It's the last episode of Eventually Supertrain for 2017.
Ellery Queen Mysteries!
The Green Hornet!
The Immortal!
We say goodbye to Ben Richards and goodbye to 2017. Please, listen and enjoy.
To 38!
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Episode 38!
It's the last episode of Eventually Supertrain for 2017.
Ellery Queen Mysteries!
The Green Hornet!
The Immortal!
We say goodbye to Ben Richards and goodbye to 2017. Please, listen and enjoy.
To 38!
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
One Minute With Blood Lake And Iced has begun
I've started a new Minute By Minute Podcast. It covers two slasher films from the second half of the 1980s: Blood Lake and Iced.
Each episode contains coverage of one minute from each film. And... it's fun.
Please, listen and enjoy.
Blood Lake And Iced!
Monday, December 11, 2017
Podcast Updates!
Hey folks! Happy Holidays! I just wanted to update you on where things are over at my podcasts.
A Minute To Dismember is over and it was glorious!
Eventually Supertrain just posted Episode 37.
In the feed for ES! & Minute, something fun has begun. But, I'll let you find that. (The links are below.)
Made For TV Mayhem Show is still going strong. We should have our holiday episode up by Christmas.
And, Podcastmania continues doing odd things.
I do plan on starting up my Season 3 BJ & The Bear coverage very soon. So, Stay Tuned!
To 2018!
Links to Minute/ ES!/ The New Thing...
iTunes
Stitcher
Soundcloud
Monday, November 13, 2017
Sunday, October 22, 2017
There are a whole lot of Podcasts going on!
You know me. I'm always up for some entertainment and laughs. I've got a bunch of podcasts happening Right Now.
Follow this link to get to the other links.
This link here.
Please, listen and enjoy.
Friday, October 13, 2017
Amanda is back on Dan's Drive-In Double Feature!
Iced
Moonstalker
Awesome.
Follow this link...
Slasher Ahoy!
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Have we got podcasts for you!
Episode 33 of Eventually Supertrain is up!
And, the 7th Week To Dismember is underway.
Please, follow those links to take you to happy places. Enjoy.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
Goodnight, Voyagers! Episode 31 of Eventually Supertrain
Well, that's all for Voyagers!
Follow this link to take you to the other links... and then listen.
Omni's green, kid.
We're outta here.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
Another Week To Dismember!
What's better?
Seven new episodes of A Minute to Dismember?
OR
Having someone put your severed head in a fire?
I believe the answer is the former. (Although, that is only my opinion.)
So, follow this link if you DON'T prefer having your head put in a fire and want to listen to me talk about Doris Wishman.
Follow this link if you prefer having your severed head placed in a fire.
Either way you choose, enjoy.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Friday, July 14, 2017
BJ and the Bear Season 2 Recap
The season begins
(Those awful stretchy screenshots were, in fact, awful)
In the Autumn of 1979, BJ and the Bear was on top of the world. (Well, not really but it was popular enough for NBC, which was the lowest-rated network at the time.) It had been renewed for a second season. It spawned a spin-off in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo. It seemed like Mr. McKay and his best friend Bear would be travelling the roads for a very long time. Hooray!
Remember when Bear started his own
lawn-mowing service?
The season began by giving the normally itinerant BJ a home, more or less, in Country Comfort. A truck stop that included hot tubs and banquet halls and (I'm guessing) hotel rooms. He had lots of friends, including Andre the Giant, and really seemed to enjoy being part of this community. And, of course, the ladies loved him. And, he returned the love in kind.
All The Lovely Ladies Love Billie Joe McKay
Of course, the show lost Lobo (with the exception of Run For The Money Part 1) who was the main nemesis of our hero and his chimp. So, in true Glen A. Larson fashion, they kept it subtle and tasteful and introduced the sophisticated Lt. Whitley Hyde-Smith III, ex-Scotland Yard detective, to bring a touch of class to the show. (That's a lie.) In true Glen A. Larson fashion, they introduced Three new nemeses for our pals. Wiley and The Fox in one county. Captain Cain in another. They were fun foils to BJ but after the big BJ/ Lobo crossover they kind of faded away. Oh, let's not forget Cordell in The 18-Wheel Rip-Off. Thank you, kindly.
Hey Bear!
The first half of the season is a mix of 1st Season-style travelling the country with Bear, getting in adventures, meeting ladies, punching jerks. That kind of thing. But, oddly enough, very few that didn't return to the vicinity of Country Comfort for a visit or two. An episode like Cain's Cruiser feels like it's a "Travelling" episode but then Erin Gray joins B.J. in the Country Comfort hot tub. For the first 14 episodes of the season, almost every episode ties back to this base or has a character that was involved in one of those episodes in it. (For example, I don't remember Mary Ellen having Country Comfort in it but Wiley and The Fox show up for the last time, I believe.)
Cain!
Yes, it's more Janet Julian.
Don't like it? Go write your own blog.
I want to rundown what sort of episodes we got this season:
Snow White and the Seven Lady Truckers Part 1 - A "soft" reboot. (I think that's a funny term.) It's still BJ and the Bear but they've got a lot of friends at The Comfort, most of them gorgeous women. Plus, there's a new Bad Cop in town and he's got another Bad Cop with him. Plus, Bad Truckers!
Snow White and the Seven Lady Truckers Part 2 - More Country Comfort. An episode that becomes an odd amorphous free-for-all that I enjoyed but never fully figured out.
Cain's Cruiser - Fun first season-style show that introduces the other Nemesis. But, Cain ain't a bad guy. He's just a by-the-book hardass who clashes with BJ.
Pogo Lil - Of course, Lil is great. But, this suffers a bit from the 7 Lady Truckers thing where they just throw too much stuff at the wall. You either go with it or stare at it thinking "Why are they here now? What's happening?" My mood determined which path I went down.
Cain's Son-In-Law - The first sighting of a Landers sister! Cain's back very quickly. The episode is a charmer. We rarely get to see BJ in a house just hanging out. Plus, it has the longest wedding brawl in TV history.
Run For The Money Part 1 - Well-done first episode of the three-part crossover. Everyone gets something to do. Everything is set up well. The fact that the big heist doesn't happen until the very end and yet the episode is super fun throughout speaks well of it. The crossover gets slightly darker as it goes along, which is slightly surprising. However, as long as Mills Watson is there, it never gets that serious. This episode (along with one other) is my favorite of this season.
Remember when this happened?
The Eyes of Texas - The initial stirrings of a backdoor pilot are all over this. Unfortunately, watching the show in order means that this one suffers a bit. It's got its charms. The lady detectives are fun but it's kind of just OK. Nothing fantastic. Every time I start watching I have no recollection of what happens next and not in the good way. In the, "I should remember this so why don't I?" way.
Mary Ellen - It's the last appearance of Wiley and The Fox. It's Abe Vigoda with an elephant. Again, this one is thoroughly OK. You can put it on and be generally entertained throughout.
Gasohol - Country Comfort fun. It is nice to see this place reoccurring (especially with Janet Julian). The story is OK. (That's the third time in a row I've said that. It is a trend.) There's plenty of chasing around and brawling and chicanery happening. Definitely a mid-season episode.
B.J.'s Sweethearts - It's a clip show. But, it adds an extra bit of excitement with the thunderstorm and the jerks creeping around. I enjoy this clip show. The only problem is that it does remind me of how much better, overall, the First Season was, sadly.
Fly A Wild Horse - The first real dud of the season. Some of the episodes have been showing the strain of the formula. At a time when (maybe) the formula needs to be diddled with, they give us an episode that is completely generic. Not only BJ and the Bear-generic but end of the 1970s hour-long drama generic. It could have been written for another show and rewritten for this one at the last minute. And, unfortunately, it's also a little dull.
Remember that boring episode we were in?
Silent Night, Unholy Night - I'm a sucker for Christmas shows and this is a super fun one. I think this is the last episode that I would call above average of the season. The rest range from average/ entertaining episodes to BJ and the Witch.
Fire in the Hole - Seeing Lil back is awesome. She's the best part of this episode. This feels exactly like an episode of BJ and the Bear that they'd already made but actually hadn't. That's how completely generic it is. And, at this point, the formula is beginning to make these episodes feel a little lifeless.The First Season spark is gone.
Siege - The last of the Country Comfort episodes. I wished I loved it. But, much of the second half is BJ and the head bad guy mumbling in the front of the truck in the dark. By this point in the season, I am having a tough time keeping focus.
Through The Past, Darkly - All right. Here we go. This one takes a darker turn and feels more like a Season 1 episode. I quite liked this one. Yes, still very generic but it feels like they're trying again. There are a few nice twists and some fun detective work here. (Maybe this was a leftover 1st season script?)
He's always having fun
(even with a suspected murderer in his truck)
Bear Bondage - When in doubt, focus on BJ and his best friend Bear. I still don't think making BJ think Bear is dead works as entertainment. But, Bear's antics are always fun. Plus, when BJ finds out what is up, his anger towards the Jerks is very fulfilling.
BJ and the Witch - No. They tweaked the formula on this one a bit. And they made me angry.
The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful - It's nice to see Cain back one more time. But, this episode is so generic and forgettable that I, literally, don't remember a damn thing about it (except Bubba Smith and Cain) and I just reviewed it a week ago. For a show like this, though, that kind of thing happens.
The Girls on the Hollywood High - The backdoor pilot! And it's not bad. It keeps a nice pace and the two leads are very charming. The more I think about it, the less I'd probably watch the show. But, still, it was a good effort.
The 18-Wheel Rip-Off - This is when Generic works right. It throws out a bunch of different things but keeps it moving, keeps it straightforward and keeps the main plot focus on B.J. and his livelihood. I thought this one would let me down but I really liked it.
Friendly Double-Cross - Charming ending to the season. It suffers from the "too much stuff going on" thing at times but, maybe because it's a season closer, I was more forgiving. Also I have that backdoor pilot theory.
Saying goodbye is never easy
The season does have its slides into Overly Generic territory and some episodes that approach dull or bland. However, one of the times when they try to go outside of the formula, they screw up royally. I think, in the end, BJ and the Bear works best within its formula. But, it needs to be energetic. It needs to be lively. And, if possible, it needs to focus on BJ and/ or Bear to give us some personal involvement in the episode. The introduction of all the New Nemeses and the Country Comfort environs is a nice addition to the mythos of the show. Abandoning them in the back half of the season probably happened for a reason but it 's super odd. So much time is spent setting up these worlds. At first, it seems antithetical to the Route 66/ Movin' On feel of the show. But, then it gradually wins the viewer over. Then, it's gone. I do not proclaim to understand the mind of Glen A. Larson.
The boys!
Season 2 ends. The ratings, which were pretty good for NBC but that's not saying much, were dropping. The SAG strike loomed. Everyone wanted to know "Who Shot J.R.?" And, the network decided to take BJ and the Bear and the Kenworth back into the garage for an overhaul. Season 3 will see some changes. (Not to Greg Evigan, who is as awesome as always throughout the season, or Bear, fortunately.) Some good-ish changes and some not so good-ish. Watch this space! Season 3 reviews coming soon.
The season ends
Thursday, July 13, 2017
BJ and the Bear: S2 E21 Friendly Double-Cross
Originally aired on March 29, 1980 (On March 21, J.R. got shot.)
Directed by Keith Atkinson
Teleplay by Robert L. McCullough
Story by Frank Lupo
Take a breath, everyone. We're at the end of the Second Season (the only full season) of BJ and the Bear. Ahhh... feel good? I know I do. It's been a long haul. (Get it?) But, we made it. Does the season go out with a bang or a whimper or something kind of in between? Let's check out the Friendly Double-Cross and see.
Bear and his best friend BJ McKay head down to Miami. (Voluntarily) They go to visit an old 'Nam buddy named Charlie. Charlie is a loud, flashy guy who runs a helicopter charter service. He takes BJ out on the town, flies him around the harbor, introduces him to Sister Sledge and has a run in with a disgruntled (yet very attractive) female harbor patrol officer. She learns who BJ is and thinks he may have something to do with a shipment of cocaine that's passing through. (Spoiler: He has nothing to do with the shipment of cocaine that's passing though.) There are some sort of mob guys hanging around who are bugging Charlie about something. And then... Charlie's helicopter blows up with Charlie inside. And, BJ and the female cop set out to investigate his death. Was it the mobsters? Was it BJ? (Again, no.) Or was it someone else?
I'm not going to give it away. But, the way the story resolves itself was fairly clever. I didn't fully see it coming and that was nice. The episode, as with most of these episodes, has a nice pace to it. It seems to be going in one direction but then shifts abruptly about a third of the way in. I liked that. Sister Sledge performs their latest single Reach Your Peak. And, they're singing We Are Family when BJ and Charlie enter the disco. (They flirt with BJ a lot.) Charlie is properly Miami-garish. I was almost relieved when he died because I thought "I can't watch this guy for another 25 minutes." Plus, Bear gets a scene where he tears a hotel room apart! Bear's a rock star! And he throws a flower pot on a goon's head!
The problems with the episode are minimal. The mobster and his goons are really thinly drawn. Every time they appeared on screen I felt like I was seeing them for the first time. Most of their scenes are in the same sort of two shot featuring Mob Boss and Head Goon. I never really got them. The main problem is how similar this episode is to the previous one The 18-Wheel Rip-Off. Both of them have discos. Both of them feature an attractive female officer of some kind who is initially suspicious of BJ but then falls for his charms. Both feature BJ visiting an Army buddy who may (or may not) be shady. Both end with BJ in an embrace with the aforementioned uniformed ladies. Both of them feature two main bad guys who are up to some shady stuff. (Mama and Cordell are better drawn that Mob Boss and Head Goon. But, this episode has a better twist.) OK, that last one may be stretching it but there are some big similarities between the two. Should there be?
I've always mentioned that the show has a limited bag of tricks. But, this just seems odd. Meeting up with an old Army buddy? Sure. I can see that happening once a season. A female cop being suspicious of BJ and then falling for him? Maybe, again, once a season. But, to have both of these things occur in two consecutive episodes seems like someone got confused. Or maybe the running order of the episodes got mixed and these should have been separate? I'm not sure. They are the most "regular" BJ and the Bear episodes in a while (and I am grateful). I just don't get them being back to back. (Although, I just had a thought about this one that I'll save until the end.)
Jim Stafford is in this! He still doesn't like spiders and snakes. I preferred him as Buffalo Bill in Gemini Man. He plays Mako, the guy who runs the local bait shop. He may have a very shady past.
Oh, here's an odd Bear moment. BJ, Bear and Lady Cop (or not quite Lady Cop) are on a ship that they think may lead them to the cocaine. On deck, they are accosted by all the bad guys who burst into a shootout. BJ and the officer leap off the ship. The bad guys are caught. And, our trio return to the ship and solve the mystery. My question is: where did Bear go when these two were leaping off the ship? He's with them until the shootout starts. Then, he vanishes. But then, he's with them again when they return to the ship. Is this episode telling me that BJ suddenly forgot about his best friend during a shootout? I doubt it. The director and script supervisor probably forgot he was there. Continuity error. Still it's an odd moment.
Here is my theory about what this episode is...
Another backdoor pilot!
What is my evidence? Well, they spend a lot of time with the officer. They establish that she's too rambunctious and has screwed up a bunch, that's why she's on Parking Lot duty and not out on the water. She spends a lot of time investigating BJ, including getting a rundown on him from My Girl Bill Stafford. She has a boss who shows up three times, blusters at her and then goes away. He feels like the Michael Pataki or Eve Arden character from The Girls on the Hollywood High. He makes his presence known but he's under-developed. As if, they were planning on doing more with him later. There is the shady past of Mako, which is mentioned and then never comes up again. Why mention it? Why bring it up unless you planned on doing something with it later? There is the establishment of the mob in this area and that a lot of stuff goes down in this part of Miami, And, the big one: The exteriors are all shot in Miami! Why? BJ drives all over the country but never actually really leaves CA.* Why go across the country to Florida for the season closer of a show whose ratings are dropping? Unless you are up to something else. I smell backdoor pilot!
It would be about this lady proving herself in the Harbor Patrol to her gruff boss and the other members of the team. She'd get in all sorts of adventures while teaming up with Jim Stafford, who would sing a song a show like Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye. It would have been great. I would have watched it.
Unless, it wasn't actually shot in Miami. If it was Long Beach or Marina Del Rey, ignore those last two paragraphs. (I'm pretty certain that's Miami, though.)
Season 2 ends with a couple of super fun episodes. They'd diddled with the formula throughout portions of the season. But, they returned to Basic BJ for these two and I'm glad they did. I won't give a broad overview of my thoughts for the season. That will be a separate column. But, I will say that when the show returns, it will have a format change, including a new-ish opening credits sequence that will come as a surprise. I am taking a break from the show for a bit. Going to write about something else. But, we'll be back for Season 3 soon and it will be a good time. Stacks!
Directed by Keith Atkinson
Teleplay by Robert L. McCullough
Story by Frank Lupo
Oh yeah!
Take a breath, everyone. We're at the end of the Second Season (the only full season) of BJ and the Bear. Ahhh... feel good? I know I do. It's been a long haul. (Get it?) But, we made it. Does the season go out with a bang or a whimper or something kind of in between? Let's check out the Friendly Double-Cross and see.
This week on Fishin' With Bear
Bear and his best friend BJ McKay head down to Miami. (Voluntarily) They go to visit an old 'Nam buddy named Charlie. Charlie is a loud, flashy guy who runs a helicopter charter service. He takes BJ out on the town, flies him around the harbor, introduces him to Sister Sledge and has a run in with a disgruntled (yet very attractive) female harbor patrol officer. She learns who BJ is and thinks he may have something to do with a shipment of cocaine that's passing through. (Spoiler: He has nothing to do with the shipment of cocaine that's passing though.) There are some sort of mob guys hanging around who are bugging Charlie about something. And then... Charlie's helicopter blows up with Charlie inside. And, BJ and the female cop set out to investigate his death. Was it the mobsters? Was it BJ? (Again, no.) Or was it someone else?
Goon meet Charlie
I like B.J.'s shirt
The Chopper Boys are Back!
I'm not going to give it away. But, the way the story resolves itself was fairly clever. I didn't fully see it coming and that was nice. The episode, as with most of these episodes, has a nice pace to it. It seems to be going in one direction but then shifts abruptly about a third of the way in. I liked that. Sister Sledge performs their latest single Reach Your Peak. And, they're singing We Are Family when BJ and Charlie enter the disco. (They flirt with BJ a lot.) Charlie is properly Miami-garish. I was almost relieved when he died because I thought "I can't watch this guy for another 25 minutes." Plus, Bear gets a scene where he tears a hotel room apart! Bear's a rock star! And he throws a flower pot on a goon's head!
Sister Sledge!
All the ladies flirt with BJ
The problems with the episode are minimal. The mobster and his goons are really thinly drawn. Every time they appeared on screen I felt like I was seeing them for the first time. Most of their scenes are in the same sort of two shot featuring Mob Boss and Head Goon. I never really got them. The main problem is how similar this episode is to the previous one The 18-Wheel Rip-Off. Both of them have discos. Both of them feature an attractive female officer of some kind who is initially suspicious of BJ but then falls for his charms. Both feature BJ visiting an Army buddy who may (or may not) be shady. Both end with BJ in an embrace with the aforementioned uniformed ladies. Both of them feature two main bad guys who are up to some shady stuff. (Mama and Cordell are better drawn that Mob Boss and Head Goon. But, this episode has a better twist.) OK, that last one may be stretching it but there are some big similarities between the two. Should there be?
She favors a certain facial expression
I've always mentioned that the show has a limited bag of tricks. But, this just seems odd. Meeting up with an old Army buddy? Sure. I can see that happening once a season. A female cop being suspicious of BJ and then falling for him? Maybe, again, once a season. But, to have both of these things occur in two consecutive episodes seems like someone got confused. Or maybe the running order of the episodes got mixed and these should have been separate? I'm not sure. They are the most "regular" BJ and the Bear episodes in a while (and I am grateful). I just don't get them being back to back. (Although, I just had a thought about this one that I'll save until the end.)
Buffalo Bill! Where's Sam?
Jim Stafford is in this! He still doesn't like spiders and snakes. I preferred him as Buffalo Bill in Gemini Man. He plays Mako, the guy who runs the local bait shop. He may have a very shady past.
Oh, here's an odd Bear moment. BJ, Bear and Lady Cop (or not quite Lady Cop) are on a ship that they think may lead them to the cocaine. On deck, they are accosted by all the bad guys who burst into a shootout. BJ and the officer leap off the ship. The bad guys are caught. And, our trio return to the ship and solve the mystery. My question is: where did Bear go when these two were leaping off the ship? He's with them until the shootout starts. Then, he vanishes. But then, he's with them again when they return to the ship. Is this episode telling me that BJ suddenly forgot about his best friend during a shootout? I doubt it. The director and script supervisor probably forgot he was there. Continuity error. Still it's an odd moment.
OK. What'd you do with Bear?
Here is my theory about what this episode is...
Another backdoor pilot!
What is my evidence? Well, they spend a lot of time with the officer. They establish that she's too rambunctious and has screwed up a bunch, that's why she's on Parking Lot duty and not out on the water. She spends a lot of time investigating BJ, including getting a rundown on him from My Girl Bill Stafford. She has a boss who shows up three times, blusters at her and then goes away. He feels like the Michael Pataki or Eve Arden character from The Girls on the Hollywood High. He makes his presence known but he's under-developed. As if, they were planning on doing more with him later. There is the shady past of Mako, which is mentioned and then never comes up again. Why mention it? Why bring it up unless you planned on doing something with it later? There is the establishment of the mob in this area and that a lot of stuff goes down in this part of Miami, And, the big one: The exteriors are all shot in Miami! Why? BJ drives all over the country but never actually really leaves CA.* Why go across the country to Florida for the season closer of a show whose ratings are dropping? Unless you are up to something else. I smell backdoor pilot!
Captain Ornery, at your service
It would be about this lady proving herself in the Harbor Patrol to her gruff boss and the other members of the team. She'd get in all sorts of adventures while teaming up with Jim Stafford, who would sing a song a show like Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye. It would have been great. I would have watched it.
If that's Bear, you know that's shenanigans
Unless, it wasn't actually shot in Miami. If it was Long Beach or Marina Del Rey, ignore those last two paragraphs. (I'm pretty certain that's Miami, though.)
Why on Earth would a Glen A. Larson show lie to me?
Season 2 ends with a couple of super fun episodes. They'd diddled with the formula throughout portions of the season. But, they returned to Basic BJ for these two and I'm glad they did. I won't give a broad overview of my thoughts for the season. That will be a separate column. But, I will say that when the show returns, it will have a format change, including a new-ish opening credits sequence that will come as a surprise. I am taking a break from the show for a bit. Going to write about something else. But, we'll be back for Season 3 soon and it will be a good time. Stacks!
Marine Patrol? What the heck?
I thought they were the Harbor Patrol
The end of Season 2
*Unlike shows such as Route 66 and Movin' On, which did travel around the country.
Monday, July 10, 2017
BJ and the Bear: S2 E20 The 18-Wheel Rip-Off
Originally aired on March 22, 1980
Directed by Gil Bettman
Teleplay by Michael Sloan
Story by Michael Sloan & Sidney Ellis
I'm going to Carolina in my mind... again. Frankly, my mind's getting a little bored with that place. Plus, I've got a peaceful, easy feelin'. Also, I want you to roll, roll, roll Mother Trucker. (Ugh.) Yes, this episode begins with Bear rifling through B.J.'s 8 tracks and throwing in cartridge after cartridge. We make a quick pass through the soft rock sound-alikes of the season. B.J. is talking about going to see a war buddy after delivering their latest load. And, I thought, "Uh oh. This might go the same place about 12 of these episodes have gone to. Please, Season 2, don't wind down ignominiously."
Then, we meet the Evil Sheriff Cordell and a lady named Mama who works out of a disco. (Disco Inferno!) And, Cordell sends his force after B.J. because one of his best friends was McCandles from Silent Night, Unholy Night. A rookie female cop arrests him. B.J. is hauled to jail, left to sit for a bit and then set free. It was all a ruse. Cordell and Mama are running some sort of car theft ring. And... they steal B.J.'s Rig! So, B.J. with the help of his Vietnam Vet friend (Rooster?) goes undercover to get the rig (now painted black) back. Will he get his rig back or will he end the season on a 10-speed with a chimp?
This was the exact same sort of episode we've seen over and over and over. However, I don't know if I'm feeling super whimmy (whimmish?) or what... But, I LOVED THIS EPISODE! It's so much fun. It does everything that I love about the show. It's got some good evil folks. (Cordell even has a catchphrase: "Thank you kindly." Remember when that caught on?) It's got some Bear shenanigans. It even has a close-up of a Fake Bear hand manipulating the 8-tracks. It's got B.J. going undercover as Bill MacDonald from Gary, Indiana. (I love the wacky music playing when he's getting a fake I.D.) B.J. spends a lot of time schmoozing that police lady. It's got crosses and double crosses and triple crosses. (Actually, it might not have a triple cross. I'm not fully sure what that is.) It's got a great big rig/ car chase at the end. It's got a hell of a fight along a cliff edge. Plus, it's got disco! Everything is here. And it's all mixed just right.
There's a possibility that I enjoy this one so much because it brings back the Bad Sheriff (linked with another Bad Sheriff) template that existed when Lobo was here. Although, are there Southern Sheriffs all around the country? B.J. is clearly at a coastline here. He mentions that he is going to Country Comfort after visiting a friend. And, I'm fairly certain that we established that joint is more West than East Coast. (It's nice to hear Country Comfort mentioned again.) So, why is there a Southern Sheriff on the West coast, presumably CA? Should that question not be asked?
There's not much to critique in a BJ and the Bear episode that works. It's straightforward, charming entertainment. This one probably really wins because it ties in with all those previous Bad Sheriff episodes and the focus of the problem is around B.J. himself, which is always awesome. Spoiler: He saves the day and gets his truck back! Now, he and Bear are going on vacation to Miami. He's going to visit another Vietnam Vet buddy... and that episode will close out the season. Good luck, everyone. I'll see you all at that review.
Directed by Gil Bettman
Teleplay by Michael Sloan
Story by Michael Sloan & Sidney Ellis
I'm going to Carolina in my mind... again. Frankly, my mind's getting a little bored with that place. Plus, I've got a peaceful, easy feelin'. Also, I want you to roll, roll, roll Mother Trucker. (Ugh.) Yes, this episode begins with Bear rifling through B.J.'s 8 tracks and throwing in cartridge after cartridge. We make a quick pass through the soft rock sound-alikes of the season. B.J. is talking about going to see a war buddy after delivering their latest load. And, I thought, "Uh oh. This might go the same place about 12 of these episodes have gone to. Please, Season 2, don't wind down ignominiously."
Mama and...
Cordell
Then, we meet the Evil Sheriff Cordell and a lady named Mama who works out of a disco. (Disco Inferno!) And, Cordell sends his force after B.J. because one of his best friends was McCandles from Silent Night, Unholy Night. A rookie female cop arrests him. B.J. is hauled to jail, left to sit for a bit and then set free. It was all a ruse. Cordell and Mama are running some sort of car theft ring. And... they steal B.J.'s Rig! So, B.J. with the help of his Vietnam Vet friend (Rooster?) goes undercover to get the rig (now painted black) back. Will he get his rig back or will he end the season on a 10-speed with a chimp?
"I'm not Glynn Turman?"
B.J. has the coolest friends
This was the exact same sort of episode we've seen over and over and over. However, I don't know if I'm feeling super whimmy (whimmish?) or what... But, I LOVED THIS EPISODE! It's so much fun. It does everything that I love about the show. It's got some good evil folks. (Cordell even has a catchphrase: "Thank you kindly." Remember when that caught on?) It's got some Bear shenanigans. It even has a close-up of a Fake Bear hand manipulating the 8-tracks. It's got B.J. going undercover as Bill MacDonald from Gary, Indiana. (I love the wacky music playing when he's getting a fake I.D.) B.J. spends a lot of time schmoozing that police lady. It's got crosses and double crosses and triple crosses. (Actually, it might not have a triple cross. I'm not fully sure what that is.) It's got a great big rig/ car chase at the end. It's got a hell of a fight along a cliff edge. Plus, it's got disco! Everything is here. And it's all mixed just right.
Flirtin'
Romancin'
Shootin'(?)
Don't do it, Bill MacDonald!
There's a possibility that I enjoy this one so much because it brings back the Bad Sheriff (linked with another Bad Sheriff) template that existed when Lobo was here. Although, are there Southern Sheriffs all around the country? B.J. is clearly at a coastline here. He mentions that he is going to Country Comfort after visiting a friend. And, I'm fairly certain that we established that joint is more West than East Coast. (It's nice to hear Country Comfort mentioned again.) So, why is there a Southern Sheriff on the West coast, presumably CA? Should that question not be asked?
Bear eating an 8-track full of
Eagles sound-alikes.
Real chimp hand!
There's not much to critique in a BJ and the Bear episode that works. It's straightforward, charming entertainment. This one probably really wins because it ties in with all those previous Bad Sheriff episodes and the focus of the problem is around B.J. himself, which is always awesome. Spoiler: He saves the day and gets his truck back! Now, he and Bear are going on vacation to Miami. He's going to visit another Vietnam Vet buddy... and that episode will close out the season. Good luck, everyone. I'll see you all at that review.
He does this a lot during Season 2
Don't worry. He paints it red and white again
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