The Incredible Hulk
Everybody should know who the Hulk is by now, but in case you don’t just imagine The Fugitive crossed with Dr. Jekyll & Mister Hyde (not that I’d expect you to know what either of those are if you don’t know the freaking Hulk). Watching it is similar to watching old Star Trek episodes; it’s a product of it’s time (the late 70’s/ early 80’s) and hasn’t aged well in some respects, like the crude transformation effects or the fashion of the era. And yes, not all the episodes are winners (like the one titled “Half Nelson” with a plot that revolves around midget wrestling).
However, amidst whatever superficial flaws or occasional missteps the stories take, as a whole the series is constantly propped up by great writing that holds up today. Producer Kenneth Johnson knew how to ground the show and keep it realistic, even though it revolved around something as strange as a scientist who transforms into a monster. Some stories focused on characters that were battling their own metaphorical inner-monsters, like gambling or substance addiction (one of the most famous episodes even dealt with the subject of child-abuse). And for fans who still want good old-fashion comic book action, others episodes featured the Hulk going up against another monster just like him, or being captured by a government agency that thinks he’s an alien.
Bell-bottoms and practical effects have gone out of style, but great stories & writing are timeless.
However, amidst whatever superficial flaws or occasional missteps the stories take, as a whole the series is constantly propped up by great writing that holds up today. Producer Kenneth Johnson knew how to ground the show and keep it realistic, even though it revolved around something as strange as a scientist who transforms into a monster. Some stories focused on characters that were battling their own metaphorical inner-monsters, like gambling or substance addiction (one of the most famous episodes even dealt with the subject of child-abuse). And for fans who still want good old-fashion comic book action, others episodes featured the Hulk going up against another monster just like him, or being captured by a government agency that thinks he’s an alien.
Bell-bottoms and practical effects have gone out of style, but great stories & writing are timeless.
Garfunkel and Oats
Catholic girls having anal sex to “keep” their virginity. The orgasmic sensation girls receive from riding in go-karts. How to properly give a hand job. If these were an answer on Jeopardy, the question would be “What are Garfunkel & Oates songs about”? Two women have carved out a niche singing adorable folk songs about completely obscene subject matter, touring the country as well as having several music videos on YouTube. IFC even gave them their own tv show that lasted 1 short but sweet season of 8 episodes.
The show follows the duo on their misadventures, both professionally (like having to perform at a dive bar in the middle of nowhere or botching an acting audition) and personally (one getting her eggs frozen or the other dating a high-schooler). They also work in about 2 performances of their various songs each episode. The amazing trick they do is use material that is so off-color, yet is never presented in a crass or offensive fashion (for the most part), thus making it enjoyable to a much broader audience. A real shame it had such a short run, but glad it at least got the chance it did (and hey, they’re still touring and performing in real life).
The show follows the duo on their misadventures, both professionally (like having to perform at a dive bar in the middle of nowhere or botching an acting audition) and personally (one getting her eggs frozen or the other dating a high-schooler). They also work in about 2 performances of their various songs each episode. The amazing trick they do is use material that is so off-color, yet is never presented in a crass or offensive fashion (for the most part), thus making it enjoyable to a much broader audience. A real shame it had such a short run, but glad it at least got the chance it did (and hey, they’re still touring and performing in real life).
SmallvIlle
The famous (or some would say IN-famous) show about Superman’s early years growing up in his Kansas hometown. Early seasons focused on his high school years, mixing teenage melodrama (trying to get the hot cheerleader to notice him) with comic book slugfests (battling mutated humans with superpowers). As time went on, Clark graduated, got a job at the Daily Planet, became a vigilante no one ever saw known as the Blur, and finally, in the last episode, we got to see an extreme close up of his face with his red cape flapping in the background (10 years just to see that is why a lot of people hate the show).
Over the course of its decade-long run, the quality was all over the place; there were excellent episodes where I thought “This is the best version of Superman ever”, and then there were stretches like “Why am I still watching this show, it’s terrible.” As a whole though, the good outweighs the bad by a decent margin (and it’s definitely better than Zack Snyder’s movies, but that’s a low bar to clear). The cast was great, with the best versions of Lois Lane , Lex Luthor, Jimmy Olsen, and the Kents ever. The early episodes also had a great deal of heart to them, focusing on the tight familial bond Clark had with his parents (which unfortunately would be lost in later seasons when he went on his own). The series was also the first comic book tv show that would actually bring in other characters from different books (Aquaman, Cyborg, Green Arrow, and many more got the live-action treatment for the first time). The show started to run out of steam in its later years, but there were still diamonds in the rough; even the abysmal final season snuck in one of the best episodes of the series (Clark goes to his high school reunion, which SHOULD have been the final episode). It has its good, its bad, and its ugly, but at the end of the day there’s still a lot to love about it.
J.K.
Thundarr, the Barbarian
In 1994, a “runaway planet” hurtles between the Earth and the moon, seriously messing up the Earth and splitting the moon in two (maybe only slightly more catastrophic than the 2016 Presidential election). 2,000 years later, the Earth has become an apocalyptic-yet-awesome wasteland, filled with monsters and magic and chauvinist barbarian guys pushing women around when they get in the way. Once such male pig is Thundarr, who travels the ruined world with his sidekicks Ariel (who can do magic-type stuff), and Ookla (who’s basically Chewbacca).
Thundarr the character is a great throwback to a time before political correctness (when arguing with a pair of women, he simply turns away and scoffs “Females”). The show is also from that great era right before cartoons had their balls taken away and weren’t allowed to show violence (ever notice He-Man never actually PUNCHED anyone?), and therefore has some great action sequences (in one fight, Ookla grabs one bad guy by the legs and starts swinging him around to hit other enemies). Lastly, there’s just some great gags done with the crumbled civilization (like how a wizard animates the remains of the Statue of Liberty and uses it to attack Thundarr and his posse). The show’s harmless enough you can show it to kids, yet kick-ass enough adults will enjoy it (my 50-something uncle borrowed my dvd’s to watch). RIDE!
Thundarr the character is a great throwback to a time before political correctness (when arguing with a pair of women, he simply turns away and scoffs “Females”). The show is also from that great era right before cartoons had their balls taken away and weren’t allowed to show violence (ever notice He-Man never actually PUNCHED anyone?), and therefore has some great action sequences (in one fight, Ookla grabs one bad guy by the legs and starts swinging him around to hit other enemies). Lastly, there’s just some great gags done with the crumbled civilization (like how a wizard animates the remains of the Statue of Liberty and uses it to attack Thundarr and his posse). The show’s harmless enough you can show it to kids, yet kick-ass enough adults will enjoy it (my 50-something uncle borrowed my dvd’s to watch). RIDE!
Conan O'Brien's: MASTURBATING Bear
This Bear holds a special place in my funny bone. It was the 90’s, I didn’t have cable, and I was a night
owl that liked to stay up late and watch Conan. I’m really not a talk show fan at all but when you
combine someone in a bear costume masturbating, you’re going to get my attention. These 30 minutes
of nostalgia showcases some of his best masturbation during his lengthy stint on Late Night. If you’re
not familiar with this loveable bear it’s pretty straightforward: He can’t help himself from masturbating
and two guys in white coats try to stop him. I never really understood why they wouldn’t just let the
bear masturbate. Also, he only masturbates if people are watching him and I think most of us here can
relate to that. So why is this so funny? It’s a goddamn bear furiously jacking off, pretty simple yet effective. I might be setting the bar a little low too. Its late-night competition was featuring newspaper typos from Leno and top ten lists from sex crazed Letterman. Although beating Buzzfeed to their tactics of catering to people’s love of lists is an accomplishment, these antics just didn’t do much for me. Anyway, if you missed out on this classic television character I strongly encourage you to watch his highlight reel. –M.N.
owl that liked to stay up late and watch Conan. I’m really not a talk show fan at all but when you
combine someone in a bear costume masturbating, you’re going to get my attention. These 30 minutes
of nostalgia showcases some of his best masturbation during his lengthy stint on Late Night. If you’re
not familiar with this loveable bear it’s pretty straightforward: He can’t help himself from masturbating
and two guys in white coats try to stop him. I never really understood why they wouldn’t just let the
bear masturbate. Also, he only masturbates if people are watching him and I think most of us here can
relate to that. So why is this so funny? It’s a goddamn bear furiously jacking off, pretty simple yet effective. I might be setting the bar a little low too. Its late-night competition was featuring newspaper typos from Leno and top ten lists from sex crazed Letterman. Although beating Buzzfeed to their tactics of catering to people’s love of lists is an accomplishment, these antics just didn’t do much for me. Anyway, if you missed out on this classic television character I strongly encourage you to watch his highlight reel. –M.N.
It's Always Sunny In Philidelphia
There is no TV show I know better. I have watched every season so many times I can resite most episodes word for word. I love this show from the bottom of my heart, so remember that because it's about to get real. There have been some mistakes over the first 9 years. For instance, the waitress asks Dee if she finished high school when they went to school together and the waitress is always the one that knows these details. Or when Frank criticized Dennis for banging Charlie's girlfriend when he had banged her only a few episodes before. That is typically something Dennis would sink his teeth in, but he acted like he didn't even know. These are obviously things to overlook, but I can not overlook a pretty steep decline in the direction of the show. Maybe it is just me, but I am finding it harder to be amused by Dennis when he has his weird outbursts or loses of control. The only two good episodes of season 11 are m Wade Boggs and Inspection Day. Mainly because Dennis was laid back. Moving to FXX was also a horrible move as it is not a common cable channel and needed to be special ordered. Fuck all that, I gave up on cable about the time they made that switch. Because of this, I am always a season behind on Netflix, but I haven't heard great things about season 12. Let's hope Frank Day is as funny as the cast keeps leading on.
The Adventures Of Superboy
Before he was getting hit over the head with a toilet by Batman, Superman was a college student, trying to balance homework with fighting super villains in this late 80's/early 90's half-hour syndicated series. The first season is one of the worst iterations of the character ever; terrible fx (even by the standards of the era), lame plots (like Superboy refereeing a basketball game), and mind-bogglingly horrible acting.
However, by the end of its 4 year run the show achieved an amazing feat worthy of the Man of Steel himself, becoming one of the best oncscreen versions of the character. At the start of the second season, every character except for the female lead was recast (by much more competent performers). Actual writers from the comics were brought on to do scripts (allowing a better balance of reality and comic book exploits), and the fx were greatly improved (though still crude by today’s standards, some of the flying shots are amazing considering they were all done practically with wires). Undisputed best episode is season 3's "Roads Not Taken", where Superboy bounces between alternate realities meeting other versions of himself; one who went into hiding after murdering Lex Luthor, the other a brutal dictator who rules the world. The series (minus season 1 and some of season 2) is the great buried treasure of the Superman franchise, and a welcome alternative to today’s dreary, neck-snapping version of the character.
However, by the end of its 4 year run the show achieved an amazing feat worthy of the Man of Steel himself, becoming one of the best oncscreen versions of the character. At the start of the second season, every character except for the female lead was recast (by much more competent performers). Actual writers from the comics were brought on to do scripts (allowing a better balance of reality and comic book exploits), and the fx were greatly improved (though still crude by today’s standards, some of the flying shots are amazing considering they were all done practically with wires). Undisputed best episode is season 3's "Roads Not Taken", where Superboy bounces between alternate realities meeting other versions of himself; one who went into hiding after murdering Lex Luthor, the other a brutal dictator who rules the world. The series (minus season 1 and some of season 2) is the great buried treasure of the Superman franchise, and a welcome alternative to today’s dreary, neck-snapping version of the character.
Fuller House
Have you ever stepped in dog shit and then spent the next few minutes trying to get it off your shoe only to inevitably have some stuck way up in the grooves and then the smell wofts into your face on occasion throughout the day, reminding you the dissatisfaction from earlier in the day. It seems like the only ones that got it right on this one were the Olson Twins. By DC
MacGyver
Throughout the mid 80's and early 90's, MacGyver turned millions of young men into engineers and scientists and made billions of women's panties wet. Must have been the mullet. From getting into sticky situations with his buddy Jack Dalton, escaping a flame throwing Murdoc, or just pissing off his boss Peter Thornton, MacGyver had a solution for every situation.
Ren and Stimpy
Arrested Development
Quantum Leap
So if you don't already know the story, you probably an asshole or just really young, but probably both. Sam (left) is a dude traveling through time, but never like super long ago which always kinda disappointed me that Sam never faced any dinosaurs or have to stop eve from eating the apple. Anyway, Al (right) is Sams time traveling advisor with a handheld device that is less advanced than an original Gameboy, yet provides some pretty interstellar information when it's working. Sam continues to be tossed into the lives of others and needs to right what they did wrong to move on to the next life, hopefully the pathway back to his own. There is humor, suspense, emotion, and each show would end with a cliffhanger that brought you back every week. With a good positive message and a total scifi mystique, this one will grab your inner nerd by its pocket protector.
In Living Color
South Park
Trailer Park Boys
Married with Children
Chappell Show
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