team Abe Vigoda chooses, under the medical category:
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, about a lovable doctor who became a mentor, father figure, who also owns a teaching hospital in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986.
Trapper John, M.D. was a long-running medical show focused on Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Bonanza alumnus Pernell Roberts) during the 28 years following his discharge from the 4077th M*A*S*H unit in Korea. In this time the character had mellowed considerably. He didn't just learn how to stop fighting the system but became a part of it, in a sense, as the Chief of Surgery at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. Trapper showed tremendous compassion towards his patients, often violating "established hospital procedures." Trapper's bookie, Arnold Slocum (Simon Scott), taught him how to appease hospital administration towards this end. Trapper's partner was an aspiring young professional named Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates (played by actor/directorGregory Harrison). Gates also had a lot in common with Trapper John as he had served in a M*A*S*H unit during the Vietnam War. His childish, irresponsible behavior, and love of life also reflected elements of Trapper's younger days. In the show he resided in a motor home in the hospital parking lot. He worked himself up to becoming the Chief of Surgery, years before he had a stroke, just before he married Fran. Interestingly, Harrison was featured in a 1976 episode of M*A*S*H as Lt. Tony Baker: the husband of one of the nurses at the 4077th.
Under the Crime/Law Category, Team Watching through The Static chooses Magnum P.I.
Quote:
Thomas Magnum is employed on the Hawaiian estate of a wealthy absentee owner name Robin Masters. The estate is run by Jonathan Higgins who mostly tolerates Magnum's presence as head of security on the estate. Magnum is also a private detective whose cases frequently have a humorous overtone and always just enough danger.
A great show I watched a lot, with colourful characters at an exotic locale made for an long and entertaining run.
And I still catch myself wondering every once in a while - was Higgins REALLY Robin Masters?
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"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
Team TV Guide is thrilled to select in the Reality (Ongoing) category - Iron Chef (the original).
From Wikipedia: Iron Chef is a Japanese television program produced by FujiTV. The original Japanese title is Ironmen of Cooking (料理の鉄人, Ryōri no Tetsujin?). The series, which premiered on October 10, 1993, was a stylized cooking competition featuring accomplished guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended on September 24, 1999, although occasional specials were produced until 2002. The series aired over 300 episodes.
While always a success in Japan, Iron Chef became a surprise cult favorite in the United States [1] when it was picked up by the Food Network and dubbed in English. Much of the U.S. appeal was due to the dubbing, which gave the show a campy charm that evoked English-dubbed Chinesekung fu movies of the 1970s. Audiences also found amusing some of the over-the-top culinary concoctions regularly featured on the show.
Great choice Jerzee. Always enjoyed this show in a weird sort of way. Totally OTT.
Me too. Have never watched the American version...I'm quite sure it loses some entertainment value.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
The American version certainly tries but really, it just can't capture the cute goofiness of the original - especially when you know the actual host/guests/chefs were taking things so seriously but the english dubbing was anything but.
Besides watching people eat some of those dishes was entertaining in and of itself - the American show isn't quite so gastronomically extreme, I find. (Or at least it's more appealing to my Western palate...I can envision actually eating some of their food, unlike the original.)
Team Idiot Box has not been following along, and doesn't really have time today to check the board. So, Team Idiot Box will select in the Educational category, Today's Special, and hope it hasn't been picked.
Quote:
Each night in a major city, Sam the Security Guard locks the closed department store and joins Jodie in the Children's department as she brings a special mannequin with her even as she prepares to work on a display for the next day. With some magic words, the magic hat it wears brings it to life and becomes Jeff. Together with Muffy the Mouse, this gang learn about various things to teach younger viewer, both by the themselves and with visitors to the store.
I'll never forget watching Today's Special for a couple years when my youngest bro (who was 16yrs younger) was a baby and then seeing the guy who played Jeff in the role of the Phantom when Phantom of the Opera came to Vancouver - just couldn't buy him as someone who was threatening after watching the show.
Sarah Connor: [Season 1 opening Intro] In the future my son will lead mankind in a war against Skynet, a computer system designed to destroy the world. It has sent machines back through time to kill him, one to protect him. Today we fight to stop Skynet from ever being created. To change our future. To change his fate. The war to save mankind begins now!
Set after the events in 'Terminator 2' Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) and her son John (Thomas Dekker), try to stay under-the-radar from the government as they plot to destroy the computer network Skynet in hopes of preventing Armageddon.
This series effectively 'retcons' _Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines_ (1999), continuing the Terminator universe from the end of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity) co-stars as Cameron, the teenage-appearing Terminator sent from the future to watch over young John Connor. Her character is named for James Cameron, the writer/director of the original Terminator movies.
Trailer
Cameron promo
Season 2 episode 1 promo
I was surprised as fata to find out over the holidays that this hadn't been picked yet. After all, there's a popular ongoing thread in the Off-Topic forum devoted to this show.
NOTE: TSCC is moving from Monday to Friday nights, immediately preceding the new Josh Whedon series "Dollhouse."
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Eberle said, "It was one of the more special ones I've had. You don't score your first NHL goal too many times."
The Infomercial Kings are proud to select in the Talk Show category, Off the Record with Michael Landsberg
This show has had so many great interviews on it and so many sports stars have said so many contriversal things on it that it has to be chosen.
For over a decade, Off The Record has brought fans the best in sports jock talk. Never one to pull punches, host Michael Landsberg - who has been with TSN since the network launched in 1984 - is considered Canada's king of in-your-face debate and one of the best interviewers in the country.
As always, Landsberg is joined every show by some of the most famous and intriguing guests from the world of sports, with a strong focus on hockey. The list of guests who have recently appeared on the show includes NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, NFL greats Terrell Owens and Tony Dungy, plus Yankees' All-Star Derek Jeter.
I am at work so I cannot post videos. I will post more on this later.