Monday, January 10, 2005

My Honorable Mention additions to “TV Guide and TV Land presents The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments”. (Click PODCAST)

TV Guide and TV Land did a comprehensive series that focused on the 100 Most Memorable TV Moments.
TV Guide and TV Land presents The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments
Once again, whenever I see one of these lists I, like I’m sure many others, played Monday morning quarterback and noticed what didn’t make the list.
I suggest for future lists that there should be a distinction between entertainment produced for television like Number 18, Sammy Kisses Archie (February 19, 1972) from "All in the Family" and events that were captured on television like Number 1, September 11, 2001.

Here is my list of Memorable TV Moments that I think should have made the Top 100.

Murphy Brown’s baby (May 18, 1992) "Murphy Brown". Never before or since has a TV show influenced presidential politics.

The Flash Point of the L.A. Riots. (April 29, 1992). The beating of Reginald Denny at the corner of Florence and Normandie started it all. A runner up to this should be Rodney King saying, "Can't we all get along".

Jack Paar walks off the "Tonight Show" (February 11, 1960). The previous night, Paar had told a joke during his monologue with the word "water closets" in it. The joke offended the NBC censors, who cut it out of the show. How times have changed.

Ed Ames Tomahawk toss (April 29, 1965) "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson". It's a visual. http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/flash_video_02/index.html

Maude has an abortion (November 14,1972) from "Maude". Some CBS affiliates did not air the episode. Note: This episode aired a year prior to the Supreme Court's Row vs. Wade decision.

David Letterman’s post 9/11 show (September 17, 2001) from "The Late Show with David Letterman". Dave let America know that it was okay to laugh again.

Footage of a woman giving birth (November 1967) from "Donahue".

Archie Bunker changes baby Joey’s diaper (January 12, 1976) from "All in the Family". The show had (baby) frontal nudity. To commemorate the birth of baby Joey a doll was manufactured by Ideal Toys Corp. The Joey doll was the first male anatomically correct doll to be made and sold in America.

Sesame Street Debuts on November 10, 1969. By the way this column is brought to you by the letters "T" and "V".

Fonzie jumps the shark (September 20, 1977) from "Happy Days". This episode now serves as a metaphor for when a TV show has reached its peak.
Jump The Shark...the turning point of television programming

To quote Reverend Jim Ignatowski on Taxi, "Hey, Alex - you know the really great thing about television? If something important happens, anywhere in the world, night or day... you can always change the channel".

Stay Tuned

Tony Figueroa

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