Top 5: Creepiest Collector Barbies Currently for Sale

It's been a long time since I've posted a Top 5 - between moving, my friends' weddings, and not having internet at home, time has slipped away from me. But I'm going to get back into the habit of posting each Monday if it kills me, so without further ado, a new Top 5 list!

So I was perusing the Barbie website today, and honestly I'm not sure how I got there. One minute I was reading posts at Wired, and a few links later I was at BarbieCollector.com. The internet: it's a slippery slope, people. Anyway, I was flipping through the newest Barbies, as I used to collect fancy Barbies when I was a kid (I was a weird child who would rather look at them in boxes than play with them), and realized there are some really weird dolls out there. These are the creepiest dolls you can currently buy.

5. Pink in PANTONE Barbie, $49.95

I love Pantone swatches as much as the next graphic designer, so I kind of like this one, even if it is kooky. Still, how much of a crossover market is there for graphic design geeks who collect Barbie dolls?

4. Dancing with the Stars Samba Barbie, $29.95

I cannot understand the popularity of this show. I have seen multiple episodes, and I just don't get it. What I really do not understand is the ridiculous costumes worn by the dancers, usually the female partner. This doll comes complete with crazy glitter eyeshadow.

3. Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Dolls, $49.00

As a kid who grew up listening to country pop, I know that Tim & Faith are the power couple of country music. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert can only hope to be as awesome as the two of them. The pair of dolls are actually not terrible, except for the weird expression on Faith's face. She is a very pretty woman in real life, and this makes her look really creepy.

2. The Twilight Saga: New Moon Jacob Doll, $24.95

This doll plays into the whole "Twilight Moms" culture that thoroughly concerns me. This is a collector doll, for adults, featuring a shirtless teenage boy. Creepy.

1. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I Edward Doll, $29.95

Do I have to explain this one? He's made of creepy almost-white plastic. I guess I should be glad that they didn't embed glitter to make him sparkle in the sunlight. In a weird way he actually looks like a vampire, Ann Rice-style.

Bonus creepy: look at him when they pose him with the Bella doll. He's staring at her in a "you look delicious" kind of way. Because that's a great way to portray a teenage romance.

All images from www.barbiecollector.com

Top 5: Bridal Showers

I know lots of people getting married this year, and recently got to talk to a lovely friend of mine about her upcoming bridal shower and bachelorette party, and (understandably) her fears about them. For some reason our culture is all about embarrassing the bride-to-be and/or encouraging her to make a fool of herself, and my friend is hoping to avoid the ridiculousness (and luckily for her, Magic Mike won't be in theaters in September). One of her greatest fears is that her shower will turn out like the #1 on this list, so in her honor, today's top 5 covers the most memorable pop-culture bridal showers.

5. Lorelai on Gilmore Girls 

Although I can't find any Google Images to prove it, I distinctly remember watching an episode where the town of Stars Hollow throws Lorelai a bridal shower for her upcoming marriage to Rory's dad Christopher, where she sat in the gazebo surrounded by gifts, including a Hello Kitty toaster, which I thought was amazing. I can't remember anything else about the party except that awesome toaster, which is how Lorelai lands at the number 5 spot on the list. 

4. Monica on Friends 

When searching for bridal showers to add to the list, I knew I would able to turn to Friends to help me out. In true 90s sitcom fashion, Rachel and Phoebe wait until the last minute to throw together an awesome party for Monica by calling random people from her address book as guests. And then forget to invite Monica. 

3. Hannah in Made of Honor

I told you: kilts.

This rom-com starring Patrick Dempsey as the maid of honor in the wedding of the girl he loves took the year 2008 by storm. Put a handsome guy in a kilt during a wedding in Ireland and women everywhere are going to be watching. Dempsey played a character named Tom who was given all the maid of honor duties and attempted to throw his best friend Hannah the perfect bridal shower. Unfortunately he was tricked by a jealous bridesmaid into booking the wrong kind of entertainment, thinking the woman was a psychic but turned out to be selling something a little more intimate, if you catch my drift,  thus embarrassing Hannah in front of her family and friends. And her oblivious grandmother, who loved all the things the woman sold after mistaking them for something else.

2. Lillian in Bridesmaids

Giant cookie and chocolate fondue fountain.

This is quite possible the most epic bridal shower I have ever seen. I'm assuming that Kate Middleton had a pretty spectacular bridal shower, if British royals celebrate such things, but the one Helen threw for Lillian was over the top. Live butterflies in the invitations, horseback entrances, a couture Paris theme - not to mention they gave out puppies as favors. Puppies! And to top it all off, jilted maid of honor and protagonist Annie finally explodes after Helen takes over all her responsibilities, ends up in the chocolate fountain and is asked to step down as maid of honor. Not the best bridal shower, but definitely one of the most memorable.


1. Lily on How I Met Your Mother

This show is pretty hilarious as it is - how could it not, with Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segal in the cast - but seriously, this is the funniest episode I have ever seen. Robin asks womanizer Barney what to get Lily as a gift and he suggests something highly innapropriate (let's just say the woman at the Made of Honor party would have been selling them) so Robin buys it as a joke. Then at the party, when she realizes how inappropriate it is, she switches the card with that of another gift - which just so happens to be her grandmother's hand-held sewing machine. The mix-up is awkwardly hysterical.




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Top 5: Single Dads on TV

I've been tossing around the idea of writing a Top 5 about single parents on TV, and with Father's Day this past weekend, it seemed like the perfect time to showcase some TV dads. There have been lots of single parents on the small screen over the years, from The Andy Griffith Show to Gilmore Girls, but I'm only going to cover shows that have run during my lifetime, and that I've seen, which admittedly narrows it down, but write what you know, right? So these are my Top 5 TV Single Dads.

5. Alan Harper, Two and a Half Men

Alan (Jon Cryer) is a single dad forced to move in with his brother Charlie (Charlie Sheen) after a divorce from his son Jake's mother. He's the intellectual type with a propensity towards awkward social skills, particularly with women. He really wants to be a good dad but struggles to connect with his son, who is arguably one of the dullest tools in the shed. Despite a ridiculous ex-wife, a rich womanizing brother, and an uppity domineering mother, he's the most level-headed in the bunch and tries hard to be a stable and loving father.



4. Jimmy Chance, Raising Hope

Jimmy (Lucas Neff) is a 23-year-old kid who finds himself raising a baby girl after impregnating a one-night-stand who drops the child, Hope, off on her way to jail for murder. It's a weird premise, and continues to get weirder. Jimmy lives with his kooky parents Virginia and Burt and his grandmother Maw Maw (Cloris Leachman), who suffers from Alzheimer's and barely makes sense. The family is at the lower end of middle class, scrounging to make ends meet by working as pool cleaners and grocery baggers, but they always put family first and want what is best for baby Hope. Jimmy is always trying hard to give his daughter a good childhood, even if it means the rest of his life is a disaster.


3. Chaz Finster, Rugrats

I watched a lot of Rugrats as a kid, and unlike now, most shows I watched growing up featured a set of happily married parents. Now if you turn on a kid's channel you'd be hard pressed to find married parents - if you can locate parents at all. For some reason a lot of shows feature kids living with siblings or off at boarding schools, which is weird to me, but I'm not 12 anymore, so maybe that's acceptable? Looking back, this show featured a lot of adults who were pretty oblivious, but Chaz, the widowed father of the loveable red-haired Chuckie, was always there for his son. He hugged him when he was scared, tended to him when he had the sniffles, and in a particularly touching episode, told him stories of his deceased mom. Chaz, like Alan Harper, is rather square and awkward, but it works out for him - before the end of the series, he remarries a woman from Japan and adopts her daughter, Kimi.

2. Burt Hummel, Glee

I'm not a huge Glee fan, but I have to give props to single dad Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malley), father of glee club member Kurt. Burt is a mechanic and lover of sports - your basic small-town "man's man" - raising a gay son. Despite not understanding his son most of the time, Burt is supportive of Kurt's lifestyle and often stands up for him and encourages him in his singing and acting career. He's a caring dad trying to figure out how to raise a homosexual teenager who's temper sometimes gets the best of him, especially when it comes to Kurt. There aren't a lot of parents like him on television today.



1. Danny Tanner, Full House

Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) is the quiniessential TV single dad. Raising three girls after the death of his wife, Danny works hard to provide for his kids while enlisting the help of his brother-in-law Jesse and best friend, Joey. The three guys becomes best friends and band together to help out Danny and his daughters. While the series is full of outlandish storylines and way too many sappy morals (what my sister and I call "overripe banana moments" for being so mushy it's disgusting), we all watched the show and rooted for the single dad taking care of precocious girls during the 90s. He'll probably go down in history alongside Bill Cosby as one of the greatest TV fathers.

Top 5: Shows to Watch Someday When I Have Netflix

I know it's not true, but sometimes I feel like I am part of only 1% of the nation that doesn't have a Netflix account. I live out in the country, and for some reason the local cable companies have refused to bring cable out to our road. We live on a road between two state routes - both of which have cable - but since we didn't have access everyone signed up for satellite, and now that everyone has satellite they won't bring us cable. We're stuck in a catch-22. And since there is no cable, there is no high-speed internet - and no Netflix streaming.

Someday, when I'm able to live in the city and have my own internet hook-up, I'll sign up for Netflix. And when I do, these are the 5 shows I am most anxious to see:

5. Angry Beavers

Don't laugh at me, but I love this stupid show. I used to watch it with my sister all the time back when it was on Nickelodeon, and when she recently got Netflix she found that they have lots of episodes and sent me a video clip of our favorite one. I've been jealous ever since.





 4. Downton Abbey

I'm really curious about this show. It's got a lot of hype lately, since it stars greats like Maggie Smith, and is set in Victorian England, which just sounds fantastic. It must be like getting to watch a Jane Austen novel for an hour each week.





3. Firefly

How was I not watching a space western starring Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk? Probably because it was only on air in 2002, when I was a sophomore in high school and spent all of my free time doing homework. But someday I am going to watch all 14 episodes and the accompanying movie and finally be able to talk to all the Joss Whedon fans out there.



2. Freaks and Geeks

This series launched the careers of Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, James Franco, John Frances Daly and Busy Phillips. So basically it was a Judd Apatow series staring some of my favorite comedians. How did this not last? Why do all of the most awesome shows get cancelled after only one season? I remember it being on TV and wanting to watch it, and actually had an English professor in college recommend that I check it out. It looks awesome.



1. Doctor Who

I feel like a complete failure as a nerd for having never seen an episode of this show. And it has been on the BBC since 1963 which is completely insane. People keep telling me how much I will love it, and how amazing the show is, and making references to the show, which just makes me sad since I am not able to watch it. But as soon as my Netflix account is confirmed, you can bet that I'll be streaming all the revival seasons starting back in 2005. 

Top 5: Mad Men Characters

I may have come in a little late to the game, but I am now a huge fan of AMC's Mad Men. Over the past couple of years I've collected all four of the past seasons on DVD and now am finally able to watch new episodes! I'm so excited that it's back on the air. I have to admit, being a designer, I love seeing the pitches that SCDP pulls off. Megan's Heinz Beans timeless concept? Brilliant. Right up there with Peggy's "basket of kisses" from the lipstick testing episode. There is so much to love about this show - the fashion, the drama, the sets - but undeniably what draws you in is the intricate characters. Each of them have so many different things going on at a time that sometimes it's hard to keep up. And I love every minute of it. So in honor of last night's episode, here are my top 5 favorite characters (to date).

5. Sal Romano

It's really a shame that this character got written out of the show, because Sal was one of the most fascinating and unique characters. He was a creative director at Sterling Cooper, and the only gay character on the show. He was also married and in the closet, with boyfriends on the side, which made for some fascinating and awkward situations, especially in the 60s. His character was interesting and troubled - I wish he was still part of the cast.

4. Joan Holloway/Harris

On the surface, Joan is a sassy secretary that can hold her own with the men in her office while still exuding femininity. Underneath that, though, is a young woman torn between wanting family or a job, romance or marriage, wealth or happiness. What makes her fantastic is her high level of confidence and unmatched ability to know exactly how to act (and how everyone else should act) in every situation - something that all of the men in the ad agency depend on. Her gorgeous red hair and curvaceous Marilyn Monroe style make her a unique fashion icon unlike most women on TV today.

3. Anna Draper

Anna is such a unique character to the show. Most of the series takes place on the east coast, except for Anna, who lives in California. Everything from her nearly-hippie clothes to her sunny disposition screams Californian, a stark contrast to the dark and cynical lifestyle of Madison Avenue.  She knows all about Don's past - for a long time she was the only character who knew his real name - and still loves him like a brother despite all of the things he's done. Anna is the one point of truth and consistency in Don's life, and her death changes him. She is only featured in four episodes but has a profound impact on Jon Hamm's character.

2. Sally Draper

You don't often see fully developed child characters on adult dramas, but Mad Men does an excellent job of integrating Don and Betty's oldest daughter into the storyline. Sally is a spitfire of a young girl, full of her father's ingenuity, passion, and forwardness, as well as her mother's stubbornness. She tries to deal with an absent father, a distanced mother, younger siblings, the death of her grandfather, and eventually her parents' divorce and subsequent remarriages. It's a lot for a girl just now turning 12. Over the course of the series she has stolen and smoked her mother's cigarettes, made cocktails, learned to drive, and gone to see the Beatles. Sally knows a lot more than she lets on, and young actress Kiernan Shipka plays the troubled child beautifully.

1. Peggy Olson

Peggy is hands-down my favorite character of the entire series. If I had to choose someone from the cast that I identify with the most, it would probably be her. She's the only woman in the creative department, working hard to promote herself out of the pool of secretaries and into the world of mock-ups, pitches, and ad campaigns. She earns the respect of a lot of the men she works with, especially Don, who urges her to do better and even takes her with him when he leaves to form SCDP. She's pretty, but not a bombshell like Joan or a beauty like Megan; she often dressed frumpy and led a fairly conservative lifestyle (before the whole "secretly have Pete's illegitimate child and give it up for adoption" thing, at least). She's unlike most of the women portrayed in the show, as she values her career over marriage and housewifery, and is a lot more like leading man Don Draper than probably either of them want to admit. Despite the fact that Don's new wife Megan works at SCDP (and in creative under Peggy, no less), his "work spouse" is most definitely Peggy. Now that she's broken into the men's world of advertising she has been known to hang out with beatniks, smoke pot, and go to strip clubs with her clients. All the while rocking a Jackie-O hat like no one else on the series can.

Top 5: Defictionalized Products

They say art imitates life, but it seems that more and more often life is beginning to imitate art. Case in point: the phrase used in the title of this post, "defictionalized products": it refers to items used in books or movies that became so popular among fans that it was created in real life (hence, no longer fiction). People have become so enthralled with entertainment that we get super excited when what was once imaginary comes to reality. One of my favorite stories of art creeping over into life comes from the 1993 film Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock. The movie is set in 2032, in the city of San Angeles, which was created by combining San Diego and Los Angeles after a massive earthquake in 2010. Apparently only one restaurant chain survived the post-earthquake Franchise Wars and went on to become the fanciest place to go for a meal: Taco Bell. In the 90s when this movie was made, the Taco Bell logo looked like this:

The logo was redesigned for the movie to make it look like it was from the future, and appeared like this:

And the pink-and-purple logo was so well-received that the company actually changed their entire branding to that look, leaving us with the current logo:

Straight from fiction to real life! I love it when that happens. But enough about Taco Bell - below are my favorite products that made the leap to the real world. 

5. The Batphone

In the classic Batman TV show starring Adam West, Commissioner Gordon would call the caped crusader on his private line, ringing in to a red blinking phone. Now you can actually buy this phone - which doesn't call out but blinks on incoming calls - for a mere $125!

4. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans 

As Harry Potter fans know, Every Flavor Beans literally come in every flavor - and I don't just mean the traditional fruit and spice varieties, but also such favorites as grass, fish, earwax, and vomit. When the films started to be released, this tie-in product was also released in stores. I had some in 2005, when I went to a midnight showing of Goblet of Fire with a group from college. No one was brave enough to eat more than one.

3. Red Swingline Stapler

In the cult classic Office Space, underappreciated character Milton constantly complains about others taking his red stapler from his desk. He gets so frustrated that he threatens to burn down the company - and does. Fans loved the quotable Milton so much that not only did his oft-repeated phrase "I believe you have my stapler?" make it onto officer vernacular but the company Swingline received so many requests for the red stapler that they released a limited edition one at office supply stores in 2002. For the filming of the movie they just took a regular stapler and spray-painted it.

2. Nike Mags

In the second installment of the Back to the Future franchise, Marty McFly travels to the year 2015 and wears a pair of awesome sneakers with automatic shoe laces. They became so popular that Nike released a pair that looked similar to them in 2008, and even inspired a guy to invent his own self-tying laces. Then in the fall of 2011 Nike released the Mags - an exact replica of the shoes worn by Michael J. Fox in the film, complete with LED lights. The shoes were auctioned off on a special Ebay account with all proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox foundation,  supporting Parkinson's research.

1. Wonka Candy

In 1964, British children's author Roald Dahl published the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the story of a poor little boy who gets to tour the fantastical candy factory of the eccentric Willy Wonka. It was later adapted to film in 1971, considered to be the classic favorite featuring Gene Wilder as Wonka, and again in 2005 directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as the chocolatier. The book and films featured amazing edible treats, including fizzy lifting drinks, chocolate rivers, and hot ice cream for cold days. With the release of the first film in 1971 The Willy Wonka Candy Company began selling Wonka Bars and created other types of popular candy, including BottleCaps, Nerds, SweeTarts, Pixy Stix, Laffy Taffy, Fun Dip, Runts and Spree. Bought by Nestle in the 1980s, now all packages of Wonka candy include a reference to the original book and author Roald Dahl. Other products inspired by the film include the recent release of lickable wallpaper installed in a London elevator. (I also believe that Extra's line of dessert gums featuring flavors like strawberry shortcake, key lime pie, and orange creamsicle and apple pie were influenced by Wonka's whole meal in a single piece of gum, and keep hoping they'll come out with a blueberry pie flavor so I can say, "You're turning violet, Violet!" - although I'm not sure I'd chew it for fear of plumping up like Violet Beauregarde and having to be rolled to the Juicing Room).

Top 5: Cartoons that Shouldn't Have Been Canceled

In my opinion, you are never too old to watch cartoons. Animated shows have been around for 50 years or so and have been targeted at adults for years (The Flintstones, anyone?) - but my favorites are the ones targeted toward kids but have tons of jokes and references only adults can appreciate. Which is either an attempt to smarten up kid's shows or a good excuse for adults to watch Nickelodeon long past their teens. Either way I'm still watching cartoons.

Unfortunately some of my favorite shows were prematurely canceled. (I spent way to much time deciding if "canceled" is spelled with one "l" or two. In the US it's one, in the UK it's two. Now you know.) We'll always have reruns of Bugs Bunny and DVDs of the entire Jetsons series but there are some shows that aren't on anymore that I really miss.

5. O'Grady

 This is a little-known show that was on The N (Nickelodeon's teen/young adult programming) when I was in high school and starting college. It was about a group of high school kids that tried to go about class while dealing with The Weirdness - a phenomenon that would cause random odd things to happen each episode. Odd like people starting to act like cats or floating like they're full of helium. The animation was purposefully sort of bad but the characters were great. I used to watch episodes online but I don't know if you can even find them anymore.



4. Daria

 I love this show way too much for my own good. I have the entire series on DVD and adore every minute of sarcasm and cynicism it comes with. As much as I love it I put it down at #4 on my list because I think it actually had a good life for a series - continuing it past 2002 probably would have ruined it. I'm actually surprised it lasted that far into the millennium without self-combusting.

*Fun Fact: they make a Daria voice for your Garmin or TomTom GPS! I need to look into this.



3. Angry Beavers

 This show is arguably stupid but I loved it and couldn't stop watching it nonetheless. It's about two brother beavers who get kicked out of the house when their parents have another litter and try to make it on their own. They're sort of like the Odd Couple - one is smart and rational, the other is goofy and spontaneous. They like to watch scary movies and have a friend named Stump who is, naturally, a tree stump. My sister and I still quote the show from time to time. "LOOOK! I'm looooooking!" Stupid but awesome, as cartoons sometimes must be (case in point: Spongebob Squarepants).



2. The Powerpuff Girls

 In my opinion, this is one of the cutest cartoons ever created ever. It's worth the double evers, it's that adorable. The Powerpuff Girls were three little girls created by mixing sugar, spice, everything nice, and Chemical X, which gave them superpowers. They have to save the city of Townsville from monsters and other gross things and have a direct line to the oblivious Mayor who knows not to call them after bedtime, since they are in pre-school, after all. How can child superheroes named Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup not be adorable?



1. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

 Out of all of the cartoons I've ever seen, this was by far the most creative. Madame Foster (the tiny old lady with the round glasses) opened a foster home for all the imaginary friends children had created and then grown out of. Friends included characters like Wilt, the one-armed basketball player, Eduardo the big purple fuzzy scaredy-cat, Cheese, the weird yellow toddler-like thing, and most importantly, Blooregard Q. Kazoo, known affectionately as Bloo, the friend of Mac (the little boy in the middle). They got into lots of trouble, went on lots of adventures and had to do their chores to keep the Foster Home going. This show was full of charm and wit, and was loved by viewers of all ages - it even received 7 Emmys!

Do you have a favorite cartoon? I'd love to hear about it!

Top 5: Music Shops in Pop Culture

I love record stores - not that we actually have any where I live, unless you count the FYE that used to be in our mall but has since been replaced by The Children's Place. But the idea of them is pretty awesome, and I love visiting them when I travel. I also like when record stores are featured in movies, since in my mind music shops are the cooler version of the traditional coffee shop and book store local hangouts. I thought I'd be able to find a ton of films that feature record shops, but for some unknown reason that isn't the case! So I modified my list to include some memorable shops from both movies and television. These are my top 5 most memorable music stores, are there any great ones I've missed?


5. Vinyl Crocodile in American Dreams

Meg and her friend Sam. I couldn't find a photo of Luke or
the record store he worked at.

I really enjoyed this show when it was on TV back in the early 2000s. It was set in the 60s and featured Brittany Snow as a teenage girl who danced on American Bandstand. They had lots of current musicians perform as 60s pop stars (Third Eye Blind as The Kinks! Usher as Marvin Gaye! Kelly Clarkson as Brenda Lee! Hawk Nelson as The Who!) and featured a character named Luke who ran a small record shop called the Vinyl Crocodile. The show was cancelled after only three seasons and full of historical inacuracies but was fun while it lasted.


4. Grooves Record Store in That 70s Show

Donna broadcasting from Grooves when she worked for WFPP

This is sort of a minor part of the show, and not as prominent as the restaurant or the water tower, but is a record store nonetheless. I think the group was more excited to have somewhere to hang out besides the Foreman's that it didn't matter much where it was.









3. Championship Vinyl in High Fidelity

Rob, Dick and Barry

Of course I have to include this shop, as it was the inspiration of the Top 5 lists in the first place. Plus it's awesome, as Rob and the Musical Moron Twins work there. How can you not want to hang out at a place with 90s hipster music snobs? You know you'd only buy things with good taste as Barry wouldn't sell you crap.




2. Empire Record in Empire Records

What's with today today?

 It's Rex Manning Day! This movie takes place almost entirely in a music store and revolves around the teenage kids who work there and the fact that one of them steals money from the store in hopes of winning enough at gambling to keep it from being bought by a megastore. There's angst, love, drugs, sex, creepy washed-up performers, and lots of music.







1. TRAX in Pretty in Pink

Annie Potts as the awesome Iona

Okay, who in their right mind would NOT want to work at Iona's music store? Why does Andie always treat it like such a chore? I mean, Iona chases away shoplifters with a staple gun. And then there is the scene where Jon Cryer lip syncs to "Try a Little Tenderness" which is amazing. I know I want to work there. I need a crazy fantastic mentor/friend like Iona. But I promise not to chop up her cute 60s prom dress into a lame potato sack outfit.

25 Days: Holiday Specials

'Tis the season for the holiday version of everything! From candy to music to spatulas, you can buy just about anything in a seasonal variety. Hollywood took this idea and ran with it and has since produced approximately 87, 205 holiday specials. I mean, even Beavis and Butthead had a Christmas special, for crying out loud. And despite horrible misfires like the Star Wars Christmas Special of 1978 there have been some really great TV holiday specials. I've embedded some clips of my favorites. What Christmas specials do you love?

Frosty the Snowman

 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

Charlie Brown Christmas

Top 5: TV Hangouts

The only thing we love more than our favorite sitcoms are the places our favorite characters hang out. From Arnold's Drive-In in Happy Days to the corner restaurant in Seinfeld, viewers are so familiar with these places that they visit their real-life counterparts in droves (myself included - I have a picture of me outside Cheers in Boston!). Out of all the sitcoms out there, now and in syndication, what are you favorite hang outs?

5. The Pizza King, Daria

Our sarcasm-loving heroine couldn't pass up a good slice at the local pizza place. Daria and Jane visit almost every episode.

Pros: 
- pizza
- not at home with the Morgandorffer's

Cons:
- everyone from Lawndale High inevitably shows up


4. Honker Burger, Doug

In the pilot episode, this is where Doug meets his best friend Skeeter, nemesis Rodger, and main-squeeze Patti Mayonnaise.

Pros:
- the whole restaurant is round
- is the perfect distance for riding your bike from the Funnie's

Cons: 
- you have to order in a weird Bluffington slang and ask for things like a moo cow with no sneakers (burger no onions)


3. The Foreman's Basement, That 70s Show

Who says a hangout needs to be out of the house? It's the company that important. Unless it's Fez.


Pros:
- cable
- outside entrance
- sometimes Kitty makes snacks

Cons:
-  Red constantly threatening you with his boot



2. MacLaren's Bar, How I Met Your Mother

The clan on HIMYM loves their beer, and there's no better place than the local bar. Plus you need somewhere to pick up chicks, right?

Pros:
- good food
- permanent table reservation
- great bartenders

Cons:
- Barney hitting on every girl in sight


1. Central Perk, Friends
 















This New York coffee shop is one of the most iconic TV hangouts of recent years. I wonder where that couch is now?

Pros:
- free stuff if Rachel is working
- live music courtesy of Phoebe
- the couch is never taken

Cons:
- the mugs are too big to hold with one hand

Top 5: TV Shows Set in Ohio

People give Ohio a lot of flak for being a boring state. I know cornfields don't sound very exciting, but Ohio is a pretty cool place! We gave America the Wright Brothers, eight presidents, 24 astronauts (including the first man to walk on the moon), Thomas Edison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Wes Craven, Bob Hope, Dave Chappelle, Doris Day, George Clooney and Clark Gable. You're welcome.

Anyway, the other day my friend and I were watching Melissa & Joey and realized that it's set in Toledo. Random, right? It got me thinking about what other TV shows are set in Ohio. It seems like a weird location for a sitcom but there's actually been over 20 shows set in the buckeye state! We all know The Drew Carey Show and WKRP in Cincinnati were set in OH, but what else?

5. Clarissa Explains it All

I love this show, but I'm putting it at #5 because even though I watched plenty of episodes as a preteen I had no idea it was set in Ohio. And surprisingly, despite the fact that Melissa Joan Hart has been in two shows set here, she actually grew up on Long Island.

4. Ed

Ed was a really underrated show. It centered around a big-time lawyer who discovered his wife was cheating on him the day he was fired and ended up moving back to his hometown of Stuckeyville, where he buys a bowling alley and runs a law practice while trying to finally win his high school sweetheart. Plus Michael Ian Black and Justin Long were costars, how could it not be funny?

3. 3rd Rock from the Sun

This is probably the most bizarre premise for a sitcom that ever made it big. A group of aliens are on an trip to Earth to study humans and disguise themselves as a family of misfits who live outside Cleveland. With a hilarious cast including John Lithgow, French Stewart, Jane Curtain, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt it's no wonder it's still being played as reruns. 


2. Hot in Cleveland

This is a relatively new show, having only started last year, and on TV Land, of all places. Why is it good enough to be my #2 show? Two words: Betty White. Just go watch it.


1. Glee

I know, I know, Glee is ridiculous and over-hyped and super annoying but once I start watching it I CANNOT STOP. It's a sickness. I even watched the reality show on Oxygen searching for the new Glee guest star.  Some (okay, most) of it is over-dramatic and unrealistic but I there are certain characters that are just awesome. It is huge right now - they go on tour and have a movie in theaters, for goodness' sake - and EVERYONE knows that it is set in Lima, Ohio. You can't deny the power of showtunes.