Globex Corporation Newsletter

This list may seem a little dated, especially considering many of these shows originally aired either before I was born or while I was still in single digit ages... but I'm thankful for Nick At Night and independent TV stations that had syndication rights for most of them after the series' had ended. I think #'s 2-4 are the only shows made in the last 20 years. - Quinn

10 Monty Python's Flying Circus - well duh! British sketch comedy that cannot be beat and is often imitated. Most cast members of past and present SNL couldn't hold the suitcase for these comic geniuses. SCTV came close, Kids In The Hall got closer, but then again "close is a lingerie shop without a front window". With writing that pushed the limits of decency, over-the-top acting, and the unique animations makes this a show that will live on forever. Add to that the specials and feature films, all done with the same wit and energy... there will never be another group like this.

9 Police Squad! (in color!) - This very short lived, 6 episode series aired about a decade before its time. But not long after its failure on the networks we were given 3 equally funny films "The Naked Gun - from the files of Police Squad, The Naked Gun 2 1/2 - The Smell Of Fear, and The Naked Gun 33 1/3 - The Final Insult. Dead-pan comedy from a former serious actor Leslie Nielson with modern slap-stick action that would give Laurel and Hardy and the Three Stooges a run for their money today. The series was the best outright spoof I've ever seen on TV cop shows.

8 All In The Family - Granted this show was based much on racial and political tension, it was definitely something that would make me split my sides laughing. Not the racial jokes themselves, but they way they were conveyed by Archie Bunker and the arguments between him and his daugher and son-in-law whom he lovingly called "meat head". All In The Family also spun off several other shows including (and what's probably the most popular) The Jeffersons, along with a short lived show called "Archies Place"

7 Taxi - Andy Kaufman's only regular TV series... I think for those who know me that should be " 'nuff said "... but it's not. Having been around a cab company in my youth I couldn't help but laugh at the group of misfits sitting around that office shooting the breeze, playing cards, and trying to help each other deal with various life issues. Danny DeVito as the dispatcher reminded me much of a guy I used to know at the cab company my father worked for - kniving, loud, obnoxious, and egotistical. Plus... a hottie like Marilu Henner? (for BOJ - a hot red-headed Marilu Henner).

6 M*A*S*H - This show, despite having its serious and touching moments, was indeed a comedy. Doctors trying to amuse themselves at the expense of others while surrounded by a war they don't believe in. The movie in my opinion was better than the show but both brought me to tears in laughter and sadness (sometimes simulateously).

5 Weeds - A sitcom style show based on a widow selling pot in suburban Southern California to make a living and support her two kids. She gets her supply from a rather ghetto family who is slowly teaching her lessons in the biz, and her best client is a local city counselman. She was pursued romantically by a DEA agent who gets wise to her business and attempts to blackmail her into a relationship then decides he wants it all... last season ended in a huge shootout between a few different groups and I can't wait until season 3. This is some funny shit!

4 Six Feet Under - This rather dark and demented show based around a family run funeral home consistantly shocked and amazed me. Dry humor and situations that most people wouldn't even dream about with a very sorted cast of characters, kept me glued to my seat with a rumble of laughter every episode.

3 WKRP In Cincinnati - Of course I mean the ORIGINAL... not the several years later re-do "The New WKRP In Cincinnati" (which sucked ass). An old hippie DJ, a modern R&B type DJ, a burned out news man who never went anywhere, a slick-rick sales guy, a knock-out secretary, a bone-headed boss, and a bright program director - all coming together, OMG this was just too funny for words. They did have a couple serious episodes, one dealing with a Russian who wanted to defect to the USA, another one dealing with a tornado that hit the city while Art Carlson (station manager) had a young child on the phone who was home alone.

2 Northern Exposure - I almost feel guilty about listing this show since BOJ used it as an example for the list. However it was one of the funniest shows I've ever seen. Putting a New York doctor, who's known nothing but city life and proper manners, into one of the smallest towns in existance - how can this fail? Dr Joel Fleishman being shocked and often times upset by regular doings by regular common folk and having no idea what he got himself into when he made an agreement with former astronaut Maurice Minifield to serve this town.

1 Barney Miller - This is indeed my all time favorite. A sitcom placed in the detectives room in a police station in New York. The building is old, the team is diverse, and the captain has to deal with a lot of stuff, anything from his bosses from "downtown" to the personalities and differences between his detectives to the mix of criminals that occupy the small cell located in the detectives office. The infamous "Hash Brownie" episode remains the all-time greatest sitcom moment in my memory. The spin-off show "Fish" which took us into the retirement of Abe Vigoda's character didn't do so well.

With a few exceptions, the shows I list here were pretty short lived. Two reasons for that, I suppose. First, these shows simply didn't have the time to get tired and predictable. Second, these were shows that didn't have mass appeal. Too bad, a television watching nation missed out...

10 The Steven Banks Show - A good example of what I'm talking about. Nobody saw this show. PBS's first self produced sitcom, the show featured Steven Banks as a guy who imagined his home life was a TV variety show. Banks and a cast of two others played every character, with the exception of bit parts and one guest star, like Peter Tork (of The Monkees), Penn and Teller, Gina Schock (of The Go-Gos) and Billy Mumy. The show really worked off of the brilliance of Banks, an amazing performer. PBS aired 8 of the 13 episodes produced.

9 Tenacious D - Dakota Films made 6 episodes of this classic aired on HBO. Fifteen minutes in length, the show was the story of JB and KG who hung around at an open mic and billed themselves as "The Greatest Band in the World." Having hung around at open mics and being generally delusional, this show struck a chord with me. The stories were sometimes a little flat, but the songs, good heavens the songs, were unbelievable. This show introduced us to such classics as Sasquatch, Jesus Ranch, Kyle Took a Bullet for Me and the twin D masterworks Tribute and Double Team.

8 SCTV Television Network - There have been a lot of sketch comedy programs, the format tends to make for terribly uneven television. SCTV was a standard sketch comedy program with the added story line of the "behind the scenes" action on a really crappy television network. A network that featured such horrid shows as You! with Libby Wolfson and Count Floyd's Monster Chiller Horror Theater (a late night horror movie showcase featuring films like 3-D House of Stewardesses). This show spawned the careers of the likes of John Candy, Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy and gave us memorable characters like Bob and Doug McKenzie, Ed Grimley, Josh Schmenge and Stan Schmenge, Guy Cabalero, Edith Prickley and Johnnie LaRue. One of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV was a segment in which new wave band, The Tubes was on Gil Fisher's Fishin' Musician.

7 Futurama - At it's best, this show is absolutely brilliant. At it's worst it's still better than 90% of the crap on TV. The story of a pizza delivery boy cryogenically frozen who finds himself in the year 3000 where he becomes a package delivery boy along with a fowl mouthed robot and a female cyclops ship's captain.

6 Mystery Science Theater 3000 - ...In the not too distant future... Perhaps the strangest premise ever for a TV show: A guy sent to a satellite and forced to watch horrible movies with two foul mouthed robots (I love fowl mouthed robots). Hilarious comments are made. Strange little sketches are performed. You stare open mouthed for a while, but can't help yourself from laughing.

5 Fawlty Towers - People will argue that John Cleese did his best TV work on Monty Python's Flying Circus, but he was so much better on Fawlty Towers as Basil Fawlty, hotel owner. A fine cast, interesting stories, every sitcom producer should be forced to watch this show before they start work on another piece of crap. The Germans? Maybe the best sitcom episode ever.

4 Police Squad - TV executives are so stupid. One of the most brilliant shows of all time and it was outright cancelled. It didn't only spawn a series of movies, it solidified a film genre that the Zuckers started with Airplane.

3 Seinfeld - I had to go with one very successful show. NBC just gave Seinfeld his own show so that he'd be under contract and ABC wouldn't be able to hire him away to host a late night talk show. NBC didn't care what Seinfeld did with his show, just that he did something. Having a free hand allowed the show to be what it was. Under other circumstances, this show most likely would have been cancelled after its second season. Show becomes successful when network keeps their hands off. OTHER NETWORKS - LEARN FROM NBC.

2 WKRP in Cincinnati - The only real work I've done as an adult is in the TV business. WKRP is set in a radio station, but it's so true to life for those of us working in the media. I've worked with a Jennifer Marlowe, a Les Nessman, a Herb Tarlik, a Venus Flytrap (aka Gordon Simms) an Andy Travis and every other character on this classic. No, every TV job I had wasn't as humorous, but we didn't have the stellar writing that they did at the mighty 'KRP.

1 The Simpsons - This blog references a Simpsons episode in its very title, how could you expect anything different out of me? I'm the first to admit that the show's taken a horrible downward turn in the past couple of years, but when I see episodes from seasons 3 through 7 or 8, I remember how brilliant it was. The show was designed around Bart, but Homer became the star. Oh, how we love stupid white guys in this country! I'm skeptical about the movie this summer. I hope it doesn't sully a classic.

HONORABLE MENTION

Newsradio - Same reasons as WKRP

Gilligan's Island - Especially the one where they almost get off the island but Gilligan screws it up at the last minute

Green Acres - Arnold Ziffel never won best supporting actor?

Hogan's Heroes - Who thought this was a funny idea for a TV show?

Northern Exposure - The nice, funny Twin Peaks

The 700 Club - Pat Robertson is a constant source of humor

Cheers - Hanging out in a bar. I can relate

I’m not good at explaining myself, but I’ll try. In no particular order:

The Cosby Show – It’s Bill Cosby. You can’t go wrong with Bill Cosby. Especially the earlier eps when their youngest kid was still little.

Black Adder – Witty Brit humor.

Red Dwarf – Witty Brit humor complete with cheap cardboard sets.

Northern Exposure – I’m sure you have a better reason for it than I can come up with.

Countdown with Keith Olbermann – Cynical commentary on current government. Keith’s got balls and isn’t afraid of threats from those he criticizes.

Saturday Night Live (70’s and early 90’s only) – Power cast from the 70s and great writing and Dana Carvey from the 90s.

Who’s Line is it Anyway? – I have never NOT laughed during one of these shows. Started out as British improv, but the American version is funny as well.

M*A*S*H – Great writing, great timing between actors.

I Love Lucy – Lucille Ball. ‘Nuff said.

Alf – I had to include this as it was my favorite show as a kid. The alien is cute and eats cats. Best. Combination. Evar.

WKRP - The pinnacle of sitcoms related to the media field. The show was originally based on
creator Hugh Wilson's memories of working in advertising as a client of AOR radio station 94.1 WQXI-FM. Anytime the News director, Les
Nessman, showed up you just knew something crazy was going to transpire, For my money, the “Turkey Day Incident” episode where poor Les is reporting the insanity due to live turkeys being dropped on a crowd from a helicopter, in the manner of the famous Hindenburg disaster and the infamous payoff at the end of the episode, is just pure gold.

SPACED - Created by Simon Pegg (SHAUN of the DEAD and HOT FUZZ) A simple premise really, two down on their luck Londoners looking for a new place to live happen to stumble upon each other and share an apartment under the guise that they are a married Yuppie couple. Tim and Daisy are the poster children for the Gen X and Y lifestyle, a couple of adults who haven’t quite grown up. Episode 3 “ART” is easily the most recognizable: Bad batch of Speed, Hallucinations about zombies, and a wacked out performance art exhibit to the works of Bruce Nauman. Never mind the eccentric cast of neighbors and friends these two are surrounded by. You can see how this show spawned the movies Mr. Pegg would later produce.

Married With Children - A former high school football star, worked as hard as any shoe salesman from the Chicago area and yet he still has to deal with his wife and loser kids, The man known as Al Bundy. The fact that this great series took place in Chicago is enough for me (being born and raised in the second city) but what made this show funny was that so many working class guys can relate to Al and his crazy antics, whether it was trying to start an all city beer label ban, to spending a whole episode literally tearing his house apart trying to figure out what a lightswitch in the house activates, to getting into a Looney Tunes esque battle with a rabbit in the backyard to protect his Garden. There was always something about Al that every guy among us could say “ I remember something like that happening to me!” and that made everything just that much funnier.

Get A Life - Apparently this very bizarre and very funny show was officially cancelled due to the higher ups saying the character, 30-year old paperboy Chris Peterson, was too “insane”
And that pretty much sums up this show, Insane. I’m pretty sure that at least every other episode, he was killed or died due to some weird situation like While on his first trip to the city, Chris gets slipped a mickey and realizes his wallet is missing. A local news crew films his plight and dubs him "Walletboy", making him the darling of the city. Everybody shuns him when it turns out that he just left the wallet at home. Chris dies of old age while waiting for them to forgive him, but in the end, fifty years later, Chris's skeleton gets a parade by the now-forgiving townspeople. If you can laugh at that, you understand the type of comedy Chris Elliot was trying to get across to the masses.

Viva La Bam - Perfect Example of Youth Gone Wild or what would happen if a 20 something year old (like myself) and his buddies would do if they had the money, resources, and the time to wreak pure havoc among their family and community. The citywide scavenger hunt among Bam Margera and his cast of buddies (CKY crew) while driving around in very banged up cars easily has to be one of the best episode they made in their 5 season run (they even get the famous band, The BLOODHOUND GANG involved in the fun) You just can’t go wrong with shotputting a turkey into a busted up car and Bowling a strike at a local bowling lane wearing nacho cheese in the bowling shoes.

Barney Miller - The episode where Yemada, Fish and Wojo got buzzed on the Hash brownies brought in as evidence. Easily one of the funniest half hours commited to television. And who can honestly forget that awesome bassline at the start of the show.

Greg the Bunny (IFC Version) - A show that stars 3 very disgruntled puppet actors and one very devil may care puppet rabbit named Greg, who parody many of the movies produced during the 80s and 90s era of film. There is actually two versions of this show (the other is the much inferior FOX show which aired for one season) but the IFC version is easily the best due to the sheer insanity of the writing. The episode where Greg and his acting buddy, Warren (an ape that wears a crash helmet with a british accent) head to a Rave in New York’s famous Webster Hall, followed by a trip to Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson style, just shows how much fun the creators of this show had, espically when Warren goes gonzo at the black jack table completely drunk.

The State - Reno 911, Viva Variety, Wet Hot American Summer. If any of these ring a bell, you are familiar with this very funny sketch comedy troupe THE STATE and this sketch comedy show that started it all. I remember watching this during my High school days and laughing like a lunatic at some of their sketch comedy works which came at you in the vein of Monty python Flying circus. Some of the most memorable: Muppet Hunting, The Flash hailing a taxi , Louie, “Where’s the Mousey?”, Barry and Levon, and my personal favorite MEDIUM HEAD BOY. Why this show is not available on DVD is mystery in itself, considering the cast went on to produce the entertaining RENO 911.

Sean's List

10. CHiPs..... Although not a comedy per se, it is quit funny in reruns. I am not sure why, but it just makes me laugh. Maybe the outfits, maybe the high technology used to film it. Regardless, any show with an actor from Wyoming in it needs to be in a top ten list somewhere.

9. THE WEST WING .....Again, not a comedy as such (I hope I am not ruining your list) but a very funny show to me. The fast pace and ridiculous situations that people got into helped make this a wonderful show (my personal favorite). There was quite a bit of humor in this show and it helped to show that no one person is invincible from every day life. I mean in the pilot episode the President of the United States hurts his leg in a bicycling accident by running into a tree. That is something that sadly, we can all relate to but will seldom admit.

8. ED....Another show that is billed as a drama but man was it funny. Warren Cheswick was a hoot. (Is it o.k. for someone my age to say that). And the $5.00 dollar bets were very entertaining indeed. As a matter of fact, it prompted me to take a $.25 bet one time. Hey I was poor and so was my friend. We were working in local TV. Probably my second favorite TV show.

7. Bosom Buddies....This was a really good show. It had all the makings of a good comedy, and it did not disappoint. If ever there was a situation that screamed comedy, it would be two guys dressing like girls to live in a girls only house for cheap rent.

6. The Gong Show....I could never watch this show without laughing. Most of the time I laughed at the judges trying to keep each other from gonging (if that wasn't a word before, it is now) their favorite contestant. A good time was had by all when that show was on TV.

5.The Newhart Show....All I have to say about this is "Hi, my name is Larry. This is my brother Daryl and this is my other brother Daryl" They were not the whole show of course, but they did contribute and that will always be one of my favorite lines.

4. SNL.....It deserves a spot in the top 5, but it wasn't consistent enough for me to rank it #1. There were some really good times, really funny stuff. There were also some years that it just didn't seem to even try to be funny.

3.The Red Green Show....This is really good stuff. I love this show and the fact that it boldy admits you can fix anyhting with duct tape. I almost believe that the inventions Red makes will actually work. A great show for guys, or anyone else who wants to be entertained for a little while.

2. Home Improvement....Another great show for guys. It was the mainstream version of The Red Green Show. I wasn't sure what order to put these in, but I guess it doesn't really matter since this is my list at this particular moment in time and it will probably not be the same even tomorrow. I put it in this position because I have actually seen more of it than The Red Green Show. Not saying that is the best way to make a decision, but it is my way for today. I really liked that they showed outakes during the end credits.

1. M*A*S*H*....This is #1 for me. It is a classic show and it will be in reruns forever is my guess. I loved the characters. True, some of them left before they should have but that made way for others. It is truly timeless and even though it was based around a war the humor, dark at times and light at others, is such that anyone can watch and laugh. I don't know how they were able to keep things fresh for so long, but considering the show lasted longer than the war it was about, you know there was great comecy there.

Remember, this list is by someone who grew up in Wyoming with only three TV channels. A lot of good comedy shows are not on my list simply because I have never seen them or seen very little of them. I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended that a certain show may not be on this list. Also please remember that no animals were harmed in the making if this list and that any similiraties in this list to actual persons or places is purely coincidental.

JB Andy's List

5.)Scrubs - I love it. Most shows that utilize the third person commentary turn out a bit corny(with exception of course) But the rants and raves that float ear to ear in the head of Zack Braff are hilarious and (though exaggerated) mostly relatable to how I feel while watching the show. With so many serious and somewhat serious doctor shows on tv, it’s nice to see one that doesn’t make me hope someone one lives or dies at the end of the show

4.)House - The exception of serious doctor shows to me. I don’t care if patients live or die. I just wanna see if Greg house will punch somebody before the end of the show. I like to see smart “together” characters who’s character conflict is as much external as internal. A mix of Lonliness and drug use, but is still able to save the day? Dr. House is my superman. An everyday guy who loves painkillers but still somewhat functions in everyday life and knows who he is, this is more relatable to everyday people than the Batman…dig?

3.)Love Monkey - Very short lived and then re-aired on VH1. This show was so original. I have a curse. Every time I Like a show. Not a show that mtv tells me to like, but a show I find on my own and can somewhat relate (or want to relate) to the subject material leaves me loving a show on my own convictions. This show follows Tom, a recent firee of a major music label. He is a talent scout and seemed to be the JERRY MACGUIRE of the music industry. Gets a job for a small indie label and only signs musicians of substance. Secondary role for this show was Teddy Geiger. Just an altogether great show, BUT like all show I enjoy it was cancelled after 8ish episodes.

2.)The Wonder Years - Teen anxst, Winnie Cooper, hippies, hippy music,and Daniel Stern(in his first project since “breaking Away”) It’s a winning combo. Enough said.

1.)Pete and Pete - OK. So it’s a SNICK show. As an 11 or 12 year old I thought this show was really funny. Two brothers both named pete, a 30 year old(maybe retarded) superhero in spandex, and an adult conspiracy to not let kids have any fun all made this show my favorite as a preteen. A year ago I bought the first 2 seasons on dvd and love it even more now. The stuff they got away with on nickelodeon is crazy. Plus the under appreciated cult following and list of (at the time) celebreities make it worth a second or third watch. List includes iggy pop, Gordon gano(violent femmes), Michael stipe, steve buscemi, the band polaris, jeneanne garfanalo??

Labels: Lists

# posted by Blind Orange Julius @ 11:59 PM