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The usual hodgepodge you get from any "clip" show. If any show had the ability to really exploit the milestone of a golden anniversary it was this show. But to pack it all into a tidy one hour slot doesn't satisfy anyone. Lots of short clips of a whole bunch of people is just frustrating. Ably hosted by the brothers Smothers.
They do it every year and every year it pleases. This was no exception unless you don't like hip music, beautiful women and sexy attire of course. Music is subjective as is beauty, and they are presented together here for your enjoyment.
On the evening of his 81st birthday the good people from ABC News honored the great Frank Sinatra with "Sinatra: The Man Behind the Legend". A wonderful retrospective just a short two years before his passing.
Nothing new here, but just the same this is a comprehensive collection of funny bits from the previous three decades of sitcoms segregated by categories i.e. Sight Gags, Tirades, Pregnancy, etc. Presented to a live audience by an ever-mugging Martin Short, you'll see clips from "The Honeymooners" to "The Simpsons" to "Buffalo Bill" and beyond. The choice of shows was good but the clips were simply retreads, would have been nice if they had dipped into the vault for some things unseen. Lord knows there's infinite amounts that will never be seen. A lot of work went to this show and with access to the archives of the multiple networks it could and should have been better.
Part of the American Playhouse PBS anthology series, this is from January 31, 1984. The film is a record of the legendary Steppenwolf Theater production with which the celebrated troupe first broke through on the New York stage in 1982. A far more successful version of the Sam Shepard play than the earlier Peter Boyle/Tommy Lee Jones production at the Public Theater which had sparked a highly publicized battle between Shepard and impresario Joseph Papp, it remains fascinating despite the obvious limitations of such a project. Arguably one of the playwright's masterpieces, the doppelganger motif of this comedy-drama supports a more earthbound reworking of the dueling rock stars of The Tooth of Crime and their poetic meta-language. Accordingly, the relationship between the volatile drifter Lee (John Malkovich) and mild-mannered screenwriter Austin (Gary Sinise) feels less like that of brothers than of the two warring sides of Shepard's personality. Or more precisely, as the brothers warily stalk each other, eventually morphing into one another, the playwright seems to be invoking chthonic desert gods in a ritual designed to restore his creative powers and reintegrate his psyche. As ponderous as this might sound, the play is rife with comedy, from the instant rapport between Lee's thief and the sleazy Hollywood producer, to Austin's pride in his collection of recently purloined toasters. Although Sinise, who also directed the stage production, is excellent here, Malkovich is truly stunning, by turns vicious, curious, pleading, threatening, sly, paranoid, hateful, and funny. ~ AMG Michael Costello, Rovi
Television oddity, nearly impossible to find. Great rundown of all things Kennedy to that point, all of it glossy, all of it glowing. Their legacy has been documented here in an exacting if not fawning way, it's obvious the emotions of those men and women who worked with and knew him closely were still affected after 20 years. 
Based on the 1989 earthquake that rocked San Francisco, this is the true story of the rescue workers who at their own peril tried to free the people trapped under a collapsed highway. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
From the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California it's the black-tie silver anniversary celebration of the greatest black-themed music and dance show in history. Arsenio came out of his hole (his words) to man the podium for the hosting duties. So-so comedy combined with excellent musical performances make for a better than great evening.
The 42nd NAACP Image Awards were broadcast live on FOX TV on Friday, March 4, 2011. The show, which recognizes the accomplishments of people of color, was hosted by Wayne Brady and Holly Robinson Peete live from Los Angeles’ historic Shrine Auditorium.
This second film version of Frederick Knott's suspense play stars Christopher Plummer as a wealthy Londoner, who works out a meticulous scheme to murder his wife (Angie Dickinson) and escape undetected. A serviceable made-for-TV job, the 1981 "Dial 'M' for Murder" suffers only when compared to Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 filmization of the same play. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
When a top local businessman and his two bumbling nephews try to shut down the town's only video arcade, arcade employees and patrons fight back. This movie has Corinne Bohrer, my favorite actress of all time, film or TV. We love Corinne.
This documentary traces the deep-rooted stereotypes which have fueled anti-black prejudice. Outstanding production packed with archival footage.
A documentary of the Ku Klux Klan in America. Not much is actually secret as this excellent presentation of a sensitive issue, (using first-hand accounts and archival pictures, film and newsreels) will show. Racism and prejudice have existed since the beginning of time and as ugly and counterproductive as they are, in my opinion they pale when compared to censorship and ANY attempt to prevent what should be "free" speech. Consider the new editions of contemporary classic literature, i.e. "The Call of the Wild", "Tom Sawyer", and others. Efforts to sanitize history by writing again what has passed and each time we lose a little. Here is an example; there was a time when drinking fountains were segregated. How do I know? From my travels in the deep south during this period? No. Because I saw photos from the time. If there was ever a time when those or similar documents from that time were altered or perhaps worse, deleted or destroyed, how would I or anyone ever know? Future generations deserve the reality and the truth, warts 'n all. This is a wonderful warts 'n all show.
From the south side of Chicago, this is absolutely fantastic, front to back. From the opening call to action by the Reverend P. David Saunders to the final close this is a testament to glory and the power of the gospel. God Bless Patti LaBelle.
The made-for-TV "Jailbirds" is a distaff comedy variation on "The Defiant Ones". Phylicia Rashad plays an important LA business executive, while Dyan Cannon portrays a trailer-trash babe from Louisiana. Both Rashad and Cannon are thrown into a dank Southern jail for crimes they didn't commit. While manacled together, the ladies escape, driving each other cuckoo as they elude their captors. Apparently, CBS had so little faith in "Jailbirds" that the network hardly bothered to advertise the film when it premiered May 16, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Honoring the guys on ten years of recording excellence. Some yakkin' but it's mostly live music.
Unfortunately compared to the failed Al Capone caper perpetrated by the notorious Geraldo Rivera, this is actually an incredible journey full of revelations and discovery. What we still don't know 12 years later is awesome, more for the volatility of this entire region. The Obama administration began aerial bombing of Libya within the last week, how much time is left to fully explore these and other tombs is unknown. 
Not to be confused with the much less impressive "Hey, Hey We're the Monkees" from the same year, this is written and directed by uber-Monkee Michael Nesmith. With all four of the guys in place there is a hint of a story and a handful of musical numbers. Before you scoff, remember the Monkees were an illusion, underneath the obvious mockfest were noted songwriters and musicians writing great songs that became their original library. Some, not all but some, of the songs are actually pretty good! If you can ignore the way, way obvious fake drumming. Micky's calling it in, just like the old days. Obviously this is for the fans, I'm one and I loved it. Check out the song, "Circle Sky". Fourteen year old vintage pop music, these guys should live forever. 
This is the usual star-studded affair to honor all things comedic. A huge room with a sea of faces, look for your favorites. A few of the obvious; David Alan Grier, Brooke Shields with Andre Agassi, John Cleese, Carol Burnett, Kathy Bates, Kelsey Grammer, Ellen Degeneres, Rosie O'Donnell, Lily Tomlin, Dennis Farina, Phil Hartman, Paul Reiser, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner and it just goes on and on. The energy in the room is high and the production is well done except the lighting and color gel usage seem excessive. The entire ballroom is awash in over-saturated color making things look a little muddy, I prefer a sharper picture. Overall a real fun time. God bless Phil Hartman. 
