VERY VERY: Blackouts

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very Blackout!

This Week's Episodes

Bewitched #83 "The Short Happy Circuit of Aunt Clara" (First Aired: November 10, 1966)

While babysitting Tabitha, Aunt Clara accidentally knocks out the lights for the entire East Coast thanks to a botched spell.

Marion Lorne is such a treasure on Bewitched. She elevated every episode she was in and her comedic timing was on point even in her 80s. This episode starts out strong and gets a little silly as it goes on but I still love the madcap feeling throughout. It's one of Sandra Gould's better episodes but I just think about how much Alice Pearce's Gladys would have added to an episode like this. A sight gag with a grand piano on a staircase works well too. I didn't totally love the tie-in to the client, but I think the rest of the episode works so well that it doesn't matter that much.

Friends #7 "The One with the Blackout" (First Aired: November 3, 1994)

While dealing with a blackout across New York City, Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre and Ross considers telling Rachel how he feels.

This episode was part of NBC's infamously gimmicky "Blackout Thursday" that started with Mad About You (see below) and that Seinfeld opted out of . Despite the corporate gimmick, I think this episode was the first really great Friends episode of the series because they put all the friends together in one room for the entirety of the episode and they had so many great interactions with each other. Matthew Perry is not part of the group here but he has his own really funny storyline that he plays to perfection.

Mad About You #53 "Pandora's Box" (First Aired: November 3, 1994)

While trying to hook up free cable TV in the bedroom, Jamie's actions lead to the cable TV going on in the apartment building and eventually a blackout across New York City.

This was the episode that kicked off "Blackout Thursday." The whole NBC family was really in on this with Al Roker even appearing at the end of this episode in a "news report" about the blackout. The actual blackout doesn't occur until towards the end of the episode. The majority of the episode is about the Cable TV going out as Jamie tries to get free cable. It has some funny banter between Paul and Jamie but it sort of has the feeling of just leading up to the main event (and the other sitcoms that would follow). So it feels a little bit like a prelude.

The Odd Couple #13 "The Blackout" (First Aired: December 24, 1970)

Oscar is short on cash and gets accused of stealing $50 from a poker game when a blackout occurs mid-game.

This episode only has a brief blackout but it guides the plot of the rest of the episode. This episode isn't particularly funny as it was early in the show's run and the dynamics between Tony Randall and Jack Klugman are not up to par yet. There were also some cringey scenes between the poker playing guys and the hot new neighbor, Inga. What I did like about this episode was the mystery. The show did a good job of keeping us guessing as audience members and the resolution, while awfully silly, was not what I expected and was fitting.

Best Episode: Friends

Bewitched had some good moments but this one was a pretty easy choice. It's a classic episode Friends that makes excellent use of its premise and has inventive plots and great writing and performance.

Best Fit for the Theme: Friends - the blackout occurs for pretty much the entire episode so it's absolutely the most tied to the theme.

Standout Performer: Matthew Perry, Friends

Runners-Up: Marion Lorne (Bewitched), David Schwimmer (Friends)

Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

Next Thursday: Very Very Matchmaking!