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'Miami
Vice'
When it aired: 1984-1989 Created by: Anthony
Yerkovich What was it about: Detectives Sonny
Crocket (Don Johnson) and
Rico Tubbs (Phillip Michael Thomas), who constantly pose as drug
dealers in an attempt to curtail Florida's cocaine
habit. Why we loved it: Because it was like a
stylish, smart action flick every week...well, until Sonny married
that "Sugar Walls" lady, anyway. Factoid fun:
Had things gone a little differently, Crocket would've been played
by Larry Wilcox of
"CHiPs." Where are they now: A new "Miami Vice" movie -- with Colin Farrell as Crocket,
Jamie Foxx as Tubbs, and
Michael Mann reprising
his role as "the director" -- is currently in theaters.
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'Night
Court'
When it aired: 1984-1992 Created
by: Reinhold Weege What was it about:
Judge and amateur magician Harold T. "Harry" Stone (Harry
Anderson) presides over a late-night arraignment court
whose workers are as colorful as the criminals they deal
with. Why we loved it: Because John Larroquette played
one of the most unapologetic but loveable shysters on TV ever.
Factoid fun: While jokes were made about the
height of Bull the bailiff, the 6'7" actor who played him, Richard Moll, was
actually only a few inches taller than his 6'4" co-stars Anderson
and Larroquette. Where are they now: Still
workin' the night shift.
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'Alf'
When it aired: 1986-1990 Created by: Paul
Fusco and Tom Patchett What was it about: A
smart ass alien crash lands in the Tanner family's backyard, and
instead of anally probing them, he eats their food, chases their
cat, and occasionally brings them closer together as a
family. Why we loved it: Because that acerbic
alien Alf was like a furry Don Rickles. Plus the
daughter, Lynn, looked like our first girlfriend (who,
coincidentally, was also from the '80s). Factoid
fun: With the exception of the pilot, every episode was
named after a song, including such rockers as "Wild Thing" (Season 1, Episode 19),
"Stairway To Heaven" (Season 3, Episode 2), and "Wanted: Dead Or Alive" (Season 4,
Episode 3). Where are they now?: Having taken
the last name Clausen, Alf now composes music for "The Simpsons."
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'Transformers'
When it aired: 1984-1987 Created by: Jay
Bacal and John Gibbs What was it about: It was
all hot robot-on-robot action when the Autobots and the Decepticons
-- sentient alien robots than can reconfigure their bodies to look
like cars, planes, and in one case, a boom box - battle it out on
Earth. Why we loved it: Duh! Robots that can
turn into sports cars and fighter jets? And they fight other robots?
Do you really need to ask? Factoid fun: Over the
years, Optimus Prime and pals have made guest appearances on both
"Family Guy" and "Robot Chicken" while Soundwave appeared
in the film "Say Anything ...
." Where are they now?: Currently filming a big
budget bio-pic starring Bernie Mac, John Turturro, comedian
Dane Cook, Josh Duhamel of "Las Vegas," Tyrese Gibson, Shia LaBeouf, the
excellently-named Bylle Michele Fortier-Price, and Jon
Voight. | |
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'Married ... with
Children'
When it aired: 1987-1997 Created
by: Rob Leavitt and Michael G. Moye What was it
about: Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill), who sells women shoes,
doesn't bother trying to be the father who knows best to his
screwed-up son, his stupid, slutty daughter, and his lazy wife, Peg
(Katey Sagal). Why we loved it: Because it was
the anti-Cosby. Factoid fun: Creators named the
family after professional wrestler King Kong Bundy, who repaid the
favor by guesting on an 1988 episode as one of Peg's hillbilly
cousins, Uncle Irwin. Where are they now?: While
most of the family are M.I.A., Peg recently resurfaced as the
soon-to-be reinstated spaceship captain for Planet Express Delivery
Service a thousand years in the future, give or take a month.
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'Star Trek: The Next
Generation'
When it aired: 1987-1994 Created
by: Gene Roddenberry What was it about:
Nearly a hundred years after Kirk drove it around the galaxy,
looking for chicks, a new Enterprise began a new mission to boldly
go on TV where no one had gone since the original Trek was cancelled
in 1969. Why we loved it: Because we're
Trekkers. Factoid fun: The characters of Q and
Geordi La Forge were actually named after "Trek" fans Janet Quarton
and George La Forge. Did we mention that we're
Trekkers? Where are they now: Pulling the
Enterprise out of mothballs so it can appear in the new space combat
video games "Star Trek Legacy," which comes out this fall for PC and
Xbox 360, and "Star Trek: Tactical Assault," out this fall on PSP
and DS. | |
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Paul Semel writes
about music, movies, TV, celebrities, and video games for such
publications as Giant, Big Shot, Emmy, and Electronic Gaming
Monthly. He is also available for boat shows and bridge
dedications.
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