Since I had the car accident and my boyfriend broke up with me I have a lot of free time in the weekends. The doctor told me to relax, calm down, and don't move a lot. So I'm rediscovering some of my favorite TV shows of all-times while better times come for me and all of us :) Here's the list:
1- SIX FEET UNDER: (from HBO). It is a very smart show with very clever dialogues. The music, the photography and the characters development are incredible. The show is produced by the same people who made one of my favorite movies: American Beauty.
2 - BEWITCHED: (from CPT Holdings / CBS Television) This popular sitcom from the 60's showed the first couple sleeping in the same bed on TV. We will always remember the charming way Samantha used to move her nose to make magic. Endora (the annoying mother of Sam - played by actress Agnes Moorehead) is one of the funniest characters I have ever seen on TV history.
3- QUEER AS FOLK: (from HBO) Why TV shows are getting more and more popular everyday while movies popularity are stuck? The reason is because the Motion Picture of America Association (yes, the very same people who organizes the Oscars Ceremony every year) has a very strict code in order to decide if a movie should be seen by all audiences or should be restricted. This limits the creativity of directors and script writers. Sometimes they have to give up an idea they would like to include in a film in order to make it more "family friendly" so it can be seen by more people. This doesn't apply to TV, and that is why there has been produced some shows that portraits aspects of real life that can't be seen on the big screen. The American version of "Queer as folk", along with "Sex and the City", is a good example of this. The show is a celebration of love, freedom, diversity and passion appreciated by the viewer through the lives of a group of openly gay friends of Pittsburgh (PA). During its five seasons "Queer as Folk" got huge audience ratings every Sunday evening-- and remember, one of the rules of TV is that if a shows makes it through the third season it's considered a success.
4- ALF (from Lorimar Television): Lorimar, a great TV studio very popular in the 80's brought us the unforgettable Alf character. "Where's the cat Willy? ha ha".
5- DINASTY: (from Aaron Spelling Productions) This show was incredibley popular in the 80's and brought back large audiences to the soap-opera concept. Produced by TV legend Aaron Spelling, the show described the luxurious lives of two Denver based petrol-wealthy families: the Harringtons (I remember my mum wearing the same clothing and hairstyle as Linda Evans) and the Colbys (and my grandmother doing the same but with Alexis- oh family dinners were a lot of fun!).
6- I LOVE LUCY: (from Desilu Productions) the show that started it all!!! Back in the 50's Comedian Lucille Ball invented the situation comedy (sitcom) when she made the TV version of her radio program. She played the role of a crazy housewife married to Ricky Ricardo (Oh Ricky!!!), a Cuban singer living in New York. Yes, so many years later we still love Lucy. If you ever go to Universal Studios (Orlando or Los Angeles) please don't miss the "Lucy- a tribute" exhibit in order to understand the influence of the sitcom in the television medium and the American culture.
7- THE SIMPSONS: (from Fox) The longest show in TV history, currently running it's 13th season. The Simpsons has become a worldwide phenomenon.
8- BEVERLY HILLS 90210: (from Aaron Spelling Productions) The all-90's TV show is about the lives of a group of teenagers living in upscale Beverly Hills-- "please Brandon don't hurt the feelings of Kelly!" Brenda used to yell, he he. Yes when I was a teenager I wanted to be like them.
9- WILL & GRACE: (from NBC Productions) This extra-funny sitcom describes the life of a posh gay NYC lawyer and his flamboyant friends: a jewish indecisive designer, a rich old lady and a gay actor. The sitcom showed the first gay kiss on prime time in 2001.
10- THE TWILIGHT ZONE: (from CBS) Sci-Fi writer Rod Serling brought the first horror / fantasy show during the late 50's. Serling introduced personally every episode and some of them would deal with subjects like racism or the war. In the 80's Steven Spielberg and other directors made a movie re-making some of the best episodes seen in the show.
11- ROOTS: (from Warner Bros Television): is the true story of an African-American family. From how they were brought to the US as slaves, to freedom and success in the 1970's. Some of it's episodes got more audience than the superbowl in the mid 70's.
12- DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: (from Disney/ABC Television) I like to say that Desperate Housewives is the TV version of "American Beauty". In fact is produced by the same people. The show is so funny and beautiful at the same time, I love to hear the advices and conclusions that the voice of Mary Alice tells at the end of every show.
13- DALLAS: (from Lorimar Television): A really good show that catapulted Larry Hagman to fame by playing the role of the evil J.R. The show is as Texan as can be. Widly popular in the 70's and early 80's.
14- THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR: (from Walt Disney Television) This show was introduced by Walt Disney himself, and made television history because it was the first broadcasted in color which brought audiences to their new color TV sets during the 60's. The show would include a 50 minute high quality made for TV movie or a documentary about nature or a Disney project (like the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride). The format used was the same as in the previous show "Disneyland" in wich Walt Disney would speak about the construction of his theme park in California. Today there is a show called "The Wonderful World of Disney" that follows this path, it was introduced in the 80's by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who became very popular because of his funny presentations. The 2009 version of the show is currently running on ABC and the Disney Channel. I know we are not in our best moment - the financial crisis... and more things but remember there are so much beauty in the world because as the song of this show used to tell us: "the world is a carrousel of color".
15- THE MUNSTERS: (from Universal City Studios Television). One of the funniest sitcoms ever! Based on the classic Universal Studios monsters the two seasons show has become an endless classic.
17- FALCON CREST: (from Warner Bros. Television) I would say an 80's classic along with "The A Team", "V" and "The Great American Heroe". How evil was Angela Channing (Played by actress Jane Wynman - first spouse of President Ronald Reagan), what about the look of Lorenzo Lamas? That was so 80's!!!
18- THE GOLDEN GIRLS: (from Walt Disney Television) another 80's classic. The show is about four third age ladies sharing a house in Miami and brought some of the funniest moments on TV history.
19- BRIDESHEAD REVISITED: (from Granada Television) This British show is about the splendor and decadence of the 1920's English aristocracy. Is also about passion, love and youth. Is the story of two friends falling in love, is the story of a war, is the story of British discipline and high education. Is a delightful show.
20- THE MUPPET SHOW: (from Jim Henson Productions) Jim Henson, brought unforgettable characters like Big Bird or Cookie Monster. While "Sesame Street" was fro kids, The Muppet Show is more for adults and introduces us crazy characters like: Kermit the frog, Ms. Piggy or Fozzie the Bear. They all have some kind of a hippy - groovie style.
