moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (08/09/85)
Remember the old statistical rule of how, if you watch enough crap,
eventually you'll run across something worthwhile. Last night, after the
first few minutes (espicially the intro, with Our Hero fighting a plastic
shark), I was not hopeful. Another Intelligent Robot helping mankind (the
Questor Tapes was the last word on the subject), crosses with our friend
Steve Austin.
However, after the credits, all sorts of things begin happening. First, you
find that Dave Thomas, of SCTV ("...and Dave Thomas, as the Beaver") and
Mackenzie Bros. fame, wrote and produced it. And it opens up with the fact
that the Army wants the new super-intelligent (it can think for itself --
"fifth-level intelligence", Hah Hah) robot dismantled, because they're
afraid of something that can *think* in the Army. Chuck Connors (who looks
an awful lot like Ronnie R. these days), plays a maniacal tough guy sent out
to get the robot's brain and bring it back to The President (the running
joke for this show are the lines "Why does the President want your brain?"
"Maybe he doesn't have one himself". It actually tends to get better as
things go along...). The cast seems to be a collection of Canadian actors,
including a guest appearance by the excellent Paul Dooley, and Hoyt Axton
seems to be set in as a regular. The show wasn't picked up for the fall
schedule.
The enjoyable part of the show is the weird in-jokes and watered-down
_Airplane_-type humor (hey, I don't expect _Airplane_ humor in undiluted
form on TV). Connors plays the meanie to the hilt; for example, when
following the robot and Dooley into a drive-in, the cashier at the entrance
asks him for two bucks. Connors shows his badge, which causes the woman to
throw $2 into HIS car. Other cute parts -- Thomas walking out of a stall in
the Pentagon men's room; the movie at the drive-in being "Sheena", during
some of it's more ludicrous scenes.
The ultimate in-joke, though (and I was rolling on this one), was where
Connors has a showdown with the robot. Jumping out of his car, Connors
fires a few rounds of ammo into the robot from his Uzi machine gun. The
robot crumples, and Connors walks over to gloat. Robot knocks gun from
Connors' hand and gets up. Connors pulls gigantic pistol from pocket and
fires bullets into robot, which seem to have no effect. Connors runs for
his car and opens trunk. Inside is an arsonal of weaphons that would make
Rambo feel insecure: bombs, grenades, a rocket launcher, a ray gun.
However, Connors' eyes stray to something else, and he pulls out... an
antique Springfield Rifle. Flips it back, twirls it around, as that familiar
theme music ("Dum DUM Dum-dah-dum-dum...") plays in the back. Looks at the
audience, then goes "Naaah..." and pulls out the rocket launcher...
Shows promise, but would Thomas write every episode? I doubt it...
"He even looks like God... except his hands are in his pockets."
"They should be, he's got four dead Presidents in 'em."
A man who has no business being
anyone's role model ---> Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsri}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPAchris@que.UUCP (Chris DeVoney) (08/10/85)
> The enjoyable part of the show is the weird in-jokes and watered-down > _Airplane_-type humor (hey, I don't expect _Airplane_ humor in undiluted > form on TV). > > The ultimate in-joke, though (and I was rolling on this one), was where > Connors has a showdown with the robot. Lest I falesly be accused of watching driple, I thought the show was enjoyable. The jokes are all that was described, and the Rifleman joke was the highlight of the program. Maybe I have a low threshold, but I did find the show humorous. As to making it a series, I don't know if I would watch it. For a one-timer, it was great. By the way, what ever happend to Police Squard? -- Chris DeVoney voice: 317/842-7162 Que Corporation uucp: ihnp4!inuxc!que!chris Indianapolis, IN #include <trademarks.all && disclaimer.all> /* you know what these are for */