frschoonover Reviews

Hello, Larry (1979–1980)

Not As Bad As Its Reputation Made It Out To Be

[6/10 · 19 May 2024]

Hello, Larry premeired as a mid season replacement series on the NBC network starting in January of 1979 and ending in April of 1980, totalling thirty eight episodes over that short two season span. The series starred McLean Stevenson, Kim Richards, Joanna Gleason, Donna Wilkes (Season One, was replaced by. Krista Errickson in Season Two) and George Memmoli (Season One only). When Season Two began, new cast members, such as Ruth Brown, Fred Stuthman, John Femia and Meadowlark Lemon were added.

The series was created by producers of both Diff'rent Strokes and One Day at a Time. They even utilized some of the same writers from both of those TV shows for this TV show.

The series dealt with divorced father Larry Alder, who hosted a talk radio show dealing in psychology and was raising two daughters as a single father. The series was based around the life of Alder, his career and his raising of his two teenaged daughters after he and his wife divorced, which made him and his daughters move to Seattle Washington to start over. Much of the series dealt with how Alder dealt with the challenges of balancing his career and raising his two daughters. Later episodes dealt with him spending more time with his daughters while also still maintaining his carreer and his relationships with various people.

The series was canceled way too soon.

Hello, Larry was actually a very good show. It was funny, charming and bittersweet. The series was also well written and was also very realistic. It actually was a wonderful series and was severely underrated. Stevenson was superb in his portrayal of Larry Alder and also, his supporting cast turned in some good performances as well. Hello, Larry was a pretty funny show and it deserved more a chance than it did when the series was on the NBC network. NBC simply canceled this series way too soon. It never really got the chance that it deserved. It was funny and entertaining. Again, it deserved more of a chance on TV than it did during its initial run.

To clarify here, this series wasn't a spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes. The episodes that featured characters from both Diff'rent Strokes and this show were simply crossover episodes.

I used to watch thjis show myself as a child. I loved this show and watched it until it left the air.

Hello, Larry was severely underrated and really deserved a better chance that its initial run on NBC. It was canceled way too soon. It was a very good and very entertaining show.

Vanishing Act (1986 TV Movie)

A Very Good Cast is Wasted in this Boring and Disappointing Made for TV Film

[4/10 · 11 May 2024]

Vanishing Act, a third US made for TV film adapted from the Robert Thomas play "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man" by Robert Thomas, premeired on the CBS TV network on May 4, 1986 on The CBS Sunday Night Movie. The film stars Mike Farrell, Margot Kidder, Fred. Gwynne, Graham Jarvis and Elliott Gould. David Greene directs the film.

As stated, this made for TV film is another adaption of the Robert Thomas mystery play; "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man"

As with the previous US made for TV adaptions from 1969 (Honeymoon with a Stranger) and 1976 (One of My Wives is Missing), it follows the same old plot and story. The only difference was that this made for TV adaption was shown on the CBS TV network, while the preceding films were both shown on the ABC TV network.

Again, following the same plot and story of its preceding films and the play, a man is vacationing and reports to the police that his wife is missing. He soon meets a mystery lady who claims to be his wife, but he says that she isn't. A local priest brings her to him, but he keeps insisting that she isn't his wife. It becomes even more complex as the mystery is slowly being piced together. Is this man telling the truth?, or, Is he hiding a terrible secret that he doesn't want revealed?

Unlike the previous made for TV adaptions, this film isn't very good. A good cast of actors is wasted in this remake/readaption of the aforementioned Robert Thomas play. The film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess of a movie. The actors really don't make their characters appealing at all. Although they try their hardest, they fail in bringing anything appealing about their characters. None of them can make heads or tails as to whast they are doing here. Not only that, you're simply seeing the same old plot and story unfold for the third time on US TV. How many times can they keep remaking/readapting the same old thing? Again, this film is nothing but a boring and disappointing mess.

Regarding the preceding films, the 1969 and 1976 films ranged from decent to above average. IMHO, the 1976 made for TV film adaption is THE superior film of the three as that film really carries the viewer on the edge of their seat and really keeps the viewer in suspense until the bitter end. This film is simply predictable and doesn't offer anything new, but simply recycles the same old plot and story. The characters aren't very appealing either and that's sad.

I received a burned DVD copy of the film from a friend as a gift. I accepted it and thanked him, but when I watched the film, it only bored me and also, I was disappointed. I haven't watched this since.

I highly advise anyone to pass this up when it comes back on TV. It isn't very good, but boring and disappointing. By avoiding this film, you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Honeymoon with a Stranger (1969 TV Movie)

A Decent Made For TV Film

[6/10 · 11 May 2024]

1969's Honeymoon with a Stranger is the first USA filmed adaption of the mystery play "Trap for a Single/Lonely Man" by. Robert Thomas. The film premiered during the Christmas season on December 23 of that year on the ABC TV network. The film stars Janet Leigh, Rossano Brazzi, Caesare Danova, Eric Braeden, and Barbara Steele.

This adaption of the aforementioned Robert Thomas play does a gender reversal here.

The film begins when a.lady named Sandra (Leigh) wakes up and finds a man in her bed that isn't her missing husband. Though she repeatedly says that he isn't, nobody believes her. The whole story becomes a twisted mystery as Sandra pressures those around her to help her find her missing husband, but as the story continues moving, many of those around her think that she is hiding something. Is this lady's husband really missing?, or, Is she hiding some secret that she doesn't want revealed?

This was the very first USA adaption of the aforementioned play, although there is a British film that had a similar plot and story called."Chase a Crooked Shadow", which is believed to be the inspiration for the play and two other made for TV films that were shown in 1976 (One of My Wives is Missing) and 1986 (Vanishing Act).

This made for TV film happens to be decent. The film is well acted and well made. John Peyser keeps things moving smoothly as director. The film features a terrific cast of actors that perform in their roles very convincingly. The film does keep the viewer wondering what will happen next as the mystery is starting to be pieced together. The film entertains without it ever getting dull or boring.

I first saw this on the late show on one of my local syndicated channels in the wake of me seeing "One of My Wives is Missing" during the mid 1980's. I actually thought it was a pretty good and decent TV film. I then was given a DVD of this by a friend who burned it to DVD for me. It was great revisiting this film again. I'm glad to have it in my DVD library.

I highly recommend this film. If it ever comes on TV again, I highly encourage all of you to watch it. It is a very good and decent made for TV film.

Charade (1963)

A Very Amusing, and Complex, Comic Styled Thriller

[8/10 · 14 March 2024]

Charade was released in 1963 starring Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, James Coburn, George Kennedy and Ned Glass. The film features Dominique Minot, Jacques Marin, Paul Bonifas, and Thomas Chelimsky in small supporting roles.

The whole thing begins with Regina "Reggie" Lambert (Hepburn) returning from a vacation planning to divorce her husband, only to discover that her husband was murdered. She meets a mystery man calling himself Peter Joshua (Grant) and he becomes smitten with her. She later meets three mystery men all after 250,000 dollars in stolen USA money and they all think and feel that she knows where the money is hidden or that she has it hidden somewhere. She repeatedly claims that she doesn't have the money and also, she also claims she knows nothing about it. Later on, Reggie later learns that her husband was engaged in an organized crime wave with the three mystery men, and they want the money even if it means killing people who they feel are in their way. She seeks advice from a supposed confidential agent, who later is found to be a part of the crime wave and also after the money (Matthau), which puts Reggie's life in danger and also, results in a situation where she gets stuck in the middle. Reggie also knows that one of these is telling the truth and the other is a liar.

The chemistry of the actors involved is very overwhelming. The film is superbly acted by its all-star cast and masterfully directed by Stanley Donen. The whole thing is a twisted and amusing affair as villains and supposed secret agents try to get a hold of the stolen money, and they'll do whatever it takes to get it. You will not only be on the edge of your seat, but also, you'll even laugh a little bit along the way. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are wonderful together as the mystery man and his now newly found love. This film is a winner hands down. It is also very entertaining in its own way. It never gets stale nor dull no matter how many times it's watched.

This movie has fallen into public domain and mostly, the film has been released on home video very sporadically. Maybe one day, we'll get a worthy home video release of this classic adventure filled comedy mystery thriller.

I highly recommend this film for classic film lovers everywhere and also, for anyone looking for a good laugh and a good thrill ride. No old time film lovers film library should be without this film in their respective libraries.

One of My Wives Is Missing (1976 TV Movie)

An Above Average, and Well Acted, Made For TV Film and Thriller.

[8/10 · 10 March 2024]

One of My Wives is Missing premeired as an ABC. Movie of the Week on March 3, 1976. The film stars Jack Klugman, Daniel. Franciscus, Elizabeth Ashley,Joel Fabiani,Milton Seltzer,Ruth McDevitt and Garry Walberg, with Tony Costello and. Byron Webster making special appearances.

The whole film starts on a sunny day in Schuylkill, Pennsylvani as inspector. Murray Levine (Klugman) is enjoying the weather until new officer Bert (Costello) informs him about Daniel Corban (Franciscus) constantly calling him about his wife being missing. Levine goes to Corban's place to talk with him and as a courtesy, decides to investigate this. However, a lady claiming to be his wife (Ashley) emerges, but Corban claims that the lady is an imposter. Levine figures that the case is solved with this, but again, Corban repeatedly claims her to be an imposter. Corban continually bugs and harrasses Levine, and along the way, two other people emerge, such as a priest (Fabiani) and a lady named Mrs. Foster (McDevitt) that complicates things even further. As the story continues to unfold, Levine feels that there is more to the story than what Corban has chosen to reveal as even more twists and turns start happening. The questions are: Did Mr. Corban's wife really disappear?, or, Is Mr. Corban hiding something that he hopes doesn't get revealed by anyone?

This particular mystery film falls into the category of: "What the H-E-double hockey sticks.is really going on here?" The film and its story seem to have been inspired by the writings of Agatha Christie (who died the year this TV movie was shown) as it resembles something that she would write.

This was the second Made for TV adaption of the play called "Trap for a Single Man". It was preceded by 1969's "Honeymoon with a Stranger" and follwed up a decade later by "Vanishing Act".

I remember catching this film during the late 1980's on a Sunday afternoon movie on one of my local syndicated TV stations. I actually enjoyed this film on first viewing.

This is an above average made for TV film. It is a very well acted film. It is also well written and technically well made. Glenn Jordan works wonders here as director of this made for TV flick. The film keeps the viewer in suspense with each suspenseful twist and turn. It also keeps the viewer guessing and figuring out what's really happening until the bitter end. The suspense never lets up and is almost unbearable as a result of all the complicated things happening around the main character. It also keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat until the whole thing ends. This film also has a very unique twist ending that has to be seen to be believed.

With the exception of a mid 1980's home video release and a Canadian DVD release coupled with 1963's Charade, this film hasn't been widely available on any video format. Plus, it has only been shown sporadically on syndicated TV since its initial network TV showing. Not only that, this film, like the aforementioned Charade, has fallen into public domain status as 20th Century Fox, who originally distributed the film to television, lost the copyright to this film over the years and has never kept it up in regards to copyright.

However, this film is above average and should be a part of every mystery film lovers movie library. It is worth owning and can be viewed again and again. This is a terrific film.

A Doonesbury Special (1977)

As Relevant Today As It Was Back in the Day it was Shown

[8/10 · 4 November 2023]

On November 27, 1977, as the Thanksgiving weekend was winding down, "A Doonesbury Special" premiered on the NBC TV network. The special was based on the Garry Trudeau comic strip "Doonesbury". Trudeau wrote and directed the special, alongside John and Faith Hubley. This was also the last thing John Hubley worked on as he died during the storyboard stages.

The special, and the comic strip that it is based on, is about a group of people living together under the same roof from various backgrounds and ideals. The characters live in a commune together. They are led by a man named Mike, whose surname is the title of the strip. The people living under the roof with Mike were a part of the counter-culture that took place during the late 1960's to the early 1970's. Like the strip, the special pointed out that the times were changing and that some of the roomates' beliefs and ideals were slowly becoming passe, including commune living, as Zonker, one of the most popular characters in the strip, pointed out in his speech at the dinner table. After that, the people reflect on the times of their youth and all of the activity that they participated in and the pride they showed while doing so, alongside the music that they enjoyed. This showed the importance that these events had on the impact of US history and the impact that they had on the changing times.

Each and every aspect of this special was totally with the times when it was initially shown, and also, still remains as relevant today as it was back then as the times continue to change. The special, like the strip it's based on, is very realistic while also entertaining and never getting stale nor dull. It also shows that when personalities clash, anything can happen. The special happens to be well written and both the animation and the voice acting is top notch. Trudeau works wonders as both writer and director of the special and it really shows it very positively. The special is a winner hands down. It never gets stale nor dull and also, as stated, remains as relevant today as it was back in 1977 when it was initially shown on the NBC TV network. The film picked up an award at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Acedemy Award.

This special, as far as I know, was only shown once on TV, and never was repeated. I watched this when it premiered on NBC. I was seven years old at the time when I watched this. At the time, at that age, I really couldn't understand much of the subject matter of this special, although I later understood it when I got older and revisited it. I managed to buy a used VHS of this at a video store for only 99 cents when I first got a VCR and it was wonderful to revisit this special after a little over a decade. I even had a friend burn it to DVD so I can enjoy this again and again. I still enjoy watching this and again, it still entertains without it ever getting stale or boring. Again, it also still remains relevant.

I highly recommend this special as essential viewing regardless of the time and year that is lived in. Give it a look of you can find it anywhere as it is a wonderful, entertaining and well made special.

Dads (1997 TV Movie)

A Boring, and Really Bad, Retread of a Previous Sit-com

[1/10 · 27 September 2023]

As part of a marketing ploy, a VHS tape of a hoped for possible sit-com to be shown on TV. The episode sent was merely a pilot episode for the series that those responsible for it hoped that if it got public approval, they could use this to try to get the series sold.

I remember receiving this VHS tape around the year 1997 in my mail and one day, when there wasn't anything on to watch on TV, I decided to pop the tape in my VCR and give it a watch.

After I watched this pilot episode, it make me ask myself "What the H-E-double hockey sticks did I just watch and sit though?"

This sit-com was actually a boring, and unfunny, retread of a previous short lived sit-com that was on ABC during the year 1986. It also shared the same title. However, the only difference was that it had three single dads living together rather then two, which the previous 1986 sit-com had.

This was simply unoriginal. Again, not a bad idea for a sit-com, but likewise with the aforementioned 1986 ABC sit-com, this pilot was boring and unfunny. It was bittersweet, but not charming. Plus, the characters weren't very appealing. The episode is badly written and even the laugh tracks make it much worse.

The pilot suffered from a real lack of real comedy. I remember yawning throughout my whole viewing of this as again, it was boring and really bad. It was just as bad as the aforementioned 1986 ABC sit-com.

With the exception of C. Thomas Howell and Rue McClanahan, I didn't know the rest of the actors. Howell and McClanahan are/were both wonderful actors (I use "were" as Rue McClanahan died in 2010) , but their talents are wasted in this pathetic excuse for a sit-com. Both of them have done much better than this in films and televison (films for Howell. McClanahan for television), but this time, their talents just didn't gel for this sit-com, though they both try. The rest of the actors here are no help as their performances are wooden.

The only other difference was that the aforementioned 1986 sit-com lasted nine episodes while this was only a single pilot. Thank goodness for small favors.

After I viewed the VHS tape of the pilot, it went right into the garbage, where IMHO, it truly deserved to be. IMHO, it was garbage plain and simple.

Overall, a very bad and boring retread.

The Bradys (1990)

Another one of THE worst spin-off's ever made

[1/10 · 7 September 2023]

In 1990, after the success of the CBS aired TV reunion movie "A Very Brady Christmas", CBS asked the original TV series creator and his son to develop a new series featuring the Brady family. Although they originally rejected that suggestion, they gave in and this is what was received.

In this series, the vast majority of the original cast reprised their respective roles from the original 1969-1974 TV series. The only exception was Maureen McCormick, who originally portrayed Marcia, because she was pregnant at the time with her daughter and couldn't reprise the role. In her place, actress Leah Ayers took over the role of Marcia.

IMHO, Maureen McCormick was smart in sitting this one out due to her pregnancy. Why? Because we are treated to yet another worse spin-off a wonderful TV series.

This whole series was much more a dramatic series rather than comedic. Likewise, as its predecessor, it was also boring and uninspiring. Although the cast tries to make the series work, they fail as this particular spin-off series suffers from bad writing and clumsy episode directing. The producers even added insult to injury by utilizing a laugh track machine for some of the episodes. Likewise, with it predecessor spin-offs, it also doesn't survive on a "So bad, it's good" kind of level, which means that this series was really bad. Another one of the worst parts was this; each of the episodes were an hour long rather than a half-hour, which really added to the painful and pathetic thing that this show really was.

Thankfully, the series was short lived as it only lasted six episodes. Thank goodness for small favors.

This was also compared with another one hour comedic-dramatic show called "Thirtysomething", which was absurd. Why? IMHO, "Thirtysomething" was funny, warm, well-written, well acted and enteraining, which this series wasn't.

Overall, another one of THE worst spin-offs ever made.

The Brady Brides (1981)

Another one of THE worst spin-offs ever

[1/10 · 7 September 2023]

The Brady Brides premeired in 1981 after the success of the TV reunion film, "The Brady Girls Get Married".

IMHO, they simply should've just let this be a stand alone thing rather than make a TV series out of it.

As a TV reunion movie, it was funny, warm and entertaining. However, to see this made into a regular weekly TV series was another thing.

Each and every week, this series featured sisters Marcia and Jan (Maureen McCormick and Eve Plumb both reprising their respective roles from the original 1969-1974 TV series) both living under the same roof with their husbands. It featured them both getting on each other's nerves and comparing their own husbands with each other. It was the same old thing each and every week.

According to this site, this was THE only Brady Bunch spin-off to be taped before a live audience. However, I sometimes feel that they used a laugh tarck machine at certain intervals of the episodes when the audience really wasn't laughing.

Like its predecessor, "The Brady Bunch Hour", this should have had "Avoid at all costs" written all over it.

This spin-off of a really wonderful TV series is another one of THE worst ever. Despite the laughter, this series wasn't even that funny. It was simply a lethargic and pathetic excuse for a sit-com after the ratings success of a wonderful TV cast reunion movie. This series was truly "bottom of the barrel" in the worst possible way. It also doesn't even survive on a "So bad, it's good!" kind of level, which truly shows how bad and terrible this series was. This series was simply boring and uninspired. IMHO, it simply had no life within itself at all.

Again, IMHO, they should have left the TV reunion movie as a stand alone film, which means that they simply should've left well enough alone, rather than make this a weekly series.

After the TV movie, there were eight total episodes made, with the TV reunion split into two parts to make it ten.

Thank goodness for small favors that this series was cancelled as it was a ratings disaster.

Overall, one of THE worst spin-offs ever made for TV.

The Love Tapes (1979 TV Movie)

A Decent Made For TV Film

[6/10 · 2 August 2023]

The Love Tapes was shown on TV in the year 1980 on the ABC TV network. The cast of the film is mostly established TV stars and a few feature films stars.

The movie is about a video dating service called "Good Possibilities". The characters of the film make videos of themselves to be shown to others in hopes of them finding the right person to spend the rest of their lives with.

The characters of the film come from all walks of life. They come to the dating service hoping to find Mr. Or Miss Right. They share what they like and dislike and what qualities that they are looking for in a mate.

This was originally a pilot for a hopeful new TV series, but after the film was shown, it failed to become a weekly TV series.

The film, as a whole, happens to be a decent flick. It is well acted and well written. The actors portray their characters very well and also, are very convincing in their roles. The film is funny, charming and bittersweet. The direction is right on and even the music for this fits in rather nicely. It is a very enjoyable and entertaining TV film.

I watched this a long time ago on one of my local syndicated stations as part of their Sunday afternoon movie. I thought it was very good and very watchable. It isn't dull and again, it does entertain. The cast works out great and the chemistry of the cast is very warm and wonderful.

We can only wonder how life would've been if this did become a weekly TV series. It might've worked if it was given a chance at being a weekly series.

Overall, a decent TV film that still entertains like it did when initially shown. It is worth a look if it ever comes on as an afternoon or late movie on any station.

Overall rating; *** out of *****

Madonna: Innocence Lost (1994 TV Movie)

Despite Terumi Matthews' Good Performance, This Film Is Weak and Boring.

[23 October 2022]

Madonna: Innocense Lost is based on the best selling 1991 biography "Madonna: Unauthorized" written by Christopher Andersen. The film stars Terumi Matthews as the pre-fame Madonna and details her life from childhood to superstardom. It also shows a darker side to her and how she made it to the top.

I read Mr. Andersen's book and despite the flaws, it was a very interesting read. I learned a lot about Madonna that I hadn't known before. It reveals all of the loves in her life and her supposed bisexuality, which Madonna has never talked about publicly. It also shows what she did to make sure she became one of the world's bestselling artists.

I watched this film one evening on cable and although Terumi Matthews gives a very good and convincing performance as Madonna, the whole film is weak and without any substance. The other actors in this film give very wooden performances that don't make their characters at all appealing nor do they even try. Plus, the direction is very sloppy and the script, though based on a best selling biographical book, is very badly written. Terumi Matthews is all alone here with all the weight on her shoulders portraying the title character very well. It's a wonder that Ms. Matthews never got exhausted as the movie progressed. I was yawning a lot while watching this biopic as I found the whole film to be miserably and mesmerizingly boring. It's a wonder that I didn't fall asleep while watching this film because I was yawning quite a bit as I watched it.

The film was actually nominated for a primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Achievement.in Costuming.for a Miniseries or Special." The costumes looked sharp, alongside the performance of Ms. Matthews, but the rest of this film is weak, flat and boring.

There will be another biopic about Madonna soon, which she is getting prepared to do. Hopefully, that biopic will be better than this one.

Avoid this film at all costs if it ever shows up on TV again. Just pass on this by watching something else. This film is weak and boring.

Fabulous Funnies (1978–1979)

It Wasn't All That Bad

[6/10 · 22 October 2022]

This cartoon anthology premeired in 1978 on the NBC TV network in the fall of 1978. The overall theme of this series was to have the stars of the Sunday morning funnies entertain the kids, with moral lessons on how to behave and also, learn from when the characters did wrong in their respective shorts that were shown on the series, and also, to make a statement whenever something was wrong, such as a particular Broom Hilda episode where she went face to face with a factory boss who was polluting the stream by her house and angrily told him to stop it.

Many other episodes dealt with other issues, such as death and what could happen if alcohol was used irresponsibly, which was the theme of another Broom Hilda short.

Filmation's intentions were to use these popular characters from Sunday, and daily, syndicated comics to teach kids on how to behave, to act responsibly and also, to treat other people properly and respectfully regardless of race, creed, color and social standing. This was a semi-common theme of several Filmation shows, both animated and live action, such as Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, both the 1970's live action, alongside the 1980's animated Ghostbusters series' Shazam, ARK II and Isis. With those latter shows featuring the title characters talking to the viewer at the end of the episodes. However, at the time, the failure of this series on network television became a victim of the changing times within the USA alone as cartoons with educational and morally based overtones were falling out of sync with the USA public. Although Filmation's Fat Albert found new popular life in syndication with both new episodes and reruns, alongside the animated Ghostbusters for its short life with their overtones remaining, this particular series became a victim of those changing times and was the company's last ditch effort to try and show how important learning from favorite comics characters could be essential, but again, it failed due to the changing times and it quietly left the air after only a short time because viewers wanted more emphasis on comedy without any educational things with the cartoons, although three years later on NBC, the Hanna-Barbera produced The Smurfs cartoon series premeired and most of those episodes utilized educational and morals themes within the series and was a nine season ratings hit, while also focusing on comedy, and how to accept and respect the differences of others. Still, Fabulous Funnies suffered as a result of those changing times, which is why it didn't last very long.

However, this series wasn't all that bad. IMHO, the episodes were actually well written and the animation was top notch. The voice acting was also top notch. Plus, some of the episodes were quite amusing and laughable. This series was severely underrated, but was actually a wholesome and entertaining cartoon show. Although this series was hated by TV critics, it actually was pretty good and also, at times, funny and bittersweet. I have never forgotten this series and with the advent of the internet, I revisited this series by watching episodes that have been uploaded on YouTube, and my feelings never changed for it.

Although not popular in the USA, it actually was popular in the UK as there have been several home video releases of this series in that country, both VHS and DVD. A long time ago, there was going to be a USA DVD release of this series, but when both Entertainment Rights, and the video distribution company, BCI/Eclipse, folded, the home video release of this series and others were canceled indefinitely with no new release dates set as Classic Media took over the former company. Maybe one day, we will see this series finally makes it's USA home video debut. We can only hope.

Overall, a classic and entertaining show that entertains as well as educates. Severely underrated.

My rating: *** out of ****

High Midnight (1979 TV Movie)

An Above Average And Well Acted Made For TV Movie.

[8/10 · 26 September 2021]

This 1979 made for TV movie was loosely based on true events that took place in Denver Colorado in the Summer of 1976.

The movie starts innocently enough as a suburban family is celebrating their son's birthday and want to make it as happy a birthday for their son. Tony Giannetti, (David Birney) a happily married and hard working family man, is throwing the party alongside his wife Kathy and his daughter and are enjoying the celebration, when a family friend and neighbor leaves to get a present for Tony's son, a team of narcotics officers raid the house and shoot everyone there and also torture Tony, but they find out too late that they raided the wrong house and as a result of their shooting, the house catches fire as they shot at the lit birthday cake that scatters all over the floor resulting in their friend and neighbor calling 911 and everyone landing in the hospital. While Tony and his son survive, his wife and daughter aren't so fortunate as they die of their injuries. As the police try to erase and cover up their mistake and hypocrisy, Tony starts a campaign of revenge against the officers who murdered his wife and daughter and left him and his son for dead. The police try to eliminate Tony and his son, but fail miserably as a sympathetic police sergeant.(Christine Belford) provides an unexpected ally to him and with her help, he goes after them with an anger and rage that boils to flashpoint. Winner takes all.

High Midnight premiered on Tuesday November 27, 1979 on the CBS Tuesday Night Movie. It was rerun twice by CBS. Firstly, through a prime time rerun and secondly, being shown on CBS Late Night.

While this movie would be considered dated and politically incorrect by today's standards, it still serves as an overwhelming and fascinating time capsule of the late 1970's. It also serves as a message and warning that if police departments didn't work hard to get rid of corruption and double sided attitudes within their midst, they would pay for it all when least expected. Law enforcement corruption is still common today as it was back at that time. Plus, the very idea of "money talks, baloney walks" also still remains as common today as it was back then. The very idea of a film, be it feature or made for TV, about a family man going on his own, with a little help, to go after the supposed officers of the law in the wake of them murdering his family in cold blood wouldn't really measure up in today's society. But for that moment, this movie served as not only a warning, but an eerie prophesy as to what could, or would, happen if corrupt law enforcement officers wouldn't clean up their act and truly uphold the law like they're supposed to and not double dip by upholding the law one minute and doing the opposite the next minute. Today, corrupt law enforcement officers are still as common today as they were back within the time period of this particular made for TV film.

On the whole, this made for TV film is an above average TV film. The acting performances by the entire cast are solid and the chemistry between them is both overwhelming and terrific. Daniel Haller's direction of this film is also solid and right on. He creatively paints a brilliant picture of drama and revenge when you push the wrong man too far and the end results of that. The script, written by Michael Thomas and Kathleen Montgomery, is also a greatly written script with well written dialogue that combines action, edge of the seat thrills and drama to create a wonderful and entertaining film experience. The film will have you on the edge of your seat and won't let go until the bitter end. This film still entertains today as it did when it was first shown on TV. The suspense is almost unbearable and will really leave chills that will never be forgotten.

I watched portions of this particular made for TV back in 1979 when I was nine years of age. As a result of that young age and because it was a school night, I couldn't watch the whole thing. I also missed the first prime time rerun and couldn't watch it on late night as again, it was shown on a school night. Over the years, I went on a frantic search for this particular film, but wound up empty. I was actually hoping that one day, I would manage to find a video tape that had the movie recorded onto it, but again, wound up empty. Likewise, with All This and World War II, it wouldn't be until the internet age when I finally managed to score a bootleg DVD of this particular film and when I received it, I watched the whole movie and was dazzled by it and also, it really surprised me how well acted, well written and well directed that it was. I actually enjoyed the film and even watched it a couple (i.e. 2) more times. This film is entertaining and delivers a solid viewing experience. It really packs a wallop that no other crime drama made for TV has ever delivered before and after. This made for TV film is truly and totally fascinating.

Overall, a wonderfully made and well acted, well written and well directed film that entertains. If you haven't seen it yet, catch it if it ever comes back to TV again or locate a bootleg DVD copy like I did and be prepared for a made for TV film experience unlike any other before or after. It is a very good film and a very good watch, which is why I give this movie **** as this is a four star TV movie.

All This and World War II (1976)

An Interesting and Entertaining Documentary Film.

[6/10 · 19 September 2021]

20th Century Fox released this documentary film in November 1976 in the wake of the USA celebrating its Bicentennial year and thirty-one years after the war ended. The film comprises newsreel footage of WWII, with scenes from films of that era released by both 20th Century Fox and many other various studios. The soundtrack is completely saturated with covers of Beatles' songs from various artists of different music genres.

The film delivers the goods as far as WWII goes. The footage of both newsreels and films of that era really bring WWII up-close and personal The footage is simply right on and shows the hell of that particular war and how it changed and shaped world history in the years ahead after the war ended on September.2, 1945. It actually takes one back to that era if they lived within that particular time. It also educates those unaware about how this war was one that really made the world look like a different place in the ensuing years after it all ended. It manages to deliver everything that a documentary film is all about and doesn't leave anything out.

Under the direction of Susan Winslow, the film paces smoothly. The editing of this film is top notch and the researching for this film is also right on. Again, it delivers the goods and doesn't fail to entertain.

It is actually the soundtrack of this film that made this film the flop that it became. It only made a scant amount of money against a budget of one point three million dollars. It was in US movie theaters for only two weeks before it was withdrawn from distribution and sent back into the 20th Century Fox vault where it remains to this very day after it bombed. It was also savaged by film critics mainly due to it's Beatles' covers soundtrack.

This particular film was made and released in the wake of the 1975 documentary film "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" that also used the same approach of this film, but only with the appropriate music of the time period, which was The Great Depression to the Attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese soldiers.

It probably would've been more appropriate to use actual music from the era that this film is about, but then, we wouldn't really have this interesting, strange and entertaining film. This film, with its soundtrack, entertains in a campy sort of way and has "cult classic" written all over it. I do get that the producers utilized the covers of Beatles' songs to symbolize certain aspects of WWII and how they connect with the newsreel footage of the war. However, the film still entertains in a campy way and has the making of becoming a "cult classic". I was entertained when I first watched this movie and I thought that it was informative and entertaining. I am still entertained by this film and I still enjoy it immensely.

I wasn't aware of this particular film until I picked up a used UK pressing vinyl copy of the soundtrack album on Riva Records at a garage sale. I took the double record album home after buying it and, IMHO, the covers of these wonderful songs by The Beatles, who happen to be my all time favorite band, vary in quality with some of them being very good to not so good in a wide variety of music genres. The supreme cover on the soundtrack is Elton John's cover of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", which features John Lennon on guitar, that went to #1 in both the USA and Canada and was also an enormous hit all over the world. I then began a frantic search to locate this film, but came up empty each time. I even asked a few local video stores about it, but neither of them ever heard of this particular film. It wouldn't be until the internet age when I finally managed to score a bootleg DVD copy of this. When I received the bootleg DVD, I was surprised by the very good quality this DVD had for a bootleg. The picture was sharp and very watchable. IMHO, it was well worth the wait to finally see and watch this film for the first time as, IMHO, it is very entertaining in a campy sort of way and really documents the second world war very accurately, although the soundtrack really doesn't gel, but again, if it weren't for the soundtrack, it wouldn't be this interesting, strange and campy entertaining film that it became and also, has the term "cult classic" written all over it. Later on, I also managed to score a UK 8-Track Cartridge tape of this particular soundtrack album, which I still have along with the vinyl copy.

Now, if only an official DVD/Blu-Ray release of this film would happen, that would be "IT!", but for now, only bootleg DVDs are the only way that this particular film is available.

Overall, an interesting, strange and campy entertaining film that entertains and informs even if the soundtrack isn't right, but still, wonderfully entertaining and well worth the time to watch it.

Nothing But Trouble (1991)

One of THE absolute worst films ever made

[19 September 2021]

1991's Nothing But Trouble is, IMHO, one of THE absolute worst movies ever made for the silver screen. This whole movie is nothing more than a cinematic train-wreck.

A young New York couple (Chevy Chase and Demi Moore) decide to take a trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey so Moore's character can meet with a client of hers who lives in Atlantic City, with a couple of their friends in tow with them. After taking a detour, the couple and their friends wind up in a strange looking small Pennsylvania town and when they are pulled over for running a stop sign, they are led by the local police to meet the town's 106 year old judge (Dan Aykroyd), who runs a kangaroo-court inside of his mansion that is lined with junk and garbage everywhere on his property. Unbeknown to the four people, their nightmares are just beginning. They are locked into a hidden room to wait for their day in court, but wind up overhearing those previously arrested being tortured for their crimes and when they escape, they are forced to endure many obstacles on their way to freedom. The whole thing is a mix of Disneyland meeting The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as these people are forced into the race for their lives and seeing others being tortured all around them. Along the way, they meet even more sinister characters that only add to the nightmare that these people are collectively enduring and suffering from and it looks like that there may be no end to this nightmare in sight as it keeps getting worse and worse for them.

IMHO, this particular film falls into the category of "WHAT THE H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS WERE THEY THINKING?!" when Warner Bros. Chose to bankroll this film for forty five million dollars and allow Aykroyd to direct this film based on his own screenplay and a story by his younger brother Peter. Aykroyd also uses nepotism to the fullest by having his own daughter Danielle (a.k.a. Vera Sola) portray a character in the movie as well. Before Aykroyd signed on to direct this train-wreck of a film, he considered both John Hughes and John Landis as prospective directors, but they both turned down this opportunity. IMHO, they both did their lives and careers a favor by not doing so. It has been rumored that Landis turned it down because he felt that Aykroyd's screenplay was terribly written and that the movie didn't stand a chance. I don't know if this rumor is true or simply just a rumor. If it is true, Landis was smart enough not to even consider being the director for this terrible film.

This movie isn't just stupid. This movie is insultingly stupid.

Aykroyd writes terrible dialogue for this film and also, the special effects used for this movie aren't even convincing enough to make you laugh or even scare you. Aykroyd's direction of this film is inauspicious, clumsy, sloppy and amateurish. This is simply Aykroyd's ego working overtime and using the over funding of Warner Bros. To really pile it on and make things about as grotesque and sickly as possible. Plus, a good cast of wonderfully talented actors is wasted and lost within this train-wreck and pathetic excuse for a movie. This whole film is an over produced mess that is jaw-dropping in THE absolute worst sense. Instead of inducing laughs, it only induces sick feelings and may make anyone overly sensitive feel nauseous and wonder when it is all over; "WHAT THE H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DID I JUST WATCH AND SIT THROUGH?!" Also, IMHO, THE absolute worst part of this film is that this particular film doesn't even survive on a "So Bad, It's Good!" kind of level, which just shows how really bad and terrible this whole movie really is. This movie takes a stab at comedy, but misses it totally. It is nothing more but an unfunny and boring chaotic mess that raises more questions than answers as to why this film was even made in the first place. IMHO, Warner Bros. Should have shown Aykroyd the door rather than give him the forty-five million dollars to make this film. Not only that, when at least two of its stars, Aykroyd and John Candy, have to play dual roles to make up for a lack of two other actors, you know there's something wrong with the film. Aykroyd also plays an even more disturbing character in the form of a giant mutated baby in a junk yard and Candy playing a dual role as he plays not only the cop, but also, the cop's sister, which is Candy dressed in drag. Plus, there are also indirect references to male private parts within this film, which gives this film an even sicker and extremely perverted type of thing that really can't be described with any sort of words. Plus, this film was on the Warner Bros. Shelves for several months as they had to edit some of the film to get the PG-13 rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Again, this film is terribly over produced and rather than inducing laughs, it induces only sickly feelings and disgust.

In my lifetime, I have seen many films, before and after, that are widely hated by critics and also, by many movie lovers, but IMHO, some of those were much better than this film. Even though Whoopi Goldberg's two excursions into comedy, Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) and The Telephone (1988) were hated by some critics and some of the movie going public, they are both, IMHO, much better and even more laugh inducing than this film as I did, and still do, like and enjoy these films. Heck, even the Three Stooges at their worst had even more comic grace than even this film did. Even Scavenger Hunt (1979) was even better than this and also, even Howard the Duck (1986) was even better than this film, IMHO and also, Leonard Part 6 (1987) was even better than this, IMHO. Even The Blair Witch Project (1999) was even better than this and I also enjoyed that film immensely as still do enjoy it, alongside it's sequel and the reboot simply titled Blair Witch. In addidtion, any, or all, of the "mockbusters" of "The Asylum" are even better than this film.

I became aware of this film when I scored a used VHS tape at one of my local thrift stores for on forty-nine cents and I bought it and watched it the same day. After watching it, it made me ask myself that aforementioned question above; "WHAT THE H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS DID I JUST WATCH AND SIT THROUGH?!" as I really felt cheated and ripped off of the mere forty-nine cents that I paid for this film. I simply re-donated the film back to the thrift store and tried to forget about it, but this film is unforgettable and not in a good way either.

The film was a major disaster grossing only eight point four million against its over budgeted and over produced forty-five million dollars it took to make this film. Fortunately, for the talent that was involved, their careers weren't negatively affected as they all continued to star in numerous feature films after the release of this film, except for the fact that Aykroyd has never directed another film since this film and after seeing this, you'll know why. Plus, John Candy died three years later after starring in several films after this one. May he forever Rest in Peace.

Overall, a miserable and messy train-wreck of a movie that doesn't even survive on a "So Bad, It's Good" kind of level and truly belongs in the trash bin. Do yourself a favor and avoid this film at all costs as this movie is truly very bad and terrible.

Super Fly T.N.T. (1973)

Weak and Unnecessary

[1/10 · 1 August 2021]

A year after the success of 1972\s "Superfly", Sig Shore and Ron O'Neal decided a sequel was in order and after drafting a story idea between the two of them, they hired Alex Haley, later of ROOTS fame, to write the screenplay. O'Neal also let his ego work overtime by assuming the director's chair for this sequel.

When released by Paramount in 1973, the movie was a huge disaster both commercially and critically. After I saw this movie on VHS, I saw why.

In this film, Priest is now living in Rome retired from dealing cocaine, although he is still wary of his former operation in the USA. He meets an African mercenary (Roscoe Lee Brown) who seeks his aide in helping him gets some weapons across a certain part of Africa while avoiding the local authorities and other illegal weapons runners as well. Priest informs him that he has no interest in this much to the chagrin of the mercenary.. Along the way, he meets someone who seems like an old friend of his from the states named Jordan (Robert Guillaume) and during his spare time, he now plays poker with Italian businessmen and gambles for a living while his faithful girlfriend Georgia (reprised by Sheila Frazier) continues to stand by him hoping that one day, due to him now being financially secure, they can start a family, but Priest shows no interest in having a family. The mercenary later reiterates his offer to Priest, and although Priest still shows no interest, he decides to visit the motherland of his ancestors and realizes that he can't turn his back on this and soon, he decides to join the fight. I won't give too much away as I don't want to spoil it for all of you who haven't seen this movie as of yet.

While it wasn't a bad idea for a film in itself, and despite a pretty well written script by Alex Haley, the movie falls short in a lot of ways. Firstly, O'Neal's direction of this film is extremely sloppy and amateurish. Secondly, the movie is 87 minutes of boring and listless scenes where really nothing eventful happens and while waiting for anything to happen, all it induces is yawns of boredom and even when the action starts, it's way too late for anything of action to happen because much of the movie is wasted waiting on anything to arouse interest until that happens. Plus, the action also looks like it was rehashed from another war movie prior to this. Despite some good performances by Brown, Guillaume and Frazier and a solid jazz and soul soundtrack by African band Osibasa. This film is nothing more than a sloppily constructed mess that relies more on atmosphere than on anything totally solid to make a film arouse interest and also, entertain. When I watched this, I yawned so much more than on any other boring film I have ever watched prior to this one. O'Neal was a much better actor than a director and this film proves it, although he would return to the director's chair for the.1991 Made For Cable TV film; "Up Against the Wall.", which I haven't seen as of yet, but plan on because Marla Gibbs is in that particular film and when I do, I will write a review on that.

IMHO, this movie should have had "Avoid at all costs" written all over it because this is a movie to avoid at all costs as it is boring, weak, awful and above all, totally unnecessary.

Stick with the first Superfly from 1972 as that is THE superior movie over this sequel and that later sequel "The Return of Superfly" and also, it is a whole lot better than this and that latter sequel. By avoiding this film, you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)

A Bittersweet, But Unfunny, Comedy About Losers.

[2/10 · 25 July 2021]

This 1981 movie stars Carol Burnett and Alan Arkin as two down on their luck alcoholic losers who wind up on the streets. Arkin portrays a former baseball pitcher who was once known as "The Philly Flash" and Burnett portrays a once successful dancer named Chu Chu (whose real name is Emily) now reduced to performing on the streets for what little money she can get to support herself. "The Philly Flash" is now reduced to washing windows for strangers and selling fake or broken watches to try and make a buck for himself. Until they meet, they have no knowledge of each other.

When they do meet, their lives are turned upside down when a briefcase containing confidential political propaganda is accidently dropped from a window, which. Chu Chu hides within her drum and resists Flash's questions about it. Now, they are both on the run with this sensitive information, which is hidden within a particular hot dog vendors cart, and a chase ensues throughout the city as both Chu Chu and Flash are caught up in this political intrigue and must work to get themselves out.

This movie wasn't very long in theaters in 1981. I remember catching this on the Late Show in 1986 on one mf my local syndicated channels. However, I fell asleep in the midst of this film and later revisited this film again when I bought a bootleg DVD.of it and watched the whole thing through. I now see why it wasn't in theaters very long.

This is a bittersweet comedy about two down on their luck losers who wind up innocently getting caught up in political intrigue. The only problem is that the film just isn't funny, although it does try hard to be funny, it fails, which is sad. Arkin and Burnett are two very good and well seasoned performers and actors, and while their performances do give the film a certain wacky charm, they fail to bring laughs, although they do try hard to bring them. However, the film winds up as a miserable train-wreck that could've been better. The main reason why I watched this was mainly for Carol Burnett as I grew up watching her long running CBS aired variety show. I kept waiting and waiting for any laugh inducing opportunity, but got none. Even with a well written script by Arkin's then wife, Barbara Dana, it didn't successfully translate onto the silver screen very well. Later on, I heard that 20th Century Fox, who distributed this film, actually disowned this picture, which I saw because there was no 20th Century Fox logo at the beginning of the picture when I caught this on the Late Show in 1986. It was on VHS for a short time, but was later withdrawn. I don't know if the disowning by 20th Century Fox is true as it is simply something that I have heard over the years. This was also an attempt to rekindle the chemistry between Arkin and Burnett as Arkin starred in a funny skit on the short lived Summer series Carol Burnett & Company, but that also fails. .Even with a supporting cast of Ruth Buzzi, Danny Glover, Danny Aiello, Sid Haig and two of Arkin's sons, Adam and Tony, it still fails to bring anything laughable and again, becomes a train wreck that could've been better. Even the direction by David Lowell Rich is sloppy and contributes to this film going downhill.

The performances of Arkin and Burnett are this film's only redeeming factors as they both try to keep this film afloat, but again, fail miserably. They both try real hard to be funny and make it work, but again, they fail. Their performances and their trying to make this film funny and to keep it afloat is THE main reason why I give this film two stars out of five.

During his lifetime, Mr. Lowell Rich has directed numerous films, which were pretty good and well directed by him, but this film is not one of them. His direction of this film is really sloppy

Overall, a bittersweet comedy that fails to be funny and again, the performances of both Arkin and Burnett are why I give this film two stars out of five.

The Gong Show Movie (1980)

It's Not All That Bad

[6/10 · 21 July 2021]

The Gong Show ran on TV in both an NBC network version and syndicated TV version in the late 1970's, with the NBC version running from 1976-1978, and, the syndicated TV version running from 1976-1980.

I used to watch The Gong Show a lot when I was a child. I loved this show and always looked forward to watching this every day when it came on. I watched mostly the syndicated version as I was usually in school for the NBC daytime version, although I did watch that when Summer came and that particular version was in reruns.

When this movie was released into movie cinemas in 1980, the R rating meant that I couldn't see it at the age of 10 that I was at the time, which made me sad as I loved this show a lot. It always made me chuckle whenever the gong was hit by a giant mallet by one, or, all of the celebrity panelists as a response to a really bad performance. I always watched the show mainly because of Jaye P. Morgan, as she was always very straight-forward and blunt as when she gonged an act and Chuck would always ask Jaye P. Or whoever gonged the act, "Why did you do that?"

Fortunately, when I was 14 years old, and I was on a Summer break from school, I managed to catch this film at 2:00am on "The WPIX Late-Late Movie" while spending overnight during a Summer week at my sister's house. Admittedly, I actually liked the movie and thought that it was pretty entertaining in a campy sort of way.

I saw that this is a loose semi-autobiographical look at the life of the show's host, Chuck Barris, as he goes through his life daily being inundated by those giving him impromptu auditions wherever he is always recognized when he wants to forget about the show itself for a while, either with dinner in a restaurant, or is faced by those who come up out of nowhere on the streets, or, at the studio where the show is taped live five or more times a day to see if they can get on the show to get the exposure that they crave to get their entertainment careers going. Throughout the movie, Chuck tries to get away from the seemingly endless barrage of entertaining wanna-be's, but only gets frustrated along the way, which only adds to the stress he feels as the host and also, by the increasing demands of those he knows and works with behind the scenes. He tries to escape, but fails as those who work with him and those he knows personally, alongside those who have performed on the show try to convince him, via the music number in the desert, that he is very important and also, much appreciated for everything he does to make the show the success that it was at the time.

Barris co-writes this film with established filmmaker Robert Downey, Sr. (the father of actor Robert Downey, Jr.) and takes on the directorial reigns himself, which is his own ego working overtime.

Although he does command some pretty undemanding fun, and I actually really did and still do, enjoy this movie, it might've been better if he had Robert Downey, Sr. Take on the directorial reigns, but then, we wouldn't have this strangely entertaining camp styled film, which is very entertaining and very watchable, IMHO. The film has some very amusing and laughable moments, but also, THE unforgettable moment when Jaye P. Morgan bares her chest for the camera smiling very wickedly, which was a first for me when I bought a bootleg DVD of this a long time ago, which I loaned to a friend, but never got back, but I am still hoping to find another bootleg DVD version of it pretty soon.

Upon seeing this on WPIX, something always told me that there were some missing elements from the movie and made it look seemingly incomplete. However, when I saw the complete film on the bootleg DVD, I enjoyed it more as I now saw the complete uncut version with the amusing moments of when a few guys dressed up as a priest and a group of nuns lip-syncing and dancing to the Tom Lehrer novelty classic "The Vatican Rag" and where a guy blows out a candle with his own flatulence, as well as, the aforementioned unforgettable Jaye P. Morgan baring her chest for the camera moment, alongside the famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, "Have You got a Nickel?" act. Not only that, the musical number done in the desert for Chuck, called "Don't Get Up For Me" with it's catchy tune and can't help but sing-along with lyrics, also add to the campy entertainment fun that this movie has. IMHO, I feel that if this song was released as a single at the time, it probably would have sold well enough to become a hit and maybe, just maybe, help the movie sell more tickets while it was in theaters. Chuck Barris wrote all of the songs for this movie and they are actually very good.

IMHO, a fun and very entertaining movie that can be watched over and over again without getting tired of watching it and is still entertaining regardless of how many times it is watched, especially for those who really enjoyed watching this show when it was first on TV and also, the wonderful memories of watching this. It is also a must have in your DVD/Blu-Ray library for that reason so it can be watched over and over again. Again, a very campy and entertaining film.

A Guide for the Married Woman (1978 TV Movie)

Boring and Unfunny

[21 July 2021]

Special note: This is not a Made For TV sequel to the 1967 film "A Guide for the Married Man." This is a stand-alone TV movie, with the only connection being the "A Guide for the..." in the title.

This 1978 TV movie stars a "Pre-Moonlighting" Cybill Shepherd in the title role as the married woman here, who is yearning for more in her married life than what she has at the moment. She portrays a frustrated housewife who is tired of being simply just a housewife and wants to break free from the mold that she is in. Her unfulfilled goals and pursuits only lead her to have even more frustration than she already has. However, along with her close friends, she continues with the hope of finding fulfillment in her life, although she still has the same frustrations within her life as she continues to try to break free from the stereotypical housewife that she is so tired of being.

Along the way, there are many cameos by many of TV's established elite stars who simply portray those who speak their viewpoints about what is going on here within the movie itself and of the changing times, which, IMHO, simply tries to mix political incorrectness, or political correctness depending on your point of view, within the movie, even before the terms of "politically correct" or "politically incorrect" were created or even thought of.

While Ms. Shepherd gives her all in her performance as the title housewife in this TV movie, her supporting cast does little to make this film an interesting experience or watch. She at least tries to make this film watchable, but she fails mainly because her supporting cast, and even the viewpoints expressed in the TV film, don't really add anything interesting. Her supporting cast's performances are wooden and are simply either average, or below average, depending on your point of view, and never give this movie any substance nor anything believable. It is simply a revolving of the same old stuff each and every minute and all it does is nothing. Not only that, this is also supposed to be a "comedy-drama" sort of TV movie, but rather than inducing laughs, it only induces yawns and head shaking. I remember watching this a long time as a mid-afternoon matinee on one of my local syndicated TV stations and I was yawning as I felt extremely bored as I watched this train-wreck of a TV movie that has no substance nor any plain to stand on. I was relieved when the movie ended as this movie really bored me. Fortunately, after the movie, one of my all time favorite classic TV shows came on and it relieved the boredom I felt when I watched this movie. It also took my mind off of it.

Before I saw this movie on TV, I had heard that Ms. Shepherd later disowned this TV movie and refused to acknowledge this on her resume. After I saw this, and if this is true what I heard, I don't blame her for doing so. Luckily for her, this train-wreck of a Made For TV movie didn't ruin her acting career as she continued to be a successful actress in the coming years, but IMHO, she could have helped her career by simply passing on this movie and trying something else.

I advise all of you that if you manage to see this film coming on your syndicated TV or Cable TV station, to simply change the channel and watch something else. IMHO, you'll be doing yourself a favor.

Dads (1986–1987)

One of THE worst and one of THE most boring sit-com's ever created.

[23 April 2020]

Dads premiered on the ABC network in 1986 and only ran for nine episdoes. The series was about two single dads living together, with their children, in a house in Philiadelphia Pennsylvania and the typical every day problems both of them faced.

While it wasn't a bad premise for a sit-com, it just didn't gel. This series suffered from a real lack of comedy, and also, from really bad writing and wooden performances from the cast. Despite the laughs from the supposed studio audience (a laugh track machine was possibly used), the series just wasn't funny. It was bittersweet, but uncharming, and the characters on the show weren't very appealing either.

Barry Bostwick and Carl Weintraub, who both played the titled characters, were and still are, wonderfully talented and very good actors. However, even with all of their acting expertise, they simply couldn't make this show work and again, it suffered from really bad writing and wooden performances. Instead of laughing, only yawning happens and despite these two really wonderful and very good actors in the title roles, it simply didn't cut it on any level. It's supposed to be a sit-com, but it couldn't seem to make up it's mind if it wanted to be a comedy or a drama and even the laugh tracks made the problem much worse.

Fortunately for Bostwick and Weintraub, this trainwreck of a TV sit-com didn't ruin their acting careers. They still continue to be successful actors who continue to appear in films and TV shows. Still, they could've done their careers and their lives a favor by passing on this supposed sit-com.

Again, one of THE worst and also, one of THE most boring sit-com's ever created.

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

One of THE worst spin-off's ever created

[1/10 · 28 March 2020]

In 1976, two years after the Brady Bunch TV series was canceled, Sid and Marty Krofft decided to produce a variety show starring the cast of the series. It all started off as a TV special called "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour", which was a huge ratings success, leading to a regular series simply titled "The Brady Bunch Hour". With the exception of Eve Plumb (who was smart to sit this one out), the entire cast reprised their respective roles from the TV series itself. Ann B. Davis, who played Alice, their housekeeper, occassionally appeared while Geri Reschl substituted for Eve Plumb as Jan.

Unike most shows on TV, this show was sporadicaplly shown on the ABC network, with a promo shown on when the show wasn't going to be on with Reed and Henderson saying "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour won't be seen this week, but we will be back again soon."

Even if this poor excuse for a TV series, or variety show, was shown weekly, it still would've been a disaster. This variety show should have had "Avoid at all costs" written all over it. It really was and still is that bad. It doesn't even survive on a "So Bad! It's Good!" kind of level. This series was not only idiotic and dumb, it was insultingly idiotic and dumb. Granted, the Krofftettes were pretty and were awesome dancers, which was the only really good thing about this show. but the rest of the show was simply terrible and basically jaw dropping in the worst sense. It would make anyone wonder why did the Krofft's, who produced many other wonderfully memorable shows, such as H.R. Pufnstuff, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Land of the Lost, The Krofft Super Show, The Banana Splits (co-produced with Hanna-Barbera), The Lost Saucer, Lidsville, The Bugaloos, Donny & Marie (their 1976 variety show) and later shows, such as Pryor's Place and D.C. Follies, would even think of creating and producing such a stinker TV show such as this one. What were they thinking? They definitely made a wrong number on this particular show. This is definitely bottom of the barrel stuff in the worst way.

Even the comedy skits were unfunny, in spite of the studio audience audience laughing (makes you wonder if they used a laugh track machine when the audience wasn't really laughing at all). Though it was improvisational, the Brady cast was terrible at this sort of thing. Rip Taylor, though, was the only funny thing when it came to this sort of thing, as he was a genius at improvisational comedy compared to the Brady cast. The only really funny skit that this show had was when Greg and Marsha were talking about how their parents were once young and hung out at the local roller rink, with Donny & Marie making a guest appearance in the skit. IMHO, even Donny & Marie's variety show at the time was actually funnier and smarter than this pathetic excuse for a TV series, or variety show. As a TV special, which was a ratings winner and led to this being a regular series, it was funny, warm and entertaining, but eight more episodes made after that success was just too much. It only lasted three months, from January to March 1977. Thank goodness for small favors. IMHO, even The Brady Kids cartoon show was even better than this show.

Sherwood Schwartz, who created the original Brady Bunch series, wasn't involved in the production of this series. He only gave it the green light to be produced. Not only that, the original Brady Bunch series was actually canceled in part because of the musical act. Schwartz heard through the grapevine that the kid cast wanted half of the episodes in the sixth season, which ABC did request, to be musically oriented and themed. Schwartz pulled the plug on the series after that, though it was still a ratings success, and it was a smart thing that he did, IMHO. The Brady kid cast weren't really the best singers, IMHO. Granted. Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, her replacement Geri Reschl, and even Florence Henderson, had really good singing voices, IMHO, but the rest weren't so good. Chris Knight was okay, but not great. Knight actually resigned from the original TV series after this and since then, the original Brady Bunch series has been rerun consistently since then. Even the original Brady Bunch series was better than this and also, the two spoof movies made in the 1990's are even better than this. Though I did watch the variety hour when I was a kid, I didn't know better at the time, but later on, when revisiting this thanks to video sites, such as YouTube, I came to see how really bad, idiotic and dumb this show really was. Live and learn.

The only episodes released on home media, VHS and DVD, were the TV special and the fourth episode by Rhino.

Overall, a really crummy, stinky and really terrible series and again, one of THE worst spin-off''s ever created. Again, it doesn't even survive on a "So Bad! It's Good" level.

A Christmas Story (1983)

The WORST Holiday Movie Ever!

[2/10 · 27 November 2006]

I remember this movie being released back in 1983 in movie theatres and I also remember that it did not play too long in theatres and had come and gone so fast.When I watched this on cable two years later,I realized and learned why it did not play too long.This movie practically is a huge mess in itself that it is not even funny.IMHO,this movie is not even funny at all.It does not even survive on a "So Bad.It's Good!" level.It bored me to death.Instead of laughing,I was yawning throughout hoping for something to arouse my ability to chuckle.Nothing happened.Oh well! This whole movie is nothing but over 90 minutes of senseless profanity and bad acting that it does not even arouse interest.After a promising start,the whole movie rolls downhill and does not even recover.Plus,the premise of a kid wanting THE perfect gift is reduced to WORTHLESS trash as the kid does whatever it takes to get his way.What was MGM thinking when they agreed to fund and release this movie in theatres?Not only that,how could this movie receive a PG rating by the MPAA with all of the senseless profanity?This film should have received an R rating for all of that.Not only that,in some communities,some people who took their kids to see the movie actually stormed out of theatres demanding their money back after they heard all the obscenities uttered by the child actors and adult actors.None of these parents could not believe that a holiday movie dubbed as a "Family Movie" could have all of that.That is why the movie did not last very long and caused such a media storm that was unheard of for a so called "Holiday Themed Family Movie".

I only watched the film on cable because it was directed by Bob(Porky's,From The Hip)Clark.I like Bob Clark.He directed two of my favorite movies of the 1980's,which are the ones described in parenthesis in between his name.My feelings for Bob Clark have not changed but this movie was the WORST movie of his career.That is why I give it two stars because I can not give one star to a Bob Clark film.He would later redeem himself with many other good films released in the years followed.But this film,it's a film that he should have thought twice about before taking the helm or even think of having a screenplay written.

Overall,this is the WORST holiday movie ever made.This movie is so bad and boring that it truly belongs in the trash bin.If you want to watch a holiday comedy,watch Jingle All The Way,which is a very FUNNY movie that never goes stale with every viewing.This movie should have "Avoid At All Costs" written all over it because that's how bad it really is.Avoid it if you have not seen it.