Clara Bush

‘How I Met Your Mother,’ ‘Friends’ offer great TV comedy

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on April 2, 2015.

Two successful shows. Two decades. Two unique premises?

Maybe not.

Some people say popular comedies “How I Met Your Mother” and “Friends” are similar in nature. They aren’t wrong.

Just look at these parallels:

A married couple in the friend group (Lily and Marshall vs. Monica and Chandler)
A will-they-or-won’t-they couple (Robin and Ted vs. Rachel and Ross)
A central hangout (McLaren’s vs. Central Perk)
Multiple weddings
A main living space (Ted’s/Lily’s/Marshall’s apartment vs. Monica’s apartment)
New York City setting
Friend who uses numerous tricks or plays to get women (Joey vs. Barney)
Dating within the friend group (Robin dated Ted and Barney vs. Rachel dated Ross and Joey)

And, both sitcoms ran for more than 200 episodes, in nine seasons for “How I Met Your Mother” and 10 for “Friends.”

But there are also differences, such as:

The theme of the show. “How I Met Your Mother” focuses on finding love, while “Friends” focuses on navigating life
Marshall and Lily date through most of the show (except for those sad episodes in season 2), while Monica and Chandler don’t start dating until the end of season 4.
“How I Met Your Mother” is narrated by older Ted (voiced by Bob Saget), while “Friends” is never narrated.
“Friends” had more flashback episodes that used prior footage, but “How I Met Your Mother” filmed material that was supposed to span decades.
“How I Met Your Mother” had fantasy episodes thanks to the imagination of the characters (and writers), and the show had an episode filled entirely with rhyming dialogue. “Friends” stuck to what was happening in the moment, for the most part.

Do these differences and similarities make the shows bad? Do they cheapen the value of these iconic shows? I don’t think so.

Yes, they have similar concepts, and some people like both shows equally, but they have enough differences to keep interest.

And, both shows handled relevant issues, even though they aired over a 20-year period.

If these shows had premiered in the same year, it would’ve been hard to choose. Fortunately, they didn’t.

I’m glad I can enjoy both shows over and over again.

What do you think? Is “Friends” better than “How I Met Your Mother,” or vice versa? Why?

5 great Christmas-themed TV episodes

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 17, 2014.

December is a time for snow, fires, family and holidays.

And on TV, it’s the same, only with more comical endings. Check out some of my favorite Christmas-themed TV episodes.

5. The Best Christmas Ever: “That ’70s Show,” season 1

If you were 17 and your parents gave you Christmas tree money, what size tree would you get?

For Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) and his buddies, it’s not the size that matters, but where you get the tree.

Since the gang gets to throw a Christmas party in the infamous basement, they cut down a tree from the forest and use the money from Red (Kurtwood Smith) for beer, which of course doesn’t end well.

4. The One with the Holiday Armadillo: “Friends,” season 7

Ross (David Schwimmer) tries very hard to be a good father, so when he wants his son, Ben, to learn about Hanukkah, he goes to great lengths to make the holiday seem appealing to a kid who has a big heart for Santa … including dressing up as an armadillo.

But when Chandler (Matthew Perry) comes dressed as Santa, the former college roommates have to come up with a new plan … and one random story.

3. How Lily Stole Christmas: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 2

Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) belong together. But for a time in season 2, they weren’t.

This causes a problem at Christmas time when Lily listens to an old voicemail of Ted (Josh Radnor) calling her a “Grinch (aka as a very bad word).”

Ted ends up at his religious cousin’s house and teaches the children bad words, so there’s the awful-family-holiday moment.

In the end, Lily and Ted make up over beer after Lily realizes Ted knows her so well that he helped Marshall find his on-again fiance the perfect Christmas present: an easy-bake oven.

2. A Very Glee Christmas: “Glee,” season 2

Back when “Glee” was a trailblazing show, the Fox show was given the opportunity to mix in the plot of the Grinch, played by none other than slimy Cheerios coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch).

It made for great TV, and the soundtrack for the episode is top-notch (it is a musical show, after all).

The episode seamlessly mixed in Christmas cheer and quality music.

1. The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis: “The Big Bang Theory,” season 2

Who doesn’t love Penny and Sheldon?

Sheldon (Jim Parsons) hates gift giving, because getting a present for someone with equal value and meaning stresses him out. So when Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) tells Sheldon she got him a gift, he tries to find a proper gift for her.

When her gift turns out to be a Leonard Nimoy-autographed napkin, he is so elated that he gives her every bath item gift basket he bought, plus a hug. Yep, he was that overjoyed.

What’s your favorite holiday-themed TV episode?

Golden Globes 2017: TV nominations by the numbers

Here’s some sparkle for your winter blues.

The 2017 Golden Globes nominees were announced Monday, Dec. 12, so some show runners, actors and more get to celebrate.

To paint a picture, here are some by the numbers:

56: Number of TV nominations (There are 6 in the best TV actress comedy/musical category.)

15: Number of actors and actresses with at least one previous Golden Globe win (Billy Bob Thorton, Keri Russell, Winona Ryder, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jeffrey Tambor, Rachel Bloom, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gina Rodriguez, Bryan Cranston, Felicity Huffman, Hugh Laurie, John Lithgow, Christian Slater, John Travolta)

14: Shows with only one nomination this year (“Better Call Saul,” “Ray Donovan,” “Goliath,” “Outlander,” “Graves,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Divorce,” “Insecure,” “Jane the Virgin,” “All the Way,” “The Girlfriend Experience,” “London Spy,” “Confirmation,” and “The Dresser“)

11: Number of shows with nominations this year and in previous years in any category (“American Crime [the previous installment had 3 nominations],” “Jane the Virgin,” “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Veep,” “Mozart in the Jungle,” “Outlander,” “Ray Donovan,” “Better Call Saul,” “Mr. Robot,” “Transparent,” and “Game of Thrones“)

5: Highest number of nominations for one show (“The People v. O.J. Simpson,” which has nominations for actor, actress, supporting actor (2 nominations), and limited series/TV movie)

3: Number of shows with two nominations in the same category: “This is Us” has two supporting actress nominations for Mandy Moore and Chrissy Metz; “The Night Of” has two actor nominations for John Turturro and Riz Ahmed; and “The People v. O.J. Simpson” has two supporting actor nominations in Sterling K. Brown and John Travolta.

2: Number of nominations for the CW, both in the best actress comedy/musical category. (Gina Rodriguez for “Jane the Virgin” and Rachel Bloom for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”)

2: Number of shows who received multiple nominations without receiving nomination top award in its category (“The Americans” and “Mr. Robot” each received 2 acting formations, but neither are up for best TV drama.)

The Golden Globes air Jan. 8 on NBC.

‘Fuller House’: Mixed feelings on Netflix reboot of ‘Full House’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Feb. 29, 2016. Season 2 of “Fuller House” hits Netflix on Dec. 9.

We may not always have the milkman, the paperboy or evening TV…but we do still have “Full House.”

It’s just “Fuller House” now.

The much-anticipated reboot premiered Friday, and I have mixed feelings about it.

Let me first say that I love “Full House,” but I wasn’t ready for reboot.

I didn’t think “Girl Meets World,” the reboot of “Boy Meets World,” worked. While it was fun to see the cast members reunite, the Disney show missed the spark of its predecessor.

“Fuller House” has a similar problem. But, after the first two episodes, it improved.

The Netflix show’s first episodes were jam-packed with nostalgia and old gags. From “How rude!” to an Elvis baby costume, a lot was there…including an awkward break-the-fourth-wall moment acknowledging the absence of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who played Michelle Tanner in “Full House.”

The premiere takes place 29 years after “Full House.” It focuses on D.J. Fuller (formerly Tanner) (Candace Cameron Bure), who’s trying to balance work and family life after her husband died.

So, basically it’s “Full House” with reverse gender roles. Guess who checks in to help out? Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just makes some plots, such as episode’s 2 moving in and sharing rooms, boring. And the first episode was filled with exposition, even though I bet 90 percent of people watching the show already knew the basics.

But by episode 3, the plots improved. They weren’t all rehashed from “Full House,” and they incorporated the use of modern items such as smartphones, Uber and social media.

Issues such as parenting and moving on cross over well between the two shows, but “Fuller House” takes a moment to look at other problems such as infertility. It was refreshing to see this type of comedy tackle bigger issues while still maintaining its loving, always-ending-in-a-hug moments.

At times the plots came out forced, such as a “Dancing with the Stars”/“Dirty Dancing” moment at a club with Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy and D.J.’s high school boyfriend Steve’s (Scott Weinger) attempts to date her. It also could be stale with the old jokes and format (one conflict for the kids, one for the adults), but it still provided laughs.

The problem with these reboots is that expectations are too high, so it’s impossible to please people. But I will say “Fuller House” is better than “Girl Meets World.”

If you loved “Full House,” give “Fuller House” a chance, but try to keep your expectations at bay. It’s still enjoyable, but you won’t be saying “Holy chalupas,” the catchphrase of Max, DJ’s middle child.

What do you think of “Fuller House”?

‘The Big Bang Theory’ will survive 3 more seasons if it keeps momentum

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 14, 2014.

It’s hard to keep coming up with fresh ideas year after year.

TV shows have this problem annually. Many second seasons aren’t as good as the first, so much so that shows often are talked about in terms of “sophomore slump.”

“The Big Bang Theory,” a consistent ratings darling, avoided a sophomore slump and has managed to keep the ideas flowing for seven seasons … for the most part.

The show was renewed for three more seasons in March (although some of the actors still remain without contracts), but the question is: Can the show continue to be fresh for three more years?

I’m a fan of the CBS show. It’s nerdy without being too smart and it’s funny without being too stupid.

But as a fan, I did not find the most recent season as exciting as previous ones.

The show didn’t hit a good stride until two-thirds of the way through the season, when Sheldon and Amy kissed on a train on Valentine’s Day.

That’s too long to wait in a 24-episode season.

I also kept wondering if Raj (Kunal Nayyar), who finally was able to talk to a woman without drinking alcohol at the end of season 6, would get a girlfriend.

It happened in season 7, but not until the end.

If a TV show has the potential for character growth, that growth should be played out as soon as possible.

“The Big Bang Theory” needs to take a hint from ABC’s “Scandal” and pick up the pace.

At Comic-Con, producers said viewers would have to wait a while to see Leonard and Penny, who got engaged in the penultimate episode of season 7, get married.

Why wait? The show will lose steam if they don’t get married by the end of season 8.

But at the same time, I don’t think anyone wants to see them break up again. Let’s move forward, not backward.

Can the show last another three seasons? I hope so, but only if the episodes are more like the last eight of season 7.

Thanksgiving 2016: Ranking the ‘Friends’ Thanksgiving episodes

Even though “Friends” ran for 10 seasons, it showcased Thanksgiving holiday fun almost every year.

So in honor of Turkey Day, here’s the order from best to worst “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes.

10. The One with the List, season 2

This episode has to go last because it’s the only episode that doesn’t really surround the Thanksgiving holiday.

It’s also a sad episode because it revolves around Ross’ Julie vs. Rachel debate.

9. The One Where Chandler Hates Dogs, season 7

If you love Rachel with her much-younger assistant Tag, then you might rank this episode higher.

The beginning of their relationship is the highlight of this episode, along with the realization that Chandler isn’t allergic to dogs…he just doesn’t like them.

8. The One with the Late Thanksgiving, season 10

Monica is usually in charge of the Thanksgiving meal, which makes sense since she’s a chef.

But in the last season, she wasn’t planning on cooking. But her friends make her, and then they’re all late.

Locking the door on them was pretty funny though. Monica and Chandler also get news that they have a baby to adopt for them, melting their anger away.

7. The One with Chandler in a Box, season 4

Chandler and Joey rarely fight…but when a girl, Kathy, got in the way, it got ugly.

Desperate to get Joey to talk to him and forgive him, Chandler agrees to stay stuck in a box for a time. Without the holiday food.

Meanwhile, Monica needs to go to the eye doctor, but she’s embarrassed after her failed relationship with Richard, her old eye doctor. But that goes away when she sees Richard’s son…but then it gets awkward. Fast.

6. The One with Rachel’s Other Sister, season 9

Nothing like a holiday to bring family tensions.

When Rachel’s sister (played by Christina Applegate) comes to town, the topic of who will become Emma’s godparents hits.

All the fighting ends in the china from Monica and Chandler’s wedding breaking all over the apartment floor. But at least Chandler steps up and realizes he can be a parent.

5. The One with the Football, season 3

Oh, Monica. She’s so competitive!

When the old Gellar Cup resurfaces from Ross and Monica’s childhood days, the gang goes outside for a game of football. It doesn’t go well as sibling rivalry takes over.

Also, Joey and Chandler try to flirt with a Dutch girl.

4. The One With the Rumor, season 8

My main reason for putting this episode in the top 5 is because of Brad Pitt, who was with Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) at the time.

But they don’t like each other in this episode. And his character is out for revenge against the girl who made fun of him in high school.

It makes for an awkward, confrontational dinner.

3. The One Where Ross Got High, season 6

Poor Rachel, she tried to make a good dessert. But a trifle does not have a layer or potatoes and peas.

During the course of the day, it comes out that Chandler isn’t like by the Gellar parentals. And they don’t know he moved in with Monica either.

Ross tries to come clean, but it just ends to a yelling match where everyone says not-so-great things about others in the room.

2. The One Where Underdog Gets Away, season 1

We all know holidays never go as planned, but this episode features a big fail.

As the friends all recall why they’re not with their families, one of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloons gets loose.

It’s fun to watch all the friends watch the balloon float away together, but it’s even better to laugh when the group of six eat mac and cheese after their dinner burns.

The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks, season 5

Fat Monica! Seahawk hair Chandler! And one big turkey!

This episode featured a lot of the past and problems between Rachel, Chandler, Ross and Monica…but it also featured a glimpse into the future of Monica and Chandler.

What more could you want? Oh wait, how about the first “I love you” spoken between Monica and Chandler. Aww.

How would you rank these “Friends” episodes?

Top 5 Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Nov. 24, 2014.

Holidays tend to bring out funny stories, both in real life and on screen.

So before you stuff your face with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, check out my top five Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes.

5. Thank You: “That ’70s Show,” season 5

Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) never ceases to screw up a situation.

After getting promoted to the adults’ table at Thanksgiving, Eric decides it’s time to tell his parents that he and Donna (Laura Prepon) are engaged.

But then Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) brings a date to the holiday dinner: Eric’s math teacher. By the way, Eric is failing math.

It’s a recipe for a holiday meal gone wrong.

4. Punkin Chunkin: “Modern Family,” season 3

The fun of “Modern Family” is that the families are filled with misfit individuals, and this episode highlights that fact.

The “Dreamers” and the “Pritchetts” is how this episode divides the parents, who then partake in a punkin chunkin challenge.

Watching them launch pumpkins is pretty incredible, but watching them bond is even better.

3. Slapsgiving: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 3

Major Buzzkill! A slap countdown! What more could you want from this show?

Robin and Ted are always confused about where they stand in their relationship/friendship (which makes more sense if you know that they end up together in the end), and this episode is no different.

But in the end of the episode (after a guys vs. girls debate about what to do), they remain friends as they continue to connect with an inside joke (saluting while saying “Major Buzzkill”)

And who could forget the slap countdown Marshall made for Barney? Lilly almost stops it from happening, but in the end, Barney got too cocky, of course.

2. The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks: “Friends,” season 5

It’s hard to choose just one Thanksgiving-themed episode from “Friends,” since there is one in every season except for season 2.

This is the one where the gang recalls their worst Thanksgivings, including the time when Chandler (who is secretly dating Monica at this point) called Monica (Courtney Cox) fat when he went to the Gellars’ house with his roommate, Ross (David Schwimmer).

At the end of the episode, Chandler (Matthew Perry) tells Monica “I love you” for the first time … as she wears a turkey on her head.

The flashbacks provide entertainment, but the “I love you” moment provides a sweet and hilarious moment.

1. A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving: “Gilmore Girls,” season 3

For one, Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) drinks way too much in this episode since her husband’s family decided to deep fry everything, including the turkey. And she’s one funny drunk.

Next, we see the beginnings of Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), including the town members making fun of them for a “weak” kiss.

And of course, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory, not wanting to disappoint anyone, go to four Thanksgiving dinners. But really, who could handle that better than this mother-daughter duo?

What are your favorite Thanksgiving TV episodes?

Binge-watching prevalent, but weekly watching still a good way to watch TV

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 15, 2016.
NOTE: “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” premieres Nov. 25. All four 90-minute episodes will be released at once.

Is TV really TV anymore?

With Netflix, Hulu, On Demand and more, it’s no surprise people are overwhelmed with options.

So how do people watch? It depends. But binge-watching has become a norm.

I just got into watching Netflix. I know, I’m really behind. But the main reason definitely has something to do with “Gilmore Girls.”

“Gilmore Girls” is one of many shows getting the reboot/revival treatment. Four episodes, each centered around a season, will come to Netflix sometime soon.

Amy Sherman-Palladino, one of the creators, doesn’t want to release the episodes all at once, which made me consider how I want to watch these new episodes.

I’ve wanted to see more “Gilmore Girls” for years, so I’m conflicted about having to wait any more than I already have. But I also think it’ll be nice to savor the episodes.

As with most things in life, there are two sides to this story:

3 ADVANTAGES OF BINGE-WATCHING

More continuity. You can clearly see how events, relationships and more unfold throughout a show if you binge-watch.

Easier to follow. Watching episodes one after the other makes you less likely to forget something since it stays fresh in your mind.

Satisfaction of finishing a show. There’s something rewarding about finishing a show after days of binge-watching … or even making it through a season in a weekend. Though there might be other things to do …

3 ADVANTAGES OF WEEKLY WATCHING

Builds suspense. Cliffhangers stay cliffhangers when you have time between shows. You can think of all the possibilities and then be surprised when something changes.

Satisfaction of waiting. Waiting for something gives it more value. Nothing is spoiled, it’s cherished. Plus you’ll have time to do other things. I mean, really, 30 minutes of one show weekly vs. four hours of one show in one day … you do the math.

Less chance for spoilers. If you’re binge-watching a show, chances are it aired in real time a while ago. Which likely means there are lots of articles and social media posts and friends who can spoil the plot for you. Watching in real time lessens the chance of spoilers because you’re watching plots unfold as the show airs.

When it comes to “Gilmore Girls,” I’ll take what I can get … as long as it’s sooner rather than later. In the mean time, I’ll keep binge-watching and watching shows weekly.

Which do you prefer: binge-watching or weekly watching? Why?

‘State of Affairs’: NBC’s answer to CBS’ ‘Madam Secretary,’ ABC’s ‘Scandal’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 4, 2014.

It’s about time powerful women were portrayed on TV.

But with CBS’ “Madam Secretary,” new this year; ABC’s “Scandal,” which is in its fourth season; and NBC’s “State of Affairs,” which premiered Nov. 17 and airs at 10 p.m. Mondays, it somehow has become one note.

All three of these shows have strong women — all played by A-list actresses — in Washington, D.C., grappling with life, love and lofty politicians.

But in a time when we should be embracing strong lead roles for women, why are they all so similar?

“State of Affairs” didn’t help itself by premiering after every other fall show. You could say the drama of whether its star, Katherine Heigl, is rude on set has helped garner interest, but that’s another story.

“State of Affairs” feels like NBC’s desperate attempt to plug in to the market of women in politics. It makes sense given the success of “Scandal,” and the drama definitely has plotlines that toe the line of morality.

But with these three shows so similar in idea, it doesn’t make sense to have all three.

I will admit Heigl does good work and her show, of which she is also a producer, so far has been as terrifying as it is tear-inducing. Heigl plays Charleston Tucker, who briefs the president daily on the United States’ top threats. Oh, by the way — the president, played with just the right amount of heart and dignity by Alfre Woodard, is Charleston’s fiance’s mother. And another thing … Charleston’s fiance was killed by a terrorist.

But like “Madam Secretary,” it’s a show that uses current events for plotlines and has a woman trying to solve problems using skill and heart, despite what any man tells her.

Does a strong woman have to work in politics? No. There are strong, confident women in numerous occupations. Doctors, journalists, teachers, social workers, professors, chefs, hotel managers … just to name a few.

Does every confident, powerful man on TV work in politics? Far from it. So why is politics the only field powerful women can work in?

While I applaud seeing women in power on TV, let’s strive for variety. It’s time.

Advantages to a one-night-a-week reality show

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 5, 2014.

The best decision reality shows ever made was to go from two nights to one night a week.

“So You Think You Can Dance,” Fox’s dance reality competition premiered last week. I can’t help but be excited.

As a former dancer, I love watching what the choreographers come up with week in and week out.

In 2012, it was announced that the show was cutting its results show.

People were shocked, and some wondered if it meant the show was on the outs.

But it was a smart move.

For one, the show saves money because they don’t have to hire as many performers to fill up the hourlong results show.

Besides, who really wants to watch an hourlong results show? They are always filled with fluff, and the results really aren’t announced until the last five minutes of the show.

Yes, it can make it harder on dancers to have an elimination looming over their heads, but at least the dancing would be a good distraction.

“Dancing with the Stars” followed suit in fall 2013, and “American Idol” might be trimmed after the initial audition rounds.

Having a one-night-a-week competition show streamlines the show, and it makes it more enjoyable to watch.

All reality shows should follow this model.