TV’s Top Music Moments of 2008

Drake Lelane December 31, 2008

Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon in an ad for the 1000th episode of 'The Jimmy Kimmel Show'

In years past, a show’s finale meant a spike in music downloads the next day, but this year was quite different thanks to several mitigating factors. The first was the writers’ strike, which cut down the number of proper season finales in scripted television by nearly half. The second and third factors are monetary — with music licensing rates on the rise and the economy in a downturn, it’s no wonder that series have tried to do “more with less,” to quote The Wire.

Just look at the top five I have listed here and you’ll notice there’s not one single use of a popular song in its original form — typically the most expensive option in music placement. They’re all either original songs written for the occasion or songs performed by the cast. I guess, as the old saying goes, folks got to eat. Mmmmm … as do I, so without further ado, here’s the list.

10. 30 Rock me Amadeus

30 Rock – Episode 2.13 / “Requiem: Lacrimosa” – Mozart

The episode (“Succession”) pits Tracy’s Amadeus against Frank’s Salieri as Tracy bridges the Uncanny Valley to make a realistic porn video game. Just add Kenneth in the role of Constanze, Mozart’s wife and protector, then cue Dr. Spaceman running through the studio in a cape … pause for laughter … and scene!

9. (tie) Killer Colleen

Nip/Tuck – Episode 5.11 / “Me And My Teddy Bear” – The Tinseltown Players

Nip/Tuck – Episode 5.14 / “Fame” – David Bowie (w/ John Lennon)

Nip/Tuck loves its guest stars as much as it loves being outrageous. Sharon Gless combines the two with her role as the stalker Colleen, cementing the season’s theme of “fame” in the final few episodes. First she kills Bob the agent from CAA with a teddy bear stuffing machine to the child-like tune of “Me and my Teddy Bear.” Then in the mid-season finale she goes Mark David Chapman on her obsesson, stabbing Sean to the sound of David Bowie’s “Fame.” And who else helped write and sing on that great song? John Lennon, of course.

8. Let’s Twist Again (Like We Did Last Summer

Mad Men – Episode 2.01 / “Let’s Twist Again” – Chubby Checker

Mad Men has plenty of interesting music moments, but they’re almost always very subtle in their placement. Hearing Chubby Checker’s sequel to “The Twist” (used in the first season) to open the second season montage was immediate — the perfect way to welcome the return of the near-perfect series back into our homes.

7. The Half of You We Wanted to See

True Blood – Episode 1.06 / “Half of You” – Cat Power

Anna Paquin shows her goodies for the first time, going topless as Sookie while getting some from vampire boyfriend Bill, all to the sounds of Cat Power’s “Half of You.” The consummation of their relationship (which also involves some double-penetration via fangs) reminds us once again that this HBO vampire series is no Twilight.

6. Catfight!

Chuck – Episode 2.04 / “Smack my Bitch Up” – Prodigy

Yvonne Strahovski and Nicole Ritchie get wet and bloody beating each other up in the shower of a high school locker room, all to “Smack my Bitch Up.”

I double-checked, this wasn’t a dream.

5. (tie) Secondary College Musical!

Skins – Episode 2.02 / “Then Came the Day” – Cast (download) from “Osama! The Musical” (video)

Summer Heights High – Episode 1.08 / “Naughty Girl” from Mr. G the Musical (video)

The effects of High School Musical were felt across television series this year, but it was more interesting to see the interpretations from ~~high school~~ secondary college-based series overseas. First came UK’s Skins with Osama! The Musical, a love story that takes place on 9/11 between a stock broker and another survivor of the twin towers’ collapse. “Then came the day, Osama blew us away,” goes the love song, and as laughable as it sounds, it’s hard to get out of your head. Then from Australia (via HBO) came Chris Lilly’s Summer Heights High and the musical arena spectacular “Mr. G!,” featuring Lilly’s drama teacher character, Mr. G. Initially based on the death of a student (until parents veto the script), “Mr. G” follows a troubled teen’s journey through drugs, with guidance from her favorite teacher, Mr. G. The song “Naughty Girl” actually became a top ten, certified gold hit in Australia.

Other school musicals in 2008: 90210′s “Spring Awakening”, South Park’s “Elementary School Musical”, Sesame Street’s “PreSchool Musical”

4. (tie) The Greatest Gift of All

A Colbert Christmas / “Nutmeg” – John Legend, “Little Dealer Boy” – Willie Nelson, “Another Christmas Song” – Stephen Colbert, et al.

Everyone’s favorite late night political satire host Stephen Colbert dons a cardigan and lampoons the old Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams Christmas special tradition. It may be comedy but the music wins the day with original songs co-written by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) and featuring musical guests like Elvis Costello, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith and Feist spreading their Christmas cheer, tongue-in-cheek. Aside from the Feist one, which really requires the context of the special to work, I think we can expect to hear the songs on future holidays.

3. It’s a Wild Skins World

Skins – Episode 1.09 / “It’s a Wild World” – cast (video)

While Skins often took some odd and unexpected turns, they usually countered it with a bit of the surreal to remind you that it was fiction. In the first season finale when Tony was hit by a truck, we got the expected scream and tears, but then the cast broke into Cat Stevens “It’s a Wild World” led by Sid and a chorus of random men at a urinal in a public bathroom. When the comatose Tony joined in for a verse it was both jarring and funny at the same time, which is hard to pull off. The ending merely hinted at much of the craziness that was to come in season two. That the series has cut most of the music out of the American airings makes it all the more special. I could honestly do a great top 10 list of just Skins moments that American audiences didn’t experience. Don’t tempt me!

2. Farewell to Baltimore

The Wire – Episode 5.10 / “Way Down in the Hole” – The Blind Boys of Alabama (video)

The series ends as it began, with Detective McNulty and the original theme song. As McNutty looks back on the city of Baltimore, we get a montage of all the old players going on with their lives. The villains and do-nothings get rewarded with awards, promotions and new partners, and all the old beats from previous seasons look pretty much the same. In the end, though, this montage ultimately reminds us that the main character for the whole five-year run of the series was the city of Baltimore itself.

1. Sorry Jimmy, She’s F*cking Matt Damon

The Jimmy Kimmel Show – 1000th Episode / “I’m F*cking Matt Damon” – Sarah Silverman /w Matt Damon

How can you argue with a song that won an Emmy and spawned a thousand tributes? Originally written for his birthday, Silverman debuted the song on Jimmy Kimmel Show‘s 1000th episode and played on Kimmel’s long running gag that ends many his shows (“apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time”). Kimmel replied with bigger budgeted “I’m F*cking Ben Affleck,” and a flood of knockoffs quickly followed, including “I’m F*cking Seth Rogen” (Elizabeth Banks from the set of Kevin Smith’s Zack And Miri Make A Porno) and Hillary Clinton in “I’m F*cking Obama”.