10:00 McMillan And Wife
12:00 Two Guys And A Girl
12:30 That '70s Show
01:00 Barney Miller
McMillan And Wife. Episode 4. "Husbands, Wives, and Killers" Silly stuff, but very entertaining nonetheless. While the previous movie was padded out to fill the required length, this one has enough plot for two movies. In fact, it got so complex towards the end I had totally lost track of who was doing what to whom! Not that it really matters. The point of this show is to be entertained watching Mac and Sally do their thing and to enjoy the running gags, which are sustained here in fine style. For instance, there is still nobody that can read the maid's handwriting, Mac gets pulled over by a traffic cop and the Mayor is tied up in strike negotiations. Previous stories have shown Enright being dragged out of bed at odd hours by phone calls from Mac, this time he's shown repeatedly trying to eat a large sandwich and the writers find clever ways to sustain the joke for several scenes.
Unlike previous stories, Mac takes the lead in this one and Sally has a very slight involvement. He returns home from time-to-time (to talk things out with her and - on one occasion - get very drunk) but this is mostly about Mac and Enright investigating some robberies that are tied to the McMillan's group of friends. The ending, however, finds a silly way to put Sally in jeopardy. But lots of this is silly: Mac running around in a pink bunny suit, for instance (like how exactly did he drive his car with those huge feet?). No matter, it moves fast and is very entertaining.
Two Guys And A Girl. Season 3, Episode 9. "Bridesmaid Revisited" One of the show's more unusual episodes. Many times during it's run, Two Guys did different types of experimental episodes. This one involves musical numbers acted out by an acappella group that are 'invisible' to the regular cast. Specifically Sharon and Ashley who get drunk in this episode and - as a result - become better friends. All of their scenes are interrupted by sequences in which the lighting changes and three male singers pop-up to sing songs that have a bearing on the action. Once done, they duck down, the lighting changes back to normal and the girls carry on talking as if nothing had happened. There's no real reason for any of this, but it sure does look cool.
The bit-at-the-end where Sharon and Ashley talk serious for a minute is superb. Ashley is always the outsider in the group and scenes like this show the writers take time to write about the friendships of these characters.
That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 3. "Magic Bus" Donna is leaving Eric to go off to college and this is their last day together. He, of course, ruins it. Typical Eric. The ending is wonderful. They make up and he takes her to the bus station. He wants to ask her to stay, but doesn't. Then, in a clever twist, she stays anyway (sneaking off the bus). One of my favourite scenes ever on the show.
Barney Miller. Episode 3. "Snow Job" Not as strong as the second episode but still pretty good, as the gang deal with a suicide attempt from one of the prisoners. The drama on this show works best when there is a human element to what is happening. Something to make us care about the characters. The guy who tries to kill himself here is little more than a cartoon character, so there's no great level of engagement from the audience. We don't really care about whether he lives or dies. But it's still interesting to see the gang do their thing.
Highlight? That '70s Show
Yet Another TV Review Podcast
Fri, Jul 25, 08 - McMillan And Wife, Two Guys And A Girl, That '70s Show, Barney Miller
