Welcome to TV Squad Lists, a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.
A few summers ago, I discovered reruns of Melrose Place on the Style Channel. The show had always been a sort of kryptonite for me, since I never watched it during its original run. Basically, if anyone wanted to "Stump the King" all they had to do was ask me a Melrose question. Since it was summer and I had little to watch, I decided to give it a look. Well, I fell in love with it. When I told people that I had been watching the show and loving it, they were shocked. I was hard pressed to come up with concrete reasons why I was so taken with the show but here is what I came up with.
1. I'm watching my friends.
Even though the stories are ridiculous (Michael trying to kill Sydney, Kimberly blowing up the building, etc.), I can't wait to see what happens to these characters, because I have so much invested. Andrew Shue can play soccer and pretend he's a philanthropist till he's dead for all I care, but Billy Campbell has became a dear friend and if I go too long without seeing him, I miss him (yes, in a gay way).
2. Hot Ladies
Alyssa Milano, Lisa Rinna, Heather Locklear, Josie Bissett. These are just a few of the females that make this show worth watching. There has never been such a collection of fine women on television before or since.
3. Guest Stars
Once in awhile, a familiar face will pop up to play someone's dad or uncle or college buddy and whether it's Chad Everett, Valerie Harper or Monte Markham; it's a blast to see a veteran actor make a fool of themselves for a change.
4. Thomas Calabro
This is an actor who knows how to get it done. The only cast member to appear on every episode of the show; Calabro hasn't done a series since because he doesn't have to. He used his role as Dr. Michael Mancini to achieve fame, get directing experience and make an assload of cash. Every actor's dream.
5. "Acting"
When Melrose premiered it boasted the biggest collection of no-talents since The Heights (which actually premiered later that same week). However, it only took six years for Andrew Shue and Grant Show to go from "good looking hunks with similar names" to "good looking hunks with similar names that a person could watch on TV without turning the channel in disgust." They have shortened that label since to just "those two guys."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-24-2007 @ 4:51PM
slutty_whore said...
Basically, MP was the last great nighttime soap (great, in the sense of building anticipation and wanting to see what happened next!) MP is trash TV at its brilliant, delectable best and it's now a wonderful, kitschy show. I watch it sometimes on SoapNet and I, myself, STILL get drawn in.
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4-24-2007 @ 4:21PM
ugtv.org said...
So your logic is, worst show ever+hot chicks = "the best show ever?"
It may be a show that is so bad it's good, but there are actually well written, well acted shows out there that are much better than Melrose. (i.e. Arrested Development, WKRP, Barney Miller, etc.)
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4-24-2007 @ 7:20PM
Trina said...
I still miss MP. It was tv at its best - pure entertainment.
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4-24-2007 @ 9:21PM
Randy said...
This show was a little bit before my time, but damn, Heather Locklear looks smoking hot in that picture.
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4-24-2007 @ 10:03PM
Haggis said...
Paul, you are friggin awesome.
I wholeheartedly agree. I actually watched the show when it was first-run, and moments from that show still stick out today, many of which you listed.
One of my favorite moments: The double bitch-slap fight between Lexi and Eve. This was near the end of the show, when crazy "I killed a man for Heather Locklear" Eve got into it with the princess bitch--Lexi. The slap fight that ensued was legendary.
Also when Kimberly almost lobotomizes Peter, anytime when Alyssa Milano or Laura Leighton was on the screen, and anything to do with Heather Locklear.
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4-25-2007 @ 2:01AM
Valerie St. John said...
Paul, all I can say is ME TOO! I still believe MP is and was the best night time soap ever. Although, Haggis brought up some really great moments - personally, I think the episode where Kimberly (Marcia Cross) removes her wig revealing A MASSIVE SCAR was still the scariest moment I have ever seen on Television...
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4-25-2007 @ 3:51AM
Zap said...
I couldn't agree more Valerie St. John. I started watching Desparate Housewives because of Marcia Cross and Doug Savant being on it...when Bree went to the mental hospital I kept on thinking "she is so going to snap and that wig is going to come off"
Melrose Place was what it was, delicious mind rot...and an excellent drinking game that made me fail my Intro to Art Class back in college....I still think I need to chug when I see someone in the pool...
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7-05-2007 @ 10:54AM
shoegal said...
I couldn't agree more except that my first reason why Melrose is the best TV show ever is Heather Locklear !!!
She's the one who saved Melrose Place and pretty much kept in great! I'm not saying that other characters and their stories weren't interesting, they were but Amanda's life had everything anyone wants to watch : gorgeous woman, many hot guys in her life, back stabbing collegues, loss of her job and her company, a great man who loves her no matter what and of course the wonderful wedding on that beautiful island. I could keep on the list but i'll stop there and say again that melrose place is the best show ever and no other show will ever fit Melrose's shoes
(sorrryyy for mispellings and other flaws but i'm only a little french who's english is far from perfect ;) - By the way i enjoy original episodes over french ones )
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