Amazing Stories (TV Series) The 21-Inch Sun (1987) User Reviews

Nary a Weed in the Bunch!

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 29 May 2014]

In one of the silliest episodes, it's hard not to root for the main character. He has a good soul and he is talented (we know this because his hilarious script is rejected by the chicken man). Unfortunately, when his break comes along, he is stifled by the demands of time. He calls the producer to tell him that he can't manage, but while on the phone, he sees a fully written, extremely funny script. He brings it in, but now he is seen as the guy who can do an entire episode in 24 hours. But where did that first script come from. It turns out that a variegated spider plant is responsible. She (we are assured it's a she and he names her Lucy) actually covers the portable typewriter, and writes scripts. They begin a kind of cottage industry. Unfortunately, he gets in with the TV crowd and leaves the plant on a window sill. She falls and is picked up by a garbage truck. That would be a sad ending, but I won't spoil it for you.

Enlightened by TV

[sonnyschlaegel · 6/10 · 4 June 2007]

Billy is a teleplay writer. He is low on money and the rent is due. Luckily, he gets a commission from a producer to write a sitcom episode - but it has to be completed by the next morning. Billy tries to do it, but after a while he realizes he won't make it and goes to bed. However, the next morning he finds a complete script next to his typewriter. The producer likes it and Billy gets more commissions. He finds out that his plant has typed the script with its long leaves. He wonders how the plant could do it. He looks up that kind of plant in an encyclopedia. It tells him that the plant needs much sunlight - and it probably doesn't get enough near the typewriter - but there's a 21-inch sun near the typewriter, too: Billy's TV set. Will the plant make Billy a rich man?

When I read the title of this episode, I thought it would be some mysterious sci-fi story. I was a bit disappointed because it is basically comedy with only a little bit of mystery or sci-fi. However, the basic idea (the enlightened plant) is really funny in my opinion. (And I liked that Billy speaks to his plant even before it writes the script for him. Maybe it wanted to reward him for being so nice to it.) But I think there should have been more good jokes. I liked some of the other episodes better because I think they are funnier, for example 'Go to the Head of the Class' (#2.8), or have more mystery, for example 'Thanksgiving' (#2.9).

However, I liked the acting and the special effects, and (as I've said before) the basic idea, so this is still an o.k. episode in my opinion.

"I love Lucy"....well, at least HE does.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 24 June 2015]

Robert Townsend stars as Billy, a young guy who wants to be a screenwriter. However, he's finding it hard to break into the business. Finally, he gets a small chance--small because he has to complete a script in one evening!! He tries but fails and yet the next day, he finds a wonderful script sitting by his typewriter! Later, he discovers that his spider plant is typing it...seriously. The idea is ludicrous AND a bit of a rip-off of "Little Shop of Horrors"...without all the horrors! The bottom line is that this episode is cute...if you are 12 or younger. Otherwise, it's actually pretty embarrassing to watch a very talented guy like Townsend wasting his time with a script that comes off like a bad 60s sit-com, such as "My Mother the Car" or "Mr. Ed" when it comes to ludicrous ideas!