Television

In terms of concept, it seems kinda cool and avant-garde: take the old cartoon Space Ghost, hire some writers and voiceover guys to interview some guests as part of a talk show and see what happens. The result, being Space Ghost Coast to Coast eventually did turn into a cult following and captured an older (read: 18-30) demographic for the Cartoon Network.

Though Space Ghost is a superhero, in this series he has kidnapped a couple of his villains to be a part of his talk show. You have ...orak, essentially an animated praying mantis that serves as the Paul Shaffer of the show. The producer is Moltar, who looks like he should work as part of a hazardous material recovery team. And in the middle of it all, you have a 15 minute, disjointed conversation between a varying group of eclectic guests and a seemingly detached masked hero and show host. The guests over the course of the season include Jon Stewart, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, Jimmy Cliff, Beck, Ice T, Goldie Hawn and Colin Quinn, to list very few.

I used to watch Moonlighting in the 80's. Back then, I thought it was so fresh and funny. The crackling dialogue, the rapid fire pace, the screwball comedy chemistry between the two leads. There was also mystery to boot. I loved it. Is still as fresh and funny? Is the show as good as I remember it being? I mean, ourmemories rarely hold up to reality. Watching this box set in 2005 was quite an experience. Does the show hold up? Yes and no. It feels atad "dated" (but what show from the 80's doesn't.... But the fresh wit and originality still come shining though.

6 discs, the feature pilot, and 23 episodes of Moonlighting are here. If you don't know the show, Bruce Willis (in the series thatmade him a star) plays David Addison, an authentic smart a$$ in need of a job. He hounds Maddie Hayes (played by the gorgeous Cybill Shepherd) for a position at her detective agency. Addison is hired and together, Dave and Maddie, form a partnership based on dislike, but with a definite electric energy. Plagued by production delays and contract disputes, Moonlighting went downhill after these first few seasons. There was even a season (or part of a season) without Dave and Maddie! But Moonlighting's originality was alwaysevident. An episode in black and white and the famous "Taming of the Shrew" show were examples of a televsion program that always wanted topush the envelope. Moonlighting pushed it, pushed it till it broke.

I used to watch Moonlighting in the 80's. Back then, I thought it was so fresh and funny. The crackling dialogue, the rapid fire pace, the screwball comedy chemistry between the two leads. There was also mystery to boot. I loved it. Is still as fresh and funny? Is the show as good as I remember it being? I mean, ourmemories rarely hold up to reality. Watching this box set in 2005 was quite an experience. Does the show hold up? Yes and no. It feels atad "dated" (but what show from the 80's doesn't.... But the fresh wit and originality still come shining though.

6 discs, the feature pilot, and 23 episodes of Moonlighting are here. If you don't know the show, Bruce Willis (in the series thatmade him a star) plays David Addison, an authentic smart a$$ in need of a job. He hounds Maddie Hayes (played by the gorgeous Cybill Shepherd) for a position at her detective agency. Addison is hired and together, Dave and Maddie, form a partnership based on dislike, but with a definite electric energy. Plagued by production delays and contract disputes, Moonlighting went downhill after these first few seasons. There was even a season (or part of a season) without Dave and Maddie! But Moonlighting's originality was alwaysevident. An episode in black and white and the famous "Taming of the Shrew" show were examples of a televsion program that always wanted topush the envelope. Moonlighting pushed it, pushed it till it broke.

posted by Kim Lee

The father & son team behind American Chopper are back for another thirteen new episodes in season two of this great Discovery Channel show. This time, the Orange County Choppers (OCC) crew gets down to the nuts and bolts of building 6 new bikes:

Miracles is a unique television experience in the same vane as X-Files but with a religious rather then an alien spin. Many seem to blame this series short network run (6-episodes) on its misplacement and movement within ABC’s schedule, but there is also talk of the War in Iraq possible having something to do with it. As we all know… timing is everything. This set adds seven episodes to the six that originally aired on ABC… giving us all a chance to see the full 13 episodes that were filmed.

< ...>So what is this show all about? Here is a brief synopsis from Shout Factory… “Paul Callan (Skeet Ulrich) is an investigator of modern miracles. While consistently disappointing hopeful believers by finding simple explanations for “miraculous phenomena,” Paul finds his own faith sorely tested. Then something happens to reignite his passion for discovery and he joins a team that works to uncover the unexplained.”

posted by Kim Lee

Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a legendary custom motorcycle shop run by a father & son team. The Teutel family business consists of Paul Sr., Paul Jr., and Mikey featuring Vince DiMartino, Rick Petko, and Cody Connelley. Paul Sr. runs the show at OCC and Paul Jr. is the artistic genius behind custom bike fabrications while Mikey is the untalented son that’s there to bring humor and motivation to the shop. The cast of American Chopper is what makes everything interesting as each character brings a different level o... attraction to the show. The complete first season of American Chopper brings humor, sarcasm, and tension to every episode as these geniuses fight deadlines, delays, and sometimes each other to build the coolest choppers on this planet.

Season five of Cheers is a major turning point for this show which ran an impressive 11 seasons. This season marks the end of Shelly Long’s (who plays Diane) tenure, and frees up a key opening in the cast – eventually filled by Kirstie Alley in season six. All of the regulars are back, including Sam, Woody, Carla, Frasier, Lilith, Norm, Cliff, and the aforementioned Diane. The laughs are contagious in each episode, and make you realize why this show was so popular for its entire eleven year run.

...eason five has lots of sub-plots, some of which are described in this brief season five synopsis provided by Paramount… “In Cheers: The Complete Fifth Season, Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) make on-again, off-again wedding plans - including a marriage proposal that ends in an assault and battery charge! Not to be outdone, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) move in together; Woody (Woody Harrelson) finds himself abruptly engaged; Carla (Rhea Perlman) falls for a hockey goalie; and Cliff (John Ratzenberger) gets bitten by a dog ... and becomes smitten with the dog's owner. Will Norm's (George Wendt) new job pan out? Will Carla get "birdzilla" cooked in time for Thanksgiving dinner? Will wedding bells finally chime for Sam and Diane? You'll find all the answers - and unending laughs - in all 26 hilarious episodes of the season that marks the farewell appearance of Shelley Long as Cheers regular Diane Chambers.“

Very few shows had the longevity that The Jefferson’s did. Its eleven year run is one of the longest tenures for any sitcom in any decade. Season three was not one of the better seasons… as proved by TV ratings (24th in 1978). Who knows why ratings were not as good as most other seasons… You still get George’s shuffling, Weezie’s tirades, and now in season three we are introduced to Florence… the wise talking maid.

Season three did have its fair share of moments. Here is a brief season three syno...sis provided by Sony Pictures… “With an irresistible combination of biting social satire and pure hilarity, America's funniest cast of characters are all on hand to deliver even more laughs: Geroge Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) takes up flying, wife Weezy (Isabel Sanford) struggles to keep her cool around Mother Jefferson (Zara Culley), maid Florence (Marla Gibbs) moved on in and starts trouble, son Lionel (Mike Evans) married the daughter of the next-door-neighbors, interracial couple Helen and Tom Willis (Roxie Roker and Franklin Cover), and neighbor Harry Bentley (Paul Benedict) lands himself in jail after punching out a police officer not to mention all the other wacky characters who shake things up in the "dee-luxe apartment in the sky."

It is 1994, and both ER and Chicago Hope premier in hopes to win the battle for Hospital drama supremacy on primetime TV. Fast forward to today, and the winner of this battle has been clearly decided; Chicago Hope had six successful seasons before getting cancelled after the 2000 season, while ER has become the most successful Hospital drama in TV history. While ER is currently in its 11th season, we now rewind to 1997, to the shows third season.

So what is this show about? Here is a...brief series synopsis from Warner Brothers… “Combining the extraordinary talents of multiple award-winning producer John Wells, best-selling author Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg, "ER" follows the lives of the emergency room staff and doctors at Chicago's County General Hospital, where the difference between life and death rests on split-second decisions--and the pressure, joy and guilt are often overwhelming.”

I remember growing up with The A-Team; Mr. T. was the Man… and the originator of true bling-bling. This action series lasted 5 seasons, and was quite entertaining for its time. It does not really meet today’s standards for action & effects, but then again... this series ran in the 80’s. I am very surprised that today, in the day of film remakes of classic television shows, we have yet to see this show make it to the big screen. With The Dukes of Hazard about to get its theatrical debut… can an A...Team film be far behind

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