Ricky and Lucy. Ross and Rachel. Sam and Diane. Every generation has had its seminal TV couple. But not today.
We gots all kinds of ‘em!
Thanks to a really strong lineup of sitcoms — and dramas, too — the current television landscape boasts multiple couples with great chemistry, fun banter, and unconventional relationships.
Do I have favorites? You betcha! (Thanks for asking.)
Here are my 2011 Top Five TV Couples:
No. 5: Sheldon and Amy, The Big Bang Theory — Call them the ‘uncouple’. They don’t like to spend too much time together, preferring to Skype. The terms ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’ offend their sensibilities. And the only kiss they have ever exchanged was more scientific experiment than sexual act. But their pairing has added a spark to the already smoking nerd fest that is TBBT. Long live Shamy!
No. 4: Jack and Liz, 30 Rock — We’ve all had that work colleague who is more than a friend. But in the fantastical world that is 30 Rock, Liz and Jack’s more-than-a-friendship mentor-ship blurs the lines in bizarre, often disturbing, always hilarious ways. Heck, they even got married by accident. If I had a nickel…
No. 3: Castle and Beckett, Castle – This may be a TV drama, but anyone who watches Castle knows this police procedural is sprinkled with a heavy helping of funny, thanks to Nathan Fillion’s take on its namesake. And his chemistry with Detective Beckett is as Sam and Diane as it gets on TV today. Will they? Won’t they? When? Hurry up already!
No.2: Ben and Leslie, Parks & Recreation — My favorite ‘newbie couple’ on TV today, Ben and Leslie are as positive and life affirming as those shiba inu puppies on the web cam. I love their characters separately; I love the idea of them together even more. Since the series is relatively young, I thought they’d keep us dangling like a worm on a hook in a lake in a park in Indiana. But did you see last night? “Uh oh.”
And, last but definitely not least, my choice for the absolute bestest TV couple of 2011:
No. 1: Claire and Phil, Modern Family – No couple on TV is funnier because no two actors are braver. The Dunphys’ sexual exploits alone are worth a spin-off. (Could they be more unsuccessful? How did they have three children?) This week’s episode “Bad Dog, Good Dog” — featuring a brilliant parenting role switcheroo — was yet another tour de force for Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen. They are, simply put, the very best on television today.
Emmy voters, mark your ballots.
Last July, Starz canceled the brilliant comedy series Party Down, a tragic event I chronicled here with both protests and pleas for other networks to save the show.
Showdown
A lot of people went to see Ted this weekend. I was one of ‘em. It was funny.
But I also saw a little film called Safety Not Guaranteed. Far fewer folks went to see it, and that’s a darn shame.
Because it’s better.
“Ted”
“Safety Not Guaranteed”
Both have fanciful story lines: A bear that comes to life. A man who believes he can time travel. But whereas Ted relies on the humor of Seth McFarlane (who voices the bear) to carry the movie — and, call me cranky, is racist for reasons that I will never find funny — Safety is hilarious simply because…
It is real.
Not the time travel element necessarily. But the people and their stories and their relationships. So the humor that follows is a natural result. Plus, Aubrey Plaza — from Parks and Recreation – proves she can do way more than pout.
If Safety has made its way to your town, give it a look and compare. Then return to this space and agree.
Or let me have it.
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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Family, Friends, Humor, Life, Movies
Tagged Aubrey Plaza, commentary, entertainment, family, friends, funny movies, Humor, life, Movies, Parks and Recreation, real is funny, Relationships, Safety Not Guaranteed movie, Seth McFarlane, Ted movie, teddy bear, time travel