Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Favorite television shows

I am answering a challenge posted by Sophia, a blogger friend from Two Peas in a Bucket. The challenge asked us to talk television and list our top ten television shows. This is a bigger challenge than it appers to be on the surface, there are game shows, dramas, comedies and everything in between.
So my list is a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly.
Night time dramas
1. I didn't like "Dallas" and all the clones thereof. I know JR and big hair reigned supreme during the years of nighttime dramas. But I just didn’t watch them. For one thing, I was going to school and didn’t have access to a television; for another thing, I just didn’t get the whole mania.
On the other hand, I loved "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island," the precursors to "Dallas" et al. They were on Friday or Saturday night (I can’t remember which one) and I was living in the dorms at Rick College. On the weekends everyone with dates hung out in the downstairs lounge with their dates. The dateless grabbed a bowl of popcorn and wandered down the hall in their jammies to watch the soapy shoes together.
'70s sit-coms
2. “Welcome Back Katter” I didn’t like the show. I didn’t like “Sanford and Son,” “Good Times,” or any of the other funny multi-racial kids living in the ghetto shows of the 70s. I wasn’t a fan of “All in the Family,” either. I think even then part of my cringed at the broad stereotypical brush with which the characters were painted.
On the other hand I adored “The Cosby Show,” “Newhart” (loved Daryl, Darel and Darrel), “M*A*S*H” and “Mary Tyler Moore”
Science fiction dramas
3. “Battlestar Glactica” may have been an interesting sci-fi show, but I never really watched it. However I am a huge fan of all StarTrek series. I met my DH through a regular group of friends who gathered together to watch Star Treck The Next Generation. In fact my bridal shower was based on a Star Trek theme.
Early era sitcoms
4. I never watched “The Dick Van Dike Show,” “Leave it to Beaver” “The Beverly Hillbillies” or any of the other happy home comedies of the early era of television. But “Bewitched” is one of my all time favorite shows. I liked “I Dream of Jeanie,” too, but not as much. And, oddly enough, I loved “Dark Shadows.” I did not have a television in my home when I was very young, so when I was in grade school, my best friend and I would run home after school to watch the three shows together.
Game Shows
5. I have seen many game shows in my time, too. But I think one of my favorites was “Match Game.” Again, I have family associations of working at home with mom all day in the summer. When we took a break for lunch we sat down and watched “Match Game” together. But the gambling game shows involving the wammies, or the big playing cards, left me cold.
Cartoons
6. Ah yes, the whole family gathered in the evening before supper to watch “the Muppet Show” and “The Bullwinkle and Rocky” show. I guess that kind of explains my sense of humor.
I remember a little joke Dad and I had. He would say “monomonat” then I would go “do do, da do do.” Then when we reached the chorus I’d do a full head bobbing, hair flaying, da do, do do, do, do, do.
da do do, do, do do,
da do, do do, do, do, do.
da do do
da do, do
dad a do do do do do.
It drove my brother crazy, which is why we had so much fun doing it.
But I never understood cartoons like Scooby doo,
Reality shows
7. Spare me the pointless squabbling of “Big Brother,” the cruelty of “The bachelor” or even the freakishness of shows like “the Swan.
But I am on board for “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race,” and, just because I like to see how the contestants handle the challenges, “The Apprentice,” and “Project Runway.”
Pre-80s dramas
8. My father loved “Hawaii Five O,” and “Medical Center.” I think they were over my head, but I just didn’t get it as a general rule. But I loved watching “Mission Impossible.” I loved the tape play with the instructions, the cool twists, I wanted to be Linda Day George, and I really enjoyed the part where they peeled their faces off and drove away at the end of the show.
Post-80s dramas
9. I never got into LA Law, Hill Street Blues, or that other law show that is so popular and I can’t remember the name of, except for the SVU is one of the franchises.
But my DH started me with CSI and I do think it’s groovy. I got sucked into “Grey’s Anatomy,” and am totally hooked, and “LOST” is a can’t miss show for me right now. Even when I get very annoyed by the big periods of re-runs and the lack of real information, I gotta see it.
Other shows I love in no special order
Night Court
Darma and Greg
Get Smart
Cheers
The Pink Panther
Gunsmoke
Designing Women
Bob Newhart Show
Quantum Leap / McGiver (because they are kind of the same show)
Seinfield

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOOOOVVEEE CSI and GA!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I Loved Gunsmoke, Bonanza,Wagon Train, Perry Mason, Bewitched (Thus dog named Tabitha because her mom was Samantha) Little house on the Prarie. Dark Shadows. I Presently love The Amazing Race, Survivor, The Apprentice, All Law and Order Genra. especially SVU, Without a Trace, House. Game shows The Price is right, Match Game, Jepordy. Don"t forget Cops

Anonymous said...

I watched Elliot get voted off American Idol tonight and I'm sad. I have only watched this season, and I really like it, much to my surprise. I like the really old stuff. I Love Lucy, And Griffith etc. My current must see is Gray's Anatomy, but I missed the three hour finale because of many phone calls on Sunday and Monday. I have liked That 70"s Show but not this season especially. I was on a CSI kick a couple of years ago, but I just can't stand all the gore. I used to like Law and Order Criminal Intend, but D'Orifino or whatever it is has made some stupid political statements so I can't enjoy his acting anymore. As a committed "have the TV on at all times" viewer I listen to lots of stuff with half an ear. Whose Line Is It Anyway is good, but I think a lot of its potty humor goes over my head, I understand enough of it, so that what I don't get is probably just as well.
Interesting blog and fun to go over my own viewing past and present.

Karen said...

Okay, I love(ed) Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Office, Scrubs, That 70's Show, The X-Files, Firefly, Roswell, The Cosby Show, Arrested Development, Jack & Jill, Seinfeld, Friends, and many many many more!

Yeeks, I'm a TV-aholic!