Author: Clara Bush

Clara Bush is a grammar nerd, social media specialist, and couch potato. She'll curl up with Netflix and a homemade dessert any day.

Father’s Day 2015: 5 TV dads who stepped up to the plate

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 20, 2015.

It’s hard to be a dad.

Raising a family is difficult enough when it’s planned, but life can be full of unexpected surprises.

In honor of Father’s Day, here are some TV dads who stepped up to the plate.

LUKE DANES, “GILMORE GIRLS”

While Luke (Scott Patterson) helped take of Rory Gilmore, the daughter of his love, Lorelai, fatherhood wasn’t really on his radar.

And then April Nardini (Vanessa Marano) showed up. The smart preteen won over the heart of the diner owner after she conducted a science experiment to determine who her father was.

And once Luke got to know her, he couldn’t let her go, and he even fought for custody when her mother moved.

BARNEY STINSON, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”

Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), the legendary playmaker, was probably the last character on HIMYM anyone would expect to have a child.

But after his “perfect month,” Barney found out he would become a father. No one was quite sure how he would handle it, but the precious moment in the series finale where he holds his daughter for the first time and promises to always love her was one of the best scenes of the finale.

JOEY GLADSTONE AND JESSE KATSOPOLIS, “FULL HOUSE”

Give these two credit for stepping up to take care of Danny’s three girls.

They dropped everything in their lives — including volatile, elusive careers in comedy and music — to move in and love three young children … and they clearly had no idea what they were doing.

And even when Jesse (John Stamos) tried to run away from responsibility in season 1, he came back, knowing how much those girls meant to him.

MR. TURNER, “BOY MEETS WORLD”

The hunky teacher becomes … a dad?

Mr. Turner, everyone’s favorite English teacher, took care of Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) when his parents flaked out on him.

Shawn needed a solid influence, and Mr. Turner was that, along with being the cool guy to whom Shawn could relate.

UNCLE PHIL, “THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR”

Uncle Phil had kids, but taking care of his nephew wasn’t really in his plan.

Will (Will Smith) was the opposite of Uncle Phil (James Avery). Chaotic vs. reserved. Wild vs. proper.

They didn’t always get along, but in time, Uncle Phil provided the fatherly influence Will needed in his life.

Honorable mentions go to:

Which TV dads do you think stepped up to the plate?

Top 5 TV weddings to make you feel better about yours

Ah, wedding season.

June is here, which means many of us are dressing up and watching friends and family declare their love for their partners. But not every wedding goes off without a hitch.

In no particular order, here are my top 5 TV weddings:

Monica and Chandler, “Friends“

Monica and Chandler are definitely the more stable couple in the “Friends” world. But their wedding was not so stable.

Chandler, of course, freaked out, and Joey almost missed the ceremony due to a movie role.

Plus there was the whole who’s-actually-pregnant question.

In the end, they got married, vowing to stand by each other, and Chandler even tried to dance at the reception.

Chandler GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Lily and Marshall, “How I Met Your Mother“

On their wedding day, nothing seemed to go right for Lily and Marshall, who were finally tying the knot after a broken engagement, a cancelled Atlantic City at-sea wedding and many years together.

The harpist went into the labor, Lilly’s ex showed up and Marshall shaved a part of his head. Lilly tried to keep it together, but she finally panicked.

And no, the actual wedding wasn’t the focus, but their intimate outside ceremony was, and it even included some crying from Barney, who claimed no one should get married.

Himym GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Miranda and Steve, “Sex and the City“

The perfect wedding for the down-to-earth couple.

Miranda wasn’t the one who necessarily wanted marriage, but after proposing to longtime (albeit on-and-off) lover Steve, she finds making the moment not so over-the-top and cliche was a challenge (“I have a child – the jig is up!” she says to someone trying to help her find a dress for the occasion).

But the couple finds a beautiful, tranquil garden. And Miranda wears an understated maroon outfit. Simple and fit for them.

Jim and Pam, “The Office“

Another wedding gone wrong. Quite the theme on TV.

This lovely couple tries to go with the punches, but in the end, they sneak off to marry in a secret ceremony.

Who wouldn’t want a guy like Jim? He’s a sweetie who tries to make the best of the situation.

And here’s where everyone swoons: “And Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her.”

*Note: This is the only episode of “The Office” I’ve ever watched.

Tv GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Becky and Jesse, “Full House“

Any time Jesse sings on “Full House,” I’m in.

Course you have to watch him finally make his way to the chapel first before his wedding. And that trek includes skydiving, a truck of tomatoes and a bus filled with a gospel choir.

But by the end, with all the 80s/90s fashion, there’s crooning to “Forever” and “Jailhouse Rock,” so you can’t go wrong there.

Tv GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

What are your favorite TV weddings?

In honor of Father’s Day, the best TV dads are…

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 13, 2014.

Since I picked the best TV moms for Mother’s Day, it’s only fair I pick the best TV dads for Father’s Day.

My top picks are:

Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, “The Cosby Show“

Not only was this a breakthrough show for African-Americans on TV, it featured one great dad. He’s so great, in fact, he’s No. 1 on the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time” list by TV Week.

Dr. Huxtable knew how to be tough, but he could always make his kids laugh.

He poked fun at his kids too, especially his son, Theo, including the time when Theo begged to get his ear pierced.

All fun aside, he taught his children how to love and how to grow.

Danny Tanner, Jesse Katsopolis and Joey Gladstone, “Full House“

With this ’90s sitcom, it was impossible to pick just one of these three “dads.”

Danny was the biological dad, Jesse was the uncle and Joey was the lifelong friend. They all took care of Danny’s three children when his wife died.

Danny needed Joey and Jesse. He needed support.

The trio worked together, balancing each other out.

Phil Dunphy, “Modern Family“

Phil might not know how to be the best dad, but he tries.

And he tries with flair.

He’s not afraid to be a dork or to be vulnerable.

Plus he wants to help, even if it’s in a quirky way. I would love to have his “Phil’s-osophy” book.

Burt Hummel, “Glee“

On Glee, it’s crystal clear how much Burt loves his son, Kurt, because of the journey Burt has taken on the show.

Viewers saw him accept his son, who is gay; stand up for his son; and even learn the “Single Ladies” dance as a high school graduation gift.

The scenes Burt and Kurt have together always bring a smile to my face or a tear to my eye.

Other notable fathers include:

Obviously there are many more great TV dads. Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to tell the father figure in your life how much you appreciate him.

Summer TV: We need to talk about ABC’s Summer Fun and Games

Summer: the time when shorts and flip-flops are everywhere, sangria is a drink of choice and TV hits a lull.

But ABC is hitting advertising hard with it’s Summer Fun & Games lineup. And it’s out of control.

Another networks are airing new reality competition shows (See Fox‘s “Beat Shazam” and NBC‘s “World of Dance“), too, but ABC has a plethora of them.

Returning this season are “Celebrity Family Feud,” “The $100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth.” Additionally, new shows “The Gong Show,” “Boy Band,” “Steve Harvey’s FUNDERDOME” and “Battle of the Network Stars” will also premiere in June.

That’s seven reality competition shows. In theory, that’s one for every day of the week, but only Sunday and Thursday evening programming will center around these shows.

Is this really necessary?

All types of shows premiere almost year-round these days. Typically new summer shows are lighter, more soap-opera-style or a competition show.

Admittedly yes, this lineup includes all lighter shows. But they’re probably not interesting.

Maybe ABC is going for nostalgia. After all, “100,000 Pyramid” and “To Tell the Truth” are re-launches, as is new show “The Gong Show.” And “Boy Band” seems like a rip off of “Making the Band” made to fill the void One Direction’s hiatus made.

But substance is lacking immensely in these shows. It’s all about catching attention, especially with all the celebrities that’ll be on the shows, but not really keeping it. Yes, you get celebrities acting silly, but who really cares?

I’m always surprised when competition shows last more than a season. Something about “American Idol” worked for a time, but these shows usually don’t have it.

“The Search for Elle Woods,” a competition focused on finding Broadway’s next “Legally Blonde” star, was one season. “The Glee Project” lasted for only two seasons. One Directioners may watch the new show “Boy Band,” but they’ll probably lose interest too.

I’ll stick to “Hollywood Game Night.” And the “Bachelorette”…for the workouts (another blog for another time)

With ‘Rising Star,’ TV is saturated with singing reality competitions

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on June 26, 2014.

How many singing reality competitions can there be on TV?

“Rising Star” is the latest singing competition to hit the small screen. It airs Sundays on ABC.

After watching the premiere June 22, “Rising Star” seems to be more about technology than talent, in my opinion. Yes, it’s innovative to use an app to “Raise the Wall,” which allows the experts, studio audience and viewers to vote on which contestants should move on to the next round, but so what?

“American Idol” was groundbreaking in 2002. But let’s be real. Without Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul, the Fox show just is not interesting anymore. And “The X Factor,” Cowell’s follow-up show, bombed in America, despite having high-profile judges such as Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.

And now anyone can be a judge or expert. On “Rising Star,” the so-called “experts” are Kesha, Ludacris and Brad Paisley. I think hiring Kesha is a publicity stunt after her stint in rehab, but I guess she does have a lot of fame.

“The Voice” is great. But after the auditions, the NBC show is no longer truly about the voice, considering the judges can see them face-to-face. So the best singer doesn’t necessarily win.

It’s such an influx. I get that ABC wants to break into the singing competition mold, but it’s just cliche now.

Yes, seeing and hearing great singers is entertaining, but there just aren’t enough viable twists to make all of these shows worthwhile to watch.

And since so few of them these days make a name for themselves after the show, maybe it’s a sign that others are sick of these shows, too.

Upfronts 2017: 3 takeaways for upcoming TV season

The sun may be out, but I’m more excited to stay in and watch these new shows.

Networks hosted upfronts presentations over the last week, presenting all their new shows and lineups for the fall and midseason.

Here are three takeaways:

‘American Idol’ is back…on ABC

Apparently the singing reality shows aren’t dead yet.

It’s been only one year since “American Idol” went off the air, but it’s being revived on a new network after a reported bidding war among multiple networks.

This move is beyond me, because “AI” had been dwindling in popularity for years, with more focus on the judges than the winners.

If it can go back to its Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood days, great. Katy Perry was the first judge announced, and I can see her vibing with the other judges and singers. Simon Cowell will not be returning, however. He declined, plus he judges NBC‘s “America’s Got Talent.”

CW owns superhero shows

Does Greg Berlanti ever sleep? Or does he live at the CW office?

Berlanti produces multiple shows for the broadcast network, including all of the superhero shows.

CW will gain yet another superhero show in “Black Lightning.” The new action drama will not be part of the Arrowverse, so crossover episodes won’t extend to five.

But still, that’s a lot of superheroes on one network.

Reboots galore

“Roseanne.” “Dynasty.” “Will & Grace.”

After so-called success of “Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls,” networks are clamoring for that nostalgia glory. I don’t either reboot was that successful, but I get the capture-the-old mentality (even if I also think it’s super risky).

I didn’t watch “Roseanne,” “Dynasty” or “Will & Grace” in their time, so I’m a bit behind. I’m hoping they’ll be on Netflix this summer.

Also, here are 3 new shows I’m excited to watch this fall:

  • “Young Sheldon” (CBS): I can’t deny my love for “The Big Bang Theory,” so count me excited for this prequel about your favorite physicist during his childhood.
  • “The Good Doctor” (ABC): I’m nervous how this show will handle itself since it focuses on a character with autism, but I think it could be a great conversation starter. My suggestion? Take notes from “Speechless.” Also, after his run on “Bates Motel,” I’m ready to see more Freddie Highmore on TV.
  • “Alex, Inc.” (ABC): If this show is three-quarters of what Zach Braff‘s other TV show, “Scrubs,” was in its early seasons, I’ll be happy.

The best TV moms are…

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 8, 2014.

In honor of Mother’s Day 2014, I thought this would be a good opportunity to pick the best TV moms.

My top picks are:

Lorelai Gilmore, “Gilmore Girls“

I’ve already talked about my love for  “Gilmore Girls” before, but I am a big fan of the character Lorelai.

She’s a fun mom. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Gilmore Girls movie nights or the all-night junk food binges?

But she’s also a tough mom. Lorelai could be blunt with Rory, her daughter whom she had at 16, and she wasn’t afraid to tell her to be careful.

Clair Hanks Huxtable, “The Cosby Show“

Clair Huxtable balanced it all. She was a lawyer, a wife and a mom to five children.

The Cosby Show was one of those great, almost timeless family sitcoms. And Clair was a mom who kept everyone together.

She laughed with her children, taught them life lessons and still made time to poke fun at her husband, playfully, of course.

Rebecca Katsopolis, “Full House“

Rebecca Katsopolis was the woman needed to balance out all the men on this ’90s family sitcom.

Before she was a mom to twins Nicky and Alex, she became a stand-in mom for D.J., Stephanie and Michelle, her co-host Danny’s three daughters.

Rebecca taught D.J. how to properly apply make-up and offered to take Stephanie to a mother-daughter slumber party.

She was the mom they needed when Danny was unsure how to proceed. And viewers loved her for it.

Amy Matthews, “Boy Meets World“

Amy took care of three somewhat-wild children, and her husband, who sometimes made rash decisions. And she managed to be honest with her children about growing up.

Most of all, she took Topanga and Shawn in as her own.

Other notable mothers include:

Obviously there are many more great TV moms. Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Also, don’t forget to tell the mother in your life how much you appreciate her.

Mother’s Day 2016: 5 TV moments when moms don’t have it all together

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 4, 2016.

While moms are sometimes expected to be superheroes, it’s not always the case.

Moms are only humans, so even they mess up, freak out and/or need help some days.

Here are five moments where TV moms did just that:

RACHEL, “FRIENDS”

Episode: “The One Where Emma Cries,” season 9

First-time mothers learn a lot as they go. For new mom Rachel, that included letting her daughter sleep.

The day she brings home Emma, her newborn daughter with Ross, Rachel is so enamored that she decides to hold her sleeping baby, which wakes her up.

She should’ve listened to Monica, who’d advised against it. Emma wails for hours, and Rachel can’t figure out how to calm Emma down.

Fortunately she has friends to help, especially Monica, who seems to have the way to make Emma sleep.

 

CLAIRE, “MODERN FAMILY”

Episode: “Under Pressure,” season 5

Sometimes a reality check can be good.

Out of the three Dunphy kids on “Modern Family,” Alex is by far the smartest. But she’s also a perfectionist, and SAT prep gets to her so much that she decides to see a therapist after a birthday meltdown.

On the same episode/day, her mom, Claire, goes to parent-teacher conferences. By the way, Claire is the type of mom who wants her kids to have fun … and maybe didn’t do as well as Alex in school.

While Alex realizes she works so hard to be noticed, Claire realizes Alex’s classes are a lot to handle … and then stresses out in front of teachers.

The mother-daughter pair meet up after the therapy session, and Claire tells Alex how proud of her she is.

 

DJ, “FULLER HOUSE”

Episode: “Our Very First Show, Again,” season 1

Raising three kids with someone helping you is hard enough … imagine handling that on your own.

After her husband dies, DJ Fuller has family and friends help her raise her three boys. But they all have other obligations.

When they have a goodbye party and Jesse sings “Forever” to his wife, Rebecca, she tears up a bit.

Then, the next day, she has a sick child, work, a dog who’s about to give birth, and more.

So when she goes to take care of her baby, she talks to him, saying she’s scared and unsure because she doesn’t know how she’ll handle everything.

Little does she know her family and friends, who are about to leave, can hear her through the baby monitor.

Of course, this sets the reboot in motion, as sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy decide to step up for DJ.

 

KITTY, “THAT ’70S SHOW”

Episode: “The Kids Are Alright,” season 6

When Red Foreman has a heart attack, he’s forced to rest and not work.

That means his wife, Kitty, has to pick up the slack. A lot of slack.

While Eric, their son, is preparing to leave town for college, Kitty picks up extra shifts at the hospital to help pay for everything, on top of taking care of her husband and the house.

But once Eric realizes Kitty can’t handle it all — he catches her doing laundry at about midnight because she’s between shifts and it’s the only time she can, and then finds her asleep on laundry — he agrees to stay home to help out.

 

LILY, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”

Episode: “Band or DJ?” season 8

While most of “How I Met Your Mother” revolves around Ted and his love life (this episode is no different), there are moments where other characters get some focus.

In this episode, Lily and Marshall are dealing with the struggles of having a newborn, their son Marvin. In this episode, he’s crying … and producing empty diapers.

So Lily takes Ted up to the roof to talk. And she admits she wishes she wasn’t a mom sometimes, and that she hasn’t painted in months because she’s busy taking care of Marvin.

But she pulls through for her son, just like Ted has to move on from Robin. See, it all ties together!

 

So don’t forget to thank you mother or motherly figure in your life this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day!

Top 10 episodes of CBS’ ‘The Big Bang Theory’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Aug. 11, 2015.

I’m a fan of comedies, so after picking the best episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Friends,” it’s time to pick the top 10 episodes of “The Big Bang Theory.”

Of course, the CBS show still has many episodes to go, so this list could change, but here are my current picks (spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen every episode):

10. “The Proton Resurgence,” season 6

Bob Newhart won an Emmy for his guest-starring role as Sheldon’s beloved childhood idol Professor Proton in this episode.

It’s one of the few times that Sheldon (Jim Parsons) shows genuine affection for another human being. But that doesn’t mean conversation isn’t sometimes awkward.

9. “The Spaghetti Catalyst,” season 3

Sheldon going behind Leonard’s back? Uh-oh.

When Sheldon and Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) have dinner together, Sheldon feels a lot of guilt but doesn’t know how to handle the friendship after Penny and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) break up.

And at one point he gets chased by a dog.

8. “The Maternal Capacitance,” season 2

What could go wrong when Leonard’s mother, Beverly (Christine Baranski), comes to visit? Quite a lot.

Penny and Leonard end up drinking in excess, leading to a revelation that angers Penny.

Sheldon and Beverly, who are quite similar in personality, grow closer and bond … over the game “Rock Band.”

7. “The Countdown Reflection,” season 5

Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Howard (Simon Helberg) rush to get married when his space trip gets moved.

Exemplifying the nerdiness of the show, the gang hatches a plan to have the wedding on the roof so it can be seen by a satellite. And they all officiate the ceremony, with a little Klingon thrown in by Sheldon.

It’s also the one time we “see” Howard’s mom (voiced by the late Carol Ann Susi) … her figure is seen as the camera zooms out over the wedding near the episode’s end.

6. “The Romance Resonance,” season 7

Howard sings to Bernadette for the anniversary of their first date. And it’s the nerdiest, cutest song you’ll hear.

5. “The Pants Alternative,” season 3

Sheldon doesn’t know social norms, which causes a massive problem when he has to give a speech to receive an award.

He doesn’t want to give the speech, but he does want the award, so his friends try to coach him. Which would’ve worked, maybe, until he drinks too much and gets slightly out of control.

4. “The Locomotive Manipulation,” season 7

After many years together, Sheldon and Amy (Mayim Bialik) kiss! And Sheldon doesn’t mind … he might even like it.

3. “The Prom Equivalency,” season 8

Since most of the characters were bullied and/or went stag to prom, they decide to have a do-over.

Leonard and Penny talk about their past. Howard can’t deal with comic book store owner/friend Stuart’s (Kevin Sussman) relationship with Howard’s mother, which ends in a fight in a limo.

Most importantly, Sheldon tells Amy he loves her. (I’m a huge Shamy fan.)

2. “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” season 2

I chose this episode in my great Christmas episodes list.

But the holiday theme doesn’t matter; it’s a humorous, heart-warming episode with one of many awww-inducing moments from Sheldon and Penny.

1. “The Adhesive Duck Deficiency,” season 3

Leave it to Leonard, Howard and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) to get accidentally stoned. They may be scientists, but their street smarts are lacking.

At least the results are hilarious to watch.

Elsewhere, Penny needs Sheldon’s help, which doesn’t go well. If only she had put adhesive ducks in her bathtub …

This is also an episode that features “Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty,” the song Sheldon needs to hear when he’s sick.

 

“The Big Bang Theory” returns Sept. 21 for its ninth season, which can’t come soon enough after last season’s cliffhanger finale.

What are your favorite “Big Bang Theory” episodes?

‘Imaginary Mary’ and ‘Great News’: New-ish takes on family comedy

In a world of reboots, it’s nice to see some newer ideas.

Taking on the family comedy genre are ABC’s “Imaginary Mary” and NBC’s “Great News.”

“Imaginary Mary” focuses on Alice (Jenna Elfman), whose imaginary friend Mary (voiced by Rachel Dratch) comes back into Alice’s life when she starts seriously falling for a man with kids.

“Great News” focuses on a mother who becomes an intern at her daughter’s work after a friend dies.

Both shows are full of B-list stars, though “Great News” boasts that it’s produced by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

The comedies are not as revolutionary as “Modern Family,” but at least they tried for something different.

When was the last time you saw an imaginary friend on TV?  And it’s nice to see an older female starring in a TV show about something that is slightly relevant (baby boomers in the workforce)

Yes, there are still some usual tropes: “Imaginary Mary”  has the I-don’t-know-how-to-handle-children mentality and “Great News” yet again focuses on the world of journalism. And yes, neither show is laugh-out-loud funny.

But with all these reboots, I’d give these a shot.

“Imaginary Mary” airs 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC. “Great News”airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC.