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Television

11 Shows That Wouldn’t Exist Without ‘Arrested Development’

By Jason Bailey on

Arrested Development fans are busy counting down the hours until Season 4 premieres this Sunday at midnight on Netflix, and here at Flavorwire, we’re no different. So, we’re passing the time by declaring this Arrested Development Week, all leading up to a Recap-a-thon on Sunday, when our own Jason Bailey will review the whole season, episode by episode. Click here to follow our coverage.

By now, the common wisdom is that Arrested Development’s original three-season run was influential and groundbreaking — but what, specifically, do we owe to the show? The dubious film career of Jason Bateman? David Cross appearing in those Alvin and the Chipmunks movies? The forgotten Fox animated flop Sit Down, Shut Up? Hardly. For your consideration, a brief survey of television programs that may never have existed were it not for the Bluth crew. … Read More

Television

Why Are All the Mean Ladies on TV Named Tammy?

By Jennifer Lewis on

Folks, we’ve realized a silly trend in recent comedy TV — the minor bitch characters are always named Tammy. Now, before you get your Dillon Panthers jerseys in a bundle, we’re not counting Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights; she’s a “Tami,” not a “Tammy,” and guidance counselors named Tami are clearly sweethearts. Anyway, we came to this revelation while watching an episode of Parks and Recreation (featuring Tammy Two) and mumbling to ourselves, “This is classic Tammy,” appropriating Charlie Kelly’s short-lived catchphrase from season one of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Do you know a girl named Tammy? Is she “the eye of Satan’s butthole” like the second Tammy Swanson? Or is she “the cold, distant mother [April] never had” like the first? Does she exploit gangly bartenders like the teenage Tammy of Paddy’s Pub? As it turns out, Ron Swanson and Dennis Reynolds aren’t the only suckers to have coped with saucy Tammys — check out our gatherings after the jump. We call this “The Tammy Theory,” or a roundup of coincidentally treacherous TV Tammys. P.S. If your name is Tammy, we’re sure you’re a very, very nice person. … Read More

Television

A Collection of TV-Inspired Valentines

By Caroline Stanley on

Over the weekend our own Emily Temple posted an adorable set of Downton Abbey Valentine’s Day cards by freelance cartoonist by Chad Thomas. Curious to find out what other popular shows had inspired similar homages, we decided to do a little digging; after the jump, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites of the bunch for your general amusement and/or printable pleasure. TV-loving procrastinators, consider this our Valentine’s Day gift to you! … Read More

News

The Morning’s Top 5 Pop Culture Stories

By Caroline Stanley on

1. Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon is launching a new rarities label, Chigliak Records, as an imprint of Jagjaguwar, that will feature music that was “never commercially released” or “locally released [in Wisconsin] and never put out on vinyl.” [via NME]

2. You do not want to know how much money Apple CEO… Read More

Television

Ranking TV’s Nightlife Destinations from Worst to Best

By Romy Oltuski on

The cities and settings and streets and apartments we see on television become, over time, our own; who doesn’t sometimes get the feeling they could actually stroll through Pawnee or buy coffee at Central Perk? These places become our second homes, each as filled with nostalgia as our old classrooms, friends’ houses, and playgrounds. But we’re not going to fool ourselves — some of the dingy joints our favorite TV characters spend their time in are just as bad as the worst ones we get dragged to in real life, which is why we’ve put together an honest tourist’s guide to onscreen nightlife. Below the jump, browse our ranking of ten TV hangout spots, in order, from the ones we wouldn’t step foot into to the ones we’re trying to book for our next holiday party. Which TV bar, club, or lounge would you head to on a night out? … Read More

Television

An Offbeat Gift Guide for TV Lovers

By Jennifer Lewis on

Do you have an older brother who speaks in Ron Swanson quotes? Or a best friend who went as Blue Man Tobias Fünke for Halloween? Or a younger sister who sings “Night Cheese” in her sleep? If yes, this gift guide is for you! Sometimes, season DVD/Blu-ray sets just won’t cut it for our favorite modern TV aficionados. Firstly, because they probably already own ‘em. And secondly? Well, they’re just not original enough. These people deserve silly, offbeat TV-related gifts that will make them chuckle and ask, “Where in the world did you find this?” Then you’ll bring them here and we’ll all high-five and eat “meat tornado” cookies. Or not. Either way, check out some TV-themed trash bags and binoculars after the jump. … Read More

Pop Culture

A Collection of Pop-Culture Tributes to Ziggy Stardust

By Nicole Rallis on

David Bowie’s androgynous early-’70s alien character, Ziggy Stardust, is not only one rock’s most memorable characters; he’s also one of its most distinctive fashion icons, sporting skintight jumpsuits, pounds of glitter makeup, and a bright-red hairdo that gives mullets a good name. Although he’s nearing his 40th birthday, Ziggy’s iconic style continues to influence musicians, fashion designers, artists, and fans, as pop-culture homages to the bisexual space invader abound. Models have been the subjects of Ziggy Stardust-themed fashion shoots, actors have portrayed (and parodied) the role onscreen, and celebrities of all kinds have taken it upon themselves to revive the lightning-bolt look for fun and profit. See some of the best and funniest Ziggy Stardust tributes after the jump. … Read More

Pop Culture

A Comprehensive Rule Book to Pop Culture’s Fictional Games

By Jennifer Lewis on

It’s getting colder, folks, which means we’ll be spending more and more time indoors. How do you like to spend the winter months? Watching TV? Playing games? Reading Flavorpill? Well, let’s combine all of three, shall we? Every now and then, our favorite fictional characters will use their fictional brilliance to invent some awesomely fictional games, and we’ve been itching to play ‘em. The rules of these fake games, however, are often left somewhat unexplained, so why not piece together what we do know and add a few guidelines to create real, playable games? Gather some pals, order a pizza, and read on for the real life rules to 10 of pop culture’s most competitive creations. It’s game night! … Read More

Television

10 Fictional Bars We Wish We Could Frequent

By Emily Temple on

Everyone — real or fictional — needs a good neighborhood bar. And though here in New York City we’re surrounded by some great (and real) ones, we can’t help but think wistfully after the top notch drinking establishments in some of our favorite films and TV shows, which tend to take the cake every time. After all, they’re where our favorite characters hang out, which means they must be cool, right? Right. Click through to see our list of fictional bars where we would totally become regulars, and let us know which ones you’d choose in the comments! … Read More

Television

The 10 Worst Moms on Television

By Jill Harness on

Most people argue with their mothers here and there, but deep down, almost everyone loves their mother. Similarly, while our mothers may not like all of our life decisions, they are usually proud of us overall. Unfortunately, not everyone is so fortunate.

This is particularly true when it comes to the mothers of some of our favorite television characters. If a show has a maniacal, neurotic, foul-mouth or otherwise messed up main character, chances are there is an even worse mother that caused such behavior. Here are a few of our favorite terrible television mothers. … Read More