kgraovac Reviews

Mod Squad: To Linc - With Love (1969) Season 2, Episode 5

Not Exciting But Good Performances

[7/10 · 20 January 2024]

An okay but not terribly exciting episode that spotlights Linc's pursuit and romance of a DMV worker named Ann Gibbon played by Janet McLaughlin who went on to play reporter Lynne Sutter -- frenemy to CAGNEY & LACEY.

The first part of the episode is almost whimsical as Linc pulls one childish stunt after another to win Ann's attention. After he succeeds, some of the dialog sounds like something out of a 1950s Joan Crawford melodrama, though. There is also a slow-motion romance sequence at a lake.

Mia Fullmore, who plays Ann's daughter Katie gives a very natural performance for a child actress. Oddly, this was her only acting credit.

Classic TV fans will enjoy Maudie Prickett as the prickly DMV clerk and Allan Melvin as a private detective.

Not much in the way of exciting crime drama in this one, but it is one of Clarence Williams III best performances on the show.

Mod Squad: Ride the Man Down (1969) Season 2, Episode 4

One of Season 2's Best

[9/10 · 20 January 2024]

A definite highlight of the second season and the first of two fantastic MS episodes to feature Brenda Scott. Here she plays a sketchy mysterious blonde who meets Pete in a bar, spikes his drink and ends up taking him to a rustic resort, where he ends up being framed for murder. Her brother is played by a Don Stroud lookalike.

Lynn Borden (HAZEL) has a small but pivotal role as a bad-girl-gone-good. Even though she's only onscreen a short time you'll end up feeling bad for her character. Richard Dean Anderson is the no-nonsense DA with an axe to grind towards Pete. Jo-Ann Harris is in this too but you won't recognize her.

A great script with an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing and doesn't tip its' hand. Julie is the MVP here as she easily spots a taxi cab tied into the whole plot and then dons a groovy disguise as a kooky switchboard operator to help trap the perp.

Definitely one of the more complex, better-written episodes. Check it out! 9/10.

Valerie: Sandy in Love (1989) Season 5, Episode 12

Not Very Humorous, But Watch It For Sandy's Meltdown

[8/10 · 12 January 2024]

When David needs emergency dental work done, Sandy ends up meeting a dentist with whom she falls in love.

Another good Sandy episode, although this one goes more for heart than humor. It turns out that Doctor Grayson (Kip Gilman) is not yet divorced, which complicates things between he and Sandy. Ms. Duncan gives what is probably her best dramatic performance on this series here when she falls apart after realizing the romance is not to be.

The comedy in this one comes from David's childish fear of the dentist.

The script makes reference to the infamous 1989 Oscars ceremony where Rob Lowe sang with Snow White.

Valerie: Stan and Deliver (1989) Season 5, Episode 11

A "Perfect Stranger" Gets Too Comfortable

[5/10 · 12 January 2024]

Sandy's colleague Stan is despondent after his girlfriend rejects his marriage proposal, so Sandy invites him to stay with the family.

Mark Linn-Baker (PERFECT STRANGERS) appears as the sad-sack Stan but the character is such a drip you just want him to leave the Hogans alone and get on with his life.

The funniest part is when Sandy says "I brought my friend Stan home to spend the weekend" and Michael misunderstands and thinks Sandy is just casually bringing men into the house.

PERFECT STRANGERS fans may like it, but I found this one very unappealing with not much to recommend. No replay value. 5/10.

Valerie: Educating Rita (1989) Season 5, Episode 10

A Great Sandy Episode

[8/10 · 12 January 2024]

Rita Traeger begins a clingy friendship with Sandy after they attend the ballet together; David places a newspaper ad to sell his bike.

A great Sandy episode that is given a big boost by the appearance of Cristine Rose as Rita. She gifts Sandy with some funny "beer can" earrings. The highlight is the scene in the singles bar where Sandy meets a conceited show-off. They do a very funny Dirty Dancing bit to The Contours' "Do You Love Me". Sandy Duncan is being given a lot of great physical comedy this season. She also gives Rita a serious speech at the end.

The twins pull one over on David after he gives them flak about wanting to buy his bike.

Kristopher Kent Hill will be recognizable to ROSEANNE fans as Crystal's son Lonnie. Here he plays a grumpy, irritable kid who comes to look at the bike.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and Uncle Harry's Pot (1973) Season 5, Episode 21

No, It's Not About Weed

[6/10 · 12 January 2024]

After she inadvertently breaks a sentimental homemade vase from Harry's former secretary, Lucy enrolls in a pottery class to make him a new one.

Not a great episode. The best scene occurs in the pottery store where Lucy is like a bull in a china shop and has the exasperated owner at his wits end.

When Lucy breaks the vase, Harry is uncharacteristically calm -- and solemn -- which makes Lucy feel worse. She even begs him to yell to help relieve her conscience.

In the pottery class scene, it looks like Lucy has switched to a much fuller wig. Her "sculpture" looks like a pile of manure! The bit with the pottery wheel is very repetitive, though ("Lotsa water, lotsa water").

The final scene is the office is unusually tender for the series.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and the Franchise Fiasco (1973) Season 5, Episode 20

Lucy Looks Great In It But That's About It

[5/10 · 12 January 2024]

Lucy and Mary Jane convince Harry to go in as partners in a frozen custard franchise.

This would be a lame episode even by LAVERNE & SHIRLEY's worst standards. It's a shame since this is one of the rare ones where Mary Jane is included in most all the action.

The big block scene has Lucy battling the custard machine when it goes haywire. Does no one think to just pull the plug?? Nope -- instead, our redhead starts shoveling the frozen dessert into her pockets! WHAT??? She ends up on the floor in one of her crying jags, but since the comedy has no real motivation, it's more embarrassing than funny.

Later, Lucy crashes a formal dinner party while dressed in a penguin suit. In the past, such ridiculous circumstances were supported by good scripts (like "Lucy Is a Kangaroo For a Day") but this one is a fail.

Best that can be said is that Lucy reverts to one of her shorter wigs here and for some reason she looks years younger in this episode. We're talking Season 5-6 LUCY SHOW era. Her navy skirt/boots combo is also very flattering.

Valerie: Stir Crazy (1989) Season 5, Episode 9

Mrs. Poole's Kitchen

[5/10 · 10 January 2024]

David's video for his Communications class results in Mrs. Poole getting her own local TV cooking show; Michael installs a new home security system.

A good story idea but not a great episode. Both the A and B stories are done in way that is too over-the-top so they come off as silly rather than funny.

Mrs. Poole refers to Betty Crocker as "The Great One" but later she freezes when the cameras roll, and Sandy has to rescue her on live TV. When her pupils are dilated (don't ask) on the second broadcast, David is forced to step in and makes a fool of himself. This scene is rather embarrassing and painful to watch.

At least the final scene shows some heart when Mrs. Poole admits she considers the Hogans family.

The home security storyline is just a time-filler and not even worthy of mention.

Valerie: Get a Job (1989) Season 5, Episode 8

One Burger at a Time

[7/10 · 10 January 2024]

Mark and Willie get fast-food jobs at a Bossy Burger restaurant; Sandy plans to varnish the living room floor.

This is a typical wacky-teen type episode that would become a hallmark of ABC's TGIF lineup. In fact, THE HOGAN FAMILY would have fit in perfectly there if it had not run on NBC. THE BRADY BUNCH did a very similar episode. Mark of course is the conscientious worker but it is slacker Willie who ends up getting promoted, ending up way over his head. The twins' boss is played by former CPO SHARKEY star Peter Isacksen.

Sandy has a great bit of physical comedy with the runaway floor polisher.

The episode title was actually a popular catch-phrase in the late '80s. Bruce Hornsby & the Range even included it in one of their hits.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and Her Genuine Twimby (1973) Season 5, Episode 17

Change-of-Pace Episode Where Lucy Just Reacts

[6/10 · 10 January 2024]

When the reproduction antique chair Lucy buys from a dealer turns out to be an original, he romances her in hopes of getting it back.

Bob Cummings is back, this time playing the scheming dealer and he is given ample support from the always-welcome William Lanteau as the suck-up assistant.

This episode is a refreshing change of pace that has the secondary characters doing all the plotting so Lucy gets to be the normal one here. Unfortunately, it never really rises to greatness.

The best part is when Lucy schools Kim on the art of bargaining, but Lanteau's character beats her at her own game. 6/10.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and the Group Encounter (1972) Season 5, Episode 14

One Dumb Scene Brings It Down a Notch

[7/10 · 9 January 2024]

At Mary Jane's suggestion, Lucy and Harry attend a group encounter to vent their hostilities and foster a better working relationship.

"Group Encounters" and "Sensitivity Training" were very big in the 70s and many TV shows incorporated them into storylines. ALICE did it best with the Season 2 episode "Close Encounters of the Worst Kind" -- a series best. This episode has a lot going for it, but unfortunately, there is also some silliness that prevents it from being great.

There is a scene where Lucy and Harry revert to childhood and fight over ice cream cones that is stupid and makes no sense -- they aren't hypnotized! I always found that kind of "child's play" off-putting -- even when they did it with Vivian back on THE LUCY SHOW in "Lucy the Stockholder".

Best scene is back at the office when Lucy and Harry partake in some role-play reversal and the mailman catches Harry walking in a feminine manner, pretending to be Lucy. When the client Mrs. Forrester (Reta Shaw) is impressed with what she sees (she thinks Lucy is the boss), they must keep up the charade so they land the account.

Look for Sid Gould and Vanda Barra in the group scene. They don't have any lines but are dressed like Sonny and Cher circa 1965.

Valerie: The Hospital (1989) Season 5, Episode 7

A Very Funny Burt Episode

[8/10 · 9 January 2024]

David ends up in the hospital after an embarrassing accident at the Homecoming parade; the Hogans and Mrs. Poole go fishing.

A pretty good episode with some very funny physical comedy and sight gags. Mrs. Poole shows up for the fishing trip dressed like Huckleberry Finn. Her rod is a simple bamboo stick she made out of an old rake. She ends up catching more fish then Michael, who was so proud of his state of the art fishing pole.

David and Burt almost destroy the living room when they try to walk in a camel costume. An off-camera mishap at the parade is how they end up as hospital roommates. A very funny scene is when Burt is getting a massage from a hot nurse on the other side of the curtain and David hears him making orgasmic sounds.

The script also uses the folding hospital bed gag, and Burt is excited to find a FLIPPER rerun on TV. He knows every word to the theme song. Later, we see him eating a gourmet meal brought to him by Nana Weems while David's stuck with the lousy hospital food.

Shout-out to Zoaunne LeRoy who is great as the nasty nurse who kicks Michael and Sandy out because visiting hours are over.

The final gag with Burt was done much better on ALL IN THE FAMILY with Edith. 7/10.

Mod Squad: An Eye for an Eye (1969) Season 2, Episode 3

Greer Stories Were Better in the Later Seasons

[6/10 · 9 January 2024]

Just an ok episode, nothing great. So many from the first two seasons seem to fall into this category. This show is odd in that it actually got better as it went along, with some of the series' best offerings coming in the final season.

It does start off promising with the trio undercover as car wash attendants but kind of fizzles out. The script gives most of the heavy lifting to Greer and the secondary characters aren't at all interesting. Best part is when Linc stops Greer from taking the law into his own hands and then they embrace.

Julie wears a ridiculously huge sombrero in one scene when the Squad returns from a Tijuana vacation. Pete does a lot of snorkeling in this one.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and Her Prince Charming (1972) Season 5, Episode 12

Lucy's Prince Has Come

[6/10 · 8 January 2024]

Harry stands to gain a fortune if he arranges a marriage between Lucy and the incognito Prince she's been seeing.

First, the good: Lucy acts like a lady in this episode -- no zany shenanigans. I know that was her bread-and-butter but it's always a nice change of pace when she behaves like a normal human being and let's someone else do the clowning. In this case, it's Harry -- who desperately wants her to marry Prince Philip of Montalbania so Harry can claim somewhat of a "finder's fee".

Gale Gordon gets to dress up like a gypsy violin player and a chubby harem girl before he crashes Lucy and Philip's date by emerging from the back seat of their car. These quick-cut scenes were unusual for the series, so they stand out as a series of vignettes.

The bad: Ricardo Montalban is a boring guest star who doesn't really bring anything to the table here. And Harry ends up getting wet -- AGAIN.

Kim's bridesmaid dress makes her look like a Stepford Wife and she does a Snow White impression.

Here's Lucy: Dirty Gertie (1972) Season 5, Episode 10

Undercover Lucy

[6/10 · 8 January 2024]

When a big-time racketeer mistakes Lucy for "Dirty Gertie" -- a beggar woman who brings him good luck in betting -- a cop asks Lucy to take part in a sting operation to put the criminal behind bars

An okay episode, but kind of derivative. The drunk bit is trotted out once again. Lucy's "Gertie" is kind of similar to when Lucy played the slovenly woman in the I LOVE LUCY episode with Aunt Martha's Salad Dressing. Never one of my favorite Lucy characterizations.

Bruce Gordon returns to play another "heavy" but this one isn't as good as the LUCY SHOW episode he did in Season 4 "Lucy the Gun Moll".

Valerie: License to Drive (1989) Season 5, Episode 6

Overly Cautious Mark Pays the Price

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

Mark gets in an accident taking his road test; David tries to film a video documentary of the family for his Communications class.

The late '80s saw a few sitcoms doing the "home made video" plot but MAMA'S FAMILY did it best. Fun to see David holding the huge archaic camera on his shoulder. Burt's video project is called "The Secret Body Language of Cats" because his Nana Weems has 37 of them!

Mark is overly cautious on the road but it ends up biting him in the butt when he swerves to save a woodchuck from becoming roadkill.

When Mark swears off driving forever, David fakes a fall down the stairs in hopes Mark will take him to the hospital. This is a dumb scene and is poorly written. It brings the episode down a notch. At least it ends up tying the A and B plots together, though.

Future FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR star James Avery plays Mark's driving test examiner.

Valerie: The Rivals (1989) Season 5, Episode 5

David Is Not Mechanical

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

Mark and Willie end up as rivals when they begin dating the same girl; David gets Sandy a discount exercise bike, but assembly seems to be a big problem for him.

The A-story isn't very funny but it does have a sentimental ending that shows some character growth for both Willie and Mark, so there's that. It's fun to see Mark gloating, and later he uses Michael's electric razor to shave the fuzzballs off his sweater. Both of the twins do a lousy James Brown impression, though. I wonder if either Danny Ponce or Jeremy Licht even heard "I Got You (I Feel Good)" before they filmed this?

There is some funny physical comedy when Sandy goes to try out the bike that David assembled.

Both the A and B stories have a nice twist resolution in this one. 7/10.

Valerie: The Tracks of My Tears (1989) Season 5, Episode 4

"Hurt Me Dave, I'm Yours"

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

Willie begs David to be his trainer for an upcoming track meet, then slacks off; Sandy dog-sits for her ex-husband Richard while he is on vacation.

Episode has some amusing moments when a frustrated David yanks a lazy Willie out of bed and onto the floor; Richard's dog ends up being a little Cujo and attacks everyone -- especially Sandy who refers to the mutt as "Rosemary's Puppy". There is a slight twist to the plot that really sends Sandy off the deep end and it is satisfying when she gets revenge on Richard for his deceit.

After the race, Michael gives a nice speech to make Willie feel better upon which Willie tells Michael his parenting has improved. 7/10.

Mod Squad: My Name Is Manolete (1969) Season 2, Episode 2

Not Great

[5/10 · 7 January 2024]

Not much of a fan when it comes to these crime stories involving poor unfortunate street urchins. This one is made worse by the constant flamenco music on the soundtrack every time the boy appears on camera.

There are some close-ups of a cuckoo clock that seemed to be there as a kind of foreshadowing but nothing comes of that.

Manolete refers to the landlady as "an old serpent who will beat me with a stick". Later,, she calls him a "little pig" and willingly outs him to the bad guys. One of them is played by Bruce Watson who would gain infamy as the psychotic transvestite Margo in a campy Season 5 CHARLIE'S ANGELS episode.

At least the Squad all work together in this one, all three appearing in the same scenes. Julie rocks a trendy headscarf. Rhoda Morgenstern, eat your heart out! Actually Julie looks like the prototype for Mattel's 1971 Live Action Barbie. Pete and Linc perform a double takedown of the baddies at a playground.

Here's Lucy: Lucy and Jim Bailey (1972) Season 5, Episode 9

"I Don't Know WHAT We Saw"

[8/10 · 6 January 2024]

When the real Phyllis Diller cancels out on Lucy's charity show, Kim enlists the help of female impersonator Jim Bailey to step in and save the day.

Your enjoyment of this episode will depend on how much you appreciate Diller's type of self-deprecating humor. I think this is a fantastic offering and Bailey is almost the whole show here. The jokes are hilarious -- he even gets in a good dig at Lucy's hair color. This one is from a time when female impersonators were an art form -- not like the trashy sexualized drag queens of today.

Kim and Mary Jane do the scheming here and all Lucy has to do is react. She looks great in the banquet scene wearing a fuller wig. Jim's dressing room set is remarkably elaborate for being located in the back of a banquet hall. Lucy and Harry are floored when they see him out of costume speaking like Phyllis.

The finale features Lucie and Jim performing a steamy duet of "Fever". It's one of the most unique and entertaining musical numbers ever seen on HERE'S LUCY. Check this one out!

Here's Lucy: Lucy and Joe Namath (1972) Season 5, Episode 5

"If I Don't Let Him Play, It'll Break His Heart, If I Do, It'll Break His Neck"

[6/10 · 6 January 2024]

Joe Namath thinks Craig has potential as a quarterback but Lucy is more concerned about Craig getting hurt.

Desi Jr disappeared from the show in Season 3 and makes one final appearance in this episode, although the best parts of it are when Namath visits the Carter home and deals with Lucy and Kim.

Lucy overreacts watching "those monsters" when Joe shows her some football highlights on TV. Kim is more concerned with flirting and fawning over him. Lucy moves quickly on the sofa to keep Kim from sitting close to Joe. "I wish my guys could block like that", he says.

This is the last episode with Lucy in her wheelchair and Kim refers to her as "Little Ironside".

Valerie: Paris: Part 3 (1989) Season 5, Episode 3

Part 3

[6/10 · 6 January 2024]

Part 3 of the Hogans' vacation in Paris is probably the best of the trilogy.

The scene in the hotel room where Mark and Willie try and cover for the fact that David stayed out all night so Michael won't find out plays more like a regular episode even though this was still shot without a studio audience.

Princess Julia is caught by her stern aunt/handler as well as the guy we thought was a stalker (he isn't).

Sandy puts the pieces together when she sees Julia's picture on a magazine cover.

With the mystery cleared up, the family is invited to a prestigious Royal Ball where the cast look especially snazzy in their finery.

Valerie: Paris: Part 2 (1989) Season 5, Episode 2

Part 2

[5/10 · 6 January 2024]

Part 2 of the Hogans' vacation in Paris has Sandy getting goosed by an old man after she stops to ask him for directions. Then she and Mrs. Poole are involved in a foot chase, pursued by two sketchy guys Mrs. Poole shows off her karate skills on one of them and that puts and end to that.

Mark and Willie perv on a topless bathing beauty through pay-as-you-watch binoculars for tourists -- until they run out of coins.

David and Princess Julia are also chased and end up hiding under blankets in a parked van. Alexandra Powers (Julia) resembles "Live to Tell" era Madonna here and could have played her in a biopic.

Episode plays like a lame TV movie and isn't as enjoyable as the regular series episodes.

Valerie: Paris: Part 1 (1989) Season 5, Episode 1

Gimmicky Season Opener

[5/10 · 6 January 2024]

A gimmicky 3-part episode shot single-camera style like a TV movie, similar to THE FACTS IOF LIFE GOES TO PARIS, etc.

The Hogans and Mrs. Poole enjoy a Paris holiday where David meets a mysterious young woman named Julia unaware she is a princess who is sightseeing incognito.

In the opening scene we learn that Burt will be house sitting while the family is away. Michael is extremely aggressive in trying to get David to hurry up so they don't miss the plane.

When they arrive in Paris, there is a lot of "oohs and ahhs" over the new sights. It is odd that David is so forgiving when Julia nearly runs him over. He was downright nasty to Sara and Chiara last season for far lesser transgressions.

Valerie: Coming to America (1989) Season 4, Episode 21

David Being a Jerk Once Again

[6/10 · 5 January 2024]

The boys are reluctant to take in Sandy's visiting houseguest from Italy, until they see how attractive she is. David is smitten but things turn ugly due to a misunderstanding.

Another episode where David ends up acting like a jerk just he like did with Sara earlier in the season. Chiara tries to explain things but he keeps cutting her off. They don't really have any chemistry IMO so it's for the best anyway.

Funniest part is when Burt refers to Chiara as "Holy Lolabrigida" and it is satisfying when Michael and Sandy chew David out for his rude behavior.

Fabiana Udenio (Chiara) will be recognizable to DESIGNING WOMEN fans as the stripper who was handcuffed to Bill right before he was supposed to marry Charlene. That episode aired only a month prior to this one.