FAVORITES

TELEVISION

GAME SHOWS - Click here for this section of "The Wonderful World of Game Shows!"

ALL-TIME COMEDY FAVORITES
  • POLICE SQUAD! - The best short-lived show ever. Six of the funniest half-hours produced for television. The Japanese garden scene in "The Butler Did It" still cracks me up to this date. This is a comedy show that you really had to pay attention to especially for the little sight gags in the background. I'm not sure whether the Zuckers could have sustained the ha-ha's for an entire season.
  • THE BEN STILLER SHOW - Yet another great short-lived show. This one lasted for 13 episodes (actually 12 only aired during the original Fox run) before saying goodbye. One of the sharpest sketch comedy shows in recent time. Oliver Stoneland ranks as one my all-time favoritesketches. Its clever parodies and pop culture references are a throwback to the spoofs "SCTV" used to do.
  • KIDS IN THE HALL - The sketch comedy show that proves that something is in the air up there in Canada. It was the comedy show that really pushed the boundaries and befuddled its audiences. Sometimes I'd be laughing my ass off at certain sketches while others would leave me with that "Huh?" feeling. Still, the show was creative and neverplayed it safe.
  • SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE - Yeah, it's had its ups and downs but it is one of those few shows that has become and American institution. Also, because it's only live sketch comedy show out there, it is able to skewer the latest headlines of the day. Finally, the show finally seems to be hitting a stride with the recent addition of great new cast members like Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz, Tina Fey, and Chris Parnell
  • LATE NIGHT/LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN - My generation's Johnny Carson. Letterman took the standard "Tonight Show" format and screwed around with it adding his trademark irony and sarcasm. Some people unfairly call him mean during his interviews, but to me I see it as verbal sparring. Plus, when the guest is comfortable or things aren't going as planned (a la the Madonna interview), it's great television. Best of all, Letterman is able to handle unscripted situations with ease. And while he bent the Carson formula, he's still a throwback to the Carson sensibility. This is especially evident when he's interacting with people in the audience. More often than not, his funniest moments are when he's just getting to know people in the audience or on remotes.
  • SOAP - The first episode of "Soap" is one of the most hilarious pilots I remember seeing. While it may be remembered for all the controversy it caused, when you get down to it, "Soap" had some really great characters and great dialogue. This is something that popped up in Susan Harris's other classic show, "The Golden Girls."
  • THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'm giving into the stereotype, but it's a great show. A tight ensemble cast...memorable lines...and that memorable song. It was one of the highlights of Saturday nights for me growing up as a kid.
  • THE SIMPSONS - The best animated series produced ever. At first, I dismissed the show during Bartmania, but the show has grown beyond that into a weekly satire of the American family and pop culture. The fact that it can still make me laugh out loud without cheap fart or sex jokes after ten years is a testament to its top-notch quality.
  • FAMILY GUY - Soooo politically incorrect, so pop-culturey, so missed... So glad it's gotten a revival thanks to the DVDs. Not a lot of people got it, but those that did will know what a hilarious show this was. Long live Stuey!!
OTHER CURRENT FAVORITES
  • THE AMAZING RACE
  • LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN
  • DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
  • LOST
  • ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
  • AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL
  • WIFE SWAP
  • PROJECT RUNWAY
  • MANHUNT
  • SCRUBS
  • WILL AND GRACE
  • THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
  • SOUTH PARK
  • QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY
  • THE APPRENTICE

MOVIES

I admit that I'm not as much of a movie buff as I am a TV buff, but I still have my favorites. Here's a quick rundown:

ALL-TIME FAVORITES
  • THE STAR WARS SAGA - I admit it...I'm a "Jed-Head" (as in Jedi, not Jed Clampett). I acted like a little boy the first time watching "The Phantom Menace," but c'mon!...These movies are like the fairy tales I grew up with. The fact that George Lucas has created these worlds and the for two hours, you feel like you're actually in a galaxy far, far away blows me away!
  • ZUCKER MOVIES - "Airplane," "Top Secret!," and "The Naked Gun" rank as my favorite comedy movies. I'm a big fan of parodies. I also love the use of visual gags. "Top Secret!" has some of the best ones such as the moving train station and the "I know a little German" line. Hell, I even liked "BASEketball!" There's also a screwballness to the movies that I love. And most recently, "Rat Race" proved that the Zucker magic still works.
  • WILLIE WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - I've never been big into movie musicals or kid's movies, but this one I always find myself stopping the clicker on when it's on. The music is great and the story is something pretty much everybody can relate to. However, it's the darkness that I love. From the creepy Mr. Slugsworth to that weird-ass tunnel they go through in the boat, this underlying sinister tone really sets it apart from other children's movies.
  • QUIZ SHOW - I think we pretty much know why this one is on my list. Even though it's about game shows, I also am a fan of this one because of its recounting of the impact of television. The fact that this quiz show held so much of the country's attention and that so many people felt betrayed after the rigging was uncovered show the power the media has. It's a theme that often runs in stuff that I've written and it's one that's used well in this movie.
  • WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? - Last year, I saw this on the big screen again at the El Capitan. It was like reuniting with an old best friend. There was more to this movie than just the special effects. The mere concept of the fact that 'toons LIVE side-by-side with humans was what I loved about this movie. And Roger Rabbit is such a great character.
  • CLUE - "It's like flames...on the side of my face..." That quote makes the movie. The best part about this movie is the acting and pacing. The cast works great together and it's like you're watching a stage farce unfold in front of your eyes. It's one the still holds up after repeated viewings.
  • SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER, AND UNCUT - While "South Park" has gotten the reputation of being dirty cartoon, there is a lot of cleverness behind it and THIS movie demonstrates the brilliance of Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Marc Shaiman. Without a doubt, this is the definitive parody of Disney animated musicals. It's also a spot-on satire on censorship and conservative America. It also sports one of my all-time favorite soundtracks.
2004 FAVORITES
  • GARDEN STATE
  • FARHENHEIT 9/11
  • THE INCREDIBLES
  • SPIDER-MAN 2
  • ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
  • SUPER-SIZE ME
  • HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
2002 FAVORITES
  • CHICAGO
  • ADAPTATION
  • CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND
  • SPIDER-MAN
  • LILO AND STITCH
OTHER FAVORITES
  • GREMLINS
  • THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN
  • AMERICAN BEAUTY
  • MOULIN ROUGE
  • X-MEN
  • CHICKEN RUN
  • THE GOONIES
  • "THE INDIANA JONES" TRILOGY
  • E.T.
  • TIME BANDITS
  • THAT THING YOU DO!
  • SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
  • THE MATRIX
  • BLAZING SADDLES
  • BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
  • RUSHMORE
GUILTY PLEASURES
  • THE APPLE
  • XANADU
  • FLASH GORDON (1980 Version)
  • THE JAZZ SINGER
  • MIDNIGHT MADNESS
  • THE WIZ

MUSIC

MY TOP 30 FAVORITES
  1. Elton John
  2. The Beatles
  3. Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five
  4. Scissor Sisters
  5. Billy Joel
  6. Queen
  7. Paul McCartney (and Wings)
  8. John Lennon
  9. Travis
  10. The Push Kings
  11. Robbie Williams
  12. Matthew Sweet
  13. Self
  14. Radiohead
  15. Blur
  16. Jellyfish
  17. ABBA
  18. Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman
  19. The Rolling Stones
  20. Todd Rundgren
  21. Madness
  22. Fountains of Wayne
  23. Harry Nilsson
  24. Jackson 5/Pre-"Dangerous" Michael Jackson
  25. Bleu
  26. Maroon 5
  27. Steely Dan
  28. Keane
  29. The Killers
  30. Linus of Hollywood
CD PICKS FOR 2004
  1. SCISSOR SISTERS - Scissor Sisters
  2. HOT FUSS - The Killers
  3. AMERICAN IDIOT - Green Day
  4. HOPES AND FEARS - Keane
  5. SUPER D (EP) - Ben Folds
CD PICKS FOR 2003
  1. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Welcome Interstate Managers
  2. BLEU - Redhead
  3. SPYMOB - Sitting Around Keeping Score
  4. STEVE BURNS - Songs for Dustmites
  5. THE DARKNESS - Permission to Land
CD PICKS FOR 2002
  1. MAROON 5 - Songs for Jane
  2. MELLO CADS - Soft as a Rock
  3. THE FLAMING LIPS - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
  4. THE WONDERMINTS - Mind If I Make Love To You
CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS OF 2002
  1. PAUL MCCARTNEY - Arrowhead Pond - October 25, 2002
  2. BEN FOLDS - The Palace - November 13, 2002
  3. JUDE - The Largo - May 14, 2002
PICKS FOR 2001
  1. BEN FOLDS - Rockin' The Suburbs
  2. ELTON JOHN - Songs from the West Coast
  3. LINUS OF HOLLYWOOD - Let Yourself Be Happy
  4. TRAVIS - The Invisible Band
  5. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT - Poses
  6. THE PUSH KINGS
PICKS FOR 2000
  1. TRAVIS - The Man Who
  2. MATTHEW SWEET- In Reverse
  3. SELF - Gizmodgery
  4. ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Sing When You're Winning
  5. DAVID GRAY - White Ladder
  6. BLINKER THE STAR - August Everywhere
PICKS FOR 1999
  1. BEN FOLDS FIVE - The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
  2. THE FLAMING LIPS - The Soft Bulletin
  3. SELF - Breakfast With Girls
  4. ROBBIE WILLIAMS - The Ego Has Landed
  5. TAL BACHMAN - Tal Bachman
  6. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Utopia Parkway


 
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