All of my favorite things rolled into one video

I just finished making and posting a music video. Anyone who loves TV, dancing, or the Scissor Sisters will enjoy this video. I tried to include as many shows as I could, but since I tend towards dramas (where characters rarely break into spontaneous dance), I could only include about 25-ish different shows. Also, I didn't want to include shows I don't watch. It's my vid, after all, and I wouldn't know how to hunt down clips for other shows anyway. I just hope other people have as much fun watching it as I did making it.

"Cougar Town" - a salute to the Cul-de-Sac Crew

"Cougar Town" has basically no plot these days. The name is misleading and pointless. The characters never go to work. We never see Ellie and Andy's infant son. Travis is home every weekend despite going away to college. There aren't really many romantic entanglements or new love interests. There's hardly ever more than one occasional guest star. The show is completely aware of its faults and unreal aspects. It's all about a bunch of adults who act like kids, except for the copious amounts of wine they drink every episode. And it's one of my favorite shows on television right now.It's just the definition of 'silly fun.' You want to hang out with these people. For them, adulthood means drinking wine and playing Penny Can or one of the other hundred games they make up. This most recent episode, "Lost Children," exemplified this basic core of the show - friends having a blast. They played one big grown-up version of hide-and-seek. In the process, they snooped around their friends' houses, encountered "Waiting for Superman" (which is not about Superman), and dealt with some conflicts along the way. "Cougar Town" isn't genius. It isn't meticulously crafted like "Arrested Development" or random and non sequitur heavy like "Family Guy" or "Scrubs," but instead it could follow "Seinfeld"'s motto - it's a show about nothing. But, like "Seinfeld" taught us, a show about nothing can be incredibly hilarious and entertaining. "Seinfeld" derived humor from everyday life and relatable humorous situations, while "Cougar Town" derives humor from a make-believe version of what we wish our lives were like.

"Cougar Town" is getting the solo love-fest this week because "Modern Family" was a repeat. I will point out that "Modern Family" has definitely had a creative upswing in the latter half of its second season. My fears were unfounded and the writing is top-notch and whip-smart again. That being said, "Cougar Town" isn't just the highlight of my Wednesday, it's the highlight of my week.

Best quotes:

This week's title: Do we have to do this joke forever? "Cougar Town"

Travis: "Mom, I'm trying to fix the TV, but I need to know what you did to break it."
Jules: "I just pushed one of the buttons on the remote and it went to black."
Travis: "Mmhmm. And then?"
Jules: "After it went black, I pushed about a hundred other buttons and then I plugged and replugged a bunch of wires."

Travis (about "Waiting for Superman"): "It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a depressing expose about the failing public school system."

Barb: "You used to be one of us - stalking prey without mercy or shame."
Jules: "When are people going to understand? That's not who I am anymore. I mean, what do I have to do? Change my name?"
Barb: "You'll be back! The filth is strong within you!"

Everybody's 'trucker whoo'

Moving target Penny Can!

"Tossing copper" as new slang for Penny Can

Jules (on not being able to watch the documentary): "Damn it. I wanted to feel smart tonight. Smart and depressed about the world. Not dumb and happy like always."

Travis (talking about an article from his Psych class): "Adults can reduce their stress levels by embracing the activities they loved when they were little kids."
Grayson: "So we should all go hide in the shower and watch my babysitter pee?"
Jules: "No no no, this is good. I mean, not your thing. We're going to have to talk to a professional about that."

Laurie: "I love me some beef and bubbles. Oh! That should be our detective names! He's Beef, a grizzled ex-marine with a secret - he's a vegetarian. She's Bubbles, his plucky hot partner with a secret of her own - she's Beef's daughter. Together, they fight crime and each week, maybe they grow a little bit closer together."

Bobby: "We might as well watch this fake boring Superman documentary."
(later)
Bobby: "You know what's scarier than Lex Luthor? The decaying public education system that's cheating our young people out of a future."

Jules: "Now, you have an outside perspective of the Cul-de-Sac Crew. How do you see us?"
Travis: "Well, I see you guys as a bunch of old people with surprisingly good skin given the amount of wine and sun you take in."
Jules: "Yeah, I think the alcohol preserves us."

Grayson: "Hey, look, Travis' ironic t-shirt collection! 'Hey, I'm moody and sarcastic and I'm home for the tenth straight weekend because I don't understand how college works!'"

Ellie: "Look, when Andy's parents first moved here from Cuba they scraped up enough money to send him to prep school. So in walks this husky, balding 11 year old with a whole fried fish for lunch. He got terrorized by pretty boy D-bags like you named Wyatt or Deckland. And every time you tease him you remind him of those guys. Don't feed into it and you'll be fine."
Grayson: "No problem. Except for I just tied him to a tree, I gotta go get him."

Tom: "Why aren't you at college?"
Travis: "You know, Tom, I...don't...know."

Grayson: "Put my ice cream away and go get some wine and pillows and hide from Jules in the truck. I gotta go get Andy because I tied him to a tree."

Grayson: "Okay, so I probably shouldn't have tied you to a tree."
Andy: "Since I'm Cuban it's almost a hate crime."

Grayson: "Most of those cool guys, they're like me - divorced, struggling through life, peaked at 18..."
Andy: "Wow, you're a total loser."
Grayson: "What? No, I got Jules now."

Jules: "I swear to God, I will burn this whole Cul-de-Sac down!"

Bobby: "So ya'll bag on Sam once we left?"
Grayson: "What could we possibly say about her? We met her for like two seconds."
Bobby: "Well, that's all you're gonna get because she dumped me. Go ahead."
Ellie: "Bad hair, weird nose, thick neck."
Grayson: "She shook my hand with her fingertips. What are you, the Queen of France?"
Laurie: "Her face made me want to learn how to box."

My Top 10: Fictional Eateries I want to visit

It's roughly mid-month, which means it's time for another bizarrely themed Top 10 list! This time I'm profiling some of my favorite imaginary restaurants and cafes from movies and television. Since I've missed out on some really popular shows, I like to refrain from saying "the greatest X of all time," instead substituting "my favorite X of all time." As always, I (futilely) encourage feedback, so you're always free to dispute my choices or offer your own.

10. Monk's from "Seinfeld"An absolutely iconic eatery in television history, this one ranks so low because the food looked like it sucked. But when Reggie's, the bizarro coffee shop, is your only other option, Monk's starts to look like five-star cuisine. If nothing else, I hear the Big Salad is good.

9. Java the Hut from "Veronica Mars" I admit it, this one gets a spot partly because of the awesome name. But it also had plenty of great music acts in addition to secret private investigator meetings. It has the perfect atmosphere of teen hangout mixed with film noir.

8. The Soup Nazi's place from "Seinfeld" Once you get past the delicate ordering procedure, it sounds like the soup is totally worth it. Word to the wise - if they forget to give you bread, just let it go.

7. Rick's Cafe Americain from "Casablanca"Of all the gin joints in all the world, this one is the definition of cool. Suave, classy, and full of intriguing people, Rick's Cafe is the place to be. Referencing any more of the famous quotes would be too easy, so I'll just say that this movie really never does get old...even as time goes by (too easy, but I can't resist).

6. Any diner from any gangster movieIt's basically a requirement for any major gangster, crime drama to have the characters discuss their plans in a diner. Tarantino particularly enjoys this trope, whether the characters openly discuss robbing a diner like in "Pulp Fiction" or they discuss the validity of tipping or the meaning of Madonna songs like in "Reservoir Dogs." So why would I want to visit those places? Because you're guaranteed some drama and shady patrons. The rest of my choices are pretty tame by comparison, so this is my one wild selection.

5. The Krusty Krab from "Spongebob Squarepants"The episode where Squidward tried his first Krabby Patty sealed the deal for me - I must have one. They may not be the most healthy food option under the sea, but they're good for your soul.

4. Coffee Bucks from "Scrubs" (or "Cougar Town") Bill Lawrence carried over his fictional coffee chain into "Cougar Town," but it was featured prominently in "Scrubs" first when Kelso put one in the hospital. You'd be guaranteed to run into everyone from Sacred Heart here. Just be sure that you don't pass on your coffee-drinking ways to your kids.

3. La Chocolaterie Maya from "Chocolat"This definitely places high on a list of 'movies not to watch while hungry.' As far as my sweet tooth goes, I would be fine if chocolate was the only candy I could eat for the rest of my life. Vienne knows all sorts of long-held secrets of chocolate preparation, so mix that in with the natural beauty of the French village and you've got one great hot spot for chocolate lovers.

2. Luke's Diner from "Gilmore Girls"
I just wish I could move to Stars Hollow for a few months. Luke makes the best cup of coffee in town, according to the local coffee experts Lorelai and Rory. He'll make you something unique (if he likes you) and handle orders with charm and patience. Not to mention there's always plenty of local character.

1. The Pie Hole from "Pushing Daises"I'm not even a big fan of pie, but if the Piemaker bakes it himself, I'll definitely make the exception. Unlike Keri Russell's inspired pies in "Waitress," the town in "Pushing Daisies" isn't nearly as depressing and the pies are far more magical. This place has the most local color of all since it's like stepping into a fantasy land. The show was best described as a 'forensic fairy tale' and, really, who wouldn't want to take a visit to that genre?

Honorable mention: Good Burger from "All That" and "Good Burger," The Drunken Clam from "Family Guy," Weston's from "Gilmore Girls," Independence Inn or Dragonfly Inn from "Gilmore Girls," any of "Chuck"'s random restaurants (Lou's sandwich place, the Orange Orange, Wienerlicious), Pizza Planet from the "Toy Story" movies, Sacred Heart Cafeteria from "Scrubs"

My Top 10: Best movie picks for Christmas

I've been torn on how to do a Christmas post. There are so many things I could write about but that makes it that much more difficult to decide on something. I initially wanted to do a Christmas movie viewing guide similar to my Halloween one, but my knowledge of Christmas movies is woefully slim compared to my knowledge of horror movies. Also, there are plenty of Christmas movies I've seen but do not like. So I settled for a compromise - an all-inclusive list of my favorite Christmas movies and everyone else's favorite Christmas movies. Contrary to my title of "top" 10, these aren't two lists of greatest or most popular movies by rank. It's a list of my favorite Christmas movies and then five more that are insanely popular that I don't like but everyone else does.

Their Top 5

5. "Love Actually"Why I don't love it: It would be cute if it was any one or two of those stories. But instead it's like watching the first five minutes and the last five minutes of twenty different movies. Too little time is dedicated to the most interesting storylines. And the big "All I Want for Christmas is You" number just feels like a desperate (albeit successful) effort to make it an event Christmas movie to watch every year. The pumped up, feel-good climax still doesn't make this movie very good. Although I have to admit, I love Rowan Atkinson in it as the gift wrapper at the jewelry counter.

4. Those animated TV specials ("Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer," "The Year Without a Santa Claus," "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," etc.)Why I don't love it: This is shallow, but stop motion animation freaks me out. Animated inanimate objects are unnatural and really really creepy.

3. "Elf"
Why I don't love it: I don't hate Will Ferrell, but the subgenre of comedies that revolve around grown men acting like children doesn't quite appeal to me. I don't hate this movie, it just doesn't do anything for me. It's one of those performances where I am painfully aware watching it that I'm supposed to think all the quirky antics are hilarious, if you know what I mean.

2. "It's a Wonderful Life"Why I don't love it: Before you freak out, I don't hate this movie. I don't even not like it. It's a very good movie. I just don't love it. It's a little too saccharine for me. And not that I have anything against this, but it's a pretty depressing movie for Christmas. Suicide isn't the most holiday-friendly topic. But I suppose I'm a hypocrite because I'm watching it as I type this. Blame it on my family. I am really enjoying the George Bailey-less Pottersville. Without George, the entire town becomes a Las Vegas-esque den of iniquity. It's almost like an episode of "The Twilight Zone."

1. "A Christmas Story"Why I don't love it: This one I hate. I started out sort of liking it and went to sort of disliking it and then to absolutely loathing it. Mainly because I've been forced to watch this movie every year, multiple times a Christmas season and I am sick of it. That 24 hour marathon of it on TBS doesn't help matters. I don't mind my family putting on "It's a Wonderful Life" because it means they aren't putting on "A Christmas Story." I want that bratty little kid to shoot his eye out or get his tongue stuck permanently to that flagpole. Much like "Home Alone" makes me glad not to have a huge family, this one makes me glad I didn't have to live in the 40s. I can't stand that whole family.

My Top 5

5. "Home Alone"Why I love it: It was written by John Hughes and the score was composed by John Williams. This is another one riddled with quotable moments and it made me so grateful to be from a relatively small family.

4. "Jingle All the Way"Why I love it: It gets lost amidst all the other classics and it's by no means a high quality movie, but it's a classic in my family. My siblings and I watched it every year as kids and still quote it regularly. Arnold Schwarzenegger goes on a hunt for the hot toy of the year, Turboman, and the ensuing chaos is relatable for anyone who has ever done holiday shopping. Phil Hartman is in it as well as the perfect neighbor with the hots for Arnold's wife while Arnold faces off against Sinbad as a crazy fellow father searching for a Turboman. It's not genius, but it's definitely an underrated Christmas movie.

3. "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Why I love it: Sad sack Charlie Brown tries to get involved to cure his depression and gets schooled on what Christmas is all about. Despite its 'keep the Christ in Christmas' message, it's still a classic and enjoyable for everyone. It's from another time and has an innocence that makes it hard to resist. Also, there's a fun version done by the "Scrubs" cast that I just love.

2. "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
Why I love it: What kind of grinch doesn't love Dr. Seuss? There's rhyming and a sweet message that isn't as overtly religious as the Charlie Brown one. Just because we all give gifts at Christmas doesn't mean it's not about the family and friends we spend it with.

1. "Die Hard" Why I love it: I love action movies and this is the holy grail. One man takes on a whole lot of bad guys - at Christmas. Alan Rickman is perfection. I rather see him plotting the perfect robbery than cheating on his wife in "Love Actually." Nothing says Christmas like explosions and machine guns. Ho ho ho.

ABC Wednesday - Chirp Chirp, Bang Bang

I'll only be covering "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" since I only watched the season premieres of the other two and never want to have to watch "Better With You" ever again. But the second hour of ABC Wednesday's comedy line-up is like a gift from above, filled with great pop culture shout-outs and fun characters doing what they do best.

"Modern Family" - "Chirp"
This week's episode found Claire and Hayley sick, Phil hunting for a chirping smoke detector, Jay and Gloria celebrating a mysterious anniversary, and Cam and Mitchell fighting about Lily's acting debut. I normally love Cam and Mitchell, but their storyline was the weakest in this episode. It's unfortunate because normally the show fires on all cylinders, but even when one storyline is weaker, the episode is still pretty good. The smoke detector was used to great comedic effect, with it chirping and secretly saying that Phil isn't a man, because men are in charge of the smoke detectors. When Claire's gym buddy comes to return her lost cell phone and he says that Claire never mentioned she had a husband, the smoke detector chirps and it's a perfectly timed moment. Meanwhile, an old but reliable gag was going on between Claire and Hayley, when Claire tried to convince her daughter not to settle down with Dylan or else she will regret it. (Sidenote: I was thrilled to see the return of Dylan. He's great in small doses though). Of course Hayley didn't get that Claire was talking about her and Dylan, she thought Claire was talking about Phil. Jay had a heartwarming little moment with Manny but I also loved his confusion over which anniversary he was celebrating with Gloria, since she celebrates every little moment in a relationship.

Best of:

• Jay saying he "took care of Jack" and Gloria asking if he killed him.
• Gloria insisting that Jay's "resort wear" was more like "last resort" wear
• Hayley reassuring Dylan that he "doesn't have to conceive of a world without [her]"
• Luke wanting to sell the "organ" and asking Phil to drive him to the black market.
• Jay trying to get Gloria to finish his sentences and expose their plans for the night (unsuccessfully)
  
• Dylan's sex dream about Claire. Made even funnier later by Hayley telling him "I'm just in bed with my mom. Stop freaking out! It is not coming true!"
  
• Every time the smoke detector chirped, especially the last time that sent Phil into a destructive rage
• Luke in the background trying to eat a cookie with the space helmet on.
  
  

"Cougar Town" - "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)"
If I could recommend only one show for a person to watch this week, it would be "Cougar Town." It had its usual mix of crazy gags but added in a "Spaced" reference and a brilliant homage to "The Usual Suspects." It was Jules' birthday and, naturally, this was turned into a big contest between everyone trying to get her the best gift. Travis and Bobby had their own odd adventure conquering a neti pot, which is apparently some fancy thing for clearing up congestion.

Best of:

• "(Modern) Cougar Town" this week. I absolutely adore the opening credits gag. It's a small, self-aware way to address the title debate.
  
• Calling sensitive men "sensies." A nice "Scrubs" callback.
• If a couple actors hadn't already crossed over from "Scrubs," I would wish that they took place in the same universe. I'm not sure what that would mean though...maybe some guest spots from alumni as their old characters.
  
• Jules takes her Disney characters very seriously. It was mighty impressive, rattling off the dwarves' names that fast.
  
• Laurie finding an app for dramatic sound effects. Sabotage should always be announced in fabulously dramatic fashion.
  
• Jules forcibly changing Grayson's age, especially since it makes her absolutely NOT a cougar!
• Andy and Jules, Hot Dog and Stick!
• The visual gag of Bobby's nose leaking.
• Laurie tricking Grayson and winning the contest.
• Bobby asking about Travis' neti pot. "Is this another one of those snooty college things like that picnic basket you take to the shower?"
• Jules laying down the law about her birthday. "Okay, a few birthday ground rules: no gag gifts, no gift cards, and nothing that I'm supposed to love because it's charitable. Laurie, I'm still pissed you saved an elephant in my name!"
• Bobby: "Hey College! I'm calling you College now because you go to college." Travis: "Yeah I pieced that together."
• Barb's appearance, wanting to tell Jules "about my trip to London and all the time I spent under Big Ben." Andy led her away with "look! A high school track team hosing each other down!"
• Ellie: "Jules, he's an evil genius. He's Keyser Soze!" Jules: "No he's not!" Ellie: "Yes he is!" Jules: "He's not! God! (pause) Who's Keyser Soze?"
• Ellie sitting Jules down to watch "The Usual Suspects." Jules: "You told me before it started that Kevin Spacey was Keyser Soze and I was still surprised! Wait, was he Keyser Soze?" Ellie: "Yes!" Jules: "Alright, so the crippled guy was his evil twin?" Ellie: "No, same guy!" Jules: "Well let's just agree to disagree."
• Jules: "I know you want me to believe Andy is Kiefer Doozy" - even after Ellie makes Jules watch the movie.
• The flashback to Andy making up a story about his grandmother based on random things behind Jules. Also, the parody of the ending where they show that Andy really was faking his sprained ankle. Andy as an evil genius was unexpected but fantastic.
• After Bobby comes back from the hospital. Travis: "So you poured this whole pitcher directly into your lungs? I mean, at some point you must have know you were drowning. Why didn't you stop?" Bobby: "Bobby Cobb never quits!" Travis: "Not even at killing himself?" Bobby: "Not even. That stupid college death pot!" Travis: "Still not a college thing." Bobby: "Whatever, man, it's still the most dangerous thing on my boat." Travis: "Really? I'm going to spin around and say the first thing I see. Loaded flare gun on a jar full of gasoline!" Bobby: "Well that's for when the rats come!"
• Later, Bobby: "You ever looked death in the eye, Trav?" Travis: "Well now that that jar of gasoline has a flaming can of Sterno next to it, I'd have to say yes."
  
• Travis: "Dad, let me list some actual college things, like indie bands, freshman 15, dabbling in lesbianism (that's for girls), encouraging girls to dabble in lesbianism (that's for guys), ramen noodles, keggers, having a black roommate that makes you feel self-conscious about singing all your favorite rap songs..."
  
• Travis walking in on the Finger Guns Mexican Standoff, asking "what are we doing? Somebody tell me what we're doing!"
  
• The final Finger Gunfight. Utterly silly, but all the better because it was a reference to "Spaced." Bill Lawrence confirmed it, even though Travis said "I love 'Spaced'" as he was falling.
  
• Because it's awesome, Entertainment Weekly posted a whole article about the reference and posted all the videos of it and in reference to it: "Cougar Town" does "Spaced"-inspired finger gun shootout: Watch!"

ABC Wednesday - the many flavors of sitcoms (from awful to awesome)

"The Middle"
Cut above the average sitcom, but still no 'Modern Family'
I caught a few episodes of this at the end of the last season and was mildly amused by it. It's the attempt to make a sitcom about a lower middle class family struggling to make it in the Midwest. I do like the addition that it's set in Indiana (not just because that's where I'm currently located), because it's nice to have a show that isn't set in California, New York, or Texas. Other states do exist, and not just as comedic fodder when someone wants to set a show or movie in "the sticks." Setting it in the Midwest makes is more relatable. However, I wasn't very impressed by their premiere. I thought they had better episodes in their first season. There were a few things I enjoyed, like the metaphor about class level as having an "above-ground pool" life vs. an "in-ground pool" life. The biggest laugh moment for me was when the mother runs after her son's discarded backpack that was put in the dump truck, yelling "Stop, my son's best friend is in there!" I also liked the mother urging the kids to go outside and enjoy the summer, only to find them shooting arrows into their pool where she immediately yells at them to go back inside and watch TV.

I don't think this show is as non-stop hilarious as "Modern Family," but it's good for a chuckle or two. One of the downsides of it, though, is this show makes me never ever want to have children. The parents are stressed and exhausted trying to support three weirdo kids and it's like they were forced to take on this horrible burden and they're just barely getting by. Their daughter is incredibly annoying. I'm sure this is all more relatable if you are a parent with irritating yet endearing children and understand the "reward of parenthood." Also, I hate the overused "precocious child says humorous, worldly things" character, so I'm glad 2/3 of their children aren't like that. My last complaint is even more valid since I live in the Midwest and know how inaccurate this is - TV shows NEVER pay attention to when the sun is out and when it isn't. If your entire family gets up to have breakfast at 6:54 in the morning, the sun is not out and shining like it's noon! Yes, it's a tiny thing, but it annoys me to no end. It would even work in the storyline, if your kids are complaining about getting up early, and they could comment that the sun isn't even up yet so that day hasn't started, so why should they, etc. I guess I would feel differently if I worked on the lighting crew.

"Better With You"
More like 'Better Without You'
I keep having to correct myself - this is not the Kelsey Grammar sitcom "Back to You" and it's not the "Will & Grace" fictional soap "Along Came You." Unfortunately, after viewing the painfully mundane pilot, I'm still unlikely to remember which is which. I had faith that ABC might be able to fill that one last slot with one more quality comedy, but that was clearly asking too much. "Better With You" is exactly like every other standard sitcom in that you have a grating laugh track and obvious set-up/immediate punchline structure that aims for big laughs. I guess it's good someone is laughing, even if it's a fake laugh track. Some of the punchlines were slightly humorous and chuckle-inducing, but the intrusive anonymous boisterous laughter quickly killed any chortles.

This show had that frantic, nervous, mile-a-minute pace that lots of sitcoms have, like there are people offstage with guns ready to shoot any actor who doesn't COMMIT and deliver laughs. Or maybe they're going so fast so they can deliver rapidfire punchlines - when you can't deliver any solid jokes, just deliver multiple quick awful ones and maybe they'll add up to a real laugh! Great lines like "How do I look?" "Not fat!" go by quickly so you don't tend to linger on how painful they really are. You can move on to the next joke about Ben becoming "Uncle Ben." You know, like the rice? Har har har. It seemed like there were a lot of pop-culture jokes too, perhaps in an effort to be topical or relatable. On top of it all, the actors were incredibly bland sitcom people, hardly distinguishable from one another. Except for the fact that the blonde girl's voice sounded remarkably similar to Sarah Chalke's (aka Elliot Reed from "Scrubs.") Anyway, if you love sitcoms with tired jokes and you have a really short attention span, you'll love this show.

"Modern Family"
Back and Better Than Ever The highlight of the night. This show is so smart and perfectly crafted that it just makes you happy. More than just providing a chuckle here and there, it really does resonate (in addition to delivering laugh after laugh). It has heart without becoming saccharine and gets big laughs without hitting you over the head with cheesy punchlines. After watching something like "Better With You" where I felt like I lost brain cells just listening to it, "Modern Family" truly is a breath of fresh air. A recap of the plot would be mundane, so I'm going to just list the best moments.

• Claire telling Phil to get rid of their old car. Claire: "We're not giving it to Hayley. It's way too easy to fit a mattress in the back." Phil: "Remember?" (Perfect comic timing here)


• Phil: "You can insult a lot of things about me...but don't insult my selling. That crosses a line. What line? Oh, you don't see it? That's because I just sold it!"
  
  
• Cam: "Every home-improvement project we've undertaken has been a near-death experience." "If an accident does happen, I hope he kills me, because I don't think I would be a very inspiring disabled person."


• Phil's mnemonic devices to remember names. "He looked like that drummer from Foreigner, a foreigner is from France, which rhymes with ants, ants ruin a picnic, which rhymes with - 'hi, Nick!'"


• Claire feeling nostalgic. "Look at them - a minute ago they were babies, and now they're driving, and soon we'll all be dead.


• Jay remembering building bookshelves with Mitchell. "That was my Vietnam. And I was in Vietnam."


• Luke finding a picture of his Mom at the Rose Bowl parade. "Mom you looked really pretty. So what happened?"..."I mean, what happened in the game?"


• Mitchell saying "in cahoots."


• Sofia Vergara's accent. Other shows would rely solely on that to make her funny, but she's talented as a comedian anyway. But her accent still makes her lines that much funnier.


• The Dunphy family catastrophe in the car. That was so well executed. The chaos of that scene was fantastic, my favorite being Hayley continuously stepping on Phil's seatbelt, choking him. "What's the plan Phil?!" "At least I'm trying to do something!"
  
  
• Manny and his dating. "We like to play Six Degrees of Sir Francis Bacon."


• Phil selling the car in the end, explaining how you sell by leaving out key points. "They don't make them like this anymore...for legal reasons!"


• The bird flying into the princess castle with Mitchell trapped inside. Hilarious reference to last season.
  

"Cougar Town"
The overlooked gem of a relationship sitcom (that refuses to ditch the misleading name)
Seeing the title card come up with "(Still) Cougar Town" was a perfect way to start the episode. Yeah, it's keeping the crummy title, but it's still the same show underneath. If you're lucky enough to get past that, you're rewarded with a great end to the night. I didn't really like the stunt casting of Jennifer Aniston, because it was just to get "Friends" fans in there, but she was alright. I just hate stunt casting that leaves fans of the actor loving it but regular fans of the show wondering why the show is acting out of character. But the rest of the episode was great, and I'll go ahead and list the great moments here too.

• (Still) Cougar Town. That was a great, small way to address the title issue.


• Travis asking the adults about their new game. "How is that a drinking game?" "Because we drink while we do it!"


• "Adios alkies."


• "Graysonship."


• Dan Byrd in general as Travis. They keep talking about him leaving for college but I hope so badly he isn't actually leaving the show. He's amazing here and a great contrast for all the wine-drinking, sexed up adults.


• "Esteves Festeves." "I'm thinking about re-inventing myself in college." There were a few too many 80s references from Travis. Not that many people that age are as obsessed with the 80s as, say, I am, so it's obviously the writers wanting to reference their childhood. It just gets inserted into the show a little awkwardly by having characters make references that are way too old for them. Not that I mind it too much.


• Aniston asking about Jules' boyfriend. "Didn't he try to choke you? I must be confusing him with another patient." Am I crazy, or was that totally a "Grey's Anatomy" reference?


• The movie game. Fantastic.


• Laurie talking to Travis about college. Laurie: "Please tell me by 'all-nighters' you mean partying and not studying." "Can't it be both?"


• He didn't get much time this episode, but I still love Bobby. He could get one line and it would still be hilarious.


• Grayson in the tree. "You're really bald from up here!" to Andy.


• Laurie and Ellie. "Imaginary hat." [mimes tipping a hat] "Imaginary opera gloves. [mimes putting on gloves] What is this, what are we doing?"


• The incense smoke in the later scene with Aniston.


• Big Joe. Why do they even bother pouring the wine into glasses anymore?


• The giant Dog Travis is still a great sight gag.


• Bobby's David Caruso.


• "Al Gore does a powerpoint presentation on Madonna's naked body." "An Inconvenient Truth or Dare!"


• Aniston's anger exercises. "My anger is a puddle and I step out of it."

Songs I'm ashamed to admit I know all the words to (Part 2)

Ready or not, here are some more songs I somehow remember all the words to. This has caused me many moments of angst when I wonder, frustrated, "how can I remember the lyrics to every single Backstreet Boys song but I can't remember the uses for the dative case in Russian? Shouldn't there be an easy way to swap useful info with useless info in the brain?"

1. Time Warp from "Rocky Horror Picture Show" - I thought I'd start off with a simple nerdy one. If you know just one song from "Rocky Horror," it's the Time Warp, if for no other reason than it's played on the radio all Halloween night every year. I know plenty of other songs from this perverted little movie, my favorite probably being "Dammit Janet" or "Sweet Transvestite." But "Time Warp" wins a spot on this list because it's the one I knew first word for word. And every time I hear it, it reminds me of Halloween, my favorite holiday, so it also qualifies as a feel-good song.

My favorite lyric: Let's do the time warp agaaaiiinnn!

2. It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls - here's another feel-good song with such a wonderful and positive message. This is one of those songs you just have to know so you can have fun clapping along, kind of like Hall & Oates' Private Eyes (they're watching you, clap clap!)

My favorite lyric: God bless mother nature/she's a single woman too...she taught every angel to rearrange the sky/so that each and every woman could find the perfect guy

3. In For the Kill by La Roux - this is a band that is wildly more popular on the other side of the pond while only mildly popular here. I was in the UK when this song was at the height of its popularity and heard it way way way too many times. It happens to walk the border between catchy-pleasant and catchy-annoying. When I overheard some girls doing this song at karaoke, I realized it's pretty darn annoying.

My favorite lyric: Ooooooooooooooooo (hey, that's half the song right there!)

4. Shadow Dancing by Andy Gibb - I downloaded Love Will Keep us Together because of "Will & Grace." Well, I downloaded Shadow Dancing because of "Gilmore Girls." There's only a brief moment where Lorelai listens to it in her car, but I liked it, got it, and still enjoy it. Tvgirl's confession? I like disco. Would it be cooler if I said I like it ironically? Plenty of people proudly admit they like country music. Live and let live.

My favorite lyric: I can't really decide on just one...the lyrics are pretty generic, but I still love the song.

5. I'll Make a Man Out of You from "Mulan" - Remember the day when your childhood worldview was shattered by reality? Remember when you found out that Santa Claus didn't exist? Remember when you found out that the dashing Captain Li Shang was voiced by Donny Osmond when he was singing?

My favorite lyric: We must be swift as the coursing river/with all the force of a great typhoon/with all the strength of a raging fire/mysterious as the dark side of the moon (who doesn't want a man who is mysterious, like the dark side of the moon? That certainly sounds fancier than tall, dark, and handsome.)

6. Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell - This is another happy Halloween assocation for me. I'm sure plenty of other people know the words, reluctantly, just because of the ubiquitous Halloween radio play. But I bet no one else sings along with it with as much zeal as I do!
My favorite lyric: And I don't feel safe anymore/oh what a mess/I wonder who's watching me now/(WHO?)/The IRS?!

7. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes - this is one of those songs that should win an award in cheese. Also, an award for most quotable lyrics. I think I love this song for its nonsensical-ness and for the fact that it makes two people cheating on each other into a humorous situation where you half expect them both to throw up their arms and shrug as a sitcom laugh track breaks in.

My favorite lyric: I didn't think about my lady/I know that sounds kind of mean (you think?)

8. Disco Inferno by The Trammps - Yeah, I'm not lying when I say I love disco. This is one of those songs that gets really disturbing if you take it literally. I think they should play it at all building demolitions. And cremations. (This song gets bonus points for getting a mention from an episode of "Doctor Who.")

My favorite lyric: Burn baby burn!

9. Schadenfreude from "Avenue Q" - I know every song from "Avenue Q" by heart, but I feel like knowing Schadenfreude is the most impressive. The song is oh so educational, fun, and brutally honest. It's hard to pick just a few lyrics from this song because I think the entire thing is hilarious, like pretty much every other song in "Avenue Q."

My favorite lyric: Being on an elevator when somebody shouts "hold the door!"/NO!/Schadenfreude/Fuck you lady, that's what stairs are for...Watching actors never reach/the ending of their Oscar speech!

10. The entire "Scrubs" musical, specifically The Rant Song and Everything Comes Down to Poo - Once again, I know every song in this production by heart. It's less impressive considering it adds up to about 15 minutes of music, but I think it's still random and slightly embarrassing to admit. Guy Love gets all the attention, and it's great, but Everything Comes Down to Poo is funnier in my opinion and The Rant Song is more impressive linguistically.

My favorite lyric: All across the nation/we trust in defecation...our number one test is your number two! (Everything Comes Down to Poo)...It's your hair, your nose, your chinless face, you always need a hug/not to mention all the manly Appletinis that you chug/that you think I am your mentor just continues to perplex/and oh my god stop telling me when you have nerdy sex! (The Rant Song)

11. El Dorado from "The Road to El Dorado" - I've certainly seen this movie enough times to have the music memorized by now. Like all great kids movies, it has a famous singer doing the soundtrack. In this case, Elton John. The wonders of the new world and the difficulties of being a god seem much more impressive when Elton John is there to tell us in song. Okay, he didn't sing that second one, but he does do the fantastic traveling tune The Trail We Blaze. (What trail? The trail that we blaze!....THAT trail that we blaze!) If I ever go on a road trip, The Trail We Blaze should be the first song I listen to. But on the topic of El Dorado, any rabid fan needs to know this one so you can sing along with the opening cartoon narration.

My favorite lyric: And made El Dorado/the mag-ni-fi-cent!
12. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from "Monty Python's Life of Brian" and "Spamalot" - I think anyone who is alive should be required to know this song by heart. Like Billy Joel's Piano Man, everyone should know this just so they can belt it out when the situation calls for it. Bonus points to you if you can actually whistle along too.

My favorite lyric: Always look on the bright side of death/just before you draw your terminal breath/life's a piece of shit/when you look at it/life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true

13. "Bill Nye the Science Guy" theme song - And back to my 90s past with this one. Back in my day we didn't learn science from stuffy old teachers, we learned science from none other than Bill Nye, a science guy. These days, you kids with your rock music and hip hopping have nothing to compare to that. You don't have anywhere to get your real science education from! You know, except "Mythbusters." (I'll admit, this isn't quite a song, and doesn't have much in the way of lyrics, but just the fact that I know how it goes still is the crazy part).

My favorite lyric: Inertia is a property of matter (Who knows if I would have graduated high school without knowing that vital fact!)

14. Be a Star from "Life-size" - Ah, what a simpler time. Lindsay Lohan was still an adorable child actor and Tyra Banks was just breaking into television. This movie had a peppy little theme song that is still stuck in the recesses of my brain.

My favorite lyric: The lyrics are too insipid and repetetive to select favorites. It was a Disney jingle after all.

15. "Tiny Toons" theme song - I don't remember the plot of any episodes, and I don't remember why I liked this show since I never liked the original Looney Tunes that much, outside of "Space Jam." But I remember the theme song. There are plenty of random Disney and cartoon songs I remember because they were ingrained in my psyche as a child, but I think "Tiny Toons" is the most random of them all. Okay, maybe the intro to Disney's Sing Along Songs videos with the owl and birds in the classroom is more random, but I don't know if anyone else besides me really remembers that at all.

My favorite lyric: We're comic dispensers/we crack up all the censors
16. "Powerpuff Girls" theme song - ah, the mystery of Chemical X. This is one of those cartoons where you wonder what the creators were smoking when they came up with the concept. Just look at the villains! Mojo Jojo? Gangrene Gang? Him?! After the Red Guy from "Cow & Chicken," Him is the most terrifying, ambiguous, bizarre, crimson villain in cartoon history. And it just dawned on me - why was Professor Utonium trying to create the "perfect little girl"? I need to stop thinking about this before my nostalgia turns sour.

My favorite lyric: Also, on second thought, this isn't really a theme song with words either since the only words are during the narration before the music...wait, the theme has words in the ending credits! I know those!

17. "Doug" musical moments (from the Beets to Bangin' on a Trash Can) - Okay, I'll make up for playing fast and loose with my own rules and include some songs that are actual songs. Like I Need More Allowance and Killer Tofu by "Doug" universe band The Beets. I love that "Doug" actually bothered to write and record actual snippets of songs for their fictional band. I think it's one of the reasons I give "Spongebob Squarepants" so much credit - it's similar to many great cartoons of my day that included musical numbers.

My favorite lyric: I need more allowance/yodelayeehoo/why? Because I do!
18. "Arthur" theme song - this is going even further back in my childhood, but "Arthur" is a classic. I even remember everything leading up to the theme song, including PBS thanking Viewers Like You who make the channel possible and the Juicy Juice ad about 100% juice for 100% kids. 100% kids? How's that for phoning in your ad campaign? Apparently the theme's official name is Believe In Yourself, naturally. And it's reggae. I also remember the Jekyll and Hyde number Brain sang in the "Arthur" musical/literary episode which also included an inspiring ditty about getting a library card.

My favorite lyric: And I say hey (hey!)/what a wonderful kind of day

19. I Wish Every Day Could Be Christmas from "The Fairly Oddparents" - I still like listening to this song in the winter. I like to find the episode itself when I can, just so I can hear Timmy's dad go nuts over eggnog again and again. Crazy, obsessive dads in cartoons are fun. That's why "The Muffin King" will always be the greatest episode of "Dexter's Laboratory." I think this song perfectly captures the feeling of a kid on Christmas and how you wish it would never end.

My favorite lyric: New Year's Eve's for mom and dad/the Easter Bunny eggs smell really bad!/Valentine's Day always makes me sad/(Cause Timmy just can't get a girlfriend!)
20. Every song from "Moulin Rouge" - At first glance, this might not seem so odd. Most music in this film was a cover of some other famous song. But for some reason, since I was younger at the time I saw it, I didn't really know all those songs too well yet and I now associate them with the movie instead of the original artist. The song Roxanne doesn't make me think of The Police, it makes me think of El Tango de Roxanne, and so on. I am a little ashamed to admit that when I hear Like a Virgin, the first thing it makes me think of is definitely not Madonna.

My favorite lyric: Rather than mention lyrics, I have to say the Elephant Love Medley is my favorite example of combining popular music into one epic love song.

21. Way too many Backstreet Boys songs - Being a child of the 90s, one of the biggest questions of my childhood wasn't "Team Edward or Team Jacob" (thank god!) but Backstreet Boys or N*Sync. I was a Backstreet Boys girl all the way and didn't come around to N*Sync until, say, about a year ago. It was a little disturbing when I was uploading all my old CDs onto my computer a few years ago and, when coming across the album "Millennium," I realized I remembered the entire song list, in order, word-for-word. That was more like nostalgia resurfacing and hitting me in the face. But I don't care what anyone says, I Want It That Way is one of the greatest songs of all time.

My favorite lyric: All the "tell me why"s. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the key to making a hit song is making it really easy to sing along to.

My Top 10: TV Boyfriends

Everyone has them. Their TV/movie boyfriends (or girlfriends). Those characters who are so damn hot, clever, kind, and/or smart you just wish they were real. Being the TV addict that I am, I've thought about this subject a lot. So, to distract me from the intensity of all the season finales, I decided to post for the whole world my ideal TV boyfriends, in order of their awesomeness. As evidenced by some repeats, some actors in general are always going to be my dream TV boyfriends. (And another spoiler? I totally go for nerds. Smart guys are hot.)

10. Henry Grubstick (Christopher Gorham) from "Ugly Betty"
He's the first nerd on my list but he better than anyone else embodies the hot nerd status. Any Henry fan can remember when Betty daydreamed about him as an underwear model...good times. He loses some points for being an accountant, but all in all he seemed like a dependable, sweet boyfriend to have.

9. Ben (Iddo Goldberg) from "Secret Diary of a Call Girl"
If nothing else, I want Ben as a friend (at least then I could take a good picture of him for this blog post). He'll stick by you, even if you let him know that you're actually working as a call girl. Although if you looked like Billie Piper, it wouldn't be hard to get a guy to stay no matter what. Ben has always clashed with Hannah's boyfriends, mainly because they were all pricks, as he reminded us in the most recent season finale. Who didn't think his note to Hannah was adorable? "Duncan was a prick. All your boyfriends were pricks. I'm not a prick." Out of context, it might not sound so romantic, but trust me, it totally was.

8. Jake Foley (Christopher Gorham) from "Jake 2.0"
And nerd number 2! Played once again by Gorham. "Jake 2.0" ran for 16 episodes in 2003 on the UPN so I won't begrudge anyone for not having a clue who I'm talking about. But Jake was the original Chuck Bartowski. He worked at the NSA fixing computers until he stumbled upon super powers thanks to some TV technology. He then got to work as an NSA field agent. He was sort of like Chuck with Intersect 2.0 but he was also able to interface with technology. He beats out Chuck though as my dream TV boyfriend, and I'm not completely sure why. Maybe just because I love Christopher Gorham. Maybe because Gorham, unlike Zachary Levi, can authentically play a nerd. (Levi can act like a nerd, but he will never look like one).

7. George (Russell Tovey) from "Being Human"
This was a toss-up between him and Mitchell (on left), the hottest vampire around (don't let anyone fool you, Edward Cullen has nothing on that sexy Irish beast.) But going on which character I rather date, I'd have to pick the sweet, adorable werewolf George. As long as I avoided him during his time of the month, we'd make a fine couple. And if I ever got kidnapped by or mixed up with some bad vampires, he'd come to rescue me. Not that he'd do it very gracefully, but I'd appreciate the gesture.

6. Jess Mariano (Milo Ventimiglia) from "Gilmore Girls"
Take away the music snobbery, and Jess would be an ideal boyfriend. After his rough years, of course, when he finally got his act together. I liked Dean well enough, but he was never right for Rory and Jared Padalecki was better off as Sam Winchester. And I absolutely loathed Logan and was thrilled when Jess told Rory what a jerk he was. Jess may have been a bit of an ass to people he didn't like, but he was great with Rory most of the time. And he definitely knew how to romance a girl - take her on a picnic lunch, ice cream, concerts, attend town events, talk endlessly about movies, music, and books.

5. Simon Tam (Sean Maher) from "Firefly"
He started out as a nerd, but he definitely held his own in "Serenity." You know, until he got shot. But he finally manned up and told Kaylee how he felt, and that's the kind of man you want. He's a genius, but more than that, he gave up everything, all the privilege in his life, to save his sister. More than simply smart, he was noble and selfless.

4. The Doctor (David Tennant) from "Doctor Who"
On one hand, you'd think he'd definitely make the cut because he saves the universe on a regular basis. On the other hand, you'd think he wouldn't make the cut because being his companion means you will meet an unfortunate end at some point. At best, you'll end up in an alternate universe. At worst, you witness the massacre of planet Earth and the torture of your family at the hands of a maniac. But as Sarah Jane Smith said, he's worth it. He's probably not the best boyfriend material, what with all the emotional baggage, but I'd settle for being a companion. Or a stowaway on the TARDIS...or a time agent/stalker...or a member of UNIT/stalker...

3. Aaron Tyler (Lee Pace) from "Wonderfalls"
This is yet another criminally unknown show since it was cancelled early in its run. Much like "Pushing Daisies," it was quirky, clever, and critically acclaimed. For those not in the know, that equals cancellation in the TV world. But in the short time I got to know him, I adored Aaron. He's getting his PhD in comparative religions, he's an atheist, he's still a bit of a slacker, he doesn't see the point in always buttoning his shirt up all the way, and he is very sweet with his eventual girlfriend, Mahandra. He genuinely worries about his sister and even goes to Canada to rescue the family housekeeper. He's probably the most realistic dream boyfriend on this list, which makes it all that much more painful that he doesn't exist.

2. Ned the Piemaker (Lee Pace) from "Pushing Daisies"
He bakes pies and wakes the dead. Need I say more? He's got his own emotional baggage, but unlike his girlfriend, I could actually give him a hug to make him feel better. While I'd have to compete with Chuck and Olive, I'm game. He leads a pretty sheltered life, running the Pie Hole and solving crimes, but I'd rather take a quiet, long life with Ned than a crazy, short, ill-fated life with the Doctor.

1. Scotty Wandell (Luke Macfarlane) from "Brothers & Sisters"
This one might shock some of my friends, as Ned almost wins first place. My personality type would probably go best with Ned, but my absolute favorite onscreen man is Scotty. I know this is cheating though because one, he's gay and two, he's taken by his husband Kevin. But since this is all hypothetical, I can dream about him. Of course, then it depresses me to think that there are no straight guys in existence like Scotty - he's sweet, a perpetual optimist, incredibly sexy, a fantastic chef, and a loyal partner. And he clearly has the patience of a saint to be able to withstand the Walker clan he married into.

Honorable Mention: Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) from "Smallville" and JD (Zach Braff) from "Scrubs." Who doesn't love a superhero? Especially when moody Clark "Slave to Destiny" Kent is around making Oliver "Green Arrow" Queen look better. But my attraction to him is purely shallow, since he's wealthy and looks better than any man has a right to in green leather (see below). JD seems like a fun guy to hang out with and I dream of a time when every man is as confident in their sexuality as he is, but he's kind of awful with his girlfriends.

Tis the Season - More Shows Renewed, Cancelled

It's that time again! That nervewracking time of the year as we creep closer and closer to upfronts where the networks have to announce their fall schedules and decide what stays and what goes. I'm happy to announce that I've had some luck with my bubble shows this year. I'm also happy to announce that I officially love Michael Ausiello (but that's nothing new!)

(Ausiello is keeping a great Bubble Show Scorecard here. I think his version is the best as it's the most up-to-date.)

In his column this week he filled us in on when each network has their upfront presentation:

• Monday 5/17 - NBC and FOX
• Tuesday 5/18 - ABC
• Wednesday 5/19 - CBS
• Thursday 5/20 - The CW

But, onto the good news/bad news segment! "V" was renewed, much to my delight. I think the show still has potential, unlike "Flashforward," which was just cancelled. "Flashforward" was an epic disappointment for me this year so I'm hoping "V" will make up for it by returning strong next season.

Also cancelled by ABC were "Romantically Challenged," (which I hardly remember hearing about), "Scrubs," and "Better Off Ted." I'm glad "Scrubs" is finally retiring; it really wasn't the same show, just the same title. And I'm unsure about "Better Off Ted." I heard from quite a few sources that it was good, but I never watched myself so all I can do is offer my condolences to any "Ted" fans.

"Human Target" and "Lie to Me" were both saved, despite every site talking about saving one or the other. Well, unofficially saved so far, but I'll trust Ausiello with this one and take the victory. "Human Target" seemed like a fun enough show and I checked out a few episodes, but I'm a "Lie to Me" girl all the way. Any show that teaches me how to detect lies is a winner in my book.

But the best news of all? "Chuck" was finally, officially renewed. And we didn't even need a giant Subway campaign this year, so yay for us.

This has been a crazy season: "Lost" is going away forever, "24" the television series is ending (personally, I am totally ready for some "24" movies), "Supernatural" got renewed despite its intention of ending this season (and ending the season with a very series finale-y episode), "Fringe" got renewed without too much last minute drama, "Southland" got the life it deserves on TNT, "Burn Notice" was renewed through, like, 2035, and who knows what the hell is going on with "Heroes." (I'd take another season. Even though I hate this concept, it's the perfect definition of a 'guilty pleasure' for me.) [Update: "Heroes" is dead. Finally. It's still sad remembering your glory days though.]

I'll probably post something else about the new fall pilots when we get closer to fall. There are so many right now that still have such fluid concepts and casts at this point that I don't bother to brush up on them until later. So for now, I'm going to celebrate the renewal of the shows I've been cheering for all year.

In Defense of "Cougar Town" - Why It's Not the Show You Think It Is

At the beginning of the TV season last year, I, like many other people, thought that "Cougar Town" would be the last show I would want to watch. The main cast, the concept, the title - it all sounded absolutely dreadful. I'm ashamed to admit that I had no idea Bill Lawrence was one of the creators of the show. I probably would have given the show a chance if I had known, since he brought the wonderful yet tragically underrated "Scrubs" to my life. One day, I ended up leaving it on after "Modern Family" and found it to be a totally different show from what I expected. Today, it's one of my absolute favorite, must-see shows of the week. I just wish other people would give the show a chance to defy their preconceived notions. So, to do my part, I decided to make a list in defense of the show by clarifying what it's about and why it's worth adding to your weekly schedule.

You may think...

it's all about being a cougar

You'd be wrong because...

the title is incredibly misleading. I do wish they would change it, although I don't know if that would help it or hurt it. Really, only Courteney Cox's character Jules is a cougar. And furthermore, it was only for a short period after Jules' divorce when she yearned to relive her glory days. Currently, she's been involved with someone age appropriate and most of the cougar humor is used sparingly if at all (these days, it's relegated to brief appearances by Barb, a hilarious cougar who pops into a scene just to deliver a perfectly awkward one-liner only to disappear moments later. She did get a fun extended bit with Jules' son Travis in one episode, though). The other characters on the show either date others their own age or are, like Andy and Ellie, happily married.

You may think...

it's all about older people

You'd be wrong because...

there's actually a range of ages portrayed on-screen. I know being the age I am that I wasn't the target demographic for the show, at least initially. But I think that's what's the hidden beauty of the show. It was originally marketed towards older women, maybe 30s onward, but I think it has appeal for a younger audience as well. A recent episode involving Jules' son Travis choosing a college was entirely relatable for me, as someone who had gone through the same thing relatively recently. Any young adult would have identified with that plotline and found it hilariously on-point. Travis and his relationship troubles (romantic and familial) get a good amount of screentime and the actor, Dan Byrd, shows that he really does have some solid comedic chops. I remember him being good in the shortlived "Aliens in America" on the CW, but he absolutely shines here and plays off of his neurotic mother and redneck father perfectly. Busy Philipps as Laurie is another part of the Cul-de-sac Crew (as Jules calls their group), and she's only 30 and dates age appropriate men as well. Between Travis, Laurie, and Jules, this show does a fantastic job of showing the relationships of people of all ages.

You may think...

it's all about the women.

You'd be wrong because...

the men get a lot of focus as well. And they're excellent, non-stereotypical male characters that you sometimes get and think, "well those were obviously written by women." Bill Lawrence creates great male characters. It's fun to see just as much camaraderie among the men on this show as among the women. Grayson plays like the male version of Jules, dating much younger women after his painful divorce. His side, along with Andy's marriage drama and Bobby and Travis' family drama are all given just as much time as the ladies'.

You may think...

it's completely unoriginal.

You'd be wrong because...

it's a unique show with inventive running jokes each episode and bizarre characters. My favorite character, Bobby, is so different from the others as he revels in his redneck persona in a genuine, not annoying, way. He's so sincere that it's hard not to like him. A lot of the jokes seem very realistic in that they seem like jokes any group of friends could come up with. Whether it's the guys playing a game of Penny Can or the women turning the "that's what she said" joke around into "that's what he said" so the guys know how annoying it is, you never get the feeling like you're hearing tired old sitcom jokes. Each episode normally has a running joke or two, like the gang creating "gay traps" for each other to reveal the inner gay in each other. They play random, made-up games like Emotional Chicken, where Bobby and Andy competed to see who would cry first to "Cats in the Cradle" while holding eye contact. One of the things I love about watching this show is hearing their new jokes and games every week. It's like hanging out with your friends, if your friends were witter and more endearing. And if your friends sang spontaneously.

You may think...

it's about rich, Hollywood women.

You'd be wrong because...

the show is set in Florida, just to give it a different setting than LA. I get sick of shows just settling for their filming location as their setting, because it gets unrelatable for people living somewhere like the Midwest. Like I commented on before, it's not all about the women. It follows the normal sitcom rule of "everyone has a nice house but not necessarily a high-paying job," but it's a fantasty comedy, so that's fine. The two main women work in realty, one guy works in a bar, and it's definitely not all about living like a socialite and it's not a very "Hollywood" show. These seem like average, albeit pretty, normal people.

You may think...

it's all about the romance.

You'd be wrong because...

it's also about family drama between husbands and wives, ex- husbands and wives, parents and children. It's about friendship, finding yourself, chasing after a balloon filled with cash...okay those things sound cheesy and weird, but the show isn't all about sexing it up with young hotties. Much like "Scrubs," there are real life lessons grounded in real human emotion.

You may think...

the guest stars suck.

You'd be wrong because...

um....Beverly D'Angelo was pretty fun as Laurie's mom? All right, so far, their guest stars haven't been fantastic. Lisa Kudrow was fine enough, but I was never a "Friends" fan so any spark of reunion between her and Cox was lost on me. Scott Foley was also okay, but I thought he was better utilized on "Scrubs." Mainly I write this because Sheryl Crow's guest stint was really underwhelming. And here I thought it was impossible to be that boring when you at least have an accent. She had no presence onscreen and no chemistry with Grayson, so I cheered when she finally left. The characters on this show are dynamic and each humorous in their own way. Crow had no personality and could not compete with the other stars onscreen.

You may think...

Josh Hopkins is just as annoying here as he was on "Private Practice."

You'd be wrong because...

he's a totally different person here. Yes, for the five other people on the planet who watch "Private Practice," you don't want to rip his throat out on this show. He's much better in a comedic setting. And he can sing and play guitar! I love that they incorporated that into the show. My favorite song idea so far is "Someday Girl." (As Laurie puts it, "a someday girl is someone who someday someone else can see themselves ending up with someday. It's really serious.")

Now, I know comedy is really subjective. People swear by "The Office," yet I keep waiting for someone to say something funny on that show. But "Cougar Town" has a very "Scrubs"-esque feel to it, so I can say with a degree of certainty that anyone who loved "Scrubs" will appreciate "Cougar Town." I hope I knocked down some mistaken ideas people had about the show, because it really is fun. It has a great tone and clever jokes and I hope it finds a larger audience. It's only a half-hour long show - how hard is it to give it a chance one week? If it's not your thing, all you've lost is about 20 minutes after commercials are taken out. If you like it, you'll be really happy you gave it a chance.

(Here's a great Entertainment Weekly article debating what to do with the show's title)

I wanted to include some clips from the show that I love. So the first one is all about Grayson and includes some of his fun moments, musical and otherwise. (I have to say I love his "Sex with the Ex" song.) The second clip is another of my favorites, where the gang gets converted to the Snuggie (or Slanket, as they call it) and I think it introduces all of the characters well.