Must-See TV? We’ll be the judges of that. The Thanksgiving episodes of FRIENDS are legendary, and this is one of the most memorable of them all. But… does it have anything to teach us today? Besides the fact that we never deserved Phoebe Buffay? Put on your turkey-eating pants and let’s dive into this smorgasbord together. *clap*clap*clap*clap*
Category: Special Guest Stars
Ep 063: Typhoid Mary Ann (“Good Times” S03E21)
Feeling a little too cocky in 1970s Chicago? There’s nothing like an STI scare and a lecture on sexual health from Jay Leno to put you in your place. Join Chelsea, Andy, and the cast of GOOD TIMES as we confront the stigma around STI testing and treatment, in as much detail as Standards & Practices will allow.
Ep 055: Tootie Finds a Bong (“The Facts of Life” S01E13)
The title of this episode is a bit misleading, because Tootie actually finds FOUR BONGS over the course of 24 minutes. What is going on here? And who will take these wayward children firmly in hand? You can bet it won’t be Mrs. Garrett, so come along with us and Oscar-Winner Helen Hunt to plumb the depths of Eastland School — hotbed of crime.
Ep 054: Convicted Dracula (“The Cosby Show” S05E16)
It’s time to confront the convicted rapist elephant in the room — Bill Cosby. Can we still watch THE COSBY SHOW and feel okay with ourselves? We’ve been avoiding it for two seasons, but it’s time to face this dracula head-on. Join Andrew, Chelsea, Miles, and Sammy Davis Jr. as we grapple with whether or not it’s ever possible to separate the artist from the art, and what happens when a VSE raises more questions about illiteracy than it answers.
Ep 045: Humble Trucker Superstar (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” S04E24)
Here it is — THAT episode of FRESH PRINCE. The one that makes you tear up, even now, in adulthood. The one that taught you that parents aren’t perfect, that it’s healthy to express anger, and that Geoffrey walks a real fine line between comic relief and unemployment. Join us for a walk down memory lane. Never have we hugged harder or learned more.
Ep 032: The International Episode (“ER” S09E01)
ER was a 331-episode-long action movie where the stakes were always life or death, the romances were slow-burners, and the crash cart was never where you needed it to be, dammit. Join Chelsea, Andrew, Miles, and Very Special Guest Mary Hollis Inboden as we dive deep into the Season 9 opener of the medical drama, complete with amputation, outbreaks, trauma, and sexy quarantine times.
Ep 024: Nothing Feels Special (“Sabrina, The Teenage Witch” S04E01)
Sometimes, Very Special Episodes are not about drugs, or bigotry, or teen sex. Sometimes, they’re about cross-promotion and visits from Very Special Guests. It’s important that you know which kind of VSE you’re going into when you sit down to watch. Otherwise, you might end up waiting constantly for something bad to happen in your own one-man production of “Waiting for Soleil (Moon Frye).” Join a very nostalgic Chelsea and a much-less nostalgic Andrew as they plunge deep into the secret world of a teen witch and her mortal friends and family. Thunderclap!
Episode 022: The 90s Are What’s Wrong With You (“My So-Called Life” S01E15)
Is My So-Called Life the definitive voice of its generation, a mopey soap for teens, or something else entirely? Chelsea and Andrew have very different opinions. Join our two intrepid hosts, Miles, the luminous Claire Danes, and The Ghost of Female Pop Vocalists Past as they discover if there’s really no place like home for the holidays. Do the Chases believe in God? Why is Brian Krackow so pissy at the holidays? Won’t someone feed Rickie — he looks so cold! I don’t know, I wasn’t even, like, there, LEAVE ME ALONE I CAN’T TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS, MOM.
Episode 017: Very Special Action Hero (“MacGyver” S05E08)
In their first foray into the world of action drama and mullets, Chelsea and Andrew follow Angus MacGyver as he tries to single-handedly save his young friend, stop black rhino poaching in its abominable tracks, AND enjoy his trip to stock footage of Africa. Jeepin’ ain’t easy, but MacGyver’s mullet makes it look good. Adopt a rhino! Name it MacGyver! Learn science and then use it to come up with waterslide-based plans of action! The exhortations are seemingly endless. ***AND we draw the winner of the Click-or-Treat Very Special Prize Package!!***
Episode 011: The Height of 80s Disrespect (“Growing Pains” S06E06)
What would you do if the neighborhood Madonna (™) showed up on your doorstep, looking to seduce your teenage son? Twist: you’re a modern, liberal sitcom mom without the framework of religion on which to hang your arguments! Join Chelsea and Andrew as they navigate the murky waters of teen sexuality and plant murder with the Seaver family on GROWING PAINS.