36 Days of Type, 2023

A is for Alfred Hitchcock Presents

To this day, I still watch episodes from this 1955-1965 anthology series. One of the best is “One More Mile to Go.” Predating Psycho, the story follows David Wayne and his suspenseful run in with the law over a broken tail-light and his murdered wife in the trunk of the car. The first half of the episode is amazingly dialogue free and the second half keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat.

D IS FOR DEXTER

This show has it all - drama, forensic science (well, dramatized forensic science) and a loveable bloodstain pattern analyst who is also a serial killer. I know you are not supposed to adore Dexter, but the fact that he only seeks vengeance on “bad people” helps. And seriously, Season 4 was !!!!!

G IS FOR GILLIGAN’S Island

This 1960’s hit is the entire reason I will never go on a three hour sightseeing boat tour. But, Mary Ann always was and continues to be the absolute bestest.

J is for the jetsons

This show was canceled after its first season, but after moving the time slot to Saturday morning, it was a natural hit for a younger audience. The animation is still such a joy to watch, but I am all about Judy Jetson. If I could be that cool and pull off white hair, I would definitely start rocking the Judy Jetson look.

M is for mad men

This series is amazing but the character arc of Peggy Olson (played by Elisabeth Moss), is something to write home about. Anyone who has seen the clip of Peggy walking down the hall, sunglasses on, smoking a cigarette knows what it is all about and that Peggy SLAYS.

P is for pushing daisies

Anyone who knows me also knows that Pushing Daisies would appear here. It is not just good, it is amazing. So amazing I own it. Ned (played by Lee Pace) as a pie-maker who can reanimate the dead, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles who is reanimated and has my dream name. And better yet, Olive Snook (played by the stellar Kristin Chenoweth). I could go on and on…..

S is for Sherlock

A Sherlock Holmes story is always a good time. But, add to that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman and you have the best version of Sherlock you can get. I have to admit, though, Andrew Scott as Jim Moriary makes this show for me. His amazing depiction of intelligent creepiness is unmatched.

V is for the Vampire Diaries

Yet another love triangle with a woman and two vampires. But this show did give us Daniel Gillies as Elijah Mikaelson (who later went on to play a lead role in the Originals). Nothing better than a suave vampire with a higher quality fashion sense than me.

y is for yellowjackets

I admit that I have yet to watch this series, but it sounds fascinating. Survival, psychological struggle, a group of female, high school soccer players who break into warring clans after a plane crash, and a lot of flash-forward/flash-back moments. I may be saving it for when I can truly dedicate the time and attention it deserves.

1 is for thirteen reasons why

Although this show had a lot of controversy around the subject matter, the storyline and character development is solid. I only got through season one but hope to go back and see if the other seasons hold up.

4 is for 24

I grew up with Keifer Sutherland in everything. The Lost Boys, Young Guns, Flatliners, A Few Good Men - that is just to name a few. He has always played really unique parts and I was so happy to see him reappear in 24. In addition, the show has an original take on the way it uses time and leverages regular use of split screens, which I love.

7 is for 227

227 was a great sitcom that started in the mid-1980’s. Set in Washington, D.C. in a dynamic and exciting apartment building, the show had a whole cast of smart, strong, amazing women. This is also where I was first introduced to Regina King as an actress, who went on to appear in some of my favorite movies of the 90’s onward.

B is for Batman

This 1960s TV series (and the corresponding movie) with Adam West and Burt Ward is still at the top of my list. If you have never seen Batman fly through the air suspended from a helicopter while kicking a shark, you have no idea what you are missing.

E is for ER

This medical drama ran for over 15 seasons. Based in Chicago, it had George Clooney, Julianna Marguilies and other returning characters. But it is the cameos that always get me - Stanley Tucci (TUCCI!!!), an itty bitty Shia LeBeouf, Gabrielle Union student, Ewan McGregor as a convenience store robber, Chris Pine as a drunk dude… The best!

H IS FOR HANNIBAL

The series of books by Thomas Harris are great but the TV show with Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy is AMAZING. It has to be one of my top five “must see” shows and I may even have watched it twice.

K is for Kung Fu

There are some obvious issues with David Carradine playing the role of a Shaolin monk, but this 1970’s series continues to be one to watch. It has an endless array of fun and exciting fight scenes and the intense looks and pauses between characters really make the show. We should also give a huge shout out to the lighting technician who allowed realistic shadows from on-set objects to enhance each scene (whether intentional or not).

N is for nip/tuck

I admit that I have only watched clips of this series but always think about giving it a shot. It has all of the drama high points. Stereotypical self-destructive playboy surgeon, CHECK. Stereotypical good guy family man facing moral dilemmas, CHECK. Dark humor, CHECK, CHECK.

Q is for quantum leap

Dr. Sam Beckett theorizes time travel, builds a device to make it happen, and then like a champ, tests it on himself. As you can expect, this went sideways. Dr. Becket then has to correct issues in history and leap from problem to problem trying to fix the world. The person who made this show one to watch, though, was the inappropriate cigar smoking hologram companion, Al.

T is for true blood

There is nothing more entertaining than the long-running vampire loves mortal girl story. This show is both kitschy and fun, and let’s be honest, you really can’t go wrong when your main character is called Sookie Stackhouse.

W is for weeds

This show is on my list of “will watch soon.” Rumor has it, if you love The Sopranos (an antihero who has a moral code), this is a great series to dedicate some time. It also has the amazing Mary-Louise Parker who is known for being a show-stopper both on and off Broadway.

Z is for Zorro

This 1950’s show is so much fun to watch. It has all the regular pitfalls of something from the 50’s, but leverages a serial approach to each season. Each 13-episode series has a continuing story arc, with each show building to an ultimate, exciting end. A hero, the love of his life, and a gang of bandits only adds to the fun.

2 is for 21 jump street

The movie is great and all but nothing beats this series from the late 80’s. A bunch of young, good looking cops return to high school to fight crime. All of us wanted 21 Jump Street to visit our school.

5 is for babylon 5

Anytime you start with the phrase “the Earth Alliance space station,” you know it has to be good. Plus, the Babylon 5 space station was amazing. There was wormhole technology, alternate dimensions, faster-than-light travel, and all the goodness that you dream of seeing in a sci-fi series.

8 is for Sense8

Eight strangers are connected across the globe. They can communicate through their minds, share talents, emotions, moments. As a solitary person, I could never figure out if this would be a dream come true or an absolute nightmare.

C is for Charlie’s angels

Whether you like or dislike this 1976 crime television drama series, as a child, I was all about this show. I wanted nothing more than to be Kelly Garrett. There were very few (if any) series out there with female lead characters. Add to that their ability to fight crime while looking like a million bucks, and as a young, impressionable kid, I was in it to win it.

F IS FOR FAME

“I’m gonna live forever. I’m gonna learn how to fly. FAME!” In the 1980’s, Fame was the show to beat. A bunch of ridiculously talented students in a performing arts school, this show was all about the singing, the dancing, and NYC. I might even admit that, to this day, I still hum along to the theme song while dancing like nobody’s watching.

I is for i dream of Jeannie

This show from the 1960s has a myriad of issues. The feminist in me cringes but the quirky, cute side of me still dreams of wiggling her nose and making any wish come true or any problem go away.

L is for law & order

I am a huge Law & Order fan, but to be honest, my adoration is focused on the original series and the early seasons. You know which ones I mean… Season 1 with Michael Moriary and Chris Noth and Season 2 with Paul Sorvino and Jerry Orbach. Things don’t get much better than that.

o is for orange is the new black

This show is a fave. It is less about the main character for me and more about the supporting cast. Laura Prepon as Alex, Uza Aduba as “Crazy,” etc. And honestly, I will watch anything that has Natasha Lyonne. ANYTHING.

R is for robot chicken

I adore Robot Chicken. The first clip I saw was this amazing stop-motion skit around Star Wars, an elevator, an escalator, and an endless amount of giggling on my part. You have to have a fairly dark sense of humor for this series, but 100% worth it.

U is for the umbrella academy

I am a huge fan of this comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The Netflix series didn’t let me down either. Full of 80’s throwbacks and amazing character arcs, I could watch this one again and again.

X is for X-files

Do you like science fiction? Do you like aliens? Do you love Gillian Anderson? For me, the answer to all of these questions is a huge YES. I might even have watched this series not one time, not two times, but yup, three times. No regrets.

0 is for the 100

A friend introduced me to the TV series, The 100. We both had an obsession with zombies, the apocalypse, sci-fi, etc., so he figured it was a match. He was right. I have never watched a show that ended character’s quicker and in some of the most crazy, unusual ways.

3 is for 3rd rock from the sun

You have to love this show. Imagine it. Four extraterrestrials come to Earth on an exploration mission. They do not understand the culture and end up causing absolute chaos. Kirsten Johnston, John Lithgow, and an itty-bitty Joseph Gordon-Levitt proceed to create all types of mayhem, confusion, and hilarity.

6 is for the Six Million dollar man

This is absolutely one of my favorite shows from the 70’s. I used to watch the reruns on a loop. Steve Austin (played by Lee Majors) was rebuilt with superhuman abilities by the U.S. government after a flight accident and proceeded to save the world one day at a time. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the Bionic Woman with Lindsay Wagner!

9 is for Brooklyn nine-nine

I admit it. I haven’t watched this one yet, but it is way up there on the waiting list. It is rare to find a good comedy, and rumor has it, this is one. Also, I will watch any police procedural. Hands down.