I consider myself to be a person of great taste when it comes to television watching. I don’t get a cable feed into my own home, so I befriend fellow Lost fans so I can watch at their homes, and reconciled with Birmingham partially for the friendship, and partially for the chance to watch Battlestar Galactica on Fridays. I’ve Nexflixed Six Feet Under, House, Heroes, Big Love, Extras, Arrested Development, and most recently Flight of the Conchords. I like to stream 30 Rock and The Office over a bowl of Ramen noodles on quiet nights.
My theory is that if a blogger I like recommends a show (and it’s not reality), then into the queue it goes.
I think all those shows are of the highest quality and we’re in a bit of a television golden age right now, even though American Idol and CSI: Wherever continue to enjoy high ratings.
I wasn’t always such a discerning consumer. When I was in junior high, I planned my days around what show was on, and watched television from the time I got home from school until the time I went to bed. If the show was good enough to make it to the air, then I watched it. When the TV Guide new fall season issue would come out, I’d pour through it to find out what I’d be invested in during the coming year, so I could schedule my day.
And what were my favorite shows in the 80′s and 90′s? I know that it would be cool to say Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, and Miami Vice. But those shows did not interest me. And as for cartoons, I did not like The Smurfs. I much preferred their less popular cousins, The Snorks. (And I only just remembered that show during the section of The Butterfly Technique about snorkels, when it dawned on me how The Snorks got their name. Yes, I’m slow.)
Some shows I watched could be considered embarrassing, but they’ve entered the realm of ironic, because we all secretly watched and loved them.
For instance, if I were to say, “I’m so excited, I’m so excited, I’m so… scared!”
or “now we do the dance of joy!”
or “Mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho”
Most of you would be all, “Saved By the Bell! Perfect Strangers! Pee-Wee’s Playhouse!” because those shows are cool in an acceptably dorky way.
And while those were on my to-do list, I also spent a lot of time watching unacceptably dorky shows like Mr. Belvedere, Just the Ten of Us and Family Matters, before it became Urkel-centric. (Just to name 3 of the quarter dozen shows I never missed.) In fact, looking back through the Wikipedia TGIF page, I’m saddened to remember that Full House, Step By Step and (sigh) Dinosaurs also got a share of my time, until I outgrew them sometime in high school, when my tastes started to change, and I even spent some time leaving the house and attempting a social life (which mostly had to do with marching band practice.)
This morning, something triggered a memory of the show Head of the Class, another show I loved, and I remembered how badly I used to wish was in an accelerated learning class, instead of being a solidly B+ student. And I remembered the plot line of the girl who was in the remedial class, but it turned out she was just bored because she was so smart. So despite her disciplinary problems, she got to be in Howard Hessman’s class, who was obviously the best teacher because he took a flower truck to work every day in the opening credits. Then I remembered how when I was a student, I wished that all the boredom I felt in class was actually because I was secretly a super-genius, and all I needed was for one person to notice.
Of course I never put it together that if I had spent a little less time watching Double Dare, and a little more time watching Jeopardy! (or nothing at all), maybe I could have been a super-genius, and a star athlete to boot. But we’ll never know, because watching Growing Pains was so much more enjoyable.
Posted by 3carnations on May 22, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I loved Double Dare. I would have LOVED the chance to go through the obstacle course and be a slime covered chocolate syrupy mess for the chance to win a new Huffy…or a trip to Disneyworld…or just a chance to make that much of a mess.
If I had been on Double Dare, I would have kicked ass.
Posted by -R- on May 22, 2008 at 12:51 pm
H and I actually talk about Head of the Class and Just the Ten of Us somewhat frequently. H remembers every student’s name on Head of the Class, but I only remember Arvid and Simone. Oh, was Eric the tough kid?
I wonder if either of those shows is on DVD. I would totally rent them.
Yeah, I can’t remember the names. I’m afraid to watch them on DVD, because what if they’re not that good?
Posted by Sarah on May 22, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I remember going to a Nickalodeon studio tour and getting to taste the Double Dare slime. It was quite good.
And don’t forget Boy Meets World– the cornerstone of any good TGIF lineup.
I actually didn’t like Boy Meets World. I was a little too old for it, and it made me wistful for Kevin Arnold, not his younger brother.
Posted by Jennifer M. on May 22, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Don’t be ashamed of your TV watching past! I love television and I agree that we are indeed in a new Golden Age of scripted drama, it just gets hidden amongst all the dross that 7 bajillion channels inevitably produce. The acting and breathtaking storytelling on HBO’s “The Wire” was a revalation of what the medium could achieve. And AMC’s “Mad Men” was so engrossing and visually stunning (not the least because of the pregnant women smoking AND drinking) that I was enraptured.
I loved “Head of the Class”! Not as much when Billy Connelly and Data from the Goonies came on board, and I always wondered why no one seemed to graduate even though they didn’t start out as freshman. . .
Another ’90s callback? The reboot of 90210 on the CW this fall: You wanna be in the Zip? You gotta live by the Code! – awesome tagline.
I watched the trailer for 90210. I’m not impressed.
Posted by Anika on May 22, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Well, your shows are much cooler than mine. I watched re-runs of Little House on the Prairie and The Brady Bunch every day after school. . .
Oh, I watched the Brady Bunch too! I totally forgot about re-runs.
Posted by RA on May 22, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I loved “Perfect Strangers” and “Head of the Class”! My sister and I can still do the Dance of Joy, and I have such warm memories toward the “Little Shoppe of Horrors” episodes when Arvin got to play Seymour.
Can this blogger recommend “How I Met Your Mother”? It is my favorite show right now, and that’s saying a lot. I watch a lot of television. The first two seasons are available on DVD at Netflix, and it just got renewed for a fourth season next year. I can summarize one of the best reasons to watch it in three words: Neil. Patrick. Harris.
Hands down, The Little Shop episode was the very best one. Doogie Howser, MD? Also on my “must watch” list.
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on May 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Umm, I watched Bill Cosby’s Picture Pages, Hey, Dude, Salute Your Shorts, and You Can’t Do That On Television. So, pretty much a walking advertisement for Nickleodeon.
Your shows are way cooler.
Those were all on my list, although my little sister watched “Salute Your Shorts” so I thought it was lame.
But I’ll one up you. I also watched “Out of Control,” and loved Diz the best.
Posted by Ben on May 22, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Until all of MTV is rounded up and sent off to sea on a faulty raft, I refuse to admit that we are in a television golden age, despite the plethora of great tv shows out there.
Also, I had a Snork stuffed toy. It’s uhh snork could be repositioned in any way.
MTV jumped the shark when David got kicked off “The Real World.”
Posted by kir on May 22, 2008 at 1:21 pm
How weird is it that I mentioned Double Dare and Full House in my post on the same day as you? (Then again, I talk about Full House a lot). I loved all of those shows from the late 80′s – to early 90′s. I think it’s safe to say that they raised me, TGIF and Boner, forever
That is weird, since I haven’t had time to read any of my blogs yet today.
Your name is Boner Stabone?
Posted by Allie on May 22, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I really really really liked the Smurfs, but the Snorks were way better.
And, yeah, I totally knew where those quotes came from before I looked.
I was also a HUGE Pete & Pete fan in high school.
It’s a really good thing we don’t have cable. I would never accomplish anything.
The younger Pete went to my high school, but I wasn’t a big fan of the show.
Posted by erikka on May 22, 2008 at 2:27 pm
who does NOT know and quote Jesse from that episode of saved by the bell?
my favorite was the word of the day segment from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse – today’s word is Boot. Hey, where’s you get those boots? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I loved the secret word. So much anticipation!
Posted by apollocreed on May 22, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Man, I loved Mr. Belvedere! And The Snorks.
Nice choices.
Thank you.
Posted by Meghan on May 22, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Oh, I also watched, and enjoyed, all of those shows. In fact, I resent the implication that Mr. Belvedere and Perfect Strangers are somehow inferior viewing. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to watch so much TV as a kid and still have time for other stuff. I guess the thing about being a kid is that you have lots more free time and no car.
They weren’t necessarily inferior, but they really don’t hold up to the test of time or pop culture reference.
Posted by alexa on May 22, 2008 at 4:30 pm
this post is AWESOME. with every show you mentioned my smile got bigger.
being the pop culture genius that i am was able to pick up on all of your references. you are GOOD!
and want a blogger recommendation? add arrested development to your queue.
I’m glad you enjoyed. The hardest part was holding back. Could have talked about Alf, and Kate & Allie, and Clarissa Explains it All…
Posted by cadiz12 on May 22, 2008 at 4:33 pm
i watch/ed every single one of those shows, except one, and Battlestar Galactica is on my netflix queue.
I chalk all that “experience” up to building character. And if i ever get a chance to be on VH1′s World Series of Pop Culture, all that time i spent watching them, will be totally worth it.
The day BSG arrives will be a good one for you.
Posted by Laurel on May 22, 2008 at 5:01 pm
OMG, I totally forgot about Family Matters and DINOSAURS. That was some crappity crap crap television right there, folks!
It was so terrible! I only remembered it when I saw the Simpsons episode where they make fun of it for copying them. Guess who won?
Posted by stefanie on May 22, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I loved “Head of the Class,” but you’re on your own with “Dinosaurs.” Please tell me you also remember “Out of This World” and “Small Wonder.” The sooo belong in the same category as “Saved by the Bell” (terrible shows, but impossible not to watch anyway), and yet, I’m amazed how many people managed to escape them.
Oh! “The Hogan Family”! Do you remember that one? Jason Bateman’s big break-out role!
Of course, at various points, it was also called “Valerie” and “Valerie’s Family,” but if you were a fan, you already knew that.
If we’re talking current stuff, have you Netflixed “Weeds” yet? If not, you should!
Oh yes, I watched all of those. My parents liked “Valerie” so we watched that together. Loved loved loved Small Wonder.
Posted by Sobe on May 22, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I loved that Hessman’s classroom was in the middle of the hall.
Posted by mickey on May 23, 2008 at 12:07 am
It looks like your Netflix queue is exactly like Courtney’s (aka ours).
So is Double Dare to blame for my genius? I never made the connection. (Some genius, huh?)
Also: Dinosaurs? Even as a kid I was at least too discerning for that. Pssht.
Posted by The Modern Gal on May 23, 2008 at 1:34 am
Seriously, they don’t make TV the way they used to. I think old school TGIF could keep me in on a Friday even now.
Posted by courtney on May 23, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Oh, you just took me down a (embarrassing) trip down memory lane. I LOVED Dinosaurs. (Not the mama!) I was a kid; what did I know? That was funny back then.
Let us know how you like Flight of the Conchords when you get it. We just finished watching it and found it hilarious.
Posted by Tara on May 25, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I watch ridiculous shows now because TV was banned for me growing up, so you may have watched silly shows then when it was acceptable as a kid, I watch silly shows now as an adult because I wasn’t allowed to as a kid. It makes sense to kids who were raised like me, kids who weren’t think I’m a pretty lame adult. I don’t care, I still love American Idol, etc, because the stimulation from it is akin to drowning out a horrific childhood.
Posted by Manager Mom on May 26, 2008 at 7:46 am
Oh – Head of the Class rocked! I also was a BIG fan of Degrassi High.
The only shows I can’t miss now are Lost and Project Runway. I got a 50inch flat screen Hi Def TV as a gift from a wealthy relative a few years ago, so you DEFINITELY want to hang with me when there are shows to be watched…
Posted by Ann on May 28, 2008 at 11:38 am
Dinosaurs. Degrassi. Doogie Howser. Geez, I am feeling suddenly all nostalgic for mediocre television.
If I might recommend some good tv viewing – Peter and I are hooked on ‘Rescue Me’ – the Denis Leary firefighter show. We started watching it because we’d finished ‘The Shield’, which we also quite enjoyed.