Spalding Gray, the immensely odd and amusing monologuist best known for his movie, ”Swimming To Cambodia,” soon will be featured on an HBO special called ”Terrors of Pleasure.”
That title is a wonderfully evocative phrase, shot through with angst, uncertainty and guilt. Those emotions, of course, are the curse of the inveterate TV-watcher. Consider a few of the following admissions, the empty calories of a misspent adult life:
I don`t get the big deal with ”St. Elsewhere,” and I never have. Ed Flanders was good as Dr. Westphall, but if Dr. Craig (William Daniels) ever took a powder, this show would be ”General Hospital.”
The more odious, repulsive and self-serving the makeup of the ”Oprah” show on any given morning, well, the more I find myself watching. Recently, the tasteless and uncomfortable hour spent with the families of those killed in the space shuttle Challenger disaster was particularly compelling.
Fox Television`s ”Women In Prison” makes me laugh.
At 1:30 in the morning, there`s nothing on TV I enjoy more than an episode of ”Laverne and Shirley,” with lots of time devoted to Lenny and Squiggy.
I kind of liked ”Leg Work.”
”T.J. Hooker” is the second- or third-dumbest cop show in TV history, and I`ve enjoyed many an episode.
I haven`t been able to sit through ”Face The Nation” since I was a junior in college.
I`m going to miss ”Polonia Today” now that it`s moved over to cable.
I don`t know what`s worse-Chris Cagney`s drinking or Mary Beth Lacey`s screeching. But around my place, we lose CBS Monday nights right after
”Designing Women.”
”Hooperman” isn`t a bad show, but in my heart John Ritter will always be Jack Tripper, Janet and Chrissy`s pal on ”Three`s Company.”
I couldn`t stay with it until the end, but I suspect a lot of folks with MBAs thought ”The Billionaire Boys Club” was a self-help film.
Admit it: You like ”Dolly” for some of the same reasons you liked
”Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell.” Some of the same reasons, I said.
I never can remember which one is the angel on ”Highway To Heaven.”
Is it Michael Landon or the other guy?
Channel 11`s ”Chicago Tonight” is a fine television program, but it does get in the way of ”Black Sheep Squadron” with Robert Conrad and John Larroquette on Channel 50.
I saw that Mike Ditka show on Channel 2 that everyone was talking about, the one where the Coach looked so tired. But I don`t understand how that Mike Ditka show was different than any other.
”Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story” was almost as trashy as
”North & South,” but not quite.
Now that she`s gone, I kind of miss seeing Mariette Hartley unravel in front of the fireplace on the CBS ”Morning Program.”
Whenever I hear the theme song from ”The Facts of Life,” I`m glad I`m not a gun owner.
I`ve seen them all, and the best commericals on TV right now are on WTTW-Channel 11. The ad for United Airlines and the new spot for Centel Corp? Hey, these are award-winners, no question.
The old ”Combat” show with Vic Morrow and Rick Jason was not only better than CBS`s current ”Tour of Duty.” It was better than ”Platoon.”
After three hours and 20 minutes of Frank Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf on ABC`s ”Monday Night Football,” some of us miss the good old days with Fred Williamson.
Whenever I think about the signals being beamed to our children by Pee- wee Herman, I tremble for America.
Nobody, but nobody, in television handles a food segment in a talk show like Gary Collins on ”Hour” magazine. The man is electric around a salad bowl.
I lost track of ”Dynasty” about two years ago and never bothered to go looking for it. What`s Sammy Jo been up to?
Sometimes I worry that someone might give Dick Cavett another TV show.
I don`t understand why it is that ”Crosswits” never caught on. Certainly it was stupid enough to work as a quiz show.
Sometimes I like to watch ”Full House.” Or is it ”Our House?”
I think that when he enters the silence and privacy of the voting booth, Dr. Cliff Huxtable pulls the Republican lever.
I was kind of hoping that when the ”Today” show`s Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley went to China that they`d stay there. I hear there`s a smugness shortage in the People`s Republic.
”Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling” on Ch. 50 may be the tackiest, sleaziest show on television, at least when Oprah Winfrey isn`t interviewing children who`ve seen their parents murdered. Palestina is my favorite lady wrestler, by the way.
