TVSquad

Television has often been a benchmark of current popular culture. Whether it's clothes, cars or furniture, people have always looked to TV to help them decide how to look and how to live. Here are ten great examples of how TV characters have "helped" us look our best.

Daisy Duke's Daisy Dukes (The Dukes of Hazzard)
No one knew it at the time, but when Catherine Bach slipped on those ultra-short denims, she was making an impression on more than the teenage boys who were watching. Years later, a brand new and very different generation embraced the Daisy Dukes, much to the delight of those teenage boys who were now old enough to know better.

Gallery: TV Characters who made a Fashion Statement

Welcome to TV Squad Lists (formerly 'The Five'), 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 couple of other bloggers have made lists concerning movies that have been made into TV shows and vice versa. There's The Top 10 Movies Based on TV Shows, The Top 5 Shows That are Better than the Movie, Four Small Screen to Big Screen Flops and AOL's own list. Here is my effort. Enjoy.

1. The Avengers: I tried to sit through this move twice and couldn't do it either time. If anyone can explain the plot to me, they can have my job. This movie is the exact opposite of the TV show. Boring, unoriginal, ignorant and unpleasant to watch.

2. Lost in Space: After the cameos by the surviving original cast members, stop watching. Since when is Dr. smith a psycho? I know Heather Graham is hot, but why is Don West more interested in getting laid than getting home? And what is up with the stupid CGI alien? I'd rather see a monkey with Spock ears.

My first introduction to The Avengers, the classic cult 60s show with Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman and Linda Thorson, was actually the second version of the show in the 70s, The New Avengers. CBS used to run the show late at night, back in the day, when they showed crime and action shows after the local news.

"Back in the day?" I'm getting really old.

The new version also starred Macnee, but this time he was paired with Joanna Lumley (as Purdey), who later went on to fame in Absolutely Fabulous, and Gareth Hunt, who played Mike Gambit. Isn't that a great name for an action hero, Mike Gambit? I really liked this show (and the original series, which I started watching repeats of later). Supposedly it only lasted 26 episodes, though it seems like more.

Hunt died of pancreatic cancer this week in London. Besides The New Avengers, he appeared in Upstairs, Downstairs, EastEnders, Space: 1999, Doctor Who, The New Adventures of Robin Hood, and many other TV shows and movies. Lumley has a lot of nice things to say about her costar.

(S04E01) The OC is back with a vengeance... big time. After what I think most considered to be a lackluster third season, I think both die-hard and casual fans are going to be impressed with what this show still has to offer. We pick up five months after the death of Marissa Cooper and everyone, especially Julie and Ryan, has had to adjust their lives in the wake of her passing. Corny as it sounds, nothing is going to be the same.

• At 8, ABC Family has a new episode of Kyle XY.
• At 9, ABC has the CMA Music Festival (wasn't this just on the other night?).
• NBC has a new Treasure Hunters at 9.
• There's a new Hell's Kitchen on FOX at 9.
• The new reality show Tabloid Wars has a new episode at 9. It's on Bravo.
• Have you ever seen the 60s spy show The Avengers? It's on BBC America tonight at 9 (why didn't someone tell me this??).
• TNT has a new episode of The Closer at 9.
• Also at 9: USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
• At 10, BBC America has the new sci-fi show Life On Mars, about a cop who finds himself back in time to the 70s.
• Also at 10: TNT has a new episode of Saved.

• American Dad - Volume 1
• The Avengers - '62 Set
• Battlestar Galactica - Season 2.0 (Canada only)
• Bizarre - Best of Bizarre Vol. 3; Best of Bizarre Vol. 4
• The Cousteau Odyssey - River Explorations Collection
• Inspector Gadget - Volume 1
• The Last Detective - Series 1
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury - The Complete Series
• Odyssey 5 - The Complete Series
• Reba - Season 3
• The Rifleman - Set 5
• Tommy Lee Goes To College
• A Touch of Frost - Seasons 9 & 10
• The Waltons - The Complete 3rd Season
• Wild Kingdom - Australia's Awesome Animals; Mammals Of North America Vol 2

• The Avengers - Emma Peel Collector's Edition
• Beast Machines: Transformers - The Complete Series
• The Beverly Hillbillies - Ultimate Collection Volume 2
• Bleak House - Bleak House
• C.O.P.S. - Volume 1
• Charmed - The Complete 4th Season
• Combat! - Best Of Hanley; Best Of Saunders
• The Drew Carey Show - Television Favorites
• Ellen - The Complete Season 3
• House Party - Kids Say the Darndest Things: Vol. 2
• The Lawless Years - Season 1
• Monty Python's Flying Circus - Graham Chapman's Personal Best; John Cleese's Personal Best; Terry Gilliam's Personal Best; Terry Jones' Personal Best
• NewsRadio - Season 3
• Night Court - Television Favorites
• The Real Ghostbusters - Vol 1: Creatures Of The Night; Vol 2: Spooky Spirits; Vol 3: Slimefighters
• Rosemary & Thyme - Season 2
• Rumpole of the Bailey - Megaset
• Weird U.S. - Vol 1: Strange But True / Road To Weirdsville; Vol 2: Weird Worship / Weirdly Departed; Vol 3: Rebels And Traitors / Crimes And Punishment
• Welcome Back, Kotter - Television Favorites