My Favorite Movies and TV Shows As Explained by Tattoos

While researching for an essay about my extreme attraction to Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, I came across tremendous tattoos of him in various poses of yelling and screaming. This got me Googling tattoos of other films and characters that I adore and I was struck at the extreme dedication of some fans and the impressive talent of so many tattoo artists.

Below are my favorite movies and TV shows as seen by tattoos. Unfortunately, I had to edit my list since 1.) I could not find any tattoos of the movie Secretary or of James Spader. When Googling, "Secretary Tattoo", one ends up with a page full of aesthetically questionable women in secretary outfits licking a man's swollen...and 2.) Surprisingly could not find any Spinal Tap tattoos except for a pretty lame Shark Sandwich one and 3.) Also could not find any Kids in the Hall, Newsradio, or Six Feet Under tattoos.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure- When I was a little girl, I used to put on white patent leather platforms that my Grandmother kept in her clothing store as a "boost" for brides trying on their future bridal gowns. When they weren't in use, I would put them on and stand in the store window doing the "Tequila" dance for passersby.

Back to the Future- My first tangible crush was on Doc Brown. At the age of eight, I would doodle his name over and over in my notebook. I used to imagine what it would be like living in his workshop and taking second to his machinery.

Annie Hall- I'll never forget the first time I saw Annie Hall. I was fifteen years old and my mind had just been blown with the realization that there were people out there like me. Quirky people. Neurotic people. People who nervously and incessantly talked about themselves while flailing their arms around.

Young Frankenstein- Gene Wilder might have been my second crush. I just wanted to run my tiny little girl hands through his mass of cotton candy blonde hair all day, every day.

The Jerk- When I was five, my mother chased me around our family business with a brush, yelling, "Lauren, let me brush your hair! You look like a bum!" I stopped cold in my tracks. I turned to her, put my hands on my hips, and said, "I'm not a bum, I'm a JERK!"

Stop Making Sense- I'll never forget the first time I saw this movie. I was sixteen and rented the 15th Anniversary DVD of Stop Making Sense. By the end of the first song, Psycho Killer, I was floored. I had never seen a singer act so...so....weird! Halfway through, when the lights grew dark and David Byrne appeared with a lamp in front of giant panels displaying conceptual photography, I realized that I was in love.

Beetlejuice- At about six, I watched this movie every day for three months straight much to my parent's dismay. Another dance that I would share to no one in particular was the "Day Oh" dance- equipped with awkward facial expressions and fall over at the end.

Any Marx Brothers Movie- I must have been around thirteen when I first saw the Marx Brothers. I was struck at how their humor- 1920's/1930's humor- seemed so timeless. In fact, even now there is nothing quite like it. My favorite Marx Brother is Harpo- always and forever.

Obviously this man really loves the Marx Brothers too....and Metallica. Don't you remember Larso Marx?

Twin Peaks- I rented the entire series of Twin Peaks on VHS from our local Hollywood Video my senior year of high school. I could not peel myself away from the TV for two weeks while I anxiously awaited each episode. By the time I watched the finale one morning at 2AM, I nearly pissed myself in excitement. I woke my boyfriend up and shouted, "Cooper is in the Red Room!" and he mumbled something about my weirdness and went back to sleep.

X-Files- Mulder and Scully are the reason why I have trouble dating. They pummeled into me that relationships should be awkward and difficult and drawn out. I watched every single episode of this show and tried nicknaming myself "Spooky"- but it didn't hold.

Arrested Development- Well, there is nothing that can be said for how amazing this show was. Any words I may use will just pale in its awesomeness.