10:00 Columbo
11:30 WKRP In Cincinnati
12:30 The Mary Tyler Moore Show
01:00 Rising Damp
Columbo. Episode 5. "Dead Weight" It has one of the worst endings ever in a Columbo episode, but it also has some of the best characters. It's also a complete departure from the usual formula. Eddie Albert shoots someone and the murder is seen by (the lovely) Suzanne Pleshette. Columbo investigates but finds nothing. However the witness is so sure of herself that he keeps looking around, then the murderer starts dating the witness and she starts to doubt her story. It's a great story. And the characters are terrific. I grew up watching Albert in Switch and I just love to see him in anything. He's great here. As a super-confident, very clever cold-blooded killer. He is arrogant to Columbo and charming to the woman he seeks to silence. Pleshette is amazing in her role. Her character arc is a bit daft, but she makes it work. Thanks to her you really care about the character.
Columbo is sidelined in a lot of ways. It's really the story of the two other characters doing their dance of trust and mis-trust. There are some wonderful contrasts between the shabby policeman the she super-smooth bad-guy (who shows up at the woman's home in a tuxedo). The woman's mother has no time at all for Columbo but simply adores the rich, charming other man in her daughter's life. And this observation on social ranking is very much a part of the Columbo appeal.
Unfortunately, the daft make-it-up at the last minute ending is not part of what makes Columbo great. The conclusion makes no sense no matter how you look at it. Yes, the killer is arrogant but why should suppose that his famous war pistol couldn't be stolen while he was lying in hospital recovering from war wounds? And why would the man lie about it being stolen? And why would Columbo be able to figure all this out AND know that it was the murder weapon AND know where it was hidden.
Nonsense. But the ride that got us there was great fun.
WKRP In Cincinnati. Episodes 58 and 59. "Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide" is a strange episode. Some of it is quite serious, as Johnny takes a job as a sleazy television presenter and appears to develop a second personality. The story has a few points to make about selling-out and the state of the music industry in the 70s. And Johnny is really quite unwell for the latter half of the story. And all of that is played quite seriously. Particularly by (the superb) Howard Hesseman, Gary Sandy and Loni Anderson. It's light on laughs. Except when Les is on screen. He's very funny in this episode.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Episode 11. "1040 or Fight" doesn't use the regular characters to generate it's storyline, but it's still a terrific episode with a terrific guest star: Paul Sand who dominates the episode as a shy IRS auditor who dates Mary. Sand, and the unusual romance, make for a laugh filled episode. Mary, of course, is adorable. I'm part the generation that grew up watching Mary Richards and are thus pre-programmed to fall in love with her whenever we see an episode. Sigh.
Rising Damp. Episode 1. "Rooksby" is a classic. Considered by many (including me) to be The Best ITV Sit-Com this opening episode is pitch perfect. Phillip isn't quite as nice as I remember, but everyone else is the same. Rigsby is my favourite Leonard Rossiter character and this episode is a positive showcase for his quirks. I love the part where he laughs at Alan's skeleton joke (thus showing that he's not really all that bad) and I love all his scenes with Miss Jones. Underneath the laughs is the quite desperation of lonliness. Which, of course, is part of the genius of this show. All of the characters are unhappy. Particularly Rigsby himself. Not that that detracts from the laughs.
Highlight? Rising Damp
Sat, May 31st, 2008 - Columbo, WKRP, Mary Tyler Moore, Rising Damp
