TVSquad

Quick, what do the following TV shows have in common: The Dick Van Dyke Show, Twilight Zone, The Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?

Answer: they're not on Empire Magazine's list of the 50 best greatest TV shows of all-time. Let the arguments begin!

The world of primetime TV are primarily set in the real world. The real world based on the fiction they create. So, Law and Order -- in all its incarnations -- is set in New York City, but it's not the real five boroughs. The newspapers they read are not The New York Times, the Post or the Daily News. For contemporary TV fiction, reality is on the margins of the storytelling because you can't really set those characters in a real world. However, when the two worlds intersect, the results can be magic. Here's 8 big-time, primetime examples:

1) Cowboy Up Time
Remember the episode of Lost when Ben wanted to convince Jack that he was in communication with the world outside the island? To prove that he was telling the truth, he showed Jack a video of the Boston Red Sox winning the world series in 2004. You can't get more real than that, right? And yet it was used in one of the most out of this world shows on the air. In fact, using Lost's own terminology, the Red Sox video is a constant truth in a universe that's a complete fiction.

Were The West Wing writers psychic or just very clever in their reading of the political landscape?

Several writers, including Stephen Siilver at NorthStarWriters.com, have noticed that the current Presidential election is very similar to the election that The West Wing had in its final season and a half. The show had a Democrat that inspired people by his speeches but didn't have much experience (Matt Santos), a Republican from the West that even liberals liked because he wasn't too far right (Arnold Vinick), and a candidate that had already been in the White House as a VP (Bob Russell). Does that sound like Barack Obama, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton?

Everybody loves lists, even MENSA members.

Jim Werdell, the chairman of the brainy group, has picked what he considers the ten smartest TV shows of all-time. While some of the shows are no-brainers (ha!), I'm not quite sure why he picks some of the shows he does. The full list is after the jump, along with my suggestions for other shows that should be there.

I mean, seriously...Mad About You?!

I'm not sure if Bravo has brought back their "West Wing Mondays" for good or if this is just an election year thing, but today the network is airing a marathon from 9am to 5pm.

And it's not just any season they're doing. The first episode is the fourth season opener, which means that most of these episodes are election-related, including the "20 Hours In America" two-parter, with Josh, Toby, and Donna trapped in a small town during a campaign swing; "Debate Camp," which shows the Bartlet campaign gearing up for the showdown with Governor Richie; and "Game On," the classic episode where Bartlet and Richie debate and Bartlet decides not to hold back and just creams the guy (more debates should be like this). You'll also see "Election Night" and "Process Stories," which were the start of Rob Lowe's exit from the show.

I wonder why they're not doing this next Tuesday, which is Super Tuesday? That would have been clever programming.

(S04E10) "He can build homes and decorate them. Sometimes God gives with both hands." - Lee McDermott

So Ida didn't survive the twister. Was anyone really surprised? If everyone in the basement had survived it would've strained credibility a little too much. However, seeing the Scavo clan crawl out of the rubble was really cool. It was the kind of moment that hearkened back to the first season and reminded my why I started watching Desperate Housewives in the first place.

Another bright spot in this episode was Kathryn Joosten. Actresses like her are the backbone of a decent drama. I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually wins an Emmy for DH like she did for The West Wing.

"The Indians in the Lobby"
Originally aired on November 21, 2001

There are so many ridiculously great episodes of The West Wing, trying to pick one out is like trying to pick out the best note in a piece by Mozart. But since it's November, I figured I'd choose the best of the show's Thanksgiving Day episodes, "The Indians in the Lobby" (and yes, fans of "Shibboleth," I love that one too, but this one has just a little bit more.)

It's Thanksgiving, and President Bartlet is making the stuffing ...

Whitney Matheson has an interesting topic over at the Pop Candy blog. She lists her 10 favorite props from the movies, and includes some items like Indy's hat from the Raiders of the Lost Ark movies, Darth Vader's light saber, and many items from Steve Martin's The Jerk. This got me thinking, what props from TV shows would I like to own? I have a few from Ed, including a name plate from the courtroom and a drinking bird, but I'd like more. My list is below, in no particular order.

Anything from The Dick Van Dyke Show: In particular, the typewriter in the office or anything from the Petrie's kitchen. Or maybe the ottoman Rob trips over!

It looks like the US version of the BBC's hit sci-fi show Life on Mars is getting off to a good start.

David E. Kelley has drafted in the directing talents of Thomas Schlamme to direct the pilot for his ABC version of the time-travelling cop drama. (If you haven't managed to catch any of the first and second series of Life on Mars, you should -- it's fantastic).

Schlamme previously worked on The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip in addition to directing the pilot for Boston Public and some episodes of Ally McBeal and The Practice.

Rachelle LeFevre has already been cast in a female lead role in the remake, but it's not yet known who will take on the Sam Tyler role.

After viewing the frighteningly accurate parody of Studio 60 that MADtv performed I got to thinking (which is always a bad thing). I can't remember a producer/creator of any television show in recent history who has carried so many of his or her trademarks from one program to another. I guess you could say Dick Wolf does this from show to show, but the Law & Order series is probably considered a franchise. Aaron Sorkin has produced three different shows that have had similar structural elements, including actors and actresses. When viewers watch these shows they anticipate those features and are disappointed when they don't see them.

So, with that in mind, here are the five trademarks that Aaron Sorkin puts in his shows.

The walk-and-talk: Others shows have people walking and talking all of the time, but usually slowly down a straight hallway. Aaron has taken this concept and perfected it, making it all his own. His walk-and-talks feature characters going up-and-down stairs, through security gates, behind bleachers, and around corners. He sometimes makes these strolls seem like a relay race: two people will talk for a while, then one person will tag-out and a new conversation will begin with another character. Meanwhile, as they walk they begin and end conversations with so much information that you need to record the show so you catch everything missed. And, speaking about those conversations . . .

The American Film Institute, home to top 100 lists a-plenty, has announced their official selections for the 2006 AFI Awards. Each year AFI recognizes ten films and television shows for their outstanding achievement. What's nice about the awards is that they're intended to honor the cast, crew and creative team behind any given production simultaneously. What's even nicer is that their jury consists of people who actually watch and seem to like television.

Their list is free from the conservatism that plagues the Emmys or the ratings-orientation that colors the People's Choice Awards. In the past, they've honored Deadwood, Buffy, Veronica Mars, Arrested Development and Lost. Who made the cut this year? Battlestar Galactica, Dexter, Elizabeth I, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, The Office, South Park, 24, The West Wing and The Wire. Animation, comedy, sci-fi, network and cable shows. Not a bad list. Any other shows you would have liked to see honored?

You're Martin Sheen. Okay, I know you're not, but for the sake of this post pretend that your are! You've just come off of a very successful political drama where you were President of the United States and the world is your oyster. So, what do you do? Do you sit at home and count the money you made? Do you look for a new television or movie project? Or, do you watch over son Charlie to make sure he doesn't do anything else stupid to further damage his fragile reputation?

You don't do any of those things. Instead, you enroll in college. And, that is exactly what the 66-year-old former star of The West Wing did last Friday when he enrolled as a student at National University Galway in western Ireland.

The Emmy nominations were just announced in L.A. Here are the major nominations:

Best Drama

Grey's Anatomy
House
The Sopranos
24
The West Wing

Best Comedy

Arrested Development
Scrubs
Two and a Half Men
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Office

Lead Actor, Drama

Peter Krause, Six Feet Under
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
Christopher Meloni, Law and Order: SVU
Martin Sheen, The West Wing
Keifer Sutherland, 24

Lead Actress, Drama

Francis Conroy, Six Feet Under
Geena Davis, Commander-in-Chief
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU
Allison Janney, The West Wing
Krya Sedgwick, The Closer

Lead Actor, Comedy

Steve Carell, The Office
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Kevin James, The King of Queens
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Lead Actress, Comedy

Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Stockard Channing, Out of Practice
Debra Messing, Will and Grace
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine

Supporting Actor, Comedy

Will Arnet, Arrested Development
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Bryan Cranston, Malcolm in the Middle
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Sean Hayes, Will and Grace

Supporting Actress, Comedy

Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Alfre Woodard, Desperate Housewives
Jamie Pressly, My Name Is Earl
Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds
Megan Mullally, Will and Grace

Supporting Actor, Drama

William Shatner, Boston Legal
Oliver Platt, Huff
Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos
Gregory Itzin, 24
Alan Alda, The West Wing

Supporting Actress, Drama

Candice Bergan, Boston Legal
Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Blythe Daner, Huff
Jean Smart, 24

Quick thoughts: No major noms for Lost or Desperate Housewives? Good to see The West Wing noticed for a good last season. Kevin James and Stockard Channing nominated in the comedy category?

Here's the full list.

USA Today television critic Robert Bianco has named his picks for the Emmy Awards ballot (the awards air in September), and while some of the choices are spot-on, some of the things he leaves out...ugh.

For Best Comedy, it's great that he included Arrested Development, Extras, and Entourage, but he also leaves out The Office! Instead he puts Two and a Half Men on the list. (Looks like he doesn't like The Office that much, because he leaves Steve Carell off of the Best Actor, Comedy list too, along with John Krasinski.)

For Best Drama, he has Lost and Rescue Me, but he doesn't list Battlestar Galactica or The West Wing, which had a comeback season?

But it's Best Actor, Drama where he really slips. Some good choices, but what about Bradley Whitford on The West Wing? And nobody from Prison Break or Deadwood or Rome?

Who would you pick?

[via FireJeffZucker.com]

Every Tuesday here on TV Squad , we will highlight the week's TV-on-DVD releases. Some noteworthy releases today, May 9, 2006:

• The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete 6th Season
• Baby Felix - Volume 01: His Magic Bag Of Tricks
• The Bullwinkle Show - The Best of Boris & Natasha; The Best Of Rocky And Bullwinkle
• Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist  - Season 1
• Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete 6th Season
• The Facts of Life - The Complete 1st and 2nd Seasons
• The Golden Girls - Season 5
• Life Goes On - The Complete 1st Season
• Northern Exposure - Seasons 1 & 2 (New Package)
• The Phil Silvers Show (AKA Sergeant Bilko) - 50th Anniversary Edition
• Rescue Me - The Complete 2nd Season
• Scrubs - The Complete 3rd Season
• Search For Adam & Eve - The 1st Season
• That '70s Show - Season 4
• Trailer Park Boys - Season 5
• The West Wing - The Complete 6th Season