Another Mother’s Day is upon us so I thought I’d reheat & serve this tasty morsel of a post about my Favorite TV Moms.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Rochelle

Chris Rock had a show loosely based on his real life family and the character named Rochelle is his mother in Everybody Hates Chris. You can watch the show via Nick at Nite, click here for more info.

Then I found out they made a song called Suzanne. You may remember it from the closing theme to the 1995 movie Mallrats. I’m a sucker for songs with my name in it so the admiration carried on.

Their latest album, Weezer, a.k.a. The Red Album was released in June, 2008. My favorite song on this album is the catchy tune, Troublemaker. Listening to this makes doing dishes fun again! Ironically this video is all about breaking world records which I recently tried to do. Looks like they had more success than I did.

Here’s internet celeb, Tay Zonday helping Brian Bell with an acoustic version of Weezer’s song Pork & Beans:

As I’ve mentioned before, I grew up on re-runs, and 70’s shows that were originals back in the day. I loved The Dick Van Dyke Show, Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, and The Odd Couple.

These are all classics by the well-known director, writer and producer Gary Marshall who won this years Legend award on the TV Land Awards.

When you get teary eyed at the applause for Henry Winkler you know you’ve been brainwashed by Gary Marshall. There are some of us on this earth that have a sort of unexplainable connection with classic sitcoms. Awards presentations like this one can make us laugh, cry or remember what we were doing the moments we first watched the shows we grew up with. Dick Van Dyke, Jack Klugman, Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, and Henry Winkler presented the Legend Award to Mr. Marshall and every presenter earned a standing ovation.

Robin Williams introduced Jonathon Winters, giving him the Pioneer award. Their comedic banter and friendly demeanor with one another was great to watch. It was two of the best improv comedians together on the small screen again. You might remember them from when Mork & Mindy had a baby on the show. Remember Orkans aged backwards so Winters was an older and oversized baby for Robin Williams and Pam Dawber’s characters.

For me this was when they had their “jumping the shark” moment but Winters and Robin had a rapport that made it work, even though the storyline took a bit of a dive. Check out this funny clip via youtube, of Jonathan Winters outtakes during an ice cream bar commercial:

I could go on and on about the awards ceremony, from Roseanne to Justin Timberlake; yes Justin Timberlake, he was there to present Mike Myers with the Lucile Ball Legacy of Laughter Award. Of course they both plugged their upcoming film The Love Guru. I’m not sure what I think about that one yet.

From Lionel Richie to the Golden Girls, the room was full with a varied list of performers. I’ll let you browse the TV Land Award site for yourself. They give you an all access pass with photos, articles, videos from the show, and great backstage clips. Their site makes it fairly simple to find out who won and who attended.

My favorite part of the show was Vanessa Williams performing an opening number where she continued with the flying theme from years before. The audience was entertained by Doc from Love Boat, Jimmie Walker, Beaver Cleaver, Gary Coleman, Gilligan’s Maryanne, Nellie Olsen, Horshak, and even Greg Brady was able to fly over viewers with the happy thoughts of margaritas.

The idea that I’m thrilled to watch a taped awards presentation in hopes of seeing familiar faces from favorite retro shows, makes me stop and wonder what I’d be like if I never had a TV growing up in the first place. I don’t dare ponder that thought for too long. How about you? Did you watch the TV Land awards? If so, who were you happy to see this year?

In honor of Father’s Day this Sunday, the topic for this Friday is 5 of my favorite TV fathers:

1. Little House on the Prairie

There isn’t a dreamier dad on retro TV than Pa Ingalls. With his rugged look, and ability to break into tears at the drop of his prairie hat, Michael Landon not only starred as Laura Ingalls father in one of the 70’s greatest television shows, he also kept viewers tuned in every week.

2. My Three Sons

With his quirky attitude, his friendly demeanor and soft spoken voice, Fred MacMurray played Steve Douglas the widower taking care of his three sons in a time period where it was thought men couldn’t possibly do such a thing without the help of a female partner in the house. Of course Uncle Charley was always around to help out and get breakfast on the table in a very military like fashion.

3. Happy Days

Tom Bosley played the part of Howard Cunningham; one of the funniest dads to watch week after week. I mean the poor man had a guy like The Fonz walking into his kitchen everyday without a moment’s notice. Lots of laughs watching this guy try to get a break with his slippers and coffee in the morning while dealing with the antics of Joanie, Chachi, Potsie and Ralph Malph. Good thing Arnold’s was nearby so Howard could have a moment or two alone in his armchair.

4. Bill Cosby

Now I have to admit I think I liked watching Bill Cosby more on Fat Albert when I was a kid but watching him as a father on The Cosby Show was entertaining too. He brought the humor of his standup comedy to this show and his agreeable, fatherly image earned him the nickname of “America’s Dad”. Anyone else want a Jell-O pudding pop?

5. Wait Till Your Father Gets Home

Tom Bosley is on the list again at the number 5 spot for the animated series, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. Lending his voice over talent to the character Harry and dealing with his liberal wife Irma, unemployed young adult son Chet, heavyset daughter Alice and intelligent younger son Jamie he has a lot to do when he gets home from his hard day at work. Not to mention the craziness of his ultra-right winged neighbor Ralph Kane.
If you don’t remember this show here are the words to the theme song to jolt your memory a bit.

Alice: I love my mom and my dad and my brothers too, and the groovy way we get along.
Chet: Every time the slightest thing goes wrong, Mom starts to sing this familiar song.
Irma: Wait till your father gets, until your father gets, wait till your father gets home.
Chet: Dad’s not so bad and he seldom gets mad.
Alice: And we’re not about to desert him.
Irma: Kids today like to have things their way, and what Daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
Alice: I think Mom is swell.
Chet: But she starts to yell.
Alice: Every time we have a fuss.
Irma: Just wait till your father gets, until your father gets, wait till your father gets home.
Alice: (chuckles) See what I mean?
Irma: Wait till your father gets home.
Alice and Chet: We know.

My favorite father not on TV, is of course my dad. He’s the kind of guy people look up to, the type of man that demands attention and respect when he walks in the room. A father that can tell stories and everyone wants to listen, about his childhood, highschool days, and even the uncomfortable ones of being in Vietnam as a soldier in the United States Army. My dad is a fan of John Wayne and so to honor him I created a fun photo with the magic of Photoshop. I entitled it JIM WAYNE.
Happy Father’s Day Dad!