Scholars know that ABC had, in fact, cancelled Spider-Man after 2 seasons, but then it went back into production and returned in the spring of 1970 for a 3rd & final season, again under the direction of Ralph Bakshi.
In "Knight Must Fall", Spider-Man (Paul Soles) has to deal with a rogue in shining armor passing himself off as Sir Galahad, but behaving more like a modern-day Robin Hood, short on virtue and long on greed.
Rating: B-.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Friday, May 29, 2020
Game Time: Jonny Quest: Time is Running Out (2000?)
As Boomerang marks its 20th anniversary this year, it's time to look back at some of the network interstitals that aired between shows, back when Boomerang was ad-free.
You know how this works, they'll show a movie projector, presumably a Kenner model, with Pixie & Dixie action figures perched in front, then go to something like this next item, paying homage to Jonny Quest.
The James Taylor Quartet gives Hoyt Curtin's legendary theme a workout, while Jonny, Hadji, Race, & Bandit are used on a game board. Sound bytes from classic episodes with the voices of Tim Matheson, Mike Road, Danny Bravo, & Don Messick.
Like, swank, man.
You know how this works, they'll show a movie projector, presumably a Kenner model, with Pixie & Dixie action figures perched in front, then go to something like this next item, paying homage to Jonny Quest.
The James Taylor Quartet gives Hoyt Curtin's legendary theme a workout, while Jonny, Hadji, Race, & Bandit are used on a game board. Sound bytes from classic episodes with the voices of Tim Matheson, Mike Road, Danny Bravo, & Don Messick.
Like, swank, man.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress (1973)
The curious part about the Hollies' 1972 hit, "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" was that singer-songwriter-guitarist Allan Clarke, who'd written the song a couple of years earlier, had left the band by the time it was reissued as a single.
Just the same, the band appeared on The Midnight Special to play "Long Cool Woman"......
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Just the same, the band appeared on The Midnight Special to play "Long Cool Woman"......
Edit, 5/8/23: Changed the video. Clarke did appear for this clip. The band would return a few years later with a different vocalist.
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Monday, May 25, 2020
On The Air: The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo (2020)
Meet the world's youngest talk show host.
Sesame Street spins off one of its most popular Muppet characters, Elmo, into his own HBO Max series, which officially begins streaming tomorrow, along with Looney Tunes Cartoons (previously reviewed).
Elmo (voice of Ryan Dillon) is 3 1/2, although announcer Cookie Monster, speaking in coherent sentences for a change, says Elmo is 3. The new show, a cross between The Muppets and the short-lived talk show/sitcom My Talk Show, since it's set in Elmo's living room, has the potential to be a hit.
The funny thing is, Elmo, while he didn't get his name until much, much later, is actually turning 40 this year, having debuted during season 11 of Sesame Street, when he was known internally as Short Red. The Jonas Brothers guest star in the series opener, which HBO Max supplied to YouTube:
What this show teaches is that children learn how to set goals at an early age. They learn about ambition. Season 1 is 13 weeks.
Prediction: Like Street, Elmo will eventually be repurposed on PBS and/or PBS Kids.
Rating: A-.
Sesame Street spins off one of its most popular Muppet characters, Elmo, into his own HBO Max series, which officially begins streaming tomorrow, along with Looney Tunes Cartoons (previously reviewed).
Elmo (voice of Ryan Dillon) is 3 1/2, although announcer Cookie Monster, speaking in coherent sentences for a change, says Elmo is 3. The new show, a cross between The Muppets and the short-lived talk show/sitcom My Talk Show, since it's set in Elmo's living room, has the potential to be a hit.
The funny thing is, Elmo, while he didn't get his name until much, much later, is actually turning 40 this year, having debuted during season 11 of Sesame Street, when he was known internally as Short Red. The Jonas Brothers guest star in the series opener, which HBO Max supplied to YouTube:
What this show teaches is that children learn how to set goals at an early age. They learn about ambition. Season 1 is 13 weeks.
Prediction: Like Street, Elmo will eventually be repurposed on PBS and/or PBS Kids.
Rating: A-.
On DVD: Justice League Doom (2012)
Divide & conquer.
It's a simple strategy that enabled villains to get the best of the Justice League in many an issue of Justice League of America over the years.
2012's "Justice League Doom" uses six of the original seven League members, subbing in Cyborg (Bumper Robinson, ex-Night Court) for the absent Aquaman, in a tale pitting the League against a newly formed Legion of Doom, led not by Lex Luthor, but, rather, by the immortal Vandal Savage (Phil Morris).
Had they ever considered to make a feature film based on the 1978-9 Challenge of The Super Friends series, which introduced the Legion, this would've been a good idea, except that this is far more violent than media nannies would've ever allowed the TV series to be back then. In fact, only one original Legion member, Cheetah, appears here.
Since Savage hadn't initially accounted for Cyborg, he's the only one without a Legion counterpart. The Martian Manhunter (Carl Lumbly, ex-Alias) is poisoned by his own brother, Malefic (Lumbly again), wearing the form of a human female. Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg) clashes with Cheetah, who also uses a form of poison on her nemesis. Batman (Kevin Conroy), in his civilian identity as Bruce Wayne, is ambushed by Bane after the latter relocates the graves of Wayne's parents as a lure. Green Lantern (Nathan Filion, Castle) is similarly trapped by Star Sapphire, the alter-ego of his on-again, off-again, girlfriend/employer, Carol Ferris, using some of the Scarecrow's fear toxin. More poison. Superman (Tim Daly) tries talking down a suicidal Daily Planet employee, only to discover said employee is a disguise for Metallo (Paul Blackthorne, 8 months before Arrow made him a household name). The Flash (Michael Rosenbaum, ex-Smallville) is in a race for his life thanks to Mirror Master.
It should be pointed out here that Rosenbaum is voicing Barry Allen here, instead of Wally West, as he did on Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-4), and thus sounds a little more serious here than he did as the clowny, flirty Wally. Had to get that in there.
Here's the trailer:
A classic Silver Age plot with modern technology and storytelling. One of the better entries in the DCAU DTV series.
Rating: A+.
It's a simple strategy that enabled villains to get the best of the Justice League in many an issue of Justice League of America over the years.
2012's "Justice League Doom" uses six of the original seven League members, subbing in Cyborg (Bumper Robinson, ex-Night Court) for the absent Aquaman, in a tale pitting the League against a newly formed Legion of Doom, led not by Lex Luthor, but, rather, by the immortal Vandal Savage (Phil Morris).
Had they ever considered to make a feature film based on the 1978-9 Challenge of The Super Friends series, which introduced the Legion, this would've been a good idea, except that this is far more violent than media nannies would've ever allowed the TV series to be back then. In fact, only one original Legion member, Cheetah, appears here.
Since Savage hadn't initially accounted for Cyborg, he's the only one without a Legion counterpart. The Martian Manhunter (Carl Lumbly, ex-Alias) is poisoned by his own brother, Malefic (Lumbly again), wearing the form of a human female. Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg) clashes with Cheetah, who also uses a form of poison on her nemesis. Batman (Kevin Conroy), in his civilian identity as Bruce Wayne, is ambushed by Bane after the latter relocates the graves of Wayne's parents as a lure. Green Lantern (Nathan Filion, Castle) is similarly trapped by Star Sapphire, the alter-ego of his on-again, off-again, girlfriend/employer, Carol Ferris, using some of the Scarecrow's fear toxin. More poison. Superman (Tim Daly) tries talking down a suicidal Daily Planet employee, only to discover said employee is a disguise for Metallo (Paul Blackthorne, 8 months before Arrow made him a household name). The Flash (Michael Rosenbaum, ex-Smallville) is in a race for his life thanks to Mirror Master.
It should be pointed out here that Rosenbaum is voicing Barry Allen here, instead of Wally West, as he did on Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-4), and thus sounds a little more serious here than he did as the clowny, flirty Wally. Had to get that in there.
Here's the trailer:
A classic Silver Age plot with modern technology and storytelling. One of the better entries in the DCAU DTV series.
Rating: A+.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
On The Air: Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020)
Four days away from its official launch, HBO Max serves up a watch party for Looney Tunes Cartoons. Bugs Bunny (Eric Bauza) is our announcer.
On tap:
Tweety & Sylvester in "Boo! Appetweet".
Bugs & Elmer Fudd in "Plunger", a silent spot.
Daffy Duck in "Bubble Dum".
"Boo! Appetweet" draws most of its inspiration from Tex Avery, specifically the oft-copied Droopy gags. "Plunger" is what it is, a fun filler. "Bubble Dum" presents two iterations of Daffy in one. Yes, he's the screwball duck we remember, but he's also a bit of a dimbulb, as presented on The Looney Tunes Show, because who else would think "street gum" is good to eat?
Plus, the Behind the Scenes bit with Bugs showing how he's drawn is a good way, as he points out, of acknowledging his 80th birthday.
Rating: A.
On tap:
Tweety & Sylvester in "Boo! Appetweet".
Bugs & Elmer Fudd in "Plunger", a silent spot.
Daffy Duck in "Bubble Dum".
Edit, 2/1/21: The video has been privatized. In its place, we'll use the show logo, like so:
"Boo! Appetweet" draws most of its inspiration from Tex Avery, specifically the oft-copied Droopy gags. "Plunger" is what it is, a fun filler. "Bubble Dum" presents two iterations of Daffy in one. Yes, he's the screwball duck we remember, but he's also a bit of a dimbulb, as presented on The Looney Tunes Show, because who else would think "street gum" is good to eat?
Plus, the Behind the Scenes bit with Bugs showing how he's drawn is a good way, as he points out, of acknowledging his 80th birthday.
Rating: A.
Getting Schooled: Rookie of The Year (ABC Afterschool Special, 1973)
From season 2 of the ABC Afterschool Special:
When a Little League team on the verge of a championship loses a key player, an 11 year old girl, working as an assistant to the team manager, is asked to step in. Future Oscar winner Jodie Foster, in her 2nd appearance on Afterschool Special, stars in "Rookie of The Year":
This episode has never been released on DVD, despite Foster's body of cinematic work since. You'd think someone would've wanted to get this out there.
Anyway, Jodie would return in season 3's "The Secret Life of TK Dearing" for her final appearance in the anthology series.
Personal note: While Little League became co-ed in 1972 nationally, it took about 3-4 years before Troy's Central Little League followed suit, likely the last of the city's leagues to do so.
No rating.
When a Little League team on the verge of a championship loses a key player, an 11 year old girl, working as an assistant to the team manager, is asked to step in. Future Oscar winner Jodie Foster, in her 2nd appearance on Afterschool Special, stars in "Rookie of The Year":
This episode has never been released on DVD, despite Foster's body of cinematic work since. You'd think someone would've wanted to get this out there.
Anyway, Jodie would return in season 3's "The Secret Life of TK Dearing" for her final appearance in the anthology series.
Personal note: While Little League became co-ed in 1972 nationally, it took about 3-4 years before Troy's Central Little League followed suit, likely the last of the city's leagues to do so.
No rating.
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