A recent Harris Poll released last week asked American "adults" to pick their "two or three favorite television shows of
all time." All time, to me = since the birth of television. 1948 or so til
today. All time.
Among the top 15 shows getting the most nods, it shocked me that only 2 are considered true classics: M*A*S*H at No. 2 and STAR TREK at No. 13. So, you may ask "what were the other 11 shows that these people call their all-time faves?"
Well, let's get started with No. 15:
No. 15: GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC, 2005-current) - Okay, how could something that premiered 4 years ago be your all-time favorite? I've never seen a full episode.
I must be missing something amazing.
No. 14: THE SIMPSONS (FOX, 1989-current) - Holy shit, THE SIMPSONS has been on for TWENTY years. God I'm getting old. Even though I think I stopped watching this show on a regular basis about 10 years ago, it's still funny and irreverent. The feature film was enjoyable as well. I guess it can pass for an all-time favorite.
No. 13: STAR TREK (NBC, 1966-69) - No objection.
No. 12: LAW & ORDER (NBC, 1990-current) Since this show has been on, I've lived in three major cities, had 8 different jobs and did all sorts of crazy shit. Somehow I've only managed to see one episode of this peacock network warhorse. I think I saw LAW & ORDER: SVU twice though. I know people who love this show, so I'll give it a pass.
No. 11: FAMILY GUY (FOX, 2000-current) A show that was cancelled twice for low ratings somehow managed to survive and became the zombie that refuses to die. I've tried at least a dozen times to watch this show (usually because friends think it's so goddamn brilliant) only to find out that it is not only NOT brilliant, but one of the most unfunny and offensive shows ever created. Believe me, I enjoy offensive comedy - when it's actually funny.
No. 10: ER (NBC, 1994-2009) This show finally called it quits. I saw one episode years ago. It was well done, but it made me uneasy and nervous. Give me ST. ELSEWHERE any day.
No. 9: LOST (ABC, 2004-current) Never watched it. Sorry.
No. 8: TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS, 2003-current) Who are these people who voted for this show??? Please have them captured and made incapable of reproducing. Thank you.
No. 7: FRIENDS (NBC, 1994-2004) "I'll be there for you..." for 10 seasons. I watched the first 5 or 6. Okay, I really liked it for a while. I'm gay.
No. 6: SEINFELD (NBC, 1989-98) Okay, I was a huge SEINFELD fan - when it first aired. But I haven't been able to watch reruns since it went off the air...I wonder why?
No. 5: 24 (FOX, 2001-current) Never watched even a minute of this right-wing propaganda. Never will.
No. 4: NCIS (CBS, 2003-current) What the fuck? I've never met anyone who has ever watched this show. Most people haven't even heard of it.
No. 3: HOUSE (FOX, 2004-current) My sister is a fan of this show. I watched an episode with her when she visited me last year. It was okay, nothing special. Eh.
No. 2: M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-83) This anti-war sitcom is a true classic despite Loretta Swit's awful un-1950s hairstyle.
No. 1....Are you ready for this? Any guesses?
MARY TYLER MOORE ? - Nope.
ALL IN THE FAMILY ? - Oh no.
THE COSBY SHOW? - No-no.
ROSEANNE? - A big no.
CHEERS? - Hell no.
HILL STREET BLUES ? - No way.
THE SOPRANOS ? - Haven't got a prayer.
MARRIED: WITH CHILDREN? - Um, okay...I was kidding.
EVERBODY LOVES RAYMOND? - Apparently not so much.
I LOVE LUCY???!!! - waaaaah...Ricky...
What ever can it ever be? What is America's ALL-TIME favorite TV show??? Drumroll please...
No 1: CSI (CBS, 2000-current) Give me a fucking break. This is the all-time favorite TV series among American adults??? CSI??? All I've got to say is..."is it too late to move to Canada?".
The show felt like an awkward throwback to the 1960s, especially with it's cheesy theme song. The premise was this: some nerdy scientist guy secretly builds a robot that looks like a 10-year-old girl, but she really is designed to perform house work at superhuman speed. The Robot is named Vicki, and this guy and his wife pass her off as their adopted daughter–even though they make her sleep in the box she came in!!! Very creepy!Complicating things are the guy's bastard of a boss, who lived next door with a nosy, bratty daughter. It was like THE JETSONS meets BEWITCHED meets MY LIVING DOLL (which I've never seen - but am dying to!) I can recall watching several episodes of this show just out of disbelief that it actually got "greenlit". It must have had some loyal fans because it lasted FOUR seasons!Of course, now I wish it was airing somewhere. Hello, TV LAND? Here's an ambitious fan site dedicated to the show. I'm sure the show is even (unintentionally) funnier as seen through 2008 eyes. I say "give me SMALL WONDER over over-hyped crap like GOSSIP GIRL any day!"
According to my favorite news source, The Huffington Post , and much to the chagrin of my dogs Buck and Zorro– today is Squirrel Appreciation Day! Who knew? So in honor of this momentous occasion - here are a few of my favorite squirrels.
Squirrels have found fame in many TV shows and films starting in 1959, when Jay Ward's Rocky the Flying Squirrel first fly into homes. Rocket J. Squirrel began outwitting Cold War villains Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, along with his friend Bullwinkle on ROCKY & FRIENDS and later on THE BULLWINKLE SHOW. For lots more info on Rocky and his Frostbite Falls cohorts, go here.
Secret Squirrel and his sidekick, Morocco Mole, debuted as part of THE ATOM ANT/SECRET SQUIRREL SHOW on NBC in 1965 - spinning off with their own Hanna-Barbera cartoon series in 1966. The show featured the madcap adventures of the secret agent rodent (Agent 000) and his arch enemy The Yellow Pinky. Visit artist Patrick Owlsey's blog for some really cool Secret Squirrel art (and much, much more).
Slappy and Skippy Squirrel were featured on THE ANIMANIACS in the 1990s. Slappy is bitter, retired animated actress from the Looney Tunes golden age, who spends most of her days on the WB studio lot, causing chaos with her innocent nephew and sidekick, Skippy.
Screwy Squirrel an obscure an Tex Avery character that appeared in only five MGM cartoon shorts during the 1940s. He later returned in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT and in 1993 was given a supporting role on Fox's DROOPY: MASTER DETECTIVE TV series.
Also worth noting are Sandy Cheeks from Nickelodeon's ridiculously successful SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS and Nutty Squirrel from the deliciously demented internet series HAPPY TREE FRIENDS.
On a more serious note, Jess the Squirrel is a character on the epic PBS animated fantasy series REDWALL - which always seemed to complicated for me to follow. Other recent animated squirrels include critters in the CGI films THE WILD and OVER THE HEDGE.
So, show your support for Squirrel Appreciation Day and check out some of these fine furry superstars! I'm really looking forward to Rabbit Appreciation Day!!!
