“Better cock your pistols.”
Continue reading ‘Matt Houston’ (Season 1): Fun, breezy entry in the 80s P.I. crazeTag Archives: Paul Mavis
‘Mayflower: The Pilgrims’ Adventure’ (1979): Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Mayflower’s landing
Attention! Attention fellow American lockdown inmates!
Continue reading ‘Mayflower: The Pilgrims’ Adventure’ (1979): Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Mayflower’s landing
‘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.
Continue reading ‘The Fall Guy’ (Season 1): Perfectly executed high-concept TV
‘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?
Continue reading ‘The Boy in the Plastic Bubble’ (1976): Impossibly hopeful teen romance scores big
‘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.
Continue reading ‘Hey Dude’ (Season 1): Pleasant nostalgia from Nickelodeon’s transition period
‘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.”
‘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?
Continue reading ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (Season 1): Laughably straight-faced ’80s fantasy
‘Maverick’ (Season 1): 50s Western was a genre game changer
Quite simply one of the most satisfying TV Westerns ever created.
Continue reading ‘Maverick’ (Season 1): 50s Western was a genre game changer
‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 1): Comic strip-turned-sitcom remains delightfully fun
‘Scarecrow and Mrs. King’ (Season 1): Fun, Romantic, Reagan-era spy adventure
A few years ago, Warner Bros. released Scarecrow and Mrs. King: The Complete First Season, a 5-disc, 21-episode collection of the 1983-1984 premier season of the light, charming action/adventure comedy/romance series starring Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner.
Continue reading ‘Scarecrow and Mrs. King’ (Season 1): Fun, Romantic, Reagan-era spy adventure
‘Get Smart’ (Season 1): Silly comedy spoofs 60s spy mania
Sorry about that, Chief.
Continue reading ‘Get Smart’ (Season 1): Silly comedy spoofs 60s spy mania
‘Christy’: Fan base for 90s period drama remains strong today
I was aware of Christy when it originally aired on CBS back in 1994, but I never tuned in.
Continue reading ‘Christy’: Fan base for 90s period drama remains strong today
‘Quark’: 70s sci-fi spoof is short-lived, but hugely memorable
A long time ago, at a DVD review place far, far away (in terms of quality), I wrote a review for Quark, the NBC sci-fi spoof from 1977 that developed a tiny but intensely loyal cult following.
Continue reading ‘Quark’: 70s sci-fi spoof is short-lived, but hugely memorable
‘Simon & Simon’ (Season 1): Breezy detective series survives early 80s
Don’t you miss the 80s? Don’t they seem like an incredibly free time now?
Continue reading ‘Simon & Simon’ (Season 1): Breezy detective series survives early 80s
‘Father Dowling Mysteries’ (Season 1): Calm, undemanding little mysteries
Surprisingly deft, low-key mystery entertainment.
Continue reading ‘Father Dowling Mysteries’ (Season 1): Calm, undemanding little mysteries
Drunk TV 