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May 25, 2012

The Five: Best TV shows about TV shows

by Bob Sassone, posted Apr 23rd 2006 5:00PM

Rob and Laura Petrie1. The Dick Van Dyke Show: This timeless classic not only revolved around the domestic lives of Rob and Laura Petrie in New Rochelle, but also around the writing staff of The Alan Brady Show, a hit variety show out of New York City. I think this show still holds up, even compared to classic modern comedies.

2. Sports Night: Before The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin created this really well written and snappy look behind the scenes of a Sportscenter-like TV show. Basically, it was The West Wing at a TV station, which is one of the reasons I'm so looking forward to Studio 60 this fall.

3. SCTV: I had to include this. Sure, some of the stuff fell really flat, but most of it is pure classic. John Candy, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Joe Flaherty, and others started here and went on to even bigger fame. I like how the episodes follow an actual day of programming at the station, with some behind the scenes plots sprinkled throughout as well. The Battle of the PBS Stars, with Julia Child boxing Mr. Rogers is still one of the funniest things I've seen.

4. The Larry Sanders Show: You can't watch late night TV the same way after watching this.

5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Mary worked for WJM in Minneapolis, where Lou and Murray worked with her behind the scenes, and on camera was Ted Baxter was the newsanchor, Gordon the sports guy, and Sue Ann Nivens the Happy Homemaker. Still holds up today, even if the fashions don't.

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Jim

I would add The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show also. Hey it's still a pretty good list.

April 24 2006 at 4:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

Also: The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and The Garry Shandling Show, though in a different ways than the ones on this list.

On Burns and Allen, they'd have someone drop off next week's script during this week's show. And when George suspected Gracie was up to something, he's go upstairs to his office and turn on the TV so he could watch the show and find out what was going on.

In a very similar way, Shandling would break the fourth wall, made references to how time passes on TV, and other meta-show type things.

April 23 2006 at 10:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
doc

I'd put Beggars and Choosers on that list at #1, bumping everyone down a notch and removing Larry Sanders. It was supposed to be released on DVD in January, but has been delayed because the owners don't think there is a market for it. I find my self shaking my head every week when I read the this week on DVD report. So many things I can't imagine there being a market for, but still no Beggars and Choosers.

April 23 2006 at 7:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jamie

I'd add Murphy Brown to the list, but i think i'd be burned in effigy to saking off SCTV to have it fit in the List of Five, right? ;)

April 23 2006 at 6:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff

This is kinda off topic, but I miss John Candy so much. "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" is my favorite movie and I find myself quoting that movie every once in a while.

"Uncle Buck", "Spaceballs", and the list goes on and on.

I often think about what kind of movies would have come along for Candy if he hadn't have passed away. I think he was in his upper 30's.

April 23 2006 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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