Late Night with David Letterman - 5th Anniversary Special (1987) (TV)

Another excellent anniversary show from the first iteration of Dave's late night enterprise. Not all is first-rate but that's part of the charm. A good example would be the dreadful 5 minutes from Jay Leno. That's right, in the days before their widely publicized personal feud, they used to be comrades. You'll also see a slightly better short stand-up routine from one of their mutual buds, Carol Leifer. This is lots of fun from a less jaded time.

Late Night with David Letterman - 5th Anniversary Special (1987) (TV)

Cast: David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, Andy Summers, Peter Frampton, Herbie Hancock, Joe Cocker, Jay Leno, Carol Leifer, Calvert DeForest, Chris Elliot

Summertime Switch (1994) TV Movie

In this adventure, a poor street urchin and a poor-little-rich boy with the same name meet and decide to switch roles. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Summertime Switch (1994) TV Movie

Cast: Jason Weaver, Rider Strong, Richard Moll, Teresa Ganzel, Soleil Moon Frye, Barry Williams, Nicole Rochelle, Tighe Swanson, David Tom, Patrick Renna, Casey Sander

Stranger Within, The (1990) TV Movie

Rick Schroder has, before our eyes, grown into a skillful, intriguing actor. This former child star used his doughy baby face to portray a naive cowpoke in "Lonesome Dove", and, earlier this year, he was convincing as the brave oldest brother in a family of orphans in "Too Young the Hero". Now, in "The Stranger Within", Schroder uses his wide-eyed innocence to become a scary psycho. He plays a teenager who shows up on the doorstep of Kate Jackson ("Charlie's Angels, Baby Boom"), claiming to be her son. Sixteen years earlier, as we see in a flashback, Jackson's baby boy was snatched in a supermarket while her head was turned. Now she has to figure out whether Schroder is telling the truth. And pretty quickly, she hopes to heaven he isn't, because this kid is given to insanely jealous rages and worse: During one of Schroder's fits, Jackson's boyfriend (Chris Sarandon) meets his end in the grisliest ice-fishing scene you've ever seen.

Eventually, Schroder begins menacing Jackson as well, but by then the movie has become hokey and overwrought. Still, director Tom Holland proved with 1989's "Child's Play" that he knew how to make an unsettling horror film. With "The Stranger Within", he proves he can cut back on the gore and still make you jump. B
Reviewed by Ken Tucker | Nov 23, 1990

The Stranger Within (1990) TV Movie

Cast: Rick Schroder, Kate Jackson, Chris Sarandon, Clark Sandford, Peter Breitmayer

Original Batman Series Returns, The (1992) (TV)

This fantastic one hour retrospective from June of 1992 comes to us via the great minds at KTTV-11, the Los Angeles Fox affiliate. Hosting duties go to the affable Mark Thompson, one of our local heroes. This is a sincere fan document done well. Seldom seen (most likely only broadcast once) and very rare. In 1992 most of the older character actors from the original series were still alive but at this point in time it's a very nostalgic watch.

The Original Batman Series Returns (1992) (TV)

Host: Mark Thompson

Love Thy Neighbor (1984) TV Movie

See if you can predict the ending of this one. John Ritter and Cassie Yates are the next-door neighbors of Penny Marshall and Bert Convy. Ritter and Marshall can't stand each other. But Presto! Ritters' wife Yates runs off with Marshall's husband Convy. The two spurned spouses meet to bemoan their individual fates. "Love Thy Neighbor" is a TV-movie comedy with a TV-movie cast and a TV-movie denouement. The only surprise is the absence of a laugh track. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi 

Love Thy Neighbor (1984) TV Movie

Cast: John Ritter, Penny Marshall, Cassie Yates, Bert Convy, Constance McCashin, Lucas Haas, Robert Jayne, Jerry Supiran

Welcome Home, America! - A USO Salute to America's Sons and Daughters (1991) (TV)

A broadcast of a concert honoring the United States armed forces and fifty years of service by the USO. This is a great document featuring speeches by former presidents and their men combined with some wonderful musical performances. You'll see Dick Cheney and Colin Powell all smiles as they stand shoulder to shoulder waving to the black tie audience. Also, a standout gospel performance from Miss Sandi Patty, a definite high point. Tom Selleck, a great American, handles the hosting duties initially and Tony Danza brings it home with some enthusiastic tap dancing. Believe it.

Welcome Home, America - A USO Salute (1991) (TV)

Cast: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Ronald Reagan, George and Barbara Bush, Frank Sinatra, Steve Martin, The Pointer Sisters, Tony Danza, Tony Orlando, Mark Russell, Gerald Ford, John Forsythe, Alan Thicke, Bob Hope, Debbie Allen, James Woods, Nell Carter, Tom Selleck

Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us? (1999) (TV)

Real witnesses. Real encounters. Never before seen footage.

That was the tagline. I have to laugh since the only unseen footage would be their own shoddy re-creations. And how exactly would we have "seen" this footage? By standing over the shoulder of the working artists fabricating this nonsense? COME ON! If I'm to be intrigued by a claim of "never before seen" it better be closer to this; "Never before seen footage of an ACTUAL alien being" since anything less is just more of the same crapola. Some people saw some lights or heard a thing or whatever. Even the title is ambiguous. Words like "confirmation" and "evidence" with a question mark? Well, is it or isn't it? But that's just me.

Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us? (1999) (TV)

Host: Robert Davi

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour (1987) (TV)

Reminiscent of a "Tonight Show" test-drive for Jay including JC himself. Corny opening scene with Johnny passive-aggressively putting Jay in his proper place. It's supposed to be funny lest we forget the power of Mr. Carson; nothing was light or frivolous. IMHO he was setting the groundwork or foundation of an enterprise that was inevitably passing from one hand to another. And whomever got Johnny's scraps was going to more than earn them. After the opening credits we're introduced to the lovely cast including the late Bea Arthur, whom only recently passed as did the legendary Barbara Billingsley. On the day Mrs. B. passed we had dinner at "Billingsley's", their family-owned restaurant here in Los Angeles. RIP to both of these great ladies and also to one of my personal favorites; John Hancock. He was large, he was black and he was usually in charge. A great character actor, RIP big guy.

If you can forgive a little corniness there are some funny skits, unlike the live chit chat. The writing for the live segments is a fail but the skits are genuinely funny. Some of them at least. Worthy viewing.

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour (1987) (TV)

Cast: Bea Arthur, Corbin Bernsen, Barbara Billingsley, Brian Bonsall, Chao Li Chi, Don DeFore, Richard Dysart, John Hancock, Florence Henderson, Jay Leno, Roger Nolan, Susan Ruttan

Elvis Files, The (1992) (TV)

Entertaining conspiracy theory based drivel regarding the death/non-death of the King. Hosted by the late, great Bill Bixby, whom we are told (by Bixby himself) was a close friend. Introduces much in the way of wacky, but I'm serious when I say I found it entertaining. Goofy good fun with nostalgic moments.

The Elvis Files (1992) (TV)

Host: Bill Bixby

Adventures of Mark & Brian, The (TV Series) 1991–1992

Two Los Angeles disc jockeys adapt their radio antics and hi-jinx to a network television program with shocking results. Not really, but considering they're still on the radio 20 years later (same station, same city) and this show had to be cheap to produce, I guess what I'm trying to say is "Why isn't this show still on TV?" Did it get canceled for lack of viewers or did they get tired from the routine and schedule? If it was on today, I'd still be watching. Keep up the good work guys, LA loves ya'.


AVAILABLE EPISODES

Weightless

September 1991

Fatherhood

September 1991

Firefighters

October 1991

The Adventures of Mark & Brian (TV Series) 1991–1992

Cast: Mark Thompson, Brian Phelps

Blame Game, The: Are We a Country of Victims? (1994) (TV)

Excellent production. Investigative reporting in the most transparent, confrontational manner. John Stossel asks insightful, direct questions of people involved in all forms of daily activity. Questions relevant to the economy, politics, and society in general and to these questions he gets nothing in return. Blank stares, indecipherable babble and apparent anger is his reward. Victims will be victims, as unrepentant as sex offenders. Consider this is from 1994, 17 years ago as of this writing. As when I watch Bill Cosby's show, "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and wonder about the current whereabouts of the youngsters involved; when I watch this show I wonder about the same thing regarding the losers involved. This should be mandatory viewing in high schools.

The Blame Game: Are We a Country of Victims? (1994) (TV)

Host: John Stossel

Carol Burnett Show, The: Let's Bump Up The Lights! (2004) (TV)

Carol and crew bring what appears to be a regular taping of her classic show to an unexpected halt and "bump up the lights" for an impromptu Q&A panel. Great fun for fans of the great lady.

The Carol Burnett Show: Let's Bump Up The Lights! (2004) (TV)

Cast: Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner

Don't Try This at Home! (1990) (TV)

A variety special hosted by the comedy-magic team of Penn & Teller. The duo reveal some of the secrets behind their illusions.

Don't Try This at Home! (1990) (TV)

Cast: Penn Jillette, Teller, Victoria Jackson, Jane Curtin, Carol Perkins

83rd Annual Academy Awards, The (2011) (TV)

Best Picture: The King's Speech

Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth

 
Actress in a Leading Role: Natalie Portman

Directing: Tom Hooper

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards (2011) (TV)

Hosts: James Franco, Anne Hathaway

Deep in My Heart (1999) TV Movie

A white woman who was raped by a black man gives the baby up for adoption. We follow the life of the child as she grows and has children of her own.

Deep in My Heart (1999) TV Movie

Cast: Anne Bancroft, Lynn Whitfield, Alice Krige, Cara Buono, Gloria Reuben, Jesse L. Martin, Kevin O'Rourke, Peter MacNeill

Timeless: Barbra Streisand Live in Concert (2001) (TV)

Barbra Streisand's Timeless: Live from the MGM Grand is not merely a career retrospective - it's a life retrospective, and a show rather than a concert. The opening scene is 1955, with a young singer (ably played by Lauren Frost) finding her voice. As she wistfully begins "Something's Coming," the grown-up Streisand joins in to an electrifying ovation and proceeds to take us on a journey through her life: the torchy period ("A Sleepin' Bee"), the Broadway period ("Don't Rain on My Parade"), the movie period ("Evergreen"), the Sondheim period ("Putting It Together"), and the James Brolin period ("I've Dreamed of You"). She also recalls through video clips several duets before she sings "I've Got a Crush on You" with a clip of Frank Sinatra, and debuts a new song by Marvin Hamlisch and Alan and Marilyn Bergman, "Simple Pleasures," then counts us down to the new year (or new millennium, depending on your math).

Timeless: Barbra Streisand Live in Concert (2001) (TV)

Cast: Barbra Streisand, Lauren Frost, Savion Glover

Road to Fame (1999) (TV)

If you never wanted to see or hear Jerry Springer sing, then DON'T watch this. His singing voice is terrible but this show was actually not too bad, if that's any recommendation. Loaded with clips, bloopers, outtakes and audition tapes it's possible you'll be surprised more than a few times. A notch up from mediocre, worth the watch if you're a fan of all things Hollywood.

Road to Fame (1999) (TV)

Host: Rick Sanchez

Doo Dah Parade, The (1990) (TV)

Conceived in 1978 by several friends, including Peter Apanel, Ted Wright, Charles "Skip" Finnell, among others, sitting in a bar called "Chromo's" (which no longer exists) in Pasadena, as an irreverent alternative to the traditional formality of the Rose Parade, which is also held in Pasadena. In 1978, January 1st fell on a Sunday, and the Rose Parade, which typically takes place on January 1, will not march on a Sunday. So they decided it would be fun to have an alternate parade on January 1 that year. Some of the early participants were Wright as first Grand Marshall, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies, The Lawn Mower Drill Team, The Briefcase Drill Team and General Hershey Bar, among many others. It was the first Pasadena Doo Dah Parade.

From November of 1990 this is the first televised broadcast of the notable parade. The historic, now defunct KCOP-13 displayed extraordinary balls and showed this live without any fancy delays or anything. Suffice it to say, no network big or small would ever do this in the present. This is expressionism and free-flowing creativity at it's American best. Everyone's favorite Richard Simmons and everyone's favorite for real Vicki Lawrence are the hosts, very obviously working sans script but bringing plenty of off the cuff funny. This is SO much fun and still holds up nicely after 20 years.

The Doo Dah Parade (1990) (TV)

Hosts: Richard Simmons, Vicki Lawrence Schultz

Comedy Store's 20th Birthday, The (1992) (TV)

As of this writing The Comedy Store is still alive and kickin'. Should we anticipate a 40th birthday celebration next year? We can hope because this was a fantastic, now legendary gathering of some of the greatest. It's all good, front to back, but seeing Sam K. in his glory certainly brings the memories. And if you've ever wanted to see Jim Carrey naked stay tuned. Seriously.

The Comedy Store's 20th Birthday (1992) (TV)

Cast: Jim Carrey, David Letterman, Louie Anderson, Jeff Altman, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, Bob Saget, Sandra Bernhard, Pauly Shore, Garry Shandling, Arsenio Hall, Damon Wayans, Whoopi Goldberg

Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night (1998) (TV)

Songwriter Burt Bacharach has been writing tunes that blend pop hooks with intelligence and sophistication since the 1950s, and this special concert, staged at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, features a variety of major stars from pop, rock, country, and R&B paying tribute to his genius, with Bacharach on hand and leading the orchestra. Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night features guest performances from Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd, Chrissie Hynde, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, Mike Myers, Barenaked Ladies, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Burt Bacharach: One Amazing Night (1998) (TV)

Cast: Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, George Duke, Ben Folds, Chrissie Hynde, Wynonna Judd