2014 Year in Review

Not a best of, not a worst of... just the things I feel like talking at you about in this year's Pop Culture wrap-up.

And, as always, all red links lead to good things!

AT THE MOVIES:

• Gone Girl: The year's most thrilling, mind-bending, titillating mystery that I really wish I hadn't brought my mother along to see.

• John Wick: A most welcome return to the gratuitous action genre. The body count, innumerable. I literally left the theater exhausted. And, if Keanu Reeves can keep up with that much cardio at the age of 50, I have absolutely no excuse for skipping my evening walk.

• Birdman: Michael Keaton's back! Michael Keaton is BACK!! And, he's going to win an Oscar! Although, I'm in the minority by having my critiques of some of the directing choices in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's stunner/comeback vehicle for Keaton, I cannot deny the flawless acting from each and every one of its stars and costars. If this film does not win the prize for Outstanding Cast at this year's SAG Awards, I completely give up on Hollywood.

• The Interview: So, I'm not much a fan of stoner comedies, or graphic vulgarity, or needlessly explicit language in film. I am pretty much immune to James Franco's smarm. I hated The 40-Year Old Virgin. I thought Knocked Up was good in concept, but veered off into bad taste once played out. That said, I'm a fan of Seth Rogen as a person (ie. talk show guest) and, potentially, a writer (if he'd put down that bong for five seconds.) I loved Freaks and Geeks. I liked Funny People. But, was I willing to risk terrorist threat to be "in on" his latest endeavor? Apparently so, because I did. And lived to tell about it. Was there drugs? Some. Was it vulgar? Yeah. Was there a needless amount of explicit language? Of course. But, did I laugh? Yes! Surprisingly, alot. I rank it on the same level as Tropic Thunder. If you did not like Tropic Thunder, you will not like this. If you're still not sure if it's not for you, check out Eminem's hilarious cameo and then decide.

• Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I: I am so unbelievably hooked on the Hunger Games series for someone who had avoided it for a whole year, based on the mere concept alone. And, as if Jennifer Lawrence wasn't perfect enough with her flawless hair, flawless face, flawless body and hysterical sense of humor. Now we find out she can sing pretty amazingly in a minor key as well. Oh well! It's impossible to hate her. You can only wish to grow up to be just like her. (Even if you're practically twice her age.) 

• Big Hero 6: I call this the animated movie that offers the perfect segue for kids approaching PG-13 territory. There were explosions, action, drama, laughter and tears. (So many tears! I literally cried a contact lens right out of my eye!) I did have to warn a few younger viewers away from seeing it, though. That villain was a little too creepy for the Disney princess set. (Click here for some images to decide for yourself.)

And, Let's Talk About This: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. One of the worst movies my nephews dragged me to this year, that ended with the most unexpected and heartbreaking goodbye from Robin Williams. (This year's award season In Memoriam is going to be a rough one!)

I Missed It! Whiplash. Damn you, metro-Detroit theaters and your minuscule window for seeing anything that's not a blockbuster. This one is on the grab-it-as-soon-as-it-comes-to-DVD list.

Can't Wait for in 2015: A Most Violent Year, American Sniper, Pitch Perfect 2, Inherent Vice, Black Mass and... okay, fine, let's finish it off... Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II.

IN MUSIC:

• There were many mentions of butts.

   Moving on...

ON TV:

• Gotham (Fox): This prequel to all things Batman had me a little nervous at first. How are they going to drag out the legacy of Batman in the twenty or so years it is going to take for young Bruce Wayne to become the Caped Crusader? So many characters crossing paths so soon! But then I simply sat back, relaxed, and learned to enjoy the ride. P.S. Middle-aged Alfred Pennyworth is a total badass.

• Gracepoint (Fox): The American remake of the UK's Broadchurch miniseries was the biggest nail-biter on the small screen this year. The coastal smalltown murder mystery kept me guessing and defending my case for its entire ten episode duration and provided that best water-cooler talk of 2014. (It's still playing On Demand if you missed it!)

• Drunk History (Comedy Central): The biggest belly laughs I had while watching TV this year were while sitting sober and watching drunk people try to explain (in great detail!) some of the biggest historical events in America. Check it out on YouTube, Comedy Central and full episodes now on DVD. 

• The Mindy Project (Fox): I couldn't get into The Mindy Project in its first season. I felt like it was trying too hard to be the next Ally McBeal or something. But, in its second season, I gave it another chance, once it became more character-centric and less wannabe-chick flick. By Season Three, the show has really hit its stride. And, what?!  Danny Castellano is dancing out of nowhere! What's going on? And, why do I like it so much?!

• Wahlburgers (A&E): When Donnie and Mark Wahlberg were growing up in Dorchester, MA, the neighborhood taunters used to call them the "Wahlburgers". So, they grew up, became multi-kazillionaires, then opened a successful chain of burger joints with their older brother Paul. They call the chain Wahlburgers. You may also call it the last laugh. Now A&E has decided the Wahlberg clan of nine siblings, led by matriarch Alma, are entertaining enough to have their own reality show. I agree. Last last laugh. (Also, keep an eye out for the real Entourage.)

• The Little Couple (TLC): Still my vote for the most perfect family on the planet Earth. The 2014 season of The Little Couple led Bill and Jen through the highs of adoption and the lows of Jen's battle with cancer. Your heart will melt for these two (now, four.) And, if I ever met someone who is half the man Bill Klein is, I would consider myself the luckiest woman in the world.

• Every Simpsons Ever (FXX): FXX has found a cure for the Nothing-Is-On blues that can strike at any given time with their seemingly-endless running Every Simpsons Ever marathon.

• Eaten Alive (Discovery): Did you miss the Discovery Channel's Eaten Alive special? The one where idiot "scientist", Paul Rosolie, volunteers to be "eaten alive" by the largest anaconda on earth, all in the name of conservation and research? Count your blessings. I sat through the two hour ordeal just for you! Read about it here.

And, Let's Talk About This: Duggars getting married left and right. Never before did long skirts and chastity make a spinster feel so... spinstery.

And, What About That: 

The Most Entertaining Academy Award Show Ever!

I Missed It! True Detective and Fargo. Come on, Netflix! Bring me up to speed already!

Can't Wait for in 2015: Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul.

ON THE WEB:

• Listen Linda... just listen! I can't decide if little Mateo will be going into politics or sales one day. I do know that he will surely find a way to make more money (and cupcakes) than the rest of us, though. 

• Little Girl Picks a Fight With Gaston at Disney World. Because that's what you do when you wait in line for over an hour for an autograph!

• This meme.

• These foreign Doritos with "kick".

OVER-HYPED in 2014 (and so, I refuse to add images):

• Ice Bucket Challenge: Newsflash! You can donate money to charity without risking hypothermia.
• Shia LeBeouf and all his self-produced drama: You're "not famous anymore". So, go away already.
• Jaden and Willow Smith: They're so much smarter than us all now. Didn't you hear?
• George Clooney Wedding: He's found love and is happy. Scandalous!
• Kimye Wedding: I threw up in my mouth a little, then forgot about it.

Speaking of throwing up...

• Bill Cosby: What is up with you?! I am in mourning for the loss of my TVland reruns. I am also mad on behalf of Cockroach, for you taking away from him the only royalties he makes these days.

I am now extremely tired and will lazily conclude with Funny Spellchecks Suggested in the Making of this Post (that, at least, were funny to me at 1:00 am): Birdman = Batman (go figure!); Stoner = stonier; Inarritu's = linearity's; Mockingjay = Mackinac; Gracepoint = grease paint;  Wahlberg = wallboard; Wahlburgers = vegeburger; Dorchester = chestier; Netflix = Norfolk; Shia = Shiva; LeBeouf = beef.

See you in 2015!

That Anaconda Don't Want None

Did you miss the Discovery Channel's Eaten Alive special? 

The one where idiot "scientist", Paul Rosolie, volunteers to be "eaten alive" by the largest anaconda on earth, all in the name of conservation and research? 

Count your blessings! I sat through the two hour ordeal just for you! 

About an hour and forty-five minutes of the program were spend traipsing through the "unexplored" regions of the floating forest along the Amazon River, while Rosolie and his crew melodramatically tried to catch a snake. All the while both daredevil and his team of scientists vowing their commitment to give their lives for this project, if need somehow be.

Once they finally found a snake they thought large enough to swallow Rosolie's big head, ego and all... the remaining fifteen minutes of the show were spent trying to get the poor thing to want to stomach the unsavory meal. 

Rosolie was suited in some sort of chainmail and Teflon getup, complete with safety scuba mask.

The "eating" portion of the program consisted of the anaconda tenderly sucking on the front of Paul's helmet and then wisely deciding it didn't like the taste of bull$h!t anymore than the rest of us do. (Trust me. You got kissed harder on prom night than what this guy experienced during his ordeal.)

The biggest joke of the special was that the "research" they were performing was to measure the psi pressure that a snake of this size would use to squash his victim. (Because, this has never been measured on a snake quite this size before! He repeatedly assures us!)

A psi sensor patch was adhered to the back of his safety suit somewhere between his shoulder blades. Hilariously, the snake squeezed him every which way but on the patch.

Even more hilariously, the man who spend 1 hr 45 min swearing to us that he would die for the experiment, tapped out once he felt his arm start to bough. 

Yes, he'd give his life for science. Just not an arm.

My unscientific brain tells me they could have slapped the patch on a wild boar, or something that the snake would have actually wanted to eat, to get their psi reading; thus saving themselves the cost of one super scuba suit, a TV production crew, and two hours of my precious time.

The most exciting portion of the show was documentary footage of an anaconda ralphing up a deer. Which you can also find plenty of footage of on YouTube.

You're welcome!

Game Shows I Would Dominate

I impressed my family recently by answering three consecutive questions correctly during an episode of Jeopardy.

The category was some fluff along the lines of "80's Pop Music". But, since my "Who is Bono?" had impressed the elderly so much, it got my confidence up enough to cause me to wonder what other game shows I could totally dominate.

Wheel of Fortune: Can you spell? Can you spell 1-3 words in a row at one time? Well, I can. I think I could do pretty well for myself playing 30 minutes on the Wheel. I should still have enough upper body strength to spin the wheel at least one full rotation. I can clap and whoop "C'mon big money!" with the best of them. And, I already have my three consonants and one vowel picked out for the final round. It's like they're making this too easy for me.

Family Feud: Families shouldn't feud. But, if they so choose to, it should be televised in syndication. All you have to do is force yourself to think like a hundred random peers. (You think this would be easy, but the show has proven that theory wrong.) My slapping skills are superior, so the buzzer wouldn't phase me. My only obstacle would be playing the pervy modern version of the show. I'm not sure the mind of 100 random perverts is a place I want to dally near. Revive Richard Dawson for one episode and I'm sold. (Even though I'm a little uncomfortable with the idea of him trying to wrestle a kiss out of me overtop of the microphone.)

The Mole: Although, there's a little too much timed running around involved, I still think I could have won The Mole. They had to go and take it off the air, though, before I had the chance to prove myself! I always figured I could walk slowly, feigning side cramps, during the running competitions (although, I probably wouldn't need to feign...) thus causing my competitors to think I was The Mole sabotaging that round, therefore eliminating themselves during the end of show quiz. (Never heard of the show, so none of this makes sense to you? Well, click here, I'm too busy bragging about my game plan to explain things right now.) My ultimate fantasy was to be chosen to be the saboteur, yes The Mole. I'm an excellent prankster, but more importantly the show's mole gets to have secret meetings in their hotel room with the show's producers and its host, the fairest of them all, Mr. Anderson Cooper. My not-so-secret crush and ultimate boo. The mole is committed to sticking it through all 13 episodes, running and all. No quitting, no taking a suitcase of bribe money and walking away; but you can cry like a baby, so we're good. The very thought of traveling around Europe, creating mystery and intrigue with my Silver Fox.. Late night pow-wows about the strategies of the next episode... "Can we cuddle while we discuss this? It's late and oh so exhausting creating sabotage..." Ba-da-bing, ba-da-bang, white-haired babies on board. (Yes. I am totally aware. Just leave me in this place for one moment.)

Plinko: I would not do very well on The Price is Right, seeing that I've rarely paid full retail price on a thing in my life. But, I've always been drawn to the Plinko round. Any episode that didn't feature a Plinko session was simply a wasted hour of my life that I would never be able to retrieve. I will even admit that for many years, I thought the game was called Plunko. Well, those little discs plunk more than they plink, yes? Let's just be real about it.

Jeopardy: You understand that we're talking Kid's Week, right? 

Hollywood Game Night: NBC's newest game show is currently the only one I bother watching. Pop culture knowledge? Check. Obnoxious miming of song lyrics? Easy peasy. More buzzer slapping? Um, yeah, I've got that covered. Pretending that people like Wayne Brady, Kristin Chenoweth and the guy from Chuck are just your normal, every day, weekend party guests? Why not!

Just hand over a bag of money now. I've got this. (No really, give me some money. I could really use it at the moment.)

2013: Resolute

New Year's resolutions... Who's made them this year?

I don't make a habit of the annual tradition.  Every now and then I'll take the oath.  Life was in a bit of a tailspin last year, so I did it.

This year is starting much more on track, however.  So, rather than vowing any vows myself, I thought I'd assign a few resolutions to others instead.

Facebook friends:  I resolve, on your behalf, to give me one day's newsfeed free of gun control debate.  Pro, con... doesn't matter.  I'm simply asking for one day that my newsfeed remains entirely amusement only. 

Rihanna: Disable your Twitter account.  There's this thing called "oversharing" and it will haunt you twenty years from now.

Lindsay Lohan: Take what's left of your money and go to college.  Night school, not university.  No dorms, no parties.  Surround yourself with books and learning.  Converse only with the sober.  Avoid the camera lens with the determination of the Amish and the strength of an aborigine.  Shun your family.  Take one year to look at others without forcing them to look at you.

Psy:  Remember William Hung?  Us neither.  Count your money while following his footsteps.

Young Hollywood:  Film-makers and stars: You're funny without the "shock".  You can be provacative without the vulgar.  And, newsflash!  The f-word is not an adjective, it is a verb.  Using it 50 times per film in its unintended tense does not a comic make.  Be smart.  On your behalf, I resolve one PG film from Judd Apatow, Seth MacFarlane, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill and Seth Rogan apiece.  Consider yourself challenged.  It will be the best work of your life!

Claire Danes: Just for kicks... a comedy.  I dare you!

Boo Boo Family (That's Honey's last name, right?): She's getting taller, older, less cute-little-princessy... Come up with a game plan. Stat!

Taylor Swift: For you, I resolve a one year dating fast.  There's a world of music beyond break-up songs.  And, I'm beginning to think a secret society's been created by the young men who've served as muse.  (Joe Jonas to Jon Mayer, "Only one song, John! Pfft.  I was inspiration enough for three!")  You're young,  talented, rich and beautiful. Best yet... for a star of your age, your reputation is still pretty much intact.  (For now.)  Be free!  Be otherwise inspired!

Glee: Spin off the New York storyline as was originally intended.  It's good, but it's different and needs its own vehicle.  The college scenes are draining the color, vibrancy and spunk out of the high school ones.  And, when did Glee suddenly become a small screen version of Center Stage?  More singing less dance class, please!

Bakers:  Find a new trend.  We already had cake, cupcakes, mini cupcakes, ice cream cake, cake with fruit, cake with filling and cakes unnaturally shellacked in fondant.  There was never really a need for cake pops, was there?

Zombies:  Die already!  Again.

.

Mother Nature: A little tenderness this year?

Comfort Viewing

After a stressful day, my favorite way to unwind is in a pair of flannel jammies, cocooned by a favorite blankie and lying in front of some comfort tv.

 

Yes, any other day I might enjoy the drama of Mad Men, the shenanigans of the Real Housewives of anywhere or the suspense of whichever portion of the Bourne trilogy is playing on an endless movie channel loop at the moment.

 

But, certain days don't call for any more drama, shenanigans or suspense.  Here is some of my  favorite foolproof decompression viewing:

 

The Cosby Show:  Reruns are on TVland almost every night!  Choose episodes where Denise is still in high school and Rudy still in braids for maximum decompression.

 

The Brady Bunch:  Nobody but the Brady's could make parenting look easier, teen woes look a cinch and the workplace seem so rewarding.

 

19 Kids and Counting:  There's something incredibly calming about Michelle Duggar's voice that sooths away even the most persistent tension headache.  I don't think she's raised her decibel level above a bird's peep since her high school cheerleading days.  And, what cooperative and obedient children she's raised!

 

United Bates of America: That's right!  The Duggars have best friends in Tennessee who now have their own show.  The Bates have proven to be even more upbeat, cheerful, silly and twangy!  Bring on the home schoolin'!

 

This is Spinal Tap:  Tap is probably my favorite movie comedy of all time.  It is such good comfort viewing that I've deemed it my official "flu movie".  Every time I'm sick in bed with the flu, I pop it in the DVD player to cheer me up.  Nothing cures like a good laugh.  (And, nothing distracts from your own vomit than hearing of someone choking on another's.)

 

Bewitched (the movie): I don't care if nobody else has seen it or that it was deemed one of the biggest missteps in Hollywood remake history... I LOVE THE BEWITCHED MOVIE!  Nicole Kidman is adorable in it, Will Ferrell is silly as can be, Michael Caine is dapper, Shirley Maclaine is perfectly cast and Kristin Chenoweth is on-point quirky.  It's colorful, it's fun and it's stress-free viewing!

 

Classic Disney cartoons:  If a giggle cures a headache, Chip and Dale will give you a double dose of healing.

A Hard Day's Night:  If you're so stressed out you can't even make a selection, The Beatles have made it easy for you by planting a "hard day" right into its title.  I'm relaxing by the time they board the opening scene's train and any knots in my tummy are untied by the time Ringo barely recites the line, "Well, if he's your grandfather, who knows!  Hahahaha...."

Let me know your favorite comfort viewing by leaving a comment below.  Stressed out right now?  Here's a freebie:

 

X Factor Premiere

So, I've never watched the X-Factor before, but caught the new season's premiere last night when nothing else worth watching was on. 

Here are my first impressions:

• The backstage drama is filmed as if they are snippets from old Laguna Beach or The Hills reruns.  Seemingly staged set ups catching convenient moments of catty remarks, hot people checking out other hot people and lovey dovey family encounters, so perfectly lit from every angle that I keep expecting a Pratt to burst through a stage door and threaten to release a sex tape on somebody.
• The judges like to swoon over good-looking people whose voices almost always crack instead of reaching the good notes.
• Britney Spears doesn't seem cuckoo at all.
• Demi Lovato seems a little cuckoo.
• Demi Lovato has had a major nose job.
• Demi Lovato has her head so far up Britney rectum that she's re-eating her lunch.  Did she really try to make plans with her to go get matching triangle tattoos?  Did I dream that?  I believe Britney's response was, "Ummmm... Ye-ahhh. We. should. do... that..."
• The auditions take place in front of a studio audience, so when someone gives a bad performance they not only have to hear snide comments from Cowell, but they also get to be booed by a live cast of thousands and then hear those same thousands laugh in their face over Cowell's insults. (Ironic sidenote: Lovato is an anti-bullying activist.)
• L.A. Reid seems to be there only to say, "Yes", "No" and basically sit there being black.  At least Randy Jackson gets a lame catchphrase.
• Britney had to turn down an auditioner who once recorded a duet with her back in the early days of her career, but whose voice hasn't stood the test of time. And, she felt horrible about it.  He in turn went backstage and broke down feeling horrible over the fact that he made Britney Spears feel horrible.  I, of course, feel horrible about the entire thing.
• Demi looks at every male contestant under the age of 25 with a primal look of hunger that could only be interpreted as, "I am SO going to stalk to like a Jonas after this!"
• Britney often wears an uncomfortable look of pain on her face, induced by having to withstand all the nonsense going on around her.
• Britney has just inherited a whole new plethora of stalkers.
• I don't think Demi will need to up any security measures.
• Simon wear white tshirts now. And, that's what makes this show different than American Idol.

P. S.  Despite all the above observations, I'm totally watching tonight's episode.

All Hail the TV Mom!

In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to pay tribute to some of my favorite tv moms.  Being a lifelong tv addict and seeing that I spend about as much time with my television families as I do with my biological one... it only seems fair. 

 

Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch)

The world seems to epitomize every 1960's era tv mom as being the ideal mother.  To be quite honest, though, I can't really name any particularly outstanding achievements of Lassie's mom, Ricky's mom or even the adorably perfect June Cleaver.  They all blend together in a colorless mix of aprons, ironing boards, rolling pins and cast iron pots.  They all speak softly except when exhaustedly exhaling their husbands' names when said mates are being especially sarcastic or stubborn.

But, then came technicolor and with it came Carol Brady.  Mrs. Brady had style and false eyelashes.  She was sensual but matronly.  She was elegant, but could don a flannel shirt with ease for the occasional backyard leaf-raking or camping trip.  And, she broke the cardinal rule of 60's tv motherhood by (gasp!) employing a maid!  A sixties tv mom who admittedly needed assistance with the household duties??? (faint!)  But, at least Mrs. Brady could always be found stirring a pot or assembling school lunches right next to good ol' Alice.  Not too proud to pull at least 30% of the weight.

And, Mrs. Brady was cool!  She'd always be shopping to keep the kids' wardrobes properly groovy.  She would bring such finds home from the kinds of stores that would wrap each shirt in its own little gift box, with its own fold of tissue paper tied together with its own little brown string.  She'd let her girls grow their hair to inappropriate lengths if they wanted to, with no concern for tangles or knots.  She'd let her kids take chances, but make sure they learned from their mistakes. She'd nurse you well when you were sick.  Take on your tiny problems as if they were her own.  Help you with your homework.  Let everyone have their say in family matters.  And, all with liquid eyeliner perfectly in place and while blissfully unaware of her husband's homosexuality.

Wilma Flintstone (The Flintstones)

The only cartoon mom that comes to mind, so she must have been the best!  She had the patience of a saint dealing with that hot-headed caveman of hers.  And, she could stand her ground next to him!  If she wants to sleep in her own twin bed, she'll sleep in her own twin bed.  If she wants to swoonily wait for the neighborhood Kissing Bandit to accost her, she's going to openly wait for that Kissing Bandit.  If she wants to hang out with Betty Rubble all evening, she's going to hang out with Betty, dang it!  I also always admired her red hair and giant rock pearls.  And, she did bear the cutest little cave baby known to man.

 

Carol Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)

Oh Mrs. Ingalls.  So gentle, so wise, so good-hearted and even tough when necessary.  With all of these wonderful traits, all true, my biggest childhood impression of Carol Ingalls remains to be how she could take her hair down at night, brush all four feet of it with a boar bristle brush and look every inch a runway model.  On the prairie.  What a waste.

Claire Huxtable (The Cosby Show)

Look at that face Mrs. Huxtable is making at you. You're not even going to think of sassing Mrs. Huxtable when she's giving you that look! Now, you take your books, you march upstairs and you do every speck of homework in sight until you make something out of your life! She didn't work this hard for this long raising this many babies to sit around and watch you throw it all back in her face.   Are we clear???

"Picture it, Sicily, 1923..."

 Sophia Petrillo (Golden Girls) 

Oh Sophia!  You give your daughter and her roommates such a headache!  But, one day Dorothy will realize you've given her the greatest gift.  The gift that all daughters wish they had once their mothers are gone.  An exhaustively detailed ancestral history.  There will be no question, filling out that family tree, where Mama Petrillo came from!

 

Roseanne Connor (Roseanne)

The real mom.  She made mistakes.  She'd eventually admit to them.  She'd let you roam, knowing when not to sweat the small stuff and when to reel you back in.  She made the recipes off the backs of the boxes.  She'd put ketchup in the spaghetti if it saved a few pennies.  Yeah, her house may smell like mildew (I'm assuming) but you were always welcome back into it.  With your husband.  And, you're husband's brother. (Hey, maybe you could get one of those guys to look into that mildew problem...)

 

Cindy Walsh (Beverly Hills 90210)

The other nineties mom.  Practically perfect in every way.  Who else could handle Brenda's reign of terror without breaking a sweat?  Not, Kelly Taylor's mom.  That's for sure!

 

Caroline Manzo (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)

In a reality franchise meant to be utterly satirical; where viewers point and gawk at over-privileged undeserving housewives as they raise their families in the most stomach-churning and spirit-wrenching of ways... Out of the moral rubble, emerges a real life supermom!  Mama Manzo not only successfully parents her own brood of three, but dozens of middle-aged Joisy women as well.  I'll put myself up for adoption any day, if you're looking to replenish that empty nest of yours.

 

Claire Littleton (Lost)

I can't do a "tv favorites" post without mentioning my absolutely favorite television show of all time!  Claire was the only mom of the original cast, so it is what it is.  Yeah, there was Danielle.  And, eventually Sun.  And, Kate stepped in for a little bit there.  But, Claire was the only mother we got to spend an adequate amount of time watching her parent.  During which, she lost her baby to a kidnapper, almost let Charlie run off to psychotically baptize/drown him, left him to fend for himself in a pile of twigs with a sleeping Sawyer, a forest full of ghost whispers and legions of Others, Whatevers and Freighter Folk running amok nearby.  She eventually goes feral and forgets every important and sane detail of her and her child's life together, not to mention, how they parted.  Well, okay... so maybe I should rethink this nomination.

So what have we learned today?  Most good tv moms first names start with the letter C.  An even better ones, use some derivative of the name Carol. 

As much as we love and admire our tv moms, let's not forget the real ones this weekend.  No matter what your experiences with your real life mom, she's the one God appointed to you.  The least you can do is pick up a phone or a greeting card this Sunday and let her know she's the only mom for you! (Love you, Real Mom!)