The Dukes of Hazzard

You may be wondering why it's taken me so long to talk about The Dukes of Hazzard and the reason is simple, the opening credits weren't on YouTube and really, what is a post about TDOH without that marvellous opening?

I am happy to say that now some are uploaded but they are still not quite right. There is a very long version that a fanboy seems to have put together and with the wrong song or there is the song but no credits. So perhaps the answer is to watch this one for the song:

And this one for the visuals:

I loved those Duke boys so much. Saturday tea time was not complete without watching this. I don't know why I loved it so much because it was the same show week after week - the Duke boys would outwit Rosco and Boss Hogg and there would be a car chase, Daisy would look sexy and well, that's about it. I just loved how they got in their car (never using the doors), the fact the car was called The General Lee and again, the general Southern nature of it all. The rebel cry, the Dixie horn - really, I should have just been born in Georgia, not Essex. Without the racism obviously.

It's hard to think of a finer theme tune that The Good Old Boys. I've just had a wave of nostalgia listening to it again. There is no equivalent now to these types of shows and it's a crying shame. Innocent, tea time fun. I just need a Club biscuit and a packet of Skips and I'll be in heaven.

Top 10 TV crushes

How have I not done this list before? My current Wade crush got me thinking about my TV crushes through the years and I just knew you'd all want to chip in. 

I am going to do them in a vague chronological order and we're talking warts and all here. No judging. We all have our crushes of shame.

Bobby Ewing

I don't know what it was about Patrick Duffy that got my 11 year old self all in a spin. I do look back and wonder what on earth I was thinking. But at the time, I thought he was lovely. In a non-threatening 11 year old girl kind of way. He was just so moral, good and loved his Pammie. Looking at this photo, he was quite cute really.

Magnum PI

This one is a bit odd but then everyone fancied Tom Selleck didn't they? Moustache, hairy chest and all. Crushes often make no sense and all I can say about Magnum was the character was good fun and he drove a porsche.  I loved Tom Selleck in Friends as well. As Phoebe says, he is yummy.

Dr Caldwell

I admit I had to look up the character's name. Mark Harmon as Dr Bobby Caldwell in St Elsewhere. This was the start of a lifetime crush on Mark Harmon who is simply divine. He was perfect in Moonlighting, to die for in The West Wing and still looks good at 61. He does seem to get killed off quite a bit though.

Dylan McKay

A list without Dylan McKay is unthinkable. Luke Perry wasn't a great actor - I just rewatched some classic Brenda and Dylan scenes on YouTube and cringed for him. But boy, he gave some zing to 90210. To be fair, there was little competition as only complete saps preferred Jason Priestly. Dylan was our motorbike-riding bad boy and we loved him for it.

Pacey Witter

If one character could top my list, it would be Pacey from Dawson's Creek. Slightly pudgy of face and not classic crush material, Joshua Jackson made Pacey sexy. Pacey who remembered everything, who would have gone to the end of the world for Andie and watched Joey while she slept (that makes him sound like a stalker, he wasn't!) Oh Pacey. I still love Joshua and will watch whatever he is in on the strength of Pacey.

Jack Bauer

There is nobody I'd rather have save me than Jack Bauer. Kiefer with that voice, he can save me any day or teach me over the phone how to shoot like he did for Chloe. Jack never had time for romance and he was so busy saving the world but they did allow him some sex in the final season with Renee who gets shot minutes later. Thems the breaks if you get involved with Jack Bauer but it would probably be worth it.

Sam Seaborn

My one beef with The West Wing is there isn't enough romance for Sam. You have Rob Lowe in your cast - give him a girlfriend or two! It doesn't make any sense and it would have been so fun if he'd flirted with someone he worked with. Never mind, it's still Rob Lowe and he is so noble in this. And funny! Sam rocks.

Tim Riggins

You have to watch Friday Night Lights in full to appreciate Tim Riggins. To start with, he is annoying and not that special but then he sneaks up on you and by the time he is declaring love for Lyla, you're done for. Misunderstood with a heart of gold and an intensity to match Pacey's, Tim is hot. But this is purely a character thing for me as Taylor Kitsch without Tim doesn't light my fire.

Don Draper

From all the boys to a man with Don Draper. One of the most beautifully written and complex characters on television, Don treats so many people horribly but is sexy in that wonderfully old-fashioned James Bond way. Mad Men is my favourite show and Don is a joy to watch. His best moments for me are when his defences are down. When he kisses Peggy's hand. When he goes to talk to Joan but he's too late. When he wears that hat and orders an Old Fashioned. Mmmmmm. Swoon.

Wade Kinsella

I'm not obsessed, honest! But he is cute, he is southern and if you've not made it to the season finale yet, you might not quite know what I mean but you will. Oh yes, you will.

Who are your crushes? Share all.

Hart of Dixie

It's been ages since I've had a proper TV guilty pleasure but along comes my sister with yet another one of her sterling recommendations and I am addicted.

Hart of Dixie has possible the most ridiculous premise of any TV show. Ever.  Rachel Bilson (her from The OC) is a cardiothoracic surgeon (her name is Zoe Hart - hence the show's name) from New York who moves to Bluebell, Alabama to hone her bedside manner. It turns out the doctor who kept asking her to come to Bluebell is her real father but he dies before she rocks up. So she has to fit in to Bluebell life. The craziest part of all that is buying the idea that Rachel Bilson is a cardiothoracic surgeon! I mean, gimme a break.


Anyway, it's thoroughly entertaining on so many levels:


1) It's set in the deep south and that means we get references to Gone with the Wind and everyone drawls.
2) It is full of people from other shows, the doctor she shares the practice with is the VP from The West Wing. Her father is the other VP from The West Wing! This alone amused me more than it should. It also has Jason from Friday Night Lights even though it's rather unsettling not seeing him in a wheelchair.
3) Jaime King is a revelation as Lemon. Yes, it has a character named Lemon! Who her father calls Lemon Meringue Pie! Adorable.
4) Zoe wears the most ridiculous fashion, this fashion would be out there in Manhattan so in Bluebell, it's even madder. Especially for a doctor who is trying to fit in.
5) It has Wade. I have a crush on Wade. I state for the record I am Team Wade.

It's perfect, undemanding teen viewing and I highly recommend it. I zipped through all 22 episodes in about two weeks and you know what? I'm not ashamed. I leave you with Wade who happily spends much of the show with his shirt off.

Slow smoochers: Barry White, Just The Way You Are

Let's slow it down around here baby. Kick back, we're here today, gone tomorrow. Now I adore Billy Joel as previously discussed and this is simply a wonderful song but there's something about the way the walrus of love covers it that I find irresistible.

It has a perfect opener, a slow song with a touch of disco. This is a song made for spinning around under a disco ball.

Last Of The Mohicans

Can you believe this film is 20 years old? It will come as no surprise that I was somewhat obsessed with this. I can't think of a more romantic action film. When Cora asks Hawkeye what he is looking at and he replies 'I'm looking at you miss.' It's swoonsome, trust me. Take a look:

That smile he gives her at the end. Oh Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. I can forgive him for dumping his girlfriend by fax, becoming a cobbler briefly and being well, a bit odd, because never has he been finer than in this. He's so intense. I could watch him striding about the screen all day long. Of course the other great moment is when he tells Cora to STAY ALIVE! He will find her, no matter what. My god, why has nobody ever said to me next to a thundering waterfall?

 

The rest of the film is rather good too, I've not seen it for ages but writing about it has made me want to watch it again. It also has an excellent soundtrack that of course I have, I am listening to it as I type and I still love it. It's all rather marvellous really and perfect for a rainy Sunday night.

Opening credits - The New Adventures of Black Beauty

Today is a special day as it is my musical soulmate's 40th birthday. We share very similar taste and we amaze each other with our 'yes, I love that too!' moments although as we've now known each other for 20 years, these are no longer such a surprise to us and certainly not to those around us who nod and sigh heavily.

To say I adore these credits would be an understatement. I don't have an affinity with horses, I didn't enjoy reading Black Beauty and I certainly never watched this show but this theme is the business. Only 15,000 people have viewed this on YouTube and frankly, I think the 230 million watching the Jesse J videos would be better served taking a look at this instead. Look at that horse galloping majestically across the dunes!

Happy birthday Linz.

Slow Smoochers - Roberta & Peabo, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You

Ahhhh. I've not listened to this for years but it lurks in my iTunes library and it's a perfect smoocher.  I love Robera Flack for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face which has to be one of the most romantic songs ever. I have no idea who Peabo is but it's always amused me that he is called Peabo. I've just found out more about him and can tell you he was actually born Robert Peapo. Peapo! I like to think this friends call him Pea.

To the song. Well, it's just a simple little ballad but it's cute and it's from the 80s so it wins a spot here.

Slow Smoochers - Phyllis Nelson, Move Closer

I was listening to Michael Caine on the Desert Island Disc archive this morning. I've never been much of a Caine fan but he was very funny and seemed like a thoroughly nice man. One of the songs he picked was Phyllis Nelson's Move Closer and he didn't pick it ironically. This made me like him more. Whats more it sparked a genius idea for my blog - how about we do a series regarding last songs at the disco? How about that? Are you as excited as me?

I practically skipped to work listing possible contenders. It's going to be a fun June! So thank you Sir Michael and let's take it away with Phyllis. First of all, the 80s weren't kind were they? What is that look?! Her hair is bigger than any hair I've ever seen! This is such a classic smoocher, I can't imagine you actually need to move when dancing to this. This is the very definition of a one hit wonder.

I am very sad to learn that Phyllis died in 1998, sorry to be the one to tell you this. RIP Phyllis and thank you for this classic...

Frank Sinatra - Strangers in the Night

We've not talked about Frank yet and I'm not going to yet because it's my dearest sister's birthday. Therefore today is her day and certainly not the Queen's. Jubilee Schubilee.

I've mentioned before that my sister is cool and in retrospect it was obvious she would be so because what was number one the day she was born? Only The Chairman himself. I get the Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep Song and she gets Frank with this epic. Nobody said life was fair.

I shall be revisiting Frank and his wonderful voice in due course but today belongs to Miss Disco. Take it away Frank...

Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes

Today I was reminded of the genius of Goody Two Shoes and I've just watched the video and am laughing. It's brilliant but what I especially love is the giant pound notes. Talk about a blast from the past - I had forgotten what they looked like.

This is simply a great pop song, it's probably not as fine as some of his Adam and the Ants output but I still really like it. Plus, he never looked hotter than in this video, years later and I still fancy him. I like him so much in this, I've just watched it three times in a row. Nobody was better dressed than Adam Ant - I love his outfit in this, especially the yellow boots.