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Topic:
100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: 1. "Chuckles Bites the Dust," ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show")
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The2ndQuest
Title: :
-LACWAC
-Lit Mod of Death
-Games
Registered:
Jan '00
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Date Posted:
5/14 11:10am
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I had rewatched this episode a few months ago, and that same night Family Guy aired the first part of the "Stewie Kills Lois" two-parter, which ended with a "to be continued" in the same TNG font with the same "dunt dunt dunt dunt dah" music from BOBW.
But yeah, back in the day, that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
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dp4m
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
5/14 1:19pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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The2ndQuest posted:
I had rewatched this episode a few months ago, and that same night Family Guy aired the first part of the "Stewie Kills Lois" two-parter, which ended with a "to be continued" in the same TNG font with the same "dunt dunt dunt dunt dah" music from BOBW.
But yeah, back in the day, that was one hell of a cliffhanger.
It wasn't even that it was a hell of a cliffhanger; it was that this was the cliffhanger that crossed genres in the same way that "Who Shot J.R.?" did. People don't *really* recall, since TNG is now such a part of the lexicon these days, but TNG in the first couple of seasons was still nothing more than a niche show. Hadn't REALLY crossed beyond the sci-fi fandom stages.
BOBW changed that. Everyone, and I mean *everyone*, knew what the words "Mr. Worf, fire" meant. And the fact that it was the first of the Trek cliffhangers (IIRC) made it popular enough that all of the rest of the TNG seasons ended as such... 
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"Awarding experience points for cleverly and creatively generating an enjoyable experience. How warped is that?" - Darths & Droids
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somethingfamiliar
Registered:
Aug '03
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Date Posted:
5/14 1:27pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I think I remember the second part better, if I'm remembering this right at all. The battle of Wolf 359? Broken ships strewn all over? Riker does the Picard maneuver?
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Darth_Omega
Registered:
May '02
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Date Posted:
5/14 1:37pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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dp4m posted:
And the fact that it was the first of the Trek cliffhangers (IIRC)
Third after The Menagerie (TOS) and Encounters at Far Point (if you count it as two separate episodes) however it was the first Trek season ending cliffhanger which became a norm after that.
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Emperor's Prize
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
5/14 2:32pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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Don't forget that this was the episode that made "Resistance is futile" a household line. And following this episode of TNG, nearly every sci-fi series (including TNG) has adopted the season-ending cliffhanger episode. So not only was this episode exceptionally well-done, it also left an indelible mark on pop culture.
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Rogue1-and-a-half
Title: Manager: Amphitheatre
Registered:
Nov '00
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Date Posted:
5/14 4:15pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I've seen not a single episode of TNG (and only one of the original Star Trek, if you must know), but even I have used the Picard-esque "Resistance is futile" thing a couple of times.
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General Kenobi
Title: Comms Admin
SW & Film Music
Classic Trilogy
Registered:
Dec '98
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Date Posted:
5/14 5:35pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I'd have this two-parter and The Inner Light in the top ten if I made this list.
I can't recall ever anticipating a television episode as much as Part Two of Best Of Both Worlds. Heck, maybe not even any non-SW film.
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
5/14 7:36pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I really liked the one where Picard goes back & tries to fix his biggest mistake.
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KnightWriter
Title:
Administrator Emeritus
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
5/14 7:51pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
- Date Edited:
5/14 7:58pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
KnightWriter
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The third season also had Yesterday's Enterprise, which may be the only TNG episode to match up well on multiple levels with BSG (no wonder: Ron Moore helped write it). It remains a powerful episode, and I think it's one of the top five out of the entire Trek run. Because it had a militaristic parallel universe, it better fit the similar universe in BSG, along with the story of one ship (or just a small number, most likely) against a much larger fleet.
Anyway, I don't know that TBOBW holds up as well as I'd like it to, but the story is still tremendous. Partly because of BSG, the relatively dated effects really show their age, and overall it has a hard time standing up to staggeringly well done work like BSG's back to back Lay Down Your Burdens and Occupation. The story strong, but the supporting stuff is weak (remember, it's been eighteen years since Part I first aired). But, having said that, episodes like this helped pave the way for BSG to succeed the way it has. It's just a shame that BSG doesn't have the massive audience TNG had, an audience that grew in part because of The Best of Both Worlds.
As for the episode itself, it's worth noting that most of the episode (taken together, meaning Parts I and II) had an original score. It was essentially a low-budget film. The natural film extension of it was the superbly done First Contact, which showed what probably could have been accomplished technically with more money.
Everything that helped make TNG great came together in The Best of Both Worlds. Something I wish had been expanded on is the relationship between Riker and Shelby. It really sparkled and sparked, and I wish they could have brought Elizabeth Dennehy onto the cast somehow, or at least into some future episodes.
I've seen not a single episode of TNG (and only one of the original Star Trek, if you must know), but even I have used the Picard-esque "Resistance is futile" thing a couple of times.
I find that a bit shocking, mainly because there's some outstanding work in TNG. The Inner Light is sublime, and the aforementioned episodes are likewise outstanding (Zaz referred to the 6th season episode Tapestry, by the way).
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quiller
Registered:
Jun '05
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Date Posted:
5/14 11:28pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I love TNG I used to make a point of watching it with my Grandmother who also loved the series every night. I actually have all the episodes on VCR tape recorded while watching (Ads edited out). My favorite though is where he is "kidnaped" by the dying planet and lives a alternate life in their world... explaining why he loves to play the flute all the time.
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dp4m
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
5/15 12:03am
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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KnightWriter posted:
I find that a bit shocking, mainly because there's some outstanding work in TNG. The Inner Light is sublime, and the aforementioned episodes are likewise outstanding (Zaz referred to the 6th season episode Tapestry, by the way).
FYI, you just named my two favorite episodes (in reverse order). As I said in the main ST thread; my choices are somewhat unorthodox as they are Picard-only episodes for the most part but they are just that good.
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"Looks like you're about to get pwned" - Eric Cartman
"Awarding experience points for cleverly and creatively generating an enjoyable experience. How warped is that?" - Darths & Droids
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Emperor's Prize
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
5/15 7:21am
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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Actually, considering that TBOBW is nearly twenty years old, the effects hold up remarkably well. They clearly make use of model work, but it's very well done and blends seamlessly into the whole episode. BSG certainly has done some outstanding effects work, but I'd take the stories of TNG, especially those already mentioned (Inner Light, Tapestry, Yesterday's Enterprise) over BSG any day -- regardless of effects.
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darthdrago
Registered:
Dec '03
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Date Posted:
5/15 7:51am
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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KnightWriter posted:
Everything that helped make TNG great came together in The Best of Both Worlds. Something I wish had been expanded on is the relationship between Riker and Shelby. It really sparkled and sparked, and I wish they could have brought Elizabeth Dennehy onto the cast somehow, or at least into some future episodes.
Agreed. One of the things I like about this two parter is that Jonathan Frakes as Will Riker gets to step into the spotlight. He's fighting the Borg & his former captain, he's fighting an ambitious go-getter who's next in the chain of command, and he's also fighting his own self-doubt. One of the things that makes this episode work so well is the ESB-like quality of having the heroes constantly thrown off-balance, and how they work through it. The first scene of part II, when the reflector dish ploy fizzles, was a textbook TV cliffhanger copout, but the rest of the story holds up well.
I too wished that the character of Commander Shelby had made some guest appearances later. Her character showed a fire and drive that would have made for some interesting stories down the road, especially if she had remained Riker's nemesis. Oh well.
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Emperor's Prize
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
5/15 2:46pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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I always saw Shelby as the weak link in TBOBW. That's not to say she was horrible, but her character was the least compelling element to those two episodes -- for me at least.
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Zaz
Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre
Registered:
Oct '98
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Date Posted:
5/15 8:40pm
Subject:
RE: 100 Greatest TV Episodes Of All Time: "Star Trek: TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1"
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Next: "69
BUFFALO BILL
January 5, 1984
No sitcom was ever edgier than this one: Its pre-P.C. humor was so dark that some never saw it. In "Jerry Lewis Week," the browbeaten station manager, Karl Shub (Max Wright), finally stands up to his star's bullying. He steals a stuffed bear that Bill (Dabney Coleman) has been using on-air to plug his mechanic (in exchange for free repairs). This insurrection occurs during WBFL's tribute to Jerry Lewis, which has brought on a locustlike infestation of Lewis lookalikes, all braying "Hey, lady!" One is played by an unbilled, 21-year-old Jim Carrey. Plenty more would be heard from Carrey, but sadly, Buffalo Bill would last only 12 more episodes."
I wonder if this is available on DVD?
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