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“You’re over me? When were you … under me?”

Posted on May 6, 2014 by funnygurl2

Oh, I don’t think I will EVER be over the TV series Friends.

Never has this been more apparent today than when I ran across this article that pointed out that the series finale was exactly 10 years ago today…and I burst out crying.

10 Years Later: Friends’ 10 Most Quotable Lines

http://www.vulture.com/2013/03/friends-best-quotes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Fvulture+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Vulture+Inbound%29

I was never a big fan of Ross or Rachel. Their characters tended to annoy me and their relationship took away valuable time from Monica’s cleaning & Chandler’s wisecracking. But this was my most favorite scenes between them.

I have talked before on my blog about how the Seavers from Growing Pains were like my family. I wanted to live in their house and be one of them. Well, maybe be adopted by them, since otherwise I would have had lustful thoughts about my brothers.

But in the same way that I felt the Seavers were my family, that is how Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross felt like my friends. I invited them into my living room every Thursday night for 10 years. They were in my house every night for an hour when they went into syndication. I shared in their trials and tribulations. They WERE my friends in my head and heart, if not by the standard definition.

Don’t get me started on my crush on Chandler (Matthew Perry).

I was sooo devastated when Friends concluded. I cried for like an hour after the finale ended. Within the same week, a DVD of the Series Finale hit stores, and I bought it. I watched it over and over. As series finales go, it was a perfect ending.

My favorite shot of Chandler from the Friends series finale Photo: Warner Bros.

My favorite shot of a surprised Chandler from the Friends series finale
Photo: Warner Bros.

I actually filled the void left by Friends with Fox’s The O.C. While I didn’t necessarily wish to live amongst them, I was obsessed with their lives in a similar way. Therefore, when The O.C. ended in 2007, I not only cried for The O.C., but I cried for Friends (again, still) as well.

I have only added one new TV show to my all-time favorite list in the years since then, the short-lived FX show Terriers, starring Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James.

It somehow makes it even harder when you realize that Friends started 20 years ago in 1994,  the same year I graduated high school.  My WHOLE ADULT LIFE I have known these characters.

I can’t believe it is really 10 years later, and I still haven’t found a way to say goodbye.  Maybe if I could meet Matthew Perry someday, that would help…

For more of my thought on any or all of these shows, please visit my page: My Top Ten TV Shows of All-Time

And, to end this post, further proof that I may not be over The O.C. either.  A preview clip of the upcoming show Gotham, featuring Ben McKenzie.

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What I Learned This Week – 9/30/12

Posted on September 30, 2012 by funnygurl2

This week I learned that people REALLY HATE BOXELDER BUGS!

Yesterday (Saturday 9/29/12, a beautiful Saturday I might add) 203 people visited my blog.

I KNOW!

They could have instead been outside enjoying the beautiful weather. But, I think that might have been the key to them stumbling upon my blog.

You see, of those 203 views yesterday, 186 of them were of one post: Boxelder Bugs Must Die! (click here to see the original post)

A Boxelder Bug-ugly little sucker!


From what I can tell, many of these people came on over from Pinterest. Now, I don’t myself Pinterest, but I do suspect that someone must have Pinned my post about Boxelder Bugs gratuitously mating all over my porch and how much I enjoy murdering them with Dawn Dish Soap (yup, the same stuff that saves baby seals during oil spills).

So, I just wanted to say, THANK YOU!, to everyone who stopped by yesterday (my day of highest views ever!) and I hope a few of you stick around. Now, of course, I would rather people stop by to ogle Matthew Perry or mourn The O.C. But I am not choosy around here. I will take what I can get.

And knowing that I am helping the world in the tiniest way of riding the planet of Boxelder Bugs just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside:)

I’m not stalking you. is NOW ON FACEBOOK! “Like” that I’m not stalking you and get an update when there is a new post to read. (It is sort of like YOU are stalking ME.)

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My Life Philosophy (Sitcom Style)

Posted on September 18, 2012 by funnygurl2

Two of the most important people in the personal development of my life were the TV characters of Punky Brewster and Chandler Bing. What have they taught me?

Punky Brewster


Punky

    – Always be colorful.
    – Ponytails improve your outlook on life.
    – Speak up.
    – Have spunk.
    – When you feel trapped, plan your escape.
    – A dog is a girl’s best friend.
    – Growing older doesn’t mean you have to grow up.
    – When life takes away a parent, find your own replacement.
    – Home is where the dog is.
    – Dance like everyone is watching.
    – Be yourself.
    – March to the beat of your own drummer.

Chandler Bing


Chandler

    – If you can’t beat them, make them laugh.
    – Being “the funny one” is a compliment.
    – Embrace your inner geek.
    – Being vulnerable can be more endearing than being strong.
    – Surround yourself with good Friends.
    – When life gives you a transvestite father, cast Kathleen Turner in the role.
    – Dance like you don’t care if anyone is watching.

I’m Chandler. Could I BE anymore charmingly self-depreciating?

For more blogs on Punky Brewster, click below.

Ode to Punky Brewster
You Can Never Get Too Much Punky Brewster

For more blogs on Chandler Bing, please click below:

Three Degrees of Matthew Perry

I’m not stalking you. is NOW ON FACEBOOK! “Like” that I’m not stalking you and get an update when there is a new post to read. (It is sort of like YOU are stalking ME.)

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TV Was My Family (A Tribute to Growing Pains)

Posted on July 19, 2012 by funnygurl2


I watched a lot of TV as a kid—A LOT! In high school I once totaled my viewing hours to be 58 hours a week. And that was DURING the school year. More hours than a full time job.

If I haven’t mentioned it before, it was just my mom and I growing up. No dad or siblings. Not many friends. So, somewhere, in my head, I began to think of the people I saw on television as my family.

I had Grandpa Bob Barker. I had Cousin Chuck Gaidica (although I have heard he is an a-hole in real life. But, doesn’t every family have one?). Uncle Phil Donahue and Auntie Marlo Thomas. But, for the core family—mom, dad, sisters, and brothers—I wanted to be a Seaver.

I can remember watching Growing Pains at my Gramma’s house. My mom was taking evening adult education classes at Vo-Tech so that she could learn how to use a computer and go back to work for the first time in like 15 years. My Gramma was baby-sitting me. The class was on Tuesday nights. She let me watch Growing Pains and Who’s The Boss, although I knew she didn’t enjoy them.

I loved the screwball Seaver family. Jason Seaver, the kooky psychiatrist father. “Maggie” Margaret Katherine Seaver, the loving but flaky, journalist mother. “Mike” Michael Aaron Seaver, dim-witted, class clown, troublemaker, chick-magnet older brother. Carol Ann Seaver, genius but socially awkward middle child. “Ben” Benjamin Hubert Horatio Humphrey Seaver, adorably precocious little brother. The premise of the show was that Maggie went back to work while Jason stayed home with the kids. The show moved away from this and just became generally about a family growing up in the 80’s. Later, even switching the rolls between Maggie and Jason again as it became necessary.

Growing Pains
JASON: Mike, you look like you’ve been in a fight.
MIKE: Oh, yeah.
JASON: Who with?
MIKE: My sixth period speech class.
JASON: You fought the whole class?!
MIKE: I don’t know. I was on the bottom of the pile. My fight is not important right now, neither is my suspension.

I could have slid right into the role of Carol. I wasn’t as smart, but just as responsible and nerdy. Except that may have been a problem. Because I had a huge crush on Kirk Cameron at the time. It probably would have been bad to want to make out with my brother. There is an episode where Ben sees a pretty girl while at a taping of the Cosby Show and that throws him into puberty. That is what Kirk Cameron did for me. I have to admit, he is adorable as Mike Seaver. But it never would have worked out. Kirk has gone all uber-religious in his old age. I am not down with that. I used to pretend that my Rainbow Brite doll, my Punky Brewster doll, and my Flower Patch Kid doll were the triplets I had with Kirk Cameron. Yes, it was that confusing time of life when you think about sex but still want to play with your dolls. That time of life when you play Barbies and they have sex with each other all the time and you realize maybe you shouldn’t be playing with Barbies anymore.

All this “what if”-ing to join their family gets really crazy when you consider that there was an episode where Ben dreamed that his family wasn’t his family, but a TV show where actors just played his family. It was an awesome episode. They backed up the cameras and you got to see the sets and the crew and the studio audience and, heck, even the cameras. Joanna Kerns was even dating a hunky Spanish guy. I loved that episode.

Growing Pains
CAROL: Why are you screaming?
BEN: I don’t know! I’ve never been glued to a table before!

I guess some people would say they jumped the shark when they committed the TV sitcom cliché of adding a new kid when all the others are grown. Yep. I’m talking about Leonardo Dicraprio. A horrible skeezy actor that did not fit on my beloved show and I could not wait for them to write him out again. Ick. Ack. Yuck. Just the thought of him makes my skin crawl.

What other stars appeared on Growing Pains? How about a pre-90210 Jennie Garth (“Sticky, sticky. There’s my sticky boy.”). Pre-Full House Candace Cameron (ya, nepotism). Pre-Friends Matthew Perry (“Now you have a second chance!”). Pre-Thelma and Louise Brad Pitt. TWICE!

Growing Pains
[Upon thinking they have found evidence that their dad is divorced and assuming he has other kids:]
BEN: Dad’s other wife cuts his hair while he plays with his other kids. So they couldn’t live far away. I bet right on this street. Maybe they come over here when we are at school. And wear our clothes. And play with our stuff. [screaming] That’s why my room gets so messed up!

Ben grew up on the show. I loved when he became a teenager and he would take mom or dad’s car. Without permission. And without a license. I thought Ben grew up quite hot. But then he was wearing glasses. GLASSES! ON TV! Who does that? Except one of my other favorite people, Chandler on Friends. Get contacts, people! No character wears classes on TV unless they play chess! And even then they are FAKE DORK GLASSES!

The executive producers of Growing Pains also worked on another one of my favorite TV shows, WKRP in Cincinnati. Gordon Jump (Mr. Carlson) even played Maggie’s father on Growing Pains. There is just something about the writing and the characters on Growing Pains that makes them more relatable to me than most other shows (Relatable, get it?). I yearn to live in their world. Sure, occasionally they got robbed or got a new sibling or have to move or get cancelled. But they are always there for each other. There is always another “Goofy Glue incident” or “challenging dual role”. Unless you are cancelled. But then there is always a TV movie. Or two. Or a DVD bonus feature.

Wow. This post became about family, puberty, growing up in the 80’s, celebrities before they were stars, my hate of Leonardo DiCaprio. But, that is what Growing Pains was for me.

Everything.

*Please, oh please, DVD Gods. Make sure all the seasons of Growing Pains get released. Amen.*

R.I.P. BONER
Andrew Koenig (1968-2010)

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Three Degrees of Matthew Perry

Posted on June 28, 2012 by funnygurl2

Dear, Sweet Matthew

(Make that Two Degrees…see below)

I have loved Matthew Perry since he was on Growing Pains in Season Four. (My love of Growing Pains? We will save that for a blog all its own.) Matthew Perry was in a three episode arc as Carol’s college boyfriend. This caused issues as she lied to him and her parents, as she was still herself in high school. Matthew Perry’s role as Sandy (bad character name) came to a heartbreaking end when he was drunk driving and died. (Sniff, sniff.)

Tracey Gold & Matthew Perry on Growing Pains

I cannot wait until they release Season Four of Growing Pains so that I may possess these episodes! When that will be, if ever? Who knows. Matthew Perry (can I just call him Matt? *sigh*) was 20 when he did these episodes. He was cute and funny and goofy and endearing and awkward and, well, Chandler. Although no one watching the episodes knew that yet.

Then I watched Matt in the short-lived sitcom Sydney, where he played Valerie Bertinelli’s younger brother, who was a police officer. I like Valerie Bertinelli and, of course, Matt, and would have continued to watch the show, but it was cancelled.

My favorite shot of Chandler from the Friends series finale Photo: Warner Bros.

My favorite shot of Chandler from the Friends series finale
Photo: Warner Bros.

Then along came the greatest role ever. CHANDLER BING. Chandler Bing is like my perfect man. I fall in love with a sense of humor and goofiness above all else. He was also very good looking when Friends began. Some of my favorite Chandler moments are when he is trying to woo Monica. It is possible that I am not actually in love with Matthew Perry, but the character of Chandler. I guess I hope that since every early role I ever saw of Matthew Perry was Chandler-like, that maybe that is how he is in real life.

FRIENDS
Rachel’s Boss: So, what’s wrong with him?
Rachel: Nothing. He’s just goofy like that. I actually hardly notice it anymore.

I also like Matt in Fools Rush In. But then again, it is just a variation on Chandler. Just like Three to Tango. And The Whole Nine Yards. And The Whole Ten Yards.

As the years have gone on, poor Matt hasn’t aged well. Some of his boyish good looks have slipped away. It frustrates me that he has tried to take on more serious roles, such as West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and Mr. Sunshine. I am not drawn to these more serious roles. I know it is terrible, but I would like to see him as Chandler. Forever. You could just put Chandler in a new setting with new co-stars. You could just keep doing that every time the show got cancelled. And I would tune in, every time. As long as the theme song is never “It’s a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.

FRIENDS
Joey: I’m Chandler. Could I BE wearing any more clothes?!

The one more serious role I love Matt in is The Ron Clark Story. It is a TV movie about a charismatic young teacher who makes a difference in a very bad school in a bad inner city neighborhood in one of those big cities with lots of crime, probably New York City. Matt is great in it. I forget that he played Chandler. I forget to wish that he was Chandler again. He is charismatic and funny and great. He makes me believe he could be a teacher, and a good one. Too bad that if you watch the extras, the real Ron Clark is way dorkier and younger than Matt who is playing the role.

My previous job was at the corporate office of a now defunct major bookstore chain. Musicians and celebrities used to come in to meet the buyers of their latest record or book to promote it. It was a wonderful perk to a job that I otherwise mostly didn’t enjoy for most of the 12 years I worked there.

One day Robin Thicke came in to work to perform. It must have been to promote his debut album. I thought it was terrible. But since he has become a huge success (including a part on the new show Duets), I will chalk it up to that he just doesn’t perform the kind of music that I personally like.

FRIENDS
Chandler: Don’t go! I’ve scared you! I’ve said too much! I’m hopeless and awkward and desperate for love!

Now, I have mental rules about playing “six degrees”, due to the fact that I have seen so many celebrities. Usually I only count them if I actually spoke to them (such as Bruce Campbell, Jason Mraz, Ricky Skaggs, Jamie Lee Curtis, etc.). But I make an exception for Robin Thicke. I didn’t meet him that day because I thought he was icky. But I could have met him. And I sat in like the second row for his performance. And the whole time I sat there, I just kept thinking “Oh My God. This guy is the son of Alan Thicke who was on Growing Pains and so was Matthew Perry. I am three degrees away from Matthew Perry!”

NOTE: If it was actually Noah Wyle (E.R.) that I saw at Detroit Metro Airport in a Warner Brothers T-shirt getting on a plane to Los Angeles in September of 1996, then that would make me only two degrees away from Matthew Perry, as Noah was once in an episode of Friends! But this would again break my rule of having to have talked to the celebrity, because I didn’t talk to the “maybe Noah”.

ANOTHER NOTE: I am only two degrees away from Kevin Bacon, as he came to my old job and performed with his music group “The Bacon Brothers”. While I stalked the conference room, I didn’t get to go in or see him. But many of the people I worked with, in the same department as me, did:)

So, to wrap up, I just watched a teaser for Matt’s new comedy series this fall called “Go On”. In the 3:19 teaser I watched, it looked like it had potential. But the plot of the whole series is that Matt’s character is in therapy because his wife died. I realize actors like to stretch their boundaries and not be typecast into the same character over and over again. But I have to believe most of his fan base out there is like me. We want to see Chandler again. And we don’t want a sad Chandler. That makes me so sad I want to cry, not watch his show!

UPDATE: Seeing as I have met Bruce Campbell and talked to him (twice), and Bruce Campbell was in Serving Sara with Matthew Perry–cha-ching! I am only TWO DEGREES away from Matthew Perry. Ya, go me!

For more Matthew Perry, please visit:

My Life Philosophy (Sitcom Style) https://imnotstalkingyou.com/2012/09/18/my-life-philosophy-sitcom-style/

I’m not stalking you. is NOW ON FACEBOOK! “Like” that I’m not stalking you and get an update when there is a new post to read. (It is sort of like YOU are stalking ME.)

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