This "AS" episode from season number 24 from 1986 called "Grandpa's Ghost" is one touching and sentimental one proving that the spirit never dies. Directed by Tim Hutton(Oscar winner from "Ordinary People")the tale is of a devoted young California man named Edwin(Andrew McCarthy)who enjoys time of playing music and going to baseball games with his grandpa, only the world is shaken when grandpa dies in his sleep. And now Edwin tries to keep his grandmother on terms with the death, yet the old man keeps appearing to grandma when grandson is not around. The scenes are touching and emotional it proves that the spirit never dies and often as in this episode the lost can come back to take their loved ones away with them! Overall good touching feel good sentimental episode of a love ghost.
8 Reviews
"Will you be mine always?"
classicsoncall30 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It took reading some of the other reviews for this episode to help me process my thoughts about it. At first, I thought it a little creepy what grandson Edwin (Andrew McCarthy) did to keep the memory of his grandfather (Ian Wolfe) alive for his grandmother (Herta Ware), but ultimately it was an unselfish act of love of both grandparents that led him to impersonate the older gentleman. The Billie Holiday song, "Good Morning Heartache" provided a memorable back drop to the fulfilling life of the elderly couple, and the setting allowed for Grandma Helen to wistfully relive her youth one more time. The transition from Edwin's portrayal of his grandfather to the moment he removed the makeup wasn't as seamless as it might have been done today with better tech, but it got the idea across just fine. A well done episode, even if I needed a little help from the other reviewers on this board.
Young director does it right
yonhope24 February 2016
Very good TV episode with the look of a feature film. I worked in it as a funeral director on a chilly morning at Universal Studios.
The scene was done at the Bates Motel mansion site on a hill in the middle of the big Universal lot.The director was a young 25 year old Timothy Hutton who was much better known as an actor. He looked a lot like a young Tony Perkins. It was somewhat eerie being on the Psycho set with a Norman Bates moving around behind the camera.
This series just did not find an audience for some reason, but it will stand the test of time.
I didn't see anyone at the windows of the mansion, but I knew someone was watching. Highly recommended.
The scene was done at the Bates Motel mansion site on a hill in the middle of the big Universal lot.The director was a young 25 year old Timothy Hutton who was much better known as an actor. He looked a lot like a young Tony Perkins. It was somewhat eerie being on the Psycho set with a Norman Bates moving around behind the camera.
This series just did not find an audience for some reason, but it will stand the test of time.
I didn't see anyone at the windows of the mansion, but I knew someone was watching. Highly recommended.
I cried
sunshinebear21312 September 2013
This was the best episode of the first season. Now that Netflix has both seasons available, I ran through a marathon. Haven't watched the show since it was new, when I was a young teen. I loved all three of these actors. The ending ripped my heart out but not out of sadness. Such love. Such compassion. Such unbelievable devotion from the grandson. They are all so incredibly talented - or were - as both Ian Wolfe and the lovely Herta Ware are not with us anymore. Ian Wolfe actually passed less than ten years after this episode. I cried and kept crying for about five minutes. I love this episode so much. So much.
The Gift of a Lifetime
Hitchcoc25 May 2014
This is a love story. The ultimate love story. It starts with a grandfather and grandson beginning to really understand each other. The sad thing is that just when they begin to know each other, the old guy dies. He had confided in his young counterpart that he had failed to sing a song (his and her song) for his wife. Now this will not happen. But then comes the fulfillment of everything as the grandfather seemingly returns from the dead for one last date with Grandma. The go back to the restaurant where they met. They dance. They laugh. And he gets to go to the piano and sing the song to her. Actually, this isn't all that interesting until we are treated to a wonderful conclusion. An episode to remember.
A ghost story with a twist
sonnyschlaegel19 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Edwin plans to go on a trip to San Diego with his grandpa. Before they start, grandpa tells Edwin about his past, for example how he got to know grandma. Talking about the past, he seems to realize that he should show her his affection more often. He plans to sing their song for her when he and Edwin will return from their trip - but he dies that night. However, he returns as a ghost, and fulfils his plan to sing the song for his wife...
This episode looks like a story that is based on a normal model for a ghost story: someone dies, but there is something left to do for him, so he returns as a ghost. But there's a twist in the end that makes this story deviate from the model. I really liked that twist. Also, the actors are good; I especially liked Andrew McCarthy as Edwin. And I liked the song that grandpa calls 'our song' (grandpa's and grandma's). It's played on the soundtrack; I think it's called 'Good Morning Heartache' (by Billie Holiday?). It's played in the short passage when Edwin is at his grandpa's funeral and then goes back home. I liked that short passage. It looks dream-like and combines very well with the mood of the song.
All in all, this is a good ghost story in my opinion. I think if you liked, for example, 'Ghost Train' (#1.1), you will probably like this episode, too.
This episode looks like a story that is based on a normal model for a ghost story: someone dies, but there is something left to do for him, so he returns as a ghost. But there's a twist in the end that makes this story deviate from the model. I really liked that twist. Also, the actors are good; I especially liked Andrew McCarthy as Edwin. And I liked the song that grandpa calls 'our song' (grandpa's and grandma's). It's played on the soundtrack; I think it's called 'Good Morning Heartache' (by Billie Holiday?). It's played in the short passage when Edwin is at his grandpa's funeral and then goes back home. I liked that short passage. It looks dream-like and combines very well with the mood of the song.
All in all, this is a good ghost story in my opinion. I think if you liked, for example, 'Ghost Train' (#1.1), you will probably like this episode, too.
Aside from being dead, Charlie is in great spirits and has never looked better!
planktonrules23 June 2015
This is a very sweet episode and I was impressed by Timothy Hutton's deft direction of the show. The real star, though, was Ian Wolfe--a fine old actor who is probably most famous for an appearance in one of the original "Star Trek" episodes but who was in films for many decades. Here he plays Charlie--an elderly man who is enjoying a visit from his grandson. However, despite being in great mental health for his age, he is old...and soon dies. However, despite being very dead, Charlie's wife continues to enjoy spending time with him. What gives? Is Charlie a ghost or has grandma lost her mind?!
This is an episode best seen with some Kleenex nearby. I didn't feel all that teary but the show is bound to provoke a lot of feelings with us about our own morality, our parents or our grandparents. Not a perfect episode (the ending was just plain odd) but a sweet one.
This is an episode best seen with some Kleenex nearby. I didn't feel all that teary but the show is bound to provoke a lot of feelings with us about our own morality, our parents or our grandparents. Not a perfect episode (the ending was just plain odd) but a sweet one.
The Long Farewell
hellraiser77 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Warning don't watch unless seen episode
This is another of my favorite episodes of the show and it's one of the saddest ever. This one really hits close to home as this is something everyone of us who've had grandparents had to face.
Really like Andrew McCarthy's performance, really his interaction with his grandfather which is sweet, and you get a good feel for the guy, it feels like the kind of times some of us have spent with our grandfather which just makes what happens latter all the sadder.
There are a couple of scenes where we see just Andrew's character Edwin is just in a state of silent sadness, from a moment when he gives the bad news to his grandmother, we just see him slowly sit down on a chair and it was the chair that his grandfather once sat on, it was sort of a way for him to want to feel he was still around. That we can all emphasize with because it's like with how any of us that don't want old furniture solid, because of the memories they held.
And a moment when he walks out to a park there are a lot of random elderly people he passes by and when he sits down, they all are at his side. That moment was touching showing not just how each of those elderly people maybe someone's grandparents but also shows that he'll never be alone that there are people that still care about him and that his grandfather will always be there.
The next minutes are touching as we see the grandfather come back though we don't know why and how and just seeing him interacting and having a good time with the grandmother talking about the oldest of times. That really shows how despite how many years have passed those times are never really gone because they've never been forgotten, nor will they ever be as their will always be others that will remember them.
The twist at the end will tug hard at your heartstrings but in a way was bittersweet, I'll admit when I was a kid that moment made me cry. Though I wouldn't say much of a twist as there was a suttle hint or two. When you think about it, you really see the story for what it really is which is really about a grandson's love for his grandparents and wanting to give them both the best time of their lives but also simply saying goodbye.
But it also shows, our never really gone because their always within our souls.
Rating: 4 stars.
This is another of my favorite episodes of the show and it's one of the saddest ever. This one really hits close to home as this is something everyone of us who've had grandparents had to face.
Really like Andrew McCarthy's performance, really his interaction with his grandfather which is sweet, and you get a good feel for the guy, it feels like the kind of times some of us have spent with our grandfather which just makes what happens latter all the sadder.
There are a couple of scenes where we see just Andrew's character Edwin is just in a state of silent sadness, from a moment when he gives the bad news to his grandmother, we just see him slowly sit down on a chair and it was the chair that his grandfather once sat on, it was sort of a way for him to want to feel he was still around. That we can all emphasize with because it's like with how any of us that don't want old furniture solid, because of the memories they held.
And a moment when he walks out to a park there are a lot of random elderly people he passes by and when he sits down, they all are at his side. That moment was touching showing not just how each of those elderly people maybe someone's grandparents but also shows that he'll never be alone that there are people that still care about him and that his grandfather will always be there.
The next minutes are touching as we see the grandfather come back though we don't know why and how and just seeing him interacting and having a good time with the grandmother talking about the oldest of times. That really shows how despite how many years have passed those times are never really gone because they've never been forgotten, nor will they ever be as their will always be others that will remember them.
The twist at the end will tug hard at your heartstrings but in a way was bittersweet, I'll admit when I was a kid that moment made me cry. Though I wouldn't say much of a twist as there was a suttle hint or two. When you think about it, you really see the story for what it really is which is really about a grandson's love for his grandparents and wanting to give them both the best time of their lives but also simply saying goodbye.
But it also shows, our never really gone because their always within our souls.
Rating: 4 stars.
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