Often, I hate retrospectives...shows about old TV shows or movies. Why? Well, so often the films were made without the folks who made the show or films great. In some cases, it's because the folks have long since died...and in other it simply is because they didn't bother or couldn't get these folks to cooperate. Regardless, this TV Land special worked great, as nearly everyone associated with the program participated. Of course, there were a few exceptions.... Ed Platt (the Chief) had long since died and Mel Brooks (who pretty much walked away from the show after a few episodes) were not featured. Otherwise, pretty much everyone was there. The only one I would have loved to have seen was William Schallert, who brilliantly played the Admiral...a hilariously ancient old guest star from several episodes...but since it was only in five, I can understand his exclusion.
Overall, the show has a lot of great information and seems to be a warts and all look at Adams, a very talented but admittedly flawed man. Well worth seeing....even if you don't love the show...which I really don't....though I saw a ton of episodes as a kid.
By the way, for me the best part of the show was learning that Ed Platt really did have an amazing voice. As a kid, I always assumed his singing waiter bit in an episode was dubbed, but it really was him...a man with a Broadway quality and powerful voice.
Overall, the show has a lot of great information and seems to be a warts and all look at Adams, a very talented but admittedly flawed man. Well worth seeing....even if you don't love the show...which I really don't....though I saw a ton of episodes as a kid.
By the way, for me the best part of the show was learning that Ed Platt really did have an amazing voice. As a kid, I always assumed his singing waiter bit in an episode was dubbed, but it really was him...a man with a Broadway quality and powerful voice.