Nicki Elson's Blog, page 50
April 23, 2011
80s TV Shows: Turbulent Tranquility
thirtysomething1987 - 1991
Click image to watch thirtysomething opening theme
If it was "A" day, I guess I'd call this one Angsty Adults.
As barely twentysomething during the tenure of this late 80s TV show, I didn't really get what they were all whining about. Now that I'm a fortysomething...please God, let me be past all that.
Quote:"I mean, Michael's cute and all, but how much fun can it be sitting at home watching him sulk night after night?"
Trivia:This series was influenced by a 1983 movie that also featured an ensemble cast of baby boomer yuppies. What move was it?
More info on thirtysomething and other 80s TV Shows
Click image to watch thirtysomething opening themeIf it was "A" day, I guess I'd call this one Angsty Adults.
As barely twentysomething during the tenure of this late 80s TV show, I didn't really get what they were all whining about. Now that I'm a fortysomething...please God, let me be past all that.
Quote:"I mean, Michael's cute and all, but how much fun can it be sitting at home watching him sulk night after night?"
Trivia:This series was influenced by a 1983 movie that also featured an ensemble cast of baby boomer yuppies. What move was it?
More info on thirtysomething and other 80s TV Shows
April 22, 2011
80s TV Shows: Sassy Students
Saved by the Bell1989-1993
Click on image to watch opening themeLittle did the youthful cast of this high school comedy know that they were destined to become the C-list celebrities of the future.
Quote:"I like school... it's a good way to kill time between weekends."
Trivia:Only four of Saved by the Bell's seven regular characters (pictured here) appeared in each of the TV show's eighty-six episodes. Can you name them?
More info on Saved by the Bell and other 80s TV shows
Click on image to watch opening themeLittle did the youthful cast of this high school comedy know that they were destined to become the C-list celebrities of the future.Quote:"I like school... it's a good way to kill time between weekends."
Trivia:Only four of Saved by the Bell's seven regular characters (pictured here) appeared in each of the TV show's eighty-six episodes. Can you name them?
More info on Saved by the Bell and other 80s TV shows
April 21, 2011
80s TV Shows: Reluctant Romance
Remington Steele1982 - 1987
Click image to watch Remington Steele Intro.Hullo, Pierce Brosnan.What I remember most about this show is being freaked out that my mom had such a crush on the man masquerading as Remington Steele, the fictitious boss invented by independent P.I. Laura Holt.
Quote:"Someone ALWAYS shoots at us when we're kissing!"
Trivia:The original writer and producer of the show, Glenn Gordon Caron, quit after the first ten episodes to start his own production company. He went on to write and produce another hit 80s TV show, also about a pair of bickering "I hate you/I love you" detectives. Know what it was?
More info on Remington Steele and other 80s TV Shows
Click image to watch Remington Steele Intro.Hullo, Pierce Brosnan.What I remember most about this show is being freaked out that my mom had such a crush on the man masquerading as Remington Steele, the fictitious boss invented by independent P.I. Laura Holt. Quote:"Someone ALWAYS shoots at us when we're kissing!"
Trivia:The original writer and producer of the show, Glenn Gordon Caron, quit after the first ten episodes to start his own production company. He went on to write and produce another hit 80s TV show, also about a pair of bickering "I hate you/I love you" detectives. Know what it was?
More info on Remington Steele and other 80s TV Shows
April 20, 2011
80s TV Shows: A Quirky Quandary
Quantum Leap1989-1993
Click image to watch a fan-made Quantum Leap videoI think my favorite part of this show was each week's ending---when Sam Beckett, scientific genius, would wake up in a new body, in a new time & place, usually in the midst of some sort of "Oh, sh!#" moment. Or as Sam would say "Oh, boy..."
Quote:Al (Sam's wisecracking sidekick who appeared to him through time as a hologram): "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And if you do, take pictures."
Trivia:Scott Bakula was recently (type) cast in as another scientific genius with recurring appearances in a contemporary NBC show. He played Orion, the long-missing father of what lovable nerd/spy?
More info on Quantum Leap and other 80s TV shows
Click image to watch a fan-made Quantum Leap videoI think my favorite part of this show was each week's ending---when Sam Beckett, scientific genius, would wake up in a new body, in a new time & place, usually in the midst of some sort of "Oh, sh!#" moment. Or as Sam would say "Oh, boy..."Quote:Al (Sam's wisecracking sidekick who appeared to him through time as a hologram): "Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And if you do, take pictures."
Trivia:Scott Bakula was recently (type) cast in as another scientific genius with recurring appearances in a contemporary NBC show. He played Orion, the long-missing father of what lovable nerd/spy?
More info on Quantum Leap and other 80s TV shows
April 19, 2011
80s TV Shows: Paradoxical Peers
Perfect Strangers1986-1993
Click image to see the Dance of JoyThis TV show was the odd couple of the 80s, with highly-strung "Cousin Larry" and the effervescent, naive, and hilarious Balky Bartokomous, fresh off the Mediterranean isle of Mypos.
Quotes:"Don't be ridiculous." "Oh Cousin, congratulations! Your ship has finally hit the fan."
Trivia: Perfect Strangers is set in one of the greatest cities in America, nay the world, with many famous city icons featured in the opening credits. What city is it?
More info on Perfect Strangers---Seriously, a whole website dedicated to his and no other 80s TV shows!
Click image to see the Dance of JoyThis TV show was the odd couple of the 80s, with highly-strung "Cousin Larry" and the effervescent, naive, and hilarious Balky Bartokomous, fresh off the Mediterranean isle of Mypos.Quotes:"Don't be ridiculous." "Oh Cousin, congratulations! Your ship has finally hit the fan."
Trivia: Perfect Strangers is set in one of the greatest cities in America, nay the world, with many famous city icons featured in the opening credits. What city is it?
More info on Perfect Strangers---Seriously, a whole website dedicated to his and no other 80s TV shows!
April 18, 2011
80s TV Shows: Outlandish Obscurity
Out of this World1987 - 1991
Does anybody even remember this one from the 80s? Apparently this Evie girl was half human and half alien and lived in California...ring any bells? None whatsoever for me.
Quote:"Do sharks like swimsuits made out of beef jerky?"
Trivia:The famous actor who did the voice of Evie's alien father (who's never seen) asked for his name to not be in the credits, since he was only doing this as a favor to the producers. Care to guess who that was? Hint: He was also involved in another TV show at the time---Evening Shade.
More info on Out of this World and other 80s TV shows
Does anybody even remember this one from the 80s? Apparently this Evie girl was half human and half alien and lived in California...ring any bells? None whatsoever for me.Quote:"Do sharks like swimsuits made out of beef jerky?"
Trivia:The famous actor who did the voice of Evie's alien father (who's never seen) asked for his name to not be in the credits, since he was only doing this as a favor to the producers. Care to guess who that was? Hint: He was also involved in another TV show at the time---Evening Shade.
More info on Out of this World and other 80s TV shows
April 17, 2011
TV Land Awards---Tonight!
Speaking of 80s TV Shows...tonight is the TV Land Awards show, featuring Family Ties, The Cosby Show, and Facts of Life. Welcome Back Kotter too ('75 - '79). To top it off Hall & Oats will perform!!! Nice timing, huh?And today my interview has posted at iZombie's Two Thumbs, Eight Fingers review blog. Thanks iZom. ;)
April 16, 2011
80s TV Shows: Naughty Nocturnal Nonsense
We're over the half-way hump! Can you believe it? Thank you all for playing along w/ my triva madness. After we get through this blog challenge, I'll post a listing of all the answers along w/ a link to blogs of those who guessed right!
And tomorrow, iZombie is going to post a 20 questions interview with me at his Two Thumbs, Eight Fingers review site. :) Night Court1984 - 1992
Click image to watch a Night Court shortThis crazy cast of characters and their corny schtick were the perfect match for the nutty cases coming to night court. Night Court was a part of NBC's legendary "Must See Thursday" line-up, which included uber successful 80s TV shows: The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Cheers.
Quote:"Your Honor, according to witnesses, Miss Congeniality led the attack with a kick to the groin."
Trivia:Harry Anderson, who played unconventional judge Harry Stone on Night Court, also played the recurring role of trickster con-man Harry the Hat on which of the other "Must See Thursday" shows?
More info. on Night Court and other 80s TV shows
And tomorrow, iZombie is going to post a 20 questions interview with me at his Two Thumbs, Eight Fingers review site. :) Night Court1984 - 1992
Click image to watch a Night Court shortThis crazy cast of characters and their corny schtick were the perfect match for the nutty cases coming to night court. Night Court was a part of NBC's legendary "Must See Thursday" line-up, which included uber successful 80s TV shows: The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Cheers.Quote:"Your Honor, according to witnesses, Miss Congeniality led the attack with a kick to the groin."
Trivia:Harry Anderson, who played unconventional judge Harry Stone on Night Court, also played the recurring role of trickster con-man Harry the Hat on which of the other "Must See Thursday" shows?
More info. on Night Court and other 80s TV shows
April 15, 2011
80s TV Shows: Marvelous Man
Magnum P.I.1980 - 1988
Click image for opening themeThis tongue-in-cheek action series, featuring Tom Sellek as Thomas Magnum, private investigator, was one of the most popular TV shows on Thursday nights in the 80s. Magnum P.I. was made more fun by quirky sidekicks---Higgins, TC & Rick---and its Hawaiian setting.
Quote:"You might try the strawberry jam too, it's really quite good. An old comrade from the Burma campaign sent it to me -- Tanky Moran. Got his name when he single-handedly took on a Japanese tank and knocked it out...now he's selling jam in Devonshire."
Trivia: Throughout the series, we never get to see Magnum's mysterious absentee employer, Robin Masters. Producers had eventually planned to reveal a very famous actor/director as the mysterious Masters, but the actor died before the end of the series. Any idea who that might've been?
More info. on Magnum P.I. and other 80s TV Shows
Click image for opening themeThis tongue-in-cheek action series, featuring Tom Sellek as Thomas Magnum, private investigator, was one of the most popular TV shows on Thursday nights in the 80s. Magnum P.I. was made more fun by quirky sidekicks---Higgins, TC & Rick---and its Hawaiian setting. Quote:"You might try the strawberry jam too, it's really quite good. An old comrade from the Burma campaign sent it to me -- Tanky Moran. Got his name when he single-handedly took on a Japanese tank and knocked it out...now he's selling jam in Devonshire."
Trivia: Throughout the series, we never get to see Magnum's mysterious absentee employer, Robin Masters. Producers had eventually planned to reveal a very famous actor/director as the mysterious Masters, but the actor died before the end of the series. Any idea who that might've been?
More info. on Magnum P.I. and other 80s TV Shows
April 14, 2011
80s TV Shows: Legal Lackeys
L.A. Law1986 - 1994
Click image for LA Law opening themeThis ensemble drama centered on the lives and trials of professionals at an L.A. law firm and brought us the likes of Arnie Becker and the triumphant return of Laurie Partridge to a TV series. L.A. Law is one of my all time favorite 80s TV shows because it's sexy, smart, and funny.
Quote: "Bigamy. Bigamy! Do you know how rare it is? This is the divorce lawyer equivalent to a hole-in-one!"
Trivia: What was the name of the law firm they all worked for?
More info. on L.A. Law and other 80s TV shows
Click image for LA Law opening themeThis ensemble drama centered on the lives and trials of professionals at an L.A. law firm and brought us the likes of Arnie Becker and the triumphant return of Laurie Partridge to a TV series. L.A. Law is one of my all time favorite 80s TV shows because it's sexy, smart, and funny.Quote: "Bigamy. Bigamy! Do you know how rare it is? This is the divorce lawyer equivalent to a hole-in-one!"
Trivia: What was the name of the law firm they all worked for?
More info. on L.A. Law and other 80s TV shows
