Stop being meta. Stop taking everything we do and shoving it up its own ass.

Well, I clearly failed at my attempt to post for 30 consecutive days. I ended up accidentally abandoning this blog while completing my Masters degree. But! Since I've graduated, I'm back and blogging again!

I thought I'd come back and continue this TV meme, and am back with...

Best TV show cast

I've decided on Community! How could I resist a show with my favourite and funniest ensemble.



There's not a weak actor or character in the bunch. Each brings their own comedy style, which beautifully play off and complement each other. Episodes that rely on all the characters interacting such as the "Bottle" episode (where they're stuck together in the library) or the two-part paintball episodes are some of the best of the seasons.

Next topic should be fun! It's: Favorite kiss

"I wanna do bad things with you."

Sorry about the radio silence, things have been pretty insane in my life lately. But I have returned! And am excited to finally have an opportunity to admit my LOVE of TV credits!

Day 18 - Favorite title sequence

I always watch title sequences for shows, never fast forward through them. There's lots that I love and which I think fit the show, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, Arrested Development and Modern Family. And those are just examples off the top of my head! I feel that for a title sequence to work it must have an appropriate-to-the-show song/music choice and appropriate-to-the-show imagery that come together perfect. So I feel that Everwood's title sequence always come across as too schmultzy because of the clips from the show turning into drawings combined with the cheesy music doesn't give a sense of how well the show explored complicated issues and relationship. Of course, the issue with title sequences can be simple and be something like Life Unexpected which just has a song that totally doesn't work, too indie/spoken wordy from the '90s feel, not melodic enough. I don't mind things like the creepy music and the image of the word "Lost" for Lost, that worked for the show; although I still prefer a meaty title sequence. So my choice is...

True Blood



I possibly love the title sequence for this show so much that it's kept me watching the show. Okay, I admit it, the title sequence is my favourite part of the show! The song choice, "Bad Things"," is perfect, and the images are perfect (a fantastic mix of Southern stereotypes, contradictions, quirks and with just the right amount of violent/blood imagery). Together the song and images combine to create the atmosphere of the show and communicate exactly what the show is about. Sometimes I think that the credits get the mood better than the episodes do!

Tomorrow I'll talk about who I think are the: Best TV show cast

"I can't eat. I can never eat when I'm in the depths of despair."

It's been a long day for me so I'm going to make this short:

Day 17 - Favorite mini series

I'm going to pretend this is like the Emmys and that TV Movie & Miniseries are one category, and thus my selection is:

Anne of Green Gables: The Movie



Practically perfect adaptation of my favourite book. It delighted me when it first aired on CBC in 1985 and it still delights me today. I'm part of the generation of kids who grew up picturing Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe. In fact, I'd say all the actors are perfect in their roles and beautifully bring the characters from the page to the screen. I couldn't love it more, and I know I'm not alone in my love for the movie (and the books)!

Tomorrow I'll talk about my: Favorite title sequence

"I hope you enjoyed our 'salt in the wounds' slow motion."

Today's category may be tricky for me:

Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show

I'm not sure if I have any shows I feel guilty about watching. Like the Vampire Diaries could have been it but it's too good I just can't feel guilty about it! Aha, I have just figured out what my choice is:

Dancing with the Stars



I feel this image nicely illustrates the cracktastic nature of the show: the two finalists descend onto the stage in a giant mirror ball! I normally don't feel guilty about watching DWS because it's fun entertainment but this season was a different story. There's always a certain cringe factor of some "celebrities" who are deluded about their dancing ability but Kate Gosselin took it to a whole new level of cringe.

Seriously, this "dance" she did to Paparazzi was one of the worst things I've ever seen. It was basically walking, and this Jimmy Fallon version of the dance has better dancing than she did. To watch one of the shows that had Gosselin in it, my partner and I tried drinking wine to see if it helped. It didn't.

However things started to look up when Kate Gosselin was eliminated and we were left with the better dancers. DWS became it's usual self again with crazy sequined costumes, occasionally awesome dances and funny quips from Tom Bergeron. Also, I liked all the finalists and felt they deserved to be in the finals so that was nice. Not a show with deep meanings but when everything comes together it's fun with great dancing.

Tomorrow I have to decide on my: Favorite mini series

Oh no - not being attacked by a band of swans. Was it an all-boy band? Kind of a scary, feathery *NSYNC kind of fiasco?

This may be one of my toughest choices yet!

Day 15 - Favorite female character

I am drawn to shows with strong female characters and there are so many who I could talk at length about. Just four that immediately pop into my head are: Amber Tamblyn's Joan of Arcadia, Connie Britton's Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights, Tina Fey's Liz Lemon on 30 Rock, Sarah Michelle Gellar's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, I made the hard decision and selected:

Lorelai Gilmore

Brilliantly played by Lauren Graham, Lorelai is quirky, funny, smart, big-hearted, and, yes, flawed. I'm not sure if I'd want her as my mom (good thing she has the amazing Rory for her daughter) but I definitely want her for a friend: we could hang out, watch TV, eat lots of food and have crazy fun conversations. There's an episode where Luke is confused about why she's saved all these old videotapes with TV shows on them and I had this moment where I realized that she and I are kindred spirits (my partner has asked me exactly the same question about my video collection). Other than the fact that Lorelai (with help from Graham) is stunningly gorgeous (and also super skinny), she feels like such a real relateable character. In real life most of us do drink caffeine, talk a lot and watch TV! haha, or I do anyway!

I feel I should clarify my comment about not wanting Lorelai to be my mom. The thing is that on the show she's an awesome mom and she raised an amazing daughter. She's definitely unconventional and there's times when it's clear that Rory is the more mature one. But what makes her awesome is how much she loves Rory and how Rory is the #1 person in her life.



Sure their relationship may feel a bit like glamourized single motherhood but it is ultimately a wonderful relationship to watch, which, like Lorelai, isn't perfect.

Also, the difficult relationship Lorelai has with her parents is so well played out and shows an entirely different side of Lorelai, and we understand why she's the kind of mom that she is. The show is just so good at relationships. Oh! And I can't forget the fact that she worked her way up from being a high school dropout to getting her degree in business at college and running her own Inn.

Unique, strong, loving and so damn funny. Just a few of the reasons why I love Lorelai Gilmore.

Tomorrow I'm talking about: Your guilty pleasure show

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose

Oops, I didn't *quite* meet my daily posting promise but I swear it was for good reasons! Yesterday was the going away party for a friend and tonight I was late because of visiting an injured friend.

But I am back and ready for more TV talk!

Day 14 - Favorite male character

If this was a few years ago my answer, without a doubt, would have been Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Spike (played by James Marsters). He started out as a two-dimension villain and went on this incredible journey and transformation throughout the course of the show - plus he's fun and sexy! But how could I forgot Michael Emerson's brilliantly portrayed Ben, on Lost? Mostly a villain but Ben is always fun to watch and an intriguing character. I think if the wonderful Friday Night Lights hadn't come along it would have been one of those two but now my choice is.....

Coach Erin Taylor



Kyle Chandler's Eric Taylor, or Coach Taylor as he's most often called and how I think of him, is one of those wonderfully understated strong characters. When I have a hard time remembering that he's a fictional character I don't worry about my sanity but rather consider that high praise for the show and Chandler's acting. Coach Taylor is such an amazing guy who works hard, loves the kids he coaches and goes above and beyond for them (he's a coach for them in all parts of their lives), and who always tries to do the right thing.



We also see Coach Taylor not just as a football coach but as a loving (and not always perfect) father and husband. Actually I think the not perfect part is what makes him such a great character. Yes, Coach Taylor is always trying to do the right thing, but sometimes he makes the wrong decision. Because we all make mistakes! The absolutely brilliant Connie Britton shines as Tami Taylor, and I suspect she's one of the reasons I love Coach Taylor so much: Tami loves him and knows he's a good man, so I see it too!

Coach Taylor makes me wish I played football even though I hate to run and have a bad knee just because I'd love for him to coach me. Or maybe just be my dad. I don't know, but I do know that he's a fantastic character, and along with Tami the heart of Friday Night Lights.

Not surprisingly, tomorrow I talk about my: Favorite female character

"[You tear] up more than Michael Landon in a sweeps weeks episode of Little House on the Prairie."

For once a category where I have an easy decision! I was more a reader as a child, and I watched minimal television until I was 10 or 11 and discovered my television love.

Day 13 - Favorite childhood show

I know that I watched the great Canadian children's shows Mr. Dressup and The Friendly Giant but don't remember much about them. So my selection is oddly appropriate considering the reference on tonight's Glee's finale (quoted above) .....

Little House on the Prairie

I'll be honest, I don't remember much about the actual show. I was a much bigger fan of the books, which I've read multiple times, so they are the Little House on the Prairie in my mind. I fell in love with Laura Ingalls Wilder and her pa in the books so it was hard not to love them in the show.

You may be asking why I picked a show that I don't remember very well and when I clearly preferred the books better.

For one reason: my grandpa.

Whenever I'd visit my grandparents, my grandpa and I would watch the show together. The act of watching the show with my grandpa and seeing the girls running (and falling) down the hill in the credits is such a fond and clear memory of mine (here's the link for the credits). I am lucky to have lots of great memories of my time with my grandpa, and this is one of them. For people who think that TV is anti-social, I feel this counters that. I learned at an early age how great it is to share enjoyment with someone special.

And, yes, I did see the Little House musical with Melissa Gilbert (Laura on the show) as Ma. Interestingly it was more faithful to the books than the show, which pleased me. Although sadly not a great musical.

Tomorrow I switch gears and talk about: Favorite male character