Captain Kangaroo
How messed up was this show? Mr. Green Jeans? A talking moose? A dancing bear? Ping Pong balls falling from the ceiling? Oh Bob Keeshan, we hardly knew ye and yet ye are missed.
The Carol Burnett Show
Can't believe how influential this show was on me as a kid. I loved all the variety shows that were so big in the 70's... Mac Davis, Flip Wilson, Sonny & Cher... sad to say they had a profound effect on my development. You know there are going to be problems when your little girl wants to be either Sammy Davis, Jr. or Rich Little when she grows up. But this show was the cream of the crop!
Chicago Bears Football
What can I say? If Da Bears are on, I'm on Da Couch. Became a diehard fan after following the shenanigans of the '85 Bears and went on many a post-game 'Bear hunt' when I was living in Chicago. Since I moved to NYC, I pay big dough to get the games via satellite so I don't miss a moment. If the phone rings after a big play it will likely be one of my brothers or my mom wanting to simply say, "DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!"
The Colbert Report
At first I had a hard time with this show... I wanted to like it more than I really did. His character gets so annoying after a while! However, it has grown on me quite a bit and these days I watch it almost as religiously as the Daily Show.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
While I always enjoyed this show, it wasn't until I married David that I truly learned to appreciate the genius of Larry David. The joke around our house is that my husband could be called David David, because he must be a long lost brother of Larry. We have savored every single episode many times.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Truly one of the finest shows in existence. I am astounded again and again at how smart and funny these guys are. Can't tell you how many stimulating, intellectual discussions in my world begin with the line: "Did you see what they did on the Daily Show last night?" Jon Stewart forever and ever, amen.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Although the original was truly great, I have fond memories of the variety show he had in the 70's. Andy Kaufman doing his Mighty Mouse bit? Ed McMahon dancing in a bathrobe? Some wacky stuff was going on there. Would love to see a few of those episodes again.
The Electric Company
I have very vivid memories of my 2nd grade class gathering around the TV to watch this show during school. Two things the teacher got the TV out for... lunar landings and this show. Even on those black and white TVs with horrible reception, it was damn fine stuff. I love catching old episodes of this now. So many great performers in the cast!
Family Guy
The show that picks up where the Simpsons leaves off. So many laugh out loud moments! Not to mention the often brilliant satire.
The Larry Sanders Show
You know, if you made me put this list in order, I might just put this show at #1. We eagerly anticipated this show every week and rehashed all the jokes over and over again. Drank Salty Dogs for a couple years just because I loved Artie so much.
The Midnight Special
Oh, Wolfman Jack, how many late night junior high slumber parties were you the star of? How frightening is THAT?! We all struggled to stay awake until the end, but I don't think we ever made it to 1am. In my distorted memory, it seems like Alice Cooper was on every week.
The Monkees
My older brother and sister watched this show, so I have vague recollections of it as a child, but it wasn't until MTV (or was it VH-1) did their Monkees marathons when I was an undergraduate, that I truly fell in love. Such great pop tunes. My Monkees Rhino box set is a prized possession.
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Every Sunday night on PBS when I was in elementary school, this show was preceded by episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. Many fond memories of sleepovers with my best friend Kathy... eating chocolate pudding and pizza and laughing our asses off over this show! Good times. So many friendships in later years cemented by the re-enactment of Python sketches...
Mr. Show with Bob and David
So many of my comedic heroes stem from this show. The DVDs were released just in time for therapeutic use during the early post-divorce era of my life. My old roommate Heather and I watched the "Ventriloquist Gang War" episode endless times and enjoyed endless laughs.
The Office
Both American and English versions are excellent. Although I have to say that Ricky Gervais and company have actually made me laugh so hard I pissed my pants. Possibly a sign of my age, but more likely a compliment to the comedy.
Saturday Night Live
Some seasons of this show were undeniably great and so many fell short, but there's no doubt that it's a classic. I include it here because I grew up with it and have gone through phases of loving and hating and loving again. Such a fickle fan I am.
Sesame Street
A classic for everyone my age, I'm sure. Grover was always my favorite... Hello, Everybodyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! My family went to see Bob McGrath at a concert when I was maybe 9 or 10. Got his autograph, but was too shy to tell him that he went to the same high school as my Dad. Should've known then that I wouldn't be able to schmooze worth a crap!
Sex & the City
Yeah, yeah, I know... another chick show. I was living in Chicago when it originally aired and watched it regularly along with all the other HBO shows, but it wasn't until I moved to NYC and watched the re-runs that I developed a deep fondness for the show. In so many ways my life WAS Sex & the City for the first couple years I lived here! Although I'll NEVER share their appreciation for fine footwear.
The Simpsons
I can't believe these guys can continue to churn out quality stuff. This one has fostered a common bond with my students on more than one occasion.
Six Feet Under
Oh, how I loved this show! This is one of the few on the list where I absolutely couldn't bear the long wait of a week between episodes.
The Sopranos
I debated including this one, because although I saw every episode and was into it, I'm not inclined to go back and watch them again. Those HBO shows were such a gift at a time when the quality of television was such a vast wasteland of crap. They really raised the bar for everyone else.
St. Elsewhere
Recently, I watched the first season of this show again and grew to appreciate it more than ever. The last few seasons were just spectacular... funny, timely... I can't wait for them to release the rest of them on DVD so I can relive the magic!
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
I miss Johnny. When I was a kid I was totally addicted to this show. My grandparents gave my sister and I a small black and white TV for our bedroom when I was about 10 years old and I stayed up every night to watch JC and crew. No wonder I have such a fondness for variety shows and Larry Sanders! I'll never forget the time I completely shocked my 5th grade teacher by knowing who George Kennedy was. I could only shrug and say, "I saw him on the Carson show."
The West Wing
I wasn't into it by the end of the run, but this was a great show for a time. Dig the fact that they brought MS into the arena by giving the disease to one of the main characters.
WKRP in Cinncinnati
Went with this one because I loved it so during its original run, but also because in college we watched it in syndication on a daily basis. "It's Gary Sandy time!" rang out in the apartment and all good girls would line up in front of the TV for cute boys in tight jeans. *shrugs* What can I say? Girls will be girls. Bruce Springsteen posters on the wall and Gary Sandy on the tube. What more could we ask for?