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My favorite sweeps moments
That sound you hear is November sweeps coming to a close. Today is the last day of November sweeps.
If you are a television character getting married, giving birth, finally getting together with your one and only, dying, having an intervention, or being swept up in a crisis, it’s darn sure to happen during a sweeps month (November, February and May).
This November we’ve had births on Scrubs, Desperate Housewives, and My Name is Earl, deaths on Ugly Betty, hook-ups on How I Met Your Mother, first kisses on Bones, interventions on Brothers & Sisters and weddings on Dirty Sexy Money and Brothers & Sisters. And this Sunday, a tornado hits Wisteria Lane.
So I thought I’d take a look back at some of my favorite sweeps moments ever and you could tell me yours.
Best Wedding – Cheers (January 31, 1991): This remains one of my all time favorite comedic moments. Rebecca is about to marry the no-longer-rich Robin Colcord. He declares her love for her in a lengthy speech and she responds, in Kirstie Alley’s pitch perfect delivery "I only loved you for your money." They really don’t make comedies like this any more.
Best Death – tie NYPD Blue (November 24, 1998) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (February 27, 2001): I can still remember exactly how I felt when Bobby died on NYPD Blue and the screen faded to white. NYPD Blue was a fantastic series and this was its best episode. And no show so honestly dealt with the harsh reality of death like Buffy. The Body episode was a beautifully told rendering of loved one's reaction to death.
Best Intervention – Party of Five (February 19, 1997): The Salinger family came together to confront Bailey about his drinking problem in a heart wrenching hour. And it was little Claudia’s declaration that she loves Bailey "the best" that immediately brought tears to my eyes.
Best Proposal – Friends (May 18, 2000): Chandler wants to propose to Monica but fears that she wants to get back together with her ex-boyfriend Richard. Joey intervenes and Monica ends up tearfully proposing to Chandler. This cemented the duo as the couple that grounded the series.
Best Kiss – Alias (January 26, 2003): As SD-6 crumbles around them, Vaughn and Sydney kiss for the first time, need I say more?
Best Crisis – ER (March 9, 1995): ER has been on the air so long it’s hard to remember its first season when the show was ground-breaking television. I don’t think I took one breath during this episode entitled "Love’s Labor Lost" where through a series of unforeseen medical complications a mother dies while giving birth and Mark Greene was forever changed.
Best Birth – Grey’s Anatomy (February 12, 2006): I love everything Bailey does on Grey’s Anatomy and this episode where George helps her give birth remains one of my highlights.
So those are some of my favorite moments but I would love to hear yours. Post your favorite moments below.
Highlights for November 28-29
Criminal Minds continues to creep me out with its guest stars. Last season James Van der Beek played a serial killer and now Frankie Muniz, nice little Malcolm in the Middle, guest stars as a very bad guy Wednesday at 9 pm. on CBS.
Dan invites Serena and her mom to Thanksgiving dinner on Gossip Girl (Wednesday, CW, 9 p.m.)
I’ve said that I thought Dirty Sexy Money (Wednesday, ABC, 10 p.m.) need a reason for us to tune in every week and I think Simon Elder is it. He has mystery (what is he really up to? And what did the Darlings do to his family), he’s dividing the family, and he’s flirting with Karen (who can blame her?)
So how excited are you that Life (Wednesday, NBC, 10 p.m.) has been picked up for the full season. (And so was Chuck, whoo-hoo). This week, Charlie fights back against the murder investigation being launched against him and in a special two part episode airing next Monday and Wednesday (at 10 p.m.), NBC promises some major clues to the mystery will be revealed. Will he find out Dani’s father is involved? What are your theories? Talk about them below.
You know I complain a lot about Grey’s Anatomy (Thursday, ABC, 9 p.m.) so I thought it was only right that I tell you that I thought last week’s episode was fantastic. I love seeing more of Bailey’s personal life and her struggle to balance being a wife/mom/chief resident. I’m wishing Bailey had her own spin-off. I think I’m kind of into McDreamy becoming interested in the nurse (even if she is someone who works in the hospital who we've never seen before). And Seth Green was just about the best guest star the show has ever had. What did you think of last week’s episode? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com and let me know. This week, ABC repeats the Grey’s season premiere.
Most shows are in repeats Thursday night, so I plan to check out Big Shots (Thursday, ABC, 10 p.m.).
That’s all for today. I’m back on Friday with quotes of the week. Have a question, seen a familiar face or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
Best wedding: not necessarily the wedding itself but funniest episode is Woody and Kelly on cheers (I laughed everytime Carla fell down the dumbwaiter)
Best Birth: Just saw this one a few weeks ago but has to be Murphy Brown.
Chet | Nov 28, 2007 12:15:44 PM | #Best makes-me-want-to-throwup twist: Criminal Minds with Jaime Kennedy slowly revealing that he fed human soup to the searchers volunteering to look for his next victim. I haven't eaten meat since I saw that episode--not even turkey for Thanksgiving!
I also enjoy the addition of Simon to Dirty Sexy Money. I'm enjoying this odd family, and while I root every week for Nick to tell the Darlings to stuff it and quit, of course that can't happen because we wouldn't have a show! And I luvs me some Peter Krause.
Tree | Nov 28, 2007 12:18:56 PM | #I'm so glad the intervention ep on 'Party of Five' made the list! That was my favorite show in high school. They need to release the last 4 seasons of DVD....
Cat | Nov 28, 2007 12:36:31 PM | #Best Wedding has to be Rhoada! But Cheers does deserve Best Wedding Moment.
Thanks for reminding me that ER was once a good show. I gave it up three years ago and have never looked back.
Tom | Nov 28, 2007 12:48:39 PM | #You forgot the recent dramatic November sweeps birth of Elliot Stabler, Jr on Law and Order SVU.
Jeffy B | Nov 28, 2007 1:02:09 PM | #So very happy that Chuck has been picked up. Now if the Hollywood folks would just come to terms so the writers can write those episodes ...
BEST I DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT REALLY HAPPENED - Hawkeye on the series finale remembers that it was not a chicken that was killed for making too much noise while they hide from the enemy, but a baby.
Lisa | Nov 28, 2007 1:23:56 PM | #I think this would fall into best crisis, but on ER when Carter gets stabbed during the valentine's party, falls to the floor, and sees Lucy bleeding on the other side of the bed. What an amazing episode.
The next episode made me really like Dr. Romano. I was probably the only one.
ER's "Love's Labor Lost" aired five days before the birth of my first son and scared the hell out of me. Now that's a sweeps episode memory.
esb100 | Nov 28, 2007 2:02:19 PM | #When Buffy had to kill Angel after their one perfect moment together - I wept buckets for her. Now that was true love!
Cheers - when Diane and Sam realised they were in love and their exchanges in the bar were pure poetry but they still didn't twig that they each felt the same way, they had such loving pain in their faces but they still made us laugh.
Loved the intervention for Mary on Seventh Heaven when Ruthie (always the smartest character in my opinion) told Mary off instead of following the rest of the family's syrupy "I love you's".
Everwood - when Bright and Hannah shared that first hot kiss when she was leaving and the saddest when they broke up because he cheated on her.
Romano having the helicopter fall on him on ER
I have watched a Lot of TV so I think I'd better stop now!!
So glad Chuck was picked up - Zachery Levi is a real honey and very nice in real life too.
Haven't caught up with Life yet but I can catch up online which is why I fully support the writer's strike not only do the deserve internet revenues for their shows because of people like me but I can catch up on shows whilst they're out picketing!
Amy what is it about Seth Green that makes him so hot? On paper he would have sand kicked in his face but he so has that za za zoom factor and is completely adorable!
Sirius | Nov 28, 2007 2:18:46 PM | #Best part about Grey's- Gale Harold! Even though he was playing a white supremisist, I couldn't hate him... I am glad he is on again this week and I hope to see some back story there.
Oh and Seth Green was adorable!
Whatever happened to Mark Greene?
Sal | Nov 28, 2007 3:31:20 PM | #I am so excited to hear that Life has been given a full season, it is one of those shows that is justing hiting its stride.
HM | Nov 28, 2007 3:47:35 PM | #fyi mark greene was killed off of er and died of a brain tumor.
kg | Nov 28, 2007 4:04:53 PM | #Best kiss : Luke and Lorelai's first kiss at the Dragonfly on Gilmore Girls.
Kb | Nov 28, 2007 4:26:39 PM | #Best Wedding -- has to be between Kirk and Cindy on Newhart (Season 2, Episode 17: Kirk Ties One On).
Kirk keeps feinting everytime he gets close to the actual wedding and ends up being strapped to a board by the local EMTs so he can be propped up to make it through the ceremony. I remember RotFL it was so funny!!!
David B. Mears | Nov 28, 2007 5:01:13 PM | #I'm beyond excited about LIFE and CHUCK being picked up!! And *two* eps of Life next week, to boot! Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!!!
I've used up my daily quota of exclamation marks, so will just quietly add that Seth Green is a hottie. I adored him as Oz on Buffy ... and he was a great guest star on Grey's last week. That was the best ep of Grey's in a long time. I'll definitely tune it tomorrow.
spuffy | Nov 28, 2007 5:12:12 PM | #Best series opening scene: Lost
Best series final scene: Newhart
Gooey | Nov 28, 2007 5:16:49 PM | #Of course, best anything starts so many fights...but...
I love Alias, and consider it one of my top 5 shows of all time, but for kisses, I have to go with Friends (Rachel & Ross). I will give Alias best death, however (Jack entombing Sloane for all eternity in the finale).
Eric | Nov 28, 2007 5:19:57 PM | #Maybe it's because of the strike or the fact that this season I find myself watching only 1 returning show, Heroes, and 2 new shows, Bionic Woman and Torchwood (the latter a UK import), but I completely forget it was sweeps. The only clue I got was the stunt-casting of Ice-Ts pneumatic wife, CoCo, in his series SVU.
Alex | Nov 28, 2007 5:27:00 PM | #Including anything from Grey's Anatomy on a best moments list is a crime, so I would give Best Birth to Murphy Brown instead.
Wednesday | Nov 28, 2007 5:48:46 PM | #Oh yeah - Murphy Brown definitely gets my vote for Best Birth. I can still remember laughing so hard that tears were running down my face.
Wendy | Nov 28, 2007 6:05:05 PM | #Mandy! Thanks for the heads-up. I can't stand Grey's, but I'm definitely going to tune in for Gale. (He needs to get another good show.)
You may have made my night (for tomorrow night).
Judy | Nov 28, 2007 6:27:58 PM | #Best wedding... i loved the wedding on Coach. cake falling! yea!
Rider | Nov 28, 2007 7:01:10 PM | #I am pumped up that Chuck and Life have been given the full-season go-ahead. Life has rocked since the beginning because of Damien Lewis's awesome, oddball performance. Chuck took a few episodes to settle in, but it's one of the most entertaining shows on tv now. :D
Chris | Nov 28, 2007 8:42:49 PM | #I have to agree with Amy on the Best Death. The death of Joyce Summers on Buffy was the most shocking episode of any show I'd seen since the death of Edith Bunker on "Archie Bunker's Place" or the death of James Evans on "Good Times".
P.S.: I love "Chuck". Bring back Harry Tang! Go Nerd Herd! (I never thought I'd say that, having watched Big Brother 6).
Siansonea | Nov 28, 2007 10:09:19 PM | #
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