Do You Remember This Saturday Morning Show?

posted by Tygrrius @ 8:49 AM

[3/25/2008, Update: I found it! See comments section.]

"The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time."
--Friedrich Nietzsche

Over a year ago, on this very blog, I posted some memories of Saturday morning cartoons. While I remember a lot of my favorites, today I'm stuck trying to remember one specific show. I've searched imdb and wiki, to no avail. I'm sure it's there; I'm just overlooking it.

Since I can't find it, I thought I'd send out the sketchy details that I remember to the brain trust and see if any of you out there in web land can help me.

Though it may have been produced earlier, I watched this Saturday morning show somewhere between 1982 and 1984. I believe it was a mix of both live action and animation. There may have been a kids-themed news segment to it.

The part I remember most, though, is an animated globe of the Earth with blue arms coming out of his sides and a face and big nose right on the globe. Or maybe he was supposed to actually be Earth and not a globe. In any event, he asked you to write in to join a pen pal group.

I actually did this and corresponded for about two letters with a blond-haired kid named Ray C. in some other state, possibly Minnesota. [I actually remember his full name after only two letters from him. I have a weird memory like that, though. Despite the fact that I can't remember the actual show!]

I know this isn't a lot to go on, but does anyone remember the name of this Saturday morning series that aired in the US? I figure the best clues to go on are the animated Earth/globe and the pen pals bit. Post a comment below or drop me an e-mail if you remember.

Of Movies And Cubes

posted by Tygrrius @ 5:02 PM

"Thanks to my solid academic training, today I can write hundreds of words on virtually any topic without possessing a shred of information which is how I got a good job in journalism."
--Dave Barry (Dave Barry is from Mars and Venus)

I need a break from what I'm supposed to be working on right now, so I thought I'd come by and ramble on for a bit about nothing in particular.

It's funny, when this year started, I was most excited about seeing Star Trek XI, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Dark Knight, and Get Smart, in that order. Now, the list has almost turned upside down.

Star Trek XI was bumped to next year, so that's out of the running for now. The Indy IV teaser trailer seems to have deflated some of my enthusiasm for that movie. I'm still looking forward to it, just not as much for some reason. The death of Heath Ledger has dampened my enthusiasm for The Dark Knight.

That leaves Get Smart as my most anticipated movie for this year. All of the clips I've seen from this one, in both trailers, have looked fantastic. Both Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway seem to be taking the right approach to the characters. Who knows what I'll be doing three months from now, but I sure plan to find the time to have a seat in a theater that weekend to check this one out.

Of course, there is also the unexpected gift of Star Wars: The Clone Wars this year, but that animated movie just doesn't take the spotlight away from Get Smart for me. Besides Star Trek in 2009, a movie I'm really waiting for is the sequel to Superman Returns - maybe 2010.

* * *

Do you know that I have two, count them, two Rubik's cubes here on my desk? One is the standard version and the other is a miniature keychain version. Both share one thing in common, though: They are unsolved. They will likely remain that way, too, as the only reliable way I've found of solving a Rubik's cube is to disassemble and reassemble it. (Sure, you could take the stickers off and reapply them, but that's not a very elegant approach.) The only other way I've found is to work step-by-step through a solution book or site. It's a lot more efficient to just disassemble it, though.

I found that trick in a solution book I read when I was a kid. I also worked through the manual solution portion, but found the disassembly trick to be a lot more convenient. It all comes down to the fact that, when it comes to Rubik's cubes, I'm pretty much an idiot. I've never been able to beat the cube without cheating. I doubt that will change anytime soon. Maybe I should get one of those new 2x2 versions - but what if I can't even solve that? Better not to know.

The Essential Star Trek (Part 3)

posted by Tygrrius @ 6:45 PM

"In every revolution, there's one man with a vision."
--Captain James T. Kirk (Star Trek, "Mirror, Mirror")

Last year, I started a list of the must-see episodes of the original Star Trek.

· The Essential Star Trek: Part 1
· The Essential Star Trek: Part 2

Here is part three of that four-part series. As before, episodes are in production order—which I recommend for best understanding the evolution of the series and characters. Disc references are to the DVD season sets released in 2004.

#35 The Doomsday Machine
Season 2, Disc 2
"The Doomsday Machine" was one of those episodes that could have been expanded into a breathtaking film. The Enterprise encounters a robotic "planet killer" capable of destroying entire solar systems. Already crippled by the planet killer is the USS Constellation; her sole survivor is her commander, Commodore Matt Decker. Decker is obsessed with destroying the ultimate weapon.

While "The Doomsday Machine" is full of effects, ultimately the top-notch writing and acting have made the episode so memorable over the years. "You mean you're the lunatic who's responsible for almost destroying my ship?" demands Kirk of Decker at one point after he assumes command of the Enterprise and takes her on a suicide attack run.

Decker later pilots a shuttlecraft into the machine's maw. When contemplating the death of his friend, Kirk says, "He gave his life in an attempt to save others. Not the worst way to go." Appropriate from the man who would years later give his own life to save millions in Star Trek Generations.

#39 Mirror, Mirror
Season 2, Disc 1
Kirk, McCoy, Uhura, and Scott are victims of a transporter mishap and arrive in a parallel universe where the Federation is a savage empire, and Kirk rose to command the Enterprise by assassinating Captain Pike.

Besides displaying the "evil" alter egos of various crewmembers, this episode contains lots of attention to detail. The Enterprise sets are redressed to represent the mirror version of the ship. Uniforms are also slightly redesigned, giving a feeling of authenticity to the episode.

While most things in the mirror universe are inverted, it is notable that the Halkans - the residents of the dilithium-rich planet in dispute - are a peace-loving people in both universes.

This is a standout episode for Uhura, who unfortunately was rarely featured the way she is here. She outwits the mirror Sulu and even beats the "Captain's Woman." Truly a fun episode.

#40 The Deadly Years
Season 2, Disc 3
After visiting a planet near the Romulan neutral zone, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, and Galway experience rapid aging. The only member of the landing party not affected is Chekov. McCoy runs multiple tests on him to determine why he's immune to the condition, allowing Walter Koenig to provide comic relief.

William Shatner's portrayal of the aging Kirk is quite convincing, which makes the episode all the more realistic. Fantastic makeup effects by Fred B. Phillips also convey the illusion of age. McCoy takes on a thicker-and-thicker Southern accent as he ages, in a wonderful performance by DeForest Kelley. He says, "I'm not a magician, Spock. Just an old country doctor."

"Yes, as I had always suspected," retorts Spock.

To top it all off, there's a showdown with the Romulans. "The Deadly Years" even includes references to previous episodes ("Balance of Terror" and "The Corbomite Maneuver"), a rare touch for the original series. All in all, an episode I'll remember in my old age . . . which won't be for some while I hope.

#42 The Trouble With Tribbles
Season 2, Disc 4
Many episodes of Star Trek had comedic moments, for humor was always an integral part of the original series. However, the show only had three episodes that I would consider outright comedies: "I, Mudd," "The Trouble With Tribbles," and "A Piece Of The Action." Though all are worthy episodes, the most effective of these comedies is "The Trouble With Tribbles."

The Enterprise visits a space station to protect a special shipment of a wheat-like grain from the Klingons. On the station, Uhura is given a small, furry animal called a tribble. Though they seem to make great pets, tribbles consume lots of food and give birth to new tribbles almost constantly. There are lots of great moments in this episode. The banter between Spock and McCoy is some of the best in the series. Spock also gets to display his dry wit.

Kirk: "I heard you."
Spock: "He simply could not believe his ears."

While some people seem to enjoy making fun of Star Trek's original effects, there are actually some great shots in this episode of the Enterprise approaching and later leaving the space station.

#44 Journey To Babel
Season 2, Disc 3
Spock's father takes ill aboard the Enterprise after becoming the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Though they would later appear in the films, "Journey to Babel" is the first and only episode of the original Star Trek to feature Spock's parents. His Vulcan father, Sarek (Mark Lenard), and his human mother, Amanda (Jane Wyatt), display both extremes of his own personality.

In case you were wondering why they didn't show up a few episodes back for the important Vulcan ritual in "Amok Time," we learn that Spock and his father have been feuding for eighteen years over his decision to enroll at Starfleet Academy rather than the Vulcan Science Academy. This episode also marks the first time that Kirk meets Spock's parents, so it will be interesting to see if this remains the case with the Star Trek XI prequel.

#47 Obsession
Season 2, Disc 4
While "Journey To Babel" is an important Spock episode, "Obsession" is an important Kirk episode. It reveals more of Kirk's past, namely his time as a Lieutenant aboard the USS Farragut. When a malevolent, gas-like being attacked the Farragut, the young Kirk hesitated for a split second before firing phasers. Since that time, he has blamed himself for the subsequent loss of life. When the Enterprise crew encounters a similar cloud, Kirk seemingly becomes obsessed with hunting it down.

Scott is extremely pushy and annoying in this episode, constantly reminding Kirk that the Enterprise needs to rendezvous with the Yorktown to pick up perishable medical supplies. He even breaks in on a communication that Kirk is having with someone else to remind him of this. Kirk shows a lot of restraint by not throwing him in the brig.

While one minor character is annoying, another one getting the rare chance to shine offsets it as Nurse Chapel uses a prescription card bluff to get her way with a patient.

#48 The Immunity Syndrome
Season 2, Disc 5
This is a terrific but often overlooked episode that aired just three months after the similarly-themed "The Doomsday Machine." While "The Doomsday Machine" featured a planet killer constructed by a warring civilization, "The Immunity Syndrome" features a naturally-occurring, living organism that presents as much, if not more, of a threat. The gigantic "space amoeba" of this episode can reproduce, resulting in enough offspring to destroy the entire galaxy. Like "The Trouble With Tribbles," this episode contains some of the best effects work of the original series.

When the USS Intrepid goes missing, the Enterprise is diverted from shore leave to find out what happened. Fearful of facing the same fate as the doomed Intrepid, some suggest fleeing the area. "Our orders do not say 'stay alive' or 'retreat.' Our mission is to investigate," Kirk admonishes them. They soon discover they are being drawn towards the space amoeba.

McCoy, Spock, and Kirk argue with each other over which of them gets to take on the suicide mission of investigating further with a shuttlecraft. The episode includes some classic McCoy vs. Spock moments, and the Vulcan seems quite pleased when Kirk picks him over McCoy for the mission. Spock points out that it is not the first time that superior capability has won out over higher credentials. It's a bumpy ride as Spock flies into the amoeba, and he notes, "Oh, and Dr. McCoy, you would not have survived it."

"Wanna bet?" Bones answers.

When the Enterprise takes the shuttle in a tractor beam (against Scott's wishes, I might add, for the chief engineer appeared perfectly content to leave Spock behind), Spock complains that they should release the shuttlecraft rather than risk the starship to save him. "Shut up, Spock. We're rescuing you," McCoy tells him.

Sounding almost amused, Spock actually gives in, "Why thank you, Captain McCoy."

#49 A Piece Of The Action
Season 2, Disc 5
The Enterprise discovers a planet of mobsters who have patterned their lives on a book called Chicago Mobs of the Twenties. The book was among the items left behind by the USS Horizon, which visited about a hundred years ago and prior to the adoption of the non-interference directive. It's up to Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to undo some of the damage.

William Shatner proves yet again that he's great with comedy, when given the right material. As Spock, Leonard Nimoy is the ultimate straight man. In fact, much of the back and forth between Kirk and Spock in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the pinnacle of Star Trek comedy, is reminiscent of "A Piece Of The Action."

After riding along in a 1920s style car driven in fits and starts by Kirk, Spock dryly notes, "Captain, you are an excellent starship commander but as a taxi driver, you leave much to be desired."

Later, when they need the car again, Spock hesitates and notes that it's not as safe as walking.

"Are you afraid of cars?" asks Kirk.

"Not at all. It's your driving that alarms me."

The mildly insulted look on Kirk's face after Spock's retort is priceless, as is this episode.

How To Spend An Extra Day

posted by Tygrrius @ 11:05 AM

"The only thing worse than watching a bad movie is being in one."
--Elvis Presley

Finally, February is over and spring is almost here. Now that we've made it to another month, it's time for me to once again apologize for neglecting this section of The Film Frontier. I've had a hard enough time keeping up with all of the news lately, much less add in reviews and my idiosyncratic thoughts on life.

Though I'm no fan of February, it does have one redeeming factor: Leap Day. I spent part of 2008's extra day watching Superman Returns. February 29 is Superman's kinda-sorta birthday, after all. It's been nearly a year since I last watched this movie and I continue to be impressed by it. I hope that both Bryan Singer and Brandon Routh will return for a sequel within the next two or three years. I've seen rumors on both sides, but no confirmation either way.

I also watched some Star Trek episodes on Leap Day. No real connection there, I just felt like watching. I watched the original versions of "The Apple," "Mirror, Mirror," and "The Deadly Years." Turns out that "The Apple" is also this weekend's episode of Star Trek: Remastered. This means I won't be watching, though, because "The Apple" isn't an episode I could watch twice in the same weekend.

No Star Wars on Friday, but I did sneak in an Elvis movie - Harum Scarum. Definitely not one of his best, but interesting to me as an Elvis fan since I haven't watched it in a long time. Mary Ann Mobley sure made a beautiful princess in 1965. Earlier that same year, she had a smaller role in another Elvis movie, Girl Happy.

When I was a kid, the local UHF syndicated station seemed to show Elvis movie marathons nearly every Saturday afternoon. Coming from a family of Elvis fans, I spent a lot of time watching them. I won't lie to you and tell you that Elvis made the best movies, but most of them do have a quirky fun about them. He had a real gift for comedy that a lot of the mainstream really doesn't know about. Check out Viva Las Vegas, for instance.

Elvis made 31 movies as an actor, but some of them seemed to turn up on those Saturday afternoons more often than others. Harum Scarum and Easy Come, Easy Go, for instance received a lot more airplay back then than, say, Jailhouse Rock or Change of Habit.

When the UHF station wasn't playing Elvis movies, it filled Saturday afternoons with Godzilla and other monster movies instead. I watched a lot of those, too. My favorite of these was Godzilla vs. King Kong-mostly because of the epic nature of such a bout. Elvis never made any monster movies, but it sure would've been cool to see him take down Godzilla with a karate chop and then nurse the beast's wounds with a song in Elvis vs. Godzilla. You know, maybe I watched too much TV as a kid.

Hey, I wonder if Quantum Leap fans use Leap Day to celebrate their franchise? There's even an Elvis connection to Quantum Leap. The last episode before the series finale featured Sam leaping into the body of none other than Elvis Presley, on the brink of being discovered. Though filled with inaccuracies regarding Elvis, it's still a fun episode.

One neat bit of trivia is that when Sam looks in the mirror to see the face of the body into which he has leaped, Elvis is portrayed by Michael St. Gerard - who had also played him on the short-lived but excellent ABC television series Elvis. He also appeared as Elvis in the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire. St. Gerard actually looks enough like Elvis that my local paper once accidentally put a small picture of him next to an article about the real Elvis, with the caption: "Presley."

Due to an unforeseen circumstance, I had the day off on Leap Day this year (though I probably would've requested it off anyway), but doesn't it seem that Leap Day should be a worldwide holiday for everyone?

Does your employer or school really deserve an extra day of your life? It's the perfect day to catch up on time, life, and movies. Let's start the Leap Day Holiday movement right here on The Film Frontier. We'll all work really hard on it - every four years or so.