I know I played the whole thing off like Joe Cool at the time, putting on the front of impartial journalism, but I was livid. Outside of print, I was very vocal about my frustration and after engaging a 73-year-old woman in a 62-minute one-sided rant about how AMC is in league with Lucifer, I was forced to resign my post as assistant porter of Stupendous Discount Dollar Store and Pharmacy.
Why am I going on about this? Simple, because I just heard some news that will allow me to boycott AMC this upcoming Halloween and give me the power to make every night at home a Monsterfest night. In case you havent heard Universal Studios is releasing THE MONSTER LEGACY DVD box which will contain virtually all the DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN and WOLFMAN films the studio made during its classic period. (ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN isnt on there, but well just read.) Now I know with this being a DVD release its technically a Brian Thomas news item, but in a way havent these movies become more or less television events, and therefore entered my realm? I hope so otherwise it looks like another black eye from Brian.
Anyway the above set will be released in April, but be warned there will be little in the way of extras. Then again, arent extras getting a little tiresome?
The classic television show YOU BET YOUR LIFE: THE LOST EPISODES has been released on DVD and now you can go out and rent or buy this baby featuring the wacky antics of Groucho Marx. Alas its not the comprehensive season-by-season set most fans would have preferred, but its a start. The box has a cool retro-50s design, which indicates the presence of hipsters, who have no need for chronological order anyway.
Speaking of Abbott and Costello, who once had a television show, so I can claim them as well, on February 10th Universal is releasing the DVD set THE BEST OF ABBOTT & COSTELLO: VOLUME 1 featuring the boys first eight films for the studio. The set retails for $24.98 and I tell you, thats money well spent. Not only do you get the boys in their heyday, you get laughs, and really arent the laughs what its all about?
Purchasing the above set will contribute to the production of additional sets which by volume three will start to include ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET WHOMEVER JUST WALKED IN THE DOOR, which when paired with THE MONSTER LEGACY box set, will enable you to say, "Good Lord I own a lot of films."
By the way Fantagraphic comics has announced they will be reprinting the entire PEANUTS comic strips in chronological order, starting later this year. Of course by telling you this Ive broken a sacred pact with Tony Whitt and in such, have spat in the face of sacred pacts everywhere.
Hey, theres a lot of television on this week so why not keep reading to see what caught my eye?
Want to find out why I didnt mention anything about the upcoming DVD sets of THE FLINSTONES, SCOOBY-DOO, JOHNNY QUEST, and THE JETSONS? Write me at TVWasteland@cinescape.com.
And feel free to let me know of any show youd like to see listed.
MONDAY, JANUARY 26
THE FAIRLY ODD PARENTS (8 pm, Nik) The police incorrectly believe that Timmys parents are dangerous outlaws and have them executed. (Repeat)
TORN CURTAIN (8 pm, TCM) Hitchcock film about a U.S. scientist who defects to Russia in order to steal information. A few good set pieces, but otherwise a pretty lukewarm offering from the director.
EVERWOOD (9 pm, WB) A bulimic wrestler cant keep his weight down, nor his food.
CSI: MIAMI (10 pm, CBS) A gas man is engulfed in flames during a car race. The insurance rates for persons in his profession go up. (Repeat)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY/LIVE AND LET DIE (8 pm, AMC) Two Moore Bond films, both boast memorable theme songs.
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (8 pm, TCM) A ex-window washer bluffs his way to the top of the corporate world.
24 (9:00 pm, FOX) 11 pm 12 am. Sherry wants something in exchange for her help and the President finds out what it is.
CASPER (9 pm, SCIFI) Forgettable live action adaptation of a moderately popular comic features a performance by the most forgettable member of Monty Python, Eric Idle.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28
ENTERPRISE (8 pm, UPN) Archer loses his short-term memory. Sounds like a certain Enterprise captain has got to lay off the space weed. (Repeat)
SMALLVILLE (8 pm, WB) Clark and Lana both try to kill Chloe because they hate her.
ANGEL (9 pm, FOX) Angel learns that Dana is a vampire slayer. So much for that friendship.
THE FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS (9 pm, SCIFI) The definitive FLINTSTONES live action adventure.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29
THE STORY OF G.I. JOE (10 pm, TCM) A newspaper writer covers World War II alongside the troops. Stars Burgess Meredith, in one of his many non-Penguin roles.
TRU CALLING (8 pm, FOX) Tru falls for a doomed firefighter. (Repeat)
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (9 pm, CBS) Catherine must decide if she should accept money from her corrupt dad. I think we can agree the answer is yes. (Repeat)
WITHOUT A TRACE (10 pm, CBS) When a motivational speaker disappears the team wonders why he wasnt able to talk himself out of being abducted.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
JOAN OF ARCADIA (8 pm, SCI-FI) God tells Joan to become a cheerleader, proving once and for all that cheerleaders are Gods chosen few. (Repeat)
TREMORS: THE SERIES (8 pm, SCIFI) Burt attempts to quell a town inhabitants fear of a potential Graboid infestation. (Repeat)
STARGATE SG-1 (9 pm, SCIFI) Carter starts investigating her current beau. Troubling information is uncovered. Yikes.
REBA (8 pm, WB) Van tries to pass Reba off as his maid so Reba mops the floor with this face.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
VERTIGO/PSYCHO (8 pm, TCM) Hitchcock double feature. First film has Jimmy Stewart falling in love with a dead woman, the second has Anthony Perkins as boy who loves his mother.
GOLDFINGER (10:10 pm, AMC) Bond thwarts an evil businessmans plot to rob Fort Knox.
TEEN TITANS (9 pm, TOON) Cyborg becomes aware of his limits.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (11:30, NBC) Alec Baldwin hosts.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1
INDEPENDENCE DAY (7 pm, FOX) Alien creatures attack earth.
QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY (8 pm, NBC) Another popular cable show that a major network is showing re-runs of. In this case, three hours of re-runs.
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR/AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION/AMITYVILLE: THE DEMON (8 pm, AMC) A "real" haunted house, inspired these three moderately entertaining horror films. That is, entertaining if you enjoy the ludicrous.
SEX AND THE CITY (9 pm, HBO) Samantha helps spread a sleazy video.
SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (10:30 pm, TCM) A cavalry captain prepares for retirement in this John Ford classic.
And thats all I wrote, with the exception of my e-mail address following this bit: Tvwasteland@cinescape.com
TV Wasteland is our weekly Television column.
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