The Mayhem Critic
Aloha, my fellow readers. It is I, the great James Stryker and welcome back to another hilarious chapter of The Mayhem Critic. Previously on The Mayhem Critic, Sean tackled the hilariously bad Showgirls. Today, Sean and his friends relive fond memories of Friday nights when they take a look at the best programming block that we all grew up watching. And that programming block is ABC's TGIF. So sit back, relax and relive some of TV's greatest shows. This is the new chapter of The Mayhem Critic. Enjoy.
P.S.: I do not own anything involved in this story. All rights and references belong to their respective sources.
Episode 204
ABC's TGIF
(We open with the new intro to The Mayhem Critic. The intro is a parody of the Real Adventures of Jonny Quest intro, which features a CG backdrop of blue lines while images from different Mayhem Critic reviews play while the camera flies past them in a landscape, all while "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" plays in the background. The intro ends with the virtual reality world, revealing the "MC" logo)
The new intro to the Mayhem Critic dissolves into Sean's living room, which is covered in VHS tapes, movie posters and video games. Sean enters the living room with three boxes of pizza as he sits them down on the table with the bowl of popcorn and a couple of cans of soda. The young critic is seen wearing a black t-shirt with Steve Urkel on it along with his catchphrase "Did I Do That?", jeans and sneakers. As he sits down on the couch, his friends Brian, Dave and Chad enter the house as Taylor lets them in.
"Come on, guys! Hurry up! It's almost time!" Sean exclaimed as the taps on the couch cushion. "It's almost time! My favorite night."
"What's the big rush?" Brian asked.
"And what's with the set up?" Dave asked.
"And what's with the picture of Steve Urkel on your shirt?" Chad asked as the three of them sit down.
"It's all part of the experience. Now please, sit. Have some popcorn. Eat a slice of pizza." Sean said.
"Sean, I just saw you push play on an episode of Family Matters on Max. How's this an experience?" Taylor asked.
"You don't understand, guys. This is a certain ritual for Friday nights. We order pizza, rent a video game from Blockbuster, gather 'round the TV for the greatest programming block of all time." Sean said.
"Are you talking about Fox's Night at the Movies?" Brian asked.
"No, but I'm sure they're showing Coneheads tonight. I'm talking about something else." Sean said.
"The WB?" Dave asked.
"That wasn't even thought of until 1995." Sean said.
"Are you talking about CBS's Block Party?" Taylor asked.
"FUCK THAT SHIT! It's just a carbon copy of what I'm about to talk about." Sean said.
"What about Must-See Thursday?" Chad asked.
"That's only on NBC and on Thursday nights. Nothing can beat the shows on Friday nights." Sean said.
"Well, there's Mad About You." Taylor said.
"Well, yeah…" Sean said.
"Don't forget Wings." Brian said. "That was pretty good."
"Okay, yeah. I love that show." Sean said.
"And Friends." Dave said.
"Well, Friends obviously. But…" Sean said.
"And Seinfeld and L.A. Law." Chad said.
"Okay, who's dissing Seinfeld and L.A. Law? Nobody disses Seinfeld and L.A. Law. Not while I'm around." Sean said.
"You want to know what's a good show on Friday nights? Going Places." Chad said as Sean's expression changes rapidly after he mentions the show. "Man, isn't that a good show. I know, it only lasted one season, but I'm sure that people love the show."
Brian, Dave and Taylor back away while Sean balls up his fists as he gets ready to murder Chad.
"The idea of four young writers renting a house together sounds like a hilarious idea." Chad said.
(As Sean gets ready to beat up Chad, we cut to a screen with the words "A Few Moments Later" on screen)
Narrator: A few moments later….
We then cut back to Brian, Dave and Taylor sitting with Sean and Chad. The rival critic is seen with a black eye and blood leaking from his mouth after Sean punches him.
"What you guys are missing the point is ABC's TGIF is one of the greatest programming block of the 80s and 90s. A time where we get to sit with our families to watch family-friendly sitcoms. Unlike some "lesser forms of art"." Sean said as he glares at Chad.
"I think you knocked out my wisdom tooth." Chad said as he rubbed his jaw.
"You'll live." Sean said as looks at his watch to see that it's 8:00. "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Shut up! It's time!"
(The 1990 intro to TGIF is shown while the classic theme plays)
Singer: It's Friday night. And the mood is right. Gonna have some fun. Show you how it's done, TGIF.
(Clips from TGIF sitcoms are shown)
Sean: (Narrating) That's right, guys. From 1989 to 2000, ABC took some of their hit sitcoms and put them together in a programming block aimed for families in a two-hour block called TGIF, "Thank Goodness It's Funny". Sure, there were some good shows that aired on Friday nights from 1985 to 1989. But in 1989, they gave us some of the best damn sitcoms of all time, especially from our good 'ol friends Miller-Boyett with their best shows and some other shows in one glorious lineup. Most of it popular (Family Matters, Step By Step, Full House, Boy Meets World) some of it not so much (Teen Angel, You Wish, Going Places), but we'll get to that later.
"So, let's take a look at the first show in the TGIF lineup from our good friends Miller-Boyett, Full House." Sean said.
Full House
(The title screen for "Full House" is shown, followed by clips from the show while the theme song "Everywhere You Look" by Jesse Frederick plays, followed by the instrumental version of the theme)
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, one of the best shows from the Miller-Boyett lineup. And you're all probably thinking, this sounds like the dumbest show ever. Well, to tell you, it can be clichéd at times, but it's a pretty good show. If you haven't heard of the show or the premise of the show, let me give you a quick rundown of the show. The show is about sports anchor Danny Tanner, played by the late Bob Saget, who's a widower after his wife died in a car accident, recruits his brother-in-law Jesse, played by John Stamos, and his best friend Joey, played by Dave Coulier, to help raise his three daughters: his oldest daughter D.J., played by Candace Cameron Bure, Stephanie played by Jodie Sweetin and Michelle played by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Danny Tanner (Played by Bob Saget): OK, Steph. First thing you do when you get to the dance is locate all the fire exits. Keep your eye on your coat the whole time, and if the punch smells funny, don't drink it.
Sean: (Narrating) Which is funny because we all know Bob Saget to be a raunchy comedian. I mean, we've all seen his stand-up comedy. In fact, let's compare Danny Tanner and Bob Saget.
Danny Tanner: OK, let's face it. I'm a lean mean hugging machine.
(Cut to a clip of Bob Saget's stand-up)
Bob Saget: Fuck you all and suck my hundred million dollar cock!
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, it's pretty funny when you watch the show when you were young and you see that Bob Saget is family-friendly, until you get older and realize he's bad for us, and we love him. (A poster for Roseanne is shown) Yeah, her too, to an extent. Aside from the main characters, there are also other characters like Rebecca Donaldson, who appeared in season two and became Jesse's love interest and his wife in the show's fourth season. And later in the fifth season, Rebecca gave birth to twins Nicky and Alex. Then, you have D.J.'s best friend Kimmy Gibbler, who tends to be the annoying white version of Steve Urkel…
Kimmy Gibbler (Played by Andrea Barber): I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you… only you're not joining in.
Sean: (Narrating) Then, you have D.J.'s boyfriend Steve, played by the voice of Aladdin himself Scott Weinger, who tends to be not the brightest. Can you believe that this dude voiced Aladdin? The show had a pretty silly premise that critics didn't like and it got negative reviews when it first aired, but then it won them over with it's wholesome, family entertainment. They also give us some "very special episodes". You have one involving a classmate of Stephanie's getting abused by his father, you have an episode where it involves a death in the family and we all can relate to that kind of thing.
"Was the show any good?" Dave asked.
"You bet it was." Sean said.
Sean: (Narrating) It's innocent, family fun with laughs and heartwarming moments. The show lasted for eight seasons and we were given a sequel series that was shown on Netflix called Fuller House, which lasted for five seasons and it was pretty good too. With a catchy-as-hell theme, an intro packed with posing and smiling for the camera and memorable catchphrases, this is one family sitcom that you have to watch.
(We end with a shot of Danny, Jesse, D.J. Stephanie, Rebecca and Michelle having a picnic followed by the credit "Created by Jeff Franklin")
Sean: (V/O as Jeff Franklin) I made this.
"That was the first show in the TGIF lineup. Next up was another popular Miller-Boyett sitcom with the most popular character ever." Sean said.
"For the love of God. Don't mention him." Chad said.
"Why not?" Sean asked.
"Please, I hate this guy. He's too damn annoying. Just the mention of his name just makes me want to kill someone." Chad said.
"Are you talking about Urkel?" Sean asked as Chad quickly turns his head at Sean.
Family Matters
(The title screen for "Family Matters" is shown while the theme song "As Days Go By" by Jesse Frederick plays)
We cut back to Sean as we see him rubbing his hand. He has blood on his right hand after he finished beating Chad up. Brian and Taylor try to wake up the unconscious critic while he's lying on the floor.
"Here's another one of Miller-Boyett's crowning achievements." Sean said.
"Sean, I think he's dead. You just killed him." Dave said.
"Good." Sean said to Dave before turning his attention to the audience. "I know that some of you know all about the show, so I won't waste much time on this one. For some who haven't heard of it, let me talk about it for a bit."
Sean: (Narrating) A spinoff of another Miller-Boyett show, which is Perfect Strangers, the show centers around the Winslow family, an African-American middle class family that lives in Chicago. You have police officer Carl Winslow, played by Reginald VelJohnson who was just coming off of his role in Die Hard. His wife Harriette played by Jo Marie Payton and their children Eddie played by Darius McCrary, no relation to my cousin Samuel, Laura played by Kellie Shangyne Williams and Judy played by Jaimee Foxworth, who would mysteriously disappear in the show's fourth season.
"You also have Carl's mother Estelle, Harriette's sister Rachel and her son Richie." Taylor said.
"And you also have the best damn character of the show Steve Urkel." Sean said.
"I hate him." Chad said.
"Shut up before I beat you like Frank Vincent beat Joe Pesci in Casino." Sean said.
"I liked him at first. But then he hogged the show. Nothing against Jaleel White, but I think he was overused." Brian said.
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, Urkel became a household name throughout the series. Hell, Urkel Fever was running rampant throughout the years. You have Urkel toys, Urkel t-shirts. You even have Urkel-Os. Yes, that exists. Check out Commercials V. (A picture or Urkel-Os is shown) Yes, I have to admit, Urkel did hog the show, but come on. He is hilarious. Aside from Urkel and the Winslows, you have Steve's girlfriend Myra Monkhouse, played by the late Michelle Thomas, and Waldo, who I swear have the most hilarious voice of all time.
"I just hope that his voice isn't too annoying as Urkel's." Chad said.
"Quiet, heretic!" Sean yelled out.
Sean: (Narrating) The show lasted for nine seasons and it has it's fans, and you can watch it on streaming services or on TBS and TruTV or own the complete series on DVD. If you haven't seen it, then go check it out.
"But hey, you can't talk about Family Matters without talking about Perfect Strangers." Sean said.
"Didn't that show air on Tuesday and Wednesday nights?" Taylor asked.
"Let me explain." Sean said.
Perfect Strangers
(The title screen for "Perfect Strangers" is shown, followed by clips from the series while the theme song "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" by David Pomeranz plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Before this hilarious sitcom aired on Friday nights, the show aired on Tuesday nights in it's first season, which was six episodes. Then, for it's second and third seasons, they moved it to Wednesday nights, then they moved the show to Friday nights. And you know what, it's a really great sitcom. The show focuses on the relationship between Larry Appleton, played by Mark-Linn Baker, and his distant cousin from Mypos Balki Bartokomous, played brilliantly by Bronson Pinchot. Yes, you heard me right. Serge from Beverly Hills Cop. As they share an apartment is Chicago.
Larry Appleton (Played by Mark-Linn Baker): (After he sees Balki wearing Spider-Man pajamas) What are those?
Balki Bartokomous (Played by Bronson Pinchot): These are my Spider-Man pajamas.
Larry Appleton: Let me rephrase that, why are you wearing those?
Balki Bartokomous: Because my He-Man pajamas are in the laundry.
Larry Appleton: I had to ask.
Sean: (Narrating) This show is one of ABC's crowning achievements. It's one of the funniest sitcoms of all time. And when I first watched it when it was on Hulu, I laughed my ass off from watching it. I can tell you this, Mark-Linn Baker and Bronson Pinchot have an incredible chemistry for physical comedy together. It kinda reminds me I Love Lucy's physical comedy and Laurel and Hardy.
Larry Appleton: Alright, let's make a run for it.
Balki Bartokomous: Okay, ready?
Larry Appleton: Yeah.
Balki Bartokomous: One. Two. Three.
(Balki and Larry run to the door while screaming in pain from their sunburn. Larry touches Balki's back. Balki screams in pain as Larry touches his sunburned body. Balki gets back at Larry by touching his sunburn, making him scream in pain as well)
Sean: (Narrating) The show has some great comedic moments and it's light-hearted like Full House and Family Matters. The show lasted a good eight seasons and they have it on DVD. I'm still waiting for Warner Home Video to release the complete series set like Family Matters and Step By Step. Hell, they need to have the series on Max. If you're able to check out clips of the show on YouTube, watch as many of them as you can. This is one show that will make you do the Dance of Joy.
(Cut to Larry and Balki doing the Dance of Joy)
"Well, that's all fine and good. But is there another show on TGIF that isn't produced by Miller-Boyett?" Chad asked.
"Well, I'm glad that you asked, Chad. Which brings us to our next show. And it's a spinoff of Growing Pains." Sean said.
"Aw, shit!" Chad yelled out.
"I don't believe it." Dave said as he made a facepalm.
"I cannot believe that Kirk Cameron has his own spinoff." Brian said.
"Actually, his character didn't have a spinoff." Taylor said.
"Thank Christ." Brian said.
"Actually, this guy." Sean said as a picture of Bill Kirchenbauer as Coach Graham Lubbock is shown.
"Huh?" Brian, Chad and Dave said at the same time.
Just the Ten of Us
(The title screen for "Just the Ten of Us is shown, followed by clips from the show while the theme song "Doin' It the Best I Can" by Bill Medley plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) So, uh, yeah. You didn't know that Growing Pains had a spinoff. Well, here's a brief little rundown of the show. It focuses on Coach Graham Lubbock, who after loses his job on Growing Pains, receives an offer at another school, which is an all-boys Catholic school. So, he moves his large family from Long Island, New York to Eureka, California. Oh, did I mention that four of his teenage girls attend the school as well? Yeah, four teenage girls attending an all-boys school.
Teenage Boy: The St. Augustine Glee Club wants to wish you and your daughters a hearty welcome. (Blows the kazoo)
Glee Club Boys: (Sings) Welcome to our world…
(Coach Lubbock shuts the door on them)
"Yeah, that's every father's worst nightmare." Brian said.
Sean: (Narrating) And of course, his four teenage daughters consists of Connie, the Bohemian and agnostic one played by JoAnn Willette, Cindy the ditzy one played by Jamie Luner, her twin sister Wendy, the flirtatious one played by Brooke Theiss and the oldest sister who's most responsible and most pious Marie, played by Heather Langenkamp…
"Wait, what?" Brian asked.
"You heard me. Heather Langenkamp." Sean said.
"Nancy from A Nightmare on Elm Street and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors?" Chad asked.
"The same one." Sean said.
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, it's funny because three of the Lubbock sisters consists of three actresses who appeared in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. Hell, just listen to the line that Marie said in the first episode of the show.
Marie Lubbock (Played by Heather Langenkamp): This looks like something out of Nightmare on Elm Street.
Elizabeth Lubbock (Played by Deborah Harmon): Marie, I really don't think you should be so negative.
Marie Lubbock: Who's being negative? I love it! There could be bodies anywhere.
"It's funny because she was on Nightmare on Elm Street." Sean said.
"Well, duh!" Dave said.
Sean glared at Dave and immediately pulled out his pistol and pointed it at him.
"Watch it, Dave." Sean said.
Sean: (Narrating) You also have the youngest Lubbock siblings as well, Graham Jr. also known as "J.R." played by Matt Shakman, Sherry played by Heidi Zegler, Harvey the toddler and Melissa the infant. The show tends to focus on the older sisters dealing with typical family sitcoms issues and dating and of course saving money. They even have their own singing group called "The Lubbock Babes". Sadly, the show got cancelled in it's third season, until USA Network picked the show up for reruns. And it's criminal that the show didn't get a DVD release. But, if you're able to find it on YouTube or anywhere else, definitely watch as many episodes as you can. It's a barrel of laughs waiting for you.
(Cut to an animated still shot of the Lubbock family and their new home as the theme song ends)
"Well, you have the best show that got cancelled in 1990. So, what did they replace it with?" Sean asked.
"Going Places?" Chad asked.
"God, that's a bad move!" Sean exclaimed
Going Places
(The title screen for "Going Places" is shown, followed by clips from the series while the theme song "Going Places" by Mark Lennon plays in the background)
(A clip from The Empire Strikes Back is shown)
Luke Skywalker (Played by Mark Hamill): NOOOOOOO! NO!
Sean: (Narrating) This is one of the lesser-known shows in the wonderful world of Miller-Boyett. I'm not gonna spend a lot of time talking about it, but I'll be happy to talk about it. The show centers around four young writers: brothers Charlie and Jack Davis, played by Alan Ruck and Jerry Levine, Alex Burton played by Heather Locklear and Kate Griffin played by Hallie Todd, as they land jobs in Hollywood at a hidden-camera television show and they rent a house together. Yeah, they replaced Just the Ten of Us with that. Aside from the four cast of characters, you also have the executive producer of the show Dawn St. Claire played by Holland Taylor and a teenager who lives next door to them Lindsay Bowen played by Staci Keanan. Yeah, this was after she just finished My Two Dads. Thank God she stars in another Miller-Boyette sitcom after this one. I never watched the show, but I have found episodes of it on YouTube and immediately, I didn't care for that one. It wasn't funny, it wasn't clever, it's a show that you don't need to waste your time watching. So just skip that one because it only lasted one season. Yeah, that's right. One season. Like I said, skip it.
"Well, after the cancellation of Going Places, people were thinking of a Look Who's Talking sitcom." Sean said.
"Wait, that exists?" Brian asked.
"Yep. I'm talking about Baby Talk." Sean said.
(The title screen for "Baby Talk" is shown, followed by clips from the show while the theme music "Bread and Butter" plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Based loosely on the Look Who's Talking movies, this show focuses on the adventures of Mikey, I mean Mickey, as he gives his sarcastic commentary on the world. And instead of Mickey being voiced by Bruce Willis, he is voiced by none other than Tony Danza.
Mickey (Voiced by Tony Danza): The Yankees? They got as much chance this year as the Iraqi army.
"Really? Tony Danza?" Chad asked.
"Yeah. The dude from Who's the Boss." Sean said.
"Gotta feel pretty bad for Bruce now." Brian said.
Sean: (Narrating) Aside from Mickey, you have his mother Maggie, played by two different actresses. In season one, Maggie is played by Julia Duffy and in season two she is played by Mary Page Keller. Which would explain why Mickey's mom was played by the wife of the dude who played Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III and Cobra Kai. You also have other characters in the show, like a construction worker named Joe, played by George Clooney.
Joe (Played by George Clooney): A child's nursery is his dugout it's where every rookie learns the moves, so that when it's his turn at bat, he knows what to do. Behold… the New York Yankees.
"I'm guessing Clooney probably said, "I don't know about you, but I have a career to think about." Yeah, says the guy who thought it was a good idea to star in this movie." Sean said.
(A clip from Batman & Robin is shown)
Batman (Played by George Clooney): Bat Credit….
"SHUT UP!" Sean and the others all yelled out.
Sean: (Narrating) Then in the second season, Maggie gets a new love interest named James Halbrook, played by Scott Baio, and instead of James being a cabbie, he's the building superintendent at Maggie's apartment.
"Well, why couldn't you make him a cabbie?!" Sean exclaimed.
Sean: (Narrating) You also have Mickey interacting with the other babies, just like in the movies, that's what I like about the show.
Mickey: Hi, remember me? I'm Mickey.
Danielle (Voiced by Vernee Watson-Johnson): Big deal!
Mickey: Whoa! Rough neighborhood.
(Cut to an episode from season one)
Baby Andre (Voiced by Michael Bell): Why are they crying?
Mickey: Maybe they need changin'.
(Cut to the opening of the show)
Baby: (After sniffing Mickey) Hey, you smell good. What is it?
Mickey: It's my new baby powder.
(The other baby lies down on the floor)
Baby: Uh-oh. Maybe it's a little too strong.
Sean: (Narrating) The show lasted for only two seasons and it's a cute little show that needs more love. If you haven't seen it, then go check it out on YouTube.
"You know, Sean. All of these shows are great in the early years of TGIF, but when are we going to get to the good stuff?" Dave asked.
"Yeah. When will we see some of the good shows?" Chad asked.
"Well, over the next years, TGIF would have their best highlights. They would give us some of the finest laughs in family television." Sean said.
"Not the mama!" Chad exclaimed as he hits Sean in the head with a glass bottle, which had no effect on the young critic as he turned around with an evil look on his face, making Chad afraid of him. "Uh-oh."
"You're dead! Come here, you little…" Sean exclaimed as he attacks Chad. "How dare you hit me in the head with a glass bottle?!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Chad cried out.
"We'll be right back." Brian said to the camera.
Sean: (Narrating) In 1991, TGIF was becoming a powerhouse for family entertainment on Friday nights. And with the new season of TGIF, you get new shows, and they definitely gave us some excellent little gems like this… (Dinosaurs) and this… (Step By Step) and this (Boy Meets World).
"First off, let's take a look at the newest show in the Miller-Boyett library, Step By Step." Sean said.
Step By Step
(The title screen for "Step By Step" is shown, followed by clips from the series while the theme song "Second Time Around" by Jesse Frederick and Teresa James plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Created and produced by William Bickley and Michael Warren, the show centers around the Lambert-Foster family. First off, the Lamberts, which consists of divorced contractor Frank Lambert played by Patrick Duffy and his three children: J.T., played by Brandon Call, Al played by Christine Lakin who I swear she went from adorable tough girl to holy hell she's bangably hot and Brendan played by Josh Byrne. And then you have the Fosters, consisting of widowed salon owner Carol played by the late Suzanne Sommers and her three children: Dana played by Staci Keanan, the beautiful yet ditzy Karen played by Angela Watson and Mark played by Christopher Castile. Yeah, the kid from Beethoven. Frank and Carol marry while vacationing in Jamaica after a whirlwind romance. They plan to keep their marriage a secret, until this happens.
J.T. Lambert (Played by Brandon Call): Oh, now I get it. That's why we're here, you're already dating the bimbo.
Frank Lambert (Played by Patrick Duffy): You watch your mouth, young man. She is not a bimbo, we are not dating, we're married.
(Ivy and Penny both gasp in shock)
Sean: (Narrating) So Frank and his kids move in with Carol and her kids and they become one big blended family.
Dana Foster (Played by Staci Keanan): My God! Here comes the Joad family.
Karen Foster (Played by Angela Watson): Mom, aren't we rushing things by letting them move in so soon?
Dana Foster: Yeah, Mom, don't you think it's a red flag that these people can just pick up and move at a day's notice?
Carol Foster-Lambert (Played by Suzanne Sommers): Well, some people are simply unemcumbered by belongings.
Sean: (Narrating) The show focuses on blended families and it also depicts typical situations for a new blended family and how they act. You tend to see them arguing with each other and cause resentment, but then they learn to tolerate one another. Which is pretty neat for a sitcom. And yes, we've seen it before in The Brady Bunch. This show has some silly moments and some serious moments that every family sitcom tends to tackle and the cast all fits together. And speaking of the cast, I absolutely love the cast. You have amazing actors like Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Sommers and I love the chemistry between the two of them. Plus, it's pretty surprising to see that Patrick Duffy is starring in a sitcom when he just come off from the mega-hit drama Dallas. As for the kids, I love them. You have Staci Keanan playing the responsible, prudish sister, Angela Watson as the cute yet ditzy one, Brandon Call playing the slacker, Christine Lakin playing the tough tomboy, Josh Byrne playing the adorable one and Christopher Castile as the nerdy one. Later on in the series, the Lambert-Foster family welcome a new addition to their big family, the adorable Lilly Foster-Lambert, played by Emily Mae Young, who I recognize from the Welch's grape juice commercials. And yes, I'm saving the best character for last, and it's Frank's nephew Cody, played by Sasha Mitchell, and he became a fan favorite. Yeah, this is the same guy who was on the Kickboxer sequels, and he's playing a doofus in the show, but you gotta love him saying "dude" and him being the valley guy-type character. Plus, I call him the white version of Steve Urkel. And speaking of Urkel, did I mention that Urkel guest starred in an episode of Step By Step in it's first season? And he appeared in an episode of Full House in it's fourth season. Like I said, Urkel Fever was running rampant back in the 90s. This is one of my favorite shows and I tend to watch it on Max. If you haven't seen it, then go check it out.
"And speaking of new shows that are awesome, TGIF brought us another powerhouse show…" Sean said.
"Dinosaurs." Brian, Taylor, Dave and Chad said at the same time.
"Yeah, I was getting to that." Sean said.
Dinosaurs
(The title screen for "Dinosaurs" is shown while the theme music by Bruce Broughton plays in the background while clips from the show are shown)
Sean: (Narrating) Now, I know this sounds like a silly idea. A show about anthropomorphic dinosaurs. When I was young, I thought the show was silly and I still find it silly till this day. But it is still a hilarious show and I love. Created by Michael Jacobs and Bob Young and produced by Jim Henson Entertainment, the show centers on the Sinclair family: Earl, Fran, Robbie, Charlene, Baby and Ethyl. The idea of Dinosaurs was conceived by Jim Henson back in 1988, he wanted to do a sitcom about a family of dinosaurs, people thought it would be a crazy idea. In the late 80s, Henson worked with fantasy artists and designer William Stout on a feature film about anthropomorphic dinosaurs called The Natural History Project. Henson continued to work on the dinosaur project before his death in 1990. After Henson's passing, the Walt Disney Company began working on the series for CBS before the show landed on ABC, which Disney eventually acquired and when it aired back in 1991, it became a hit, satirizing social norms. This is one of those family sitcoms that deals with topical issues like environmentalism, endangered species, women's rights, LGBT rights, censorship, objectification of women, civil rights, body image and much more. I love this show and the great cast like Stuart Pankin, the late Jessica Walter, Sally Struthers and Kevin Clash as well as the amazing puppet work from Jim Henson's team. This is one prehistoric show that we'll never forget.
"So, you have two hits on TGIF, what's another show from the Miller-Boyett library that I haven't talked about?" Sean asked. "Ooh, I know. Here's an idea. A sitcom a single white mother and a single black woman who are best friends and they live together in a house with their families."
"Is this the start of a racist joke?" Chad asked.
"Wha… No! No! That's the premise of the show Getting By." Sean said.
Getting By
(The title screen for "Getting By" is shown, followed by clips from the show while the theme song plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, this was an idea for a sitcom and they thought it was a great idea. Getting By was another show in the Miller-Boyette library and created by William Bickley and Michael Warren, the show is about two best friends and single mothers, one black and the other white, who decide to split the mortgage on a new home in Oak Park, Illinois. The show stars the late Cindy Williams and Telma Hopkins, and when I saw an episode of the show on YouTube, I thought it was a spinoff of Family Matters with Telma Hopkins reprising her role as Rachel. Hopkins plays Dolores Dixon, a widow, just like Rachel from Family Matters. Why couldn't you have her reprise her role as Rachel. And Williams plays Cathy Hale, who's husband ran off with another woman. Dolores and Cathy are also co-workers for the Chicago Department of Social Services. Also, Dolores has two sons, Marcus and Darren played by the late Merlin Santana and Deon Richmond and Cathy has two daughters, Nikki and Julie played by Nicki Vannice and Ashleigh Blair Sterling. The show was part of the TGIF lineup for it's first season. But after ABC cancelled the show in it's first season, the show was moved to NBC for it's second season, until it was cancelled again. Well, at least the show is not like Going Places.
"Any other shows that we haven't heard about or that we've heard about?" Brian asked.
"Yes, I can sum it up with one name… FEENAY! FEE-HEE-HEE FEENY!" Sean yelled out.
Boy Meets World
"Oh, yeah. Boy Meets World. Which I'm right, had a few different opening themes throughout the show." Brian said.
"That's correct." Sean said.
(The title screen for the first season of "Boy Meets World" is shown, followed by clips from all seven seasons of the show while the season one theme by Ray Colcord plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) Yes, TGIF's show that's aimed for preteen and teenagers, and yes, it's another show that I watched when I was young and my mom did too. I even went as far as to get the complete series set of the show. (A picture of the complete DVD set of Boy Meets World is shown) The show centers on Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, as he tackles the everyday life of being a kid and growing up. Now, you know that you grew up watching the show and it delivered great laughs, but it also dealt with some serious topics like alcoholism, death, vandalism, sex, child abuse, sexual harassment. Hell, you have an episode involving a cult. A cult! And not the cola cult from Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers. The show is well-remembered by fans as one of the most affecting and beloved TGIF shows of all time.
Cory Matthews (Played by Ben Savage): It's hard to imagine you as a boy. Did your parents call you Mr. Feeny?
Sean: (Narrating) We've shown some love for Cory, Topanga and Shawn as well as interests in where their lives are heading from season to season. Now, aside from Cory, you have his best friend Shawn Hunter, his girlfriend and later wife Topanga Lawrence and his brother Eric, who always steals the show. Then, you have Cory's father Alan, his mother Amy and his adorable little sister Morgan, who was played by two different actresses.
(A clip from the first season of Boy Meets World is shown, featuring Lily Nicksay as Morgan)
Morgan Matthews (Played by Lily Nicksay): Mommy, if my dolly's cold, can I put her in the toaster oven?
Amy Matthews (Played by Betsy Randle): No, honey. That would be a mistake.
Morgan Matthews: Mommy?
Amy Matthews: Yes?
Morgan Matthews: I made a mistake.
(Amy runs over to the toaster oven and pulls out Morgan's doll)
(Cut to the third season of Boy Meets World, with a clip featuring Lindsay Ridgeway as Morgan Matthews)
Morgan Matthews (Played by Lindsay Ridgeway): So, rumor upstairs is you got a date.
Cory Matthews: Morgan, long time no see.
Morgan Matthews: Yeah. That was the longest time-out I've ever had.
Sean: (Narrating) You also have Mr. Feeny, played by William Daniels, and he's Cory's next-door neighbor and teacher. And he whips out life lessons to Cory on every episode. Other characters were introduced in the show like Mr. Turner, Mr. Williams, Shawn's long-lost half-brother Jack, Angela and Rachel McGuire played by Maitland Ward.
"Which gives me another reason why I watch Boy Meets World." Sean said with a naughty smirk.
"This doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Maitland Ward is now a pornstar?" Taylor asked as she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at Sean.
"Wait, what?" Brian asked.
"Yep, that's true. Rachel's now doin' porn." Sean said as Dave, Brian and Chad run out of the room and head upstairs to Sean's office to look up porn videos of Maitland Ward on his laptop. "I knew I shouldn't have mentioned it."
"Nice job, doughface." Taylor said.
Sean: (Narrating) The show ran for seven seasons and it was shown on Disney Channel, ABC Family and MTV 2. Then, ten years later, a spin-off was created called Girl Meets World, which aired on Disney Channel for three seasons, which centers around Cory and Topanga's daughter Riley.
"No, I am not going to re-ignite the Rucas and Lucaya war. I'm getting sick of that shit!" Sean exclaimed.
"Damn! Maitland's got a nice rack!" Chad shouted from upstairs.
"Oy vey." Sean said.
Sean: (Narrating) If you're new to this show, then check it out. If you haven't watched it in a while, give it a watch again. And if you have kids, introduce the show to them. You can check it out on Hulu or Disney Plus. The show continues to be the reigning champ of TGIF.
"Now, that we've talked about a classic show that lives on for years. Let's take a look at a sitcom involving the brother of a family who's parents have been killed in a car crash and he's raising his siblings." Sean said.
"Are you talking about Party of Five?" Brian said.
"Does it involve the oldest sibling dressing up as a woman?" Sean asked as Taylor, Brian, Chad and Dave look at him in pure confusion. "This is On Our Own."
On Our Own
(The title screen for "On Our Own" is shown, followed by clips from the show while the theme song "Love, Tried and True" by Joe Turano plays in the background)
Sean: (Narrating) With Party of Five being a family drama, On Our Own is a family comedy. Plus, it aired on September 13th, 1994, which was on a Sunday before it was moved to Friday nights. The show centers on Josh Jerico, the eldest brother of his sibling as he raises his six siblings after the death of their parents. It's kinda like Party of Five, but the black version of it, probably call it Party of Seven. So, you have the older brother taking charge so they won't be split up and put into foster care. And he does this by dressing up as their "Aunt Jeicinda". Yeah, I can see Tyler Perry's inspiration for Madea. The show stars Ralph Louis Harris, who plays Josh Jerico and his six siblings consists of the Smollett siblings. I'm not joking. You have the Smollett siblings playing Josh's brothers and sisters on the show. You have JoJo Smollett, Jazz Smollett, Jurnee Smollett, Jake Smollett, Jocqui Smollett and Jussie Smollett.
"Before he… eh, you know what, I'm gonna stop right there. I'm not gonna make a joke about Jussie Smollett. It's not worth it. That dude's been through enough." Sean said.
"So, I'm guessing this was before he staged a fake hate crime on himself? I'm looking forward to that movie about him on Lifetime." Chad said.
"Dude!" Sean yelled out.
"Oops!" Chad exclaimed.
Sean: (Narrating) The show only lasted for only one season, which is criminal because the show seemed like it's good. I remember watching it when they showed it on ABC Family a couple of years ago. I could only find clips from it on YouTube. If you haven't heard of it, then check it out now.
"And now, it's time to talk about another black sitcom that aired on TGIF. And it's Hangin' With Mr. Cooper." Sean said.
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper
(The title screen for "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper" is shown, followed by clips from the show)
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, this is one sitcom that I definitely remember when I saw the promo for the show when they showed it on Fox 19 while it was in syndication. Hangin' With Mr. Cooper stars comedian Mark Curry as Mark Cooper, an NBA player-turned-substitute teacher and gym coach and later in the series a basketball coach. And just like Full House, the show aired on Tuesday nights and it's created and produced by the same guy who created Full House, Jeff Franklin. Then, from 1993 to 1995, the show was part of the TGIF time slot, the show managed to have a fan-following. You have a great ensemble cast alongside Mark Curry. You have Holly Robinson-Peete as Mark's friend, roommate and later girlfriend and fiancé, Dawnn Lewis, Nell Carter, Omar Gooding, Sandra Quarterman, Marquise Wilson and Raven-Symone. Yep, Raven-Symone. The show first started out as an adult-oriented sitcom, but they added some family-friendly elements to it, making it a part of the TGIF line-up. The show lasted for five seasons and you can watch it on streaming services like Max and Hulu. If you haven't seen it, then go check it out. Now, I'm sure there's another show on TGIF that's very memorable and has a very catchy theme song.
Sister, Sister
Singer: Sister, sister. Talk about a two-way twister…
(A clip from Army of Darkness is shown)
Ash Williams (Played by Bruce Campbell): Yeahhh, babbbbyyyy!
(Clips from the show play)
Sean: (Narrating) Now we're talkin'. Sister, Sister was the show that made twins Tia and Tamera Mowry household names. Yeah. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen aren't the only twins on TV to become household names.
Tamera Campbell (Played by Tamera Mowry-Housley): Dad?
Tia Landry (Played by Tia Mowry): Mom?
(Tia and Tamera look at their parents)
Tia and Tamera: (Both) That girl has my face!
Sean: (Narrating) We all know Tia and Tamera, of course. But on top of that, you have Tia's mother Lisa, Tamera's father Ray and you have the annoying nerdy neighbor Roger, who tends to be infatuated with them. We all grew up watching the show and before it was shown on The WB. Well, moved to The WB, the show got it's start on ABC's TGIF for two seasons. But ratings for the show declined after it moved to Tuesday nights and the show was cancelled on April of 1995. And that same year, the show was picked up for a third season and found it's new home on The WB for four seasons until 1999. The show was lighthearted and cute and just like every family sitcom, a "very special episode" would occasionally show up.
(Cut to the season four episode Model Tia)
Tia Landry: Who are you anyway? We know you're not really Varique Dalton.
Varique (Played by Keith Amos): Well, that's the beauty of these computer friendships. You see, I can be anybody I want.
Tamera Campbell: Good. Could you be a policeman and arrest yourself?
Sean: (Narrating) It was Tia and Tamera that helped lift the show's status as a well-remembered TGIF hit. The show ran for six seasons and you can watch episodes of the show on Paramount Plus. If you haven't heard of it or even see the show, just stop what you're doing and go watch it now.
"And you know with TGIF being a big hit, you know that there's going to be some changes and there was definitely some changes, that's when TGIF was starting to suck and sadly, this would end TGIF's phenomenal run." Sean said.
"Wait a second, you don't like Sabrina the Teenage Witch?" Brian asked.
Sean gets offended and pulls out his gun and points it at Brian.
"Are you trying to say that I don't like Sabrina the Teenage Witch?! Do I have to take you out this world?!" Sean asked, in a threatening tone.
Dave, Taylor, Chad and Brian all shook their heads no.
"What I was trying to say is that there was never a good TGIF show." Sean said.
(A picture of the show Aliens in the Family is shown)
"Really? Aliens in the Family? Who's the idiot that came up with that idea?" Sean asked.
"Want me to explain Sabrina the Teenage Witch for ya?" Brian asked.
"Go right ahead." Sean said.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
(Clips from the show are shown)
Brian: (Narrating) Based on the Archie Comics series and before she became an adult-oriented show that became dark like Riverdale. (Posters for The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Riverdale are shown) Yeah, we're at the time when we turn lighthearted comics and shows into serious dramas. Back then, Sabrina charmed her way onto TV screens and she made her mark as part of the TGIF lineup. The show stars Melissa Joan Hart, who became a household name earlier in the 90s as Clarissa Darling in the Nickelodeon sitcom Clarissa Explains It All. Hart plays the titular character Sabrina Spellman, a girl who discovers on her 16th birthday that she's a witch.
Zelda Spellman (Played by Beth Broderick): Sabrina, we have something to tell you. You see, there are two realms—the natural and the supernatural and it turns out that the immutable laws of physics…
Hilda Spellman (Played by Caroline Rhea): You're a witch.
Sabrina Spellman (Played by Melissa Joan Hart): What do you mean I'm a witch?
Hilda Spellman: You're a witch.
Brian: (Narrating) And with her being a novice witch, her spells would usually go wrong: whether it's turning a kid that she's babysitting into a grown man who has the mind of a toddler, turning somebody completely invisible and let's not forget about her turning the mean girl into a pineapple.
Sabrina Spellman: I just turned the most popular girl in school into a pineapple!
Hilda Spellman: Why?
Sabrina Spellman: Because it's the only thing you taught me how to do.
Hilda Spellman: Chill. (Takes the pineapple and sits it down on the table) I can fix this. (Grabs a cleaver) Chunks or rings?
Zelda Spellman: Hilda… there are other ways.
Hilda Spellman: Wedges?
Brian: (Narrating) The show has this classic Archie Comics wholesomeness. Her relationship with her aunts Hilda and Zelda was well defined. And you have Sabrina's cat Salem, who's voiced by Nick Bakay, and I have to say that the animatronics for Salem looks amazing. And sometimes it's usually a real cat. But my God, don't you wish that Salem was your cat?
Salem (Voiced by Nick Bakay): I'm the wrong witch to ask. They weren't very lenient with me. Sentenced to 100 years as a cat and for what?
Sabrina Spellman: I don't know. For what?
Salem: Oh, like any young kid I dreamed of world domination. 'Course, they really crack down when you act upon it.
Brian: (Narrating) Let me just say this: Salem is the best cat ever.
"And you know why? Because black cats rule!" Sean exclaimed as he picks up his cat Riley.
Brian: (Narrating) You have other characters on the show like Harvey Kinkle, who we all shipped with Sabrina, her best friend Jenny who was only on the show for one season, then you have Sabrina's best friend Valerie, the popular girl who's always a bitch towards Sabrina which is Libby. Don't have anything against Jenna Leigh Green, it's the character. And of course Sabrina's vice principal Mr. Kraft, played by Martin Mull, who tends to be the on/off boyfriend of Hilda and Zelda. The show ran for seven seasons and you can watch it on Paramount Plus. It's a silly, fun, lighthearted show and it will always be a magical part of TGIF.
Sabrina Spellman: The teachers think I'm smart, the jocks think I'm cool. Oh, and I'm going to the movies with Harvey and Jenny Saturday night. Woo-hoo! I'm normal!
"Thank you, Brian. Thank you for talking about the show for me." Sean said.
"No problem." Brian said.
"And now, it's time to talk about The Muppets." Sean said.
"Again?" Dave groaned in disgust.
"Do we have to talk about that crappy show from 2015?" Chad asked as Sean, Taylor and Brian glared at him. "What?"
"Never diss the Muppets. Never." Taylor said.
Muppets Tonight
(Clips from "Muppets Tonight" are shown)
Sean: (Narrating) Yeah, this one deserves to be talked about. If you haven't heard of the show, this was an attempt for the Muppets to do another variety show, kinda similar to The Muppet Show. This is the Muppet Show in the 90s. This was presented more like a TV show for prime-time television, and of course, the humor was updated for the 90s. On top of all that, you have some great guest stars like Sandra Bullock, Billy Crystal, Paula Abdul, John Goodman, Jason Alexander, Pierce Brosnan, Michelle Pfieffer, Prince and many more. The show ran for two seasons and sadly, there's no DVD release of the show or on Disney Plus. But, luckily, I've found episodes of the show on YouTube. So, make sure you watch all of them to get a good laugh for kids and adults.
"Sadly, this is where TGIF began their downward spiral." Sean said.
"But Clueless was good." Chad said.
"I'd rather watch the movie." Sean said.
"How long did it last for?" Taylor asked.
"About three years." Sean said.
"Yikes." Brian said.
Sean: (Narrating) Back in 1996, there were some changes for TGIF. With Sabrina the Teenage Witch becoming a hit on Friday nights, TGIF became more teen-centric with shows like Boy Meets World and Clueless. Family Matters and Step By Step have been experiencing some declining ratings got cancelled right after Disney took over, leading to CBS to create their own Friday night programming block.
(The promo for the CBS Block Party is shown)
Ben Stevenson (Played by Gregory Hines): You're invited to the biggest party on television!
Announcer: Welcome to the CBS Friday Night Block Party…
Sean: (Narrating) That's right. CBS was competing with ABC with their new family-oriented programming block called the CBS Block Party, with shows like Meego and The Gregory Hines Show, and guess what they took with them? Family Matters and Step By Step. Don't worry, that didn't last long. It only lasted a year. ABC would still do well, but not so well. And many of their shows did not do so well, like Teen Angel, Brother's Keeper and You Wish. And then, there was this Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen sitcom. (A picture of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in Two of a Kind is shown) Ratings were beginning to sag. And by the 1999-2000 season, it marked the final year for TGIF with shows like The Hughleys, Odd Man Out and Making the Band to try to save the dying block. And thus, TGIF ended on May 5th, 2000. And I was eight-years-old when it ended with Boy Meets World ending after seven seasons, Sabrina the Teenage Witch moving to The WB and The Hughleys moving to UPN. And thus, this was the end of TGIF. There were two attempts to bring back TGIF. It's second run started from 2003 to 2005 and it's third run, which was short-lived from 2018 to 2019. Many of these shows exist in reruns and on streaming services. Every Friday night gets me hyped up for every show to watch with my family. It was a pretty awesome time for our childhood. And we're thankful that they brought us TGIF. Thank goodness it's funny.
"Well, that was one fun Friday night and with a lot of fun shows to watch. There's nothing that could end this fun night." Sean said.
Hugh Downs: (On TV) Good evening, I'm Hugh Downs.
Barbara Walters: (On TV) And I'm Barbara Walters. And this is 20/20
(The intro to 20/20 from 1989 is shown)
Announcer: From ABC News, around the world and into your home. The stories that touch your life. This is 20/20.
"Except for 20/20." Chad said.
"Damn. Way to kill our Friday nights." Sean said.
"So, now what?" Dave asked.
"Well, we could do what every kid in the 90s does, play video games." Sean said.
"What should we play?" Brian asked.
"We could play some GoldenEye." Sean said.
"Sean, you have it on your Nintendo Switch and on your Xbox One X. Plus, you have two controllers for you Xbox." Taylor said.
"Well, we could watch Oppenheimer on Peacock." Sean said.
"But, the film's only 3hrs." Chad said.
"But it's a hell of a good movie." Sean said.
"Man, we're getting old." Brian said.
"Yeah, you're right." Sean said. "Definitely old. I miss our childhood."
And that is all for that new chapter of The Mayhem Critic. So, what did you think of the new chapter? Do you have any fond memories of TGIF? And what is your favorite TGIF show to watch? My favorites are Family Matters, Step By Step, Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Full House. And let's not forget Perfect Strangers. Gotta love Balki! Next time on The Mayhem Critic, it's time to pay tribute to the late Carl Weathers as Sean the Mayhem Critic reviews the 1988 action-comedy Action Jackson and shows his love for the movie. Then after the Action Jackson review, I will be starting Steven Seagal Month in March starting with Under Siege. So, make sure you review the new chapter, add it to your favorites and follow it for future updates. Also, if you have any request for a movie or a TV show to review, feel free to PM me if you're interested. I'll see you guys next time. Till next time, my fellow readers.