(HBO)
It would seemingly take a filibuster to prevent this first- year nominee from returning to the Emmy echelon in season two.
July 5
FX
During an impromptu first date that ends up in her pickup truck, Laurie (Melissa Leo) is appalled by the lack of sexual reciprocity by Louie (Louis C.K.) in her truck. Her challenges to him to be more gallant where it counts, and his reactions, brought a hilarious kickoff to the 2012-13 TV season.
Oct. 17
ABC
The emergence of Luke (Nolan Gould) as a key player in the "Family" ensemble was cemented with his reluctance to embrace his natural talent for magic, much to the disappointment of father Phil (Ty Burrell).
Oct. 25
NBC
As Ben (Adam Scott) surprises Leslie (Amy Poehler) by proposing, Leslie forces him to pause so she can truly imprint the moment: "I need to remember every little thing about how perfect my life is right now." And then we wait. . .
Jan. 10
CBS
A humorous but ill-fated journey to a Star Trek convention causes Sheldon to deeply question the nerdist path ... only for an unexpected fight among the girls to bring a much-needed reboot.
April 30
FOX
An episode that goes back in time to show how everyone in the gang lost their virginity is highlighted by the well-lubricated adventures of Schmidt (Max Greenfield).
May 16
NBC
Steve Carell's cameo was a sparse, well-executed reunion, leading up to the sentimental farewell to the anonymous-looking workplace that was ground zero for nine seasons of comic adventures. "There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things," says Pam (Jenna Fischer). "Isn't that kind of the point?"
An interesting character in the comics, the plastic-looking swamp suit and campy villain (played by Louis Jordan, no less) pretty much drove a stake of holly through its heart. Although there was that shot of an unconscious Adrienne Barbeau being carried through the swamp.
David Hasselhoff -- toward the end of his run on "Baywatch" -- as the cigar-chomping, eyepatch-wearing hero? It was enough to make you want to cover the other eye, too.
Even in the comics, the idea of an anthropomorphic duck being romantic with a human woman was a tad creepy. But there are really no words to describe how unfortunate it was on screen.
While generally considered a firstrate movie overall, the campy villains (specifically, Ned Beatty as Lex Luthor's sidekick) and kicker in which Superman flies around the globe to turn back time remain sore points. As my brother said at the time, "If he can do that, why bother trying to stop anything in advance?"
More silliness, nothing worse than the "kiss of forgetfulness," in which Superman inexplicably erases Lois Lane's memory that he's Clark Kent, after he "trips" in the Honeymoon Suite.
Really, so much from which to choose, so little time -- from casting Richard Pryor for comic relief to Jon Cryer as Lex Luthor's spiky-haired nephew and micro-budgeted special effects.
It's kind of a toss-up regarding which was more awful: This theatrical version, starring Matt Salinger, or a 1979 TV movie with a motorcycle-riding Reb Brown in what looked like a football helmet.
The 1930s pulp hero was enjoying a Marvel Comics resurgence when the unforgivably campy movie starring Ron Ely was released. Fans should have known it was a stinker from the trailer, when Doc's eye literally twinkles and he tells a woman who says she's in love with him, "Mona, you're a brick!"
Normally, an animated Saturday-morning series would draw a bit of a pass, but this one carries a special asterisk: Since one member of the quartet, the Human Torch, had been separately optioned for a movie that never happened, the producers replaced him with a wisecracking robot named H.E.R.B.I.E. -- presumably because "R2D2" was taken.
Although many fixated on the Caped Crusader's codpiece, the real crime here was one of tone, as director Joel Schumacher's cheeky take virtually brought the character full circle from Tim Burton's dark 1989 feature to the 1960s "Wham! Biff! Pow!" TV show. So bad, in hindsight, it might have helped drive Arnold Schwarzenegger into politics.
May God bless your family. We have lost a very talented man. RIP.
Im so sorry to hear of his passing….He was a great actor and my condolences to his family ….i loved the sopranos….rip…Tony.