We take a break from Lost recaps (though Ep. 3 is coming soon, I promise) to bring you another top 5. As a newly christened tv blogger, I think it's fair to see some of my credentials, so I present the top 5 most influential tv moments in my life:
5. 1997-1999 -- Mystery Science Theater 3000 (seasons 8, 9, and 10)
I started watching this cult classic on Sci-Fi channel in elementary school. It's intelligent, irreverent, and just plain incredible. It can be seen as one of the first influences on me to direct witty comments at the tv screen. Or at least try.
4. Fall, 2005 -- Firefly
Starting college is an awkward time. New people, new place, trying to fit in. In those first nights away from home, my roommate asked me if I had ever watched a little known Joss Whedon show called Firefly. A space western, I was hesitant but intrigued. It turned out to be really damn good. And he and I bonded, huddled around the glow of his laptop computer, watching Mal evade the alliance. Kyle has proven, time and again, to have pretty impeccable tv tastes (of the shows that he's watched...his childhood catalog is a little sparse) and you should be hearing more from him anytime soon.
3. Spring 2004 -- Arrested Development
I was a senior in high school, bored on Sunday night. I was waiting for the simpsons to come on and caught part of Arrested Development. I thought, "maybe this will be good, I know it's a critical darling" but jumping into the middle of it was just the wrong move. All the self references were lost on me and I was quite confused in the chaos. I quickly changed the channel. It's a pity, because I think many people did the same thing except never went back.
Good news though AD fans: http://tv.yahoo.com/show/35099/news/urn:newsml:eonlinekristen.com:20080202:TV-6a829db24533e7aa026268d0738c29d5__ER:1;_ylt=AuK7ETKJIdGTP7M9Gu47UVyAo9EF
2. Fall, 2005 -- Veronica Mars (season 2, episode 5, "Blast from the Past")
It was freshman year in college and I didn't really regularly watch network programming anymore (not since around junior high). But one night, a couple friends down the hall were having trouble with their cable so they came over to our apartment to watch tv. Lost was a rerun so we watched a little show on the WB called Veronica Mars at the request of my friend Julia. After that, I was hooked. I downloaded all the old episodes and we all watched it together, a real bonding experience that continued in watching several other shows together, ultimately inspiring this blag. Julia also is a very talented writer slash television reviewer and thought we don't always see eye to eye, her opinions are always with some merit. Hopefully, she too, will get something up on here.
1. Spring 1999 -- Seinfeld (season 9, episodes 23/24, "The Finale)
Above any others, Seinfeld was the show I was dedicated to watching. Must See tv really meant something to me and I religiously watched what can be considered one of the best shows ever made. When I first heard news that season 9 was the final one, I was a little heartbroken. And when I watched the finale, I was a little angry. The greatest show about nothing went out on, in my opinion, one of the weakest endings ever. I guess it had been built up so much, it was bound to fall on its face. But this moment was when I realized that even great tv shows can stumble. And when they do, say something so it doesn't happen again.
And there are 5 of the most influential moments in my tv watching 'career'
Feel free to post your own.
And good news, some Office recaps are on their way!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming...
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Top 5 of 2007
In my tradition of making top 5 lists, I thought I'd start this with a short top 5 list for 2007:
Top 5 television moments of 2007:
5. Kenneth leaving on a 'Midnight train to Georgia,' 30 Rock (season 2, episode 10 'Coffee and TV') - Admittedly, this aired 10 days into 2008, but was technically made in 2007. It marks the first return of real written television since this painful strike put a major cramp in my tv watching. Seeing it was so much fun and a reminder that tv could still be good.
4. Charlie's own top 5 list, Lost (season 3, episode 21 'Greatest hits') - Not only do I think it redeemed his sagging character and was some of Dominic Monaghan's best acting, it's a top 5 list! But seriously, Charlie was one of the few characters I felt I liked (R.I.P. Boone as well). Yes, I miss him.
3. House (season 4, episode 1 'Alone')
Janitor: Maybe it's lupus.
The meta reference had me rolling on the ground and simul-messaging everyone else watching it. It was a much better nod to the show's outrageousness than its later actual lupus case (season 4, episode 8). I also loved that House was bouncing ideas off of a janitor (a little more interesting than some of the contestants to come later in the season).
2. "The Humans are Dead" music video, Flight of the Conchords (season 1 episode 1) - It's hard to pick out one defining moment for this breakout show showcasing one of New Zealand's most clever folk parody duo, but a binary solo and sweet robot suits helped hook me into a show with some of the most quotable lines ever.
1. The Office (season 3, episode 23 'The Job')
I'm sorry, I am a huge Office fan and at this very moment, I probably screamed. 3 years of bad timing and high tension culminates in the cutest of moments. I know in the back of my head I was saying "I hope they can keep this up" but I ignored it, I was too happy.
I really wanted Veronica Mars to make this list but unfortunately, its weak third season ended not with a bang but with a whimper. Albeit, it left me praying for some form of follow up.
Maybe in good spirits, I'll start recapping Lost from its season premiere. Wish me luck.