So…in a sure sign of continuing mental and emotional regression, I decided the other night to accessorize a drunk by watching a little cable…only to foggily re-discover we haven’t had cable in years (my first clue? No suitcase-sized box on top of a TV not made to support an envelope). I had been reminiscing about how much I had enjoyed those early years of cable and the rise of specialty channels catering to narrowcasting desires, and I thought: “Why not watch a little Nick at Nite?”
Continue reading ‘The Patty Duke Show’ (Season 1): A light, perfectly pitched time capsule back to a sweeter timeTag Archives: Shout! Factory
‘Mister Ed’ (Season 5): The solid laughs continue – an impressive feat!
A solid season of laughs for this beloved sitcom’s penultimate season, with a handful of classic moments. A few years back, Shout! Factory released Mister Ed: The Complete Fifth Season, a four-disc, 26-episode collection that gathered together the CBS sitcom’s last full schedule of shows for the 1964-1965 season. Simply put: hefty laughs throughout most of the episodes here…and that’s saying something for a high-concept fantasy/sitcom that should have burnt out long, long before this point.
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ (Season 5): The solid laughs continue – an impressive feat!
‘Simon & Simon’ (Season 2): How did this P.I. series become a surprise hit? By simply entertaining us
Remember my last Odd Couple review, where I said I wanted to tie up some loose ends? Well…I found another series that needs completing, so before I stage my own phony death and disappear with my old lady and the insurance pay-off in the spirit of our glorious President getting another chance to wrap things up, we’re going to look at the second season of Simon & Simon.
‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 4): Dennis is an older menace in boomer sitcom’s final season
Sooo looooooooooong, Dennis…and not a moment too soon.
Continue reading ‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 4): Dennis is an older menace in boomer sitcom’s final season
‘Psycho IV: The Beginning’ (1990): Anthony Perkins returns in pay cable sequel
Entertaining, casually lurid unofficial “official” prequel/sequel to the iconic Hitchcock horror/suspense classic.
Continue reading ‘Psycho IV: The Beginning’ (1990): Anthony Perkins returns in pay cable sequel
The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Highly-imitated, TV auteur’s classic moments still hilarious today
When the most talked-about, written-about TV programming these days is a probably-closeted entertainer (rather badly) enacting an utterly phony, NDA-mandated “relationship” with a sports figure so everyone can make more money from the rubes who buy this shit…it’s time to descend into the DVD vaults and pull out something that entertains. That actually matters.
Continue reading The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Highly-imitated, TV auteur’s classic moments still hilarious today
‘Mister Ed’ (Season 4): Despite cast changes, sitcom returns to form in funny season
“Bless you, buddy boy; that’s why I love you: you think like a dumb animal.”
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ (Season 4): Despite cast changes, sitcom returns to form in funny season
‘Once an Eagle’ (1976): NBC’s second ‘Best Sellers’ mini a sprawling epic across two world wars
Back when “the Big Three” were the only game in town, do you remember how exciting Septembers were, you vintage TV-crazed viewer? Sure you do. How exciting the prospect was for the upcoming slew of new TV shows, thoughtfully brought to you by your friendly networks, entirely free of charge? It was as if you had this whole new group of friends who were waiting to entertain you, and all you had to do was turn on the TV to see them, to welcome them into your home.
Continue reading ‘Once an Eagle’ (1976): NBC’s second ‘Best Sellers’ mini a sprawling epic across two world wars
‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 3): With Mr. Wilson’s sudden exit, who will replace him?
“We sure are going to miss good ol’ Mr. Wilson.”
Continue reading ‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 3): With Mr. Wilson’s sudden exit, who will replace him?
‘Mister Ed’ (Season 3): Classic sitcom is still funny, but its rigid structure begins to show
Wilbur: “Read one of your comic books.”
Mr. Ed: “They depress me.”
‘Frankenstein: The True Story’ (1973): Miniseries brings Mary Shelley’s classic monster to life
It’s Shock-tober, everyone! That’s right—time to take out a second mortgage to pay for your groceries this week. So, let’s lighten our loads by doing what I’ve been since I was in a playpen: escaping reality by obsessively watching TV. And what better way to block out the possibility of six more years of the Didy-in-Chief, than to watch one terrifying horror movie after another until one’s senses are completely numb.
Continue reading ‘Frankenstein: The True Story’ (1973): Miniseries brings Mary Shelley’s classic monster to life
‘The California Kid’ (1974): A spare, surprisingly grim little suspenser
A clean, trim, hard-boiled little gem of a suspenser, from the golden days of network made-for-TV movies.
Continue reading ‘The California Kid’ (1974): A spare, surprisingly grim little suspenser
‘Mister Ed’ (Season 2): Popular sitcom moves from syndication to CBS
Horse talks. Makes smartass joke. Human master flustered. Viewer laughs. Repeat.
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ (Season 2): Popular sitcom moves from syndication to CBS
‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 2): ’60s sitcom’s highest rated season
More of the same this second time around…and that means more laughs from this witty, perfectly-crafted family sitcom.
Continue reading ‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 2): ’60s sitcom’s highest rated season
‘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.”
‘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), and I certainly don’t want pallid, morally-equivalent, p.c.-obsessed examples from the last 20 years or so (you can keep your limp hand-wringing lectures to yourself, thank you).
Continue reading ‘Secret Agent’: England’s Danger Man thrills viewers the world over
‘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.
‘Dennis the Menace’ (Season 1): Comic strip-turned-sitcom remains delightfully fun
‘Sapphire and Steel’: Remarkable, obscure, British sci-fi
“All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic, heavy elements may not be used where there is life. Medium atomic weights are available: Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver and Steel…Sapphire and Steel have been assigned.”
Continue reading ‘Sapphire and Steel’: Remarkable, obscure, British sci-fi
Drunk TV 