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Reviews
The Avengers: False Witness (1968)
Really Good Episode...with One Major Flaw
"False Witness" is pure Avengers camp in the best sense. Basically, a corrupt Lord is getting away with all sorts of crimes because he has hired a firm that has created a serum that makes people lie despite their best efforts at telling the truth. The "camp" part is that the serum is mixed in with ordinary milk and delivered to the witnesses and even the lawyer trying to prosecute the Lord.
This leads to a number of really funny lines from Tara (Linda Thorson) who is also being affected. There are a number of clever items from Mother's HQ on a double-decker bus to the butter machine that traps Tara King.
However, the major flaw in the plot concerns Melville, an agent who is being affected. While the serum makes people lie, it doesn't affect their actions as we see in the finale. Yet Melville's actions at the beginning of the episode make no sense at all once the effects of the serum have been explained.
One interesting aside is Rhonda, Mother's towering, yet silent helpmate who never speaks in the entire series does get to whistle (and Tara does an identical whistle not one minute later). Plus, Steed keeps eying her and even makes a point to sit next to her. Yet in future episodes Steed never shows any interest in her again apart from the throwaway tag in "Homicide & Old Lace".
Overall, an interesting episode that needed a bit of script-tightening to make it a classic.
The Avengers: Noon Doomsday (1968)
Not Quite High Noon...but fairly close...
A decent set-up, good location photography and some interesting villains make "Noon Doomsday" entertaining, but ultimately not so memorable. While some of the dialog, particularly from the knife-wielding henchman about what gift to buy his niece is really good, the episode suffers from what appears to be a too-tight shooting schedule that didn't allow for many of the Western clichés to be properly executed.
However, the worst offense is how the episode is ultimately resolved as the way Steed finally dispatches the bad guy is really a cop-out. With no set-up, the resolution is very unsatisfying.
Tara (Linda Thorson) does get to run around a LOT and carries most of the action while Steed is mostly in a wheelchair. Mother however has a great deal of fun occupying Steed's apartment and drinking from all of his liquors. We also get the only indication in the series that Rhonda is actually capable of talking as she starts to answer Mother, only to be cut off because he enjoys her silence. If anything, it's really the only episode where Rhonda (Rhonda Parker) actually gets not one, but two close ups.
The Avengers: Requiem (1969)
Interesting Episode
A very good, serviceable episode typical of the Tara King era. Patrick Macnee is in particular good form while entertaining his guest at his old house while Tara is led through an extravagant plot in order to reveal the location of Steed and the guest he is protecting.
While some may question how the "bad guys" could so accurately recreate Steed's flat, it must be noted that what they recreate is really the remnants of his flat. However, if there is a major flaw with this episode, it is the lack of a "diabolical mastermind" as the baddies are just basically part of a larger organization.
The best scene happens late in the episode where Rhonda, Mother's silent helpmate, gets to show a glimpse of her abilities beyond answering the phone, pouring drinks and pushing Mother around in a wheelchair. Taking out 3 bad guys in roughly 3 seconds in an almost applause-worthy scene. It does make one wonder if The Avengers had been renewed for another seasons what they might have done with her. But I guess we'll never know.
The Avengers: All Done with Mirrors (1968)
Perhaps the Best Tara Episode of the Bunch
Well paced, good plot with a couple of really fine action sequences, namely Tara taking on a bearded, silent henchmen and kicking another one down the stairs of a lighthouse that takes a year...well, "leap year" so to speak.
The plot itself benefits from being simple in execution as a couple of mysterious deaths near a top secret research facility have Tara investigating along with a new, somewhat inept agent. Because Steed has already been seen at the facility, he is under "arrest" to divert suspicion. Numerous clues lead Tara to a lighthouse where the investigation takes an interesting turn.
Linda Thorson looks wonderful dressed in tight fitting clothing and employing some "pseudo-judo" which makes her fights look more realistic. I enjoy the way the bearded henchman has no set up, yet he seems menacing enough.
Going by production order, this is the first episode that Rhonda appears. According to the official story, Patrick Newell, who plays "Mother" was not happy about having to maneuver his wheelchair around and spotted Rhonda Parker (being 6 foot tall, she was hard to miss) as one of the "beauties" and asked if she could be his assistant. She was hired on the spot and did 17 more episodes. Going by show order, Rhonda actions seem rather out of character as she smiles at Steed as if she has never met him before (in production order, she hasn't). In all of her other appearances she rarely smiles at all.
Overall, this is a well crafted episode that measures up to the Emma Peel period...one of the few that does.
The Avengers: Bizarre (1969)
And the series peters out...before blasting off...
"Bizarre" is one episode that just seems flat to me, as in the writing, cast and the production department sensed that the show was ending and it shows on the screen with a somewhat interesting story that arrives at an obvious conclusion. Actors that look a little depressed knowing it's all coming to an end and sets that look like sets instead of even attempting a realistic look.
Still, it does have a few moments of spark, if only the final scene where Tara gets her wish to blast off alone with Steed. One curious development is how Rhonda, Mother's loyal, towering and silent assistant, disappears halfway through the episode for no obvious reason except that she must have gotten her pink slip early.
"Bizarre" is not the way "The Avengers" should have ended, but I get the sense that everyone knew this remarkable show was ending and sadly it shows a little too much.
The Avengers: Super Secret Cypher Snatch (1968)
Does Rhonda Really Speak?
This episode is certainly one of the better ones from the Tara King era. Without giving away the interesting plot, the techniques used by the "bad guys" are a little more "James Bond" in nature than grounded in reality. However, the sharp dialogue, good action sequences and great use of on location sites particularly the open field where Steed, Tara, Mother & his "helpmate" Rhonda meet in their own cars is both beautifully shot and incongruous at the same time making it perfect for an "Avengers" episode.
Rhonda, played by Rhonda Parker who neither spoke nor received any screen credit in her 18 episodes of "The Avengers" is certainly part of the tradition of silent, mysterious sidekicks distinguished by her 6' frame which towers even over Patrick MacNee (Rhonda often wore heels to accentuate her height). In the sole entry for "Trivia" for this episode it states that Rhonda does speak in unison with Tara & Steed the word "What?" However, after reviewing the video a few times it certainly appears that she does not speak. While her head does turn in reaction, we only hear two voices (Tara & Steed) speaking.
Therefore, Rhonda is still silent (IMHO) though in the episode "False Witness" she does whistle and in the dreadful "Homicide & Old Lace" she laughs silently as well...
Raising Hope: Pilot (2010)
The Aired Pilot episode of Raising Hope...and then some.
What we have here is a tale of two pilots, so to speak.
The plot? Here goes; Jimmy Chance has had enough of his pool cleaning job and quits. He goes home to write out a plan for his life, but is sidetracked by a trip to the grocery store for "Bubble Gum" ice cream when on the way back he saves a very pretty girl and has a one-night stand with her.
Turns out she's a serial killer who get executed for her crimes, leaving Jimmy with the results of their one-night stand, a baby named Princess Beyonce.
We see the typical choirs a new parent goes through when taking care of a baby and Jimmy (played by Lucas Heff) is a perfect combination of confusion and frustration. His Great Grandmother, "Maw Maw" runs around the house with no shirt on and is portrayed by the great Cloris Leachman. But it's Jimmy's parents Virginia (Martha Plimpton) and Burt (Garret Dillahunt) who are drop dead perfect and form the pillars of comedy on which this show stands.
Raising Hope may not be the best comedy ever made, but it does get a great deal of support from it's predecessor, "My Name is Earl" whose creator Greg Garcia is also behind this show as well.
If you purchase the "Raising Hope" first season DVD you will find the "unaired" pilot which had to go through a few changed before making it on the air. In that version, Sabrina, a pretty girl who Jimmy is smitten with was played by Olenya Rulin of "High School Musical" fame, later to be replaced by Shannon Woodward. Second, Jimmy's live-in cousin in the "aired" pilot was the rumpled, party-loving Mike played by Skylar Stone. In the unaired version, Jimmy's cousin is played by Kate Micucci, who afterwards went on to portray the ukulele strumming Shelly, that runs a day care center.
Overall, the pilot is a funny, sweet, and ultimately satisfying first look into the Chance household and gives a hint of just how funny this series became.
Special Note: The photo seen on this page featuring Jimmy with two 40 ounce beer bottles taped to his hands is from the "Unaired" pilot, something that was cut out before the show went to air.
Wanted: Dead or Alive: The Voice of Silence (1961)
An excellent and unusual episode...
This is easily one of the best episodes of Wanted: Dead or Alive ever produced. Josh Randell is hired for one day to protect a girl for one day while her father is out of the house. The girl cannot speak or hear but does take care of the house. Her father returns wounded and soon follows the bad guys who aim to do more.
What makes this episode so unusual is that the condition of the girl highlights the "silent" aspects of McQueen's acting. Especially in the kitchen 'n living room scenes. Note his attention to the "bottle" on the living room table, his looks are priceless. But perhaps the most fondly remember scene is when the girl lets him read her diary.
Although my personal favorite is when Randell opens the kitchen door to investigate a potential intruder, one of the smoothest moves of stopping a door I've ever seen.
The final scene of Randell in the foreground remembering the words of the diary is expertly photographed, one of the best "shots" in the history of the series.
Richard Donner of "Superman" fame directs this episode and everyone gives a top-notch performance. One that can't be missed.
Wanted: Dead or Alive: Barney's Bounty (1961)
McQueen's final outing as Josh Randell.
*Review Contains Spoilers*
After three seasons, Steve McQueen left for the big screen and ended one of better western series of all time. This particular episode does not denote the ending of the series (McQueen simply didn't sign up for another season, something that was probably decided after this episode was written) but it is interesting on it's own merits.
The plot is fairly straightforward; We begin with Barney's son (Jonathon Bolt) having his "duel" in bar broken up by his father, Barney (played by Noah Beery Jr. who a few episodes ago portrayed "El Gato") kicks his son outta his horse ranch to go off to San Fran to become a "man"...okay...along comes Josh Randell, bringing two prisoners rides up to Barney's horse ranch to "rent" two horses so his "bounty" can ride their way to Nevada. Naturally, the prisoners escape and take the horses with them. Barney rides with Randell to chase down the prisoners.
The chase is rather perfunctory and not very memorable save for the unusual setting along the California shoreline. Making for some spectacular shots during the episode.
Beery is certainly more comfortable in this role compared to his forced "Mexican" impression in "El Gato". This episode is notable for being the first acting role for career stuntman Bill Hart, who still acts today.
McQueen doesn't appear in the prologue and makes only a token appearance at the end. Despite this, I do not believe this was a "set-up" episode for a spin-off. Barney's son plays no role in the chase and has little chemistry with Beery.
A fine, but not really great outing for series finale as too much attention is placed on Barney 'n David. But I still recommend it if only for the location and stunt work involved.
Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker: Roller Derby (2004)
My favorite from this season.
The hour long initial version of this is one of the funniest episodes in "Cheap Seats" history, IMHO. The setting is the run-down "New Olympic" auditorium (which the Sklars insist on showing the the outside of the building over and over again) in which two teams of both male 'n female compete in Roller Derby.
Lots of very funny stuff here, but the highlight is the "Hoppy Clock" based on when the "in the round" interviewer who must be 90 years old & wearing a bad toupee, is next appearing on screen.
It would be nice if these shows were on DVD, but if it hasn't happened by now I doubt it ever will. ESPN Classic has brought these episodes back, rerunning them at 1pm CST and I hope they will run the first season ones at the original hour-long length.
Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker: Garvey/Bonilla Celebrity Night (2004)
One of the greats...
Perfect fodder for the Sklar twins, the Garvey Billfish/Blue Marlin/Whatever tournament practically needs no comment but that doesn't stop 'em from hurling insults at the screen.
Let's start with the lesser section, the 1996 Bonilla bowling tournament is interesting in the sense that such high calibre baseball players (including Ken Griffey Jr.) would competed in a bowling alley at a bus station. The commentary is good, particularly on poor announcer who is clearly in over his head (he is currently on Animal Planet hosting the animal version of "funniest home videos").
Ah, Steve Garvey...what more can you say? His fishing/golf tournament is downright scary. Take for example "celebrity" guest & "rising" comedian Michael Floorwax who is NOT funny at all despite trying really, really hard. Add to that Garvey's un-funny bits (i.e. every time he's on screen) and blatant racism (a pudgy dude doing a "Native American dance" straight from Pro Wrestling) and the Sklars are having a ball with this one.
Try 'n get the hour long version if you can which includes a great opening set-up of the fish tourney ("Holy #%&!").
The Venture Bros.: Twenty Years to Midnight (2006)
An episode "impossible" to not enjoy...maybe...or you could just IGNORE ME!
While I won't go so far to say this is the best episode, it can certainly be considered the prototypical one in which to convert those who haven't heard about this most excellent series.
The plot? Well...
(deep breath) An "extra-galactic" Observer drops in on the Ventures as they discover an old tape of their father informing them of a special device he created and separated into four parts. In finding the parts, the Ventures run across some old friends, some old foes, & one deranged, drugged out Jonny Quest living in a bathysphere.
This is very funny stuff, particularly the "Observer" who stands 20ft tall and keeps screaming with his amplified voice, "IGNORE ME!!". Also, it appears that Doctor Venture's brother is doing quite well for himself judging from the first time we see him pop his head up.
I would recommend showing this one to your friends if they've never seen it before (though it does not have series regulars "The Monarch" or the husky-voiced Dr. Girlfriend).
Ken
Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1983)
And Charles B. Pierce ruled the world...well, Arkansas at least.
Never trust a man who directs, produces, stars, & even hires his own son to be in his picture.
The Plot? Here goes; A know-it-all Professor of "Boggy Creek Studies" (yea, right) takes two okay-looking girls and his son...excuse me, a male student named Tim off to the bowels of Arkansas to find the "Boggy Creek Monster". After telling some uninteresting tales of the beast, they actually encounter it a couple of times before running into a real monster, a huge, smelly man named "Crenshaw". Turns out, Crenshaw is keeping a baby Boggy for some reason when "Momma Boggy" is downright ticked. After giving the baby Boggy Monster back to his rightful parent, our troop of the University of Arkansas' finest decides it's best to forget the monster ever existed in the first place.
Jeesh, this is one slow flick. About 35 minutes of movie lasting well over 90 (and seeming like 8 hours). At times this film dares you to watch it. The fault can be put squarely on the shoulders of Charles B. Pierce who not only helms this grim excuse of a film, but also bores in with uncalled for narration. The flashbacks are dull, the acting is flat & uninspired, particularly "Tim" who is in reality Chuck Pierce, the director's son in his (I hope) final movie appearance. About the only thing worth looking out for is the bra-less Serene Hedin (porn name?) as Tanya who looks kinda cute and shows off a good part of her "assets" (sorta, but the shirts are see-through).
What makes absolutely no sense is why this expedition has no cameras or any type of equipment that might help to prove the monster's existence. Plus, after encountering the monster about a third of the way into the film, why do they leave the area to gather more stories about the monster's possible existence? Hey guys, you've SEEN it! No need to listen to more eyewitness accounts.
Unless there are two robots and Mike in the corner, I would suggest avoiding this film at all cost. Unless you are an aspiring director and wish to know just what to avoid in making a good picture.
The Final Sacrifice (1990)
Rowsdower will save us!!! Well, maybe not.
Oh man, this is one terrible film. And I'm being kind.
The plot? Okay, here goes.
In a world consisting of ten people, tops. A red-sweatered boy named Troy stumbles across his dead father's old map of a "lost" civilization. Ticked, cult members of this "lost" civilization put on their WWE gear and try to annoy Troy, but he escapes and winds up with our "hero" Zap "Bud Drinker" Rowsdower (perhaps the greatest name ever). Together, our "heroes" (and boy do I use that term loosely) manage to crawl across half of the ugly side of Canada, find a Yosemite Sam wannabe, and kill off the cult. At the end, Zap 'n Troy ride off into the dawn seeking new adventures which thankfully we don't get to share in.
The number of problems with this film are too great for me to print here. So I'll limit it to the poor plot, sub-par acting (particularly the odd-voiced bad guy "Satoris"), bad production values like the tunnel, complete with paper-mache "demons" and baseboards (a nice touch for a tunnel), & a major plot point that makes no sense. Troy's dad (who get killed at the beginning of the film) has a map 'n notes of this "lost civilization", yet only when Troy begins looking at the map seven years later do the cult member arrive (as if on cue). So, for seven years they sat around and drank beer until Satoris woke up 'n said, "Hey, I bet Troy has his Dad's map, let's go get him!".
Also, the part of Mike Pipper (played by Ron Anderson) is something to behold. It's like he's channeling Yosemite Sam and Arthur Hunnicutt at the same time.
I do have to give some credit to the casting of our "hero" Zap Rowsdower. A bloated, hockey haired drunk played by Bruce J. Mitchell somehow keeps a straight face all through the movie, even when he's persistently hit with Troy's endless "Rowsdower!" lines. Not surprisingly for anyone watching his performance, this was Christian Malcolm's (Troy) only film credit.
Also the city of the "lost" civilization is well made, even though it's obviously a small model....hey, nice model work, guys! Basically, unless there are two robots and Mike in the corner, I'd recommend avoiding this film at all cost.
Ken "Rowsdower!" McElhaney
Agent for H.A.R.M. (1966)
James Bond it's not.
I'll have to admit that I'm a bit biased since the only way I've seen this film was when it was on Mystery Science Theater 3000. So at least I had two robots and Mike help me get through it.
Basically, in a world consisting of eight people tops, our "hero" must find and protect a scientist who has created a deadly form of "spores". A group of four bad guys have apparently stolen the formula and our "hero" must stop them. Oh yea, the scientist has a very hot niece who is also part of the bad guys, but don't worry, I haven't given away a thing.
There are a lot of problems with this film, foremost of which is the casting of Peter Mark Richmond in the lead. While he's a decent character actor, he's at his best playing either bad guys or know-it-all scientists. As a "super spy", he's waaay too smarmy for the role and becomes very unlikable in the final scene with the niece. Also Wendell Corey, once a respectable actor, was at the end of his career and the effects of alcoholism really show with his slurred speeches. About the only interesting thing in this very boring film is Corey's secretary who possesses one very long thumb (as pointed out on MST3K).
Perhaps the main problem is how unimaginative the entire plot is. Not to mention that the method of protecting the scientists results in the "hero" killing off the bad guys in an almost sadistic manner (wiring a TV set to a doorknob for example, what if the paperboy tried that doorknob?).
Unless you see two robots and a Mike in the corner, I would suggest avoiding this film at all cost.