Favorite Episodes: 3rd Rock from the Sun

So, although I kinda stopped doing the series on my favorite episodes from various shows a while ago, I finally finished watching 3rd Rock from the Son, so I'm able to post that one. Similarly, I'm going to do an Arrested Development favorites post sometime in the near future, as I have just three episodes remaining on that one. And maybe there will be more in the future... I did just start watching Two and a Half Men a short while ago, hehe!

3rd Rock from the Sun had a great concept - aliens who have no idea what Earth's customs are, so they're constantly learning things for the first time. The ensemble was really great too, leading to some excellent comedic moments throughout the series... especially for John Lithgow, who won numerous awards for his portrayal of Dick Solomon. I think that the first and fifth seasons are the funniest... the first because there are so many basics that the family just "doesn't get," and the fifth because there's a lot of character build-up at that point so there are some hilarious and over-the-top hijinks.  

Season 1: "Frozen Dick" (S01E12): Dick and Mary win teaching awards, and they need to go to Chicago to accept them. But, Dick freaks out on the plane, so they have to drive (which makes Mary angry). But, when it starts snowing, Dick thinks the worst is upon them, and promptly crashes the car in the middle of nowhere. It's pretty funny. And, as a side story, Harry is working at a video store, and re-arranges all of the videos according to his own personal preferences, haha.

Season 2: "Gobble, Gobble, Dick, Dick" (S02E10): The Solomons don't know what Thanksgiving is, so the fact that everyone is buying food at the grocery store and the town is emptying out makes them think that it's the end of the world. Sally buys a turkey for each person, LoL. They find out the truth and invite over Mary, Mrs. Dubcek, and her visiting daughter, Vicki. Tommy and Dick get into a fight about how he's supposed to rebel and stuff, and Tommy ends up making a bunch of guys call their own dads. And, Harry and Vicki have sex.

Season 3: "Scaredy Dick" (S03E05): It's Halloween, and Mary has plans. Since her house gets egged when she doesn't give out treats, she has Sally and Tommy give out candy for her. But they turn out not to do exactly what they're told, hehe. Dick needs to get a physical, but keeps chickening out and running away. Meanwhile, Harry thinks that there's a ghost in the apartment.

Season 4: "Dick and Taxes" (S04E12): Harry's working at the bar now, and realizes that taxes are being taken from his paycheck. Before long, the Solomons realize that they've never filed their taxes before, and have incurred a large bill. Then, they figure out that they might try to do something "new" by lying on their return. Dick redoes the numbers and comes up with a way that the government owes them a LOT of money. But, now they're getting an audit, and Dick freaks out, thinking that their alien identities will be revealed. But, the best part is that Sally decides to fake a home business - a hair salon... but when people actually show up, she, Harry, and Tommy really do start washing and cutting hair - in the kitchen! hahaha.

Season 5: "Dick for Tat" (S05E02): Mary admits to Dick that she once had an affair with Strudwick (Dick's rival in the physics department, and also Tommy's girlfriend's father), which makes Dick think that he needs to sleep with Strudwick's wife to even the odds. It's hilarious the way he goes over to Strudwick's house and tries to seduce his wife! Meanwhile, Don is now a cop on a motorcycle, so he's a new object of obsession for Sally... until he crashes and winds up in a full body cast (though that idea doesn't really carry over to other episodes, LoL)!

Season 6: "Dick'll Take Manhattan" (S06E04 & S06E05): There are many two-parters in this series, but my favorite is this one, where the Solomons visit a parallel universe where they live in NYC. Dick is an important attorney, Salley is a sex columnist, Harry is the President of NBC, and Tommy is on SNL. Mary is a lounge singer who no longer believes in love, while Don is the Mayor, married but seeing Sally on the side. It's great.

Teen Wolf Coming; Grey's Anatomy App

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Well, at this point it's not a spoiler that Dana from Delaware won Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker, but it is news that the show was renewed, and will do another season! I'm excited.

I have not seen MTV's Skins, but enough people have that at least NINE advertisers have pulled their support for the show, including Subway, Orbit, Extra, Foot Locker, and L'oreal.

I find it amusing that, apparently, rich people (defined as household making more than $100,000/year) are more likely to watch major sporting events.

In case you missed it being all over every media outlet, Oprah has been reunited with her long-lost sister, that was born 9 years after Oprah.

It's possible that FOX's Lie to Me was not properly credited... aka the idea was stolen. I wonder if this story will continue to make headlines... since that show isn't doing too well...

Another bit that was all over the media... NBC is doing a pilot in the fall backed by Steven Spielberg. The big deal is that it is to be a competitor for Glee. The story revolves around the mounting of a Broadway musical, and will be titled, Smash.

Lifetime has been jumping on getting the ball rolling on their movie about William & Kate's courtship and royal wedding. The role of Kate has already been cast!

Jennifer Aniston has stated that she hated "The Rachel" haircut that was so famous, and Luke Perry admitted that he loved Dylan's pompadour-of-sorts on Beverly Hills, 90210.

The Kennedys may finally have found a place... Tribune Broadcasting might pick up the eight-part miniseries.

New to Netflix Steaming for February: all of The Cosby Show, Roseanne, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That '70s Show.

The Burn Notice prequel tv-movie has now been cast, and will air on USA this Spring.

Starting with tonight's Grey's Anatomy, there will be opportunities to interact with the show through the iPhone/iPad app.

Sal Picinich, of Cake Boss, passed away from cancer on January 30th. TLC added a small note to the new episode that aired on the 31st. Sad.

Charlie Sheen has been all over the news lately, from asking a porn star to babysit his kids to being rushed to the hospital. Last week, rumors went wild over whether or not he entered rehab, and CBS has had its hands full dealing with the change in production schedule for Sheen's hit show, Two and a Half Men. Well, the latest is that he's having rehab come to his house, LoL.

Beavis & Butthead will return to MTV. Not sure when, but apparently the tv series of Teen Wolf will premiere on June 5th.

Drinking to 3rd Rock from the Sun

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

3rd Rock from the Sun is downright funny. When you're having a drink while watching the show, it's downright hilarious. There's just something about the ongoing gags of misunderstanding and confusion that create a fabulous comic moment. Every time. The everlasting "first time experiencing ____" is just funny. Now, I'm a big fan of John Lithgow and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in particular, but Jane Curtin is fabulous in this show as well. As we have done with several other shows, my husband and I are working our way through the series, and finished season 3 about a month ago (we're on hiatus from extra-tv at the moment). So, we are about half-way through the series. It'll be a while before we get back to it (like Thanksgiving), so I wanted to go ahead and feature the drinking game that we've created for this show. It's short, but generally power-punching.

Take a Drink...
- whenever the main four are on the roof
- whenever the main four are in the car (gets less common as the series goes on)
- whenever Dick says "Mary"
- whenever Mary and Nina gossip
- whenever someone talks about getting laid
- whenever they reference that they're not human
- whenever Dick has a breakthrough
- whenever someone says "high commander"
- whenever Sally does something lady-like for the first time
- whenever we see Mrs. Dubcek, the landlord
- whenever Tommy gets denied
- whenever Harry says something stupid (however, in certain episodes this is overkill)
- whenever they misunderstand something earthly (like jello or snow)

Take 2 Drinks...
- whenever Nina's NOT wearing a short skirt
- whenever they have no idea how to answer a question
- whenever Don's not in uniform
- whenever they get a message from the Big Giant Head

Top 10 Snowy Episodes

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Well, since I'm sitting here snowed in in Pennsylvania, my husband actually suggested today's topic. But, for some reason, most of the episodes that I thought of with blizzards and snowstorms are Christmas episodes. It took me a while, but I finally found some that fit! Here are my favorite ten episodes in other snowy conditions!

10. Family Matters: "Just One Date." Steve has officially asked out Laura 1,000 times. He's at the point of desperation, and he decides to camp out on the Winslow roof... during a blizzard. Both parts are on Youtube, but here's the more relevant half (all you've missed is Steve's declaration that he's camping out):


9. Daria: "Antisocial Climbers." As per the usual with this show, they tried an atypical teaching method: field trip to the wilderness. Well, the boys pay more attention to Quinn than the supplies, and the principal cares more about publicity than safety. After everyone is trapped in a cabin, we find out that Daria's parents are also trapped in a different cabin. Both parts are on Youtube, here's the second half:


8. 3rd Rock from the Sun: "Frozen Dick." Dick and Mary are supposed to fly to Chicago for work. Dick freaks out and they have to drive. Then he freaks out because it starts snowing, and wrecks the car. So, he and Mary are snowed in at a truck stop. This is the first time the main four see snow on Earth, so they all respond really differently. All three parts are on youtube, here's the middle section:


7. The Simpsons: "Skinner's Sense of Snow." Skinner keeps the school open, and students still go, but not the teachers. So Skinner and Willie show the kids a bad movie, and end up getting trapped inside. Skinner becomes a drill sergeant in making the kids do what he wants. Homer and Flanders try to rescue the kids, but end up frozen in their car, passed out. Skinner eventually gets trapped by the kids, and sends out a hamster for help. it's a strange episode, not gonna lie. Simpsons episodes are not on youtube, but I found it on another site. The first 4 minutes aren't snowy.

6. Everybody Loves Raymond: "Snow Day." Ray, Debra, and Amy are stuck at Frank and Marie's during a snowstorm. They're all having a good time until Debra accidentally insults Frank, and that's when Marie decides to tell the truth about how she feels about Debra. I could only find it in other languages, haha.

5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show: "The Snow Must Go On." It's election night and Mary is stuck broadcasting her first show: the results. However, the results aren't coming in, and the show must stay on until the results are in. This one's on hulu.

4. Family Ties: "Birth of a Keaton." Everyone goes to the station to help with an annual telethon. However, things take a turn for the worse when Elyse goes into labor on-air. Steven, a plumber, and Skippy try to make it to the hospital, but eventually Elyse just pleads on TV for them to come back to the station. This is only part 1, sadly. The good stuff's in part 2.

3. King of Queens: "Ice Cubed." Carrie goes out to buy an ipod, isn't charged correctly, and ends up stuck at a church waiting out the storm with an ethical dilemma on her hands. Meanwhile, Doug is delivering packages in the storm, and gets invited in by a couple who are about to invite her father to live with them... just like Arthur. Part 1 and Part 2.

2. How I Met Your Mother: "Three Days of Snow." Ted and Barney are in charge of MacLaren's during a storm, and end up partying with a college marching band. Marshall and Lily deal with keeping traditions alive when he makes Robin drive him to the airport in a snowstorm while she goes all over trying to find a microbrew for him. In the end, the marching band shows up at the airport as well. It's all a bit more complicated, but I can't find a video of any of it anyway. :(

1. Friends: "The One With Phoebe's Wedding." Phoebe and Mike are getting married during a snowstorm. The officiant can't make it, so Joey fills in. Therefore, Chandler fills in for Joey in walking Phoebe down the aisle. Ross is stuck holding a stinky dog. Meanwhile, many other things go wrong, but tyrant Monica saves the day. It's all on Youtube, but here's the part that deals with the snowstorm:


Honorable Mention: The Simpsons: "Mr. Plow." Some may argue that this definitely deserved to be in the top ten, but I didn't want to repeat any shows, and I like "Skinner's Sense of Snow" much better than this one, although it is the more memorable and iconic of the two episodes. You can find it here.

New Year's Eps!

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Christmas and New Year's are really close together. So, I had to really think about what shows to include for this set of New Year's episodes, since I only have 5 slots. Hope you like them!

How I Met Your Mother: "The Limo." Ted is obsessed with having the best New Year's ever, and rents a limo for the gang to use around NYC for the night. Barney has made the ultimate mix tape. Marshall and Lily risk not being together at midnight. The group wants to hit five parties in three hours, but one thing after another attacks their plans, and they ring in the New Year in the limo. Oh, and Ranjit is the chauffeur, hehe.
Part 1: http://videos.sapo.pt/uqu6C920uyiEbJKp3rWz
Part 2: http://videos.sapo.pt/qAsUSAYQ0Yisr6z7y0yd
Part 3: http://videos.sapo.pt/GGusV4zbF4D4v4uf90Gj

Boy Meets World: "Train of Fools." Transportation goes haywire and the gang gets stuck on the subway on New Year's Eve. Eric has a date with a supermodel. There's a woman in labor. Cory, Topanga, and Shawn throw a party in the train car. It's a good time. Meanwhile, Turner's got a double date going at his place. Oh, and Feeny almost borrows cab fare from Shawn at the end! Here's the end of the episode, showing everyone turning the night around.


Frasier: "RDWRER." When their New Year's Ever 2000 plans go awry, Frasier and Niles scramble for a new plan. What they end up with is a road trip with their father in the Winnebago, complete with license plates that abbreviate "Road Warrior." After stopping to eat, Niles accidentally boards the wrong motor home (headed in the opposite direction) and falls asleep. He doesn't realize he's in the wrong vehicle and believes he's being kidnapped, and he drives off in it when the elderly couple stops to eat. He also called the police and reported the vehicle stolen, so Martin and Frasier get pulled over. They all realize what happened, and the Cranes pull a u-turn while Niles catches a ride with the same couple who "kidnapped" him before. When they realize they won't make it to the party in Sun Valley, they hightail it back to the Pacific Time Zone so they can at least ring in the millennium. Someone on youtube has actually uploaded the entire thing, so you might as well have that! :)


3rd Rock from the Sun: "Happy New Dick." Mary is hosting a fondue party, and Dick realizes that he hasn't had any major accomplishments for the year. He's really a downer this episode, LoL. Sally really has Don wrapped around her little finger when she keeps changing her plans... but he finally stands up for himself. Harry and Tommy throw a party, but it's a disaster when Harry hires idiots. Here's the middle part of the episode, since it's the funniest.


Friends: "The One With the Monkey." So this is the episode that introduces Ross's pet monkey, Marcel. The gang makes a pact to not bring dates to their party, but everyone has one except Ross shows up with one.. but none of them are great! It's also the episode where David has to decide between Phoebe and Minsk. It's not the best party, and the only kissing going on at midnight is Joey and Chandler, haha! I include the second half, since it has the actual party, haha. I love Phoebe's speech with David.

11 Days til Christmas!

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

we're getting down to the wire now, next week is the last cluster of great holiday episodes! But before those, here are this week's five! I've kinda been in a more childish Christmas mood lately, if that makes sense... I think it's because I watched A Muppet Family Christmas yesterday afternoon, and that one makes me smile so wide I can't close my mouth, LoL.

Family Matters: "Deck the Malls." (1997) This episode is of specific significance because it was the final one with the original Harriette, and the last one at all for the Rachel, Estelle, and Ritchie characters. Carl as a mall Santa, Laura as his elf, and Steve and Myra wrapping presents. Here's the warm & fuzzy part, hehe:

3rd Rock from the Sun: "Jolly Old St. Dick." (1996) It's the Solomons first Christmas, and everyone is struggling in their own way. Each character actually has his own storyline... Tommy struggles in finding a gift for his girlfriend, Harry finds out that mall Santas aren't the real thing, Sally starts out gift-wrapping at the mall but ends up trying to help people choose better gifts for loved ones, and Dick can't get into the holiday spirit without overdoing it. Opening clip (you'll probably be hooked, so rest assured that the same user has uploaded the whole thing).


Rugrats: "The Santa Experience." (1992) The families take a Christmas trip together. Angelica doubts in the existence of Santa Claus, and Chuckie is afraid of him. There's a bit of The Gift of the Magi in there with Angelica antagonizing. Didi decides the most beautiful tree in the woods can't be cut down, so they have to get an artificial. In the end, it all works out. Here's a clip of said ending.


Shining Time Station: "'Tis a Gift." (1990) Tanya and Matt can't wait for Christmas. The adults all want to play "Santa's Helper." A man named Mr. Nicholas is waiting for a train that nobody has heard of. An annoying girl named Vicki is stuck at the train station while her mother goes shopping. I love it when Schemer tries to act like other people are dishonest, LoL. The clip is the end of the hour-long special, including the song from the title.


Christmas Eve on Sesame Street: (1978) This is such a good Christmas special. And no, it may not be an "episode," per se, but I couldn't help myself. Skating, The Gift of the Magi, caroling, interviewing kids about Santa, Cookie Monster trying to ask Santa for gifts, Big Bird trying to prove Santa is real, the whole thing is precious. This clip has a little bit of everything (well, except Big Bird, but his plot is kinda being handled by Grover, haha).

Catch These 5 Halloween Episodes

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

The first five holiday-themed episodes are debuting today. Since Halloween is this week, that's the theme. They're not numbered since I just wrote about them in the order I remembered their greatness. I included a few clips, more (of most of these) can be found on YouTube! Please, share your own favorites with me, as I'd love to add some new favorites to my list!!

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: "Someday Your Prince Will Be In Effect." Hilary throws a lavish Halloween party, and the family must find costumes. While shopping at the mall, Vivian sings, Phillip shops for unneeded junk, Ashley and Hilary are accused of shoplifting, and Carlton and Will race to find a date. Between the costumes, the party, and the surprise turn-of-events (both Cinderella and the Burglar), it's a laughter-heavy, hour-long episode.


Home Improvement had Halloween-specific episodes in seven of its eight seasons. A few of them are hilarious, but my favorite is the final one, "Bewitched." Halloween pranks are famous on the series (and in Roseanne for that matter), and in this one, Tim is finally gotten good. Wilson is allegedly dating a witch, and after he goes missing (and then his body is found), Tim is the main suspect. (couldn't find a video clip)

Friends: "The One with the Halloween Party." There are some great one-liners (e.g. Joey making fun of Halloween for being just about dressing up as something you're not, then Chandler points out that Joey's an actor; Phoebe joking about Rachel's pregnancy after she gives everything to a girl who says she loves her; Chandler being "maxed out" on embarrassment; "I'll prove it like a theorum!"). But the costumes are hilarious and so cleverly in-character... Joey as Chandler, Ross as Spudnik, Catwoman vs. Supergirl, and Chandler as a big pink bunny... Oh, and how about Rachel giving out the candy/money/anything to the trick-or-treaters?!? haha.


Frasier: "Halloween." Nearly halfway through the long run of the show, Frasier had one of the most farcical Halloween episodes ever. Confusion abounds as the various characters overhear and miscommunicate with one another. Roz confiding in Frasier that she's waiting for a call from her obgyn eventually amounts to Frasier announcing to a roomful of guests that he is not the father. Niles is especially entertaining in this episode, but I definitely should point out that some of the humor is best appreciated by people who are familiar with some great literature.
(embedding disabled, here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyMGAqdse5M)


Third Rock from the Sun had an episode, "Scaredy Dick," where the Solomons discover the intricacies of the holiday. While some of the characters are out learning about egging houses and checking candy for poison, Dick has a storyline going about being afraid of a doctor's physical... and ends up making some great jokes (pirate-themed at times!). The costumes are only partially amusing (in comparison to the extent other shows dress up) but the whole shebang is just such a knee-slapper!


Note, the famous Boy Meets World episode "And Then There Was Shawn" (the Scream episode), was not a Halloween feature... it originally aired in February! And that's the only reason it didn't make the tip-top of any list I could ever create!