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WaldoLydecker1
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Grantchester (2014)
Not very sympathetic main characters
The two main characters suck on cigarettes, ale and whiskey; they fornicate in adulterous relationships and are so self-absorbed as to be narcissistic. Even the replacement priest midway through the series exhibits most of the same despicable characteristics. I suspect Robson Green genuinely enjoys sucking on cigarettes, which might account for his shortness. From the way he sucks on cigarettes, James Norton likely enjoys smoking, too. The same could be said for the replacement priest. We enjoy Masterpiece Mystery very much, but Grantchester lets us down simply by letting the main actors indulge their bad and dangerous habits incessantly.
Adventures of Superman: Ghost Wolf (1953)
Coates is the best Lois
Other reviewers have pointed out the excessive use of stock footage in this episode, but the feeble storyline adds little of real interest to the rest if the story. Even the werewolf storyline is given short shrift. Two things about this episode struck me, however: Jimmy wears wildly mismatched plaids in his shirt and pants, despite his ever-present cuteness; and Phyllis Coates was a fine actress, making her so much better as Lois than Noel Neill. Poor Noel couldn't act her way out of a paper bag, a fact they tried to make up for by giving her a sparkly sequined business hat in many episodes.,
On Patrol: Live (2022)
Snowflakes can't handle the truth
Obviously, SOMEONE couldn't handle the criticism in my last review of this show. Three hours of unedited patrol of peace officers ends up with lots of boring interactions with citizens, thank goodness, but much of it is like watching paint dry. The hydrocephalic Dan Abrams has always seemed pretty innocuous in his many TV appearances. He always looks like a deer caught in headlights with his thousand-yard stare. I haven't read his books and have no intention of doing so. But here, Abrams PERFORMS! He cracks puns after the patrol segments, real groaners that he has to really reach for to the point of stretching. Early on, apparently there was a fly in the studio, although it was not visible to viewers. But Abrams used it as an opportunity to bust out his unintentionally comical "boxing" moves. He and his two fellow panelists, retired police officers themselves, started out with all three wearing Polo-type sports shirts. After some fan sent in a slobber about Abrams' "guns" on his skinny arms, he has since started wearing dress shirts. Then panel provides NFL-type commentary on clips they have just watched. The two former cops offer interesting, pertinent, and incisive remarks, so Abrams is left to crack wise. He flirts shamelessly with Sean "Sticks" Larkin while paying only token attention to the other guy. Abrams frantically shifts between the 47/almost 50/more than 50 (it seems to evolve from time to time) cameras in various jurisdictions (which numbers seem to evolve from time to time also) in attempts to find some action. In the attempt he often shifts away from a situation that is starting to become interesting - either from potential action or just human interest. Abrams practically wet his panties with excitement when he heard a comment of "officer down." Mercifully, it only meant an officer has fallen down while in pursuit, but Abrams seemed almost disappointed that an officer hadn't been shot. Abrams is building a media empire, but obviously felt threatened by my review. Spare yourselves the THREE-HOUR "live" episodes and wait a week or so for the one-hour "On Patrol: First Shift" which cuts out all the boring bits and concentrates on the exciting action - which is what compels most viewers to tune in to see. The most interesting parts of the three-hour "live" episodes are the recorded ones, offered as "Earlier in..." or "Just before airtime in...". Now they're repacking older episodes under titles instead of numbers, which misleads some into thinking they're new. Who woulda thunk that such a show would have to be edited down to really hold our interest? Oh, the producers of the hugely successful "Cops" franchise and every other such show. The rave reviews here have to be from friends and family of people associated with the production of this show. "Anything can happen. Anything. Anything." But usually doesn't.
Penrod's Double Trouble (1938)
Fun nonsense
The third entry in this series, yet another work based on Booth Tarkington's Penrod books, is the second co-starring Bobby Mauch and capitalizing on Bobby and Billy's identicalness. Despite the fact that Penrod met his double, Danny, in the previous entry "Penrod and His Twin," there is no acknowledgment of it here. In fact, Penrod, his gang of Junior G-Men, and his parents (here played by different actors than the first time) don't know him at all, and Danny is able to pass for the missing Penrod. Despite that, this movie, which comes in at a short 63 minutes or so, is quick-paced fun. The Mauch Twins were extremely likeable in their short onscreen careers. The supporting cast are all fine, as well. You could do worse than this bit of naivete from the 1930s.
The Judy Garland Show (1963)
Although I was only a child...
I still remember watching the show. As an 11-year-old about to turn 12, I only knew Judy Garland from "The Wizard of Oz," but I desperately wanted to watch her show. So, while my parents and younger brothers watched "Bonanza" on the big color console TV in the downstairs family room, I opted to watch Judy on the little black-and-white portable TV upstairs. (I didn't realize until years later that the show was broadcast in black-and-white.) A music lover in school, I had a music teacher who changed my life forever. Mrs. Shell was responsible for getting me recruited for a boys' choir at age 11, where I stayed for years and even developed a strong falsetto so that I could stay even after my voice changed. Mrs. Shell also taught us the songs from musicals she had participated in while she was in college as well as many others: "The Sound of Music," "West Side Story," "South Pacific," etc. As an adult, I used all these experiences in my career and ended up acting in, and later directing, these very shows. Of course, I fell in love with The Judy Garland Show and Judy herself. At times it seemed as if this frail woman might keel over, but just then she would amaze me with her singing and her stamina - holding notes longer than most singers could. I was sad when the show disappeared, but, of course, I didn't know the back story of the show, nor of Judy herself. And her guest stars! That's where I first heard Barbra Streisand. For example. A classic example of the world not fully appreciating the musical genius that was Judy Garland.
Pathway to Victory (1995)
tRump Licker
Pathway to Victory has been around for more than a quarter of a century, proving once again P. T. Barnum's "There's a sucker born every minute" and its fellow axiom "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of his fellow man." Robert Jeffress should be investigated for any part he may have played in the January 6 insurrection. He was seen by news outlets secretly meeting with tRump after Biden's victory. His show is yet another one of those "God loves you, now send us some money" scams.
Jail (2007)
Nicole Sittre Sucks
In 2022, we've been watching episodes of this show from several years ago. The guard/officer/prima donna by the name of Nicole Sittre is one sorry piece of work. She obviously enjoys being on camera, as she shows off/acts in order to be the center of attention. Worse, she picks at the inmates, females in particular, obviously trying to provoke them into making scenes for the camera. She quizzes and judges until most of the objects of her disdain are either weeping or furious. Her most telling statement about herself was when she said she PRETENDS to be interested in the inmates.
Shame on her!
(And no one, neither inmates nor staff, knows how to pronounce "recognizance," changing the 4 syllables to 3.)
700 Club Interactive (2009)
God loves you! Now send us some money!
It would be comical if people weren't being hoodwinked. Every episode ends with the hosts closing their eyes as if in prayer, but addressing the TV viewing audience. They pretend to be receiving impulses from some of the viewers regarding their various afflictions - and then praying for healing. Very much the same technique used by so-called fortune tellers/mentalist charlatans from time immemorial. Give me a break!
The Big Premiere (1940)
Where's Waldo? THERE'S Waldo!!!
Maybe I've been living in ignorance for decades, but I never knew an "Our Gang" short was the origin/genesis for the "Where's Waldo" craze or fad or what you will. But here he is, complete with striped shirt and round horn-rimmed glasses!
Bobby Beausoleil: Nature Boy (2018)
More Manson "family" propaganda
Yet another piece glorifying the murderer, Manson family devotee, gay-for-pay Kenneth Anger "star" and wannabe music star, Bobby Beausoleil. Why this thug is allowed to pedal his so-called music while serving life behind bars is beyond me. Stay away from anything with the name Bobby Beausoleil.
The Mentalist: Redline (2010)
Fun episode
To the reviewer who complained about a continuity error, stating that Jane could drive the Lambo blindfolded but couldn't do the same with Van Pelt during an earlier episode: here, he's doing it for fun and to show off a bit. In the earlier episode, he and Van Pelt were being SHOT AT the whole time.
The Right Stuff (2020)
Why?
Not even Pretty Good Stuff; maybe Okay Stuff, but why when you have the excellent original movie available, or the mini-series From the Earth to the Moon, both of which told the story much better.
Jail: Las Vegas (2015)
Guilty pleasure until Nicole Sittre...
In 2022, we've been watching episodes of this show from several years ago. The guard/officer/prima donna by the name of Nicole Sittre is one sorry piece of work. She obviously enjoys being on camera, as she shows off/acts in order to be the center of attention. Worse, she picks at the inmates, females in particular, obviously trying to provoke them into making scenes for the camera. She pokes and prods, quizzes and judges until the unfortunate object of her disdain until is either weeping or furious. Her most telling statement about herself was when she said she PRETENDS to be interested in the inmates. You can tell from her smug and superior attitude that she thinks far too much of herself. She's kinda cute at first glance, but she ain't nearly as cute as she thinks she is, especially after you get to know her.
Shame on her!
(And NO ONE, neither inmates nor staff, knows how to pronounce "recognizance," changing the 4-syllable word into a 3-syllable one.
Megalodon Rising (2021)
What a piece of megalodon doo-doo!
Holy Sharknado! When I saw that the low-life thug Tom Sizemore was the leading name in the cast, I was drawn to give it a look-see just out of curiosity. His role was little more than a cameo, but even in his brief appearances, he seemed amateurish next to the earnest, young unknown supporting cast. Even his first scene near the beginning was disastrous! Even though he's sitting still, talking on the phone - and long before any megalodon confrontation - he's sweating profusely for no dramatic reason. Even worse, he sounds as if he's reading his lines. He speaks in a staccato, William Shatner way, in bursts of 3 or 4 words. Then a pause, then 3 or 4 more words. One feels sorry for the mostly young and unknown cast who are there to support Sizemore, but, in fat, have to do all the heavy lifting in moving the wafer-thin plot along. The "action" consists mostly of much talking on claustrophobic sets. Interspersed with brief long shots of military vessels just sailing along. Don't waste your time.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
Fond, Frightening
I have fond memories of this, as the first horror movie I ever saw. I was 9, and my parents forbid my watching anything that smacked of scary because when I was even younger, I had nightmares and night terrors for a short time. But this Friday night, I was spending the night at my grandparents' farmhouse. I stayed up late with my teen uncles to see it on the late movie. I watched with a mixture of fascination and fright, and some 60 years later, I still enjoy the old Universal monster movies.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Overblown, overproduced Branagh bastardization of the brilliant Agatha Christie
Kenneth Branagh has a lot to answer for - not the least of which is his hubris in thinking he can improve on the brilliant Agatha Christie stories and previous screen adaptations of some of her favorite novels. Worse, Branagh changes the fundamental traits and personalty of Christie's Hercule Poirot. Where the hell does he get off? Then, he tries to compensate with overproduced, overblown "movie magic" which may impress some but not true Chritie afficionados. This is a continuation of the same tricks he tried to pull with his shameful "Murder on the Orient Express." He should be ashamed. I think the next item on his assasination list is "Evil Under the Sun." Please, God, no!
Parking Wars: Episode #1.16 (2008)
Where are they now?
I wonder what happened to those two pretentious queens from Chicago who tried to show off for the camera by appearing so supercilious and intellectual. I wonder if they're still a couple.
Parking Wars: Episode #2.3 (2008)
Pacemaker Jerk
We love this show, even as reruns. You see so many nasty people, mad at others because of their own stupidity and/or obstinate. This episode stood out because pf the fat man claiming he had a pacemaker (but that he could outrun everyone in the place.) He ranted and raved, not listening to nor caring what the PPA folks had to say. He's probably dead now- especially if he went through life raging in such a way - pacemaker or not.
Adventures of Superman: The Bully of Dry Gulch (1955)
Flinch Gulch
Rather typical color episode of the series. One thing struck me: Lois calls Clark from the besieged town of Dry Gulch. Clark is uninterested in the dire fate that awaits Jimmy and also the fate of the town at the hands of Bully Flinch. What prods him into super action is when Lois tells him the bully is making "google" eyes at her. Selfish of Clark/Superman, but I'd always heard "goo-goo" eyes, not "google" eyes.
Bild Live (2021)
Q-Anon Shaman
Worth seeing just for Jake Angeli, aka the Q-Anon Shaman, whom some Republicans call "a clown," while other Americans call him a traitor and insurrectionist.
Nightmare Theatre (2018)
Don't waste your precious life on this dreck
Since my previous, more extensive review was mysteriously deleted, I wanted to try again to warn potential viewers how truly awful this show is. The fact that it is shown late, late night on public service channels should be some sort of giveaway. Hosted horror movies, even bad movies, can be fun and entertaining. Not so with this amateurish offering that is just dreadful all the way around, and not fun at all. It has none the wit of something like "MST 3000" nor the camp of something like "Svengoolie. The premise is that a "minor demon", the Baron Mondo Van Doren (son of Mamie? He certainly looks as if he could be busty enough), has been sent by his "master" to earth to torment others with bad movies. For some reason, when talking to Satan, this large, effete man talks upward to the sky, as if addressing God instead of his "master", Satan, who, one might think, should be down below. That's just in the credits, and it goes downhill from there. It's often difficult to tell if he is reading cue cards or just looking at the wrong camera. Then there are his "sidekicks": El Sapo de Tempesto - a schlub wearing large, Larry King-style glasses under a Lucha Libre-type mask, whom the Baron treats with nothing but disdain and contempt; and then there is Mittens, a silent character who appears in a mask that has to be seen to be believed - but isn't worth the view. The actor actually appeared once out of his Mittens drag, wherein one wishes he were still silent. He out effetes the Baron in a queeny, drop-dead, supercilious tone of voice that quickly grows from annoying to irritating so quickly that one wishes Mittens could be put down. The cast seems to be a group of old friends from the disco, who, if they have any intelligence at all, are disdainfully putting us all on by proving that any kind of trash can make it to the airwaves. One of the most unintentionally funny segments is the visit to the curator, the strange obese guy with the child molester haircut they keep in the sub...sub...sub....sub...basement. (The Baron pretends to have to slowly count the number of "subs he slowly recites each episode in introducing the segment.) Each show he offers up some obscure prop from some usually obscure horror or sci-fi flick. The few others who have given this dreck its high ratings and glowing reviews HAVE to be friends and relatives of the participants (and maybe even the participants themselves. Note that NONE of them have reviewed anything else on IMDB.)
Olive's $weep$take Ticket (1941)
Missed this as a child somehow
Cleverly done, but still slightly strange to me. I watched all the Popeye cartoons on TV as a child in the 50s and early 60s, but missed this one somehow until 2021. Maybe that has something to do with why it struck me a little strange. Olive's sewing schtick is a great gag to kick it off and gives her a more prominent role than many other times. I've never understood why Popeye, Bluto/Brutus, or anyone would find her appealing in any way. She's built like a pre-teen boy, is certainly no beauty, but most importantly, she's a fickle witch. How could you ever trust her?
Perry Mason: The Case of the Golden Fraud (1959)
Roles for women indeed
This is an enjoyable episode, but it stuck me that of the 5 women featured, 3 were basically witches, even if some of their concerns were understandable. (And I'm including Della as one of 2 decent women.) I always look for Ray Collins' (Lt. Tragg's) cheek sucking smugness at the beginning of the investigation.
The Carol Burnett Show: Tim Conway and Ethel Merman (1969)
Many charms to recommend it...
But watch open-mouthed (as I did) for 61-year-old Ethel Merman singing, in her inimitable style, a mash-up of the folk-rock hits "Elusive Butterfly" and "Gentle on My Mind." OMG!
Bundle of Joy (1956)
Disappointment!
Having long been a fan of "Bachelor Mother" with the great Ginger Rogers, wonderfully supported by David Niven, Charles Coburn, et al, I looked forward to seeing this musical version of the same story. What a disappointment! Even Debbie Reynolds couldn't rise above this material. The writers and director seemed to remove every wonderful thing about the original source, without adding a trace of wit or humor. The supporting cast, despite having some old pros (such as Adolphe Menjou and Una Merkel), is ill-used, and the songs are even more forgettable. Worst of all is Eddie Fisher, whose dead-eyed expression never really changes, despite what his character is experiencing. One would think such a successful singer would have some acting instinct, but not in this case. Even his singing in this is pretty lackluster. Don't bother.