The Nanny.

Yes, it’s true.  I’m obsessed.  It’s a little hard to come out about it, but I’ve been averaging at least two episodes a day for the past couple weeks.  I can’t stop.  I have to keep up with the TIVO-like thing that records it.

Fran Drescher is a fucking genius to keep that show running for six seasons.  She’s the Lucille Ball of her time, only with better fashion and a Jewess.  And the rest of the women — Sylvia, Bubbe Yetta, Tante Frieda!  Out of this world. I could say something smart about their identity, about Jewish women in comedy, etc., but why?  The truth is that it’s like a more entertaining version of being with my family in Long Island (which is not, for the record, where I grew up).  It makes me teary eyed.  It makes me afraid.  It makes me feel like I have something to aspire to.

It all started when Rachel and Dia and I watched it at our sleepover in a king-size bed in Orinda, where Rachel was house-sitting.  I mean, I’ve always liked it, but it had fallen off my radar.  But that night, we watched two episodes, and in one episode Shari Lewis & Lamb Chop guest starred, and the other featured Rosie O’Donnell and Elizabeth Taylor in the same episode.  I’m sorry, but what other show could pull that off?  No, I’m not sorry.  The answer is none and The Nanny is amazing.

That would be all I have to say except that when I was searching for a clip or photo to post, I discovered that The Nanny is also online.  Possibly every episode.  Holy fuck. But the most amazing part is that the pilot is online, which is the same as the theme song.  She was indeeed working in a bridal shoppe in Flushing, Queens til her boyfriend kicked her out in one of those crushing scenes!  Three summers ago when I “lived” in New York for 6 weeks, Bobby and I happened upon that on TV and were kind of floored.  I wish that experience upon everyone – drop what you’re doing and just fucking enjoy.