Desert Island TV.
Jun. 11th, 2004 11:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ldhensonYou're stuck on a desert island, and all you have are 12 hours of stuff taped off the TV. Well, and a VCR and TV. Solar-powered, of course.
What's on your tapes?
1. Buffy "Once More With Feeling"
Because who knew Joss is a songwriting genius on top of everything else? "I'll Never Tell" tops my list; "Standing" makes me cry. It's not just the novelty of "episode-as-musical"; there's some serious writing talent here. Xena fans please don't lynch me; "Bitter Suite" was enjoyable, but inconsistent; OMWF blows it out of the water.
2. Hercules the Legendary Journeys "For Those of You Just Joining Us"
Nearly pitch-perfect physical comedy, much funnier than the preceeding "Yes, Virgina, There is a Hercules," and it manages to easily work in a summary of half a season to boot.
3, 4. MST3K "Pod People"
Impossible to pick just one, but how can you go wrong with "Clowns in the Sky" and "Hideous Control Now"? Plus, this is my ideal cast; Pearl just makes me cry, and not in a good way.
5. Babylon 5 "Signs and Portents"
JMS = genius. And this is the episode that gets some major stuff rolling. Ladle on the menace and foreboding, we're going for a ride.
6. Starsky & Hutch "A Coffin for Starsky"
This show set the high-water mark for portrayals of partnerships, and this episode is one of its best. Think distilled fanfic; you're getting close.
6.5. The Young Ones "Bambi"
Not that they need to have them to be funny, but there's the added bonus of guest stars galore: Fry, Laurie, Coltrane, Robinson. Plus swotting, Motorhead, 1172, and University Challenge.
7. Monty Python Spanish Inquisition episode
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Enough said.
7.5. The Tick "The Funeral"
Curse you, FOX, for axing a show as perfectly-cast and fall-down funny as this.
8. The Monkees "The Spy who Came in from the Cool"
Impossible to pick just one, but this is as good a candidate as any. "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," espionage school, and Mike snapping at the evil spies because they've just made Peter cry.
9. Queer Eye "Jeff T."
The F5 are an instant pick-me-up. And this episode is a big pile of "awwww."
10. Firefly "Out of Gas"
FOX, have I cursed you yet? BTW, this is how flashback episodes should be done.
11. Highlander "Deliverance"
Think I've just got a soft spot for Methos, especially when he's pulling the self-sacrifical thing. It's sweet of you dear; I'm just not sure Macleod's worth it. (Kinda iffy on this choice though.)
12. Mag 7 "One Day Out West"
I love this show and its cast, but sadly the writing and directing slid steadily downhill. This is one of the good ones, where everything seemed to click. Chris' and Vin's non-verbal communication ain't just fanon, that's for sure. (Iffy on this one, too.)
What's on your tapes?
1. Buffy "Once More With Feeling"
Because who knew Joss is a songwriting genius on top of everything else? "I'll Never Tell" tops my list; "Standing" makes me cry. It's not just the novelty of "episode-as-musical"; there's some serious writing talent here. Xena fans please don't lynch me; "Bitter Suite" was enjoyable, but inconsistent; OMWF blows it out of the water.
2. Hercules the Legendary Journeys "For Those of You Just Joining Us"
Nearly pitch-perfect physical comedy, much funnier than the preceeding "Yes, Virgina, There is a Hercules," and it manages to easily work in a summary of half a season to boot.
3, 4. MST3K "Pod People"
Impossible to pick just one, but how can you go wrong with "Clowns in the Sky" and "Hideous Control Now"? Plus, this is my ideal cast; Pearl just makes me cry, and not in a good way.
5. Babylon 5 "Signs and Portents"
JMS = genius. And this is the episode that gets some major stuff rolling. Ladle on the menace and foreboding, we're going for a ride.
6. Starsky & Hutch "A Coffin for Starsky"
This show set the high-water mark for portrayals of partnerships, and this episode is one of its best. Think distilled fanfic; you're getting close.
6.5. The Young Ones "Bambi"
Not that they need to have them to be funny, but there's the added bonus of guest stars galore: Fry, Laurie, Coltrane, Robinson. Plus swotting, Motorhead, 1172, and University Challenge.
7. Monty Python Spanish Inquisition episode
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Enough said.
7.5. The Tick "The Funeral"
Curse you, FOX, for axing a show as perfectly-cast and fall-down funny as this.
8. The Monkees "The Spy who Came in from the Cool"
Impossible to pick just one, but this is as good a candidate as any. "The Kind of Girl I Could Love," espionage school, and Mike snapping at the evil spies because they've just made Peter cry.
9. Queer Eye "Jeff T."
The F5 are an instant pick-me-up. And this episode is a big pile of "awwww."
10. Firefly "Out of Gas"
FOX, have I cursed you yet? BTW, this is how flashback episodes should be done.
11. Highlander "Deliverance"
Think I've just got a soft spot for Methos, especially when he's pulling the self-sacrifical thing. It's sweet of you dear; I'm just not sure Macleod's worth it. (Kinda iffy on this choice though.)
12. Mag 7 "One Day Out West"
I love this show and its cast, but sadly the writing and directing slid steadily downhill. This is one of the good ones, where everything seemed to click. Chris' and Vin's non-verbal communication ain't just fanon, that's for sure. (Iffy on this one, too.)
