THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 1/29/21

Here's a look at my Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - RIP CLORIS LEACHMAN

We lost three legends in the last week with Larry King, Cicely Tyson and Cloris Leachman. All had contributions in a variety of mediums through many decades but I would mostly like to talk about Leachman, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 94. She had a long career in film, on stage and on TV. But she will always be best remembered by me as Phyllis Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. As Mary's very self assured and sometimes snobby landlord, she didn't make a ton of appearances but always made her mark when she did. Her warring with Valerie Harper's Rhoda provided much of the comedy early on in the series. Her shining moment though came in Season 4's "The Lars Affair," my favorite episode of the series. Phyllis went toe to toe with her husband's alleged mistress, the first appearance of Sue Ann Nivens, played by Betty White. It might be best remembered for being White's first appearance by Leachman was really the star of the episode and simply hilarious. She earned a well deserved Emmy Award for that episode. May she rest in peace.

EPISODE GUIDES: A Recap of That 70s Show

Here is a summary of That 70s Show! Next week I will start looking at one of TV's most successful spinoffs, Rhoda, but before that, here is a look at all eight seasons including the ultimate countdown of That 70s Show's best and worst episodes!

THAT 70S SHOW
August 23, 1998 - May 18, 2006
200 episodes

Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (179 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (200 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (183 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (200 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (200 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (200 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (200 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (200 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (126 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (52 episodes)
Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman, Seasons 1-3, 5 (44 episodes)
Christina Moore as Laurie Forman, Season 6 (6 episodes)
Tommy Chong as Leo (39 episodes)
Josh Meyers as Randy Pearson (21 episodes)

Mo Gaffney as Joanne Stupac (12 episodes)
Shannon Elizabeth as Brooke (9 episodes)
Jim Gaffigan as Roy (9 episodes)
Allison Munn as Caroline (9 episodes)

Tim Reid as William Barnett (9 episodes)
Joanna Canton as Nina (8 episodes)
Megalyn Echikunwoke as Angie Barnett (8 episodes)
Jud Taylor as Samantha (8 episodes)

Brooke Shields as Pamela Burkhart (7 episodes)

Cynthia LaMontagne as Rhonda (6 episodes)
Kevin McDonald as Pastor Dave (6 episodes)
Jim Rash as Fenton (6 episodes)
Luke Wilson as Casey Kelso (6 episodes)

ONE SEASON WONDERS: The Ellen Burstyn Show

On Wednesdays, I look at shows that lasted on season or less. Today I am looking at late 1980s flop The Ellen Burstyn Show!

THE ELLEN BURSTYN SHOW

Programming Details:

September 20, 1986 - September 5, 1987

12 episodes

ABC

Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Megan Mullally, Jesse Tendler, Barry Sobel and Elaine Stritch

Created by: Norman Steinberg and David Frankel

Plot: Ellen Brewer (Burstyn) is a Baltimore college professor living with her overbearing mother, Sydney (Stritch) and recently divorced daughter, Molly (Mullally) as well as young grandson, Nick (Tendler). Rounding out the main cast is student Tom (Sobel).

TOP 10 TUESDAY: Top 10 Theme Songs of the 80s

Tuesdays are Top 10 Tuesdays where I count down a topic in the TV realm. This week is Top 10 Theme Songs of the 80s! A reminder, it had to be any show that premiered in that timeframe even if it ran well into another decade. Also, the song had to have been written for the show (for example, The Wonder Years wouldn't count).

Close Calls

Who's the Boss?

The Cosby Show

Newhart

10. Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)

It's a long theme song but a good one. There's something so earnest about these hopeful 80s theme songs and this one is super hopeful. As both Balki and Larry makes their way to Chicago from Mypos and Wisconsin respectively, it's hard to not feel a lot of optimism.

9. The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983)

I've never seen an episode of The Greatest American Hero but its theme song has transcended the show and become a great 80s classic. It feels epic and you instantly want to sing along. In fact, I want to sing along right now as I think about it.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1987-1988 Thursdays

On Mondays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Thursdays in the 1987-88 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	10:00
Sep	Sledge Hammer!	The Charmings	Thursday Night Movie
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan	The Charmings	Thursday Night Movie
Feb
Mar	Probe		Hotel	Buck James
Apr
May	Max Headroom

ABC's Thursday nights were a place for most of their lowest rated shows throughout an ever changing night. 20/20 had left the night for Fridays after many years and they had a hard time filling that void. The night started out with a comedy hour followed by a movie. The comedy hour featured two second year sitcoms that barely eked out a renewal going against NBC's comedy power hour. Sledge Hammer! and The Charmings collapsed in the 8pm hour and both were cancelled with The Charmings moving up half an hour to 8pm and Sledge Hammer! heading to Fridays before they were gone for good. While both were satires of sorts, they were also not a very compatible pairing. In March, ABC went with a new lineup of dramas. First up was the new Probe, a sci-fi drama about a genius whole solved crimes. It couldn't get any traction in a difficult slot and was cancelled after eight episodes. 9pm & 10pm were occupied by two shows that had been struggling on Saturdays: veteran Hotel and freshman Buck James. Both were cancelled at the end of the season with Hotel ending after five seasons and 114 episodes. It had spent most of its run behind Dynasty but was already starting to struggle and then collapsed without it. Buck James was cancelled after 19 episodes. It was back to the drawing board for ABC on Thursday nights with none of the shows living to see the 1988-89 season.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 1/22/21

Here's a look at my Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - RENEWALS ALL AROUND

There were several renewals this week from many different networks. Most notable but least surprising was Bridgerton on Netflix. The show, which became a very buzzy show following its premiere on Christmas. The second season will follow the second book of the series it is based on and will turn its attention to a different member of the Bridgerton family. Meanwhile, TNT has renewed Snowpiercer for a third season ahead of its second season premiere on January 25. Peacock has renewed Saved by the Bell for a second season. One of the few Peacock originals, it received some critical attention but hasn't seemed to break through in the public conversation. Finally, BET renewed Sistas for a third season.

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Eight

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Eight (the final season) of That 70s Show!

THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON EIGHT
2005-2006
22 episodes

The final season of That 70s Show gets a lot of hate from the fans with Topher Grace gone and Ashton Kutcher departing after four episodes as well as the addition of Josh Meyers. It's not anywhere as strong as it was at its peak, but the eighth season actually graded out higher than the seventh for me. Even with the weak addition of Meyers, it feels less tired. But I think it's mainly due to a strong closing arc for Ashton Kutcher, a solid run-up to the finale and a really strong three episode midseason guest arc by Mary Tyler Moore. The final season is not as bad as you may have heard. Each episode in the final season (except for the finale) is named for a Queen song.

 
Starring
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (22 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (22 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (22 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (22 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (22 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (22 episodes)
Josh Meyers as Randy Pearson (21 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (14 episodes)
Tommy Chong as Leo (11 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (5 episodes)
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (1 episode)

Jud Taylor as Samantha (8 episodes)
Allison Munn as Caroline (2 episodes)
Tim Reid as William Barnett (2 episodes)
Jim Rash as Fenton (1 episode)

179. Bohemian Rhapsody (11/2/05)
Kitty sends a tape to Eric filling him in on what happened since he left. Hyde is furious with Kelso and Jackie after catching them together in Chicago.

The post-Eric era of That 70s Show kicks off and it works for the most part partly because Eric is still so prominent with Kitty's on-going recording and partly because the show is still dealing with the previous season's storylines and not starting new ones. Debra Jo Rupp keeps this episode afloat the whole way through with the possibly tricky job of narrating the action to Eric because she does it in such a funny way. The reveal of what happened to Charlie put a macabre twist on the episode too in a surprising way. This was a good start to a much maligned final season.
RATING: 7.5/10

180. Somebody to Love (11/2/05)
Hyde doesn't know what to do after he realizes he drunkenly married a stripper when he was in Las Vegas. Jackie feels lost after her breakup with Hyde. Hyde hires Randy at the record store.

That 70s Show starts to venture more into its new era though we still have Ashton Kutcher, who helps a lot. This is the first episode for Josh Meyers. I like the whole Meyers family (especially Seth) but this is just one of those common mistakes for a veteran show of trying to add a character late in the game for the sole purpose of replacing another character. For every rare time it works (like on Cheers), there are many times it doesn't. The rest of the stories don't really go anywhere.
RATING: 4/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: The Associates

On Wednesdays, I look at shows that lasted on season or less. Today I am looking at late 1970s flop The Associates!

THE ASSOCIATES

Programming Details:

September 23, 1979 - April 17, 1980

9 episodes
ABC

Starring: Wilfrid Hyde-White, Martin Short, Alley Mills, Joe Regalbuto, Shelley Smith, Also Starring Tim Thomerson

Created by: James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, Charlie Hauck and Ed. Weinberger

Plot: Centered on a group of associates at a Wall Street law firm as well as senior partner Emerson Marshall (Hyde-White). There are three new associates: Tucker Kerwin (Short), Leslie Dunn (Mills) and Sara James (Smith) while Eliot Streeter (Regalbuto) is vying for a partnership. Rounding out the main cast is established associate Johnny Danko (Thomerson).

TOP 10 TUESDAY: Top 10 Theme Songs of the 70s

Tuesdays are Top 10 Tuesdays where I count down a topic in the TV realm. This week is Top 10 Theme Songs of the 70s! A reminder, it had to be any show that premiered in that timeframe even if it ran well into another decade. Also, the song had to have been written for the show.

Close Calls

Dallas

The Odd Couple

Taxi

10. M*A*S*H (1972-1983)

This song, titled "Suicide is Painless" is a really nice piece of music. It's a little bit haunting and a little bit wistful and it fits perfectly for a show that incorporated just as much drama as comedy during its run. One of the better purely instrumental themes.

9. The Partridge Family (1970-1974)

I have only watched a small handful of episodes of The Partridge Family but I've always enjoyed the theme song and the clever little intro with the egg. It's one that is hard to get out of your head and has a happy feeling to it. I mean, it tells us to get happy after all.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1987-1988 Wednesdays

On Mondays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Wednesdays in the 1987-88 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
Sep	Perfect Strangers	Head of the Class	Hooperman	The Slap Maxwell Story	Dynasty
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar	Growing Pains
Apr				Just in Time	HeartBeat
May					China Beach

Dynasty had aired Wednesday nights at 9pm since 1983 but it was showing its age so ABC moved in to 10pm to make room for a longer comedy block. Once again the first hour was led by Perfect Strangers and Head of the Class, two shows that were pretty compatible with each other and while not as strong as the 8pm hour on Tuesdays, they were still a potent combo. Two new comedies followed at 9pm and they were a much less compatible pair. First up was Hooperman, a dramedy starring John Ritter as a San Francisco police inspector. It was actually one of the first shows to be deemed a "dramedy" and received critical acclaim. Though its ratings were modest, it did get as second season. It was followed by The Slap Maxwell Story, starring Dabney Coleman as a sportswriter. It also had its supporters but was cancelled at the end of the season. Late in the year, there were some changes to the sitcom lineup. Perfect Strangers was moved to anchor Friday night and Growing Pains came over from Tuesday as the new Wednesday lineup. I think this was more about strengthening both nights than an indictment of Strangers. Also, a new sitcom premiered at 9:30pm. Just in Time starred Tim Matheson as a magazine news editor and lasted just six episodes. Dynasty held down the 10pm slot for most of the year but continued to quickly decline in the ratings. It dropped to #41 just four years after being #1. It ended its season early and two new dramas took over each for a short time. First up was HeartBeat, a medical drama about a women's health center starring Kate Mulgrew. It was notable for being one of the first shows to feature a lesbian character and couple. The ratings were modest but it did get renewed for a second season. The same was true for the show that followed it, China Beach. Set at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War, China Beach earned significant critical praise which helped it run longer than the ratings ever warranted. It starred Dana Delany and Marg Helgenberger among many others and is often regarded as one of the best dramas of its era.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 1/15/21

Here's a look at my Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - "SEX AND THE CITY" REVIVAL COMING TO HBO MAX

It was announced this week that the latest TV show to get a revival is Sex and the City. The acclaimed series, which ran on HBO from 1998-2004 and spawned two movies, will return for a 10 episode season on HBO Max. Three of the four members of the original cast are returning (Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis) while the fourth, Kim Cattrall, will not return. Cattrall has made it clear since the second movie that she wishes to move on and there are reports of friction between her and Parker. The revival series will focus on the women, now in their 50s. While Sex and the City was a huge hit in its original run, the movies (especially the second) seemed to have dulled enthusiasm about more stories from this team so I'm a little skeptical this revival series will be able to recapture the magic.

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Seven

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Seven of That 70s Show!

THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SEVEN
2004-2005
25 episodes

The seventh season of That 70s Show is the final season with Topher Grace as a series regular and also the final full season for Ashton Kutcher. Despite still having both of those cast member, the show finds itself flailing especially with Topher Grace's Eric, who is stuck in a terrible arc for most of the season. The show also brings many characters back at one point or another but everything just feels tired. This season actually graded out the worst for me. Even worse than the often maligned final season (more on that next week). Every title this season is named for a Rolling Stones song.

Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (25 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (25 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (25 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (25 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (25 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (25 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (25 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (25 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (16 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (4 episodes)
Tommy Chong as Leo (3 episodes)

Megalyn Echikunwoke as Angie Barnett (8 episodes)
Tim Reid as William Barnett (7 episodes)
Shannon Elizabeth as Brooke (1 episode)
Jim Rash as Fenton (1 episode)
Brooke Shields as Pamela Burkhart (1 episode)
Luke Wilson as Casey Kelso (1 episode)

154. Time is On My Side (9/8/04)
Red and Kitty want to know what Eric's plan is after calling off his wedding with Donna. Donna dyes her hair blonde. The friends try to find Donna's engagement ring. Midge and Pam fight over Bob.

That 70s Show moves into season seven and it's feeling awfully tired at this point. Everything picks up from the season finale but it feels like we're beginning yet another season where Eric is just flailing around. Also, is the show making it a goal for every character to fall off the water tower before the series ends? All these things just prove that the show doesn't have much to do anymore and is struggling to come up with new stories and new angles for the characters. Sigh.
RATING: 4/10

155. Let's Spend the Night Together (9/15/04)
Hyde meets his real father and he's black. Kelso anxiously awaits for Brooke to go into labor. Eric attends a feminist rally with Donna.

We get Tim Reid in a guest starring role and the idea of Hyde's father being black is a funny one. But the problem is... we already saw an episode about Hyde meeting his father! I know the show explained it away but That 70s Show is really mimicking its theme song - "the same old thing, we did last week" now. Surprisingly, the one story that feels a little fresh (and one of the more 70s-themed stories in awhile) is Donna becoming a feminist although it isn't that funny of a story (nor is it earned), but it does have a great sight gag at the end.
RATING: 6/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: My Sister Eileen

On Wednesdays, I look at shows that lasted one season or less. Today I am looking at early 1960s flop My Sister Eileen!

MY SISTER EILEEN

Programming Details:
October 15, 1960 - April 12, 1961
26 episodes
CBS

Starring: Elaine Stritch, with Shirley Bonne and Jack Weston, Rose Marie, Raymond Bailey, Leon Belasco
Based on Short Stories by: Ruth McKenney, Developed by Dick Wesson

Plot: Ruth and Eileen Sherwood (Stritch & Bonne) are sisters who have moved from Ohio to New York City and are trying to make it. Ruth works for a publishing company while Eileen is trying to make it as an actress. Ruth works with Bertha (Marie) and for Mr. Beaumont (Bailey) and the sisters have to deal with their frustrated landlord, Mr. Appopoplous (Belasco) and an opportunistic reporter, Chick (Weston), who becomes a friend.

TOP 10 TUESDAY: Top 10 Theme Songs of the 60s

Tuesdays are Top 10 Tuesdays where I count down a topic in the TV realm. This week is Top 10 Theme Songs of the 60s! To keep the criteria consistent as I go through the decades over the next couple weeks, it had to be any show that premiered in that timeframe even if it ran well into another decade. Also, the song had to have been written for the show (this is more of an issue in later decades). 

Close Calls

That Girl

F Troop

The Patty Duke Show

10. Batman (1966-1968)

This song, with all its "pows" and "bams" is just so perfect for the show. It's become such an iconic song that I'm not sure everyone even knows that it started with this show. It's corny and spectacular and it's got a great sequence to go with the song.

9. Gilligan's Island (1964-1967)

This one has to be on the list just because of how iconic it is. The ultimate "premise" theme song, it's a catchy little tune that famously decided to say "and the rest" for just two characters in its first season. "The Professor and Mary Ann" fit much better and it's a song everyone still knows and remembers, maybe even more than the show itself.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1987-1988 Tuesdays

On Mondays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Tuesdays in the 1987-88 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	10:00
Sep	Who’s the Boss?	Growing Pains	Moonlighting	Thirtysomething
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar		The Wonder Years
Apr
May		Just the Ten  of Us

1987-88 was probably the peak of ABC's Tuesday dominance in the 1980s with four of their Tuesday entries in the Top 12 shows of the year. The comedy block was led off by Who's the Boss?, which had become a very strong anchor and was in the prime of its run. For a second straight year, Growing Pains built on its lead-in to become ABC's top show. ABC finally decided to move Pains to let it become an anchor elsewhere in March as it headed to Wednesdays. The new 8:30pm entry was a show that had premiered following the Super Bowl - The Wonder Years. The coming of age dramedy was instantly a huge hit with viewers and critics. It delivered big ratings and its six episode first season won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series while star Fred Savage became the youngest actor to ever be nominated for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at 13 years old. It's still one of the shining examples of a show launching out of the Super Bowl but the actual run didn't happen until a month and a half later. Since it only had six episodes, another new show took over at the very end of the season. Just the Ten of Us was a backdoor spinoff of Growing Pains about a California teacher/coach with eight children. It aired just four episodes in its first season but airing in a very protected timeslot, it did well and got a second season. Moonlighting continued at 9pm. Though it was still doing well in the ratings, the critical acclaim was losing its luster and stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis did not share as much screen time together with Shepherd pregnant with twins and Willis filming Die Hard. At 10pm was a new drama that struggled to find a mass audience but was a darling with critics and winner of the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy Award. Thirtysomething was about a bunch of yuppies in Philadelphia. The show was somewhat divisive with some extremely loyal fans and others who found the angsty show and characters irritating. Despite ranking well behind the other Tuesday ABC shows, it was one of the most talked about new shows of the season.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 1/8/21

Here's a look at my Top 5 TV news stories of the week. It was a quiet week for TV news with so much going on outside of the TV world but here goes.

#1 - GRAMMYS MOVE TO MARCH 14 (AND UPSET THE SAG AWARDS)

With COVID raging in Los Angeles, a lot of productions are temporarily shut down again. The Grammys have moved their ceremony from January 31 to March 14, which is the same night as the SAG Awards. Although there's not a ton of overlap as far as who would be involved, the SAG Awards are not thrilled about the move from the Grammys so we'll see if one of them blinks.

EPISODE GUIDES: That 70s Show Season Six

On Thursdays, I go through classic series with a critical look at each season. Today I am looking at Season Six of That 70s Show!

THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON SIX
2003-2004
25 episodes

Season six of That 70s Show is definitely a show past its peak. The show has lost Lisa Robin Kelly for good but has to keep the character so they re-cast unsuccessfully. The Eric and Donna stories become almost insufferable by this point. However, this is probably the best season yet for Ashton Kutcher's Kelso character as his character's life actually moves forward while so many others seem stuck in a rut. Although it is on the decline, there are still several episodes that manage to be funny enough to get good scores. Every episode this season is named after a song by The Who.

Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (25 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (25 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (25 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (25 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (25 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (25 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (25 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (25 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (17 episodes)
Christina Moore as Laurie Forman (6 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (1 episode)

Shannon Elizabeth as Brooke (8 episodes)
Brooke Shields as Pamela Burkhart (6 episodes)
Jim Gaffigan as Roy (4 episodes)
Jim Rash as Fenton (1 episode)
Luke Wilson as Casey Kelso (1 episode)

129. The Kids Are Alright (10/29/03)
Red comes home from the hospital and Kitty tries to keep the peace with Eric. Jackie tells Hyde she is choosing him, but he has other plans. Laurie returns from going on her honeymoon without Fez.

Season 6 of Bewitched opens famously with Dick Sargent nonchalantly taking over the role of Darrin. Season 6 of That 70s Show makes a switch as well and although it's a smaller character, it feels even weirder in a more recent sitcom. Lisa Robin Kelly has left for good as she continued her tragic downward spiral that eventually led to her death in 2013. For all her offscreen problems, she brought a spark to the show and with her being gone and Christina Moore put in the unenviable position of trying to replace her, this season gets off to a weird start. There's also a Grease parody that could have been so much better so it's not a great first episode of the season.
RATING: 2.5/10

130. Join Together (11/5/03)
Eric worries about staying home while Donna goes to college. Jackie tries to use seductive techniques to make Hyde jealous while Kelso also gets involved. Kitty tries to keep Red from having things that are bad for his heart.

Oof. That 70s Show is spending the early parts of season six really spinning its wheels. Already, I feel tired of the stories with Eric & Donna and Hyde/Jackie/Kelso while the only story with real potential - Fez and Laurie - was disrupted by Lisa Robin Kelly leaving the series. It really highlights how That 70s Show can occasionally give into running a plot into the ground. They took a plot that was once really interesting (a Hyde/Jackie hookup) and put it in this constant triangle with Kelso that it feels like things never go anywhere. I mean, at least Donna is going to college.
RATING: 3/10

ONE SEASON WONDERS: That 80s Show

On Wednesdays, I look at shows that lasted one season or less. Today I am looking at 2000s flop That 80s Show!

THAT 80S SHOW

Programming Details:

January 23, 2002 - May 29, 2002

13 episodes

FOX

Starring: Glenn Howerton, Tinsley Grimes, Chyler Leigh, Eddie Shin, Brittany Daniel, Margaret Smith and Geoff Pierson

Created by: Mark Brazill, Terry Turner & Linda Wallem

Plot: A group of twentysomething friends are living in San Diego in 1984. Corey Howard (Howerton) is a struggling musician working at a record store with June Tuesday (Leigh) and Margaret (Smith) while living with his sister, Katie (Grimes) and father, R.T. (Pierson). Rounding out the main cast is Corey's best friend, Roger (Shin) and ex-girlfriend, Sophia (Daniel). 

TOP 10 TUESDAY: Top 10 Episodes of 2020

Tuesdays are Top 10 Tuesdays where I count down some topic of the TV realm. This week it is Top 10 Episodes of 2020!

Close Calls

MRS. AMERICA "Houston"

THIS IS US "Strangers: Part Two"

ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST "Zoey's Extraordinary Dad"

10. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT "Funeralia" (November 26, 2020, HBO Max)

I binged quickly through The Flight Attendant this last month. This show is best when operating as a dark comedy/thriller and it was in full force in this episode which has Cassie (Kaley Cuoco) crashing the funeral of the man whose murder she is trying to figure out.

9. SHRILL "Wedding" (January 24, 2020, Hulu)

Some of these episodes from the beginning of the year feel like they aired five years ago. This episode was a little bit of a standalone as it focused on Fran (Lolly Adefope) attending a traditional Nigerian wedding. The unique customs and the traditional values being at odd with Fran's life was a great exploration of coming out issues told through a different lens.

8. THE CROWN "War" (November 15, 2020, Netflix)

Season four of The Crown was delightful thanks to the emphasis on two separate stories: the ill-fated marriage of Charles and Diana and the reign of Margaret Thatcher. The season finale had some great moments with a final detente between Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth and a throwdown between Charles and Diana. One of those stories will continue into Season Five of course but it was a great way to end the season.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1987-1988 Mondays

On Mondays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Mondays in the 1987-88 season!

ABC	8:00	9:00	10:00
Sep	MacGyver	Monday Night Football
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan		Monday Night Movie
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

There isn't too much to say about ABC's Monday night lineup in 1987-88. It was the same exact lineup as the previous season with MacGyver leading into Monday Night Football and then the Monday Night Movie once the football season ended. It might be easy to think now that MacGyver was a massive success given that it became part of the lexicon and was spoofed then rebooted. But in fact, it was never a huge hit in its original run. It just worked really well with Football because of its male skewing audience and that's why it lasted so long on Monday nights.