MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night

[Christopher]

As a kid, I used to wonder how Kolchak kept his job since none of his scoops ever saw print. I always thought that he should be working for some low-rent supermarket tabloid that would actually pay for his sensational stories. Of course, he'd still be bound and determined to someday to prove that he was right all along and get taken seriously by "serious" journalism, but, in the meantime, he'd still be able to make a living reporting on poltergeists and UFOs . .

That's pretty much Jack McGee's position on The Incredible Hulk, except with a narrower focus.

Hey, that's a good question I just thought of. TIH established McGee as a serious, honest journalist who worked at a sleazy tabloid because he'd fallen on hard times, but who was trying to earn his way back to respectability by proving the Hulk was real and not a tabloid fabrication. But what kind of stories did he write for the Register before he came upon the Hulk? Just how much did he have to sell out to earn his paycheck there before he had a genuine monster to write about? There's fodder there for an extra McGee-focus episode we never got. Maybe he'd lost his way and really had sunk into fake news, and the reality of the Hulk reawakened his passion for truth and his determination to earn vindication.

Meanwhile, note that the werewolf was played by Eric Braeden, who had previously starred in COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT and ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES. Nowadays, though, he's best known for his long career in daytime soap operas.

And who'd been in one of the best Mission: Impossible episodes, "The Short-Tail Spy," under his real name, Hans Gudegast.

As for the werewolf make-up . . . honestly, that was a bit lame even by 1974 standards.

I'm not surprised. But there are some even lamer monsters coming up in later episodes. We're talking Classic Doctor Who-level creature effects.

(P.S. Don't hold your breath waiting for the authorities to cooperate with Kolchak. Not ever going to happen.).

Although we'll find as we continue that that's as much Kolchak's own fault as anything else.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

As a kid, I used to wonder how Kolchak kept his job since none of his scoops ever saw print. I always thought that he should be working for some low-rent supermarket tabloid that would actually pay for his sensational stories. Of course, he'd still be bound and determined to someday to prove that he was right all along and get taken seriously by "serious" journalism, but, in the meantime, he'd still be able to make a living reporting on poltergeists and UFOs . .

He would be at home at The National Register--but Kolchak is not willing to use others for his own benefit like Jack McGee.

Meanwhile, note that the werewolf was played by Eric Braeden, who had previously starred in COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT and ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES. Nowadays, though, he's best known for his long career in daytime soap operas.

...and he probably landed those strong roles based on his moderately popular run on the 1960s WW2 adventure series, The Rat Patrol, where he was known by his birth name, Hans Gudegast.

As for the werewolf make-up . . . honestly, that was a bit lame even by 1974 standards. By then, we'd not only had Lon Chaney Jr, but Michael Landon in I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF, Oliver Reed in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF, etc. Heck, DARK SHADOWS had featured better werewolf makeups .

KTNS suffered some budget issues throughout its run, so it was lowball time for a complicated creature like a werewolf (and an upcoming scaly monster). The series make-up was at its best when subtle, such as the decomposing skin patterns on "The Zombie" or the pale vampire.

Too bad there was never a Kolchak & Kojak team-up, y'know, just cuz.

...along with all of the other 1970s one-name TV cops and private eyes, such as Banacek, Toma, Columbo, Tenafly, and the rest.

 

[JD]

While I loved the show, I used to think the same thing. I remember saying to my friends that the second-season premiere should show him be actually successful at proving one of his stories-- of course, he is still widely disbelieved, but a mandate comes down from the main office to play up the supernatural stories.

Could he be writing regular stories between episodes?
Thanks to the Superbowl I was able to watch this weeks Kolchak and I enjoyed it.
The stuff with the werewolf on the cruise was pretty good. It was a bit typical for these kinds of stories, but I'm a lot more forgiving with these older shows from before there were a lot of these kinds of shows. It was also well done, so I enjoyed it.
I liked the character Kolchak, he seems like a good lead for this kind of show.
The biggest issue I had was the cheesy looking werewolf, but I'm OK with cheesy makeup and stuff when the rest of the show is this good.
Watching it I could definitely see the influence on shows like The X-Files, Sleepy Hollow, and Grimm. With The X-Files of course being the biggest one.

 

[Christopher]

Could he be writing regular stories between episodes?

There are a number of Kolchak episodes where Tony assigns him to some more conventional story and Kolchak ignores it to go after the monster sightings. So he definitely is getting more ordinary journalistic assignments as a matter of course. Plus he relies on his police scanner to tip him off to crimes to cover, and presumably that includes a fair number of non-supernatural homicides, assaults, etc.

 

[Greg Cox]

In the second tv-movie, The Night Strangler, Vincenzo assigns Kolchak to cover the Daffodil Festival in Puyallup, Washington. This amused me to no end as a kid because my family came from Puyallup and we used to hit the Daffodil Festival every year.

And let it be noted that Kolchak managed to pronounce "Puyallup" correctly.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

...along with all of the other 1970s one-name TV cops and private eyes, such as Banacek, Toma, Columbo, Tenafly, and the rest.

I was going on how similar they sound but that said Kojak, Kolchak and Banacek has a ring to it.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Could he be writing regular stories between episodes?

One would imagine so. Vincenzo was carrying him because they were old friends, but he must have been producing something publishable.

I was going on how similar they sound but that said Kojak, Kolchak and Banacek has a ring to it.

There was also Kodiak, but that one didn't last long. There may have been others, too.

 

[The Old Mixer]

This week, on The Incredible Hulk:

"Falling Angels"
Originally aired February 8, 1980

David discovers that the children at the orphanage he is working at are being groomed for a life of crime.

Events in the news that week:

February 4 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini names Abolhassan Banisadr as president of Iran.

New on the U.S. charts:

"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," Willie Nelson

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(#44 US; #29 AC; #1 Country)

"Baby Talks Dirty," The Knack
(#38 US)

Eh...their third-biggest hit, and too derivative of their first. Since their second-biggest got skipped during a hiatus, I'd rather swap that in:

"Good Girls Don't," The Knack

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(Charted Sept. 1, 1979; #11 US; #66 UK)

Meanwhile, back in the '80s:

"Even It Up," Heart

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(#33 US)

"And the Beat Goes On," The Whispers

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(#19 US; #1 Dance; #1 R&B; #2 UK)

And...had it only been a busier week, I might have spared everyone this:

"Lost in Love," Air Supply

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(#3 US; #1 AC)

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

"Baby Talks Dirty," The Knack
(#38 US)

Eh...their third-biggest hit, and too derivative of their first. Since their second-biggest got skipped during a hiatus, I'd rather swap that in:

"Good Girls Don't," The Knack

(Charted Sept. 1, 1979; #11 US; #66 UK)

Its no wonder the Knack did not maintain any relevant presence on the music landscape.

"Even It Up," Heart

(#33 US)

AKA the glory days were long gone, their last release of note being "Straight On" from 1979.

And...had it only been a busier week, I might have spared everyone this:

"Lost in Love," Air Supply

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(#3 US; #1 AC)

You mock it, but off all of this week's selections, its probably aged best of all.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I knew that if I posted that, somebody would turn out to be a fan....

 

[Silvercrest]

Thread needs a new name: MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night Fever.

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^

"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys," Willie Nelson

I'm aware of the song, but I have no recollection of ever hearing it at the time.

"Baby Talks Dirty," The Knack

Ah, The Knack. Another band billed as the new Beatles-- or did we already talk about them?-- but they turned out to be a one-album wonder.

"Even It Up," Heart

Not their best, but catchy and I like it. They did continue to do some great stuff in the 80s.

"And the Beat Goes On," The Whispers

No recollection of this whatsoever.

And...had it only been a busier week, I might have spared everyone this:

"Lost in Love," Air Supply

Actually, this is a nice song and Air Supply was a pleasant enough band. Their best work, of course, was "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All," which was written by Jim Steinman.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Now I know the secret...mock a song selection openly, and everyone will love it!

Ah, The Knack. Another band billed as the new Beatles-- or did we already talk about them?

Yes, we covered "My Sharona" when it came up.

Thread needs a new name: MeTV's SuperSci-Fi Saturday Night Fever.

So two seasons ago....

 

[RJDiogenes]

Now I know the secret...mock a song selection openly, and everyone will love it!

We are what my Grandmother used to call "contrary."

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

The Incredible Hulk--
"Falling Angels"

David Bannister is bowled over by two running teenage girls; one drops a gold locket, sending the thoughtful David tracking the girls to the Chesley Heights Home for Girls, where he's formally introduced to the girls (Jody & Mickey)--and their caretaker, Rita Montoya. At the nudging of Peter Grant (the home's city benefactor), David is hired as the orphanage's handyman / jack-of-all-trades. Montoya is not pleased.

Jody seems to warm up to David more than the others. She quickly reads David as being an "orphan" of sorts and encourages him to attend the "meat market," or gathering for would-be parents to meet children up for adoption. Jody, who is African American makes a sobering statement about his "chances" for adoption as opposed to herself--

Jody: "You're old, but at least you're white. Maybe you'll get lucky."
David: (amused at her candor) Thanks. I don't think so."

David imagines living in an orphanage is not completely awful since Jody has a roof over her head and friends, but Jody--unlike David--does not have that most basic childhood experience: knowing her parents, which contradicts her earlier statement about the locket being a gift from her mother. Grant walks in, telling Jody she need not bother with going to the showing, moving a hurt Jody to say--

Jody: "Sure, I get it. Probably just wanted someone a little lighter."

David tries to ease her pain with a childhood story of always being chosen last for teams, only for Jody to counter with the fact he was--at least--chosen.

Although Rita seems to care for Jody (in David's presence), she escorts the girl to another room, where Don--her criminal cohort runs Jody & Mickey through a safecracking exercise. Using a digital combination reader, the girls open the safe in less than 60 seconds, making Don very happy about the real safe job (at rich Mrs. Taylor's auction) days away. Rita is not so enthusiastic about it.

Later, Jody is upset that she was prevented from meeting interested parents. Jody presses Banner--suggesting he should not be alone, which David correctly interprets as he should adopt a daughter--her.

Jody: "David, you're all alone, ain't you?"
David: "Yeah."
Jody: "Don't you get tired of that? I mean, don't you want to have someone around sometimes?"
David: "You mean like a 15-year old daughter?"
Jody: "Maybe."
David: "Jody, that's not possible."
Jody: "Yeah. I guess you would want someone who looks a little more like you."
David: "Hey...if I were going to have a 15-year old daughter, you'd be perfect. Believe me, you're better off right here."

Unnoticed, Mickey watches the pair, then--

Jody: "I don't know. I'm doing these things...well, they just ain't cool."
David: "What kind of things?"
Mickey: "Like talkin' to you! Can't you tell, Jody? He's just like those chumps that were here today! Those chumps that wanted some cuddly, little white baby!"
David: "Uh, that's not the reason--"
Mickey: "You just heard it for yourself! Jody, he doesn't want you!"
David: "Jody, it's not a case of wanting you or not--"
Mickey: "Man, all we got is ourselves and Rita. That's it!! Don't go counting on no one else!"

Conflicted, Jody runs off with Mickey.

Elsewhere, Rita is increasingly hesitant about using the girls as part of the criminal plot--and her relationship with Don; the man is willing to end their romance--but warns if she backs out, he will reveal her true, criminal identity (e.g. her serving time) to any authority figure who will end her care of the girls.

David witnesses Mickey and Jody run a pickpocket scheme, and chases the girls into the hands of two judgmental garbage men; the men assume David is part of the crime, and lock him in a rat infested garbage dumpster. Soon, the rats bite the panicked Banner, triggering a Hulk out. The Hulk busts out of the dumpster, sending the guilty garbage man climbing to the top of his vehicle as the Hulk pushes the truck into a utility pole.

Changing back to Banner, he regroups with Jody & Mickey--the latter thinking Banner is now on their side after sticking up for them--offering part of the stolen money. Obviously, David refuses, and warns the duo of the possibility of ending up in prison. Rita steps in and defensively orders David to leave the girls' affairs to her.

The next day, as Banner packs his bag, Rita apologizes, asking him to stay (believing her behavior pushed David to leave). She asks him to remain--at least until after Mrs. Taylor's auction. Banner agrees, but his problems are just beginning: McGee (thanks to the garbage men) tracks John Doe to the orphanage, missing David by seconds.

Banner, Rita and the girls attend the TV interview for auction; Jody & Mickey slip away to crack Taylor's safe--at the same time Rita stand before a news camera, singing the benefit of the orphanage's programs on the girls--offering them skills, breaking barrier...a future. Upstairs, the girls successfully open Taylor's safe, but are caught by David...

Rita spills everything to Don--telling him David forced the girls to return the contents of the safe; unable to take more of the criminal life. Rita intends to quit, only Don--once again--threatens to expose her, and deal with David. Later, Rita explains the economic motives behind the crimes/helping the girls, and Don's hold over her. David concocts a plan: let the girls steal the Taylor jewels, and plant them on Don--at the same time David notifies the police--with the hope that Don caught red-handed would not make him the most believable man in the event he tries to expose Rita.

At the auction, Jody & Mickey steal enough jewels to hang Don, while Rita nervously glances at her watch in anticipation of David holding up his end of the plan. Unfortunately, two of Don's thugs blackjack David, lock him in a storage room, planting whiskey on him (to explain his state), and pump fumigation gas into the room. In the main building, McGee finds empty rooms, but stumbles across Banner's bag...and (not caring by invading a stranger's privacy) begins to open it...

Banner is roused by the gas, but beings to choke--then transform. The Hulk escapes the storage room, attacks the henchmen, and bolts to Taylor's mansion--with McGee witnessing the event. At the auction, Rita & the girls are on edge--fearing the plan has fallen apart; the Hulk makes it to the mansion, with McGee not far behind. The Hulk finds and attacks Don, and in ripping his jacket, spills the stolen jewels. Don's Fagin-esque scheme has reached its end. The Hulk spots McGee, growls in anger, and runs away.

Jody--carrying David's bag--finds Banner still groggy from the pesticide--

Jody: "I had to sneak past that dude McGee. He won't leave our doorstep. But don't worry--he ain't getting nothing out of us."
David: "Thank you. How's Rita?"
Jody: "Fine. She didn't wait for Don. Told everybody herself about doing time. But it didn't make no difference. Say, David, wherever you're going, you might like somebody with you--"
David: "I can't give you a home, Jody."
Jody: "Yeah, but, you know, if we both got to be orphans--hey, we might as well do it together."
David: "If I could give you a life better than the one you've got, believe me, I'd take you right now, but I can't. And everything's going to be fine now, at Chesley Heights, so give it a try, won't you?"
Jody: "Okay."
David: "Thank you for that. I love you, Jody."

The two exchange one last look before David--as always--moves on.

NOTES:

This is not a cure related episode.

David Bannister...that's almost playing with his real name--like a wink & a nod at the world.

Jody's "...but at least you're white" was a pointed comment on the heavily one-sided racial preferences in children for adoption at the time.

Short, but sweet best describes the David / Jody relationship. Her wanting to be wanted was a steady reminder of the point made above. Of course, no matter how appealing, TV David (more to the point--Kenneth Johnson) would not add anything in the neighborhood of a recurring, teenage character to the series. In other words, A Rick Jones would not work in this format.

Although the Hulk growling at the sight of McGee happened on several occasions in the past, "Mystery Man," built on the "why" with Banner's returning memory processing McGee as "enemy McGee,"--meaning Banner only sees him as a threat.

We learn that no one--not even the Hulk--can tolerate a nag on the phone.

GUEST CAST:

Debbi Morgan (Jody)--Morgan spent most of her career in soap operas, but she managed to land a few fantasy roles--

• Spawn (HBO, 1999) - recurring as Granny Blake
• Charmed (TheWB, 2002-03) - recurring as The Seer
• Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 2006) - "Melinda's First Ghost"

Cindy Fisher (Mickey)--in what must be a rare kind of credit for a performer, Fisher guest starred in the similarly titled "Fallen Angel"--a 1982 episode of Strike Force.

• Bad Ronald (ABC, 1974)
• Airplane II: The Sequel (Paramount, 1982) - "I don't want to sound forward" woman

Annette Charles / Courset / Cardona (Rita)--probably best known for her role as the sleazy dancer Cha-Cha in Grease (Paramount, 1978), and much like her TIH co-stars, her fantasy credits were pretty thin--

• The Bionic Woman (ABC/NBC, 1976/'77) - "Canyon of Death" & "Jamie and the King"
• The Man from Atlantis (NBC, 1977) - "The Death Scouts"
• Transylmania (Full Circle, 2009)

Anthony Herrera (Don)--

• Night of Bloody Horror (Cinema IV, 1971)
• Mandrake (NBC, 1979) - as Mandrake the Magician
• The Night Rider (Universal TV, 1979)
• Twisted (Hemdale Film, 1986)

 

[The Old Mixer]

David Bannister

Always loved that one. Could be my favorite David B. alias.

is bowled over by two running teenage girls

I thought the girls would have been lifting David's wallet when they ran into him. (Does David have a wallet?)

knowing her parents, which contradicts her earlier statement about the locket being a gift from her mother.

It could have been left with her when she was put in the orphanage.

David tries to ease her pain with a childhood story of always being chosen last for teams

That would have resonated for me when the episode originally aired.

Soon, the rats bite the panicked Banner, triggering a Hulk out.

-27:44.

In the main building, McGee finds empty rooms, but stumbles across Banner's bag...and (not caring by invading a stranger's privacy) begins to open it...

Snooping around is kind of his thing. Did John Doe have the Incredible Duffel Bag with him in "Mystery Man"? Maybe it seemed familiar to McGee.

Banner is roused by the gas, but beings to choke--then transform.

-06:50.

The two exchange one last look before David--as always--moves on.

In an episode-specific LM sequence, going by my notes. It seems that I was noticing those becoming more common around this point.

This is not a cure related episode.

Just schlepping around in a pretty ho-hum, formulaic episode.

Short, but sweet best describes the David / Jody relationship. Her wanting to be wanted was a steady reminder of the point made above. Of course, no matter how appealing, TV David (more to the point--Kenneth Johnson) would not add anything in the neighborhood of a recurring, teenage character to the series. In other words, A Rick Jones would not work in this format.

It also would have been pretty creepy for David to be traveling around with an underage girl.

Next week:

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[TREK_GOD_1]

I thought the girls would have been lifting David's wallet when they ran into him. (Does David have a wallet?)

I think they only concentrate on the one task, and not risk exposure by freelancing. Regarding David and wallets--sometimes he carries one, but goes without one, considering how often he loses personal items.

That would have resonated for me when the episode originally aired.

Probably the reason that was added to David's background, to be honest. More are average in sports than some exceptional, wins everything type.

Snooping around is kind of his thing. Did John Doe have the Incredible Duffel Bag with him in "Mystery Man"? Maybe it seemed familiar to McGee.

I think he did, but lost it. In any case, it would not trigger suspicion, as that kind of bag was common for the era. In fact, my parents had a bag like that (used on trips) that I used to refer to as a "David Banner bag."

In an episode-specific LM sequence, going by my notes. It seems that I was noticing those becoming more common around this point.

I think the PTB realized the "Everyone Loves David" vibe was one popular with audiences, so parting scenes used them at every chance.

It also would have been pretty creepy for David to be traveling around with an underage girl.

Indeed...and then it would have turned into an episode of Police Story.

Next week:

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AKA "Why David's Life Can Suck from Time to Time."

 

[The Old Mixer]

More are average in sports than some exceptional, wins everything type.

But those of us who were so downright sucky as to routinely get picked last...we were the elite.

 

[Christopher]

“Falling Angels”: A pretty forgettable Oliver Twist riff, marred by the incredible cluelessness of David trying to equate being picked last for the baseball team with a lifetime of enduring racism. At least Jody called him on his crap and got him to concede it’s hardly the same thing.

This is one of those episodes where the first Hulk-out is not only quite contrived but has zero impact on the story, except to bring McGee to the scene. The attempt at the obligatory Hulk-comedy bit falls flat too. McGee getting a look at the iconic duffel bag was an interesting moment, but it didn’t go anywhere. (Just imagine if Jack had found David’s journals of his cure research.) I’m dying to see more meaningful interaction between McGee and “John”/the Hulk. Like maybe if McGee had noticed the bad guys trying to kill David (without seeing his face) and tried to help him, only to be confronted with the Hulk.

Anyway, it’s a good thing nobody at the orphanage wanted to tell McGee about their erstwhile handyman. I mean, “David Bannister?” Isn’t that a little too close to home?

The Hulk running all the way to the charity auction to save the day was contrived too. Okay, we know the Hulk is instinctively driven by David’s goals and priorities, but how did he know the way there? All right, David had been there once, but he was probably driven there, and it’s a new and unfamiliar city.

Still, the stuffy dowager’s line about how he could at least have opened the door first was a good payoff.

By the way, a side effect of binge-watching these episodes: I’m starting to recognize the voices of the people who do those awkward off-camera voiceovers of people reacting to the Hulk in crowd scenes. At least one of the voices in the charity auction scene was the same as one of the offscreen biker-gang member voices in the climax last week.

 

[The Old Mixer]

This is one of those episodes where the first Hulk-out is not only quite contrived but has zero impact on the story, except to bring McGee to the scene.

Which is still better than some of them (e.g., last week, or even worse examples when nobody even sees the Hulk).

The attempt at the obligatory Hulk-comedy bit falls flat too.

I'd made a note of that when watching, but didn't even feel it was worth bringing up, the random comedy beats have become such a standard part of the show at this point.

_______

Batman
"The Clock King's Crazy Crimes"

Originally aired October 12, 1966​

"The Clock King Gets Crowned"

Originally aired October 13, 1966​

So Sammy Davis Jr. rehearses in the abandoned factory that the Clock King is using as his hideout?

And it just occurred to me: Whoever controls the knockout-gas manufacturing industry in Gotham City must be filthy rich.

Very true. I was just watching an Avengers last night, and was mystified when Steed knocked somebody out by waving his umbrella in their face. A google verified that it was supposed to be knockout gas...but it wasn't visible, and I'm so used to adventure shows in this era depicting knockout gas as brightly-colored smoke.