"Night of the Meek" is a remake from the wonderful 60s episode featuring Art Carney as a drunkard department store Santa - riddled with misery because the poor kids were not fortunate enough to receive the same gifts as the more blessed ones - who is allowed this magic bag that produces presents to those less fortunate. Casting that part which is identified so closely to Carney couldn't have been easy, but Richard Mulligan (I adore this actor; watched him every week on "Empty Nest" growing up) fit the bill wonderfully. His Henry Corwin, with such a giving heart but lacking in gainful employment, is given the opportunity to slip into the *real* Santa persona and opens the magic bag to all those folks who are often not so regarded by economic advantage. Mulligan is so appealing, I think his performance would bring a smile to the face of the most miserable Grinch among us. This 80s updating follows quite closely in spirit to the Carney version, with only the time it is set breaking from the familiar. William Atherton was always rather typecast as an asshole (he just did that so well), but this updating gives him a reprieve when he attempts to have Mulligan arrested for supposedly stealing gifts from his store and later realizes that the spirit of Christmas even has something special for him. Mulligan's only desire is to give to others so the Twilight Zone does him even better by allowing him to do just that. Good for Yuletide viewing, I think this update won't necessarily have you forgetting about the Carney version but it doesn't do it a disservice, either. 8/10
"Type" has the always delightful Pan Dawber (right before My Sister Sam) as a disrespected secretary stuck at work on Christmas Eve because of her unorganized jerk of a boss. Through the magic of a copy machine (!) Pam is teleported to a similar world, but one where the secretary is revered and a desired profession! She goes to a classy party with upscale folks attending and Pam is the admired arrival! Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek: The Next Generation is an attendee interested in her and Pam even receives a job promotion. Returning back accidentally to her own world leaves much to be desired so she hopes to return back to where she is more appreciated. Fun, imaginative premise with Pam representing all those secretaries mistreated over the years; Charles Levin is typical ungrateful dick calling her "kind" bubble-headed bimbos so we root for her. 6/10
"The Star" has Fritz Weaver and Donald Moffat as space explorers encountering what was once Earth, now resembling an asteroid since the sun went Nova. Weaver, besides a scientist is a Jesuit, and he has spiritual and philosophical discussions regarding God and the design of the universe with Moffit. Weaver's resolve is tested when he realizes that the Nova was best seen where the Star of David was when Christ was born. The effects of the ship, Nova/space, and the sets of the Magellan's bridge and the asteroid "cargo hold" where Earth artifacts are discovered are okay, but the script is more interested in dialogue than of a complex sci-fi story. 5/10. Good duo of actors deserving an entire thirty minute Twilight Zone. Still cool to see Weaver on both the original and revival of the TZ.
"Type" has the always delightful Pan Dawber (right before My Sister Sam) as a disrespected secretary stuck at work on Christmas Eve because of her unorganized jerk of a boss. Through the magic of a copy machine (!) Pam is teleported to a similar world, but one where the secretary is revered and a desired profession! She goes to a classy party with upscale folks attending and Pam is the admired arrival! Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek: The Next Generation is an attendee interested in her and Pam even receives a job promotion. Returning back accidentally to her own world leaves much to be desired so she hopes to return back to where she is more appreciated. Fun, imaginative premise with Pam representing all those secretaries mistreated over the years; Charles Levin is typical ungrateful dick calling her "kind" bubble-headed bimbos so we root for her. 6/10
"The Star" has Fritz Weaver and Donald Moffat as space explorers encountering what was once Earth, now resembling an asteroid since the sun went Nova. Weaver, besides a scientist is a Jesuit, and he has spiritual and philosophical discussions regarding God and the design of the universe with Moffit. Weaver's resolve is tested when he realizes that the Nova was best seen where the Star of David was when Christ was born. The effects of the ship, Nova/space, and the sets of the Magellan's bridge and the asteroid "cargo hold" where Earth artifacts are discovered are okay, but the script is more interested in dialogue than of a complex sci-fi story. 5/10. Good duo of actors deserving an entire thirty minute Twilight Zone. Still cool to see Weaver on both the original and revival of the TZ.
