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with that (ahem) skimpy mermaid costume (ahem) she was wearing in the "Smell of Success" episode. She's quirky. She's cute. She's original. Not to mention a character you root for because of how she openly pines for Ned and gets bubkus in return. I'd pick her over a dead girl any day.
Best "No, F'n way!" TV moment: "Lost: Season Three" finale
The shockwaves continue to ripple from the flash-forward that propelled "Lost" fans into the future, where a bearded Jack appeared crazily desperate to get back to the island he was, you know, previously desperate to get off. That it followed Locke's ominous warning about leaving the island prematurely only makes Season Four's potential plotlines all the more dangerous and destiny-laden. And how can you not see the pain in Jack's eyes and think Ben isn't one of the good guys now? Though why didn't Kate share Jack's sentiment in the startling airport scene? And why didn't she care about the newspaper clipping ... man, there are far too many pressing questions. We all just have to trust that with an end date on the show, Carlton Cuse, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof know exactly what they're doing.
Honorable mention: "The Sopranos'" series ender in Holsten's restaurant with Journey's "Don't Stop Belevin'" blaring before that abrupt ....
Best episode: Or in this case, series of episodes goes to "South Park's" Imaginationland trilogy. It had terrorists "invading" our imagination. It had Kurt Russell getting sexually assaulted by Christmas Critters. It had freakin' Snarf from ThunderCats. But nothing tops the "Saving Private Ryan" parody with Santa Claus on fire and Ronald McDonald searching for his arm. Yeah ... I need help.
Best old-school discovery: HBO's "The Wire"
Thank god for TV on DVD. The fifth and final season starts Jan. 6 and I'm six episodes away from FINALLY getting caught up. Each season unfolds like another gripping chapter in the world's greatest novel, and for plotline and character development, there's no equal on TV, past or present. It's a show that should be watched by everyone, but admirably, isn't meant to be.
Favorite obsession: Food Network
2007 is the year Food Network officially replaced ESPN as my go-to channel. "Iron Chef America" remains a DVR staple, but my new favorite is Guy Fieri's grease-soaked "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives." Looking like Corey Feldman and Larry the Cable Guy's demented love child, Fieri scarfs down "the people's grub" at greasy spoons, shoddy shacks and classic roadside stops. It all looks so good, you'll want to lick your TV screen.
Most disappointing show: "The Office"
Granted, this is kind of like scolding your straight-A student for coming home with a B-plus math test, but Season Two (and most of the third) set the bar so high, the new episodes have to be held to a different standard. You'll get no gripes about the Jim-Pam relationship from me. I just want to see more consistency, less Michael Scott acting like a brainless five-year-old, and the show sticking to its original premise -- a documentary about Dunder Mifflin paper company and its bored stiff employees. Or more succintly, KEEP THE CAMERAS IN THE OFFICE! (Oh, and no more hour-long episodes, please.)
Hope for 2008: The writers get a fair shake and start writing new episodes before February. "Lost" returns uninterrupted. "The Wire" gets the send-off it deserves (and loads of awards.) MTV's "The State" is finally released on DVD. Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest are brought down in a monkeyfighting scandal and "American Idol" is cancelled forever.
Gettin' jiggy with memories of parachute pants and my crush on Lisa Loeb.
You take the good with the bad when it comes to VH1. And this week features two separate, music-based programs (shocking for a music channel ... I know!) with enough nostalgia-based substance to be considered more than a brain melting time-waster of the "I Love New York" variety.
Starting tonight at 9 p.m., VH1 is counting down the 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s. Judging by previous lists the channel has run, the appropriate title would be Most Incessantly Played, Commercially Approved, Annoyingly Redundant Songs of (fill-in-the decade), but that's just a minor quibble from yours truly. The show airs in five installments starting tonight with songs 100-81. You can spoil your fun and read the full list if you'd like -- though we'll only reveal here than the No. 1 song is by one of the following 10 artists who made the tally: Backstreet Boys, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Nirvana, Hootie and the Blowfish, MC Hammer, TLC, Hanson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ricky Martin or U2.
Not like it matters. I mean, where else are you going to find a list that features Radiohead sandwiched between 'N Sync and freakin' Blackstreet of "No Diggity" fame? Weezer between Bell Biv Devoe and Sophie B. Hawkins? And c'mon, Coolio and Ace of Base totally got robbed! Regardless, VH1 is hardly an authority on music-related matters -- even for something this arbitrary -- but I think we can all agree that it's in our best interest to see that "Informer" by Snow lands on the highest possible ground.
For more serious music enthusiasts, premium cable's VH1 Classic rolls out its own weeklong series, "Seven Ages of Rock," tonight at 8 p.m. The seven-parter, narrated by Dennis Hopper, is meant to provide a fresher look at several eras of rock, starting tonight in the '60s with the likes of Cream, The Who and the Rolling Stones. Subsequent episodes deal with art-rock (Bowie, Velvet Underground), punk (Sex Pistols, The Clash), metal (Judas Priest, Black Sabbath), stadium rock (Queen, Springsteen), American alternative (Sonic Youth, R.E.M.), and British indie (the Smiths, Stone Roses.) Sadly, Snow will not be featured in any of these segments.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to wistfully listen to "Stay" while thinking of Lisa Loeb and her cat-eye glasses ...
You know a TV show has accomplished a lot when it gets you to like a Journey song.
So while I couldn't have predicted that Tony Soprano would bow out gracefully while chomping onion rings and listening to "Don’t Stop Believin'," Hypeful’s list of the "10 Best TV Music Moments of 2007" captures the spirit of the year nicely.
In fact, it's one of the best lists I've seen in awhile, and as a bonus, includes video clips for the uninitiated. As a pop culture know-it-all, I have to point out the omission of "Birdhouse In Your Soul" from "Pushing Daisies," but Nos. 1 and 2 are beyond deserving of their status as the year's best. Same goes for the "South Park" episode spoofing "Guitar Hero," Tracy Jordan's "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah," and anything involving Bret and Jemaine from "Flight of the Conchords." In fact, all ten could have been from that show alone.
Thank you, Hypeful. It’s like you read my mind.
So music lovers, any other suggestions?
-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com
I e-mailed a friend the other day to jokingly let him know that "Perfect Strangers" is being released on DVD in February. Nostalgia is funny that way. I definitely remember watching the show in my youth. But upon further review as an adult, I'd likely cringe at the sitcomy-ness of Balki telling Cousin Larry "don't be ridiculous" 80 times during the course of some foolish episode where the pair ended up on a game show - or something else outlandishly contrived that probably involved sheep.
So I'm telling you right now - even as someone who occasionally stops on Nick at Nite "Full House" reruns for a nostalgia-based TGIF cringe/laugh/cry - don't buy really bad '80s sitcoms on DVD because they were part of your early viewing habits. It's like purchasing one of those rotating, glistening hot dogs at a gas station because you're really, really hungry. It might seem like a good idea at the time, but trust me, you'll pay for that mistake later.
All of this blathering segues into the Chicago Tribune's "Worst TV Shows of All-Time" poll. The paper recently asked readers to rank the wretched (we're guessing the bulk of reality shows were disqualified, because ain't no way Joe Millionaire wouldn't be on this list ...), and based on close to 5,000 votes, here are the results.
1. "The Jerry Springer Show" (1991-present): 19.8% 2. "Cavemen" (2007): 15.6% 3. "Mama's Family" (1983-90): 7.3%
4. "Cop Rock" (1990): 6.9%
5. "Small Wonder" (1985-89): 6.6%
6. "Joanie Loves Chachi" (1982-83): 5.8%
7. "Barney & Friends" (1992-present): 5.3%
8. "Ernest Angley Hour" (1973-present): 4.0%
9. "Homeboys in Outer Space" (1996-97): 3.9%
10."My Mother the Car" (1965-66): 3.6%
11. XFL (2001): 3.4%
12. "Pink Lady and Jeff"(1980): 3.4%
13. "The Ropers" (1979-80): 2.8%
14."Manimal" (1983): 2.5%
15. "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" (1998): 1.5%
16. "B.J. and the Bear" (1979-81): 1.2%
17. "Mr. T. and Tina" (1976): 1.2%
18. "Petticoat Junction" (1963-70): 1.1%
19. "Beauty and the Beast" (1987-90): 1.0%
20. "Mr. Belvedere" (1985-90): 0.9%
21."Life With Lucy" (1986): 0.9%
22. "Turn-On" (1969): 0.6%
23. "You're in the Picture" (1961): 0.4%
24. "When Things Were Rotten" (1975): 0.4%
25. "The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage" (1991): 0.1%
What? No love for "The Ueck" in Mr. Belvedere?" And "Boy Meets World" REALLY belongs on this list. I still want to punch Ben Savage in his dopey face all these years later ...
More suggestions? Discussion? An autographed picture of Steve Urkel to anyone who remembers the lyrics to ABC's TGIF theme song ...
Expect new posts to resume tomorrow. Go watch some football and maybe "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" on FOX tonight. Grandma will love it. Happy Thanksgiving!
* "Pushing Daisies" introducing the world to Kristin Chenoweth, who seems more like a huggable cartoon character than potential love interest for Ned as pie-making ball of sunshine, Olive Snook.
* The writers' strike not affecting "The Wire's" fifth and final season set for January. With no other new shows to watch, fans of compelling cop dramas might start digging into DVD sets of HBO's grittiest show not named "The Sopranos."
* Comedy Central's "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" archive at www.thedailyshow.com. Every "Even Ste(v)phen" with Carell and Colbert matching wits? Merry Christmas to all.
* News that, according to Patrick Dempsey, Meredith and "McDreamy" may end their three-year hot-and-cold romance on "Grey's Anatomy," which means I may actually start watching again ... seriously.
* The fourth helping of Bravo's "Project Runway." The first challenge was sub-par, but the drama was superb.
* Eight episodes of Texas-sized drama "Friday Night Lights" left to be aired this winter, enough time for newcomers to catch up on Season 1 on DVD and start loving the good folks of Dillon.
* Freddy Rodriguez joining "Ugly Betty'' as Gio the sandwich guy. Love him. Love the feathered hair. And we bet Betty learns to, too.
* Helio Castroneves and Mel B. deservedly making it to the "Dancing with the Stars'' finals. (Notice the non-mention of Marie Osmond. It's a dance competition, people, not an Osmond family popularity contest!) * Fox using the words "postponed indefinitely'' instead of "canceled'' for the questionable fate of next season's "24.'' Canceled would've been crushing, postponed is just torturous, and "24'' fans know torture.
* Kristen Bell on "Heroes." A lackluster second season (and that's being kind) has been goosed considerably by the addition of the former "Veronica Mars" star, playing a vivacious, voltaic superbaddie.
* The quick turnaround for "The Sarah Silverman Program's" second season. It's hard to believe this sassy, sacrilegious series only debuted in February, and came up with a second set of episodes so soon after the first ended.
When it comes to TV, I'm no junkie. Never had HBO. Never maxed out my TiVo memory. Not likely to burn a Saturday afternoon watching marathons of "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila," "Full House" reruns or bad Tori Spelling/Tracey Gold/Valerie Bertinelli movies on Lifetime. But between all the commercials, screen crawls and obtrusive pop-ups, I do enjoy spending quality time with my beloved "idiot box." Give me a show with characters I care about, and I'm fiercely loyal. (I'm still watching "ER" for crying out loud.) It's not just the escape, it's TV's ability to connect all us watchers in the name of pop culture. Because what's more fun, talking about the weather around the water cooler or talking about how Marie Osmond dropped like a sack of potatoes on "Dancing with the Stars" last night?
All-time favorite TV shows: 24, Friends, Gilmore Girls, Felicity, Knots Landing, Beverly Hills, 90210 Current favorite shows: Ugly Betty, Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers and Sisters, Lost, Grey's Anatomy Guilty pleasure: Did I really watch every episode of Rock of Love? Go-to channel when there's absolutely nothing on: HGTV, where there's always someone with a yard or bathroom that looks way worse than yours. All-time TV crush: Matthew Fox as Charlie Salinger on Party of Five - best TV guy crier ever. Pick your all-time TV family: Pa Ingalls, Lorelai Gilmore, Ross Gellar, Jack Tripper, Alice the housekeeper and Lassie, with live-in aunt and uncle Sue Ellen Ewing and Dave Letterman If you could be an extra on a TV show: 24, preferably in a scene with Tony Almeida If you had to save one TV on DVD set from a burning building: Friends, if just for "The One with All the Resolutions" episode (the one with Ross and the leather pants) Reality show you're not ashamed to admit you like: Dancing with the Stars Favorite old-school show: The Brady Bunch. Ask me anything. Show you are into that others could care less about: Living with Ed Show others are into that you've never paid attention to (but wish you had): American Idol. On second thought, scratch that. Pretty sure ignorance is bliss where Paula Abdul is concerned. Show you'll never forgive the network suits for canceling: Once & Again Favorite TV-related Web site:Entertainment Weekly.
Possessing the uncanny ability to know which "Brady Bunch" episode is on within the first minute of the show's opening sequence probably isn't worth bragging about. But that tends to summarize my love affair with TV - something that shouldn't be taken seriously, but ultimately, demands it be taken seriously because of popular culture's iron grip on my attention span.
For me, TV is both a blessing and a curse. At an early age, "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live" were essential in the development of my sense of humor. "Arrested Development" and "Freaks and Geeks" sharpened those warped sensibilities as an adult, allowing for a self-induced inferiority complex because of how brilliantly written and beautifully captured those singular TV moments are. And now I rarely read books. (Let's see: what's more important, learning about Blackwater through a journalist's exhaustive research or seeing if Tailor Made survived the cut after spitting in someone's face on "I Love New York?" Thanks for educating America, VH1!)
Naturally, I watch to be entertained. I also watch because I'm a features writer at the Press-Gazette, and well, I guess knowing about Scott Baio's contrived commitment issues seems like it qualifies as "research."
All-time favorite TV shows: Freaks and Geeks, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Kids in the Hall, Wings, Scrubs Current favorite shows: Lost, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, The Office, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Real Time with Bill Maher, Flight of the Conchords, Iron Chef America, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Austin City Limits
Guilty pleasures: Shouting matches on cable news. Real World/Road Rules challenges. Anything that involves Vanilla Ice and a straitjacket. Go-to channel when there's absolutely nothing on: Food Network
All-time TV crush: Kelly Kapowski from Saved by the Bell (Olive Snook from Pushing Daisies is catching up, though.) Pick your all-time TV family: Tony Soprano (keeps life interesting, access to delicious deli meat), Carol Brady (awesome flip mullet, dispenses timeless advice like "don't play ball in the house"), G.O.B. Bluth (enters a room to "The Final Countdown," entertains for hours with Franklin the puppet), the Log Lady (psychic connections with a log are not to be underestimated). If you could be an extra on a TV show: I'd love to stand among a group that's berated by Larry David on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. If you had to save one TV on DVD set from a burning building: Freaks and Geeks, special edition Favorite old-school show: First season of Twin Peaks Reality show you aren't afraid to admit you like: The Amazing Race Show you are into that others could care less about: Boomtown, a short-lived NBC crime drama - shot from multiple character perspectives in season one - that featured stellar performances from Donnie Wahlberg and Neal McDonough. Buy it on DVD. Show others are into that you've never paid attention to (but wish you had): Six Feet Under. Currently playing catch-up with The Wire. Favorite TV theme song: Reading Rainbow Favorite TV-related Web sites:The Onion A.V. Club, USA Today's Pop Candy, What's Alan Watching? and anything by Entertainment Weekly when Lost is on
The Green Bay Press-Gazette's TV Blog. Or where we write about characters named Jim and Pam as if they were actually real. Brought to you with limited commercial interruption by...
Malavika Jagannathan Metro reporter All-time shows: The West Wing Gilmore Girls The Wire Current favorites: Desperate Housewives, Top Chef, Flight of the Conchords Guilty Pleasure: E! News
Kendra Meinert Entertainment editor All-time shows: Friends Gilmore Girls Beverly Hills 90210 Current favorites: Damages, 24, Brothers and Sisters Guilty Pleasure: Rock of Love Bus
Adam Reinhard Copy editor All-time shows: Lost Arrested Development Veronica Mars Current favorites: The Colbert Report, Scrubs, The Venture Bros. Guilty Pleasure: SpongeBob SquarePants
Thomas Rozwadowski Features reporter All-time shows: The Wire Freaks and Geeks Breaking Bad Current favorites: Modern Family, Lost, Mad Men Guilty Pleasure: Saved by the Bell
Kelly McBride Education reporter All-time shows: Seinfeld Cheers The Cosby Show Current favorites: Top Chef, Project Runway, The Office Guilty Pleasure: The Biggest Loser
New year. New hope.
That “ER’’ redeems itself for botching the return of Dr. Mark Greene by somehow getting George Clooney’s Dr. Doug Ross to show up in the final season to remind us why we’re still watching.
That the new “Flight of the Conchords” season is everything we’ve been hoping for and more — especially after that enticing early premiere on Funny or Die.
That the Green Bay Packers consider an offer from HBO to film “Hard Knocks” during training camp. Ted Thompson will never let it happen — just look at what the cameras did for the Dallas Cowboys’ disappointing season — but no other show on TV can humanize professional athletes like the documentary series. Plus, it’d be cool to play “spot the camera crew” in random Green Bay locations.
That “Pushing Daisies” creator Bryan Fuller either revives the festering sore that is “Heroes” or gives it a quick and easy death it truly deserves.
Entertainment Weekly
Best "No, F'n way!" moment: Marie Osmond faints on "Dancing with the Stars'' and Tom Bergeron & Co. just look on at the crumpled pile of satin and sparkles at their feet. Gotta love live TV. Little did we know that a few episodes later, when the dance-challenged Marie overstayed her welcome and Osmond overexposure reached unbearable levels, we'd have given anything for Tonya Harding to take her down with a whack to the knees.
6. Jim asks Pam out to dinner on the finale of "The Office." 
Metro reporter
Entertainment editor
Copy editor
Features reporter
Education reporter
