Sunday, November 17, 2013

Engaging Twosomes




THE NYT looked at some of the TV shows where two people clicked in a big way, thus making the show a stronger one. Most of their examples were recent, but looking back, what twosomes (not necessarily romantic) really make a show zing. Here are three for me.

Andy Taylor and Barney Fife on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. Don Knotts and Andy Griffin had chemistry. You believed in their friendship from their first scenes together. Barney was a screw-up but there was nothing he wouldn't do for the Taylor family. And Andy covered up a million of Barney's goofs over the years. They played like a well-oiled machine.

Tami and Eric Taylor, played by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS anchored a constantly changing cast of teenagers. Romances might come and go, teams might graduate and move on, but they were the rock solid totally believable heart of the show. Who didn't want parents like them?

Lorelai and Rory Gilmour (Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel) on THE GILMOUR GIRLS were perhaps the first mother-daughter team to even have their own patter. Although they had moments of disagreement, you never doubted they loved each other and it was this bond that carried the show through some fairly doubtful scenarios. This must be a special gift of Graham because she has a similar relationship with Mae Whitman on PARENTHOOD.

What are some of your favorite TV relationships?



Really liked ALL IS LOST. http://crimespreemag.com/film-review-all-is-lost/

30 comments:

  1. McNulty and Bunk - THE WIRE

    Nate Fisher and Brenda Chenowith SIX FEET UNDER

    and of course...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnBezIgA3ys

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  2. Anonymous9:44 AM

    Lucy & Ethel
    Andy & Barney
    Ralph Kramden & Ed Norton

    Jeff M.

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  3. Anonymous10:18 AM

    Cisco and Pancho.
    Hoppy and Gabby.
    Sky King and Penny.
    Buffalo Bob and Clarabelle.
    George and Gracie.
    Mama and Dagmar.

    Damn, I look at the list, and I have one conclusion: I am old!

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  4. Anonymous10:21 AM

    Dan & Roseanne
    Mary & Rhoda
    Hill & Renko
    Flynn & Provenza


    Jeff M.

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  5. Anonymous10:22 AM

    Correction: Gabby Hayes was NOT with Hopalong Cassidy. I guess I misremembered. It should be Hoppy and Red.

    Age tends to do that to memory. It becomes less of a clear linear line than a foggy meadow.

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  6. Anonymous10:28 AM

    And I am the only one who remembers Jake and Molly (The Goldbergs)?

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  7. Anonymous10:29 AM

    Morse and Lewis? What about Lewis and Hathaway. Not a bad sequel to a great series.

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  8. Anonymous10:33 AM

    Yes, Morse and Lewis definitely.

    Cagney & Lacey
    Archie & Edith

    OK, R.T., you convinced me.

    You're old.

    ;)


    Jeff M.

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. Richard and Caroline in CAROLINE IN THE CITY and Mulder and Scully in THE X-FILES.

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  11. Anonymous12:33 PM

    Patti - I always loved the Cybill Shepherd/Bruce Willis dynamic on Moonlighting.

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  12. Anonymous12:39 PM

    I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Boris and Natasha, Tom and Jerry, Fred and Barney, Sylvester and Tweetie, Yogi and Booboo, Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote, and other animated pairs. Am I the only person who wasted his youth and adolescence by watching cartoons?

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  13. Henry Blake and Radar. Cliff and Norm on Cheers. Jim Rockford and Angel. Dietrich and Harris on Barney Miller. Buddy and Sally on the Dick Van Dyke Show. I'm trying to think of some less obvious choices.

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  14. Chandler and Joey on FRIENDS. Jerry and George on SEINFELD,

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  15. Larry and Arthur on THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW.

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  16. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Everyone's comments are revealing. One can almost profile the commentators' "tastes" in TV by thinking about their choices.

    Perhaps, Patti, that was your intent: get people to disclose more about themselves than they had thought possible.

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  17. Nope. I never have any intentions in what I ask here.

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  18. Anonymous2:15 PM

    I like the on-screen chemistry between the actors on British comedies--even (or perhaps especially) when the characters are married but not traditionally "happy": like Hyacinth and Richard in "Keeping Up Appearances" or Sibyl and Basil on "Fawlty Towers." A happier marriage is between Jean and Lionel on "As Time Goes By"--I really feel they have the chemistry of a married couple.

    Deb

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  19. Anonymous2:34 PM

    Lionel and Jean, yes Deb. Frankly, I never understood how Richard got together with Hyacinth. But then, I'm guessing he probably didn't have much say in the matter.

    I'd add Tom & Barbara in THE GOOD LIFE and Diana & Tom in WAITING FOR GOD. Also Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie in JEEVES & WOOSTER.

    Jeff M.

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  20. Timmy and Lassie.
    And along the lines that a good twosome does not have to get along: Archie Bunker and Mike Stivic.

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  21. Following Deb's suggestion, Pauline Collins and John Alderton of NO, HONESTLY and WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE, among much else. Still married, it seems, and one hopes happily.

    Emily and Bob Hartley, most of the time. (Perhaps less so toward the end of the series.)

    Tony Randall and Jack Klugman were a rather better pair than Lemmon and Matthau, who didn't give the same sense of actually liking each other.


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  22. Steve Oerkfitz6:56 PM

    Emma Peel & Steed.
    Lenny and Carl from the Simpsons.
    Bert & Ernie.

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  23. Trying to think of Steed's name earlier. Bert and Ernie are perfect.

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  24. Anonymous7:44 PM

    Lenny & Squiggy


    Jeff M.

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  25. The Smothers Brothers.

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  26. Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty
    Matt Dillon and Chester
    Moe and Curly
    Fred and Ginger
    Granny and Jethro

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  27. I love Larry, too, but Moe and Curly hand a more hands on relationship. Get it? Hands on?

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