Supernatural is the best show on television that nobody watches—and a after a string of merely "good" episodes (by Supernatural standards, and that's a compliment), the show offered up another epic tale last night. The daring drama has never been afraid to slyly refer its own place in pop culture, but "Changing Channels" went a step further by taking aim at the show's competish.
Grey's Anatomy and CSI, which both air opposite Supernatural in the ultra-competitive 9pm Thursday time slot, were both lampooned by The Winchesters with brilliant results. For those who didn't get to watch last night, here's the premise of the episode: Sam and Dean were thrown into a television world where they were the stars of various TV shows—shows that were eerily similar to the shows on TV today.
The faux show Dr. Sexy, MD was set at Seattle Mercy Hospital and featured hot doctors who couldn't keep their hands off each other, a ghost that only existed in the mind of one of the doctors (nod and a wink to Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who's appeared on both Grey's and Supernatural), Lilith Fair chick music, and tacky dialogue ("You're a brilliant coward!"). In a CSI: Miami send-up, the brothers Winchester repeatedly took off and re-donned their sunglasses and uttered zingers that even David Caruso would envy ("Well I say... jackpot").
But the highlight of the episode had to be the fake opening credits (video below), in which Sam and Dean ride tandem bikes and engage in other Bosom Buddies-ish activities, all to the tune of a kick-ass, classic sitcom theme song.
In the end, we learned a big secret about The Trickster and thickened the plot on some future brother-on-brother brawlin'—and the way the whole thing unfolded seemed natural. Some might even say Super natural (*groan*). In less capable hands, the storyline would have been a mess.
Am I wrong in saying that Supernatural is one of the most daring and entertaining shows on television? What other show could pull off this type of tomfoolery? Supernatural isn't just one of television's best serialized dramas, it has somehow also become one of TV's best comedies (though I would never call it a comedy), and that's a unique blend from which other shows could stand to learn a thing or two.
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Supernatural has the absolute best commercials which can suck you into watching the show.... which generally sucks. Time and time again, I've seen a commercial with some crazy cool idea only to see the episode blunder through it. The overall arc at any given moment is visibly slapped together and, with rare exception, completely uncompelling and generally uninteresting (Burn Notice, on the other hand, managed to pull those kinds of things off and completely overcome my doubts). Plus it seems each new season betrays the earlier ones as the writers will do anything to extend the show another season to fill out Fox's ailing schedule.
my fave show till 2005
my fave show till 2005
I ditched CSI for Supernatural over two years ago and have never regretted it. Perfect combination of drama, horror and comedy. Great characters and writing. Brilliant!
ahah the trickster really brings a good comedy element to an already awesome show, mystery spot was just as good as changing channels comedic wise and they both still retained the dramatic importants bits. Not many shows can pull that off = D
Why is it that everyone is just now realizing that Supernatural is the best show on tv? We all have known this from the beginning! Pretty slow on the uptake, guys, but i guess it's better late than never! I had to watch it at least 3 times to take in all the magnificence!!
amen. thats all i can say. brilliant article and so true. best episode ever. already dreading the series' finale. but hey, dont all great shows get axed nowaways? see pushing daisies for example.
I love Supernatural. The show rocks. This season has been a bit weak compared to past seasons but Changing Channels was hilarious and still managed to be dramatic enough and also move forward the main plot with new reveals. Total win on all fronts. And after Sam getting a case of the Crabs from the warlock, it was totally laugh-out-loud funny to see him forced to try to do a herpes commercial.
This is the best hour of television I have watched this season. The show is simply amazing. My mind can only boggle at the thought of what it would do with a budget like Lost.
this episode was really great and funny it was just really really great !! love this show !!
This episode was awesome!!!... And the whole show is amazing!!! I hope that with this Supernatural gets some more than deserved recognition out there! Thank you for recognizing it here Tim.
this show was great! It gets better every season!
I loved this episode, esp. the opening credits. I was laughing so hard that my dogs kept checking on me to see what was going on. Awesome episode!
soo sweet. man they are so cute!!!
Supernatural is the best tv show around. It mixes "fantasy" genre and "comedy". It never takes itself seriously. I will sure miss this when it goes as I know already there will be nothing close to replace it.
This is the best show ever! Amazing writing, awesome acting, and the plot is being nicely pulled off. Not to mention the halarious humor this episode and many others have presented. Oh, and Jared, Jensen, Misha, Jim, and all the other awesome actors who work on the show.
Thursdays are a difficult time for me because all of my favorite shows come on at the same time. And although I'm a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy, I usually opt for Supernatural. This week's episode was probably the greatest of the series. It was a perfect mix of comedy, drama, and plot development. The twist at the end, and even the mockery of Grey's Anatomy (a show I love), were incredible. I hope Supernatural keeps up the momentum to the finale and next week's episode with the brothers going to a Supernatural convention looks hilarious!
supernatural is the only reason i turn on my TV on Thursdays. It's one of my favorite shows ever. I just like the relationship between sam and dean n how dean is so frigin hilarious at times. Like the way the plot is getting developed. It's getting interesting by the episode.
Changing Channels was hilarious. And what made it so funny was that it was going back to what made the show so appealing in the first place. Last season suffered from too much darkness. Of course it's best when they mix up dark episodes with light episodes, but last year even some of the light episodes came across as dark. The show works best when they give it some Evil Dead charm. It needs scares, but it's better if they're dark ride scares than slasher film scares. These are two guys in the middle of a nightmare trying to make the best of it. We don't need things to be heavy all the time, that's already established in the overtones of the series. It's good to see the characters joking around in the middle of it all.
I love, love, love this show - and yes i have noticed this season is more humourous, not as subtle humour as in previous seasons. but bring some scare back into them too!!
haha...the opening credits is seriously hilarious! Kudos to the writers, Supernatural is really in a league of its own.
*Nods in agreement* Most definitely. Supernatural is currently the best show on air. I know a few people who watch it (alas, they all went off to different colleges states away-- but have made their roommates Supe fans, so I suppose they can be forgiven), and it is unanimously agreed. Great show. Excellent cast. Interesting plot. Eye-watering comedy (Yes, I have laughed so hard I've cried when watching this show). It's a great choice for almost any audience (well, except romantics I suppose, but still....).
I completely agree! The wit, the dry sarcastic humour is always welcome to watch. We have always loved the satire and the creepiness which seem to blend together in perfect unison! Great script but lets face it, without Jensen and Jared could that humour be delivered in quite the same skilful way? i think not.....
I've watched a full 69 shows and counting (tv junkie) and when it comes down to it, Supernatural is THE best show that I've ever seen. Eric Kripke is a genius and my personal hero. The writers on that show deserve awards every year. Brilliant writing. Great acting. Tight storylines. Hilarious and serious when the moment calls for it. Supernatural ROCKS!
I hope the show will get the credit that's really deserve ,it's a great brilliant show with a great stories and very talented actors ,great work Kripke!!
ha ha i love this show so much. the "opening credits" were hilarous. lighter funnier episodes like this is what this show has been missing for the past two seasons
It was one of the best episodes it was sooooooooo funny.So daring ,awesome awesome show "Well, I say... Jackpot" ... looooool supernatural fan for ever
It was hilarious... Doesn't the Guy who created The Tick work on the show? Thats one funny dude.
OMG - I laughed so much watchin that TV credits of Supernatural - Brilliant...love this show soooo much.
I agree that it's one of the best shows on TV right now. Underrated by "respectable" standards but who cares. It's got great acting, writing, direction. It's interesting, troubling, exciting and funny at the same time. I'm gonna miss it if it ends this year.
This eposide was hands down the funniest, best in its 5 seasons!
last *
Amazing eposide late night !! AMAZING ...
supernatural is the best tv show ever that episode rocked!!! supernatural is always awesome but with that episode they really up there game.what will these guys come up with next ???
That.....was.....awesome! This episode was one of the best hours of TV in a long time. This is my first season....how did I miss this one? The reaction Dean had when Dr. Sexy was approaching......LMAO
well..,.. at last... people realize how good was this show
Another fantastic episode from one of the most brilliant shows of all time. Everyone who works on this show just gets it; the writers are genuis, the acting spot on. I am constantly impressed with this show.
"The victim has a roll of quarters in his throat" -- "Well, I say... Jackpot" ... Instant classic!
I have to say this episode was the funniest one of all the episodes! :)
They did a great job on lampooning the competition!! Jensen and Jared never disappoint. Kripke is King
I have never watched Supernatural before, but I wanted to see how they pulled of the parodies of other shows. I was laughing for most of the episode. Totally hilarious. It really makes me want to go out and buy the dvds. A really special show.
still the best even after4 years. I am now " reviewing" season 1 and still great to watch. Definitely not boring and the episodes are timeless....kudos to Kripke!!
i cant watch it cuz i dont have cw, but i buy their DVD's, i own all 4 seasons
"The best show nobody watches?" I watch it! That has to count for something. Loves the Supernatural.
i loved that episode and of course LOVE SUPERNATURAL!
I love this show. And even if it isn't "a comedy," it's a lot funnier than most of the "comedies" out there! (p.s. They better not be teasing us about another season, I'm not sure I would live without this show! I need more time!)
Please, do not say nobody watches it. We do! Religiously. What has changed from previous seasons is that now it needs Castiel in each episode. With him, it is perfect. Jensen Ackles gets better and better each week. And the Caruso section was simply brilliant and let's not forget the Knight Rider puns. :-)
Tim,great review and my thoughts exactly.