A couple of weekends ago TV Land held a Sanford and Son marathon. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The only downside was that I couldn't get The Ink Spots' song If I Didn't Care out of my head when it was over. I'm not complaining, in fact I got an article out of it (Child Of Television: If I didn't care).

Last week, TV Land aired the 2006 TV Land Awards. I thoroughly enjoyed that too. We live in a time when there is a glut of award shows. Their sole purpose is to cater to the lowest common denominator that wants to see celebrities in designer gowns and tuxedoes walking the red carpet. The TV Land Awards stands apart. Sure the TV Land Awards do have their cheesy moments — like some of the over-rehearsed or over-produced acceptance speeches, or when two of the three nominees for an award are dead and the sole survivor winds up winning. But what makes the TV Land Awards different? Most award shows will feature several artists in one category whose work from the past year is in competition with each other, and somewhere in the show there is one award dedicated to an individual's lifetime achievement. The TV Land Awards really honors classic TV stars, shows, and the individuals whose work has endured the test of time, and they dedicate one award to a current show that is sure to be a Future Classic (this year it was Grey's Anatomy).

Other awards included The Pioneer Award presented to Sid Caesar, The Pop Culture Award presented to Dallas, The Legend Award presented to Cheers, and the Impact Award presented to Good Times. Every year, TV Land Awards opens with a medley of TV theme songs either sung by the artist who originally recorded the song or show's stars. For me the highlight this year was José Feliciano performing the theme to Chico and the Man.

Oh great, now I can't get that song out of my head.

Since the term classic is often misused, I decided to quote Dictionary.com:
clas·sic: adj.
a. Belonging to the highest rank or class.
b. Serving as the established model or standard: a classic example of colonial architecture.
c. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring.