My Top 10 Television Friends
Earlier, a friend told me “I used to think you were so weird for not liking movies.” My boyfriend also agrees. Why don’t I like movies, you ask? Even if I can relate to the characters, it’s a short-term relationship that ends abruptly. You can never experience the development of characters in a movie like in a TV show, and for those of us who yearn for emotional attachment and close friendships, movies leave us feeling unsatisfied.
I talk about television characters like they’re my friends. Over the years, I’ve lost touch with some (series finales), some have passed away, and some I still meet up with every Monday night at MacLaren’s. Here’s a list of my closest friends on television, past and present.
1. Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003)
How exciting was it to tune into the WB (the CW does not compare) every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. While Dawson and the gang had a better vocabulary and a bit more teen angst than I did, they were so relatable. And Dawson crying? Priceless. When Jen died, a part of me died too.
2. Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)
For those of us nerds who loved calculus and couldn’t wait to go to college, Rory Gilmore was our gal. I mean, who cares if I’m pretty if I fail my finals?
3. The OC (2003 – 2007)
I still celebrate Christmakkuh every year. I will be offended if you tell me you don’t like Marissa Cooper. I stopped tuning in after Marissa fell off a cliff, and I even made an RIP Marissa playlist. Lindsay’s Freudian slippers (nerd).
4. Greek (2007 – 2011)
Some nerds are like Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, but some are like Rusty Cartwright aka “Spitter.” Let’s be honest though, we love watching life at Cyprus Rhodes because it brings us back to the glory days of college (go Mountainhawks!). I wish I were at the Kappa Tau Mt. Vesuvius party where Rusty used his polymer science genius to make it rain beer. Then, on the series finale, he tells his sister Casey that “all children must grow up.” (Cue tears of a twenty-something missing college.) ABC Family is so underrated.
5. Friday Night Lights (2006 – 2011)
Everyone wants to date Tim Riggins, and whether you thought of yourself as more of a Lyla or a Tyra, you got that opportunity. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. Jason Katims is a genius.
6. How I Met Your Mother (2005 – ongoing)
Some time ago, I met someone at a bar who told me they were from Spokane. My response: “Oh cool, Ted Mosby’s first skyscraper is there!” It was practically love at first sight with HIMYM when I finished watching the first five seasons in 3 weeks on Netflix (I have a life, I swear). I’ve had a lot of laughs at MacLarens, cried a river when Marshall’s father passed, and cannot wait for Ted to meet his wife. I just hope he hurries up.
7. Girls (2012 – ongoing)
“You know what the weirdest part about having a job is?… You have to be there every day, even on the days you don’t feel like it.” And on those days we don’t feel like it, we can just keep dancing on our own.
8. Homeland (2011 – ongoing)
I still don’t know if Brody is good or bad, but Dana’s eyebrows probably have some answers. What I do know is that Peter Quinn only wants to hurt bad guys and Saul is simply the man. Plus, they filmed a scene at my alma mater (season 1, episode 5).
9. Parenthood (2010 – ongoing)
As a 26-year old who is no where close to being ready to settle down, Parenthood makes me actually want to have children. That is indefinitely the best compliment I can give the show. Again, Jason Katims is a genius.
10. The Bachelor/Bachelorette (2002/2003 – ongoing)
A quick search will provide statistics that the divorce rate is 17%, 46%, or even higher. I do know that finding love on reality TV is impossible, and if these couples do get married, they will probably end up as a divorce statistic. Regardless, I just love, love.
TV shows are like lifelong friendships, at least until the series end and they become a sad, inevitable breakup, but you always look back fondly on the memories. Movies are like going on a first date and never seeing the person again. Sometimes you leave confused (Inception), sometimes you leave wanting more (Mean Girls, Argo), and sometimes you even leave wishing you’d never gone in the first place (GIgli). Movie sequels are like going on a second date, which is rarely as good as the first, and we often leave wishing it never happened (Transformers 2). On the other hand, occasionally there’s a wonderful sequel that leaves us smiling, thrilled, and satisfied (hopefully Catching Fire). But, why wait a year for a movie when you can get addicted to a good TV show and watch it every night with your new best friends?