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bigdave5472
Reviews
Family Affair (1966)
Wrong Names
I don't know who is responsible for putting the names on IMDb, but the names of the characters, the three Davis children are wrong. At no time in the course of the series are the children known as other than Cissy Davis, Jody Davis, and Buffy Davis. Whoever put their names on IMDb as Patterson-Davis is quite ignorant, or some sort of smart alec. These are not members of the British Royal Family, they are 1960's era middle Americans from TerreHaute, Indiana, and their surname is the name of their father, the late brother of Bill Davis. The name "Patterson" was the name of their maternal grandfather who showed up in one episode, but we don't even know if the birth name of the late mother of the children was Patterson. For all we know from information given in the series, Mr. Patterson could have been a step-father. What we do know is that from time to time, throughout the series, the names of the children are given, and their names are Buffy Davis, Jody Davis, and Cissy Davis.
Cycles South (1971)
For when there is nothing better to do!
I don't recommend that anyone pass up other activities, or go out of the way, to watch this movie. But if you've got nothing better to do, it passes the time with some scenery. Like today, it is showing on THIS network, and there is nothing I want to see on any other channel. I have watched it before, and after seeing it both ways, I recommend leaving the sound on "mute". This Don Murray is not witty or wry or interesting as he thinks he is, and his commentary is quite an aggravation, and I don't think I could listen to it another time. Watching without sound, you might wonder what is happening, but there is nothing happening that means anything, there is no plot, and he is just making smart alec remarks in voice over, along with some corny sound effects. He seems to think it is "kool" to ridicule and put down his buddies. Maybe just "unmute" when there are other people on the screen along the way. I'm an old man who just sits around watching over-the-air television nowadays, but I had a Yamaha Enduro 360 back in the early 70's, and I went on some similar adventures. On one vacation from the refinery, a buddy and I rode as far as you can go on North Padre Island, down to the Mansfield Cut. We quickly learned that we had to ride on the wet sand where the surf lapped the shore to stay upright. It was October, so we had that part of the world all to ourselves, but it was still warm enough in the early afternoons to go skinny-dipping in the Gulf. For the person on the forums for this movie who keeps saying that Don Marshall must be in white-face. There is more than one person in the world named Don Marshall. I could not reply to that on the forums because they ask for either my credit card number or cell phone number, and I don't put such identity information on the internet.
The Rockford Files: White on White and Nearly Perfect (1978)
Looks like a pilot for a spin-off!
One of the other reviewers said that Tom Selleck got the job on Magnum PI because of this episode. I don't remember it that way, and seem to recall that another actor turned down Magnum PI before it was offered to Selleck. However this episode seems to be a pilot, but it would be the pilot, not for Magnum PI, but for a Rockford Files spin-off featuring the character of Lance White. Like most spin-off pilots, the character played by the guest star is a more prominent role than the usual main character. While The Rockford Files normally features a great deal of humorous irony, this episode is hilarious, a real laugh-fest from start to finish. Well, the gag of the glove compartment door hitting Rockford on the knees ceased to be funny after the third time, and the marriage of Lance to the kidnap victim at the end was implausible and carried the theme of Lance's charmed life too far, but still the episode is very funny. The main reason that this episode is pleasurable to watch is, of course, the extreme good looks of Tom Selleck. This was a couple of years before Magnum PI, and he was even a little younger and prettier than when he started as Thomas Magnum. When he smiles with that porn'stache on that beautiful face, it is just pure sexual stimulation.
Daniel Boone: The Grand Alliance (1969)
Not Recommended
Fiction is one thing, but false history is another matter. Television writers and producers could just make up any fictional characters that they would like to do, without screwing up American History. MeTV is showing this series at 8am CDT weekday mornings, and it is the most awful mishmash of lies and false premises which could ever be imagined. This "Grand Alliance" is the episode airing this morning, and it is no different than the entire series. Daniel Boone is portrayed as teaming up with an escaped slave who became an Indian chief (like that could have ever happened)played by Rosie Grier. The two of them save the nation (which did not yet exist, he lived in the western edge of the colony of Kentucky)from a plot by the Spanish who intend to attack way up there. The whole series is like that. Daniel Boone and his wife, Rebekka had at least six children, but in this there are just the two with unusual names, Jemima and Israel. Then Jemima disappears without explanation, and I guess that she is presumed to have married and moved away. Before the unlikely character portrayed by Rosie Grier, Daniel's best friend was an Indian named Mingo, who had been educated in England and spoke like a Shakesperean actor, while he dressed like a cowboy picture stereotype with a feather stuck in his headband. With no evidence that Daniel Boone was ever an abolitionist, he is portrayed as preaching against slavery in the 1700's and helping slaves escape, and being the best friend of an escaped slave. The issue of abolition did not even arise that early. This is just a bunch of lies and confusion of history.
Sea Hunt: Water Ski Show (1959)
One of my favorite episodes!
This episode was shown on "THIS" network this morning, and I enjoyed it. One of the co-stars was the beautiful Lisa Gaye who guest starred in five episodes of Sea Hunt in 1959, playing five different characters. The storyline here is more credible that usual because Mike Nelson is being very adventurous, but not being superman saving the world from nuclear disaster or communist dictatorship. He is hired to supervise a stunt in a water ski show where a man, played by the handsome Robert Conrad, is diving from a hang glider. There is a murder and Mike Nelson figures it all out and is able to arrest the murderer underwater. The main thing that I want out of TV programing is eye candy, and there is plenty of it in this episode. Both Lisa Gaye and Robert Conrad are just too good-looking to describe, and even the murderer was played by a hot number. I never found Lloyd Bridges to be all that attractive, but he certainly had the sleek physique. And while he did not have a pretty face, the assets which he did possess were shown off to the greatest extent possible on network television. I am always amazed at seeing his total lack of self-consciousness in being so nearly naked, appearing to be not the slightest bit ill-at-ease, while acting in long scenes wearing nothing but wet white tight skimpy swim-trunks, often with fully clothed actors. This is just a really fun TV series for such a person as myself.
The Big Valley: Hell Hath No Fury (1968)
Not That Bad
This episode is playing on MeTV as I write, and I don't find it to be as bad as the other reviewer. This episode features Heath/Lee Majors, although the other characters are present and two of them have considerable lines, when many times if one character is featured the others are absent. Victoria/Miss Stanwyck and Audra/Linda Evans both do a fine job in this episode. It is true that the guest star, Carol Lynley, is not a good actress, and her character, Dilly, has a fake Southern drawl which her brothers do not share, but she is a beautiful sexy provocative woman, and she has a revealing bath scene. I suppose it depends upon your reason for watching television. If you are looking for a world class artistic experience in the performing arts, then perhaps you would not want to watch this. But I am looking to pass an hour with a TV show that is somewhat entertaining and not too boring, and to be titillated with some pretty eye candy in the meantime, and I am finding this episode of "The Big Valley" to be quite adequate in that regard. There is another beautiful guest star, the handsome Don Dubbins, who plays Dilly's brother, Grady. And of course, the lovely brawny Heath/Lee Majors is wearing light colored pants that fit just right to really show off his shapely physique, and at the mid-point of the episode he has a scene where he is naked down to the cowboy belt, showing off that beautiful chest. The silver embellished saddle which the infatuated Dilly gives Heath is also beautiful and interesting to those of us who enjoy western artifacts. The past hour which I spent watching this episode is far from the worst hour of my life.
Honey West (1965)
This series was totally ripped-off by "Remington Steele"
I never heard of this series during its original run. It has been mentioned here that it ran in competition to "Gomer Pyle, USMC", and my family always watched that. MeTV, however, is now running two episodes of "Honey West" every weekend, and I have watched several episodes. Both of the stars are absolutely gorgeous, and it is worth watching for that reason.
This thing that strikes me is how completely the premise was copied by "Remington Steele". Even the naming of the male character seems to have been inspired by the name of Sam Bolt. "Moonlighting" might have also gained inspiration from "Honey West."
The Middle (2009)
Not so bad that I can't watch it.................
Out of the slim pickings of current era television, this program is not as bad as most of the choices, and it is one of the few shows made in recent years that I can watch.
The character of Axl is a major aggravation. Any decent father would have corrected his smart ass behavior, or kicked him out of the house before he was 17 years old. He wears only underwear most of the time, right in the presence of his sister, and neither parent has sense enough to say a word about it. This is an obvious attempt at T&A titillation by the producers, but it is sickening that they do this with a teenage character. But the teenage character is played by an actor who is obviously an adult with secondary sex traits. The whole concept of Axl being nearly naked for most of every episode is just really creepy on a number of levels.
For good appropriate male eye candy, look at the actor playing the father. He is tall and moderately handsome, and a little more masculine than men are normally portrayed in this current era.
The actor who is really impressive and makes the program worth watching is Atticus Shaffer, who portrays the youngest child, Brick. He is very reminiscent of Joe E. Ross, the actor who portrayed Gunther Toody in "Car 54, Where are You"? I hope he has a long, happy, and productive career.
The Big Valley: The Lost Treasure (1966)
theowinthrop is wrong
I have just watched this episode on MeTV, and the posted synopsis is more accurate than the review by theowinthrop. He or she said that it was from memory of seeing the episode many years ago, and I am sure that it was just a mistake.
I had myself thought that I remembered that in the pilot episode, Heath had found his father's grave after looking for it, and then was stomping on the flowers when Audra took after him with a whip. I learned in seeing it again recently that was a mistaken memory. Heath happened upon the grave by accident, and it was not really stomping on the flowers, Audra just accused him of that.
Anyway, this was not one of my favorite episodes, but it was alright. Seems to just be an excuse to reiterate that Heath was accepted as a member of the family, and it did not really matter if he was actually Tom Barkley's bastard son, or not. For anyone who knows human nature, the whole series is based upon an incredible premise. Just look at how Bocephas treats his half-sister, Jett Williams, and no DNA test is necessary, as she is the spittin' image of her father. Look at the H.L.Hunt families. Look at the Charles Lindbergh families. People who ever inherited anything just don't accept the illegitimate half-siblings, and the cheated upon widow certainly does not take the bastard in as her own son. But it is interesting fiction.
The Big Valley: Caesar's Wife (1966)
Fairly Interesting Story
I watch the Big Valley on MeTV network, mostly for the purpose of partaking of Lee Majors as eye-candy. In this episode, the character of Will Marvin, played by Tim O'Kelly serves that purpose quite well. You rarely see a character spend so much time with his shirt off, and he was a fine specimen of beefcake.
The storyline is predictable and commonplace--widowed father has a new young wife with the hots for the good-looking son. The secretive adoption twist to the story seems anachronistic, uncalled for, and detracts from the story rather than adding any interest to it. Why insert 20th century issues into the 19th century?
I'm sure many people are offended by the practice, but if you like looking at pretty boys, The Big Valley is always a good bet, and this is a particularly good episode for it.
Caught (1987)
Attractive Star
I enjoyed this because it is homo-erotic. The star, John Shepherd, is very attractive and is scantily clad in much of the movie. And besides he hustles, picks up men and has sex with them for money. After all these years of watching the Evangelical scandals play out, you wonder about the real reason that the evangelist is showing so much interest in the new convert, inviting him to share his room, and so forth. In the end, though, he is not a Ted Haggard type with an ulterior motive, but a true believer who gradually persuades Tim, the John Shepherd character to be converted. It is not a movie that you can take seriously because credibility is stretched past the breaking point. However, it was a fun movie to watch and I would like to see it again. I doubt that it is going to win many converts to Billy Graham Religion which is of course the reason for the production.
Perry Mason (1957)
Favorite TV show
I was three years old when first episodes aired. I have been watching then in syndication most of my life. I try to watch an episode every morning on a local station, and watch additional episodes on tape and DVD most days. I enjoy seeing the various lifestyles depicted, from extreme wealthy to middle-class and bluecollar to down and out. The story lines are often very clever.
In the way of criticism, I must admit that the quality went downhill as the series went on. Near the end, episodes were being recycled, and the re-telling was definitely not an improvement.
In watching the episodes over and over as I do, I began to realize that the same actors were used in different roles, and it becomes a distraction.
Also the writers were not often very creative in naming the characters. On occasion they did a great job like in naming the character Johnny Starr, but more often the same names are used over and over for similar but different characters. For example there are several teenage stepdaughters named Helen in episode after episode. The name Walsh is used over and again, as are other names.
The producers sometimes took liberties with automobiles, and seem to think the viewers would not notice if an accident victim drove to the cliff in one car, and then went down the ravine in a different one.
It was early television, starting in 1957, and these problems may be a little annoying but I am willing to overlook them and just enjoy the nostalgia.