# TV Binge Watch (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711 "2022-10-04T16:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 324
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6461 "2024-10-23T16:34:42Z")
**TV tropes** 1. The Wisecracking Smart Middle Child - Alex Dunphy (Modern Family); Darlene Connor (Roseanne); Randy Taylor (Home Improvement) 2. Required Spinoff Crossover - Cliff and Norm visit the Tortellis (The Tortellis); Barry Goldberg visits his old school (Schooled); The Mandalorian visits Boba Fett (The Book of Boba Fett) 3. Cousin Oliver - a new character added as a last-gasp attempt to revive a fading series. Named for a character on The Brady Bunch, the lameness of the Cousin Oliver attempt in general is delightfully sent up in the 8th Season Simpsons episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” 4. MacGuffin: the hero or cast has to find a specific object - every episode of Warehouse 13, many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, some of the episodes of Gilligan’s Island 5. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome - A character dropped from the cast without explanation, usually early in a series’ run. Named for Richie Cunningham’s disappeared older brother; also applies to Tina Pinciotti of That 70s Show and Jerry Conner, fourth child of Dan and Roseanne Conner. 6. Commercial Break Cliffhanger - Ratchets up the suspense for a commercial break in order to keep viewers attention. Used in Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6462 "2024-10-23T17:53:17Z")
**TV tropes** 1. The Wisecracking Smart Middle Child - Alex Dunphy (Modern Family); Darlene Connor (Roseanne); Randy Taylor (Home Improvement) 2. Required Spinoff Crossover - Cliff and Norm visit the Tortellis (The Tortellis); Barry Goldberg visits his old school (Schooled); The Mandalorian visits Boba Fett (The Book of Boba Fett) 3. Cousin Oliver - a new character added as a last-gasp attempt to revive a fading series. Named for a character on The Brady Bunch, the lameness of the Cousin Oliver attempt in general is delightfully sent up in the 8th Season Simpsons episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” 4. MacGuffin: the hero or cast has to find a specific object - every episode of Warehouse 13, many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, some of the episodes of Gilligan’s Island 5. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome - A character dropped from the cast without explanation, usually early in a series’ run. Named for Richie Cunningham’s disappeared older brother; also applies to Tina Pinciotti of That 70s Show and Jerry Conner, fourth child of Dan and Roseanne Conner. 6. Commercial Break Cliffhanger - Ratchets up the suspense for a commercial break in order to keep viewers attention. Used in Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen. 7. You Can’t Thwart Stage One - evil always prevails…up to the middle. The Good Guys always prevail in the end ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6463 "2024-10-23T20:11:05Z")
**TV tropes** 1. The Wisecracking Smart Middle Child - Alex Dunphy (Modern Family); Darlene Connor (Roseanne); Randy Taylor (Home Improvement) 2. Required Spinoff Crossover - Cliff and Norm visit the Tortellis (The Tortellis); Barry Goldberg visits his old school (Schooled); The Mandalorian visits Boba Fett (The Book of Boba Fett) 3. Cousin Oliver - a new character added as a last-gasp attempt to revive a fading series. Named for a character on The Brady Bunch, the lameness of the Cousin Oliver attempt in general is delightfully sent up in the 8th Season Simpsons episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” 4. MacGuffin: the hero or cast has to find a specific object - every episode of Warehouse 13, many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, some of the episodes of Gilligan’s Island 5. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome - A character dropped from the cast without explanation, usually early in a series’ run. Named for Richie Cunningham’s disappeared older brother; also applies to Tina Pinciotti of That 70s Show and Jerry Conner, fourth child of Dan and Roseanne Conner. 6. Commercial Break Cliffhanger - Ratchets up the suspense for a commercial break in order to keep viewers attention. Used in Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen. 7. You Can’t Thwart Stage One - evil always prevails…up to the middle. The Good Guys always prevail in the end 8. Two Decades Behind - styles, customs, and / or technology in a show set in contemporary times are visibly outdated. Visible in the Simpsons, where Marge is a housewife, wears a dress and a beehive, the not particularly religious Simpson family goes to church every Sunday wearing 1950s-esque Sunday best, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6464 "2024-10-23T23:23:15Z")
**TV tropes** 1. The Wisecracking Smart Middle Child - Alex Dunphy (Modern Family); Darlene Connor (Roseanne); Randy Taylor (Home Improvement) 2. Required Spinoff Crossover - Cliff and Norm visit the Tortellis (The Tortellis); Barry Goldberg visits his old school (Schooled); The Mandalorian visits Boba Fett (The Book of Boba Fett) 3. Cousin Oliver - a new character added as a last-gasp attempt to revive a fading series. Named for a character on The Brady Bunch, the lameness of the Cousin Oliver attempt in general is delightfully sent up in the 8th Season Simpsons episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” 4. MacGuffin: the hero or cast has to find a specific object - every episode of Warehouse 13, many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, some of the episodes of Gilligan’s Island 5. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome - A character dropped from the cast without explanation, usually early in a series’ run. Named for Richie Cunningham’s disappeared older brother; also applies to Tina Pinciotti of That 70s Show and Jerry Conner, fourth child of Dan and Roseanne Conner. 6. Commercial Break Cliffhanger - Ratchets up the suspense for a commercial break in order to keep viewers attention. Used in Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen. 7. You Can’t Thwart Stage One - evil always prevails…up to the middle. The Good Guys always prevail in the end 8. Two Decades Behind - styles, customs, and / or technology in a show set in contemporary times are visibly outdated. Visible in the Simpsons, where Marge is a housewife, wears a dress and a beehive, the not particularly religious Simpson family goes to church every Sunday wearing 1950s-esque Sunday best, and so on. 9. Not Allowed to Grow Up – sometimes called “perpetual childhood”. Commonly found in animated shows like Family Guy and the Simpsons _(Maggie has been a baby for what – thirty-five years now?)_, and to a lesser degree in live-action shows. Occasionally results in #3 (‘Cousin Oliver’) above to replace characters as they age out, as in My Three Sons. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6465 "2024-10-24T02:56:39Z")
**TV tropes** 1. The Wisecracking Smart Middle Child - Alex Dunphy (Modern Family); Darlene Connor (Roseanne); Randy Taylor (Home Improvement) 2. Required Spinoff Crossover - Cliff and Norm visit the Tortellis (The Tortellis); Barry Goldberg visits his old school (Schooled); The Mandalorian visits Boba Fett (The Book of Boba Fett) 3. Cousin Oliver - a new character added as a last-gasp attempt to revive a fading series. Named for a character on The Brady Bunch, the lameness of the Cousin Oliver attempt in general is delightfully sent up in the 8th Season Simpsons episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show.” 4. MacGuffin: the hero or cast has to find a specific object - every episode of Warehouse 13, many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, some of the episodes of Gilligan’s Island 5. Chuck Cunningham Syndrome - A character dropped from the cast without explanation, usually early in a series’ run. Named for Richie Cunningham’s disappeared older brother; also applies to Tina Pinciotti of That 70s Show and Jerry Conner, fourth child of Dan and Roseanne Conner. 6. Commercial Break Cliffhanger - Ratchets up the suspense for a commercial break in order to keep viewers attention. Used in Dukes of Hazzard, Get Smart, game shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and reality shows like Hell’s Kitchen. 7. You Can’t Thwart Stage One - evil always prevails…up to the middle. The Good Guys always prevail in the end 8. Two Decades Behind - styles, customs, and / or technology in a show set in contemporary times are visibly outdated. Visible in the Simpsons, where Marge is a housewife, wears a dress and a beehive, the not particularly religious Simpson family goes to church every Sunday wearing 1950s-esque Sunday best, and so on. 9. Not Allowed to Grow Up – sometimes called “perpetual childhood”. Commonly found in animated shows like Family Guy and the Simpsons _(Maggie has been a baby for what – thirty-five years now?)_, and to a lesser degree in live-action shows. Occasionally results in #3 (‘Cousin Oliver’) above to replace characters as they age out, as in My Three Sons. 10. The Unseen Character – a character whose voice may be heard, but whose face is never actually shown: Charlie (_Charlie’s Angels_), Mrs. Wolowitz (_The Big Bang Theory_), Norm’s wife Vera (_Cheers_), Niles’ wife Maris (_Frazier_), etc. Next: **TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6466 "2024-10-24T03:06:54Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6467 "2024-10-24T03:09:45Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6468 "2024-10-24T06:07:26Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6469 "2024-10-24T07:23:41Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6470 "2024-10-24T11:19:52Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border 6. I, Claudius (1976) - Set in Rome 24 BC to AD 54 ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6471 "2024-10-24T12:36:03Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border 6. I, Claudius (1976) - Set in Rome 24 BC to AD 54 7. THe Flintstones (1960) - 10,000 BC ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6472 "2024-10-24T13:03:30Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border 6. I, Claudius (1976) - Set in Rome 24 BC to AD 54 7. THe Flintstones (1960) - 10,000 BC 8. Wild Wild West (1965-1969) - set in the Old West (1870’s) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6473 "2024-10-24T13:34:16Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border 6. I, Claudius (1976) - set in Rome 24 BC to AD 54 7. The Flintstones (1960) - 10,000 BC 8. Wild Wild West (1965-1969) - set in the Old West (1870’s) 9. When Things Were Rotten (1975) - set in Robin Hood’s Merrie Olde England ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6474 "2024-10-24T13:58:37Z")
**TV Shows Set Prior to the 20th Century** 1. Roar (1997) - set in Ireland in 400 CE 2. Turn (2014-2017) - set during the American Revolution 3. Bonanza (1959-1973) - set in 1860s Nevada 4. Rome (2005-2007) - set in Rome from 49 BC to 30 BC 5. Bordertown (1989-1991) - set in the 1880s on the Canada-US border 6. I, Claudius (1976) - set in Rome 24 BC to AD 54 7. The Flintstones (1960) - 10,000 BC 8. Wild Wild West (1965-1969) - set in the Old West (1870’s) 9. When Things Were Rotten (1975) - set in Robin Hood’s Merrie Olde England 10. Here Come the Brides - set in post-Civil War Seattle, Washington Territory pass ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6475 "2024-10-24T17:29:41Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6476 "2024-10-24T17:37:33Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas Sure, it was originally a theatrical release but it’s a tv special now on Disney channel ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6477 "2024-10-24T17:58:22Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas 3. The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6478 "2024-10-24T18:46:20Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas 3. The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special 4. Treehouse of Horror (Simpsons) (does this count? It’s an annual thing. But very special. Not just Halloween-themed, but traditionally non-canonical in that there is no expected continuity with the show’s main events or characters’ timelines.) ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2024, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6479 "2024-10-24T18:50:20Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas 3. The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special 4. Treehouse of Horror (Simpsons) 5. Spookley the Square Pumpkin ---
**Author:** ![themapleleaf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/themapleleaf/32/14349_2.png) [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711/6480 "2024-10-25T00:57:19Z")
**TV Halloween Specials** 1. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas 3. The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special 4. Treehouse of Horror (Simpsons) 5. Spookley the Square Pumpkin 6. Garfield’s Halloween Adventure [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=323) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-binge-watch-part-2/972711.md?page=325)