TV Guide and TV Land Join Forces To Count Down The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments(List included)

PR Newswire ^ | 12/01/05

[Dane]

NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- From the "Heidi-Bowl" to Muhammad Ali raising the torch at The 1996 Olympics to Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction at The Superbowl, television has provided some of the most significant and surprising moments in history. Building on the success of 2004's 100 Most Memorable TV Moments, TV Land will premiere TV Guide and TV Land Present: The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments on Monday, December 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. This five-part special -- which coincides with the December 1 publication of TV Guide's editorial feature -- looks at some of the most unexpected milestones in television history. Topics to be covered will range from the Al and Tipper kiss to Frank Sinatra being surprised by the appearance of his new bride, Mia Farrow, on What's My Line?

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100 HOGAN'S HEROES THE UNLIKELY POW CAMP COMEDY. (9/17/65)

99 SNL DEBBIE DOWNER CRACK UP (5/1/04)

98 BATTLESTAR GALACTICA IN THE FIRST SEASON FINALE, BOOMER IS REVEALED AS A CYLON, LEAVES ADMIRAL ADAMA FOR DEAD. (1/24/05)

97 ROSEANNE IN "A STASH FROM THE PAST," ROSEANNE FINDS POT AND LECTURES DAVID, THEN PARTAKES WITH DAN AND JACKIE. LATER THEY REALIZE THE STASH WAS THEIR OWN FROM YEARS AGO. (10/5/93)

96 YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE JACKIE GLEASON'S GAME SHOW BOMB, MAKES APOLOGY. (1/27/61)

95 FAMILY GUY FOX'S FAILED SERIES ARE SPOOFED IN THE EPISODE "NORTH BY NORTH QUAHOG." (5/1/05)

94 VH1 FASHION AWARDS JIM CARREY INTRODUCES ROLLING STONES WEARING A FIG LEAF. (10/28/97)

93 SOUTH PARK THE S*** SHOW. 162 UTTERANCES IN EPISODE "IT HITS THE FAN." (6/20/01)

92 THE FLYING NUN SALLY FIELD SERVES GOD, TAKES FLIGHT. (9/7/67)

91 SEX AND THE CITY -- IN SERIES FINALE, BIG'S NAME REVEALED ON CARRIE'S CELL PHONE. (2/22/04)

90 WILL & GRACE OVER CENSORS' OBJECTIONS, KAREN ADVISES LORRAINE: "EAT ME." (5/8/03)

89 VMAS COURTNEY LOVE CRASHES MADONNA'S INTERVIEW. (9/7/95)

88 SOAP JESSICA EXORCISES THE DEVIL FROM GRANDSON WITH IMPASSIONED SPEECH. (3/15/79)

87 DAYTIME EMMYS SUSAN LUCCI WINS EMMY AFTER EIGHTEEN LOSSES. (5/21/99)

86 STEAMBATH -- BILL BIXBY & VALERIE PERRINE IN THE NUDE, SLIPPED BY CENSORS (5/4/73)

85 2003 VMAS THREE-WAY KISS: MADONNA, BRITNEY, & CHRISTINA. (8/28/03)

84 THE DATING GAME PAUL LYNDE IS BACHELOR #1. CONTESTANT: "I'VE JUST GIVEN YOU BACHELOR #2. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH HIM?" LYNDE: "GO DANCING!" (6/1/68)

83 THE SURREAL LIFE TELEVANGELIST TAMMY FAYE MEETS PORN STAR RON JEREMY. (1/11/04)

82 MATCH GAME PANEL REVOLTS: STOPS THE SHOW WHEN THEY DON'T AGREE WITH JUDGES. LEGENDARY "SCHOOL RIOT." (7/8/77)

81 DUKES OF HAZZARD COUSINS "COY" AND "VANCE" REPLACE ORIGINAL "BO" AND "LUKE" AFTER CONTRACT DISPUTE. (9/24/82)

80 AMERICAN IDOL WILLIAM HUNG'S "SHE BANGS" (1/27/04)

79 20/20 STOSSEL SLAPPED BY WWF CHAMP 'DR. D'. WRESTLER BANNED, STOSSEL COLLECTS. (2/21/85)

78 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE LORNE MICHAELS OFFERS $3000 TO BEATLES FOR REUNION. (4/24/76)

77 FAMILY FEUD FRED BAEDEKER BOMBS OUT ON THE BIG BOARD WITH INSANE ANSWERS. (8/9/76)

76 1977 SCIENCE FICTION FILM AWARDS HOST WILLIAM SHATNER SINGS "ROCKET MAN." (1/21/78)

75 1994 VMAS MICHAEL JACKSON AND BRIDE LISA MARIE PRESLEY "KISS." (9/8/94)

74 '01 INAUGURAL BUSH DANCES WITH RICKY MARTIN. (01/18/01)

73 MARRIED ... WITH CHILDREN BUNDY'S ADOPT NEPHEW, WHO PROMPTLY DISAPPEARS. MONTHS LATER, PICTURE APPEARS ON MILK CARTON. (4/24/94)

72 HARDBALL BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT ZELL MILLER CONFRONTS CHRIS MATTHEWS DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK CITY. (9/1/04)

71 MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN DROWNING BY CHICKEN SOUP. (3/4/76)

70 NEWLYWEDS: NICK & JESSICA JESSICA SIMPSON'S "CHICKEN BY THE SEA" MOMENT. IS IT CHICKEN OR FISH? (8/19/03)

69 '00 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, LOS ANGELES AL KISSES TIPPER. (8/17/2000)

68 THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW ROB OPENS CLOSET DOOR; WALNUTS AND LAURA SPILL OUT. (2/6/63)

67 THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW -- JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO CO-HOST. MUSICAL GUEST CHUCK BERRY PLAYS "JOHNNY B. GOODE," ACCOMPANIED BY WAILING ONO. (2/16/72)

66 FELICITY THE HAIRCUT. (10/3/99) - USING ONLY STILLS AND NEWS FOOTAGE

65 GET CHRISTIE LOVE! IN THE ORIGINAL MOVIE OF THE WEEK, CHRISTIE POSES AS HOOKER, CALLED "N*****." "NO, N***** LOVER." (1/22/74)

64 THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW PHYLLIS'S BROTHER IS GAY. (1/13/73)

63 2005 MASTERS TOURNAMENT TIGER WOODS' TRULY AMAZING SHOT. (4/10/05)

62 EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND MARIE'S VAGINA SCULPTURE. (10/22/01)

61 DYNASTY THE MOLDAVIA MASSACRE. (5/15/85)

60 THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW AFTER AN OVERLY-FRIENDLY ENCOUNTER, LARRY QUESTIONS DAVID DUCHOVNY'S SEXUALITY IN THE EPISODE "EVERYBODY LOVES LARRY." (11/13/96)

59 THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL THE LEGENDARY CBS GALACTIC SPECTACULAR. (11/17/78) PHOTOS ONLY

58 FRIENDS AT ROSS'S WEDDING IN LONDON, MONICA AND CHANDLER IN BED. (5/7/98)

57 HERE'S LUCY JACKIE GLEASON'S SURPRISE CAMEO AS RALPH KRAMDEN IN EPISODE #2, "LUCY VISITS JACK BENNY." (9/30/68)

56 SOPRANOS "LONG TERM PARKING": ADRIANNA GETS WHACKED. (5/23/04)

55 JIMMY SWAGGART TELECAST SWAGGART TEARFULLY CONFESSES TO ADULTERY BEFORE A NATIONAL AUDIENCE. "I HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND I BEG YOUR FORGIVENESS!" (2/21/88)

54 WHAT'S MY LINE A BLINDFOLDED FRANK SINATRA IS ONE OF THE PANELISTS WHEN MIA FARROW, HIS NEW BRIDE, IS INTRODUCED AS MYSTERY GUEST. (11/27/66)

53 COP ROCK STEPHEN BOCHCO'S MUSICAL SALUTE. (9/26/90)

52 TEXAS AT CLEVELAND JOSE CANSECO'S INFAMOUS "HEAD-BALL" HOMER. (5/26/93)

51 DINAH! ANDY KAUFMAN AS "TONY CLIFTON" SAYS BULL****. (9/19/79)

50 PASSWORD JACK BENNY GIVES CLUE "ME" TO PASSWORD "MISER" (5/29/62)

49 I MARRIED DORA FINAL EPISODE ACKNOWLEDGES SHOW'S DEMISE: "IT'S BEEN CANCELLED." "WHAT, THE FLIGHT?" "NO, THE SERIES." (12/18/87)

48 DIANA ROSS - CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK STORM RAGES, FANS RAMPAGE, LIVE. (7/21/83)

47 MORTON DOWNEY JR. SHOW AL SHARPTON/ROY INNIS FIST FIGHT AT THE APOLLO. (8/30/88)

46 '68 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, CHICAGO RIOTS; MAYOR RICHARD DALEY MOUTHS OBSCENITIES. (8/29/68)

45 LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN SONNY AND CHER: "I'VE GOT YOU BABE." (11/13/87)

44 BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER MUSICAL EPISODE "ONCE MORE WITH FEELING" HAS TOWNSFOLK REVEALING THEIR INNERMOST THOUGHTS-IN SONG. (11/6/01)

43 MTV TOWN HALL MEETING - 17 YEAR-OLD LAETITIA THOMPSON FAMOUSLY ASKS PRESIDENT CLINTON, "BOXERS OR BRIEFS?" (4/19/94)

42 '92 VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PEROT RUNNING MATE ADMIRAL JAMES STOCKDALE ASKS, "WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE?" (10/13/92)

41 SURVIVOR RICHARD HATCH SLITHERS HIS WAY TO THE MILLION - IN THE NUDE. (7/5/2000)

40 THE JERRY LEWIS TELETHON TELETHON SHOCKER! AFTER TWENTY-YEAR FEUD, JERRY LEWIS AND DEAN MARTIN REUNITED BY FRANK SINATRA. (9/6/76)

39 TWIN PEAKS FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE DANCING DWARF. (4/19/90)

38 GIMME A BREAK! JOEY LAWRENCE APPEARS IN BLACKFACE AT NELL'S CHURCH BENEFIT. (12/8/84)

37 THE STEVE ALLEN SHOW - ELVIS SINGS TO HOUND DOG (7/1/56)

36 THE WEST WING LEO NOMINATED FOR V.P. (MONTHS AFTER MASSIVE HEART- ATTACK). (4/6/05)

35 VMAS DIANA ROSS GRAB'S LIL' KIM'S BOOB. (9/9/99)

34 '72 OSCARS SACHEEN LITTLEFEATHER ACCEPTS FOR MARLON BRANDO. (3/27/73) - PHOTOS

33 MELROSE PLACE KIMBERLY PULLS OFF WIG. (4/27/94)

32 24 IN FIRST SEASON FINALE, JACK'S WIFE KILLED AS CLOCK RUNS DOWN. (5/21/02)

31 WKRP IN CINCINNATI LIVE TURKEYS DROPPED FROM COPTER. (10/30/78)

30 THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON ED AMES AND THE TOMAHAWK CHOP. (4/29/65)

29 '84 SUMMER OLYMPICS, LOS ANGELES MARY DECKER/ZOLA BUDD BUMP IN 3000 METER RUN. DECKER DECKED, BUDD BLAMED. (8/10/84)

28 STAR TREK "THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER" - JOAN COLLINS. (4/6/67)

27 THIRTYSOMETHING GAY COUPLE IN BED. (11/7/89)

26 '68 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, CHICAGO RIOTS; WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY BATTLES GORE VIDAL. (8/28/68)

25 LAW & ORDER WHEN ASSISTANT DA SERENA SOUTHERLYN IS FIRED BY HER BOSS, SHE SHOCKS BOTH HIM AND THE AUDIENCE WITH HER REVELATION, IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION: "IS IT BECAUSE I'M A LESBIAN?" (1/12/05)

24 THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN DREW BARRYMORE'S TOPLESS BIRTHDAY SALUTE. (4/12/95)

23 SURVIVOR MICHAEL SKUPIN BURNED, MEDIVAC'D. (3/1/01)

22 '88 VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE BENTSEN TO QUAYLE: " ... AND SENATOR, YOU'RE NO JACK KENNEDY." (10/5/88)

21 CBS EVENING NEWS WITH WALTER CRONKITE - WALTER CRONKITE PRONOUNCES THE VIETNAM WAR A STALEMATE. (2/27/68)

20 SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE BARBARA STREISAND CRASHES COFFEE TALK. (2/22/92)

19 THE PRICE IS RIGHT YOLANDA BOWERSLEY COMES ON DOWN, FALLS OUT OF TOP. (9/14/77)

18 SIX FEET UNDER NATE DIES (7/31/05)

17 OAKLAND AT PITTSBURGH "IMMACULATE RECEPTION" CONSIDERED GREATEST PLAY IN NFL HISTORY. (12/23/72)

16 CAL/STANFORD BIG GAME WILD ENDING, BAND ON FIELD. (11/20/82)

15 M*A*S*H RADAR ANNOUNCES COL. BLAKE'S DEATH. (3/18/75)

14 THE DICK CAVETT SHOW GEORGIA GOVERNOR LESTER MADDOX WALKS OFF. (12/18/70)

13 1996 SUMMER OLYMPICS MUHAMMAD ALI MAKES A SURPRISE APPEARANCE WITH THE OLYMPIC TORCH. (7/19/96)

12 ER HELICOPTER BLADE RIPS OFF ROMANO'S ARM; SEASON LATER, HELICOPTER FALLS FROM ROOF, FINISHING HIM OFF. (9/26/02, 11/20/03)

11 NIGHTLINE AL CAMPANIS CLAIMS BLACKS "LACK THE NECESSITIES" FOR BASEBALL MANAGEMENT. (4/6/87)

10 ST. ELSEWHERE FINALE: ENTIRE SERIES IMAGINED BY AUTISTIC CHILD. (5/25/88)

9 '94 WINTER OLYMPICS, LILLEHAMMER TONYA HARDING/NANCY KERRIGAN SCANDAL CULMINATES WITH TONYA PLEADING TEARFULLY TO JUDGES ABOUT A BROKEN SHOELACE. (2/25/94)

8 SEINFELD GEORGE'S FIANCEE LICKS CHEAP ENVELOPES, DIES. (5/16/96)

7 CAMPAIGN '04 DEAN SCREAM. (1/19/04)

6 THE "HEIDI-BOWL" NBC PREEMPTS FINAL 1:05 OF JETS-RAIDERS GAME WITH MOVIE "HEIDI". TWO TOUCHDOWNS WENT UNSEEN BY IRATE FANS. (11/17/68)

5 THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR THE WHO GOES UP IN FLAMES FOR "MY GENERATION" WHEN KEITH MOON OVERLOADS EXPLOSIVES IN HIS DRUMS. THREE INJURED. (9/17/67)

4 SUPER BOWL '04 JANET JACKSON'S "WARDROBE MALFUNCTION" (2/1/04)

3 DALLAS BOBBY EWING ALIVE, SEASON NINE A DREAM. (5/16/86)

2 WBA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TYSON V. HOLYFIELD. MAN BITES EAR STORY. (6/28/97)

1 NEWHART SERIES FINALE (5/21/90)

[HamiltonJay]

"You should wear more sweaters"

[HamiltonJay]

Agreed, KRP turkey bombing episode was hysterical... as was the episode where their transmitter was blown up, and the only thing that wound up saving Johnny Fever and Venus, was Johnny's paranoid fear of the "phone cops".

A lot of this top 100 don't belong there IMHO... while others that clearly belonged there aren't.

[7thson]

One thing missing that I thought would be here. On the Dean Martin show, he had a habit of sliding down a pole, and then jumping on the piano before he sang a song. Once, they rigged it where the piano would collapse without telling him. He jumped on the damn thing and the look of shock on his face was priceless. Also, nothing here about finally getting the one-armed man in The Fugitive.

[rintense]

She won an Oscar in either the late 80s/easrly 90s, and went on some hysterial rant about government, etc. She was banned from the Oscars until 1996 when she was nominated again.

[jackieaxe]

1) Ruby shoots Oswald (This didn't make the list??)
2) 72 Olympics kidnapping (actually, I could not believe the World community didn't immediately recognize the PLO for the murdering criminals that they are and continued to treat Yasser Arafat as a statesmen [I digress, but isn't it a shame he died a non-violent death?])
3) John Kerry's 40 minute Dem Convention speech where he reveals no position(s)
4) Dan Rather - "...the documents were false but the story is TRUE..."

[billbears]

The only other episode that came close IMO was the episode where Johnny, Venus, and the cop got drunk in the studio.

[HamiltonJay]

Well definately one of the STUPIDEST moments on TV was the recent Las Vegas episode...


Where the new owner was blown off the roof to her death... a supposed joke about how the actress is so thin... wasn't funny at all... unexpected yes, but not remotely funny.

[mikegi]

... the biggest surprise (and biggest laugh in TV history) was when Carol Burnett came down the stairs in a dress made of the curtains. With the rod still in them.

Totally agree. Just thinking about it makes me LOL.

[Diplomat]

Another, possibly apocryphal, Tonight Show moment: Arnold Palmer's wife saying that for good luck she kisses Arnold's (golf) balls before a match and Carson replying "I'll bet that makes his putter stand up".

As you suggest, this event never happened, and thus it cannot make the list. Same with the Zsa Zsa Gabor "Johnny, would you like to pet my p****?" Johnny, "sure, move the cat."

I don't think Zsa Zsa ever owned a cat. It's just an old joke similar to the balls joke that gets retold using different people.

[Tanniker Smith]

So unexpected that only CNN was covering it.

Apollo 13 was also a ho-hum yawner until, "Houston, we've had a problem."