Most Shocking TV Moments

Today I thought that I would revisit some of the most shocking moments in tv history (well, those in the past 30 years or so, since I've been able to sit up and stare at the magic picture box).  These were the moments that had me jumping out of my chair, screaming at the tv, or otherwise just left me in complete shock.  Of course, this isn't a comprehensive list, just a few of them (I'll list some more in a later post).  So, in no particular order, here we go.  Click the links below each description to view the moments on YouTube.

1.  Michael kills Ana Lucia and Libby, Lost (2006):  One of the most shocking moments on this time-traveling, mind-bending sci-fi adventure series didn't have anything to do with polar bears or a smoke monster.  After the mysterious "Others" kidnapped Michael's son Walt, he was forced to do their bidding to try to get him back.  Forced to bring back the Others' leader Ben, Michael (unbeknownst to the viewers) had a plan that involved framing Ben for the shooting to make it look like he had escaped on his own.  The fact that the actresses portraying Ana Lucia and Libby (Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros) had recently both received DUI's (on the same night) probably had something to do with the show's decision to kill them off.

Michael kills Ana Lucia and Libby

2.  Dr. Romano loses an arm (2002) and Dr. Romano is killed, ER (2003): At the beginning of season 9 of the hit medical drama, the brash and angry Dr. Romano suddenly and gruesomely lost an arm to a helicopter blade, in what became one of the most played back TV moments in DVR history (a fairly new technology at the time).  Just a year later, after mellowing out a bit and becoming addicted to prescription drugs, Romano met his maker after another helicopter crash-landed on top of him in the hotel courtyard (cue Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'", which played in the elevator just before the crash).

Dr. Romano loses an arm
Dr. Romano dies

3.  Edgar dies during an attack on CTU, 24 (2006):  24 was full of numerous shocking deaths.  Season 5 in particular saw the demise of numerous fan-favorite characters: former President David Palmer, Michelle, Tony (or so we thought at the time).  But the most heartbreaking death came towards the end of the season when the baddies of the season released deadly nerve gas into CTU's ventilation system.  As Jack, daughter Kim, and many others sealed themselves in a conference room, Jack's right-hand woman Chloe watched as best friend Edgar succumbed to the gas just a few feet away, outside of the room.  As the show always did when a beloved character died, it paid tribute to Edgar with a silent ticking clock to end the episode.

Edgar dies

4.  Erik gives up immunity and is promptly voted out, Survivor (2008): Ok, most people wouldn't consider a reality tv moment to be particularly shocking.  After all, these shows manufacture "shocking" moments in each episode.  But this one was different.  The alliance of 5 women were desperate to vote out young, athletic Erik, but they couldn't seem to get rid of him because he kept winning immunity.  After he won yet again, all seemed hopeless, until Cirie came up with a plan to guilt him into giving up his immunity necklace to regain some favor with the tribe (promising that he'd still be safe), and then voting him out.  Nobody thought it would work, including me watching at home, but then it did, and Erik became the dumbest player in the history of the show.

Erik gives up immunity, voted out

5.  Susan dies from poisoned envelopes, Seinfeld (1996): Seinfeld was known for being the "show about nothing".  But this wasn't exactly true.  The show's plots consisted of the main cast behaving pretty selfishly and ending up in unusual (but hilarious) situations.  In season 7 of the show, bachelor George became engaged to the wealthy Susan, but as the wedding drew nearer, he kept looking for ways to get out of it.  Everything that he tried failed, but then he got his wish (albeit not in the way that he had expected) after Susan died by poisoning after licking cheap glue on the envelopes for her wedding invitations (George had insisted that they buy the cheap envelopes).  Did this sitcom really kill off a character for laughs?  Yes it did.  And the most shocking part of it all was the gang's reaction upon hearing of her death: shrugging it off and leaving the hospital to go out for coffee.  It was recently revealed that the character was killed off because the actress (Heidi Swedberg) was extremely difficult to work with and didn't mess with the rest of the cast.

Susan dies on Seinfeld