Category 18: Television Shows

Eric	Khurram	Richard	Derrick
The Office	Monk	The West Wing	Seinfeld
Arrested Development	Family Guy	Sports Night	House, M.D.
Ninja Warrior	The NFL on Fox	Rob & Big	American Gladiators (Modern)

Round 1: Since we all know I like to use lists, I planned on writing a list of my favorite things about The Office, but I ran into some issues that were larger than expected. First, I love the show, so any list would be really long. I mean, it’d be quite impressive, but how many people really want to deal with something of that size? Additionally, in making a list for something this important, I’d want it to be perfect, so accomplishing something like that may be excessively hard. For sure, I’d have to hammer away at it the whole night. And to do a good job I’d likely work up quite a bit of sweat. But I’m sure when the sun arose the next morning; it will have been a great experience and well worth it. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m sure I’d be left satisfied. As a viewer, I can safely say that the show aims to please and can always bring a smile to my face. I wasn’t entirely sold after I watched the first episode of season 1, but the show came so highly recommended that I couldn’t just blow it off. Thankfully I didn’t, because Season 2 found a perfect blend of comedy and drama and it really is when the show let it all hang out. With respect to the comedy, aside from the classic Jim/Dwight pranks, much of the comedic value lies in Michael Scott being oblivious as to his own unbelievable “shortcomings”. On the dramatic side, we of course have Jim and Pam whose relationship in season 2 was headed for what I hoped would be a fantastic climax. But, when it finally came, I was left wanting more. I’d talk about seasons 3 and 4, but I’m pretty much spent. So, if you haven’t gotten it by now, perhaps its time for me to bring in two other fans of the office, Eric and Derrick, for some tag team action. Because, you know what they say, two heads are better than one. Or, maybe you’ve tried it out, and something about the show just rubs you the wrong way. If so, then I’ll just leave it alone, because I know I sure as hell wouldn’t want someone else’s tastes shoved down my throat. But either way, I think I got my point across pretty effectively, and I’m glad we put this matter to bed.

Monk is one of those shows that sneaks up on you. Maybe you flip to USA on a commercial break from whatever other show you are watching, and then the next thing you know, you’ve watched the entire episode and can’t even remember what you were watching before. I don’t know that I’d call this show a first round pick, but considering Khurram got Family Guy on the way back, I can’t really complain.

My first round selection was The West Wing. The show won an Emmy for Best Drama the first four years it was on TV (not coincidentally, Aaron Sorkin left the show after year 4 and the run abruptly stopped). There was nothing like The West Wing when it first came out, with its classic “walk and talk” scenes that have been both mocked and mimicked since its inception. Nevertheless, I cannot think of a better written show in my history of television. The show was appointment viewing for me during the Aaron Sorkin years and I have yet to find a show that captures my attention like The West Wing once did.

Derrick took the ultimate show about nothing. With the last pick in the first round, this might be the ultimate value pick considering the heights the show reached in the mid 1990’s. It’s success was a testament to the cast’s chemistry and the “creativity” of Jerry Seinfeld and the other writers as no one from that show went on to enjoy even a fraction of the success that Seinfeld did. But even 10 years after the show went off the air, its influence on American culture remains. Oh, and you can probably watch 4 episodes of it per day on various channels.

Round 2: On the wrap around, Derrick took House, MD. I remember Fox showing promos for this show during the World Series and thinking this was just going to be another ER knock off. 5 years later, I own the first four seasons on DVD, and I am hooked. Medical miracles, scathing sarcasm, drug addiction, and heart-felt cold heartedness…who could ask for anything more?

A Few Good Men, The West Wing, and now Sports Night, Sorkin projects all. I am currently re-watching Sports Night on my special 10^th anniversary collection discs and I have to say that its better than I remembered it. Don’t get me wrong, with this being Sorkin’s first foray into television, and ABC forcing the show to have a laugh track for the first 8 episodes, Sports Night didn’t exactly get off to the strongest of starts. But once it got rolling, you can’t help but get sucked in. I think what ultimately doomed the show though (despite a few awards and critical acclaim, it was cancelled after only two seasons) was the fact that there was a misconception that it was solely a sports show, when in fact it was so much more than that. Sports Night simply used the backdrop of a “Sports Center” type show, to tell stories that expanded far beyond sports. I think for me though, the reason I love this show so much is that it originally aired when I was just beginning to fully develop and grasp my affection for all things sports related, and the show, in many ways, gave a voice to what I felt.

Literally rising from the ashes of cancellation, Family Guy has emerged as a top flight show and though Eric may kill me for saying this, seems to possess some of the spark that The Simpsons used to exhibit on a regular basis. Since I am not a regular viewer of either of these shows anymore, I could be completely off base, but that’s just what I thought when I watched both recently. Nevertheless, I have seen enough off this show to know that Khurram got first round value in the second round.

From one Fox show that got a new lease on life, to another that deserved one, Eric took Arrested Development with his second round choice. Not only is the show set in the good (i.e. white) part of Orange County, it does a legitimate and hilarious job of satirizing some of the so-called O.C. lifestyles as well as “real world” occurrences. What type of real world occurrences you ask? How about model homes of the Bluth family being built in Iraq, which is an act of Treason. Oh, and having their version of “Girls Gone Wild”, entitled, “Girls with Low Self-Esteem”. Or more importantly, the parody of the over the top broomstick/light saber video (See CG enhanced version here). Other moments that will always stick with me: Gob Bluth and his Segway, the chicken dance (which Fox removed from youtube or I’d link to it), the use of “Final Countdown” for Gob’s magic tricks, Anyong, Kitty’s lopsided boob job, and Michael and his niece singing the karaoke version of Afternoon Delight.

Round 3: Eric starts off the last round with Ninja Warrior. Look, I’m extremely proud of my Japanese heritage, if for no other reason than stuff like this comes out of that country. For your amusement:

So close

10 crazy obstacles

Near Misses

I love football, I don’t think there is any doubt about that. I could do without all of Fox’s yelling and screaming on their football show, and Tory Aikman’s homerism but the NFL, is the NFL and I even use Fox’s NFL theme as my ringtone.

For my last choice I had a tough decision to make. I am very fond of Firefly and Friday Night Lights (1^st season only), and could’ve gone with either one of those and been happy. However, I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to take Rob and Big. The very first episode I saw was the infamous manpon one. I couldn’t believe they would show that on tv. Then I saw the one where they go to Ohio and visit an amusement park. I was sold after that. But my favorite moment of the show is when Big is trying to lose weight, yet brings home a couple of burgers from Carl’s Jr. fries, and chicken fingers. After Rob gets pissed and throws everything out. Big goes to the garbage can and takes a burger out of the trash can and tries to eat it before Rob catches him. His excuse? “Man, that’s a double western. You can’t throw out a double western, son”. I’ve had them. Its true. Of course, you can’t really finish one either. Finally, since I’ve started watching the show, the all-encompassing phrase “Do Work” has become a part of my every day vocabulary. If I gotta play some ball, its time to do work. If I’m going to eat a big meal? I’ve gotta do work. After that big meal, it might be time to do work in the bathroom. Any time I have a task ahead of me, big or small, its always time to do work.

Derrick closes out the round and category with American Gladiators. I don’t get his love for the show. Maybe it’s because I didn’t grow up on the original version. When I do watch this show, I watch it for the unintentional comedy, which is through the roof. Hulk Hogan as your host. Hellga, the woman Gladiator who gets her ass kicked at everything. Contestants face planting into walls. Other people, who have to know they have no shot, getting tossed like dolls as they try to climb a pyramid type mountain against Gladiators….wait a second, I DO see why Derrick likes this show so much. I stand corrected.

Overall analysis: The Office is my favorite show from this list, and Eric was wise to grab it first, because I would have surely taken it if it was available. Also, if you didn’t understand my write up on that show, just add the phrase “That’s what she said” (Michael Scott’s catch phrase) to the end of nearly every sentence, and it should make more sense. Family Guy was great value where Khurram got it, and so was Seinfeld for Derrick. For sheer quality, I’d put The West Wing up against any show out there. I have to say though, I’m really surprised no one went with the Sopranos.