I’m about to make a confession that may finally surprise you: When I’m assigned to write an 80-word DVD review of an entire season of a TV show, I actually watch every episode. Last weekend, I spent quality time with WKRP in Cincinnati‘s first year, and was still laughing my butt off when I got to episode 21, "Fish Story."
You might remember it: The radio station’s ad man Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner, pictured) dresses up as the WKRP mascot, a carp, and hilarity ensues when he tries to use a public restroom and doesn’t have change for the pay stall. He tries to squeeze his fish bones under the door and gets stuck, then ultimately gets into a fight with a rival station’s mascot — a pig. While all that’s going on, DJs Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap are conducting an on-air drinking experiment with a cop to prove that our reaction time gets slower and slower with each passing shot. Of course, Venus gets wasted, while Johnny’s reflexes improve.
I swear it’s good stuff, which is why I went straight to the featurette about the episode. Turns out CBS thought WKRP had been doing too much heady comedy (news director Les Nessman had been banned from a locker room when a player thought he was gay; Venus, we found out, was actually a Vietnam deserter named Gordom Sims) and wanted some slapstick and sight-gags. Perturbed, creator Hugh Wilson wrote "Fish Story" with every cliché in the book. (This would be a good time to mention that program director Andy Travis was being interviewed by a journalist as the station went to hell.) Obviously, Wilson wasn’t thrilled when the episode scored great ratings.
So, here’s today’s question: What sitcom have you enjoyed, even though you felt — or got the impression you should feel — guilty about it? I’ll start: I never watched Everybody Loves Raymond until it was in reruns, then didn’t miss an episode for three months.
Confession: I really like “Reba” – though I have only come to love it in reruns. It’s not deep but it’s funny.
However, the real issue here, is the DVD set worth having even without some of the original music? I fear that it won’t be.
“Home Improvement”. I had NO interest in the show, then caught a couple episodes while bored one summer. It became a two-episode-daily ritual, and I still don’t think I completely regret watching.
Fraiser. I never watched until recently. For some strange reason, I am compelled to turn the channel to watch whenever I find it in reruns.
I agree about Everybody Loves Raymond. I never saw it before and then I caught it on TBS in reruns. I swear it is one of the funniest TV shows I’ve ever seen. I still watch the reruns, and I still laugh at episodes I’ve already seen.
Also Everwood. I never watched that either, and then the Family Channel showed all the episodes back in October. I started DVRing them, and I never missed one. What a great show. The CW execs are idiots for not picking it up.
Definitely “Third Rock from the Sun”. I am ROTFLMAO for every episode. One episode that I still talk about to this day was when Mary was having a swanky party and ran out of wine. Dick went out and brought back the cheapo boxes of wine. Mary said she didn’t drink and Dick asked why was she always running out of then? LOL.
I agree about Everybody Loves Raymond. I never saw it before and then I caught it on TBS in reruns. It is one of the funniest TV shows I’ve ever seen. I still watch the reruns, and I still laugh at episodes I’ve already seen.
Also Everwood. I never watched that either, and then the Family Channel showed all the episodes back in October. I started DVRing them, and I never missed one. What a great show. The CW execs are idiots for not picking it up.
Way back when Fox first started – Herman’s Head and Duet.
Now, I occassionally catch The War at Home and feel guilty for liking it. Otherwise, other than animated shows like The Simpsons or Family Guy and the hilarious British comedy My Family, I pretty much skip sitcoms.
I always watch Becker. Though I’m not embarrassed by it. I think it’s funny even though everyone hates on it. I also miss Ted Danson’s show that came and went earlier in the year, Help Me Help You. It was HILARIOUS.
The flying frozen turkeys episode of WKRP was probably one of the funniest.
As for sitcoms that I enjoyed:
Newsradio up until Phil Hartman passed. There was no chemistry between Foley and Lovitz.
Night Court
Soap/Benson
Grace Under Fire up until it was cancelled because Brett Butler went into rehab.
The Norm McDonald show- the first season because the writing was decent and “Weiner Dog” rocked.
Drew Carey, but the later seasons it just got boring, and the same for That 70′s Show.
It’s not a sitcom, but my hands down answer is “Buffy”. Best show ever, but you’d be hard pressed to get me to admit that I own all of the DVDs, much less have ever seen an episode.
Mine is Yes Dear. I started watching the reruns on TBS and I agree about Reba. I don’t know why I like it, but it’s funny as hell.
As a 12 year old kid, I watched reruns of Charles in Charge and the Facts of Life every day while working out. Having seen both series from beginning to their very end, I can say that BOTH shows make me feel as if a lot of braincells and youthfull energy were wasted watching those two.
“Grounded For Life.” I never saw it first-run, because it just looked silly. Then I caught a rerun one day, and I was hooked.
Babes – it was on Fox (I think?) and even way back then I knew it wasn’t the best show, but I never wanted to miss an episode.
I think I’ve seen every Saved by the Bell episode at least 5 times, even the ones with Tori.