Change Your Image
rerunwatcher
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Phone Call from a Stranger (1952)
Dullsville
I watched this movie last night. I was bored, but I continued to watch to see if it got better. This random guy is bombarded by total strangers telling him things about their life. If I had been that guy I would have pulled out a paperback and started reading so they would leave me alone. But, instead this guy is hanging on their every word. Then, later in the movie he uses the things he was told to butt into the business of other people. I can't believe that anyone would think this movie was interesting. Oh, if you are a Bette Davis fan you need to endure to the bitter end before you see her for a brief time. I would advise to pass up this movie and do something more interesting. Like watch paint dry for instance.
The Brady Bunch: Snow White and the Seven Bradys (1973)
If they had donated the money...
Okay the premise of this episode is Cindy is wanting to raise money to pay for a present for a school teacher. Fair enough. But let us examine this carefully. Think of the cost of the lumber that the stage was made from (not to mention the cost of the saw horse that Peter ruined). Think of the cost of the fabric for the stage curtain. Think of the cost of the costumes (well only Alice's, Mike's and Carol's would cost much, not the kids or Sam's). Think of the cost of the chair rentals (because surely the Brady's would not already have had this many folding chair). Think of the cost of the permit that Mike had to pay to hold the event. If the Brady's had taken all the money they spent on the production of a play and donated it toward this school teacher she would have had a nice present. I know I overthink things, but I can't help it.
The Love Boat: April's Return/Super Mom/I'll See You Again (1979)
Imagine, if you will...
Ladies and Gentlemen, let us do a mental exercise here. Imagine, if you will that you are the head of a television show. You are the boss and can make all decisions. Now, on your show you will have two actresses. One actress is one of the most graceful and beautiful dancers in history of show business. Not, the most graceful of just the 20th Century mind you, but any century. Other dancers could rehearse and practice 18 hours a day for years on end and never come close to this lady. Then you have a second actress. This actress is a loud and brash floozy and her idea of dancing is to shake her rear end at the camera. Which person would you chose to do a dance number? Sadly, the second actress was selected for this. The superb dancer only dances for about 10 seconds (or less) and merely just holds onto her escort and never shows what she can do. Does this make sense on any level? However, I will say I liked the Stiller and Meara storyline. I have always like them. I am going to say "no spoilers" here because I did not reveal any of the actual plots. Thanks for you time, the mental exercise is concluded.
The Facts of Life: Overachieving (1980)
Early days yet, show still finding it's feet.
Early days of the series and the show was still finding it's feet. First a bit of trivia. In the episode Natalie's older sister is mentioned. In later episodes we learn that Natalie was adopted, and no other siblings were ever mentioned. On these early episodes we are still seeing the character named "Molly". Molly speaks very, very quickly and runs her words together. I feel if this character that remained on the show, it would have been difficult to continue with the speech pattern over the long haul. Tootie is the main character of this episode. She is still wearing her roller skates. I understand the reason is because she was shorter than the other actresses and the skates made her taller. The series will get better as the years go along.
Gypsy (1993)
Bob Mackie costumes were great
People will always debate if this movie was better or worse than the one with Natalie Wood. I liked both. But I think the Bob Mackie costumes in this one added to the appeal. My favorite costume is the one with the stripper that lights up. Bette is a good as Mama, but I think I liked Natalie Wood's version of Gypsy is better. I wish I could have seen the original on Broadway with Ethel Merman. I think that this movie is supposed to be closer to the Broadway one than the other movie was. If anyone has some time on their hands I would say to watch both versions of this movie back to back and compare. This version was just shown on the "Movies!" TV channel tonight (12/26/23)
The Mighty Hercules (1963)
Olympia!!!!!!
"Hercules, Hero of song and story, Hercules, winner of ancient glory, fighting for the right, fighting with his might, with the strength of ten ordinary men! Hercules, people are safe when near him, only the evil fear him." So goes the lyrics of this cartoon. Hercules lives on Mount Olympus, but he can put on a special ring so he can go down and help normal people. You see, he would lose his strength when he leaves Olympus unless he had this ring. When he is down among the common folk he hangs out with the lovely Helena and a centaur named Newton. Newton calls him "Herk" and repeats himself when he speaks. When Hercules is victorious over the guys he shouts "OLYMPIA".
Petticoat Junction: Betty Jo Goes to New York (1965)
New York City trip
Betty Jo goes on a trip to New York City with Lisa Douglas (played by Eva Gabor). Betty Jo is very impressed with New York and when she returns to The Shady Rest she thinks everyone and everything is not as good as in New York. She is actually rude her family members. Then she gets a visit from a sophisticated young man she met in New York. When he begins to make rude remarks to her family she kicks him out of The Shady Rest. She then understands she had been acting the very same way. She is sorry and goes back to being her normal self. Weirdly this plot with be remade with some changes in Season 5, Episode 1. The main difference being that episode is a trip to Europe instead of New York and it is three young men instead of one.
Full House (1987)
Constant laugh track
I never watched this show in it's original run. I was an adult at the time but I guess I had other interests so I never saw it. I watched it for the first time in 2023. I can't understand the constant laugh track. After almost every sentence a person says there is a laugh. The sad thing is these sentences are not funny. Do this as a project. Watch an episode and actively listen for the laugh track, notice how many laughs over absolutely NOTHING. Many time when I watch TV I don't pay attention to laugh tracks. But THIS is crazy. I am not kidding you when I say there is a laugh after almost every sentence. Also, I don't think the children on this show are as cute as the rest of the world seems to think they are.
Pat Boone and Family Thanksgiving Special (1978)
Pastel-colored sweatsuits
I have a DVD of this. The show opens with the family wearing pastel-colored sweatsuits. They are jogging and doing jumping jacks and other exercises. This is odd to me because one of the daughters had anorexia in real life. Looks to me like they would not want to do this to her, but maybe I am too sensitive. There are various songs and dances and some "comedy". There is a segment in which "famous Boone through history" are featured with family members portraying different eras in American history. This was supposed to be funny but it was not. There was a cute segment with a little grandson that was nice. The end was nice as older family members were featured. I am marking "no spoilers" because this was made in 1978 and it is doubtful many people will ever view it.
The Love Boat: How Do I Love Thee?/No More Alimony/Authoress! Authoress! (1984)
Two "Golden Girls" (contains spoilers).
On this episode two of the "Golden Girls" were featured. Rue played a woman who was being abused by her husband. Betty played a funny role, attempting to get Caesar Romero's character to publish her book. The third story had Alan Thicke, but that storyline did not interest me as much as the other two. Betty White looked great in a midnight blue sequin dress and then later in a beautiful peach color dress. Rue looked amazing in a purple and silver shimmery top. Rue's storyline had Dick Van Patten as a mean abusive husband. Of course being "Love Boat" it was resolved by the husband promising to "get some help". This of course would not be that easy in real life. Oh, and I did not mention that Carol Channing was featured in the Betty White story. Carol played the typical "dumb blonde"...at which she was very good.
My Three Sons: After the Honeymoon (1971)
The guy from "Petticoat Junction" is a highlight...
This is a crummy episode (in my opinion) with the small highlight of having the singing guy from "Petticoat Junction" on it. And his dad was the producer of the show so no surprise here. Robbie and Katie move away because of a new job Robbie has. Katie meets a neighbor who says that a woman should not have kids because it tries down a man and ruins his life. And the "Petticoat Junction" guy is their neighbor is a carefree single guy and is very happy. So this makes Katie think that she and the triplets are a ball and chain dragging Robbie down (and cynical me has to wonder if she is indeed right). She talks to Steve and then Robbie and seems to come to the conclusion that Robbie is not being tied down. However in the first episode of the next Season, Robbie is in Peru on business an he never returns to the series. I think this episode might have been a "backdoor pilot" for a series with Katie and Robbie. I really don't think it would have worked. In my opinion. You are welcome to yours.
My Three Sons: Fit the Crime (1971)
I love the drapes in Ernie's room
I want to draw your attention to the drapes in Ernie's room. Blue and green and I love them, I wish I could find drapes like that nowadays. Now for the plot: this episode is very similar to "Dodie Goes Downtown". In both this episode and that one Ernie is babysitting Dodie and then nobody can find her and Ernie is blamed. But in this one Barbara has a funny and weird dream. There is kind of a weird exchange between Barbara and Dodie. They are talking about punishments and what she did wrong, then Dodie tells Barbara "I love you". And Barbara says "I know you do". Why didn't Barbara tell Dobie she loved her back?
The Brady Bunch: My Fair Opponent (1972)
A "Senior" in Junior High...
Okay first I will address this, which has annoyed me for a long time. I also attended a Junior High (back in the olden days). So, in my Junior High we just said what grade we were in. We did not say things like "Senior" of Junior High. In my experience a "Senior" is a person in the 12th grade in High School. This show is set in California so maybe it was different there? Nor did we have a banquet to mark the end of Junior High, the best we could do is the teachers might let us eat a bag of chips and drink a Sprite. Now, on to the main plot. I always enjoy "make overs". It is fun to see how make up and clothes can make a change. But I am interested in addressing the issue of Molly's parents. How did they feel about having to shell out money for all these new clothes? And if the parents could afford nice clothes, why did she dress as she did at the beginning? Did she borrow all the clothes from Marcia? I will also bring up this. Why is Mike home on two occasions in this episode. He is suppose to be at work but he is hanging around at home in the middle of the afternoon when the kids return from school? Is he working at home in this office? I like the Brady Bunch normally. But I was not wild about this one.
The Brady Bunch: Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy (1969)
The lesson here...whine and get your own way
This episode of The Brady Bunch annoys me. Cindy is not more important that any other child in that school play. Yet, she is treated very differently. Now, ALL the other children were only allowed one person to come to the play, yet all Cindy has to do is whine and gets her own way. The play was put on especially for the Brady family. Look at it this way, the other kids in the play have to be away from their own home, own parents, own hobbies or activities to go to the school to put on a play to appease one whining child. Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain could show you what happens if you appease people (look it up). What if the other kids in the play wanted to do something else? What if they wanted to play sports, or had a hobby they wanted to pursue? Or be at home with their very own parents? Or merely lie on the couch and watch TV? Could they do these activities? NO! Because they had to go to the school auditorium and put on a private play. Your childhood is only a limited amount of time, only a limited amount of time to be a child, now this is time they will never get back, time others in the play could have been living their own life. Why? Because a whining kid named Cindy Brady.
Mayberry R.F.D.: All for Charity (1970)
Never would happen in a rural Church.
I grew up in an Evangelical Church in a rural area. So I know for certain about what I am about to write. This is a Church play and it features the Greek god Pan. Now, if this was only a community play it would be one thing. But I ASSURE you in a rural Church there would be outcries of "heathen" if you so much as whispered that a Greek god was in a Church play. The rural area I am from is much like Mayberry. It would never happen. This show was filmed in "city slicker" California so they would not know any better. However aside from this, the dancing by Ken Berry and Paul Hartman was very cute. Ken Berry was a good dancer as was Paul Hartman.
Body Language: Episode dated 10 September 1985 (1985)
I miss Richard Simmons
I am sitting here watching an old game show from back in the 1980s. Fitness expert Richard Simmons is on here. Makes me remember how much he was on stuff back in the day. I remember his old exercise show and seeing him on various things such as The David Letterman Show and games shows and such. It really makes me sad to Richard has disappeared. Sure, he is older but so are we all. He could come back and do exercise for senior citizens. People like me who remember him from the past would like that. But the review is suppose to be about the actual game show. It is fun, kind of like charades. I like Tom Kennedy who is the host. I like to watch this and other old games shows that is on Buzzr.
All in the Family: The Bunkers and the Swingers (1972)
He's an expert, you might learn something
This is such a FUNNY episode. Poor innocent Edith! I think my favorite part is when the man wanted to dance with Edith. They had already stated he and his wife had won a dance contest. So when he wanted to dance with Edith, Archie says "Go ahead Edith, he is an expert and you might learn something". Haha. Archie did not know they were wife swappers. Rue Mcclanahan was great. I love it when Louise Jefferson finds out the truth and tells Edith. Another funny part was when Mike was making a phone call.. The expression on Edith face was so funny. If you have not watched this episode please make an effort to see it.
The Mod Squad: 'A' Is for Annie (1970)
Earliest reference to razor blades in apples??
A school teacher comes under fire for something. This episode is a great example of how a crowd can get whipped up into a frenzy. This episode shows kids Trick or Treating on Halloween. I would think this episode could possibly be one of the earliest references to razor blades being put into apples at Halloween. Even nowadays people warn kids about that topic. There is a very scary sequence in which a trailer home is being attacked by a crowd of angry people. This is scary because it is VERY true that people can be whipped up into a frenzy and be influenced by other people into doing things that are best not done.
Crazy Like a Fox: Pilot (1984)
Great Fun
This is such a fun show. I really wish they still made fun mystery shows like this. John Rubinstein is so funny in this episode. His dad asks him to walk out to his car for just a second. He is wearing his bathrobe and does not want to. He goes anyway and ends up in the car and a car chase ensues. So there is poor Harrison in his bath robe in the middle of a car chase. Later in the show Harrison ends up on the hood of a taxi in which a suspect is escaping. To get rid of him the taxi runs through a CAR WASH. Haha, so much fun. I am watching a marathon of this show today. And funnily enough last weekend I watched a marathon of "Family" in which John Rubinstein played the former husband of one of the characters.
Gunsmoke: 9:12 to Dodge (1968)
Annoying people and plot
I love Gunsmoke and watch it multiple times a week. There are many strong and fine Gunsmoke episodes. This is not one of them. There are WAY too many annoying people. The stupid train conductor for one. He forgot to give something to Marshall Dillon that resulted in major problems. Then we have one of the MOST annoying females ever to appear on Gunsmoke. This woman is a "do-gooder" who is minding everyone's business but her own. The only slightly interesting plot point was that it was set on a train as opposed to Dodge as most are. And another strike against this is that my favorite guy Festus is not on. Doc Adams is on however which is a plus. If you are flipping channels and run up on this episode, just keep flipping channels. Like maybe the Weather Channel which is more exciting.
The Twilight Zone: In Praise of Pip (1963)
Jack Klugman's finest acting
I really like Jack Klugman. I loved Quincy and The Odd Couple. But on this episode of The Twilight Zone I think he does his absolute finest acting. He was on several episodes of The Twilight Zone, those were pretty good shows. But "In Praise of Pip" he really shows how great an actor he was. If a person does not feel emotion while watching this episode they must be a Sociopath or something. The emotion in this episode simply pours out of the television. I am currently watching a New Year marathon of The Twilight Zone and this is the only one I have written a review of. And of course fabulous child actor Billy Mumy is good too. He was on several episodes also. He was a good kid.
Jack Frost (1979)
Clothes reviews
Rather than review the plot I shall review the clothes the characters wear. The groundhog appears in a yellow hat with a brim, a bow tie and a waistcoat. Snip the snowflake maker's suit and hat is a glittery blue. Holly the keeper of the Christmas snowflakes is dressed in a glittery green with holly on her hat. Jack Frost is dressed in a glittery silver suit and hat. At the tip of his hat is a clear crystal (perhaps ice). His belt and boots are blue. The clothes of the regular mortal people are covered in patches to indicate their poverty. The villain is dressed in a red wool hat, hat pink shirt and silver waistcoat and green trousers. The Knight is dressed in gold armor with a red cape and a white plume in his helmet. Overall I think the costumes were well done. I think Jack Frost's is very nice because glittery silver and blue seem just right for him. It is interesting to imagine a person sitting down and designing clothes for these characters. I think sometimes details such costumes are overlooked by the general viewing audience.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)
"My world is beginning today" song
I am here to defend Jessica's song. I notice in the reviews here that people are making fun of the song. Yes, the animation during this sequence is a bit different. But close your eyes and listen to the words. It is beautiful. Try it. Just listen and don't look. The song is pretty.
At the beginning we see Santa as an abandon baby. I can't help but wish there was a prequel. I would love to know about Santa's biological parents and why he was given up. I think it would be interesting.
I like that when Santa went into Sombertown that everyone is dressed in black and grey and he is in red. It is a great looking scene. I also enjoy the fountain.
One thing that was not my favorite. Is the woodland wedding. I really wish it had a clergyman or even a Justice of the Peace. The idea that Mr and Mrs Claus are not legally wed is kind of a bummer.
Letter to Loretta: To Open a Door (1958)
Lady attracted to a married man
A lady works in a Chicago dress shop for fashionable ladies. She has to take business trips sometimes. She starts to be attracted to a man that she sees on these trips. The man has an invalid wife and several sons. The woman is a principled and morally upright person. She begins to struggle with her feelings and worry about things. I will not reveal anything else about the plot in case you want to see it. Personally, I don't think this episode is as strong as some of the other ones in the series. The plot is rather slow moving at times. It is interesting to have a "working woman" in a 1950's TV show instead of being a stay at home mother like in many shows of the time.
Letter to Loretta: Time of Decision (1958)
Teenage sister
Ms Young comes swirling into the room to show off her dress and introduces the story. A woman goes to work at an architect's office. She begins a romance with a man who also works in the office. The woman's teenage sister comes to live with her. Soon after the sister moves in the woman starts to stay absent from work and when she does go to work her mind is clearly elsewhere. Her new boyfriend keeps trying to get her to tell him what is going on. She does not want him to know. There is something going on with her teenage sister. I will not reveal what is going on in case you want to watch this show.