1 Ocak 2013 Salı

TV's Top 10 Snowbound Moments

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Stuck at home during these wintry months, it’s easy to comedown with a case of cabin fever.  But whenthe weather outside is frightful, at least we have our televisions’ glow tokeep us warm.  And when the snow startsfalling on the screen as well, those are the situations which often precipitateTV’s biggest laughs.  Below, my Top Ten episodes where chilly situations have made for some warm memories.



1.  I Love Lucy, "Lucy in the Swiss Alps," aired March 26, 1956
Snowy setting:  Swiss chalet

The Wintry Scene:  After a mountaintop picnic in snow-laden Lucerne, TV’sfavorite foursome takes shelter in a cabin whose door is soon blocked by adrift.

Cracking Up:  When Lucy tries to sneak a snack of a sandwich leftover from lunch, her three hungry cabin-mates pounce, expecting their fairquarter-shares.

Breaking the Ice:  After a round of true confessions – Fred has beenovercharging the Ricardos $10 a month in rent; Ethel has been secretlyreturning it – Lucy and friends are rescued by a local oom-pah-pah band, whichRicky then books on his show to play the world’s unlikeliest rumba.

2.  The Mary Tyler Moore Show, "The Snow Must Go On," aired November 7, 1970

Snowy Setting:  Minneapolis newsroom

The Wintry Scene:  Mary is already nervous that Mr. Grant has put her incharge of the station’s live election night newscast.  And that’s before a blizzard knocks out the station’s phones and teletype.

Cracking Up:  Lacking election results and forced to ad-lib forhours, anchorman Ted Baxter resorts to his Jimmy Cagney impression and readingthe numbers on his driver’s license. 

Breaking the Ice:  Mary discovers inner strength as a boss when anovertired Ted responds to her threat of termination and agrees not to deliverunsubstantiated returns announcing Minneapolis’ new mayor.

3.  The Bob Newhart Show, "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas," aired December 22, 1973

Snowy Setting:  Chicago medical office

The Wintry Scene:  When his longtime patient Mr. Peterson is too scaredto go home on Christmas Eve, psychiatrist Bob returns to the office just intime for a blackout during Chicago’s worst-ever storm.

Cracking Up:  Eager to return to wife Emily, Bob is dismayed to findthat the building’s elevators have shut down – and even more forlorn aboutremaining at his office’s party late enough to witness a performance by dentistJerry’s drunken barbershop trio. 

Breaking the Ice:  After abandoning his car in a snowbank, Bob trudgesfour miles in the cold to make it home to celebrate.  Too bad he didn’t think to load up first onthe warming Irish coffee his secretary Carol was serving at the party -- whereshe’d also spiked the water cooler. 

4.  Laverne & Shirley, "Ski Show," aired February 23, 1982

Snowy Setting:  California ski lift

The Wintry Scene:  The relocated Milwaukee bottlecappers take to theslopes in order to meet men.  But whentheir chairlift gets stuck in midair, all they may end up with is frostbite.

Cracking Up:   Panicking, Laverne tricks Shirley into surrenderingthe peanuts she’s kept for her afternoon snack. Then, trying to cheer themselves up, the two sing “Let It Snow” – andunfortunately it does.

Breaking the Ice:  The gals think they’ve “died and gone to Sweden” whentwo hunky blond mountain rescuers work to warm their frozen bodies and – thanksto quick thinking by Laverne – their lips.

5.   Taxi, "Scenskees from a Marriage," aired October 21, 1982

Snowy Setting:  New York City cab

The Wintry Scene:  Selfless cabbie Latka himself gets stuck when he’ssent to save a female coworker from a snowdrift.   Stranded and shivering, cabbie Cindy comesup with a convenient idea:  to avoidfreezing, she and her married rescuer must make love.

Cracking Up:  Following the advice of their priest, Reverend Gorky, Simkavows to make similar “nik nik” with one of Latka’s male coworkers.

Breaking the Ice:  Unable to agree who should be Simka’s conquest, thecouple decides to choose the way their indeterminate Eastern European home countryselects its president:  by throwing adinner party, with the last man through the door the winner.  But Alex refuses to do the deed, forcingLatka and Simka to divorce – and then immediately remarry.

6.  Newhart, "No Room at the Inn," aired December 20, 1982

Snowy Setting:  Vermont bed-and-breakfast

The Wintry Scene:  Former New Yorkers Dick and Joanna are excited tospend their first Christmas in New England, and even more thrilled that theirinn will be packed with customers from the Silverbird Ski Club.  But soon the Silverbirds, and all flights inand out of Stratford, are grounded.

Cracking Up:   The cooped-up Silverbirds squawk about a ruinedvacation, and heiress housekeeper Leslie pines for the family she can’t celebratewith.  But things get really dire when aprophetically named traveler named Joseph enters with his pregnant wife, whoproceeds to go into premature labor.
Breaking the Ice:  Providing excitement at last for the 24 Silverbirds –all of whom turn out to be physicians -- Joseph and his wife welcome theirChristmas Eve delivery.  As Dick notes,Christmases don’t get much more authentic than this – particularly when more strandedmotorists show up seeing shelter:  AlanWiseman and his two brothers.

7.  Family Ties, "Birth of a Keaton," aired January 31, 1985
Snowy Setting:  Columbus, OH public television station
The Wintry Scene:  The Keatons have airtime to fill during the annual on-airpledge drive at Steven’s workplace WKS – without Steven, who is trapped at homein the snow.
Cracking Up:  That’s not a high note that pregnant Elyse hits whilesinging an otherwise mellow Irish folk tune – it’s a labor pain.
Breaking the Ice:  With the roads impassable, Elyse faces the prospect ofgiving birth right there at the station. But her doctor arrives just in time, and the Keatons welcome  baby Andy. And the bonus:  with all the on-airdrama at WKS, $70 grand in pledges has come rolling in.

8.  Designing Women, "Stranded," aired December 7, 1987
Snowy Setting:  Tennessee motel room
The Wintry Scene:  When their co-workers get the flu on a business tripto St. Louis, it’s up to Atlantans Anthony and Suzanne to drive in and save the day.  But in an ever-worsening blizzard, they’reforced to spend the night together in a motel’s sole available room.
Cracking Up:  After initially spending hours in the Sugarbakerdelivery van, shivering despite wearing extra layers of Suzanne’s pink marabourobe and pantyhose, emasculated Anthony barges in and begs the designing diva for a share of the bed.
Breaking the Ice:  In their cozy refuge, the unlikely duo becomes fastfriends, their sudden mutual interest in Suzanne’s wigs and manicure making therest of the gang  realize later that somethingstrange indeed has happened amid the snow.

9.  The Nanny, "Schlepped Away," aired March 9, 1994
Snowy Setting:  Queens, NY apartment
The Wintry Scene:   The Nanny named Fran succeeds in convincing Mr.  Sheffield to take the entire clan on aCaribbean holiday.  But, after gettinglost in the white stuff en route to the airport, they’re soon marooned at her parents’much less exotic abode.
Cracking Up:  The adults in the group jump at the chance for some wine– but then learn to their chagrin that the Jewish Fine household has only super-sweetwines flavored “red” or “purple.”
Breaking the Ice:  Ultimately won over by the Fines’ warm ethnic ways,the whole Sheffield mespuchah engagesin a time-honored tradition, noshing on tongue and stuffed derma in front of Wheel of Fortune, before departing forthe tropics.

10.  Everybody Loves Raymond, "Snow Day," aired January 14, 2002
Snowy Setting:  Long Island, NY house
The Wintry Scene:  Ray and Debra’s golf getaway is scuttled by snow.  But even worse, a power outage forces them togather around the hearth with Ray’s meddling parents, brooding brother Robert,and their intended airport ride, Robert’s ex-girlfriend Amy.
Cracking Up:  Papa Frank is atypically charming as he teaches theyoungins his old-timey dance moves.  Butrelations soon sour when Debra blurts out her surprise about enjoying anevening with her in-laws.
Breaking the Ice:  Frank admits to having taken umbrage only because healways thought it was he and Debra against the rest of the family, who are,after all, “looneys.”  Then, as if toprove his point, the four members of the younger generation break into afevered dance to their own favorite tune, “Jungle Love.”

Happy Holidays, and to all, a White Christmas!

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