Change Your Image
sbutler0727
Reviews
Dragnet 1967: The Christmas Story (1967)
My favorite episode of Dragnet
Call me a sentimental fool if you like, but this is my all time favorite episode of Dragnet. The moment when the little boy comes in with the statue gets to me every time. I had seen this 60's version of the story many times. I did not know the original version existed until recently. It is interesting to note that Harry Bartell (the priest), Ralph Moody (the pawn shop dealer), and Herb Vigran (the desk clerk) played the same part in both the 50's and 60's version of this story. For me however, Bobby Troup was much more believable as Claude Stroup (the "down and outer") than was James Griffith. In any case this remains my favorite episode of Dragnet. The "miracle" at the end gets to me every time. I know that is corny but I can't help it.
Hardcastle and McCormick: Games People Play (1985)
Does anybody know where I can find this episode?
Does anybody know where I can find the Games People Play episode of Hardcastle and McCormick? I think it would be a hoot to see the legendary game show host Tom Kennedy in a rare dramatic role. If I recall correctly, he played a bad guy!! I vaguely remember this episode and I think Tom's character was fairly nasty. That was a complete departure for Tom. I also think it would be a hoot to see the legendary voice over actress Jean Vander Pyl in a rare live action role. Does anybody know where I can find the Games People Play episode of Hardcastle and McCormick? I would love to see this episode again to see Tom and Jean. Thanks in advance.
The Incredible Hulk (1977)
The original pilot of The Incredible Hulk
The original pilot of the TV version of The Incredible Hulk is a Twentieth Century mini-classic. The interaction between Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, and Susan Sullivan is wonderful. You care about the characters, especially the Hulk, in ways that the later movies simply could not duplicate. You feel sorry for the Hulk and can relate to his frustration and anger (and his compassion) on so many different levels. The addition of Mr. McGee as the nosy, overly aggressive reporter was a brilliant touch. The original TV pilot had the right mix of humor, horror, tragedy, and fantasy that made the story almost believable. The story of The Incredible Hulk is of course little more than a Twentieth Century updated version of the Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde legends. Despite this you still feel sorry for the Hulk. Somehow it all works in ways that the later movies could never match.
Dragnet 1967: The Big Search (1968)
The Big Search
Call me a sentimental fool if you like, but this is one of my favorite episodes of Dragnet. An overbearing and obsessive-compulsive mother discovers that her two daughters have disappeared. She immediately suspects her alcoholic ex-husband but Friday and Gannon are not so sure. This leads to a very tense and dramatic search that includes a brief but very creepy encounter with a child molester. The girls are eventually found at a former neighbors house asleep with a dog. The girls are reunited with their parents and the father promises not to drink again. The final scene is very sentimental but brings a tear or two to my eyes anyway. What the father sees in his overbearing ex-wife is beyond me, but to each his own I guess. In summary while this episode is sentimental, it remains one of my favorites.
Scrabble Showdown (2011)
Best family oriented game show in a long time
This is the best family oriented game show that I have seen in a long, long time. This is a straight forward old-fashioned game show. This show pits two teams each featuring a parent and a teenage son or daughter against each other. There are four games they have to complete. One is very similar to Camouflage (GSN), another is very similar to Pyramid, another is based on the computer game Text Twist, and another is clearly based on the old Scrabble game show hosted by Chuck Woolery. This is not to say this show does not have its problems. It does. The game they call Scrabble Slam is terrible. It is just too easy for the weakest player to win this game. Scrabble Slam should be ditched. Also the host, Justin Willman (a.k.a. magician Justin Incredible), is a little too goofy for my taste. Despite these problems, I like this show a great deal. It is the best family oriented game show that I have seen in a long, long time. It is this kind of show that GSN should be doing (cough!! cough!!). Enough said.
What's My Line?: Billy Graham & Anthony Quinn (1960)
Funny episode with the Rev. Billy Graham
This is a funny episode of What's My Line with the Rev. Billy Graham. Joey Bishop is on the panel and the joking around between Joey and Rev. Graham at the end of Rev. Graham's game is priceless. Joey had of course a reputation of being kind of wild and Rev. Graham was joking with Joey about that. What a hoot!! I know I have seen this episode on Game Show Network (GSN). I have looked for this episode on youtube and elsewhere online but could not find it. Could someone please upload this episode to youtube and let me know when it is online? I would love to see this episode again. It is hilarious. Please E-Mail me at sbutler0727@yahoo.com when this episode is online. Thanks.
The Andy Griffith Show: Convicts-at-Large (1962)
Hard episode to watch
This is a particularly hard episode to watch because this is the final episode before Howard McNear ("Floyd") had his stroke. Howard never walked again on screen after this episode. Howard was always shown seated or was discretely propped up after this episode. Sad. Despite this, this is a pretty funny episode. Floyd and Barney are both hilarious in this episode. Of course Andy comes in at the end to save the day. Floyd of course gets all the credit!! That is a riot. If you can get past knowing what is going to happen to Howard after this, this episode is pretty funny. It is amazing what Andy and the staff did for Howard after this episode and how they hid his handicap. Of course now, everyone knows the story.
What's My Line?: Sue Lyon (1964)
What's My Line with Peter Gabel
This has to be one of the funniest and most outrageous episodes of What's My Line ever - period. The panel actually thought that Peter was some important businessman for a while!! That was hilarious. Arlene had no idea who it was!! Arlene was beginning to get into the right area and then she blew it when she asked if Peter had "ever wore a sandwich board?" Peter rolled over in laughter at the thought!! Then Rudy asked the important question if he "had anything to do with the World's Fair?" Of course the answer was yes. Unfortunately Rudy asked if he was a ticket taker instead of a guide. The reaction of Arlene when Peter is finally revealed is priceless!! Like I said this has to be one of the most outrageous episodes of What's My Line ever - period. Episodes like this could never be duplicated today. That is sad.
What's My Line?: Emmett Kelly & Dinah Shore (1956)
Fred Allen's last episode of What's My Line
This episode of What's My Line is very hard to watch because we all know it is Fred Allen's last episode. The segment with Emmett Kelley is funny however. Emmett provides one of those classic moments that make What's My Line so great. John Daly's tribute to Emmett at the end of his game was classy. I have no doubt it was difficult for Emmett to grunt his way through his game.
It is also sad that Dinah Shore's segment is lost to history. It seems strange to me that the rest of the show be intact while Dinah's appearance is lost. Oh well!!
In conclusion, this episode proves what comic geniuses Emmett Kelley and Fred Allen were and I miss them both.
What's My Line?: Red Skelton & Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1954)
One of the best What's My Line episodes
This has to be one of the best (and funniest) What's My Line episodes of all time, period. The first "Mystery Guests" are Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Roy gives a fake British accent that is simply adorable!! At one point in the game, John Charles Daly actually cracks himself up!! This is followed by Red Skelton as the second "Mystery Guest". The banter between Red and Fred is priceless!! I love it when Red tells Fred "I have stolen a lot of your material"!! You could tell Fred knew exactly who it was when Red said that.
This is another classic, classic What's My Line episode. In my opinion this episode is one of the best.
What's My Line?: Marian Anderson (1965)
This episode of youtube
This episode of What's My Line? is on youtube. Unfortunately the clip is out of sequence. One second you are at the intros, the next second you are in the middle of the game, the next second you are near the beginning again, etc. It is very confusing. I wish someone would repost this episode with the game in proper sequence. It would be nice to see this entire episode in the proper sequence. It looks like it would be a fun episode to watch, even if you don't like opera. It would be nice to see such a distinguished personality "let her hair down" (so to speak) and play a silly parlor game. It is this kind of episode that What's My Line does best that could never be duplicated.
What's My Line?: Leontyne Price & Peter Ustinov (1966)
Another classic What's My Line? episode
This is another of those classic What's My Line? episodes that could never be duplicated. Miss Price answered in a voice that made the panel think she was a man!! The panel figured out she was a singer fairly quickly. I loved Arlene's question after that. Arlene asked if Miss Price had ever sung on Basin Street?!?! That was a riot!! Miss Price seemed genuinely tickled at the thought!! Then Bennet asked the question if she was a man!! Miss Price's deep emphatic "No!!" was hilarious!! Phyllis seemed to be genuinely stunned that Miss Price was a girl!! Then Woody Allen asked the give away question, "Have you ever fiddled around with opera?" Once the answer "Yes" was given, Arlene knew exactly who it was!! The whole panel applauded her at that point - even John!! Miss Price definitely showed a sense of humor in this episode. This entire exchange between Miss Price and the panel was (pardon the pun) Price-less!!