lbowdls Reviews

Happy Days: The Muckrakers (1976) Season 4, Episode 9

Liver let die

[9/10 · 8 May 2024]

I always remembered this episode because of the of the whole Lone Ranger and Tonto reference.

It is also quite funny and interesting with Richie's first attempt at doing a real undercover, journalistic report for the school newspaper. He is trying to find and uncover what is wrong with the food in the school cafeteria!

Fonzie also joins Richie in the cafeteria's kitchen and tries to help take photos of the meat but we find out that Fonzie is afraid of - liver! (Me too I don't blame him) so after Richie's success he wants to go too far and do the story behind the story including Fonzie's fear of liver. Fonzie and Richie fight, The Fonz no longer talks to Richie. Of course in the end it all works out with help of daddy Howard. Then at the end we hear the very apt Lone Ranger/Tonto explanation from Fonzie.

I need to do this review so it's not just that unhealthy display towards Joanie that the other "reviewer" always does.

The Player (1992)

Intriguing and Nuanced

[9/10 · 5 May 2024]

This is amazing in its execution!

Tim Ribbons acting is perfectly brilliant as the exec in trouble.

All the other actors both playing themselves and playing roles are also brilliant! I saw this when it first came out! Loved it then and thought it was time to watch it again and I'm doing it right now and it's fantastic. I have forgotten most things about the plot so it's perfect to watch again! Special mention to Whoopi Goldberg and Lyle Lovett as the cops. The two scenes I do remember is the tampon scene between those cops in their office. And the other is The Malcom McDowell/ Andy McDowell scene and taking about the third Roddy McDowall all not bring related.

So many hilarious scenes like that as well as a great homage to film noir and biting but fun commentary on the film industry. Suspenseful in a slow burn way and funny, Absolutely amazing!

Poker Face: Time of the Monkey (2023) Season 1, Episode 5

Best episode of the series

[9/10 · 4 May 2024]

I haven't really been enthralled in this show like so many. The episodes have been okay but have had flaws, and not that entertaining.

People have ridiculously compared this show and Natasha Lyonne's character to Columbo. But there's only one Peter Falk and Columbo. And she is no Columbo!

However, this episode I really enjoyed. It had great twists and turns (unlike most of the other episodes) right to the last seconds, and didn't have to rely solely on Lyonne's grating personality.

And the guest acting cast of great veteran actors was a massive reason why this episode played so much better, to me, than the previous four. I hope some other episodes might continue to be better as well.

Mork & Mindy: Gotta Run: Part 3 (1982) Season 4, Episode 21

So ridiculous in so many ways

[2/10 · 3 May 2024]

I probably shouldn't bother to do a review. But having watched the whole series (bar a few missed episodes here and there) from season 1-4 I feel I need or want to share something.

It wasn't bad when it started, I'm taking first time around, it was funny but not the funniest of sitcoms, and Robin Williams was fun even though I felt way over the top. But I remember then and now re living the series just how it suffered from bad casting and stupid casting changes. Which is really strange for a Garry Marshal production. But except for Richard Donner as Exidor, the show must have had the worst casting director in tv history. None of the changing cast ever worked. And would suddenly appear and disappear without any explanation!

So to the final 'Gotta Run' run of episodes which was beyond ridiculous with no appearance by Mindy's dad or Exidor who could probably help their plight in some way. Why wouldn't they just go back to Ork to escape Kalnik. But why should any of this plot or writing make any sense when most of the series hardly did anyway. You could see that Robin and Pam Dawber were just going through the motions and doing what they could in the middle of the embarrassment which was these episodes. (No idea what the final aired episode tomorrow will give me but I doubt it will help heal). I think Dawber and Williams were probably glad to see the end of this sinking ship!

The Twilight Zone: The Obsolete Man (1961) Season 2, Episode 29

Powerfully non obsolete!

[10/10 · 15 April 2024]

Holy Moly what a profound, prolific and amazing episode!

Maybe one of the best acted episodes I've seen too and they are always amazing acting jobs too. I mean the casting for the show was incredible considering they had 95% of actors from there going into fame! But I think Burgess Meridith should have won an award for this. It's truly the best performance I've seen of his more than stellar career!

Sure I didn't like the religious bit but we are talking about back early 1960s it was reflecting the USSR but so much more.

The more which we are deep in the middle of now. We came so far but now we're going backwards that is so many want us to go full steam aback unfortunately!

Unfortunately we're all going to be obsolete real soon when AI robots take over! Oh and one last ding in Serling style a Twist at the end!

Priscilla (2023)

Basically boring

[4/10 · 14 April 2024]

I'm so disappointed about Pricilla especially after having to put up with the revolting 'Elvis' film (which should have been called Col Tom Parker not Elvis) which to me was just awful.

So where do I start about the problems here. Okay firstly I read Priscilla"s book that it's supposedly based on and I remember that not long after the book there was a telemovie made of it which was actually pretty good, much better than this one. Don't remember who played the leads but they looked much more like Priscilla and Elvis then these two leads do!

OMG there is no resemblance to either and the height difference is just so annoying! You'd think Sofia could have at least employed better camera angles to minimise the height discrepancy- it's been happening since the beginning of Film! Though I guess she didn't have time to do much with in the 30 day film shoot? If Priscilla Presley was the executive producer I don't know what went wrong or why she wouldn't allow Elvis songs in it. Though the sound track was one of the good things about the film and in fact hearing Dolly Parton's own version of I will always love you at the end was the only real highlight. I hope this puts an end to the filming of Elvis's life stories. Go and see if you can find some old films of him like the one with Kurt Russell playing Elvis which was so much better and enthralling.

The Twilight Zone: The Changing of the Guard (1962) Season 3, Episode 37

Sentimental nonsense

[5/10 · 10 April 2024]

I can't believe people live this episode but seem to hate the previous episode Cavender is Coming, it has a much better message than this one.

If they just had previous students who were all alive explain how much Fowler meant to them it would be great. Of course it would also not have the Twilight Zone treatment. It would just be a total remake of - as people have said here - Goodbye Mr Chips.

But what I couldn't take is that all the kids 'returning' here are dead ones. Sure they were heroes and brave but I'm sure it's not only one teacher who gave them this quality. Sure I'm being pedantic and of course back in the time of this episode it was all about bravery. To me it came across as everyone he taught were dumb enough to get themselves killed! However I did love Donald Pleasence's performance. Amazing seeing him with hair even if it was white hair!

The Twilight Zone: The Gift (1962) Season 3, Episode 32

Not religious at all to me!

[8/10 · 10 April 2024]

I some recollections of seeing this episode when I was quite young. I did not consider the alien the embodiment of Jesus Christ, considering people - I say unfortunately- believed what Jesus was saying. Okay maybe not straight away but a lot believed him straight away and that belief has been hindering us ever since.

Anyway, what I took from it and did again after just watching it, is the usual typicalness of humans from Earth never believing that aliens would be here to help us but to kill or destroy us. But it's one of the few alien tales TZ and Serling had a nice alien, nearly all had aliens being bad. Which is the only thing I didn't understand about Serling, considering he was so against prejudice. This is why I believe this was a story against prejudice. Not sure it was politically right to use a seemingly 'backward' Mexican setting. As citizens in the USA or anywhere in the world would have unfortunately acted the same.

The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)

The original and best genius of a TV series like no other!

[9/10 · 10 April 2024]

Time for me to write a review of the whole series after watching as many episodes of the series I can fit in. (And still continuing ) And already I've done reviews on a couple of dozen different episodes. And I've come to the conclusion like so many others on here that Rod Serling was an absolute genius ahead of his time.! Him and his many writers made some of the most thought provoking stories in history. In fact it is the best and original ideas for probably about 75% of all stories, films and tv shows that have taken place since. Sure there were some stories that were based on previous and historic stories too, which were also given an amazing treatment by Serling. Not all episodes of course were great classics, or I found enjoyable, but most were in some way. And of course they are all subjective due to how one thinks, our own fears, our circumstances etc. Again this was the genius of the Twilight Zone and how Serling tapped into our psyche.

But I do have one major complaint too that the female characters in all the episodes were from a very misogynistic angle. They were all nagging shrews, or in subservient roles, or a damsel in distress. Now I know it was late 50's early 60's but even earlier movies and tv roles had some females that were authoritative or in charge in some way. Now I have seen only about 75% of the episodes but I doubt this will change. One of the reasons I'm taking a point off. I really thought Serling would have been a bit more forward thinking when it came to women. I wonder if it was his relationships that clouded and caused these stereotypes?

It's been a little creepy watching one episode after another in the last few of days, and you need a break, but boy was it and is worth it. Once you go to the zone like so many characters throughout the series it's hard to go back!

The Twilight Zone: The Little People (1962) Season 3, Episode 28

Come on people this Is Serling's idea of explanation of God...

[8/10 · 10 April 2024]

And mine too. If there truly is a a supreme being which I don't believe. I do however totally believe this scenario of someone from outa space looking down on Earth and trying to rule as "a God".

I totally believe this was Serling trying to explain how the explanation of the bible and God is so flawed.

Remember how one of them says to the other in times to come they will get to know the truth of what you really are. Well many of us on earth are finally trying to question the idea of God's existence unfortunately not enough still. And this is why the earth ad we know it now are getting more divided. I bet there will be plenty (mostly Americans) who will be annoyed and curse my opinion but I don't care. This is why I really liked this episode! The ending also is superb and says it all!

The Twilight Zone: Person or Persons Unknown (1962) Season 3, Episode 27

Common story theme which is everyone's nightmare

[7/10 · 10 April 2024]

Yes the common often done theme which has been done a lot in episodic tv in fact; even more than film. Including similar episodes in other Twilight Zones.

And the audience along with the characters in the stories never know what us happening? Are the protagonists right or losing their mind? Is everyone playing a joke? Are they dead etc? Which will it turn out to be? I'm actually writing this in real time while currently watching the episode. And haven't read any spoilers. And feeling so sorry for Richard Long's character. He's been in other great TZ episodes too!

Unfortunately this is one story that both Dave Gurney and us don't find out why. So points off for that! DAMN!

The Twilight Zone: The Fugitive (1962) Season 3, Episode 25

A fantastic quirky episode with a happy ending!

[10/10 · 10 April 2024]

I thought that this episode was going to be totally different to what it was going to be. So much so I was going to not bother to watch it. And didn't mind when they reversed episodes and played little girl list first but they came back to this episode. And I'm so glad I stuck with it.

There were several twists. It was a perfect Twilight fantasy happy story and instead of a painful, scary ending. It had a lovely, satisfying and happy one.

I'm surprised that I hadn't heard about this story even though Susan Gordon's IMDb profile mentions she's famous for it.

I'm also surprised by lower review scores. I absolutely loved it!

The Twilight Zone: The Odyssey of Flight 33 (1961) Season 2, Episode 18

The origin story !

[10/10 · 9 April 2024]

This is an incredible story which influenced so many countless stories of planes disappearing and time travel, But what took the mini series of Manifest 4 sessions to get through with still no solution. This brilliant episode took around 25 minutes to have a proper beginning middle and quite satisfying end !

I noticed that Serling probably did about 70-75% episodes that were to do with aircrafts. Either planes or spacecraft. He must have truly been fascinated by flying and airplanes. But they certainty are great for all kind of stories and this one works better than I thought it would when reading about it.

They really know how to write a succinct amazing story back then! Another OG story that spawned so many copies !

The Twilight Zone: People Are Alike All Over (1960) Season 1, Episode 25

I love Roddy McDowell so much in this

[10/10 · 9 April 2024]

Well I just love Roddy McDowell period. But I can't believe it took me around 50 years to see him in this remarkable role which is nothing like I'd seen him in any later roles! He's was as cute as a button until his dying day and a fantastic actor to me. But this was well wow! With him doing a solid American accent too. Not that I mind his English accent because I literally fell in love with that voice - while he was doing Planet of the Apes in fact. It's ironic -and I'm amazed no one has mentioned in trivia etc - that people haven't compared this to his famous Planet of the Apes roles where they locked up humans! So futuretous in so many ways. Okay I've spent a lot of time talking about Roddy but I can't help it and can't believe this is a role I never even knew he did.

To the story - it's actually remarkable too with great messsges in the dialogue and the twist that the show is famous for! Brilliant!

The Twilight Zone: Time Enough at Last (1959) Season 1, Episode 8

What on earth is wrong with reading?

[7/10 · 8 April 2024]

I have a few problems with this episode. By the way I knew what was coming because I read the spoilers so that's sad enough, that I almost wanted to by pass this episode.

The 'supernatural' element of the nuclear bomb destroying the world isn't hard to take. In fact it's a great premise. But why did his wife hate him reading. Having watched about 30 episodes now I realise Serling must have been quite sexist in the fact he used so many nagging wife characters. In fact for all of his great messages of bigotry and prejudice I'm amazed it wasn't until season 5 he had a black person in a credited role and an Asian in a staring role. But I digress, another problem is why his glasses didn't get smashed first up with the glass in his watch in the explosion? And how did the books survive? But despite all that it is a thought provoking tragic episode.

The Twilight Zone: The Lonely (1959) Season 1, Episode 7

Absolutely amazing ahead of its time!

[10/10 · 8 April 2024]

I can't believe that I've never heard of people refer to this episode in the history of Twilight Zone considering how absolutely brilliant this episode is. Talk about ahead of its time on so many levels. *Living on an asteroid. *Functioning female, humanoid robot! The latter which we're now seeing the reality of. And gee the former has barely been done in any Sci Fi even in later time! It's so amazingly original but the story of love, loneliness and humanity is timeless but executed brilliantly here!

If any story though should have been given the 1 hour treatment it's this one. I'm also surprised that I've never seen it pop upon any remakes!

The Twilight Zone: Stopover in a Quiet Town (1964) Season 5, Episode 30

When I think of creepy stories this is the first one my mind goes to!

[10/10 · 8 April 2024]

Yes when I think of the Twilight Zone tv show or even the generic phrase, this is the episode I think of, even though I may not have remembered where or when I actually first experienced it, or if it actually was a TZ episode. But it's so powerful it can't help but stick in your mind for ever. Even now knowing the outcome of this episode it still delivers a punch of mystery and suspense.

I also want to point out this is in season 5 and I do not agree that season 5 was a bad season, in fact some of the most powerful episodes occurred in season 5. I know because I've been watching them! All seasons are brilliant all have a few misses too.

One more thing this episode has absolutely nothing to do with drink driving or alcohol!

The Twilight Zone: Sounds and Silences (1964) Season 5, Episode 27

This is actually powerful episode and more sad than funny

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

I seriously don't understand the low rating review scores here! As this is a powerful episode of - as mentioned at the end by Serling - poetic justice. But to me behind it is a sad life, a life that could turn anyone over the edge, no difference to how certain abusive upbringings can cause people to be abusers of some kind or get mental illness. In this story it is both.

Oh and to the reviewer on here who says he doesn't remember John McGyver ever playing anyone pompous and abrasive. What? That was his stock and trade, that how he acted in most roles. So he absolutely suits this role too.

People are harsh on this episode as it's got a message and come up-pence and also unfortunate consequences.

The Twilight Zone: Queen of the Nile (1964) Season 5, Episode 23

A cool tale as old as time !

[7/10 · 8 April 2024]

The weirdest thing to believe about this story is that Ann Blyth was only 35 years old, 3 years younger than her character states she is. But because of how people, especially women, looked back then due to make up of the day, she actually looks at least 50!

This story might work much better now due to fact we all look much younger than we did half a century ago. Though with cosmetic surgery or many without using it, these days again a person who is 60 now can easily look 38! So actually that is contradictory to what I first said, actually you'd have to have the main protagonist actress be played by a 20 year old. Because at least they'd look 20 and it would be more realistically, mysteriously frightening. There have been a lot of stories similar to this over the years of course. And this remains creepy, fanciful fun.

The Twilight Zone: Spur of the Moment (1964) Season 5, Episode 21

One of the first fantasy, horror stories I ever remember seeing!

[10/10 · 8 April 2024]

As mentioned in my title I remember seeing this story, probably when I was even a teenager or younger, but don't remember when or how. Maybe I saw it at school, my school actually showed some classic stories and films! I know I knew at the time who Diana Hyland was as being the girlfriend of John Travolta and dying so young. She does an amazing job here!

But I would never have remembered this being a Twilight Zone episode until, as I am in the midst of watching episodes in succession, I see this one coming up and realize omg this is this mysterious, memorable story! I can't wait to see it again after all these years!

And It definitely doesn't disappoint! It's an amazing twist which I mainly recollected the outcome of. An absolutely fantastic episode that if seeing for the first time you REALLY don't see the twist coming! I remember the collective gasp of those around me when we saw it!

The Twilight Zone: Night Call (1964) Season 5, Episode 19

A popular scenario gets the Twilight Zone treatment.

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

Don't answer the phone! But of course they always did in these popular scenarios used in so many films and tv shows, but it's always frightening and creepy.

Once again Gladys Cooper plays an old lady which I find myself relating to, like her earlier episode of Nothing in the Dark, and can unfortunately relate to other aspect, the fact I suffer from a disability myself. (Luckily have never experienced her frightening scenario) However, this is a more fantastical episode which is full of suspense and wonder with overtones of a combo of 'Sorry Wrong Number' and '.... Baby Jane'.

It kind of gives you a good reason why we have become a society that doesn't like answering phones any more haha!

The Twilight Zone: Black Leather Jackets (1964) Season 5, Episode 18

Much better than the title, synopsis and reviews suggest

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

This is a classic teen, drive in movie, true sci fi type true classic!

But not only that, it has another profound message, like most of the episodes of course do. Having Shelley Fabres is to me a bonus in everything and is so suited to this character.

I really unfortunately cannot add much to the review which I must to get word count up. But it's simply entertaining, sublime and suspenseful like so many B grade invasion movies of the era. To me what places this above is that it has the Twilight Zone stamp of atmosphere. And these days a world where the world is going to end by contamination and germ warfare is unfortunately not far fetched. However it's coming from our own planet and not from people from outa space... or who knows? How many conspiracy theorists have drunk the wrong kool aid mmm.

The Twilight Zone: Number 12 Looks Just Like You (1964) Season 5, Episode 17

Beyond Profound!

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

An amazing episode which I hadn't heard about in the Twilight Zone history. But don't understand why because it pushes such a punch. I'm really annoyed as I was in the middle of a great review a couple of days ago but it disappeared before I could submit (a bit TZ in itself). So this second time around I doubt I'll be as profound in my review.

But basically this episode isn't just about beauty in the eye of the beholder - a reference in relation to another, of course super classic episode with that title.

It goes further with obsession not only with beauty standards that have always been in every era of human society!

But also about individuality versus conformity, and authoritarianism! It only loses 1 star for its sad but probably realistic ending!

The Twilight Zone: A Kind of a Stopwatch (1963) Season 5, Episode 4

The original freeze frame

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

The original and best story that spawned 100s of copies, variations and similar scenarios in countless episodes of tv shows and movies!

This is a fantasy but the emotions and people and situations, especially of the main character is definitely seeped in reality. And then the extraordinary reality of something always going wrong when you've thought you've got it made forever!

It's touching and frightening and unfortunately its twist provides us with no happy ending. I feel sorry for the protagonist as he wasn't even an evil bad guy.

I'm surprised this episode doesn't get the famous classic scenario as much as others do, because as I said it spawned so many scenarios!

The Twilight Zone: Steel (1963) Season 5, Episode 2

It does work now! Even more than when set!

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

I am so surprised that so many people think this is far fetched, and sure those who saw it and did reviews even just 10 years ago can't imagine it. But those who say it's dated in 2023, well what's wrong with you? Yes the obvious black and white and looking still like the early 60s make it that way slightly. But like most TZ episodes saying what is happening in the future is enough to make you think or scream etc. And boy is this one of them now! I don't usually like any kind of show about boxing but this is perfect and works on 3 levels. Firstly it would be a great idea to have boxing and other violent sports do this so people don't get hurt. And secondly, most importantly this is happening now with AI and every profession especially performance ones will all head this way sooner or later! And above all a great piece of entertainment. I totally disagree that this doesn't say much. In fact it is so profound and predictive and the ending monologue says so much about how society will always be!