McCloud

I've already mentioned that McCLOUD was one of my absolute favorite TV series of the 1970s. After stealing scenes from Marshal Dillon in GUNSMOKE and a giant bear on GENTLE BEN, Dennis Weaver was finally the star of his own series.

McCLOUD was inspired by, if not entirely based on, a then-recent Clint Eastwood film entitled COOGAN'S BLUFF about a western lawman who becomes a fish out of water while in NYC on assignment. See the TV GUIDE description below. 

Originally a one hour part of NBC's anthology, THE MEN, in 1970, Marshal McCloud joined became one of the initial spokes of the "wheel" of the MYSTERY MOVIE, increasing the length of his episodes to 90 minutes or, occasionally, 2 hours!

And it was mostly Dennis, the clever writing, and solid directing that carried it as there was barely a  regular cast at all. J.D. Cannon was perfect as Chief Clifford, Sam McCloud's foil in every episode. Terry Carter was equally well-cast as Sam's easy-going, by the book partner. A parade of character actors and actresses reappeared in certain roles from time to time including Diana Muldaur as Sam's most regular girlfriend and Terri Garr and singer/actress Della Reese as officers working at headquarters.

McCloud regularly would end up using outlandish ways of police work as his brief assignment to study NYC police methods ended up stretching on from 1970 to 1977, even necessitating spinoffs such as the book series below.

THE RETURN OF SAM McCLOUD was a welcome 90 minutes or so with old friends a dozen years later but the magic was gone. The original series, however, still offers fun and intriguing mysteries that can be enjoyed over and over.

Sapphire and Steel

Last week, we took part of our tax return and ordered this: SAPPHIRE AND STEEL, THE COMPLETE SERIES. The show originally aired in the UK only back in the late 70s/early 80s, but enticed by favorite stars David (MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.) McCallum and Joanna (THE NEW AVENGERS) Lumley, my wife and I became fans via bootleg fan videos in the early 1990s. 

In retrospect, it wasn't a great show. It was a serialized cross between a gothic drama and a DOCTOR WHO style science-fiction story. The episodic nature of the series makes some of the episodes feel overly drawn out to put it mildly and the one note characterizations leave much to be desired. But it's the charismatic leads which carry SAPPHIRE AND STEEL and make it at least a memorable footnote  in the careers of its stars.

True Detective

There are more TV shows than ever these days but very few good ones in my opinion. That said, when a good one turns up, it's often a GREAT one. Here's a great new one that apparently ends tonight! 

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson--two actors I'm on record as not being major fans of--just changed my opinion here. 

TV Star Sweepstakes

I used to dream about entering one of these "Appear on the show" contests that would pop up from tome to time in teen mags and comic books but I don't think I ever did. I certainly never won but i enjoyed elaborate fantasies about winning!

Happy Jack Day

On Valentines Day, Jack Benny turned 39. It doesn't matter WHICH Valentines Day. Jack Benny ALWAYS turned 39. So Happy 39th, Jack!

When I was a kid, THE JACK BENNY SHOW was one of those TV programs that was simply a constant. I certainly didn't dislike it but it wasn't a favorite like ROY ROGERS or SUPERMAN or even YOU BET YOUR LIFE. We watched it pretty regularly, though.

And Jack was on many other shows as well, famously guesting with Lucille Ball multiple times on her various TV series.

After his regular run ended (after considerably more than a decade), it became a pleasure to see Jack in at least one TV Special every year, still playing the same stingy, exasperated character as always.

This year marks 40 years since Jack Benny's death...only he didn't die. He had long since ascended to legendary status and, of anything, his legacy has grown more and more popular over the years through reruns and home video. Most of the earliest pre-recorded Beta videos I bought were of THE JACK BENNY SHOW.

Star Trek Continues-Lolani

This is the second of the new STAR TREK CONTINUES episodes and it, like the first, is a wonderful, nostalgic and yet wholly original follow-up to the original series.

Not only do we get the return of an Orion slave girl but in a nice touch the episode brings us yet another person used to being painted green, Lou Ferrigno!

As with the best of the original sixties series, the plot holds up a sci-fi mirror to a real world issue--in this case, women's rights!

The cast is excellent. In certain lights and angles, Kirk really DOES seem to be Shatner! Although they pale in connection to the actual actors, the rest of the performers are more than acceptable with Michelle Specht a standout in her second outing as the confrontational Dr. McKenna.

You can catch LOLANI here: 

http://www.startrekcontinues.com/star-trek-continues-episode-2-lolani/#.Uvo_NHkUw_0

R.I.P. Christopher Jones

In the 1965-66 season, critics hailed Chris Jones, star of THE LEGEND OF JESSE JAMES as the acting find of the year! One great topic of discussion that dogged him, though, was his resemblance to the late James Dean, then already a cult figure. It got him noticed and talked about but he was more than just that look.

In 1968's feature film, WILD IN THE STREETS, Jones became the hottest thing in Hollywood but he didn't keep the momentum going with his next few films and, after a 1970 nervous breakdown, retired from show business to become a trivia question.

Ironically, like James Dean, his legacy consists of just a handful of screen appearances and some earlier TV roles.

Christopher Jones died on January 31st, 2014.