Appreciating all that makes America special

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The rest of the world knows about America from watching our television shows. They want to hang out in Central Perk with their Friends. They want to ride the Ponderosa with Hoss and Little Joe. They want to dance the boogaloo on American Bandstand. Okay, maybe not that.


TV Show: Cheers

Posted by on Jun 13, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Cheers

Cheers had the two elements that every successful sitcom needs, an excellent ensemble cast and great writing. Together, they created a...

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TV Show: Dragnet

Posted by on May 28, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Dragnet

Dragnet has to be the most-parodied television show ever. Jack Webb’s deadpan delivery, name (Joe Friday), catchphrase (“Just...

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TV Show: American Idol

Posted by on May 13, 2010 in Music, TV Show | 1 comment

It’s trendy for people to turn their noses up at this show, it’s somehow beneath them. But American Idol’s overpowering...

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TV Show: Austin City Limits

Posted by on May 1, 2010 in Music, TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Austin City Limits

If Austin is indeed the “live music capital of the world” as it proclaims itself, much of the credit has to go to Austin City...

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TV Show: Roots

Posted by on Apr 16, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Roots

It’s hard for contemporary television watchers to grasp what happened to America when Roots premiered on ABC in 1977. Rather than...

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TV Show: The Muppet Show

Posted by on Apr 2, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: The Muppet Show

We first knew Jim Henson’s Muppets from their appearances on Sesame Street. Henson, however, didn’t want to be stuck with the...

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TV Show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Posted by on Mar 17, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

When Mary Richards showed up in our homes, we didn’t quite know what to make of her. A single woman in her 30s? Not widowed or...

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TV Show: Jeopardy!

Posted by on Mar 3, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Jeopardy!

I realize as I write this what a geek – and what’s worse, an old geek – it makes me, but I can’t help it. One of my...

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TV Shows: Greatest Theme Songs

Posted by on Feb 21, 2010 in Americana, TV Show | 3 comments

I’m not sure if theme songs are as important to TV shows today as they used to be. In the early days of TV, they were used to...

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TV Show: Lonesome Dove

Posted by on Feb 18, 2010 in TV Show | Comments Off on TV Show: Lonesome Dove

Roots is probably the most influential miniseries in television history. But I think you can make the case that the best miniseries ever...

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