Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Jill's Top 5 Favourite "Old" TV Shows

Tonight, after supper, I found myself moping on the couch, feeling rotten after a whole day of coming down with a cold, and trying to find something to cheer myself up with on one of the zillion channels on Bell Expressvu. I skipped over all of the Oprahs, Dr. Phils, Rachael Rays, Ellens, even the Young & The Restlesses - tonight I wanted something special. And that's when I hit the TV Tropolis channel, and started watching shows that I absolutely loved as a kid; some shows that I hadn't seen in years. I felt compelled to dedicate this edition of the Blog to some of my old favourites that I love and miss - before there was "Reality TV", or Grey's Anatomy, or even some of my all-time favourite shows like Friends and Dawson's Creek. So here is Jill's Top 5 Favourite "Old" TV shows:

#5 - Beverley Hills 90210

Alright, you're probably thinking that this show doesn't classify as "old". I dare you to watch an episode. I can't believe how dated this show is already! At least, the early years of the show. The clothes, the hair, the catch-phrases...unbelievable! As young teens, many of us grew up with Brandon, Brenda, Kelly, David, Steve, Donna, Dylan and the rest of the gang. They definitely introduced me to what I thought "cool" was. And what girl didn't have a pin-up of Jason Priestly, Luke Perry, or Brian-Austin Green in their locker at some point? Somehow, all those boys in Grade 7 just didn't quite compare...

#4 - Saved By the Bell

It was an after-school hit - once the bell rang and the buses pulled up, every girl (and probably some boys) were racing home to see what Zack Morris and his group of tightly-knit friends were up to that day. I, personally, was a big fan of Zack & Kelly, and often daydreamed about one day having a boyfriend who looked like Zack - mischievous, blond, blue-eyed...I thought he was perfect. Slater, Jessie, Lisa, and of course, Screech, rounded out the gang, and once again, I thought they were just about the coolest kids to ever walk. (Well, maybe not Screech...) My favourite episode, and I still never miss it when it's on the dish, was when they formed a band and a look into the future with Kasey Kasem showed them soaring to success, sort of like an MTV "Behind the Band" feature. I used to listen to my Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers tape in my walkman and imagine Zack and the gang playing those songs. I know, how lame. But everytime I hear "Free Fallin", I can't help picturing Zack behind the mic.

#3 - The Cosby Show

Ah, yes - who didn't love the Huxtables? Cliff, Claire, and their brood of good-natured children who were hesitant to leave the nest - Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, & the adorable Rudy. Now, those kids had awesome parents. Ever see some of the really old episodes where Rudy would have a birthday party and all of her friends got to have a ride on Cliff's knee? He had those kids giggling like crazy. And they weren't acting. The man had a sense of humour that was second-to-none. And Claire always knew when to be tough, and when to be fun. They were the first prosperous black family on TV - he, a doctor, and she, a lawyer, but they never hesitated to put their kids in their place. As Cliff often said to one or all of them, "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!"

#2 - All in the Family

This show was long before my time, but as a kid watching re-runs, I don't think I ever laughed so much as I did when Archie would come home from work, and Edith would barrel though the swinging kitchen door, charging at him and screeching, "Hiiiii, Archiiiiieeeeee! How was your day?" while he muttered away at her, calling her a dingbat and and telling her to dummy up. The show was so politically incorrect that I'm often surprised they're still allowed to air it. Archie was a bigot, but you had to love the man - he told it like it was, whether you liked it or not. His constant tormenting of his daughter Gloria's husband, Michael - infamously nicknamed "The Meathead" - was the main focus of the show. He used derogatory terms for pretty much everything, and he mis-pronounced a lot of words - but therein lied Archie's charm. His ignorance was somehow innocent, and even sweet. The show tackled some big topics, and it could get heated and tense, but thanks to Archie and Edith, there was always laughter. And lots of it.

#1 - Happy Days

Yup. That's my favourite. If I find it on the dish, I can't help but watch. As a kid, I never missed it. I grew up absolutely doting on Chachi, fantasizing about what it would be like to be Joanie, thinking Fonzie was the coolest guy to ever breathe, and laughing at Ritchie, Potsie, and the rest of the crew. To this day, the Fonz is a television icon - who else could walk into a room, snap his fingers, and instantly have a harem surround him? But while I admired Fonzie, it was Chachi that I can pinpoint as my first real "crush". I still remember when I thought a guy who wore a red bandana tied around his thigh was soooo hot. Hell, I still think he's hot. Of course, he and Joanie had the whole singing thing, too, which I loved. The day they got married was my absolute favourite television moment. So maybe that's why I'm so picky now - I set my standards pretty high way back when I was five. There's just something about that show - it gives me the warm & fuzzies. It's definitely my all-time favourite!

So there you have it! I'm going to add a few honourable mentions in the The Wonder Years & Degrassi Jr. High/Degrassi High - I didn't really like them as a kid, watching TV with my sister (with Kara being 7 years older than me, I usually had to watch what she picked) - but in recent years, I've come to appreciate these shows more. If you think I've forgotten any classics, or if you'd like to leave your own "Top 5" lists in the comments section, feel free! I've had fun with this walk down memory lane - hope you all enjoyed it too.

Cheers, everyone! (And no, I didn't forget Cheers - I never liked that show, and I still don't!)

15 comments:

Jill said...

I already realized I forgot Full House. How could I forget Full House? Guess I shoulda made it my top 10! I guess I had a thing for the hot guys, even as a kid - I mean, Uncle Jesse was the coolest uncle ever. Favourite moments included his wedding to Becky, and the birth of their twins, Alex and Nicky. And any scene when he interacted with little Michelle. And now I'm going to see if I can find an old episode of Full House to watch.

Anonymous said...

Interesting Blog - sorry to hear that you're coming down with a cold though. Actually I was in the same boat as you lastnight. Ricky left with dad to go back to the camp and I turned it on CTS (or something like that - Bell Channel 651) and I watched Full House at 7:00 PM - which was when Papouli came to visit and everyone got attached and then he died in his sleep - good episode but I love every Full House episode - then a show I have never heard of at 7:30 PM which was called The Facts of Life - which was a really old show by the picture - and 8:00 PM was Step by Step - do you remember TGIF on ABC Friday nights? Step by Step was one of my fave shows on that. and 8:30 PM was Fresh Prince of Bel Air - so i was quite happy with that channel at prime time. Another classic show I loved to watch was indeed Melrose Place (Erin Hudson would have to come over to either my house or Hollie's to watch it cuz her parents didn't approve of it) oh and what about Blossom? I loved that show too. I could go on for days - I am still to find TV Tropolis on my dish - I still haven't found it. Anyways that's all for now - hope everyone has a GREAT day - its HUMP DAY and I believe I heard mention that it is Oktoberfest this coming weekend.
Hope you feel better today Jill!

Anonymous said...

Well Jill, I am glad I am not the only fan of TV Tropolis, I discovered a while ago when I was trying to find something other than the news. I am a fan, but sometimes I just want to watch something fun. And that's when I stumbled upon it and Beverly Hills 90210 which is one of my favourites, as well as Melrose Place. Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, The Munster and the Adams Family were great after school shows. And my all time favourite would have to be the Wonder Years. ♪What would you do if I sang out of tune... would you stand up and walk out on me... lend me your ear and I'll sing you a song... I will try not to sing out of key... ♪ And I also loved Cheers ♪You wanna be where everybody knows YOUR NAME♪ *Jill surprised you don't like cheers, it's a lot like Gavan's!* And another good one was Night Court, with Bull! HAHAHAHAHA that was a good one. Can you tell I watched some TV with my dad! And one old one but that has never ended yet because it's a soap is Coronation Street! LOVE LOVE LOVE that show, it's part of my nightly line up (Beverly Hills 90210, Coronation Street and Wonder Years then whatever 8:00 show is on)
Well that was an awesome trip down memory lane Jill! I especially liked the cosby reference, I remember the horse and cliffs old saying "I brought you into this world and I can take you out" gotta love him!
Sharon

Anonymous said...

Hi guys, my favourite show was also The Wonder Years. Do you remember the last show Sharon? Kevin and Winnie ended up not getting married, and the dad died of a heart attack I think. It was so sad. Remember when Dwayne vacuumed up the class hamster that Kevin and Paul brought home from school? That was a funny episode. I loved all of their shows. I have some news for the blog today. Well I found out last week but now I know it's really true so I'm not spreading gossip. Frank St.Aubin is going to be a daddy, and his sister Evelyn and her husband are also expecting. I can't imagine Frank with a baby, he still has a baby face himself. Maybe he will get some tips from his best friend super-daddy Tim. Yes Stacy it is Oktoberfest this weekend in Ladysmith, if that's the one you were talking about. They got the paving done just in time, there are already quite a few trailers parked there.

Anonymous said...

I don't remember too many of the shows in specific and I never saw the last episodes because I didn't have a dish and they quit airing it on the normal channels like CTV and CBC... but I have been watching it on TV Tropolis and I saw the one where they want the colour TV for xmas... that was a good one. I wish they would put the whole series on DVD. I saw it on a couple of websites BUT they weren't amazon.com or HMV so I don't trust them. Maybe someday!

Sharon

Anonymous said...

Is Frank St Aubin married? I can't remember if I had heard he was married, however you are right Priscilla, he still has a babyface himself. I have never been to Oktoberfest and I doubt I will be going this year either. Just taking it easy this weekend I guess. Saturday, going to Toys R Us and we have to babysit Ricky's other neice Katie - so other than that, we'll be staying pretty quiet. We have to start getting our baby room cleaned out and stuff too - may do that this weekend too - still no crib or dresser - getting that hopefully next week. That's all for now - oh oh I do remember watching The Wonder Years - is that the one that he thinks and you can hear the talking (??) when I was younger, I could never figure out what that meant...i always thought, people could hear him. I don't know if this is classed as a Classic show - but The Littlest Hobo - Ricky and I still watch that some Saturday mornings if we're up and nothing else is on. Anyways take it easy everyone!

Anonymous said...

No, Frank isn't married. He has been with his girlfriend Miranda since around August of last year. And yeah, The Wonder Years is the show with the talking, Kevin is the narrator. I think it's one of Sara's favourite shows too.

Anonymous said...

On the Wonder Years, the voice is Kevin as an adult remembering his child hood. So the voice isn't even him thinking at the present time. And yeah Littlest Hobo is a classic, Wayne and I watch it as well on satuday mornings.

Sharon

Anonymous said...

Someone mentioned the episode where the kids on the Wonder Years want a Colour TV for Christmas - I remember watching that one, it was funny. Even my dad laughed when they were sitting around watching the grainy black-and-white picture, and Dwayne says, "Hmm, Dad, wonder what colour the ocean is? Maybe it's orange, or maybe it's purple. We'd know if we had Colour TV".
Stacy - I can't believe that you've never heard of the Facts of Life! That's the one with the little black guy, isn't it? We used to watch it, but I only vaguely remember it.
PK - That's weird to think of Frank being a dad! I wonder how many kids we graduated with are parents now. The only other one I can think of right now is Dave Coles.
Sharon - You brought up some great shows! I forgot about Night Court. Another one I forgot about was WKRP in Cincinati. And Taxi. And The Honeymooners. I used to watch those after school. Ah, the memories!

Jill said...

Oops...that was me, not Anonymous

Jill said...

Oops again - I think The Facts of Life was the one that all the girls were in, right? I was thinking of Diff'rent Strokes - that's the one with the little black guy. And I also want to add the one that Michael J. Fox was in, I can't remember the name of it - he had two sisters, and a little brother, and one of the sisters had a boyfriend named Skippy. I loved that show!

Anonymous said...

Yes Jill - Facts of Life appeared to be mostly girls - there was one named Blair and the episode was her cousin came to visit and she has cerebral palsy and makes all these jokes that she walks better when she's drunk and stuff...lol
I wanted to pass on what Ricky has told me - for Car Rally - he asked if we could go as Ballerina's - he asked if this was a sport...haha - he said he can get his little dress out and tights....wouldnt that be a site - hopefully Wilbur was around to take a pic of that. By the way - I told Ricky to add this to the blog and he says that he doesn't write in the blog, but he does read it a couple times a day! LOL

Anonymous said...

Hi Jill,

the one you are thinking about with michael J fox is Family Ties!!! It was a good one. WKRP and Taxi were awesome too!!!!!
Sharon

Jill said...

Yes, Family Ties! It's been on the tip of my tongue for hours...All I could think of was Facts of Life. And Michael J. Fox's name was Alex P. Keaton, and the sisters were Mallory & Jennifer, I think, and the little boy was Andy. I wish that show was still on.

Anonymous said...

I just heard on the radio that Screech from Saved By The Bell was involved in a sex video! It has come out on the internet or something.