Tag: sitcom

Cinema Smorgasbord – George Kennedy is my Copilot – Earthquake (1974)

What’s a George Kennedy-themed podcast without a DISASTER? On this episode of George Kennedy is My Co-Pilot California is hit by the BIG ONE in 1974’s EARTHQUAKE where an all-star cast (including Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Richard Roundtree, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold and – of course – George Kennedy) have to deal with the after-effects of a massive tremor that destroys most of California. Of course, before the quake hits there’s plenty of melodrama and complex relationships (script by Mario Puzo!), but once the earth starts to move things get properly apocalyptic. Our EARTHQUAKE talk is preceded by a short chat about a late-era episode of the television sitcom WINGS featuring George playing a put-upon version of himself! ENJOY!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Bartel Me Something Good – The Comic Strip Presents: Demonella (1993) & Clueless Episodes (1996)

On this episode of BARTEL ME SOMETHING GOOD (the world’s finest Paul Bartel-themed podcast) we’re finishing up the directorial career of Paul Bartel with some television odds & sods! First up are two episodes of the TV show CLUELESS, based on the popular 1995 film starring Alicia Silverstone. This 1996 series is a cut above the sitcoms of the time and brought along a surprising amount of the film’s cast, and not only has Paul Bartel behind the camera.. but in front of it as well, playing a crusty old principal in one of the episodes! Then we talk about an interesting rarity; an episode of the British alternative comedy anthology series THE COMIC STRIP PRESENTS directed and co-written by Paul Bartel called DEMONELLA, starring a whole slew of familiar faces in the realm of UK comedy, including Adrian Edmonson, Jennifer Saunders, Robbie Coltrane and a beardless Paul Bartel playing Oscar Wilde! Listen and enjoy!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – Burning Rage (1984) & Cheers Season 3, Episode 12

Hot diggity dog! On a returning PRAISING KANE we’re committed to giving you the best possible value for your ears, so not only are we going over the latest Carol Kane news, we’re also discussing both an episode of the beloved sitcom CHEERS (featuring Carol Kane as a woman who catches Sam’s eye before he discovers she was previously in a mental hospital), and we also go deep on the Barbara Mandrell-starring TV movie BURNING RAGE from 1984 featuring Tom Wopat, Eddie Albert, Bert Remsen and – of course – Carol Kane for some reason! The film has Mandrell trying to convince a small southern town to move away from their dangerous, combustible mines while she’s being wooed by Tom Wopat’s and being chased (and threatened) by money-obsessed psycho Eddie Albert! LET’S LISTEN!

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – Laverne & Shirley (Season 8, Episode 8) & Strong Medicine (1981)

On this episode of PRAISING KANE we’re once again doubling up, starting with an episode of the eighth season of LAVERNE & SHIRLEY which is without Shirley, Lenny or Squiggy.. but we do have dog murder, Charles Fleischer and not much else, except Carol Kane as a streetwise fortune teller. We follow that with the 1981 film adaptation of Richard Foreman’s avant-garde play STRONG MEDICINE, steeped in the subject matter championed by his Ontological-Hysteric Theater. Hear us struggle with material we’re woefully out of step with! All that and the latest Carol Kane news. CHECK IT OUT.

Cinema Smorgasbord – Praising Kane – Taxi (Season 2, Episode 17) & The Greatest Man in the World (1981)

We’re DOUBLING UP on this episode of Praising Kane, which features a discussion on Carol Kane’s first episode of Taxi (and some very controversial statements from Liam on 80s sitcoms), but also Ralph Rosenblum’s 1981 TV adaptation of James Thurber’s satirical short story THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD, featuring an introduction by Henry Fonda! Not only that, but we also fit in a discussion on the recent announcement of Carol Kane joining the cast of STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS! It’s almost TOO MUCH, yet here it is. Enjoy.