DAY 117: What I Like About You

Series Run : 2002-2006

86 episodes

Network: WB

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

Younger Sister moves in with her older sister in New York

Episode Watched: Dangerous Liaisons (Season 3)

Episode Summary: Holly is slowly deleting all her friends from her phone for one reason or another, meanwhile the plumber that shows up is a 1 night stand of Val’s from high school.

My Thoughts: Holy cow does this show fit right into my wheelhouse!!! I am disgusted I didn’t watch it while it was on. This show comes from Head of the Class veterans Brian Robbins & Dan Schneider, who also launched some memorable shows/careers on Nickelodeon. It stars former 90210 stalwart, Jennie Garth, and a personal favorite of mine, Amanda Bynes. I am a certified Amanada Bynes apologist and really miss her on-screen. This show follows Amanda as she navigates into adulthood and romance in the big city, guided by her big sister (Garth). The show has a lot fo rapid dialogue and one could say its an adult version of a Nickelodeon show. I am not going to apologize for liking it, but I will understand if its juvenile format, and sentimentality is not for everyone. This episode is particularly hysterical, as it has a 90210 reunion with Luke Perry, playing a plumber who had had a 1 night stand with Jennie Garth in highschool. You should all watch it just for the flashback sequence between Garth and Perry in high school, which parodies 90210 story lines and includes references to both Brenda and Brandon. As for Miss Bynes, this episode also contains an actual video of a 10-year-old Amanda doing stand up comedy. It’s a part of her character’s storyline, but it has a weird foreshadowing vibe to it. It’s a show that isn’t readily available on youtube, going to have to buy this one via itunes or amazon if you want to watch it, but for my Saved by the Bell loving friends, its worth a gander!

 Memorable Quotes:

“When I was 10 you told me having sex without love would make a girls ear fall off” -Holly

“Hey Todd, I didn’t know you were back at school, how was jail?” -Val

“You know you look different with Brenda out-of-town” – Todd

Acting Notables:

Amanda Bynes- Holly

Jennie Garth- Val

Luke Perry- Todd

Tomorrow: My recently usurped favorite TV Butler of all time

DAY 77: Brotherly Love

Series Run : 1995-1997

40 episodes

Network: NBC/WB

Series Premise (as far as I can tell):

2 brothers and their long-lost half-brother have adventures and work in a garage

Episode Watched: Skin Deep (Season 2)

Episode Summary:  Matt changes his personality for a girl while Joe gives Lloyd advice on how to impress a woman.

My Thoughts: Oh those Lawrence brothers! We first saw them on Gimmie a Break (Day 71), and we’ll see them in future entries (Blossom, Boy Meets World, Melissa and Joey), but this was a show built entirely around the 3 brothers (Joey, Matt, Andrew). This show had a lot going for it, recognizable stars, teen heart-throbs, good adult supporting cast, good production values, and a big marketing campaign before it premiered. Unfortunately, they spent their money on all of that stuff, and not on the writers. It seems the idea for the show was to just throw the brothers on-screen and tell them to be funny, cute and adorable. And while they may be the latter, they aren’t inherently funny without someone talented writing for them. The result is a boring show that one cannot wait to end. This episode tries to teach a lesson about self-confidence and not changing to impress others, but it falls pretty flat. NBC gave up on it after one year, WB picked it up in hope of reviving it to no avail. A clear example that you need more than a good-looking lead to make a show. WHOA!

Memorable Quotes:

“Asking a girl to find you a girlfriend is like asking a cow where a good steakhouse is”-Joe

“I thought maybe you were getting your doughnuts somewhere else”- Shelia

Acting Notables:

Joey Lawrence- Joe

Matthew Lawrence- Matt

Andrew Lawrewnce- Andy

Melinda Cuela- Claire

Tomorrow: Fascinating ABC show that should have lasted longer