Throwback Thursday: ‘Touch,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ and the Gallavich Wedding
We are trucking right along in the new year which means we are bringing January to a close. This week on Throwback Thursday we look at the dates January 24 – 30.
There are a variety of TV moments to choose from for this week so we tried to go with the most diverse choices. There is a major sci-fi character death, a dramatic kidnapping, and a Southside wedding.
In the world of premieres, there isn’t too much of note, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t find anything worth mentioning. For example, Laverne & Shirley and The Dukes of Hazzard may have premiered in the late 70s, but they are still referenced by avid TV watchers to this day.
Fasten your seatbelts…it’s going to be a bumpy ride through TV history.
Major TV Moments:
The Death of Aeryn Sun (Farscape Season 2 Episode 22, “Die Me, Dichotomy”) (January 26, 2001)
At the end of Season 2 of Farscape the fan-favorite, Aeryn Sun is in a battle over a frozen lake with John Crichton when she’s forced to eject and drowns. Her death changes the whole dynamic of the show despite it not being a permanent fate for her.
She gets a five-minute funeral onscreen where fans and characters alike mourn her.
Her death is shocking, but as fans soon found out she wasn’t to be dead for long. However, resurrecting Aeryn Sun comes at a price that causes Aeryn to believe emotions are unnecessary.
Olivia Pope is Kidnapped (Scandal Season 4 Episode 10, “Run”) (January 29, 2015)
In one of the most dramatic episodes of Scandal to date, Olivia is kidnapped from her apartment. Jake thinks she has been taken by a car — which he follows — but it turns out the kidnappers had only taken her across the hall and waited for him to leave before transporting her.
When Olivia wakes up, she finds out that she is being held captive with another man, Ian, who she thinks is a journalist. The two bond while in captivity until one day the kidnappers shoot Ian and kill him.
Once Olivia manages to escape — or so she thinks — she finds out what is really going on. Ian had been her kidnapper all along and it was to use her as leverage against the president.
Gallavich Forever (Shameless Season 10 Episode 12, “Gallavich!”) (January 26, 2020)
After ten long years, Ian Gallagher and Mickey Milkovich finally reach their wedding day on Shameless. However, it’s not a day without any setbacks.
I mean, when your dad is Terry Milkovich and you live on Southside Chicago is it really possible to have a “happy” ever after? Despite everything, Ian and Mickey say their vows and promise to love and protect one another in front of their family and friends.
It’s a beautiful pay-off for years of back and forth between them. The fans still talk about this event a year later.
TV Premieres:
The final week in January is all about the classic TV with premieres like Laverne & Shirley and The Dukes of Hazzard. This week also saw the start of The Johnny Carson Show back in 1955, which made way for late-night programs like Jimmy Kimmel Live!
More recently we’ve gotten quite the number of children’s TV programming: Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, and Olivia to name a few. We also can’t forget about popular dramas Life Unexpected and Touch.
Here are a few TV shows that premiered this week in TV History:
- 1955 – The Johnny Carson Show
- 1962 – Room for One More
- 1976 – Laverne & Shirley
- 1979 – The Dukes of Hazzard
- 1979 – CBS Sunday Morning
- 1998 – Jep!
- 2003 – Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t!
- 2003 – Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- 2005 – Moving Up
- 2006 – The Emperor’s New School
- 2007 – Dinner: Impossible
- 2008 – Gone Country
- 2009 – Olivia
- 2009 – Toddlers & Tiaras
- 2010 – Team Umizoomi
- 2010 – Life Unexpected
- 2011 – Bubble Guppies
- 2011 – Face Off
- 2012 – Touch
Tell-Tale TV Archives:
This week we look at a news article, an interview, and a list from our archives.
First up there is our news announcement about Patrick J. Adams leaving Suits ahead of the Season 8 premiere. Then we looked back at our interview with Siren‘s Rena Owen.
Most importantly is our list from last year reminding us all of the many guest stars that graced Hart of Dixie over the years.
2018
Suits Renewed for Season 8 — Patrick J. Adams Leaving Series
2019
Siren: Rena Owen on the Show’s ‘Dynamic’ Second Season, Helen’s Past, and More [Exclusive Interview]
2020
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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.