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TOP 10 TUESDAY: Top 10 TV Trips

Tuesdays are Top 10 Tuesdays where I count down a topic in the TV realm. This week is Top 10 TV Trips!

Close Calls
The Bradys go to the Grand Canyon - The Brady Bunch
Jeannie & Tony go to Hawaii - I Dream of Jeannie
The Pritchett-Dunphys go to Hawaii - Modern Family

10. The Friends go to Las Vegas - Friends
The first of two Friends trips on this list, the trip to Vegas had a lot of funny moments and it very much had a Las Vegas feel with most of the action taking place inside Caesar's Palace. And of course it wouldn't be a Vegas episode without a quickie marriage though it came from a different couple than was expected.

9. The Ricardos and Mertzes go to Europe - I Love Lucy
The first of two I Love Lucy trips on this list, this is always considered the "lesser" trip but there are still many great moments as the Ricardos and Mertzes make their way through several different countries. I just wish they had actually gone on location for filming.

8. The Pryors go to the Shore - American Dreams
Back in the 60s, it was common for a fairly well-off Philadelphia suburban family like the Pryors on American Dreams to go to the Jersey Shore in the summer. And what resulted was a very 60s era look at the vacation destination that had great nostalgic performances with a very laid back feel.

7. The Sopranos go to Italy - The Sopranos
It was very fitting for the Sopranos to go to Italy at some point during the show's run. What made this trip interesting was how great it was (temporarily) for the marriage of Tony and Carmela. But of course, nothing good can last on The Sopranos. 

6. Laverne & Shirley go on the Moosejaw Express - Laverne & Shirley
I've always been somewhat fascinated by train mystery plots and this episode was one of my favorites as a kid. The old fashioned "who done it" mystery is full of twists and turns and it's a very unique two part episode that still holds up.

5. The Office goes to Niagara Falls - The Office
Jim and Pam's wedding was nothing elaborate - Niagara Falls can be a destination but it's not too crazy a destination for a working class couple that met in an office. Having John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer actually on site to do the wedding scenes made the final sequence very special.

4. The Bradys go to Hawaii - The Brady Bunch
A classic vacation three part episode, the Bradys going to Hawaii was a TV "event" that features some of the more iconic Brady moments. Does a Hawaii episode on another show feel right without a surfing accident or an unlucky tiki?

3. The Friends go to London - Friends
The trip to London was more exciting than the trip to Vegas for the Friends because the cast actually filmed on location (except for very pregnant Lisa Kudrow who was forced to film just call-in scenes). It wasn't just the touristy moments but the whole episode felt very unique and different than any other episodes in the series. And that's not even taking into account the huge number of plot points that happened.

2. The Weissmans go to The Catskills - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The first half of Season Two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a really special set of episodes when the family "summers" in the Catskills at an old fashioned campsite complete with a bowling alley and dance hall. It is such a throwback to a bygone era and meticulously detailed (and filmed at a real campsite). It made me wish I could be in the 60s and spending a summer in the Catskills.

1. The Ricardos and Mertzes go to Hollywood - I Love Lucy
Speaking of nostalgia, there is so much to love about "Old Hollywood" in a near full season of California episodes of I Love Lucy. Sure there's the requisite parade of guest stars but they were all woven into solid plots and there's so many opportunities to hit the tourist spots like the Brown Derby and Grauman's Chinese Theater. Since it was over so many episodes, it feels much more relaxed than a typical vacation episode that tries to hit everything at once.

Tomorrow: A One Season Wonder look at A Year in the Life!
Next Tuesday: Top 10 TV Weddings!
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