Thursday, January 19, 2006

Thursday Throwback

Thursday Throwback


Long before I found other extracurricular activities to get into, and some of these, well before I turned 21, or 18, even, I was getting my TV watch on. I am actually doing this blog in part in honor of Mwabi, considering she is indeed, a fan of television so much. I am going to skip the regular, if I may, "Black Shows", (i.e, Cosby, Different World), for the most part because that was a given (again, for the most part) So, without further adieu, I would like to talk about the shows that gave me warm fuzzies. I loved them. And Still do.



New York Undercover

Created by Dick Wolfe (Law and Order), New York Undercover was a gritty detective show that followed the personal and professional lives of two officers, played by Micheal Delorenzo and Malik Yoba. They also had a 'Take No Prisoners' supervisor, played by Patty D'Arbanville. After the third season, I want to say, they added (with much chagrin, initially), a third partner, played by Lauren Velez. Remember how if you missed the beginning of the show, you were like "Dang, what happened?" But really, that wasn't often, cuz Mart-en & Living Single came on right before that. And you would always wait to see who was going to be the guest singer on there, playing at "Natalie's" ("ooh, girl, Mary J gone be on thare tonight") The show was deliciously entertaining, with everything from the close camraderie with the partners, to the touching relationship between Malik Yoba and his son. You cried when his on screen girlfriend, played by Michael Michele, was brutally murdered as she opened up the door to a bed of flowers. We were also equally miffed at the (Exit, Stage Right) death of Michael Delorenzo. That turned out to be a bust. Then they started replacing folks we won't get into the specifics, but when Tommy from Martin showed up on the show and we were supposed to believe THAT, that's when I knew the show had jumped the shark.



LA Law - Can't you hear the music, now (da, daaaa, da, da, daaaaaaa) What a show! What else can you say about it? Thursday at ten p.m. At that age, I wasn't old enought to do much else but watch. It is what made me equally fall in and out of love with law enforcement. With it's seedy and quirky subplots, and enough sordid escapades to make a teenager blush, this was the show - and the place to be, thursdays at ten. An instant classic. Plus, you were quasi amazed that Susan Dey was on anything else except for the Partridge Family. Iknowwhatchathinkin when you see that license plate. You remember when it used to slam down on the show.


Thirtysomething - This used to be my number one SPOT! I was FIXATED on this show for some reason, I was like seventeen or something when this came out. I partially imagined myself being like this (I'm not), living in an area like the lived in (I don't), and being in a family structure like that (Hell to the naw). I was sooo devastated when Peter died on there. What a plot twist. I was in junior college then and I was unable to concentrate. This show was the bomb.


Hart to Hart - Jonathan and Jennifer Hart. The show used to start off "This is Jonathan Hart, a self made millionaire. . .He's quite a guy". . .I could never figure out how they ended up getting in so many 'sitiations' as a couple. I mean, they were rich and wealthy, she had all the money she could ever want as well as flyaway hair that could give Farrah Fawcett-Majors, as she was called then, a run for her money. They always ended up being on some mystery/murder expedition. They were not even private eyes, but they managed to be super sleuths. The end result always ended with them kissing and making it all better. And they had a butler, Max, and a dog, Freeway.

Trapper John M.D. - I am sooo dating myself, I know.
Okay, I didn't really know what was going on with this show, I was only about nine, but I did have a crush on Gregory Harrison, who played Gonzo on the show. They almost made me wanna be a doctor but I never felt that type of urge. It was my first memory of a show, and I just thought that Trapper John was the cat's meow. I never figured out why Gonzo lived in a trailer on the hospital parking lot. Even as a kid, I was like 'If he's a doctor, can't he afford more?" But he was just a "G" like that.



Miami Vice - Honorable mention: Listen, I didn't really watch this, watch this, but this is what was hot on the streets at the time. The whole Miami Vice look, those ridiculous songs that Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas came out with. This was the business right here. I was utterly confused, however, at why the LAPD detectives did NOT look as dapper as Crockett and Tubbs. And that woman that was on there, Olivia Brown, she put my little 16 year old body to shame her body was bangin!


Cagney and Lacey - Aaah, Chris Cagney and Mary Beth Lacey (played by Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly, respectively) I may have to stand corrected. Perhaps it was THESE women that made me fall in love with law enforcement. Tough as nails, and hard as steel, these women meant business on the frontline, and kept it personal in their love lives. Mary Beth, I believe was actually pregnant on the show (her husband was real like actor/brother George Stanford Brown). Mary BethLacey was the married one, trying to be a wife and amother to three children, as well as a New York City police officer. Chris Cagney was single, ambitious,and a recovering alcoholic. They were partners, as well as best friends. They have both turned into two well fed women, but it was a Great Show.

Law and Order - My beloved, my love, my one and only. The show that sets the standard. My criminal justice professor told me this is the most technically accurate show you can review in respects to law and order (NO, it is NOT CSI) - Eww! Had to be said, enough said. Slam the gavel.



Knight Rider - You wanted the car when you grew up. You loved the car. If you say it's not true y'all all liars! And I really thought the car worked like that. (this was PRE-Technology age, pre GPS, Lojack, etc). I didn't miss it. KITT was the bom car, and David Hasselhoff WORKED it, babeee.








Silk Stalkings - Rob Estes and Mitzi Kapture, babee! This was shown on USA, and came on late (at least late to my standards - 11:30 - midnight-ish), and was probably the first quasi-erotic crime drama. I enjoyed it because it had a 90's progressive flair, with a throwback to the 80's self absorbed era. A true guilty pleasure!











Midnight Caller - I was TOO THROUGH when I found out about this show. At the time, I was at junior college at LA Southwest, and was majoring in Administration of Justice, commonly called now Criminal Justice. Anywho, my classmate Donna told me about the show, and I was hooked. The premise of the program is that the guy was an ex-cop who left the force after accidentally killing his partner; he accepts a job as a late night talk show host, and of course, he ended up just getting caught up in STUFF! It didn't stay on long, but this is a cult classic y'all ain't knowin!

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman - Yeah, okay I might get some flack for this but like that girl Tam said, Yeah, I said it, so what. I ended up watching this show because I used to work the swing shift (3-11 pm) when I was in college, and my mother was telling me about it, but of course, I didn't pay it any mind because she was older, and I thought that was the kind of stuff they watched, yanno? But then my schedule shifted to Saturdays from 7am to 3pm. Better for me. I didn't particularly go out on Saturdays, because I was so used to being off on Sundays and Mondays, and that's when I planned my activities. So when I would be home on Saturday, nothing was really on except for the HBO movie of the week, so finally I decided to tune in - I was hooked. The show was set in late 1800's Colorado Springs, Colorado with a female doctor, the resident bar/hooker establishment, the banker, minister, etc. Kind of a modern day "Little House on the Prairie". Imma say it again, the show was the bomb.


Any of your favorites on here?
What are some of your famous shows, and why?

14 comments:

mrs.tj said...

New Your Undercover! ***Laughing***
You won't belive I TIVO that show everyday - its on some Latin Music channel (in english)! And like a couple of weeks ago they showed the episode where the killed of Michael Michelle.

Of course I love Law and Order!
Holla!

ThatGirlTam said...

I hate you...I did a throw back piece too!! HAHAHAHA...but I didn't make mine all purdy with pictures...too much effort involved for that and I'm still irritated from this morning's events....lol...you're gonna stop talking to me after you read mine...HAHHAHAHAHA - that or you're gonna be mad!

P said...

Mrs. TJ

NYU was the bomb, period. Went downhill after the whole Tommy from Martin/Michael Delorenzo character stuff, but definitely "must see TV" in it's day.

Tam:

I commented on your blog, heffa.

ThatGirlTam said...

See? you ain't even right...callin me names...

you left out Wise Guy (he was cool before Tony Soprano was), Beauty and the Beast - I'm still not sure how she ended up with a baby at the end of the series, Simon & Simon...HOUSTON KNIGHTS...that's the show I was trying to think of...the one with Michael Pare' in it......what about Magnum P.I.?? Or that bootleg version...I think he was a cop but he looked kinda like Tom Sellick...

P said...

Dangit!

I had to filta out the list, but since y'all have so many good comments, I am going to do a part deux, maybe tomorrow, or maybe next Thursday!

Tam: The name of that show was Matt Houston.

Supa said...

I KNOW I'm not the only one who watched "Little House on the Prairie." Faithfully....

i use to love when little Laura fell down the hill in the intro...

ahh..sweet memories...

And Miami Vice

ThatGirlTam said...

MATT HOUSTON!!! YES!! I tried to really get into that show, but I loved me some Magnum P.I. ~ Tom was hot!!

And why did Malik Yoba's lips always look crusty (since we're talking about NY Undercover).

I'm still mad that you callin me names...I'm cuttin off your cafeteria pass...

Lāā said...

I used to love NY Undercover. Now when it comes on I can't even watch cause it seems so fake. I was into Miami Vice, Knight Rider and I even watch Little House on the Prairie (couldn't stand Nelly). I fell in love with my first white boy after seeing Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street.

What about the Wonder Years, Who's the Boss and Cheers?

Nostaglia is so cool!

D- said...

I used to love Silk Stalkings!!! I forgot about that show.

As for New York Undercover, it still comes on. I think it comes on TV ONE every night. As a matter of fact, a good one was on last night that starred Mekhi Phifer.

Good list!

P said...

This definately is going to turn into a part deux. Tune in text week.

Supa: Little House WAS the bomb, and people (including the fellas) are perping if they act like they didn't watch it. And who didn't remember Laura rolling down there you felt like you were there. And her little sister would run and fall, remember. . .

Tam: Dead wrong on Malik Yoba, I just never got it, not only did the look crusty but slightly lighter, all you could do was look at the lips. . .

I sorry I called you a heffa. Can I get my low income cafeteria pass back.

Laa Laa - You hit the bullseye. Now the music sounds all corny, but we were on it back in the day.

D: Bout time sumbody said something about Silk Stalkings, that show was THE BOMB!

ThatGirlTam said...

LMAO @ low income cafeteria pass...now I'm mad that I didn't add having one of those on today's post! HAHAHAHAHAH...

Aiight...you'z mah gurl, you can have your pass back - how else am I gonna get rid of all this damn food??? I'd feed ya ass all the time just to get that look that was on your face last night! HAHAHAH...don't yall love it when someone is TRULY enjoying a meal that you cooked??

African girl, American world said...

In my honor...8blushing under my chocolate skin* - thanks EPD

30something wow that has been a while! Did you ever get into Sisters? I love Sela Ward.

my brain is fried so I can't think so I'll be back to post after it marinates :)

ThatGirlTam said...

Ooooooooo I LOVED Sisters!!!! That show was the BOMB...wasn't Ashley Judd the BEST in that show? Oh wait...P, what was that show we were talking about the other day..the one that Chad Lowe hasn't had any luck in finding work after...oh...don't forget Beavis & Butthead or Ren and Stimpy!!

eyeovthestorm said...

What about Vegas and Spenser for Hire with Robert Urich and that sexy Avery Brooks as Hawk!!!) They did a spin-off called A Man Called Hawk-with Avery. Only aired 13 episodes but I watched them all just to look at him!