Television's Comedy Classics (1996) (TV)

More of the same clip-mania, with 40 of the funniest comics of all-time performing their 40 funniest all-time routines. At least that's what is promised. What we get is another anthology show with some real tired sitcom footage interspersed with some mediocre, (or simply dated) stand-up comedy routines. Stand-up is best when given time to build a finish, clips taken out of context to hype the "funny" part are counter-productive. The best part of this show, you ask? The great, late Leslie Nielsen as your host. With many skits and goofy side-nonsense, he carries the show from the opening line, (... so the cowboy looks up at the proctologist and says,'Why not? Where else can you get 3 hamburgers for 99 cents?') and does all the narration. He was a genuinely funny guy, his mannerisms, his delivery, he had it all.

Television's Comedy Classics (1996) (TV)
Host: Leslie Nielsen

Flesh 'n' Blood (1991) TV Series

When the matriarch of a family passes away her surviving adult daughter has a chance to meet a half-brother. She's Baltimore and he's from the swamps of Florida. Of course he wants to live with the her for the sake of reunification, she has other plans.  We love Lisa Darr, worked with her on "Popular" and Peri Gilpin is here too. Mr. Nielsen died just days ago, a Hollywood giant and personal favorite.

The weekly opening title scene is classically great; Leon Russell sings and it's the dashboard from the driver's POV with the garbage accumulating over the long road trip from the boonies to the destination city. There's even a LIVE mouse rambling freely, just hilarious.

AVAILABLE EPISODES

Season 1, Episode 4

King's Strings

04 October 1991

Season 1, Episode 6

Arlo and Starr

01 November 1991

Season 1, Episode 8

The Wrath of Con

15 November 1991

Flesh 'n' Blood (1991) TV Series

Cast: David Keith, Lisa Darr, Peri Gilpin, Leon Russell

Prime Times (1983) (TV)

Billed as "A fun-filled look at television". This is a small piece of television history and it's very rare but it's dated. Basically it's old TV clips with contemporary (for 1983) comics making funny on top of them. Bad jokes, stale clips and terrible writing define this show at least it's hosted by the great Leslie Nielsen.

Prime Times (1983) (TV)

Host: Leslie Nielsen

Twilight Theatre (1982) (TV)

Early pay-cable fare. Memories of SelecTV.

Twilight Theatre (1982) (TV)
Cast: Barbara Hershey, Leslie Nielsen, Mr. T, Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, Rosemary Clooney

Nightstick (1987) TV Movie

A maverick Big Apple cop sets off on a deadly pursuit of his two murderous brothers after they bomb a series of banks. He must hurry, for they are threatening to explode more banks if they aren't paid a fortune in ransom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Nightstick (1987) TV Movie

Cast: Bruce Fairbairn, David Mucci, Kerrie Keane, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Vaughn, Tony De Santis, Walker Boone

Night the Bridge Fell Down, The (1983) TV Movie

Movies' "disaster master", Irwin Allen, was the man behind this adventure yarn that strands a group of motorists and fleeing bank robber, Desi Arnaz, Jr., and his girlfriend, Char Fontane, on a bridge that is collapsing because of shifting sands near the pylons. Its unique history is more interesting than its premise: made in 1979 as a two-part four-hour film called "The Night the Bridge Collapsed", it was set to premiere in early January 1980. Pulled from the schedule at the last minute, it was given its first showing in this form in Australia several months later. Subsequently cut to three hours as a single-part film, it was re-scheduled for a mid-October 1980 showing but was pre-empted by the World Series. It then went into limbo until finally being dragged off the shelf for its ultimate U.S. premiere in early 1983. Its star, James MacArthur, hot off "Hawaii Five-0", at the time the film was shot long had been in semi-retirement from acting.

The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983) TV Movie

Cast: Char Fontane, Desi Arnaz Jr., Eve Plumb, Gregory Sierra, James MacArthur, Leslie Nielsen, Philip Baker Hall

Night Slaves (1970) TV Movie

James Franciscus and his wife Lee Grant take a vacation in a faraway, fogbound village. Before we get a chance to ask "Why not go to the beach?" Franciscus awakens suddenly in the middle of the night to see several of the villagers compliantly boarding trucks; among these glassy-eyed passengers is his own wife. The trucks drive off into the mists. The next day, Franciscus is the only person who remembers this strange occurrence. The title of this TV movie should give you a good idea of what's afoot. "Night Slaves" is a 1970s spin on the old Shock Theatre favorite "It Came From Outer Space". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Night Slaves (1970) TV Movie

Cast: Andrew Prine, James Franciscus, Lee Grant, Leslie Nielsen, Scott Marlowe, Tisha Sterling

Letters, The (1973) TV Movie

"The Letters" begins with the crash of a U.S. mail plane. One year later, cheerful postman Henry Jones delivers the long-delayed letters. These overdue missives profoundly affect the lives of (a) a man who's deserted his wife; (b) a woman anxious to break up her daughter's romance; and (c) a pianist who'd sell his soul for success. The guest star roster of this TV movie includes John Forsythe, Jane Powell, Lesley Ann Warren, Ida Lupino, Ben Murphy, Pamela Franklin, and Leslie Nielsen. Both "The Letters" and its sequel "Letters From Lost Lovers (1973)" were intended as pilot films for a never-sold TV anthology series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Letters  (1973) TV Movie

Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Ben Murphy, Dina Merrill, Ida Lupino, Jane Powell, John Forsythe, Lesley Ann Warren, Leslie Nielsen, Shelly Novack