By Michael Lyons
Forget to get a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other? You may be facing a rough February 14th and could be in need of a little levity.
Consider one or all of the episodes of some of TV’s classic sitcoms, each one guaranteed to theme perfectly to Valentine’s Day and each one as sweet as a heart shaped box of chocolates.
“The Honeymooners,” (“A Matter of Record”), January 6, 1956
In many ways, Ralph (Jackie Gleason) and Alice Kramden (Audrey Meadows) epitomize true love. After all, despite Ralph’s constant and disastrous get rich schemes and loud-mouth blustering, the put-upon Alice always sees just how genuine Ralph is. In turn, Ralph is always amazed at how understanding Alice is and never fails to tell her, “Baby, you’re the greatest!”
In “A Matter of Record,” Ralph causes quite the riff in the family, when he argues with his mother-in-law. Well, not so much argues as “goes off” on her. When his mother-in-law comes to visit, Ralph tries to keep his cool, but eventually can’t take it and yells (in great, hysterical,“Gleason style”) at his mother-in-law that she’s a “Blabbermouth!”
When Alice is so offended she moves out and back in with her mother, Ralph turns to pal Ed Norton (Art Carney), who convinces Ralph to record an apology on a record album and send it to Alice. Well...not all works out perfectly, but then it wouldn’t be a “Honeymooners” episode if it did.
This episode however is not only funny, but also very poignant, shedding a light, in its own simple way, on how imperfect and forgiving love can be.
“Happy Days” (“Be My Valentine”), February 14, 1978
Originally airing on Valentine’s day, this episode of the 1950’s-set sitcom breaks out that ol’ TV trope, “the dream sequence.” “Happy Days” takes it up a notch, however, by making the entire show a dream sequence...and a musical, as well!
While in Arnold’s (the local hamburger joint), Joanie Cunningham (Erin Moran) daydreams and as she does, we see each of the cast of characters in different romantic, musical sequences: Ralph Malph (Donny Most) sings “My Funny Valentine,” which is nothing compared to Chachi (Scott Baio) belting out “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” or Al (Al Molinaro) warbling “Isn’t it Romantic.”
If it all sounds like typical ‘70’s sitcom cheese...it is...and it’s wonderful in it’s simple, uncynical, innocent way.
“Friends” (“The One With the Candy Hearts”), February 9, 1995
It’s Valentine’s Day for the Central Perk gang in ‘90’s New York, which means that everything will go wrong.
Ross (David Schwimmer) goes on his first date since his divorce and winds up at a restaurant where his ex-wife and her lesbian lover are at. Meanwhile, the girls Phoebe, Monica and Rachel (Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Anniston) stay at home to perform a “cleansing ritual,” in which they lite items from their ex-boyfriends on fire...and proceed to almost burn down the apartment.
Then, there’s Chandler (Matthew Perry) who finds himself on a blind date with his annoying ex-girlfriend Janice (Maggie Wheeler).
Like all of the “Friends” episodes, this one balances quite a bit and delivers consistent laughs, balanced with solid character development. It’s no wonder this show was “Must See TV.” And is it funny? As Janice would say, “Oh my Gaaaawd!”
This year, consider one or all of these sitcom episodes as part of a perfect February 14th...and go out and buy your significant other a gift!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Sources: IMDb
No comments:
Post a Comment