TV Shows Review

.:: Laugh with Carol Burnett & Friends ::.
- Classic Comedy/Variety Show (1967) -

The comedy show Carol Burnett & Friends was a syndicated/truncated version with only skits or showing only the sketches the of The Carol Burnett Show. Carol Burnett together with co-star's Tim Conway and Harvey Korman made the series funny with
all their slapstick humors, by getting guest actors and actresses ad-libbed with unexpected lines and trying to maintain straight faces but even on the inside they were dying to burst out laughing.

The Carol Burnett and Friends, in it's syndicated reruns compose of sketches from the show that were reedited into freestanding programs resulting the show enjoyed success for many years and keep the audience laugh all the time. The Carol Burnett and Friends show is one of a kind worth watching variety released with the total of 6 seasons.

.:: About My So Called Life ::.

A hanged up tv series lasted only for one season but everybody love it and it was a show that many could relate to. A story about 15 years old girl sophomore Angela Chase living in not usually mentioned but realistic family in mid-nineties, with all trials and difficulties being a teenager dealing with parents, friends guys and school. The show brought out issues like child abuse, homophobia, teenage alcoholism, homelessness, adultery, kinky sex, school violence, censorship, and drug use, among many others as these are introduced in the beginning of each episode and how they are resolved in the end. Most plot of the show revolves Angela's daydreaming about Jordan Catalano, life, friends and experiences as a high school student.

My So Called Life was canceled due to low ratings and inline in air time with some shows like Mad About You, Friends and many others but the network didn't see as audience love it as it was too good for TV .Viewer's comment on My So Called Life have great potential and very interesting especially for who remember these days and in the same age range with Angela. The Show runs only in one season with total of 19 episodes.

That Girl - 1966 TV Sitcom

A comedy tv series about beautiful young, talented and independent woman Ann Marie leaves her parent's comfort and make it in the Big Apple as aspiring actress and model.Her high-spirited perkiness and warm beauty never fails to attract men as pre-credit teaser in every opening of each episodes and end's up someone exclaiming "...that girl" over a shot of Ann. Together with her boyfriend Don Hollinger and her father Lou Marie who supports her auditions and help her to afford an apartment in New York and her extensive wardrobe of mod fashions.

The show ends only on Don and Ann's engagement to send message to young women that marriage was not an ultimate goal for them. Aired from 1966 to 1971, That Girl completed 5 seasons with 136 episodes.

The Best of Muppet Show

Jim Henson first created the muppet characters in 1955, appears on numerous tv programs both local and national but only gained popularity when they showed on the tv series Sesame Street in 1969. Jim sought a program that will be enjoyed both by young and old until in 1976, The Muppet Show was premiered and they become a cultural phenomenon. The show was actually produced in England and syndicated around the world and garnered tremendous ratings and stores jammed with muppets in toy merchandises.

The show features the Muppet stock company doing variety show filled with music, dancing and silly comedy sketches, humors and slapsticks. Weekly, they have special guest star join them accompanied by Kermit the Frog who serves as the host and stage manager of the show. Popular characters of the show includes Miss Piggy, a glamorous diva pig show also pursuit Kermit, a stand-up comic bear Fozzie, the gofer Scooter, a general all-around weirdo the Great Gonzo, the playing piano dog Rowlf the Dog George, the scientist Doctor Bunsen Honeydew. The Muppet Show's slow-witted janitor. Beeker Meep, Droop the Anteater, Crazy Donald (later named Crazy Harry), Brewsters the old timer, Mildred the goose, and Rufus (later named Muppy). The special featured actress Mia Farrow, taught the muppets about love, and that everyone loves something.

The Best of the Muppet Show includes seasons 1-5 with total of 120 episodes lasted for 5 years from 1976 to 1981.

.:: Entertainment Icon Dean Martin and Celebrity Roasts ::.

Born as Dino Crocetti, an American singer and Film Actor Dean Martin is one of the most beloved entertainers of our time specially his comedy/variety series The Dean Martin Show. After once declining popularity in 1973, The Dean Martin Show featured the word "roasts" in 1974 that seemed pretty popular among tv audiences and pick up ratings for the his show "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts" for 11 years by successfully ridiculated, embarrassed and made fun of legendary stars like Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Benny and many more plus special guest appearances.

From Dean's early year being a school dropped out, first took jobs like steelworker and bootlegger, and by 15 he as a boxer "Kid Crocett" but stop due to prize meager. Dean started his entertainment career when he work in a casino as stock boy, roulette stick man, sing with local bands and later get his break working with Ernie McKay Orchestra with name "Dino Martini". Early 1940's Dean became bandleader of Sammy Watkins and change his name as Dean Martin carrying his looks and personality and later developed smooth singing style. Dean luckily started his acting, singing career and also teamed up with Jerry Lewis from fast friendship into music-comedy team before he start his solo career by 1965 launching his show.

Dean prided himself memorizing not only his lines but the whole script and firmly believed his best performance was his firsts. The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts show become very popular and favorite show with it's loose format often prompted comedic, quick-witted improvisation resulted the show often on Top Ten.

The Wonder Years was a family comedy tv show about the life of a 12-year-old boy (Fred Savage) growing up in the 1960s United States. There was regular narrative from a "grown-up" Kevin which provided insight into what he was thinking when he was 12 and what he thought about the same situation years later.

1984 Miami Vice

Styled differed from earlier police shows, Miami Vice got the revolutionary aspects reflecting the more glitzy and gritty feel of 1980's new Wave culture. Phil Collins, Glen Frey Peter Gabriel, U2 and more artists' music added dramatical background to the show made specially for MTV audience, the lyrics and tempo contributes to the storyline showing character's images, emotions and energies.

Miami Vice was a story about two cops; Detective James "Sonny Burnett" Crockett - a former University of Florida Gators football legend but injured, drafted to US Army and served two tours in Souteast Asia and lately became uniformed patrol cop and live in his sailboat St. Vitus' Dance guarded by his crocodile pet, Elvis. Sonny's partner, Detective Ricardo Tubbs - a black ex-New York street cop came to south to find the drug dealer who murdered his brother. Together they cruise around Miami using Sonny's Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 taking down Florida drug world, crime, prostitution, end large gunbattles, drug traffickers and throw down big Latin American drug dealer in series finale. In the emotional ending episodes, Tubbs says goodbye planning going back to "the big bad Bronx" while Sonny ask if Tubbs consider a career in further south law enforcer where the water is warm and drinks are cold, the two from being engaged in cynical and burned out still sharing close friendship.

MTV-influenced action tv series Miami Vice launched in 1984 until 1989, made five seasons with 111 episodes of adventures and misadventures.

.:: Multiple Award Winning Dramedy - The Wonder Years::.

The story that depicts the real life; happiness, changes, traumas, problems and enjoyment that everybody experienced. The series goes as Kevin reminisce and narrates his teenager junior high school life who encounters puberty, deal with ups and downs, take adventure and hanging out with his girlfriend Winnie and geeky but cool best friend Paul. Old Kevin narrates how their friendship goes up and down, face many problems such as health issues, break ups, confusion and misunderstanding but they always keep trust for all things they share and honesty to the one they love.

In the final episode, Kevin and Winnie got deep argue about as their relationship got worst due to third parties. The elders who help on that day drop them off the heavy rain for them realize what's happening and discuss how things change and remember the things they've used to share. In the final epilogue, Paul went to Harvard for college while Winnie ends up studying Art History in Paris & writing up with Kevin for the next eight years. Old Kevin narrates when he greet Winnie as she comes back to US, accompanied by his wife and his infant son and tells:

" Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place, a town, a house like a lot of other houses, a yard like a lot of other yards, on a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back, with wonder."

The Dramedy story of The Wonder Years was created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens and won multiple awards from Emmy, Golden Globe, Humanitaz Prize and many more. Run six seasons with total 115 episodes aired from 1988 to 1993, a perfect example real life adventure.

Action Drama Hit TV Series - Nash Bridges

A series about smart-alecky top notch San Francisco Head Police Inspector/Investigator Nash Bridges of the SFPD's elite Special Investigators Unit (S.U.I.). Nash's team are intrepid SUI detectives; Harvey Leek, a Grateful Dead fan and computer & surveillance expert, Evan Cortez the gifted investigator, girl picker and compared as Nash in his younger days, and Nash's best friend partner and wisecracking comedian but also a top notch officer Joe Dominguez. With Nash's streetwise instincts, charm and keen sense on humor, they taking down plaques of the city from powerful drug lords with immense wealth right on down to scum at the bottom of the ladder.

But Nash's lifelong and great achievements in his profession, he's a divorced single father taking responsibilities taking care his 16-year old girl Cassidy and his his father Nick. Miami Vice star Don Johnson as Nash Bridges, a hit tv series aired from 1996-2001 completed six seasons with 122 episodes.

Action/Sci-Fi TV Series - Knight Rider

A 1982 TV series about a modern day knight crime fighter for law and justice with his incredible advanced super-car with artificial intelligence. The story starts when a dying billionaire philanthropist and founder of Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG) Wilton Knight rescued an ambushed young undercover cop Michael Long who was publicly believed dead. After few surgeries, Wilton change Michael's identity into Michael Knight, a modern knight special type of here with new mission as a crime fighter and armed with super advanced black car named Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT). The customized armor car equipped with weapons flamethrower, smoke bombs, peevish, capable of accelerating 300 mph, jumping obstacle about 50 feet & other capabilities, and having artificial intelligence by on board computer "Knight 2000 Microprocessor" talking car and deliver sarcastic one-liners to Michael and communicated via a wrist communicator watch "comlink". Together they root out evils that are above the law, avoid violence whenever possible and take adventures with no back up.

In the final season, the KITT was being improved by streetwise mechanics after being neutralized into more powerful car with 40% speed increase (483 km/h), more technical gadgets and prepared to become Knight Industries Four Thousand. Michael is now teamed up with a female cop with a chip of her head and shoulder and take more adventure as the crimes rampant around Seattle.

Knight Rider's Michael Knight starred by David Hasselhoff in the 1982-1986 tv series, completed 4 seasons with total of 90 episodes, written by Tom Greene and Glen Larson.

One of Finest Sci-Fi TV Series - Quantum Leap -

The Sci-Fi TV series about the top-secret US Government funded project Quantum Leap led by Dr. Sam Beckett theorizing that "One could time-travel within his own lifetime, run by a supercomputer called Ziggy." Quantum Leap in physics (Quantum Jump) is the change of electron from one energy state to another within an atom, from one energy level to another instantaneously. The adventurous story of the series starts when the project was pressured to prove the theories or lose it's funding, Dr. Beckett prematurely stepped onto the "accelerator chamber" and vanished, found himself trapped in the past facing mirror images of person that was not his own. The story gives tease to viewers and guess as Dr. Sam randomly leaping from life to life as an adult, male, female, child, white, black, etc, crossing the story to many theme from science fiction to family drama, comedy, social commentary or nostalgia, and winning the show a broad range of fans wait for next episode and when Sam will be leap back home.

With the help of Dr. Sam's companion Albert "Al" Calavicci who appears as a holographic projection using "imaging chamber", visible and audible to Sam and also young children, animals and mentally ill/fatally wounded persons can see and speak with Al. They got the chance to correct the past and put wrong to right; preventing Al's first wife Beth to fall in love with other while Al is in Vietnam war, correct many mistakes and misjudging and even avert tragedies in ordinary people's lives. Some part of the series where Sam meets the Evil Leaper telling him "Who gave you the right to go bungling around in time, putting right what I made wrong?" while in the last episode some feel that the bartender Sam meets, portrays God and tells Sam that his project was messed up for purpose: to change history for better.

Multi-award winning Sci-Fi TV Series Quantum Leap won awards from Emmy, Golden Globe, Directors Guild of America Award and more, completed 5 seasons with total of 97 episodes aired from 1989 to 1993.

- Zorro - Over 85 Years of Action Adventure

From the term "fox" in Spanish, Zorro is a fictional nobleman, master swordsman, and the romantic defender of justice. The man in black custom with Spanish cape, the flat-bimmed Andalusian-style hat, the black cowl mask covers from eye level up to the head and equipped with a pistol (in the original story), a braided leather single tailed whip "bullwhip" and a sharp pointer sword "rapeir" which he often use to leave a mark "Z" by three quick cuts. Zorro learned his skills like acrobatics from swinging on ship masts, his fencing from Spanish master Manuel Escalante, various tricks from gypsies and a ship's cook and his disguising pattern from swashbuckling pirate. Zorro's two horses, Tornado the black one and Phantom the white horse.

Zorro is the secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega, born in the 1790's, son of Asturian Captain Don Alejandro de la Vega and lived in Spanish-ear California. His mission, with the help of his fathers mute and deaf servant Bernardo, they defend the weak and fight the landowning nobility "the Caballeros", the pompous Don Rafael Montero and the corrupt tranny of the Spanish governor.

Zorro was first appeared in the 1919 serialized pulp magazine All-Story Weekly with the title of The Curse of Capistrano | Zorro. Walt Disney produced the 1957 TV Series of Zorro, with the story in 1820's, Don Alejandro requested Don Diego to return in Monterey, California and to help ending the evil reigning of corrupt local military of vicious Spanish commandant, Captain Monastario. The huge fans of this Zorro tv series, tuning every Thursday night at 7:30, recalls the very popular lyrics:

Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes a horseman known as Zorro.
This bold renegade carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands for Zorro.

Zorro, the fox so cunning and free.
Zorro, who makes the sign of the Z.

Riding his black stallion with lightning sky background, the words echoed,

Zorro...Zorro...Zorro...

The Disney's anthology TV series live-action of Zorro was played by Guy Williams, completed 3 seasons with 83 episodes, aired from 1957-1959 on ABC.

Them are some old shows. Only once I watched were Quantum leap, wonder years, and Knight rider.

Ziggy take me home.

Multi Awarded Drama - Joan of Arcadia

Millions of people speak to God, what if God spoke back?

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

Joan Osborne's song "One of Us" is the opening song of the drama TV series Joan of Arcadia. The story about an average 16 year old teenage girl, Joan Girardi living with just a typical ups and down of life and family in a fictional town Arcadia, but having special communication with strange people appeared as young children, teenage boys, elderly ladies, transients or just a passers by introducing themselves as God. God talks to Joan and give specific directions to do things and perform special tasks to correct situations, making her act strange to others and try to keep a normal teenage existence.

The show handled religion impressively by being never preachy, authors' personal view is not flaunted and not offensive in the presence of religious themes. The series show the interest in raising questions of faith, do what we believe right and our choices to make a difference in this world.

Joan of Arcadia won many awards and many nominations from Emmy, Humanitaz Prize, People's Choice Award, special the "Best Dramatic Series" for the first season (only few for many TV shows). Completed 2 seasons with 45 episodes, aired from 2003 to 2005 on CBS.

1970's The Odd Couple TV Series

Based from 1965 Broadway play, The Odd Couple considered one of the finest and successful sitcom dominates in 1970's. An early example of well-written, character-driven and sophisticated sitcom hit film and TV series although not receive the viewer's popular recognition, it's syndication blossomed both in domestic and foreign audiences considering a highly relevant sitcom that deals with issues such as generation gap and sex in an adult fashion.

The Odd Couple is a story about two men divorced with their wives and have to live & share the same apartment, in spite they are mismatched friends and differs in lifestyle. Felix Unger, a neat, tidy, healthy nut and neurotic working as photographer in a portrait studio and as connoisseur of a classical music but being divorced and thrown out of his apartment needed to live with his childhood friend Oscar Madison. Oscar working as sloven Sports Journalist in New York Times, live exactly opposite with Felix, being a slow, casual, sloppy and messy. Felix's hygienic and healthy tips annoys Oscar who live like a pig that upsets Felix. Humor and comedy bring up the show as hey nearly drive each other's crazy, but morally they learn trust, love and friendship are further important living in different world. In the final episode, Felix's wife return to him remarried while Oscar finally gained his longing freedom.

The Odd Couple TV Series aired from 1970 until 1975, completed 5 seasons with total of 114 episodes and Tonny Randall played as Felix Unger won Emmy Award after the show was canceled.

Dragnet - The Grand Father of All Police Drama

Dragnet, created by Jack Webb, perhaps the first successful, most famous and most influential police drama of all time, showing the realism, unpretentious and actual police work and life. The word "Dragnet", an actual police term, means any system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Jack Webb, befriending a Los Angeles policeman, used the actual cases from LAPD and created Dragnet which primarily aims to show the actual police life to make the public more sympathetic to the brave boys about their profession and personal lives.

First ran radio on 1949-1957, Dragnet also appeared on television from 1951-1959 and from 1967-1970 with a trademark opening narration:

"The story you are about to see is true.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent."

The story revolves about two detectives, Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner Ofc. Bill Gannon tracking down criminals, thieves, drug abusers & dealers and investigate criminal cases throughout Los Angeles. The story emphasize the careful attention on realism of the crimes, all the twists and turns before the criminals finally arrested, and describe what happened at the subsequent of the trial and how severe the punishment criminals received. Jack Webb, the creator and producer of Dragnet, also the actor as Sgt. Joe Friday and receive policeman's funeral award by LAPD even he's not police officer.

1967-1970 Dragnet TV series, completed 4 seasons with total of 98 episodes aired by NBC.

1950's Western TV Series "Have Gun - Will Travel"

One of the most popular and successful TV series as well as in radio version, Have Gun - Will Travel excelled in TV ratings being top #4 show by Nielsen Ratings on its 1st year and #3 in next 3 years and win wide audience.

Have Gun - Will Travel revolves the story about Paladin, a rich-educated man who turned into a professional gun-fighter working as champion-for-hire and preferred to settle problems peacefully and avoid violence but usually provoked but amazingly excelled in gun field. Paladin is a former Army Officer, a West Point graduate, a well-educated man having thorough knowledge in ancient history and classical literature, dressing semi-formal wear and attending operas, and exhibit strong passion for legal principles and the rule of law. But when working, he dressed in black, wore holster and used calling cards with a carried characteristic emblem of chess knight symbolizing him with his fighting movement like in chess board, very versatile and always unexpected. Paladin's typical service fee a thousand dollar making him well-equipped with his large rifle on his horse saddle, a derringer under his belt (save him countless times), a few expensive cigars in his boot and his custom-made, one pound trigger, perfectly balanced six-shooter gun his main weapon. Paladin's main advantage over enemies was not his impressive equipments, but his rich education which is infallible to relate ancient antecedents to his situations and insight advantages but at the same time avoid violence as much as possible, killing is only the last resort.

Another character, Hey Boy, is the card bearer of Paladin's calling card with a notable chess knight emblem with inscription: “Have Gun – Will Travel... Wire Paladin, San Francisco". A memorable quote from the series:

“I don't think you got a very good look at this gun while you had it. The balance is perfect. This trigger responds to a pressure of one ounce. If you look carefully in the barrel you'll see the lines of the rifling. It's a rarity in a hand weapon. This gun was handcrafted to my specifications and I rarely draw it unless I mean to use it. Would you care for a demonstration?”

Great adventures of Paladin in Western TV Series "Have Gun - Will Travel” was aired from 1957 to 1963, completed 6 seasons and total of 225 episodes.

1980's Tales from the Darkside

Tales from the Darkside is a popular horror/sci-fi anthology tv series, produced by George A. Romero, which is similar to some sci-fi series like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limit and Night Gallery. The series composed of short stories of strange tales that are mostly centered on horror stories around us, more likely considered science fictions or fantasy-based. Although few episodes were lighter comedic, some episodes were creepy that some who watch it few or alone scare them to death. The opening foreboding voice-over:

"Man lives in the sunlit world of what he believes to be reality.
But, there is, unseen by most, an underworld, a place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit..... A DARKSIDE."

The plot formula of the series comprised from initially normal, mundane situation and then gradually twist into off-kilter, building up suspense and ending up with surprise conclusion, letting the viewers learn to appreciate that things are not often as they seem. Special episodes of tales are adapted work of famous genre authors like Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison and Stephen King. Each episodes also end up with voice-over:

"The dark side is always there, waiting for us to enter, waiting to enter us.Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight."

Tales From The Darkside was aired from 1984-1988, completing up the total of four seasons and 90 episodes.

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote was a series about the former English teacher Jessica Fletcher, widowed in her fifties with no child, achieved success as professional murder-mystery writer and novelist. Each episode, Jessica become involved in murder investigation by carefully and methodically piercing the clues together, gently but firmly asking questions that no one else had asked and come out to being one person able to make sense of the case and trap the guilty party. Jessica became fame with her very popular novels, but still maintain her links with friends and found new friends in many police departments across US. It seemingly ridiculous how murders follow her around the country and endless collection of nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws who always needed her help.

The "Murder, She Wrote" was the longest-running TV mystery series for almost 12 years gracing the small screen. It was premiered on September 1984 and lasted until May 1996, completing the total of 12 seasons, about 264 episodes and 5 Tele-Movies (including the September 1984 pilot movie). The main character Jessica Fletcher starred by Angela Lansbury and few major characters flow the series with appearance of special guest stars casts the entire series.

Car 54, Where Are You?

"Car 54, Where Are You?" is a classic Emmy award-winning comedy TV series on 1960's. A series featuring an unforgettable pair of hilarious police officers who are characterized extremely different but in every episode, never failed to make the viewers laugh no matter how bad they feel.

The misadventures of short, noisy dim-witted but friendly Officer Gunther Toody partnered with tall stiff, quite-shy but smart Officer Francis Muldoon of the fictional NYPD 53rd precinct with their patrol vehicle Car 54. Together they fight crimes in New York with all their best and dealing at the same time with their personal lives like their overbearing wives and officious boss, Captain Anderson. The partners were specially assigned to protect an important witness who will testify against crime lords and mafias, but their adventures turn into comedy with their errors and predicaments they got involved. The excitement is there as the audience never know what will happen next, seemed like they encounter more comedy than crime and making the viewers keep on laughing.

The memorable show's theme lyrics:

There's a holdup in the Bronx!
Brooklyn's broken out in fights!
There's a traffic jam in Harlem
That's backed up to Jackson Heights!
There's a scout troop short a child!
Krushchev's due at Idlewild!
Car 54, where are you?!

The successful comedy duo in Car 54, Where Are You completed 3 seasons with total of 60 episodes, aired from 1961 to 1963 on NBC.