Well…now that the seven angels have blasted their horns, rumbling them into a wild, dark winter, inventing entirely new, terrible beasts while we line up with our seven bowls to meekly beseech, “Please, sir, I’d like some more,” (Lionel Bart’s smash West End musical Oliver!, with book by John the Elder and Heinrich Heine), there doesn’t seem to be much more to do while we await our re-education camp assignments than to watch some vintage television, right?
Continue reading ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’ (1976): Racy event television from a lost eraCategory Archives: Reviews
‘Highway to Heaven’ (Season 1): A powerful, spiritual drama for the 80s
“Who’s your boss?”
“God.”
‘Hanna-Barbera’s All-Star Comedy Ice Revue’ (1978): A glorious, forgotten TV special
Here’s to all that gorgeous Ice Capades snatch at the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium!
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‘The Donna Reed Show’ (Season 1): A charming, misunderstood gem
You think the Stone family would make you wear a mask? Please.
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‘Falcon Crest’ (Season 2): Melodrama & glamour ramp up in 2nd season
“Falcon Crest is a cancer; it contaminates everybody it touches! Get away, if you can!”
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‘Matt Houston’ (Season 1): Fun, breezy entry in the 80s P.I. craze
“Better cock your pistols.”
Continue reading ‘Matt Houston’ (Season 1): Fun, breezy entry in the 80s P.I. craze
‘Mayflower: The Pilgrims’ Adventure’ (1979): Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Mayflower’s landing
Attention! Attention fellow American lockdown inmates!
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‘The Fall Guy’ (Season 1): Perfectly executed high-concept TV
Well, I’m not the kind to kiss and tell,
But I’ve been seen with Farrah.
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‘Mister Ed’ (Season 1): Classic 60s sitcom still delivers the funny
“Why did you talk to me?” “The whole thing is fantastic! I just don’t understand it!”
“Don’t try…it’s bigger than both of us.”
‘The Boy in the Plastic Bubble’ (1976): Impossibly hopeful teen romance scores big
Uh…they couldn’t just adopt?
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‘Hey Dude’ (Season 1): Pleasant nostalgia from Nickelodeon’s transition period
Nice memories of a fun tween show that would never get on Nickelodeon’s schedule today.
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‘The Toys That Made Us’ (Season 1): Streaming series conjures Gen X nostalgia
It’ll make you feel like a kid again.
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‘Secret Agent’: England’s Danger Man thrills viewers the world over
Please. If the question is: “What’s the best TV spy series ever produced?” I don’t want to hear something like Mission: Impossible or The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (even though I love those two), Continue reading ‘Secret Agent’: England’s Danger Man thrills viewers the world over
‘The Rookies’ (Season 1): ’70s police actioner holds up well today
Looking out the window (and ducking), it’s probably a good time to revisit the first season of The Rookies, one of the best-remembered cop shows from the “golden age” of network TV police series (Sony put out a DVD set for this a few years ago…and it’s worth some bucks now).
Continue reading ‘The Rookies’ (Season 1): ’70s police actioner holds up well today
‘The Courtship of Eddie’s Father’ (Season 1): Understated performances keep sitcom fresh & touching
“When you were a little boy, did you want to be what you are now?”
“No.”
“How come, Dad?”
“Well, because I guess when I was a little boy, I didn’t know that one day there would be a little boy like you that I would be the father of.”
“Is that the most important thing you are? A father?”
“That is the most important thing I am.”
‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ (Season 1): Fish-out-of-water comedy laughs at everyone
“Females are strong as hell!”
And they’d have to be to survive an underground doomsday bunker for 15 years. But does it suck as much as viral social media attention and learning to use a smartphone?
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‘Shogun’ (1980): NBC’s blockbuster miniseries premiered 40 years ago
Now, what’s a Drunk TV virtual Fall TV season..without some special event television (“We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming tonight because of the f*cking actor’s strike to bring you an NBC Movie Event!”)?
Continue reading ‘Shogun’ (1980): NBC’s blockbuster miniseries premiered 40 years ago
‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ (Season 1): It’s back to school—70s style
Welcome back,
Your dreams were your ticket out.
Welcome back,
To that same old place that you laughed about.
Well, the names have all changed since you hung around,
But those dreams have remained and they’ve turned around.
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya,
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya,
Back here where we need ya?
Back here where we need ya?
Yeah, we tease him a lot,
‘Cause we got him on the spot,
Welcome back.
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ (Season 1): Laughably straight-faced ’80s fantasy
Did you know there used to be a cult following for this show? Yes, seriously. That surely can’t be the case now, can it?
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‘Maverick’ (Season 1): 50s Western was a genre game changer
Quite simply one of the most satisfying TV Westerns ever created.
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Drunk TV 