MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night

[Christopher]

I would love to see it, but I don't know if this means anything. I'm pretty sure I've seen them post stories about shows they don't air. I guess this could be a way to subtlety see if there is enough interest in the show to make it worth picking up.

You're right. A while back, MeTV's site ran an article about Bill Bixby's The Magician, presumably as a tie-in to their Hulk showings, and the only video clip they could offer was a low-quality YouTube clip of the title sequence. So they pretty clearly didn't have that series in their library.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

"Earthquakes Happen"--

The last cure-related episode of the season.

David returns to California, posing as "Ted Hammond" from the Nuclear Research Facility in San Thomas He contacts Dr. Robert Patterson (working for the Nuclear Regulatory Agency), and delays Patterson's planned trip to the Nuclear Research Facility, so David--using Patterson's identity--can gain access. That's two non- "David B." aliases--in one episode!

My, how the world has changed since 1978: David returns to a camera/Fotomat-type shop which shoots and manufactures identity cards--no matter how high level the job The greedy proprietor tries to increase the price of his ID, but as David flatly refuses, the crooked woman settles on the original price.

Later, Jack McGee is at the facility, grilling the real chief of safety engineering Ted Hammond over the suspicion that the "classified research facility that happens to employ a nuclear reactor" is sitting on a fault line that he believes is due to suffer an earthquake. David arrives as Patterson (avoiding McGee thanks to a guard). He meets the facility designer--Dr. Diane Joseph--who disagrees with Hammond's belief that the structure is not secure.

David's true motive is revealed: the facility not only has a Gamma lab, but has conducted studies on Gamma ray reversal techniques (triggering a flashback from the pilot, where Elaina Marks suggested using a "radiological treatment to counteract the Gamma rays").

Interesting that for all of David's intellect, his play acting / BS-ing only goes so far, raising suspicion in Dr. Joseph--enough to run a FBI check on "Dr. Patterson." Sound attention to detail (for Patterson's position and authorization to be at such a facility), and realistic for the series in general, in that the hero cannot be so effective, that he can con his way through every situation.

In fact, David makes a series of critical mistakes--from not knowing the real Patterson has an artificial leg, thus uses a cane, to activating the reactor, which instantly sounds warning alarms. Again, this is realistic, because the hero cannot possibly cover all the bases, or have been able to research well enough (being nomadic as he is) to slip in and out, without trouble at a classified energy facility.

David activates the gamma inversion device, but the power is shut down by Diane Joseph--just as an earthquake starts. Cue footage from the 1974 disaster epic, Earthquake.

Inexplicably, the delivery apparatus to the Gamma inversion device shoots blue, laser-beam-like energy that causes explosions on contact (sort of a lesser version of Doc's Aesculaptor Mark III laser surgery device from the Logan's Run movie), and when Diane's life is threatened, David turns into the Hulk, rescuing her.

Video surveillance sees the Hulk rampaging, but misses the transformation back to Banner. David endures being referred to as "Marcus Welby" (then a still relevant pop-culture reference), and saves Paul the security guard's broken leg. However, thanks to Banner activating the Gamma device, the mega volt demand activated the main reactor, and cannot be shut off. One coolant leak, several aftershocks (including public evacuation) & the threat of a "nuclear disaster" later, the Hulk is triggered again, busts through a wall, and allows Joseph, Hammond and others to escape.

With nuclear disaster averted, McGee questions Joseph and Hammond about the mystery man who was trying to use the Gamma device, but is shouted down from asking questions about the Hulk, with one reporter saying:

"C'mon, Jack--we're trying to cover a real story, here!"

Diane Joseph does make it clear (if it was not earlier) that the man (Banner) was not able to use the equipment.

Elsewhere, Banner (in black pea coat) walks alongside the freeway hitchhiking, cure dreams dashed yet again.

Sherry Jackson (Diane Joseph) was a popular face to fantasy TV fans, whether guest starring on Star Trek ("What Are Little Girls Made Of"), Lost in Space ("The Space Croppers"), Batman ("The Riddler's False Notion" / "Death in Slow Motion") --

--and The Immortal, or starring as comic strip heroine Brenda Starr in an unsold TV movie/pilot from 1979.

Kene Holiday (Paul, the guard) had a long-running stint with Sunbow / Marvel's various G.I. Joe animated series, as the voice of Roadblock, and in the joint productions' InHumanoids cartoon.

Peter Brandon (Ted Hammond) other fantasy roles were in one episode of the Logan's Run TV series ("Fear Factor"), and the 1980 movie, Altered States.

Location: In act one, David is crossing the street, passing Al's Discount Furniture, which was once a southern California fixture in the 70s. I remember the store and area , but its been remodeled since that period, losing that hand-painted signage which decorated innumerable storefronts for most of the 20th century.

Next week: the season one finale of the one 1970s superhero series to survive the decade.

 

[The Old Mixer]

The Incredible Hulk
"Earthquakes Happen"
Originally aired May 19, 1978

This week, David's cure-related activities are thwarted by a force of nature capable of making the earth move: Sherry Jackson. Even the Hulk is weakened in her presence, reverting back to puny Banner at the sight of her lying there all pretty and unconscious.

Not only is there no David B. alias this episode (I didn't even catch him telling anyone his first name during the crisis), but his heist-style scheme involves impersonating two other people, Ted Hammond and Dr. Patterson.

That woman where David got his fake IDs sure is a lousy negotiator...she didn't even haggle for a price somewhere in the middle.

Once again McGee is already on the scene for non-Hulk related reasons, but I can't fault them for trying to work him into the stories in more innovative ways that gave Colvin more screen time.

Would those be Bixby's actual glasses that he's wearing as Patterson? He's usually seen wearing them in interviews and such.

Kene Holiday seems familiar to me...browsing over his list of credits, it must have been from Carter Country, though I don't think I've seen that since it originally aired.

It's interesting that David is ultimately responsible for the potential nuclear disaster, thanks to his unauthorized activation of the reactor.

Considering that this took place in 1978, could it be possible that this wasn't a natural earthquake, but instead part of some follically challenged criminal mastermind's outrageous real estate scheme...?

I know that David has proven to have more adaptability to extreme gamma radiation exposure than the next guy, but he was evidently going to subject himself to something that doubles as a death ray...! The first Hulk-Out fits snugly into the pattern established so far at -25:16.

In the Really Cheesy Voiceover department, we have the helicopter, drawing conspicuous attention to the fact that it's evidently part of the stock footage from the film. Wouldn't the authorities be trying to not cause a panic by blaring to everyone that the reason they had to leave the city was an impending radiation catastrophe?

David's Undercover Doctor role also comes into play, but not in a way that puts him onto a Crooked Scheme of the Week.

Is there a limit to the frequency of David's changes? Under other circumstances, I'd think that David's first steam bath would have been enough to trigger one.

As soon as Sherry mentioned that reinforced concrete wall, I knew that the Hulk would be busting through it. They even seem to work in a shot of the Hulk busting out of the pressure chamber in the pilot...a particularly noticeable reuse of footage, considering that we see it in the opening credits every week.

At -5:01, the second Hulk-Out is the latest yet by well over a minute...I guess the Hulk has more time to get around to doing his thing when David doesn't have anybody to say goodbye to at the end.

 

[Christopher]

The Incredible Hulk
"Earthquakes Happen"
Originally aired May 19, 1978

For an episode built around stock footage, this doesn't seem like a very economical production, what with all the location shooting and on-set earthquake effects. I assume the rooms damaged in the quake were all sets, which makes them pretty elaborate sets, and I wonder if they borrowed them from a movie along with the Albert Whitlock special effects from Earthquake.

Oh, apparently this huge earthquake happened in the city of "San Thomas," even though one of the stock-footage buildings clearly has "LOS ANGELES" written on it.

Universal would reuse stock footage from Earthquake again in the pilot of Galactica 1980, "Galactica Discovers Earth," as part of a simulation of a Cylon attack on Earth (with Cylon Raiders and blaster bolts superimposed on the footage -- one of the few clever things about that pilot, or indeed that series).

It's unusual to see David trying to con his way into a cure rather than getting a job at the lab or something. Maybe this was his plan B. He actually showed kind of a gift for blarney, though he was inexperienced enough to miss some important details in his impersonation. And it's interesting that David's selfishness nearly causes a cataclysm, though it doesn't really show David reacting to that, aside from risking himself to turn on the cooling valve. It's something that deserved more attention. (It also would've added to the moral ambiguity if we'd seen him getting his fake ID from an illegal source.)

I'm afraid this wasn't the most impressive episode overall. David's "cure" methodology was kind of bizarre -- just take another dose of gamma and hope for the best? The peril with the gamma unit that randomly turns into a laser deathtrap is silly, and unnecessary given the existing dangers in the scene. And it's a weird contrivance that none of the key players in the story ever even knew the Hulk was there. So having the guys in the control room get a glimpse of him was a bit pointless.

Production note: This episode is the debut of Nicholas Corea in the role of story editor. He would become the show's producer in season 2 and remain with it as a writer, producer, and occasional director through the fifth season, and would also write and direct The Incredible Hulk Returns in 1988.

This week, David's cure-related activities are thwarted by a force of nature capable of making the earth move: Sherry Jackson. Even the Hulk is weakened in her presence, reverting back to puny Banner at the sight of her lying there all pretty and unconscious.

Frankly, Jackson is one of the things that makes this episode weak. This is a role that relies on her acting ability rather than her ability to rock a skimpy outfit, and that's not exactly playing to her strengths. As an actress, she's quite dull.

Worth noting, though, that this is at least the second time Sherry Jackson and Ted Cassidy (Hulk voice/narrator) have worked on the same TV episode.

Once again McGee is already on the scene for non-Hulk related reasons, but I can't fault them for trying to work him into the stories in more innovative ways that gave Colvin more screen time.

Still, it was hugely contrived that, yet again, David and McGee happened to be in the same city by coincidence. I suppose the justification could be that McGee is following the trail of Hulk sightings and thus tends to be in the same part of the country, on hand to get assigned to significant stories in that area, but having them both be at the same research lab at the same time beggars coincidence.

Kene Holiday seems familiar to me...browsing over his list of credits, it must have been from Carter Country, though I don't think I've seen that since it originally aired.

Oh, wow, that's going back a ways. I suppose Holiday is one of those actors I've seen around in multiple guest roles, but I do remember watching Carter Country (which, for the benefit of the uninitiated, was a 1977 sitcom about a sheriff and deputy in a small Georgia town -- Georgia being the home state of recently inaugurated President Jimmy Carter, hence the title).

Considering that this took place in 1978, could it be possible that this wasn't a natural earthquake, but instead part of some follically challenged criminal mastermind's outrageous real estate scheme...?

Only if this were the Amalgam universe. Besides, it was "San Thomas," not Otisburg.

Is there a limit to the frequency of David's changes? Under other circumstances, I'd think that David's first steam bath would have been enough to trigger one.

I'd have thought straining to break the lock on the grille would've done it too. But I think there has to be an element of desperation or rage in play rather than just pain or stress. Although, let's face it, the main determinant is dramatic appropriateness.

At -5:01, the second Hulk-Out is the latest yet by well over a minute...I guess the Hulk has more time to get around to doing his thing when David doesn't have anybody to say goodbye to at the end.

I couldn't help wondering where he was storing his duffel bag and peacoat while he was at the plant. He probably had a motel room. Or at least a bus-station locker.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I thought that Jackson did a serviceable enough job in the role for what it entailed...it's not like it involved any great dramatic chops, all she had to do was act suspicious of David, and she did manage to convey that non-verbally.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Sherry Jackson (Diane Joseph) was a popular face to fantasy TV fans, whether guest starring on Star Trek ("What Are Little Girls Made Of"), Lost in Space ("The Space Croppers"), Batman ("The Riddler's False Notion" / "Death in Slow Motion") --

--and The Immortal, or starring as comic strip heroine Brenda Starr in an unsold TV movie/pilot from 1979.

There's also an episode of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis that I caught on Me a few years back, in which she plays a rich girl who brandishes a riding crop while using horse-training metaphors to describe how she's going to train Dobie to be the perfect man for her...!

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Not only is there no David B. alias this episode (I didn't even catch him telling anyone his first name during the crisis), but his heist-style scheme involves impersonating two other people, Ted Hammond and Dr. Patterson.

Yes...not a "David B." alias at all. I wonder if another episode shares such a distinction.

Once again McGee is already on the scene for non-Hulk related reasons, but I can't fault them for trying to work him into the stories in more innovative ways that gave Colvin more screen time.[/quote]

Agreed. The pilot established that he works for the Register, but his interest in Banner's research meant that he was not some "U.F.O./Bigfoot of the week" kind of reporter.

Kene Holiday seems familiar to me...browsing over his list of credits, it must have been from Carter Country, though I don't think I've seen that since it originally aired.

Maybe you remember his voice from the G.I. Joe cartoons mentioned earlier. He's had a long career, so you might have seen him...everywhere...well, almost everywhere.

Considering that this took place in 1978, could it be possible that this wasn't a natural earthquake, but instead part of some follically challenged criminal mastermind's outrageous real estate scheme...?

Hey! Nice nod to Luthor and his scheme from the first Donner film!

I know that David has proven to have more adaptability to extreme gamma radiation exposure than the next guy, but he was evidently going to subject himself to something that doubles as a death ray...! The first Hulk-Out fits snugly into the pattern established so far at -25:16.

I believe that's why the flashback/memory of Elaina's statement about treating David using a "radiological treatment to counteract the Gamma rays" was important--at least to suggest gamma (or another) radiation could be used to counter what it created (as an overdose).

David's Undercover Doctor role also comes into play, but not in a way that puts him onto a Crooked Scheme of the Week.

...and it completely backfired on him, as I noted earlier. He's not a spy or master of impersonation, so for all of his fake IDs and BS-ing technobabble, he still fell far short of successfully conning Dr. Joseph, which was a strong, realistic touch for a series usually having its hero take on other identities week to week. When it counted most--in a high security location--it failed.

Is there a limit to the frequency of David's changes? Under other circumstances, I'd think that David's first steam bath would have been enough to trigger one.

We need a Hulk-out counter, too...but usually, there were at least two Hulk-outs per episode, unless the story demanded more.

I thought that Jackson did a serviceable enough job in the role for what it entailed...it's not like it involved any great dramatic chops, all she had to do was act suspicious of David, and she did manage to convey that non-verbally.

Jackson was fine for what was needed for the character; as you accurately point out, she had to act suspicious of David, and handled that well enough.

I note that The Incredible Hulk--a series running between its 1977 pilots and 1982 finale--introduced numerous females of important positions in medicine, engineering, archaeology, and other fields, yet were naturally fit in the stories, as opposed to being "message of the week." This was well past the heart of the then-modern version of the Women's Liberation Movement (in North America), yet this series used female characters' strengths as individuals and/or professionals from the start as a truthful part of everyday reality. Far ahead of its time where fantasy TV is concerned.

 

[Christopher]

I thought that Jackson did a serviceable enough job in the role for what it entailed...it's not like it involved any great dramatic chops, all she had to do was act suspicious of David, and she did manage to convey that non-verbally.

I just find her voice rather monotonous. Her line readings are rather lifeless and don't convey much character or emotion. Fine if she's playing an android, not so much here.

 

[The Old Mixer]

^Eh, she'd be far from the weakest guest actor to appear on a genre show over the years.

Yes...not a "David B." alias at all. I wonder if another episode shares such a distinction.

I kind of doubt it, as the whole heist scheme set-up of this episode struck me as a novelty for the series...but we'll see.

Maybe you remember his voice from the G.I. Joe cartoons mentioned earlier.

Nope, didn't watch those, and I was recognizing his face.

I believe that's why the flashback/memory of Elaina's statement about treating David using a "radiological treatment to counteract the Gamma rays" was important--at least to suggest gamma (or another) radiation could be used to counter what it created (as an overdose).

I wanted to include something about the conspicuous use of pilot flashbacks this late in the season...it struck me as a bit filler-ish, but it also occurs to me that it was an effective way of conveying what Banner was up to in this situation, since he didn't have a confidante to deliver exposition to, even indirectly.

...and it completely backfired on him, as I noted earlier. He's not a spy or master of impersonation, so for all of his fake IDs and BS-ing technobabble, he still fell far short of successfully conning Dr. Joseph, which was a strong, realistic touch for a series usually having its hero take on other identities week to week. When it counted most--in a high security location--it failed.

My Undercover Doctor mention was referring to David breaking out his medical skills after the quake. He seemed a little more out of his element as an engineer...like he'd studied up a bit, but it was a nice touch that he wasn't completely convincing and aroused suspicion early.

I have to wonder why that document didn't just indicate the real Patterson's age....

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

The Waterfront Story--

The Incredible Hulk arrives at its first season finale in this corrupt union leadership / murder tale.

No cure-related plot at all.

Once again, Banner (as "David Barton") is Earth's Greatest "Chick Magnet" / Heart breaker with Josie. Is there a 1st season woman that doesn't fall for him in some way?

Another near miss encounter between David and McGee. You would think Banner should be a nervous wreck from all of the "almost" moments.

In this exchange between David and Josie:

David: You two used to come here (the beach) alot?
Josie: Seems like a million years ago. Then, its as if we were here together just yesterday.
David: Its the worst kind of deja vu.
Josie: Yes, its strange, and a little scary.
David: Yes, it is. But it gets better.

Pretty clear that he was referring to himself as much as Josie.

Best Hulk scene busting out of the crate suspended in the air.

James Sikking (Cliff McConnel) has a long career that includes a few stopovers in fantasy land. Aside from his appearance here, he guest starred on The Bionic Woman ("Which One Is Jamie?"), The Immortal ("My Brother's Keeper"), and the movies The Terminal Man (loosely based on the Michael Crichton novel) and an uncredited role in Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Trekkers will always remember his performance as the far too confident U.S.S. Excelsior Captain Styles from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Sheila Larken (Josie) would guest star (as another character) in "Nine Hours," an episode from TIH's third season. Larken worked with Bixby before--in "No Way Out," the series finale of Quinn Martin's short-lived fantasy anthology series Tales of the Unexpected. Larken also appeared in two episodes of another horror anthology misfire--Circle of Fear.

"The Waterfront Story" was not exactly the strongest way to end a debut season, but the The Incredible Hulk finished its first year--any flaws aside--as the best superhero TV series up to that point (with just 2 TV movies and 10 regular episodes), and even to this day, one of the most mature.

 

[The Old Mixer]

The Incredible Hulk
"The Waterfront Story"
Originally aired May 31, 1978

(This one aired on a Wednesday for whatever reason....)

The Incredible Hulk arrives at its first season finale in this corrupt union leadership / murder tale.

Set well away from the known locales of previous episodes...

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...the episode opens with the novelty of a Hulk incident in progress, but otherwise isn't a format-breaker as it still has two regularly scheduled Hulk-Outs. But McGee is on the scene and David is ready to leave as the episode commences. We also get a nice fake-out in the plot, with one would-be union boss presented as if he's going to be the villain of the piece while it turns out that his friendlier rival is actually the bad guy.

Once again, Banner (as "David Barton")

Almost didn't catch this alias...first time I heard it was in the aftermath of the first onscreen Hulk-Out (-29:31, our second earliest regular one so far), when David was threatening to leave yet again.

is Earth's Greatest "Chick Magnet" / Heart breaker with Josie. Is there a 1st season woman that doesn't fall for him in some way?

Definitely, but this one is the closest we get to an out-and-out romance since the pilot, IIRC.

When David does start to hoof out, for some reason he heads to the docks instead of the highway, and oh-so-coincidentally stumbles upon Cliff and the heavy (Marty?) conspiring out in full sight of everybody...immediately after which, Cliff oh-so-coincidentally walks in on Josie as she's listening to the evidence tape that she just discovered...!

It was pretty stupid of David and Josie to run back into the warehouse considering how exit-challenged it had already proven to be...there were plenty of would-be witnesses outside that they could have ran towards.

Best Hulk scene busting out of the crate suspended in the air.

-6:03 (our second latest so far). The "out of sight, out of mind" effect of David's transformations is in full effect here. First the comic relief lady who works at the bar doesn't recognize David's distinctive vest outfit on the creature following the "second" Hulk incident...then the bad guys don't put anything together when they put David and Josie in a box, and the Hulk and Josie come out of it!

Ferrigno's shoes are also much more obvious than usual during the last Hulk incident.

Trekkers will always remember his performance as the far too confident U.S.S. Excelsior Captain Styles from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Ah! I had no idea!

The Incredible Hulk finished its first year--any flaws aside--as the best superhero TV series up to that point (with just 2 TV movies and 10 regular episodes)

On that, note, I have some season-end tallies!

*******

"David B." Aliases (in alphabetical order)

David Barton
David Benchley
David Benson
David Benton
David Bernard
David Blaine
David Blake
David Bradburn
David Brown

In addition, we have two episodes with no specified alias, and one episode in which he poses as two other characters in the story.

*******

David's Reason for Being in Town (not counting the first pilot)

Cure-related: 4
Paying lip service to cure-related activities: 2
Just schlepping around: 5

*******

Average Hulk-Out Times

(Excludes episodes that are obvious format-breakers, which in this case means both pilot movies as well as the pre-episode first Hulk-Out in "Of Guilt, Models, and Murder".)

Average first Hulk-Out: -26:24
Average second Hulk-Out: -7:07

We'll see how closely the Season 2 episodes stick to the pattern established so far!

*******

 

[Christopher]

"The Waterfront Story": Interesting departure from the formula for the season finale: We begin with a Hulk-out (the first of a record three in an hourlong episode) and with David itching to leave town. It helps sell the depth of his connection with Josie that he actually decides, for the first time, to change his mind and stay. It also helps that the writing (and improv?) of their relationship is good and the actors' chemistry is excellent.

The moment James B. Sikking showed up, I immediately knew he'd be the real villain, because, come on, he's James B. Sikking. (Although the first role I knew him for was essentially a good guy, if an extremely prickly and neurotic one -- SWAT leader Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues.) Even aside from that, the twist wasn't hard to predict for anyone who pays attention to story structure.

The waitress's solicitous reaction to the Hulk was a nice comic touch, though her voice was kind of annoying. And the attempts to pass off LA, with its distinctive palm trees, as Galveston was particularly unconvincing.

This week we have David Barton the bartender. Did he make up that alias on the spot when he applied for the job? And it's his second alias of the season that's the surname of a fellow Marvel character, in this case Clint "Hawkeye" Barton; the other was Blake, as in Thor's old alter ego Donald Blake (whom David Banner will actually meet in the '88 movie revival).

"David B." Aliases (in alphabetical order)


David Barton
David Benchley
David Benson
David Benton
David Bernard
David Blaine
David Blake
David Bradburn
David Brown

And yet somehow McGee never notices a pattern...

 

[The Old Mixer]

Galveston has palm trees.

 

[Christopher]

Galveston has palm trees.

Okay, but that was definitely the Port of Los Angeles passing as the Port of Galveston. Locals would probably recognize the Vincent Thomas Bridge (though I had to Google it to find the name).

 

[Christopher]

By the way, I decided to rent the Wonder Woman DVDs featuring the episodes that MeTV skipped last time around. I just watched "The Deadly Toys," the Christmas episode with Frank Gorshin as an evil toymaker. It's oddly solemn for a Christmas episode, and might've been a bit scary for the kids, with android duplicates of people grotesquely melting into pools of wax with bits of circuitry floating in them. It also features an almost unrecognizably young and big-haired John Rubinstein. (Can you call it an afro if a white person has one?)

Of course there's an android Wonder Woman too, and I have to wonder if the innuendo was intentional when Gorshin's character finished dressing this life-sized female doll in a Wonder Woman costume and said, "Thanks to you, all my friends will be happy for a long, long time." I just bet they will... Anyway, they use the fake Wonder Woman to lure Diana into a trap (which she somehow ends up falling into despite obviously not being fooled by the impersonation), and seeing the camera cutting between Diana and Wonder Woman in the same shot just underlines how preposterous it is that anyone could fail to recognize that they're the same person. There's also the inevitable WW-vs-WW fight, which is rather underwhelming given how strong they presumably both are.

There's also one of those morally problematical TV endings where, rather than putting the villains under arrest and giving them a fair and ethical trial, Wonder Woman arranges for them to unknowingly fail their evil foreign masters and "get what they deserve," implicitly meaning that they'll be executed horribly. And this is supposed to be a cheerful ending.

 

[Christopher]

Continuing my fill-in of the "missing" Wonder Woman episodes, today I watched the 2-parter "The Boy Who Knew Her Secret," and man, it was lame. The only good thing about it was the music by Richard LaSalle. It was trying for an Invasion of the Body Snatchers thing, with aliens taking over people's bodies in a small town, but turning out to be more benevolent in their mission, sort of, since they were hunting an evil alien shapeshifter (or, as the episode put it, "someone who can disguise himself as anyone or anything," because apparently they figured "shapeshifter" was too esoteric for their target audience), except they were still kind of evil about it, and it was all pretty muddled. The guest actors were very bland -- especially the 21-year-old playing the title "boy," who had maybe one and a half facial expressions -- and it showcased Lynda Carter's limitations as an actress as well. The pacing was very sluggish and padded. The director was Leslie H. Martinson, but it had none of the flair or energy of Batman: The Movie or even Rescue from Gilligan's Island. Music aside, it didn't work on any level -- writing, directing, acting, special effects, makeup -- oh, yeah, at the climax, the shapeshifter turned into a "monster" to fight Wonder Woman, and it looked more like a fur-wearing mountain man who needed a bath. Even the bit about the kid learning Wonder Woman's secret had a relatively minor part to play in the story.

 

[publiusr]

Thatks for the words Christopher. I like the non WWII stories a bit better.
With Earthquaks--it was nice to see the gamma-laser contraption.

Something I want to run past you. Not only did each decade seem to have a theme--but it seemed to me there was a type of motion during each decade--especially the 1970s-1980s. The sense of the new--a sense of danger seemed to increase. I remember the final (pre-TV movie episodes) seemingly light years away from the pilot. Strange how a young persons mind works.

Didn't like waterfront. People loved to demonize unions then. Some of the folk then were rather un-evolved--but never put down labor. O/T in HBO's movie ALL THE WAY we see Cranston--so spooky as LBJ--lament losing the South It had to be--but a lot of folks voted for a party that shut down southern labor--to no good effect.

Tonight, Banner gets married. I thought the woman was Dinah shore--or one of the women from Good Morning America years ago.

 

[The Old Mixer]

^I'm not sure it was anti-union, as the guest heroine's ex-husband was an upstanding union boss...but I can see where it could be taken that way.

So, dilemma for tonight's installment...Me is airing "Married" in two parts, this week and next, but (unlike the pilot movies), Netflix has it as a single double-length episode (as it apparently originally aired). Do we want to review it all tonight and take next weekend off for Memorial Day? Or if we are reviewing it in two parts, does anyone know the exact breaking point between episodes? (I wanna say it's when Carolyn gets her test results and goes driving off to the bar, with David in pursuit.)

 

[Christopher]

^I'm not sure it was anti-union, as the guest heroine's ex-husband was an upstanding union boss...but I can see where it could be taken that way.

And Josie's anti-union tirades actually turned out to be misguided, because the union-president candidate that she thought was corrupt actually turned out to be okay. Her anger at the union was partly a result of her false suspicions, partly a result of her grief and just being sick of the politics and the constant reminders of her loss. So I don't think it was an anti-union statement on the writers' or producers' part.

So, dilemma for tonight's installment...Me is airing "Married" in two parts, this week and next, but (unlike the pilot movies), Netflix has it as a single double-length episode (as it apparently originally aired). Do we want to review it all tonight and take next weekend off for Memorial Day? Or if we are reviewing it in two parts, does anyone know the exact breaking point between episodes? (I wanna say it's when Carolyn gets her test results and goes driving off to the bar, with David in pursuit.)

I'd prefer to watch it in one go, though I don't have a firm preference between this weekend and next.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Though they did give indication that the not-the-bad-guy-after-all union leader candidate had a shady past.

I'm in the middle of watching the first half...figured I'd go at least that far tonight.