Category: Holiday TV

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?

CBS’ ‘Mom’ shows the crazy side of family life

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 7, 2015, in honor of Mother’s Day. Season 4 of “Mom” premieres at 9 p.m. tonight.

Why do so many TV shows portray messy yet perfect families?

Even “Modern Family,” arguably one of the more realistic family sitcoms in the last 10 years, has happy endings every week.

The old saying is don’t go to bed angry, but is that reality? Not for all.

But “Mom” is different. It shows ups and downs and everything in between. And even though it’s a comedy, some episodes end with sad or frustrated characters.

The CBS show focuses on a three-generation family struggling to survive after the mother, Christy (Anna Faris) and grandmother Bonnie (Allison Janney), finally get sober. Its season two finale aired April 30, and the show was renewed for season three in March.

The former alcoholics are by no means perfect; in fact, they are far from it. They aren’t role models, but they’re trying.

On “Mom,” Christy’s daughter Violet (Sadie Calvano) is hostile toward her family because the two mothers are former alcoholics. Violet had a baby, which she gave up for adoption to give the child a better life, in season 1, and while Christy and Bonnie supported her, she struggled to move on in life. Then, Violet got engaged to an older professor in season 2, much to Christy and Bonnie’s dismay. They want better for Violet, but they haven’t provided enough reason to prove what’s better.

Christy’s son Roscoe (Blake Garrett Rosenthal) decides to live with his dad, who has turned his life around, at the end of season 2, which breaks Christy’s heart after she tried to turn her own life around by going back to school and getting a promotion at work.

Bonnie falls off the sobriety wagon after taking painkillers for a back injury, causing a riff between her and Christy, who celebrated two years of sobriety at the end of season 2.

They’re a broken and exhausted family. But the show provides laughter and heart as the family continues on in life.

They may yell or fight, but with love and support from friends (featuring Octavia Spencer and Jaime Pressly), they remember they are family, and continue to work through life’s challenges together.

So on Mother’s Day, even though it’s not easy, it’s important to remember that no one, not even your mother, is perfect.

Get your laugh on with these 5 Halloween-themed TV episodes

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Oct. 31, 2014.

Costumes, jack-o’-lanterns and scares … it must be October.

While you can watch Halloween-themed movies, shows and more throughout the month (See ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween or AMC’s Fearfest), here are five TV episodes that will give you a laugh or smile instead of a scare.

The Slutty Pumpkin: Season 1, “How I Met Your Mother”

While the title of this “HIMYM” episode focuses on one costume, many other outfits also make an appearance, thanks to Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) and his desperate attempts to attract women.

Barney, being the ultimate player that he is, changes costumes throughout the night to continue hitting on the hottest girl at the party.

The episode focuses more on the lead’s character development, but seeing all the costumes makes the episode fun.

The One with the Halloween Party: Season 8, “Friends”

Rachel hands out money instead of candy. That’s not trick-or-treating!

Phoebe tells her twin sister’s fiance many negative things about Ursula, and then she ends up dating him for an episode. That’s not normal!

And then there’s Chandler in a pink bunny suit. And that’s just too funny.

In typical “Friends” fashion, the episode is full of laughs, and it’s the comedy’s only Halloween-centered episode.

And Then There Was Shawn: Season 5, “Boy Meets World”

Technically, this isn’t Halloween-centric, but the episode does have a Halloween vibe.

It parodies “Scream,” and you know it’s not really real. It’s more kitschy than anything.

Still, it’s entertaining to watch Shawn (Rider Strong) discover who the “killer” is.

Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Season 1, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”

Mostly taking place in a mall, this episode is worth watching for the parts when cousins Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) compete for a girl.

Oh yeah, and Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert) gets lost in the music at a recording booth in the mall.

The Halloween Scene: Season 5, “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”

This Melissa Joan Hart-starring show features many Halloween episodes, for obvious reasons.

In this Halloween-themed episode, Sabrina hosts a party when her aunts Hilda (Carolina Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick) are away. Which would be fine … if the portal to the Other Realm didn’t keep transporting monsters to her house.

But hey, at least she got to counsel Frankenstein and his bride, right?

What are your favorite Halloween-themed TV episodes?