Welcome back to The Character Couch, where we dust off our amateur psychology credentials and spend some quality time with fictional people who absolutely could have benefited from a real therapist at some point. Today's subject shuffled in a little late, made a joke about the waiting room being a trap, and spent the first … Continue reading The Character Couch – Eleanor Shellstrop
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Come On Down! A Brief History of Game Show Phrases That Took Over the World
There's a particular kind of magic that happens when a television phrase escapes the confines of its original context and starts living rent-free in the broader culture. Politicians use them. Teachers use them. Your grandma uses them, possibly without knowing exactly where they came from. Game shows, more than almost any other television format, have … Continue reading Come On Down! A Brief History of Game Show Phrases That Took Over the World
The Office Fan Culture: Memes, References, and Fan Theories
Here's something that probably doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it anyway: The Office never really went away. The show wrapped up its nine-season run back in May 2013. That's over a decade ago. Most television series, even beloved ones, tend to fade into a comfortable kind of nostalgia after they end — … Continue reading The Office Fan Culture: Memes, References, and Fan Theories
The Trio Behind Friends: How Three Writers Created TV Magic
Picture this: It's 1993, and three television writers are sitting around trying to figure out how to capture the anxiety of being a twenty-something in Manhattan without enough money, clear life direction, or functional romantic relationships. Their solution? Create a show about six people who somehow afford enormous apartments while working as a waitress, a … Continue reading The Trio Behind Friends: How Three Writers Created TV Magic
The Cultural Significance of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for 90s Kids
Picture this: It's a Tuesday night in 1992. You've just finished your homework (or you're pretending you have), and you settle in front of the family television. The opening beats of that unmistakable theme song start playing, and suddenly everyone in the room—regardless of age, race, or musical preference—is singing along. Because let's be honest, … Continue reading The Cultural Significance of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for 90s Kids
The Character Couch – Rachel Green
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Character Couch! This is that section of The Confusing Middle where we take a look at well-known movie and TV characters and examine them from a psychological point of view. What makes them tick? Grab some popcorn because today we're going to dive into the psyche of everyone's … Continue reading The Character Couch – Rachel Green
The Character Couch – Joey Tribianni
Welcome to another exciting edition of The Character Couch! This is that section of The Confusing Middle where we take a look at well-known movie and TV characters and examine them from a psychological point of view. What makes them tick? Grab some popcorn because today we're going to dive into the psyche of everyone's … Continue reading The Character Couch – Joey Tribianni
The Jeff Winger Speech: Deconstructing a Community Trope
Ah, the Jeff Winger speech. It's as much a part of Community as paintball episodes, pop culture references, and Abed's meta-commentary. If you're reading this, chances are you're already familiar with the smooth-talking, snarky lawyer-turned-student who could talk his way out of (or into) just about anything. But have you ever stopped to consider just … Continue reading The Jeff Winger Speech: Deconstructing a Community Trope
The Top 10 Episodes of Quantum Leap
It's Leap Day! So why not celebrate with a top 10 list focusing on the best episodes from the gone-too-soon sci-fi classic, Quantum Leap. If you're unfamiliar with the show, it featured Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, who theorized that one could time travel within his own lifetime. In the pilot episode, he stepped … Continue reading The Top 10 Episodes of Quantum Leap
The Confusing Middle 