With Halloween just around the corner, I thought that my latest edition of 10 FAVORITES would be a scary one. When one thinks of Halloween, one usually tries to think of scary things. And then I started thinking about the things that frightened me as a kid. Of course, the obligatory scary movies made their way into my mind and several of their iconic gory images. Then I decided that I wanted to share with you, my readers, which Movie villains from my childhood used to scare me the most. Now, as these villains had to be scary to me when I was a kid, there had to be a cut-off date. The Movie and its villain had to appear in the cultural lexicon before I was at least 11 or 12 (which is when I started not being so scared by images and faces I would see on the Silver Screen!). So the Films on this list had to be released before 1990 (Apologies to Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Lord Voldemort!). That being said, it is good that I chose this day to share this list: Friday, October 26 (I figure if Friday the 13th is unlucky, then Friday the 26th must be doubly unlucky!). So, without further adieu, here are:
THE 10 SCARIEST VILLAINS
(FROM MY CHILDHOOD!)
VILLAINS #10 TIE: Jack Torrance, The Shining (1980) and Annie Wilkes, Misery (1990)
These two are together mainly because they are both from two of Stephen King's most popular books. But growing up, Jack Nicholson's face through that door at a terrified Shelley Duvall and Kathy Bates (in her Oscar-winning role) hobbling a bedridden James Caan were frighteningly crazy.
VILLAIN #9 The Skeksis, The Dark Crystal (1982)
As a kid, these brilliant creations by Muppet mastermind Jim Henson did exactly what they were supposed to do: frighten the children in the audience into not liking them. Their evil, opportunistic world was dark and scary enough for the children to be wowed by the film's ultimate conclusion.
VILLAINS #8 TIE: Monstro, Pinocchio (1940) and The Great White Shark, Jaws (1975)
These two go together as they are my "Villains of the Deep" (so to speak!). Of course I saw Pinocchio before I saw Jaws (as most kids probably did!). Monstro was one of the most frightening of Disney's villains (at least to me!) and when I saw Steven Spielberg's blockbuster, I was reminded of the scare I had watching the Disney classic.
VILLAIN #7 The Devil, The Exorcist (1973)
Who knew that sweet little Linda Blair had such a nasty mouth on her? If you see this film as a kid (and you're raised with Catholic conceptions of Hell and damnation!), you worry that you will end up like Linda Blair and spew bile and spin your head and say horrible vile things to people. With the latter, this film handed me a ready-made excuse!
VILLAIN #6 Norman Bates, Psycho (1960)
My father always tells the story of how his uncle took him to see this film when it first came out. My father was only 12 at the time. Alfred Hitchcock was a master of terror and my father learned halfway through this film how good at his job he was. So good in fact my father ran screaming out of the theater when "Norman's mother" attacked investigator Martin Balsam.
VILLAIN #5 Mola Ram, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
I was very young when I saw this movie and well the video below should be explanation enough. (I mean, I still can't watch this scene all the way through!)
VILLAIN #4 The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (1939)
These days (thanks in part to a certain musical!) the lady with the green skin is not as frightening. But when you're a little kid seeing this cackling flying woman threatening sweet Judy Garland (and her little dog too!), you can't help but be terrified.
VILLAINS #3 Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, The Star Wars Trilogy (1977-1983)
Darth Vader was an imposing figure enough in the first film (with that booming intimidating voice of James Earl Jones!). By the third film, we learned he was Luke's father and was turned by an evil Dark lord. And then we meet this Dark lord, the Emperor himself. And boy is he a piece of work! I mean, if it takes Vader to kill him, then you know he has to be bad!
VILLAIN #2 The Alien Queen, Aliens (1986)
In James Cameron's really well-done sequel to Ridley Scott's brilliantly terrifying 1979 sci-fi classic, we learn that the Alien from that first film was one of many. A colony of Aliens run by a predatory and vicious Queen. The terrifying actions of this monstrous "bitch" (as Sigourney Weaver's Ripley succinctly puts it!) were so frightening to me as a kid. To me, the Alien Queen is the scariest female villain (or "villainess") of all-time. As for the men, see below.
AND... VILLAIN #1 Freddy Kreuger, Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
More than Jason or Michael Myers or Leatherface or any of the other villains listed above, Freddy was truly the stuff of Nightmares. Wes Craven cemented his master of horror/slasher film status with Robert Englund's terrifying interpretation of a deformed man who kills teens in their dreams. He was menacing, gory and all kinds of scary. I mean he even killed a young Johnny Depp!
It is that time of year again! Yes, it is time for that ever-anticipated Back to School season (at least in the United States). For most schools, the last two weeks in August and/or the first week of September serve as the beginning of a new year for teachers, faculty, students and parents. So as we are steep in the middle of this (often) chaotic time, I wanted to do something that would celebrate it. And what better way to celebrate it than to devote an entire 10 FAVORITES to films about school?!?! When I was putting my list together (with the help of my Father, who is an Elementary school principal and an avid film buff!), I decided that I would limit the films that I chose. First of all, I felt College films shouldn't count (I mean, I don't need a list to share with everyone any appreciation I have for Good Will Hunting and Animal House!). Second, I wanted the films to mainly feature the school in a primary way (not just as a setting, but as a plot point or even a character within the film!). And lastly, and probably most importantly, I wanted the films to be good. Now I realize that when you put a qualification like that on any movie or TV show, it is completely subjective. But it's my list so get over it. However, that does not necessarily mean that a film that doesn't make the list is bad or horrible, it is just a distinct possibility. With that said, on with the list.
THE BEST "BACK TO SCHOOL" FILMS
HONORABLE MENTION Grease (1979)
I'm not a huge fan of this film. I don't hate it, but I don't necessarily love it. Why is it here then? I just cannot deny the popularity of this musical phenomenon. Wherever you go, people have seen Grease and they have strong feelings about it (be they positive or negative). It is performed everywhere from High school to College to Broadway (the musical has endured two hit revivals and constantly tours!). It is a freakin' juggernaut that cannot be ignored.
MOVIE #10 (TIE) Mr. Holland's Opus AND Dangerous Minds (both 1995)
I put these two movies together because they came out in the same year and they had both had a similar premise. Yes, Dangerous Minds is about Michelle Pfeiffer inspiring her students in an inner-city school through poetry and literature, while Mr. Holland's Opus is about Richard Dreyfuss inspiring his students (each different in their own way) through music and art. But the major point is that both films were about the effect a teacher can have on their students, especially if they care in the way both Pfeiffer and Dreyfuss' characters do. Both films were received well and Dreyfuss even netted an Oscar nomination for his work. And Pfeiffer featured prominently in Coolio's hit music video for the film, "Gangsta's Paradise."
MOVIE #9 Doubt (2008)
John Patrick Shanley adapted is riveting Pulitzer Prize-winning play into a sublimely acted film that keeps the audiences talking. Screen icon Meryl Streep takes on the polarizing role of principal Sister Aloysius Bouvier as she tries to discover the truth about the new priest at the parish, dynamically played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. The film also features brilliant performances from Amy Adams (as the innocent schoolteacher Sister James who is placed in the middle of Streep and Hoffman's battle) and Viola Davis (as the mother of a boy who has problems but may have a "protector" in Hoffman's character). Shanley's smartly written dialogue is played to full effect by this enigmatic cast.
MOVIE #8 Mean Girls (2004)
Yes, it may very well have been the last "good" film Lindsay Lohan ever made. And when you have Tina Fey as a co-star and writer, you really can't go wrong. What this film has, besides a delicious performance from Rachel McAdams, is a sharp-tongued look at the way girls (in particular, High school girls) behave towards each other. This film is so popular and well-liked that the whole "Mean Girls" idea has become its own thing. I mean, go to any school and you can spot the group of "Mean Girls" right off! You don't even need a school to find the "Mean Girls" in life. They're everywhere!
MOVIE #7 The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
In a sequel to a film I've already spoken about, Bing Crosby dons the collar again as Father O'Malley and this time he plays off of a great performance from the amazing Ingrid Bergman as a strict yet extremely understanding nun who serves as principal of St. Mary's School. The two give equally good performances and their scenes with the children make the movie funny and extremely poignant.
MOVIE #6 Election (1999)
Like Mean Girls above, this film has a following that at times surprises me. Not only does this movie cleverly satirize school politics, High school stereotypes and popularity, but it also serves as a kind of cautionary tale. Reese Witherspoon's over-ambitious and hyperactive Tracy Flick is a character we've seen before and since (look at Glee's Rachel Berry!), but she's also a Type-A personality we see in many of the people in Pop Culture (and dare I say Politics!). That being said, I did get a kick out of this film when I first saw it and I knew that this role would make Reese Witherspoon a star.
MOVIE #5 Fame (1980)
Growing up in the 80s, I knew several kids who wanted to go to the school featured in Fame. They wanted to be one of those kids dancing on taxi cabs or playing synthesizers. The film represents what kids do best and that is dream. And the kids featured in this movie have big dreams.
MOVIE #4 Blackboard Jungle (1955)
This film certainly was the most controversial in its debut. Its subject matter and its use of Rock N Roll music certainly put several people up in arms over it. But the film is a classic and it is pointed to as the beginning of a change in the way films were presented and the way youth are portrayed in films. It also came out the same year as the James Dean classic Rebel Without a Cause and the two films combined caused a stir that is still felt in Hollywood to this day.
MOVIE #3 Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Some of the best movies are about a year in the life of a group of people. And when you're dealing with school as your primary setting, you have a plethora of characters to showcase. This film features some of the most memorable characters and it has one of the most interesting ensembles in film history. The (mostly young) cast features Sean Penn (as the iconic Spiccoli), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Ray Walston, Forrest Whitaker, Phoebe Cates and (in smaller roles) Eric Stoltz and Nicolas Cage. That's a pretty impressive list when you compare it to the likes of Dazed and Confused (which really only has Matthew McConaughey and Ben Affleck in small roles!).
MOVIE #2 Stand and Deliver (1988)
When it comes to films about inspiring teachers, this film was a must in my house. Edward James Olmos dynamically plays Math teacher Jaime Escalante as he readies his East L.A. students for an important Calculus exam. He is met with obstacles at every turn, including the reluctance of his students (which include a powerful performance from Lou Diamond Phillips as a rebellious teen). Olmos' Oscar-nominated performance drives this film to its inspiring end and makes you want to go out and try something new. Which is exactly what teachers are supposed to do.
AND... MOVIE #1 The Breakfast Club (1985)
This film is a great favorite in my family. It features great performances from (at the time) young talent. It has some great 80s music. But its story and characters are entirely relatable. The school not only serves as a setting, but it serves as another character in the plot. The way the kids interact is because of the school. The effect that each of the students' roles has on themselves and on each other plays an integral role in the plot. In a way, it basically IS the plot. The late John Hughes certainly captured a generation with this film and for those of us who grew up with this generation, it makes for great entertainment.
When I was little and it came to Broadcast Television, there were ONLY 3 networks: The Alphabet (ABC), The Eye (CBS) and The Peacock (NBC). By the mid-to-late 1980s, each of "the big three" had cornered their own niche audience. ABC aired several family-friendly shows (like The Wonder Years and Full House) plus other more mature fare for their 10PM time slots (see Moonlighting or thirtysomething). CBS seemed to have a wider audience but with special attention to both older demographics (especially with their Sunday schedule: 60 Minutes and Murder, She Wrote) and female audiences (with primetime soaps like Dallas and female-led sitcoms like Designing Women). And then NBC, who also had a wide audience, aired shows that were especially popular with both the critics AND the Emmy Awards (sitcoms like Cheers, The Cosby Show or The Golden Girls and dramas like Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere or L.A. Law).
But there seemed to be one audience that was being ignored, at least as far as the powers-that-be at the 20th Century Fox studio were concerned. Several people (who were around college-age), were looking for programs that catered to their humor, to their style or even to their subversive nature. And so, a fledgling network was born. And now 25 years later, "the big three" have expanded into "the big four" (technically "the big five" when you count The CW, but it's not their anniversary!). In honor of FOX's 25th Anniversary, I would like to take you through their brief history by sharing with you what I believe are the 25 shows that have shaped FOX into what it is today. Some of them you could probably name right off and others are more like afterthoughts, but all 25 of them made their mark in the network's landscape and helped to re-shape what modern Television is all about.
IN THE BEGINNING...
Married...With Children
21 Jump Street
The Simpsons
These are the shows that birthed FOX. Married...With Children first aired on April 5, 1987 and 21 Jump Street aired a week later. The Simpsons first aired as animated shorts between the sketches on Tracey Ullman's comedy-variety show (which aired after Married...With Children) before gaining their very own animated sitcom two years later (a show that is still running today, by the way!). Married... was especially different as its humor was extremely controversial and graphic showing the complete dysfunction of the Bundy clan. 21 Jump Street, which is now more famous for launching the career of a man named Johnny Depp, was compared in its gritty style to NBC's Hill Street Blues but had a younger appeal. And as mentioned earlier, the history of The Simpsons is in some way the history of FOX itself.
LEGAL REALITIES America's Most Wanted COPS
With a subversive sitcoms (both live and animated) and gritty cop dramas, FOX wanted to jump-the-gun (no pun intended!) before the reality show blitzkrieg. With both the FBI-led America's Most Wanted and the police docu-series COPS, FOX really was a forerunner before the other networks decided to produce cheaper (and more popular) reality shows.
STEAMY SPELLING SOAPS
Beverly Hills, 90210
Melrose Place
When Johnny Depp left 21 Jump Street to have a film career, FOX needed some shows that had the same youth/teen appeal. Enter Aaron Spelling (who had massive hits with ABC like Charlie's Angels, Dynasty and The Love Boat). He was also looking to market programs to a teen audience (and one that could feature is young daughter in the cast!). With the original 90210 in 1990 and Melrose Place two years later, Spelling seemed to define teen viewing in the 1990s.
SKETCH-Y DIVERSITY
In Living Color
MADtv
By the early 1990s, NBC had cornered the market in comedy-variety with Saturday Night Live (which by then had been running over 15 years!). FOX began with a variety show starring Tracey Ullman, but when that show's animated shorts eclipsed it in popularity, Ullman found herself without a job. But a few years later, comedian Keenan Ivory Wayans and his pals (including his brother Damon and sister Kim) created a sketch comedy series that appealed to a different audience...a multicultural audience. With its brash style and SNL-like sketches, the young cast of In Living Color became comedy superstars (especially Jim Carrey, then known as "James Carrey"). They even had hip-hop dancers known as the Fly Girls that personified their show's style (one of them was a young Jennifer Lopez!). In Living Color's popularity inspired FOX to try their hand at late night variety (to compete with SNL) and thence MADtv was born.
BRING IN 'DA FUNNY
Martin
Living Single
Fresh off the success of In Living Color, FOX wanted to have more comedy shows that appealed to African-American audiences. Comedian Martin Lawrence, with his many different personalities, had a very successful sitcom that centered around his in-your-face style. To follow that, Living Single focused on the lives of 4 single African-American women (which included rap star Queen Latifah, former Facts of Life star Kim Fields and In Living Color regular Kim Coles). Both shows are still quite popular in syndication on various cable networks and are fondly remembered by those of us who grew up with these shows that helped change the face of sitcoms in the '90s.
RE-DEFINING THE GENRES (AND THE EMMYS!)
The X-Files
Ally McBeal
As I said above, NBC seemed to have the Emmy market covered with shows like Cheers, L.A. Law, Seinfeld and E.R. throughout my growth into adulthood. But FOX was fearless in trying to gain support from audiences and critics when it came to getting awards. With the sci-fi drama The X-Files, FOX had a major contender. Audiences took to it with rabid fascination and soon the awards followed. Emmys finally recognized it with a Best Drama Series nomination in its third season (1995) and two years later star Gillian Anderson won Best Actress in a Drama (making it the first major Emmy for FOX to win!). To follow that, David E. Kelley's romantic-dramedy Ally McBeal caused a pop culture fervor with its short skirts and dancing babies. The show became the first FOX series to win the top prize in 1999 when its second season received Best Comedy Series over the likes of Friends, Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond.
THE SIMPSONS HAVE SOME COMPANY
King of the Hill
Family Guy
The Simpsons opened so many doors for FOX and they knew it. In the late 1990s, the network started to build around the flagship series by creating an entire night of animated shows. Of the many animated sitcoms that have popped in and out around The Simpsons' popularity, two of them seemed to stick with audiences (and even some critics!). King of the Hill, from Beavis and Butt-head creator Mike Judge, had a homespun humor and was more sitcom-oriented than even The Simpsons (with lessons learned at the end of every episode for both conservative propane dealer Hank Hill and his march-to-his-own-drummer son Bobby). Then there is Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane's raunchy and even-more subversive sitcom with its cutaway gags and ten-times the dysfunction of anyone in The Simpsons' hometown of Springfield. Both shows seemed to strengthen The Simpsons' popularity (and quality!) and therefore made themselves more prominent in the minds of those wanting a break from typical live-action fare.
STAR-MAKING COMEDIES
That 70s Show
Malcolm In the Middle
Not to be completely dominated by animated sitcoms, FOX wanted to branch out with ensemble-heavy live-action comedies. With a nostalgic throwback (like its inspiration Happy Days), That 70s Show made stars out of its young ensemble which included Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. The show, which ended its run in 2006, is still extremely popular in syndicated airings. It is one of FOX's most popular shows in syndication (third only to The Simpsons and Family Guy). FOX's other popular live-action sitcom was Malcolm In the Middle. Similar to Married...With Children by showing the chaos of a semi-dysfunctional family, the show was very popular with audiences and garnered several Emmy nods for the two actors playing the parents Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston. Both actors have since shown their character-actor mettle on various projects from sitcoms to dramatic series to films (with Cranston winning 3 Emmys - so far! - for his dramatic work on AMC's critical hit Breaking Bad).
THE NEW CENTURY BRINGS MORE EMMYS
24
Arrested Development
In the 2000s, bolstered by the major Emmy wins The X-Files and Ally McBeal garnered in the previous decade, FOX was not going to let it lie at just those two. With the action-packed spy-thriller series 24, FOX had a series that grabbed the critics' attention with its fascinating hook. The entire season of the show (24 episodes) was one hour of one day, constituting the series to basically flow in "real time." Season 5, known as "Day 5" in show's lexicon, was the highest rated season and won Best Drama Series (over major contenders like NBC's The West Wing and HBO's The Sopranos) as well as Best Actor in a Drama for star Kiefer Sutherland. As for Arrested Development, the short-lived but critically-beloved sitcom, the show put FOX back on Emmys radar after Ally McBeal ended. In 2003, Arrested Development's first season beat out Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond to the Best Comedy Series prize.
FOX'S NEWER YOUTH APPEAL
The O.C.
American Idol
In the 2000s, the youth culture that FOX first appealed to back when it first began was now what you would call middle-aged. To grab that younger market that has since become an all-important demographic in the ratings race, FOX went back to "square one" with an Aaron Spelling-style teen drama. For four years in the middle of the decade, The O.C. became a pop culture phenomenon especially with teen audiences as the show centered around rich teens in Orange County and their bitter rivalries. But FOX's major hit with younger audiences was a little show that was basically a singing competition. American Idol, which was the U.S. version of the European hit Pop Idol, has dominated FOX Broadcasting over the past decade. With its crazy judges (Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul!) and star-making eliminations (from Kelly Clarkson to Carrie Underwood!), the show's power cannot be denied. Even with new judges (including former Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez!), the show still manages to garner the attention of a massive audience that craves reality competitions. Idol even has its copycats from NBC's The Voice to FOX's new Simon Cowell-import The X-Factor.
FOX'S PROCEDURAL STAPLES
House M.D.
Bones
Who said CBS could be the masters of procedural Television? FOX, thanks to both The X-Files and 24, have built part of their current reputation around shows that solve the case within the hour, the procedural. And they went beyond the typical police procedural that CBS was so good at (see CSI or NCIS). They branched it out into medical science and forensic anthropology. Led by a more dramatic Hugh Laurie, House M.D. was about a grouchy and people-repellent diagnostician who could solve any case put before him no matter how strange. After 8 years, Laurie is hanging up his cane and stethoscope as Dr. House after garnering 6 Emmy nominations (with a possible 7th to come!). Bones, House's sometime partner, centered on the genius-like mind of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence "Bones" Brennan and her knack for solving crimes with her FBI partner Sealy Booth. The character was loosely based on a lead character from the books by noted anthropologist Kathy Reichs (Brennan being a character she loosely based on herself!).
RE-DEFINING THE GENRES (YET AGAIN!)
Fringe
Glee
Like The X-Files did in the 1990s, Fringe is once again re-defining what a sci-fi drama can be about. Part procedural (like Bones) but also part soap-opera drama (with its romantic entanglements and familial estrangements), Fringe is a complete original with its exploration of parallel universes and Roswell-ian creatures. The show has a large and vocal fanbase that has kept this "bubble show" going for four years and may very well get it a fifth season renewal. And like they did with Ally McBeal in the late '90s, FOX is once again re-defining the modern dramedy. Let us not forget Glee! Ryan Murphy's uber-popular (at least in its first season!) mega-musical comedy-drama has garnered so much attention that people have gotten sick of it fairly quickly (teen suicide storylines don't help either!). But the series has made its impression and will probably stick around for a fourth and maybe even fifth season (that teen market has money to burn people!). It also has pioneered (or at least co-pioneered) the use of other media when it comes to promoting the show (particularly iTunes and YouTube!).
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOX!
You have made TV life very interesting for the past 25 years!
Tomorrow is a very special day, Blog readers. In fact, I like to call it: The Holiest of Holy Days! Yes, tomorrow is my 31st Birthday. I'm not ashamed to admit it (kind of!). Today, for IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS, I want to go through the last 31 years of Pop Culture. I won't go year by year (cause that would take to long, and quite honestly, depress the hell out of me!), but I will go through some of the most important News and Entertainment items from 1980 and this year (and the 30 years in between!). So, let us go through this timeline with nostalgia, humor and respect (and if you want some alcohol, bring your own!):
1980
NEWS: California Governor Ronald Reagan defeats President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Presidential Election.
MOVIES: George Lucas returns to the far away galaxy in the summer blockbuster sequel The Empire Strikes Back (above), and the villainous Darth Vader reveals an all-important [SPOILER!].
TELEVISION:Dallas villain J. R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman) is shot by an unknown assailant in TV's first major cliffhanger.
MUSIC: Beatles legend John Lennon is assassinated outside his Manhattan apartment building by crazed fan Mark David Chapman.
THEATRE: Director-Choreographer Gower Champion dies on the opening night of his masterpiece production of 42nd Street.
SPORTS: The "Miracle On Ice" occurs in Lake Placid, NY as the U.S. Men's Hockey Team defeats the Soviet Union and goes on to win the Gold Medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
CELEBRITY: Comedian Richard Pryor accidentally sets himself on fire trying to freebase cocaine.
OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS:
Prince Charles marries (and divorces!) Princess Diana; the spaceship Challenger explodes; the Berlin Wall falls (as does European Communism!); Nelson Mandela is released; Disney revives itself musically; James Cameron shows his box-office strength (more than once!); landmark TV shows like The Cosby Show, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, Friends, Survivor, American Idol, The West Wing and Mad Men all began; MTV ushers in Music Videos and superstars are made of Madonna, Prince, Sting, Nirvana, U2, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and many many more; Musicals dominate Broadway and New York tourism with shows like Cats, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Wicked; Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey all suffered Player lockouts at one point or another; The Internet age transforms the culture through Microsoft Windows, America Online, MacOS, Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the iPhone; and we lose people like Irving Berlin, Jim Henson, Kurt Cobain, Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Michael Jackson and the victims of 9/11.
AND NOW... 2011
NEWS: President Barack Obama announces that special forces have tracked down and killed terrorist leader Osama Bin-Laden.
MOVIES: The film adaptations of J. K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter books come to a close with the eighth and final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part II, breaking several box office records.
TELEVISION: Talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey ends her long-running Talk show after 25 years of stories, laughs, tears, Favorite Things and A-Ha Moments.
MUSIC: Legendary pop-alternative band R.E.M. decides to break-up after 31 years together.
THEATRE: The much-anticipated, controversial and (oftentimes!) dangerous musical production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark finally opens after months of previews, creative changes and bad press.
SPORTS: The Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 45th Super Bowl (held at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX).
CELEBRITY: Prince William, eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, weds longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton in a well-publicized and regal ceremony at Westminster Abbey (below).
With a ho-hum Oscars behind us (where most of the awards were predictable and the hosts were less than adequate), I decided its time to jump right back into 10 FAVORITES!
This week, I am stepping away from the world of Hollywood and into the world of Music. More specifically, the Music that I grew up listening to and enjoying. I've mentioned before that I am a child of the 1980's, which was the decade in which Music Videos became the MUST for an artist to thrive in the business. Lately, the Music Video has fallen off the "Relevancy Radar" meaning that while we still can watch a video by say Eminem or Beyonce or Lady Gaga, the video is not as crucial to the success of said artist (thanks to the Internet and music sharing apps like iTunes and Napster). The move towards the Internet not-so-gradually forced a change in MTV's programming habits. What was once a 24-hour Music Video hub is now a place for Reality shows and the like with rarely a video to be shown in-between (but that is a rant for another day!). So, I thought I would dedicate this week's 10 FAVORITES to the songs and Music Videos from my childhood (basically the 1980's and the early 1990's). I'm not going to say much about each video (like 1 sentence!) because I would like to let the Music Videos speak for themselves (thanks to VEVO on YouTube!). Without further adieu, here are:
THE BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
(FROM 1980-1995)
VIDEO #10: Jeremy - Pearl Jam (1993)
For obvious reasons, this song must be on the list.
VIDEO #9: Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1993)
Gotta love those videos with the celebrity cameos!
VIDEO #8: November Rain - Guns 'N Roses (1992)
Only one word comes to mind when I see this video: EPIC!
VIDEO #7: What's Love Got to Do With It? - Tina Turner (1984)
Aretha is the Queen of Soul and Madonna is the Queen of Pop, but Ms. Tina is the Queen of WOW!
VIDEO #6: Janie's Got a Gun - Aerosmith (1989)
Every video has a story to tell and this one just floored me as a kid.
VIDEO #5: Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel (1986)
Not necessarily the greatest song of the 1980's, but certainly a groundbreaking video.
VIDEO #4: When Doves Cry - Prince and the Revolution (1984)
A majestic video for an amazing song that just gets better each time I hear it. NOTE: The video below is only a clip because the "Purple One" does not wish his music to be available on YouTube.
VIDEO #3: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana (1993)
The band that captured a generation with this in-your-face musical movement.
VIDEO #2: Like a Prayer - Madonna (1988)
One of the most controversial music videos in my childhood.
AND...
VIDEO #1: Thriller - Michael Jackson (1983)
The Holy Grail of Music Videos Or: The music video by which all other music videos get measured.
Special shout out to VEVO, the YouTube channel from which most of these videos are available!
As promised, this next list of 10 FAVORITES revolves around the theme songs to the drama shows of the 1980's. Last week, I focused on 1980's sitcom themes. Like the previous list, each of the shows featured were prominent in some way (either with critics, audiences or in my own household).
THE 10 BEST 1980's DRAMA SERIES THEME SONGS
HONORABLE MENTION
Knight Rider (1982-1986), NBC
There are only three things I really remember about this series: 1) The cool car (voiced by the great William Daniels); 2) David Hasselhoff's hair; and 3) This very 1980's theme song. Since those are the only memorable things about the show, the awesome theme music garners Honorable Mention on this list.
THEME SONG #10
Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996), CBS
This series is considered the last of the great murder-mystery TV Dramas because it truly targeted its demographic. The show still does well in syndicated reruns thanks to viewers' fond nostalgia and the delightful legend that is Angela Lansbury.
THEME SONG #9
Dynasty (1981-1989), ABC
This theme song just sounded like a soap opera theme about glamorous people, which it was. The elegance, the beauty, the grandeur and the pure bitchy catfights between the likes of Joan Collins and Linda Evans defined this series and primetime soaps for a generation.
THEME SONG #8
L.A. Law (1986-1994), NBC
The award-winning legal drama about the lawyers and workers at a successful Los Angeles law firm was the definition of a great drama series for me when I was growing up. The theme song just serves as a reminder of that time of my life: a time when men and women in power suits were walking briskly with Kenny G style-saxophones playing in the background.
THEME SONG #7
Moonlighting (1985-1989), ABC
This is a tricky one. Sometimes the show is considered a Comedy series and sometimes it is considered a Drama series. The show, which centered on the tempestuous relationship between two private detectives (played by Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd), had a mix of mystery, farce and soap opera romance plus a very catchy theme song written and sung by Al Jarreau.
THEME SONG #6
Dallas (1978-1991), CBS
The series that created the little thing known as "Season-Ending Cliffhangers." This family would betray each other as fast as they would make love to each other. And J. R. Ewing (iconically portrayed by Larry Hagman) became one of the most loved (and most hated) TV villains of all-time. The theme song was big and epic, just like Texas.
THEME SONG #5
Hill Street Blues (1981-1987), NBC
This groundbreaking series took cop shows to a whole new level. Its haunting theme (by TV composing legend Mike Post) set the standard for dramatic series opening sequences afterwards (just look at Law & Order, NYPD Blue and L.A. Law).
THEME SONG #4
Miami Vice (1984-1990), NBC
There was something about Miami in the 1980's. NBC had two hit shows set in the exotic Florida metropolis: one was the hilarious sitcom The Golden Girls and the other was this series, the complete polar opposite. The show was about two detectives (Crockett and Tubbs!) and their pursuit of the seedy criminal element of Miami. The theme song (complete with synthesizer) by Jan Hammer was totally 1980's.
THEME SONG #3
Magnum P.I. (1980-1988), CBS
There are so many things this theme song brings to mind: the Hawaiian islands, the helicopter, the mustache! I think every boy from my generation wanted to grow up and live like Thomas Magnum (played to perfection by Tom Selleck).
THEME SONG #2
The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985), CBS
The style of this show so fit the time period. I mean the stars, Tom Wopat and John Schneider, both had "Farrah-hair!" The theme song, written and performed by country music legend Waylon Jennings, was just as fitting and became a #1 on Billboard's Music charts.
THEME SONG #1
The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983), ABC
This is the most memorable theme song on the list (hence it being placed at #1!). Who doesn't want to sing along to this extremely catchy song? Even George Costanza (on Seinfeld) parodied the song for his outgoing message. Also, the show about a quirky superhero, ran from 1981-1983, making it the shortest lived series on the list.
So there you have it: The 10 Best Drama Series Theme Songs of the 1980's. Hopefully, this is a good compliment to the 10 Best Sitcom Theme Songs of the 1980's. If you have any suggestions for future 10 FAVORITES lists, just send me an e-mail.
The 1980's was a confusing and fascinating time to grow up in. Conservative politicians like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were the political power players in the world. The Cold War was coming to a groundbreaking (and Wall-breaking) close throughout Eastern Europe. And the Pop Culture scene was filled with iconic images, sounds and moments that shaped everyone of my generation. Movies like E. T. and Top Gun were box-office blockbusters alongside franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Music had pop/rock icons like Bruce Springsteen, Prince, Madonna and the late self-proclaimed King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson topping the charts and selling out arenas. The music scene also had epic "Arena" rock bands like Journey, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi proving just as popular as Jacko and Madge. The "Epic-ness" of the culture seeped into the Broadway scene too as composer Andrew Lloyd Webber led a British invasion with powerful pop operas (or "poperas" as they're called) and dominated theatre in the decade.
But if there is one thing people of my generation remember about 1980's entertainment above anything else, it is the television shows that thrilled, charmed and just made us laugh throughout our childhood. And what made a great TV show in the decade? The catchy theme song. That's why I have dedicated this week's 10 FAVORITES to the decade that raised me and the sitcom themes we knew and loved (next week will be the drama show themes so stay tuned!). This week's topic:
THE 10 BEST 1980's SITCOM THEME SONGS
HONORABLE MENTION
Night Court (1984-1992), NBC
This is a very memorable theme that I heard constantly. It's not in the Top 10 only because its instrumental (no lyrics), which is not a bad thing. It's just that the other 10 shows all are memorable because of their theme's words. My brother thinks this should be good enough to be in the Top 10 because this is one of his all-time favorite sitcoms, but he can't have everything!
THEME SONG #10
The Facts of Life (1979-1988), NBC
The 1980's were big on shows that taught a lesson to the kids (and their parents) watching the program. And this show, which at times was actually quite enjoyable, had an extremely catchy theme song that musically evolved as the decade wore on.
THEME SONG #9
Charles In Charge (1984-1985), CBS & (1987-1990), Syndication
Scott Baio's show about a college student who is also a "manny" to an upper-middle-class family in New Jersey first aired on CBS (and got cancelled after a year). Then a few years later, thanks to fans of Baio, a re-tooled version re-emerged in first-run syndication (these were the years before cable folks!). The fun theme song pretty much stayed the same (except musically revamped '80's style the second time around).
THEME SONG #8
Who's the Boss? (1984-1992), ABC
Taxi star Tony Danza played a Brooklyn ex-baseball player who moves to Connecticut to be a housekeeper to a wealthy (female!) ad exec (played by soap star Judith Light). The show was a typical family show with a twist on the "normal" family unit and it launched the career of a young Alyssa Milano. It was a "Brand New Life" for everyone who watched and enjoyed!
THEME SONG #7 Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1985), NBC
With the recent passing Gary Coleman, fans scrambled all over the internet to find episodes of his iconic show where he uttered his famous line "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" The theme song (written and sung by another '80's TV icon, Alan Thicke) was another fun song that everyone in my school could sing at the drop of a hat.
THEME SONG #6 Silver Spoons (1982-1986), NBC & (1986-1987), Syndication
Like Charles In Charge above, this Rick (or Ricky) Schroder vehicle had a run in Syndication for a year after being cancelled by its original network. The show revolved around Schroder and his relationship with his rich and eccentric father (played by Joel Higgins). Schroder was one of many young actors who defined the Teen Idol scene in the 1980's. The theme song is a great musical marvel, but because of the two-part harmonies, you always need a second person to sing along.
THEME SONG #5 The Golden Girls (1985-1992), NBC
Betty White, who sadly is the last surviving of these dynamic ladies, is currently enjoying a great resurgence in her storied career. This series, in which she co-starred with Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty as four elderly women living (and dating!) in Miami, was among the best of her career (and is said to be her personal favorite!). Just hearing the theme song reminds me of the hilarity and the comedy master class one would get in watching these women in their many situations.
THEME SONG #4 Growing Pains (1985-1992), ABC
One of the several "EPIC" theme songs that filled 1980's TV. Just the opnening line, "Show me that smile again" (with it repeated by a female back-up singer), had a quality that so fit the decade. The show starred Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns as parents raising their teenage kids which included Kirk Cameron and Tracey Gold, who were big teen icons thanks to the series.
THEME SONG #3 Perfect Strangers (1986-1993), ABC
Talk about "EPIC!" Listen to the opening strains! And the final notes on harmonica! The series was about a Greek immigrant named Balki Bartokomous (played to perfection by Bronson Pinchot) who lives with his American cousin Larry Appleton (played by Mark Linn-Baker) in Chicago. Balki, having come from a small Greek isle, was socially awkward when it came to American culture. So, of course, hilarity ensued! This is another of my brother's favorite sitcoms!
THEME SONG #2 Family Ties (1982-1989), NBC
The show that launched Michael J. Fox's career (and garnered him 3 Emmys in the process!). This show, about a close knit family with liberal parents (played by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter-Birney) and their conservative elder son (Fox), was one of my absolute favorites growing up. I still enjoy watching it every once in a while and I think a big part of it has to do with the touching and heartwarming theme song (sung by Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams).
AND NOW...
THEME SONG #1 Cheers (1982-1993), NBC
Did you really expect any other theme song as #1? This theme DEFINED the decade. Everyone knew it! Even if they didn't watch the show. The antics of the Boston bar workers and patrons including ex-baseball player Sam Malone (the charismatic Ted Danson), snobbish waitress Diane Chambers (the charming Shelley Long) and the lovable Norm or "NORM!" (the great George Wendt) was a landmark series that helped NBC turn a corner (establishing "Must See TV" Thursdays) and won several well-deserved Emmys. According to my dad, it is the best of ALL the shows represented on this list, which to me is high-praise indeed.
So there you have it. The Best Sitcom Theme Songs from the decade that helped make me who I am today. Next Week: The Best Drama Theme Songs! And there are many to choose from, as it has been pointed out to me by my many friends and family.
