Throwback Thursday: ’12 Monkeys,’ ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘Roswell, New Mexico,’ and ‘The Sopranos’
Let’s all get on the nostalgia train with this week’s Throwback Thursday. We are looking at the dates January 10-16th where quite a bit happens — before 2000.
We have some really memorable TV moments for you from The Golden Girls, Battlestar Galactica, and The Good Doctor. There are two deaths to mourn — or laugh at depending on the show — and a monumental resignation decision.
When we look back at this week over the years there is a noticeable trend of big-name shows premiering before the year 2000. We are talking about All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Happy Days, Hill Street Blues, and The Sopranos.
Fasten your seatbelts…it’s going to be a bumpy ride through TV history.
Major TV Moments:
Rose Thinks She Has a Curse (The Golden Girls Season 1 Episode 15, “In a Bed of Rose’s”) (January 11, 1986)
In a wonderful comedy of errors, The Golden Girls shows just how superstitious Rose can be. When she wakes up to find her latest paramour has passed away in her bed she freaks out.
The other girls soon discover this isn’t the first of her lovers to die in her bed. Rose’s late husband also expired in their bed. Even funnier is that both men died soon after having sex with Rose.
So, Rose determines that she is cursed and vows to never have sex with another man.
It’s early on in the series, but already viewers discover that this show has a wonderful way of taking something that should be serious — a death — and putting a comedic twist on things.
Admiral Cain is Assassinated (Battlestar Galactica Season 2 Episode 12, “Ressurection Ship, Part 2”) (January 13, 2006)
The assassination of Admiral Cain on Battlestar Galactica Season 2 Episode 12, “Ressurection Ship, Part 2” is one that fans won’t soon forget. This episode brought a three-episode arc to a close as the fleet discovered a new Battlestar.
Cain’s abrasiveness was a shocking tone shift, and her elimination was necessary though heartwrenching as fans watched duel assassination plots play out. Sometimes the deaths that hit us the hardest are the ones we realize to be completely necessary for the plot.
Dr. Shaun Murphy Wants to Resign (The Good Doctor Season 1 Episode 12, “Islands: Part 2”) (January 15, 2018)
FREDDIE HIGHMORE
When a show centers on one specific character’s journey it is shocking indeed when that character decides to just give up on their current path. This is what happens when Dr. Shaun Murphy skips out on work to go on a road trip with Lea only to come back with the resolve he is going to resign.
Luckily for everyone, Dr. Murphy is shown that his resignation is nothing more than him giving in to his fears. If Shaun really had turned in his resignation, and quit being a surgeon, the TV show would’ve changed, but also Dr. Murphy would change astronomically without medicine in his life.
Sure, following what you think is love is always an admirable quality. However, sometimes we make things out to be more than they are in our heads because we are scared of something even bigger — which is what Shaun learns.
TV Premieres:
Like we stated above, this week is filled to the brim with shows that get our nostalgia juice flowing. There are the obvious classics such as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and Happy Days.
However, we can’t discredit more current pop culture hits such as 12 Monkeys, Schitt’s Creek, The Man in the High Castle, The Sopranos, and Roswell New Mexico. Where would we be without shows such as Dynasty, Hill Street Blues, or Star Trek Voyager?
All these shows and more are a major part of what makes us all love TV. These shows have become a major part of who we are.
Here are a few TV shows that premiered this week in TV History:
- 1952 – Today
- 1954 – The Brighter Day
- 1966 – Batman
- 1971 – Masterpiece Theatre
- 1971 – All in the Family
- 1972 – Sanford and Son
- 1972 – Emergency!
- 1974 – Happy Days
- 1980 – Chain Reaction
- 1981 – Dynasty
- 1981 – Hill Street Blues
- 1983 – Fraggle Rock
- 1995 – The Wayans Bros.
- 1995 – Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
- 1995 – Star Trek Voyager
- 1997 – King of the Hill
- 1999 – The Sopranos
- 2001 – Grounded for Life
- 2001 – Lizzie McGuire
- 2003 – MTV’s Made
- 2004 – Drake & Josh
- 2005 – Iron Chef America
- 2007 – Cory in the House
- 2010 – Pit Boss
- 2013 – 1600 Penn
- 2013 – The Carrie Diaries
- 2015 – The Man in the High Castle
- 2015 – 12 Monkeys
- 2015 – Schitt’s Creek
- 2018 – Black Lightning
- 2019 – Roswell, New Mexico
- 2020 – 68 Whiskey
- 2020 – Everything’s Gonna Be Okay
Tell-Tale TV Archives:
One element of our site that sometimes gets overlooked is our interviews. So this week we are highlighting two interesting interviews that we think you should check out, Katrina Law and Tyler Labine.
If interviews aren’t quite your thing we also provided a throwback to 2019’s Critic Choice Award winners. Check them all out and revel in the memories.
2017:
Katrina Law Talks ‘Training Day,’ ‘Arrow,’ and More [Exclusive Interview]
2019:
2020:
Tyler Labine Breaks Down that Shocking ‘New Amsterdam’ Mid-Season Premiere [Exclusive Interview]
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What are some major TV premieres, finales, or moments you remember? Sound off in the comments below and your choice just might be featured in a future Throwback Thursday column.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.