90’s Staple and 80’s Gem on WGN: Back-to-Back Coach and Alf
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009As I mentioned before, I discovered the joys of Bob Newhart on WGN. I mean, sure, I remember it from when I was a kid, but I never really watched a lot of network sitcoms growing up. So, it was a nice surprise to find WGN playing Newhart (the one with Bob as an innkeeper in Vermont).
I decided to find out what other gems WGN’s weekend line up was offering.
The whole time zone thing can be tricky, as I am looking at listings for the Pacific Time Zone, but since WGN is out of Chicago, it would make more sense to list all shows in Central Time. But instead, I am going to list things EST/PST. If you live in the Central Time Zone, subtract an hour from EST, and if you live in the Mountain Time Zone, add an hour to PST.
Coach 5pm/2 pm and 5:30/2:30 pm
On Sundays. after all the quasi-religious programming that WGN offers the Craig T. Nelson sitcom, Coach, from the 90’s. Great show except for the love interest, Shelley Fabares, who was originally Donna Reed’s daughter in the 50’s. I kinda wish she had retired back then, but then again, I am a b*tch. Otherwise, I liked Coach, a workplace-situation comedy in a University’s football department. It helps if you like sports a little…
ALF 6 pm/3pm and 6:30/3:30 pm
After a full hour of Coach (two episodes), you can catch a true gem of 80’s programming, ALF. I was never really sure why this show lasted four season and not a gazillion, because it had a muppet in it. Muppets were pretty big during the 80’s. Make that muppet an alien that crashlands on Earth, and you’ve got your self a furry-lovable-fish-out-of-water comedy. Liz Sheridan, who played Jerry Seinfeld’s mom on Seinfeld, played a nosy neighbor. I thought she was the best part of the show, other than Max Wright as the hapless dad that harbors ALF (Alien Life Form, get it?). The wife was lame, and the kids were equally lame, as far as I remember.
WGN, Bob Newhart, Craig T Nelson, Shelley Fabares, Coach, Alf, Seinfeld, Liz Sheridan, muppet
