(December 22, 2012) -- With the news out this week that Fox has picked up a tennis-themed comedy written by The Office veteran Greg Daniels, we thought it was time to take a look at other favorite tennis moments on TV from throughout the years. This list'll have to do until Richie (the unnamed show's title character) makes his debut.
Andy Roddick hosts SNL, 2003
Following his US Open win in 2003, 21-year-old Roddick won over a few more fans as the host of Saturday Night Live. While SNL is never an easy gig, Roddick, who's famous for his one-liners in press conferences seemed at home on stage and in front of the cameras. Oh, and that Billie Jean King skit with Fred Armisen? Golden.
Tennis Night in America on 30 Rock, 2009
Leave it to the folks at 30 Rock to come up with this genius. Marrying the NBC Sports "Football Night in America" sentiment -- think brews, bros, and cowgirls singing in jean shorts -- with tennis was a smash hit. Jane Krakowski singing as Jenna Maroney mused, "and they way they wear those short shorts is out of bounds."
Melanie Oudin plays Ellen in tennis, 2009
Oh how sweet Melanie was! In the days and weeks after her historic U.S. Open run, then 17-year-old Oudin was a media superstar (she was the most-requested player at the Open that year). She popped over to Los Angeles to appear on the Ellen show, where she talked about beating Maria Sharapova and the Serena foot fault debacle before Ellen took her outside for a little one-on-one. Ellen pulled out an oversized Wilson racket at one point for extra hilarity, then had in-house DJ Tony join Oudin and Queen Latifah pairing with DeGeneres.
Serena sings karaoke on Jimmy Fallon, 2012
After her come-from-behind win at the U.S. Open this past fall, Serena sang a victory tune or two when she appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. After telling Jimmy about what she's been tuning to lately, Fallon teed up his house band to play Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," and, thank god, Serena obliged!
Andy Murray on BBC Comic Relief Night, 2011
Murray has done loads and loads of British talk shows, but this appearance on BBC's Comic Relief Night in a skit with three male actors was flat out hilarious. Murray contributed his part, dead panning and delivering, when asked if he was British or Scottish, this line: "Well, depends if I win or not." Good stuff.
"Grunting" on The Office, 2011
Leave it to The Office to make a 20-second clip about women's tennis flat-out hilarious. Grunting adds more power? Of course it does. Just ask Dwight.
Agassi-Sampras Catfight on Tennis Channel, 2010
Is there a more talked-about moment of tennis banter that went out on live TV? Probably not. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras exchanged words awkwardly at a Hit for Haiti charity event at Indian Wells in 2010. Sampras was upset over Agassi's accusation in his book that Pete was cheap. It was brought up in person, then things got heated.
Venus and Serena: For Real, 2005
It was short-lived, but Venus and Serena were hot on the reality-show trend in 2005 when they did a one-season series for… ABC Family? Yep, the ladies let cameras follow them around in the spring season, through Miami and into the clay and document their lives. What is more comedic than the strange TV watching this made for was the intro itself: 30 seconds of the grown-up sisters playing dress-up? Love it.