I have been watching Season 12. First 5 episodes so far (so, up to "What If?"). Something feels off about the show. It's weirdly structured. A little uninspired. And, most sadly of all, a little boring. That being said, there's still good stuff, like Danny's sudden kidnapping/murder attempt of Gary and the climax of Karen's stalker storyline. Still, I do not see where this is going from here. 

 

I have also finally seen the infamous "Pollyanna" speech scene. I find it hard to divorce myself from years of opinions I've read about it, ranging from very positive to very negative, but, overall, I liked it well enough, especially when she goes into what we can't do in the world anymore -- until she starts saying she wants to be a Pollyanna. There is something teeth-clenching about that, but Lee's performance here was very, very good (and much more controlled that her usual). 

Reading the sad news about Edie McClurg apparently having dementia I was looking at some old Valerie's Hogan Family clips and ended up being reminded that Danny Ponce was one of the boys who played Laura's ageless son. I guess he got out of Knots at the right time...

 

Did anyone ever notice at the time that the show had what seems like 6 or 7 different opening credits sequences? I found another new one just yesterday. Bewildering. 

 

This is probably my favorite one, as it has the popping and locking scene that today would probably be called "iconic". 

 

(I keep forgetting Christine Ebersole was ever on this show - she had so much bad luck in primetime)

 

 

Edited February 3, 20196 yr by DRW50

Be still my heart, the old NBC "In Stereo" graphic. Interesting that Christine was enough of a name to have the "as" credit and Josh Taylor is enough of a name to have the "and ... as ..." credit.

Jeremy Licht's character was a nerd who could pop and lock?  That's rare!

 

This isn't the proper thread to mention it, but Maria Pitillo (ex-Nancy Don Lewis, RH) is the blonde girl in the Chic commercial.

3 minutes ago, Khan said:

Jeremy Licht's character was a nerd who could pop and lock?  That's rare!

 

This isn't the proper thread to mention it, but Maria Pitillo (ex-Nancy Don Lewis, RH) is the blonde girl in the Chic commercial.

 

I always love finding more soap actors in commercials so thanks. (just yesterday I saw an insurance ad with a voiceover from Thayer David - it was a nice surprise)

 

Most of the time when boys on 70's and onward sitcoms get older they just become assholes and sex-obsessed,  but the credits for the Hogan Family manage to maintain the "one twin athletic the other twin loves book learning" narrative all the way to the final season. 

 

I'd genuinely love to ask their producers about their opening credits ideas, especially since shows don't even have opening credits now...

6 minutes ago, Khan said:

This isn't the proper thread to mention it, but Maria Pitillo (ex-Nancy Don Lewis, RH) is the blonde girl in the Chic commercial.

Thank you for answering that question. It was driving me up the wall.

5 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I'd genuinely love to ask their producers about their opening credits ideas, especially since shows don't even have opening credits now...

 

I'm not sure I'd want to know Miller/Boyett's ideas on anything, but especially on opening credits.  Theirs make an unfortunate case of banishing the practice of producing opening credits altogether.

2 minutes ago, Khan said:

 

I'm not sure I'd want to know Miller/Boyett's ideas on anything, but especially on opening credits.  Theirs make an unfortunate case of banishing the practice of producing opening credits altogether.

 

😄

 

They did Full House and Family Matters too, right?

 

Those opening credits sequences are seared onto my brain. 

 

Maybe I should send them a bill.

Oh God - I did not recognize Christine Ebersole when she turned up as the mom in the infamous Mac & Me in the premiere episode of the new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000, despite having already seen Mac & Me when it came out.

This was a pretty good spoof of the Miller/Boyett style of opening credits:

 

That nails it. (Though nothing beats Too Many Cooks)

18 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

They did Full House and Family Matters too, right?

 

Yep.  And "Step by Step" and "Perfect Strangers."

 

Just now, Vee said:

That nails it. (Though nothing beats Too Many Cooks)

I was *this close* to posting Too Many Cooks. My favorite part of Turn and Smile was when they all turned, but Ashley Marketable was a second or two behind on smiling. It could have been genuine or a dead-on parody of how the Olson Twins weren't that good of actresses.

4 minutes ago, Vee said:

That nails it. (Though nothing beats Too Many Cooks)

 

I kept waiting for the telltale "mishap with food" -- and yep, there it was, when the mom dropped the hot pot.

Edited February 3, 20196 yr by Khan

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