Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.15

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.15
Channel Four
26 April 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
B-

This very Californian lineup works well together, especially in the musical moments, like the "fruity George Balanchine cowboy dancing" Mike suggests in the middle of Hoedown, the Audition with George's dead-on Anthony Newley, and of course the American Musical about skydiving to Australia.  In fact, there's a four-way tie to read the credits, as tourists in New York.  It's great to finally see Greg & Ryan work together, and immediately hit it off, including in Alphabet.  As becomes even more obvious on the compilation episode, there are a lot of running jokes to this taping, especially about defenestration.

This the 100th British show I've reviewed, unless I forgot to tag something.

Jeeves and Wooster: A Plan for Gussie

Jeeves and Wooster: A Plan for Gussie
ITV
21 April 1991
Historical Comedy
DVD
C+

This episode has much the same cast and setting (Totleigh Towers) as the previous episode, including:

• Charlotte Attenborough as Stiffy
• Diana Blackburn as Madeline
• Richard Garnett as Gussie
• Campbell Morrison as Oates
• Simon Treves as Stinker
• John Turner as Spode
• and John Woodnutt as Sir Watkyn

I don't remember offhand which novel it's based on, but Gussy and Madeline are still engaged, although they break up a few times, which worries Bertie.  And meanwhile he agrees to pretend to be engaged to Stiffy, so her uncle will think Stinker is an improvement.  Also, we find out the mystery of "Eulalie" in Spode's life.  

I still can't quite put my finger on what's lacking in the second series.  It doesn't help that Bertie doesn't sing, although fortunately that will come back in later episodes.

Martin Clunes and Richard Dixon return as Barmy and Oofy, the former having more to do but still not a lot.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.14

Sorry, Ryan, escape is not that easy.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.14
Channel Four
19 April 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C-

An unworkable line-up, with a more racist and homophobic than ever Archie Hahn, and a looking out of place John Sessions.  I almost went with a D+, but one, the audience is not too obnoxious this time, and Mike has moments when he almost saves it, like his reaction to John breaking a scythe in Props, and his Audition for The Greasy, Dead Godfather Society.  This is the last we'll see of John on this programme, but he'd redeem himself six years later as the narrator of a Tom Jones adaptation.  And Archie would be back one more time, the following year.

Who's the Boss?: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Who's the Boss?: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
ABC
April 16, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Teverbaugh, Va Salle, and Wolff wrote this filler episode that is not unlike the last episode of What's Happening!!, where a character promises a big act (Sammy Davis, Jr. there, Wilson Phillips here) but fails to deliver.  In this case, Tony's doo-wop group fills in, after Sam gently rejects Al's "personal, acoustic" music.

Of the Dreamtones, Charles G. Davis as Jimbo, John Hostetter as Satch, and Harvey Shield as D.J. are carryovers from the previous appearance, three years earlier, but Benny has been recast.  Charmaine Charles has his first of three WtB roles, as Screaming Girl.

Jeeves and Wooster: Jeeves Saves the Cow Creamer

Jeeves and Wooster: Jeeves Saves the Cow Creamer
ITV
14 April 1991
Historical Comedy
DVD
C+

Some pointless recasting-- Vivian Pickles, Harold's mother in Harold and Maude, given little to do here as Aunt Dahlia, and Diana Blackburn as a decidedly un-soupy Madeline Bassett-- as well as Exton's so-so adaptation of a good if overrated novel (reviewed here http://rereadingeverybookiown.blogspot.com/2012/05/code-of-woosters.html) make for an unimpressive Series-Two-opener.  At least Richard Garnett is back as Gussie Fink-Nottle, and Charlotte Attenborough and Simon Treves do fine in the roles of Madeline's cousin Stiffy Byng and Stinker Pinker, Stiffy's fiance and Bertie's old schoolmate.  John Woodnutt, who was in the very first scene of the premiere of the programme, has much more to do here as Madeline's father Sir Watkyn.  I'm not crazy about the character of Sir Roderick Spode, as villain or comic relief, but John Turner does what he can with it.

Michael Ripper returns as the Drones Porter.  Campbell Morrison makes his first of two appearances as Oates.  Martin Clunes takes over the still very minor role of Barmy Fotheringay Phipps, for the first of four times.  Simon Langton is the new director, for this and the rest of the second series, so we'll see how much of the blame he deserves.  But, yes, I'd rather have watched this than many of the New York episodes of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.13

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.13
Channel Four
12 April 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C-

One of the dullest episodes ever, redeemed somewhat by some Mike/Sandi.  Not only does he say he only has time for "a kiss, a cuddle, and a dance" at the Party Quirks she hosts, but their FATS has some innuendo, with her saying in Sci-Fi that she has power in her fingertips he would be pleased to know about, causing him to reply, "All hail the Queen of the Labia Minors" [sic].  Not only that, but when they switch to Horror, she says it's two days before her period and then confesses to him (but audibly to us), "I can't believe I said that."  Also, she looks at him adoringly during Gospel.  I'm glad they have one more episode together, and in a much more interesting line-up.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.12

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.12
Channel Four
5 April 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
D+

Another less than stellar Colin Mochrie episode where everyone else is also performing below average, even the usually infallible Richard Vranch, who can't seem to manage to play a Madonna-like tune.  I would've gone with a C-, but the Arsenio-ing audience is worse than ever, including when they're rude to the member whose life inspires one of the worst American Musicals.  Note that Clive rejects the suggestion of John Major, saying most of the audience has never heard of the then-Prime-Minister.

Roseanne: Second Time Around

Roseanne: Second Time Around
ABC
April 2, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

Maxine Lapiduss wrote this script, whose highlight is the flashback to D.J.'s birth in 1982, with Dan in a mustache and Roseanne and Jackie wearing perms not unlike their hair in the earliest episodes.  D.J. himself has more to do than usual, with his fears of Dan's death.  Note that Roseanne is Crystal's back-up Lamaze partner, and we don't know what month Crystal is in but she's showing, roughly three months after her wedding.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.11

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.11
Channel Four
29 March 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C

Other than Mike & Greg's FATS (their Hitchcock is a particular highlight) and some curiosity value of the line-up, and, OK, references to Dan Quayle and Kitty Dukakis, there's not much reason to watch this episode.  Also, the hooting and fist-waving of the studio audience, a la the Arsenio Hall audience, is possibly at its worst here.

Roseanne: Trouble with the Rubbles

Roseanne: Trouble with the Rubbles
ABC
March 26. 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The title here is ironic, since the Conners do not hit it off with their new neighbors.*  Well, D.J. decides that Todd Bowman is his new best friend, but Todd's mother Kathy (Meagen Fay the first of four times in the role) takes an immediate dislike to Roseanne.  (Troy Davidson plays Todd and then is never seen again.  I can't remember if they recast Todd, but so much for being best friends.)  The script by Joel Madison feels slightly off, but I remember some funnier moments with and about Kathy later.  Danton Stone makes his first of four appearances as Kathy's husband Jerry but has less to do.


*And, yes, John Goodman would play Fred Flintstone on the big screen three years later.

Who's the Boss?: Tony and the Princess

The other Danza

Who's the Boss?: Tony and the Princess
ABC
March 26, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Three of the regular writers-- Graham, Kallis, and Palladino-- contributed this filler episode where Tony has to deal with a mobster's daughter.  It does mention Angela's interest in Tony's butt, so I guess there's a bit of shipping material.

Tom Troupe returns as Father Marconi.  Tony D's brother Matty makes his second appearance on WtB, this time as Marty of Marty's Melody Room, with Tony mixing up the names in one of the bloopers at the end.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.10

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.10
Channel Four
22 March 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C+

First off, yes, I'm still counting this episode as "British," even though it was filmed in New York and Clive makes remarks like, "You're pulling up to what we in America call a gas station."  Even with two Americans on the line-up, plus Canadian Ryan, and a loud, sometimes Arsenio-ing NYC crowd, it's still a production for Channel Four, with Clive, Richard, Josie, and all the behind-the-scenes Brits.

Second of all, I'd like to give this a B-, but the last two games, Helping Hands and Hoedown, are real duds.  Before that though, we not only have Meskimen doing some impressive impressions, especially Sting, but also the first genuine Ryan/Josie sightings.  (I don't count her playing his ex-wife in their first episode.  That American Musical was arguably more Mike/Josie.)  Not only does he confuse and amuse her as a crazed Expert on watermelons, but they get pretty raunchy in their FATS, surprisingly more in melodrama, where she's on her knees in front of him, crying, "What am I to do?", than in that noted Theatre Style "orgasm."

Thirdly, Smith is much more forgettable than his comedy partner.  Sweeney & Steen are closer to equals, especially the following year.

Fourthly, Ryan has to read the closing credits as a "bad Shakespearean actor," when he'd recently played a good Shakespearean actor on Who's the Boss?

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 3 London Compilation

"Take it away, Clive."

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 3 London Compilation
Channel Four
15 March 1991
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

After a slow start, with too much from the Colin episode (including Mike accidentally elbowing poor Sandi in the crotch during Tag), this Best Of picks up.  In fact, the best game from that Colin episode appears here and is also Mike's best solo Song Styles: a folk song about a banana.  He performs another sweet, funny duet with Josie, about a stapler.

The "things that didn't go all right on the night" sequence has some classic moments, including Sandi and Paul teaming up against Clive, who deserves it for that episode alone.  We see Sandi trying to coax Josie through Alphabet but they only get three letters in, on two tries.  And most memorably, Mike tells Tony, "And I haven't stopped kissing men on the lips!" and proves it!

Best of all is the American Musical, with Josie as Greg's girlfriend Sally, who gets pregnant and mugged, in that order.  Not only does it have Tony Slattery of all people explaining the facts of life to innocent-playing Greg, but Jim delivers bad news in the worst way possible.  Listen for Greg's name-slip and recovery.  It's almost a post-ship game for him and Josie, although their relationship is far from over in terms of WLIIA.

Roseanne: Her Boyfriend's Back

Roseanne: Her Boyfriend's Back
ABC
March 12, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Sheldon Krasner and David Saling, who co-wrote one Who's the Boss? episode, here do their only Roseanne story, with a teleplay by Brad Isaacs (his middle of five) and Maxine Lapiduss (her first of eight).  Sometimes that many writers can lead to a messy script, but here it seems to help with the complexity of what happens when Mark is, yes, back.  Roseanne hates him, perhaps partly because, it's suggested, she remembers when she was sixteen and fell for an older boy with a motorcycle.  Dan tries to be understanding but he gives Becky the cold shoulder when she and Mark borrow Dan's motorcycle without permission.  Darlene seems caught in the middle.  And in a comic subplot, Jackie is training to be a massage therapist.

Who's the Boss?: Choose Me

Who's the Boss?: Choose Me
ABC
March 12, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This story by Dawn Aldredge (her last for my shows) and Mona Marshall (who had played Shirley on WtB six years earlier) is better than the earlier "Tony the Matchmaker," although there's still the problem of Mona and another woman competing over a man that they're too good for.  The set-up is better here and it does show Tony and Angela competing indirectly, which is interesting.  Still, why would Tony want either Mona or the woman who's "been like a second mother to him" to be with a guy he disapproves of?  There are some funny moments though and it's pretty good for Season Seven.

Charles Frank, who was Capt. Hathaway and Lt. Martinson on M*A*S*H, plays Clifford, the man being fought over, and is only 43 at this point, while Helmond is 61 and Gemignani is 50 (but cast as older).

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.8

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.8
Channel Four
8 March 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
B-

This episode is fueled by the chemistry among the four contestants and Clive, including not only some Mike/Sandi and Tony/Sandi but Tony imitating Clive for World's Worst.  I'd like to give the episode a B, but it's always bothered me that the Musical Film Review ends up being about rape, by bad guys and good guys.  (Not that it's graphic, but it is unsettling.)  Other than that, it's fun to see the interactions, like the Americans doing an American sitcom, Restoration Comedy, and "French" in FATS.

Re the M/S and T/S ships, they are quite the contrast.  Mike and Sandi do Props together and he "declares his love for her," and that's after this little exchange about the Prop, a giant banana
CLIVE: Sandi, this is yours.
SANDI: No, I think you'll find that's Mike's.
CLIVE: Well, I'm sure he'll share it with you.

Tony and Sandi are shipwrecked together in FATS and it soon becomes a discussion of orgasms, and how he's not satisfying her.  And then even with the Alphabet, which is about a chat-up for goodness sake, they flirt with and insult each other, sometimes in the very same sentence.  And he does "Queer I am" for Q.

Greg wins the episode and does a fine Woody Allen impression, calling Sandi anti-Semitic.  Greg/Sandi still really isn't a thing, but wait for their American episode.  And, no, the guys aren't flirting with each other much this episode.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.7

Steen & Sweeney

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.7
Channel Four
1 March 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C+

It's easy to pick out the best games and moments from this episode, where Steve Steen is "this programme's most nervous newcomer": Musical Film Review, Steve "Thinks He's Paul Merton" in Party Quirks, and Paul's meandering typewriter March.

Roseanne: Vegas Interruptus

It's the '90s and the hairstyles are still unflattering.

Roseanne: Vegas Interruptus
ABC
February 26, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

Abugov, Lorre, and Myer wrote this story where Dan and Roseanne plan to fly to Vegas for the weekend, despite, one, her boss Leon changing her schedule, and two, their daughters planning a party.  (D.J. will stay with Crystal, who's now visibly pregnant, a month or so after the wedding.)  Roseanne reluctantly agrees to go, but she doesn't want to lose this job, especially since she likes Bonnie.  (As do I, more Bonnie please!)  Jackie plays party chaperone, threatening to wear her cop uniform, which I guess she didn't have to turn in when she quit the force.

From the title, I had this one mixed up with the one where D & R go to Vegas with Arnie & Nancy, but in this one they get snowed in in Chicago.  The episode never quite becomes classic, but there are some great moments, from Jackie's reaction to being hit on by a senior, to two boys fighting over Darlene: Brian (Matt Norero again) and Barry Parker (Tristan Tait again).  Also, the tag, where D & R dance to a Wayne Newton record and tell each other happy lies captures what's so magic about them as a couple.  Note that Mark is referred to but not seen.

Susan Quick was Heather Dolan on That Girl and Gloria Thompson on The Brady Bunch, as well as Lady #2 here.  Nick Toth, who was Mr. Powell in A Very Brady Christmas and The Bradys, gets to deliver the episode's funniest line, as Capt. Johnson.  Man #2, Rick Spector, would be a Customer the next year.

Who's the Boss?: Party Politics

Who's the Boss?: Party Politics
ABC
February 26, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Tony and Angela get involved in a senseless and expensive competition with their next-door neighbors the Harpers (Sam McMurray and Leah Ayres again), who've moved back after a year in Japan, apparently having bought their house back from Angela and exchanged their daughter who's Jonathan's age for a son who's Billy's age, turning six.  No one is the voice of reason here, although Sam and Jonathan come closest.  The episode is mildly funny in an over-the-top way, as when Angela says she's prepared to spend a quarter of a million dollars on Billy's birthday party.

Phil Doran, who wrote a couple Bob Newhart episodes, here does his first of ten, while Bob Rosenfarb wrote the episode called "The Kid" and would collaborate with Doran on those ten; Gene Braunstein is the WtB veteran among the three collaborators, with this as his twelfth of seventeen.  Josh Byrne makes his final appearance as Billy's frenemy Joey, while Ross Malinger's third and last WtB role is as Travis.  And Whose Line Is It Anyway? fans will be amused  that Ryan Stiles plays Bobo the Clown, who has ambitions as a Shakespearean actor.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.6

Everyone responds to Sandi's call & response in
Gospel, even the minister in the studio audience

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.6
Channel Four
22 February 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C+

In a rare (unique?) episode with three female contestants, the third is one-timer Denalda Williams, a sweet-voiced Canadian.  There's definitely a different feel to the episode, with the three women touching each other during and in between games, as well as leaning over in their chairs to chat.  There is also some Mike/Sandi of course, with them embracing before their FATS about their daughter's wedding day.  And again, yes, the best moments are on the compilation, including why Sandi's line about the Queen's Regiment amuses everyone in her Alphabet with Josie.

Roseanne: Communicable Theater

Roseanne: Communicable Theater
ABC
February 19, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C

This Heath & Sherman story is potentially hilarious, with Roseanne trying to deal with Dan's cold and Jackie's hobby of community theater, but it's not.  Jack Blessing, who was Lt. Rollins on M*A*S*H, here is Cyrano AKA Phil.

Who's the Boss?: Let Her Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees

Who's the Boss?: Let Her Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees
ABC
February 19, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Tony, who's now 39, teaches a science class and when Mona fills in for a few minutes, she gives a sex talk.  Tony is pretty uptight about it, although the reaction of his boss and the local community is surprisingly positive.

This time Franklin Cover plays Mr. Campbell rather than Mr. Kimball, but he's still Tony's boss.  There are a few Roseanne connections in this episode.  Hal Rayle, who was an Announcer on Roseanne a couple years earlier, here is the Narrator of the '50s film Tony wants to play for his class.  Also, Yunoka Doyle and Cynthia Marie King, respectively Linda and Carrie here, were Darlene's classmates Meryl and Suzy recently.  And Andrea Walters, who plays Mrs. Barker, was Bonnie Lang, mother of Becky's first-season boyfriend Chip.

This is the 100th show I've reviewed from the 1990s and we're barely a year into the decade, although we won't maintain this average.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.5

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.5
Channel Four
15 February 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C-

Colin Mochrie's debut is inauspicious, but then Mike, Sandi, and Tony aren't exactly at the top of their game either.  The episode is mildly gross and unfunny.  I guess there's some shippiness but nothing too remarkable, other than Mike/Tony in Musical Producers.  Again, the best game will be on, uh huh, the compilation.

Roseanne: Valentine's Day

Roseanne: Valentine's Day
ABC
February 12, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

There are a lot of things going on in this episode, some of more significance in retrospect than at the time:

• We meet Roseanne's equally sarcastic and heavy co-worker Bonnie Watkins (played by Bonnie Sheridan of Delaney & Bonnie, and, yes, we'll hear her sing later), as well as their new manager Leon Carp (the incomparable Martin Mull).  Finally, she'll be at a workplace that can hold its own with the family scenes!
• The story, written by Bob Myer, has two main plots about, yes, Valentine's Day.  In the less interesting one, Dan is too embarrassed to buy Roseanne lingerie, although he tries.  (Arnie shows up in the store, presumably shopping for a gift for Nancy.)
• The other thread is again one that is somewhat like a Brady plot, with the tomboy middle girl trying to impress an older boy, only to have him interested in her more confident older sister.  The difference here is that, rather than Jan simply putting on a dress and having the boy immediately see her as no longer "a guy," it seems to be physically and emotionally painful, but also very funny, for Darlene to try to femme it up.  (The tag has bloopers of Barr cracking up at Gilbert.)
• That Gilbert would much later come out as a lesbian, give this an added subtext.
• Rather than cattily saying something like Marcia's "Don't blame me if boys don't find you attractive," Becky does genuinely try to be a good older sister, including in some scenes that are described rather than shown.
• Roseanne's meddling does not turn out as well as Carol Brady's.

The boy that Darlene likes that likes Becky is Barry Parker (Tristan Tait, who would return later that season).  Molly David, who's the Woman in the Coffee Shop, would be a Sweet Old Woman on Ellen.  And, yes, that's 15-year-old Tobey Maguire as Jeff.

Who's the Boss?: Tony and Angela Get Divorced

Who's the Boss?: Tony and Angela Get Divorced
ABC
February 12, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

Michele J. Wolff turns out to be one of the better new writers this season, contributing a script (her first of eight) that gets the focus back on Tony & Angela's romance.  The title is somewhat inaccurate, in that they end up annulling the marriage that they accidentally entered by innocently signing the register at a South Carolina motel as husband and wife.  The family is of course delighted, the government not so much.  T & A celebrate their "divorce" with a big kiss and then he asks her on a date.

Dick Christie (the dad on Small Wonder) makes his first of two appearances as Angela's lawyer Ben.  Lee Garlington, who gives a fine, dry-witted performance as Ms. Foster from the IRS, had appeared once on Roseanne and would later play another character there.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.4

Julian next to Paul

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.4
Channel Four
8 February 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
B-

Julian Clary, who had worked with Paul before*, does some games with him, including a priceless moment when Paul hesitates during Alphabet, clearly trying not to say "Queen" or "Queer," when we're all thinking it.  (You can hear Clive chuckling.)  Paul also devotes some of the second half of the episode to ruthlessly teasing a still infatuated if now understandably annoyed Josie.  Not only does he imply she's flat-chested in Props (she gets revenge on their next round), but his Expert Translation of her Swedish about Volvos opens with the question "Have you ever had sex with a horse?" and stays in that gutter.  Even during Gospel, he mocks her dancing, but then she looks very amused by his awful singing.  Note that, as a cab driver reading the closing credits, he says, "I've been married to three of them," and he was then newly married to his first of three wives, Caroline Quentin, who would appear on WLIIA later, but not with Paul.

No Mike/Paul, but Mike and Josie again play a married couple, in FATS.

*In fact, Paul's introduction on the Christmas episode says he's "responsible for some of Julian Clary's stickier moments," a reference to Julian's 1989-90 programme Sticky Moments, which Paul co-created.

Roseanne: Home Ec

DiCaprio on the left

Roseanne: Home Ec
ABC
February 5, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This episode written by someone who didn't do any other of my shows isn't great, but it has a few notable things about it:

• Darlene seems annoyed by her mother's "feminism" and later says she plans to marry a rich guy, not exactly characteristic for Darlene;
• The guys in Darlene's Home Ec class refuse to go grocery-shopping, but I fail to see how that's more "girly" than cooking;
• Sixteen-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio has a small, lineless, uncredited role as one of Darlene's male classmates, predating his role on Growing Pains;
• There's a reference to Roseanne Barr being on the covers of magazines, although she's not mentioned by name, just that she put a curse on her ex-husband and Roseanne Conner thinks the celebrity is a great singer;
• The subplot is that D.J. is being bullied at school, which he and Conners handle in a very different way than Peter and the Bradys two decades earlier;
• And D.J. is described as a "twisted genius," which does fit his Season Three character.

Checkout Clerk David Greenlee was Young Leonard Smith on the It's Garry Shandling's Show episode about Leonard's Vietnam experiences.  Yunoka Doyle and Cynthia Marie King, who are Meryl and Suzy respectively, would soon be Carrie and Linda on the same episode of Who's the Boss?  And Vic Polizos, who's Jack Morgan, would become Sam's father-in-law, Joe Thomopolous, on WtB the next season.

Who's the Boss?: The Unsinkable Tony Micelli

Who's the Boss?: The Unsinkable Tony Micelli
ABC
February 5, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C

Despite Gene Braunstein having written "In Search of Tony," this has such sloppy lack of continuity as Tony not having a bad knee and, more importantly, being afraid of water.  Also, there's unfunny fat-shaming, even by Angela.  Still, it's cute when she gives Tony a swimming lesson.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.3

Poor Paul, a March!  Sandi empathizes again.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.3
Channel Four
1 February 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
C+

There are no real stand-outs here-- again, some of the best material will be on the compilation-- but there are a couple things I want to note.  One is that Mike/Sandi keeps sailing, especially in FATS, where they hold hands during the audience suggestions and then have the situation of being two strangers with adjoining hotel rooms, and it becomes about his large penis.  The other is that Sandi gets naughty with both Jim and Paul during Helping Hands, although I wouldn't necessarily ship her with either.

Who's the Boss?: Ms. Mom

Who's the Boss?: Ms. Mom
ABC
January 29, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Albrecht & Keller story is at least as old as Little Women, only this time instead of Meg telling her husband he can bring friends over any time, and of course John picks the day that the house is a mess, it's Tony bringing his boss home while Angela has taken over the housework and childcare.  And the twist, as Sam lampshades it, is that this is actually role reversal upon the original role reversal of the series, as indicated by the title referencing the movie Mr. Mom.

Ross Malinger has his middle WtB role as Wild Kid #1, while Chris Paul Davis, who was the voice of Christopher before, is Kyle here.  Franklin Cover, instantly recognizable as Tom Willis from The Jeffersons, plays Mr. Kimball here but would be Mr. Campbell later.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.2

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 3.2
Channel Four
25 January 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
B-

Although there are some weak moments, in particular Mike and Mark's FATS, this is an amiable, sometimes quite funny episode, although the best moment would wait for the compilation.  There's a reference to it in Party Quirks, so I won't spoil it right now, except that it is Mike/Tony shipping fodder.  There's a bit of Mike/Josie, especially during their duet, but the episode is much more noticeably Tony/Josie, even if it primarily takes the form of him teasing her while she tries not to laugh or just ends up scolding him.  And they do play husband and wife in the funniest game, American Musical.  Note that Mark is a New Yorker and I first saw him on the first episode that Comedy Central aired of the New York tapings.

Roseanne: Becky Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Roseanne: Becky Doesn't Live Here Anymore
ABC
January 22, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This Sherman & Heath story is another great one focusing on Becky but giving everyone in the family a chance to shine.  (OK, D.J. as usual doesn't get a lot to do, but him getting his head caught in a drawer and then entering with olive oil all over his hair is one of the laugh-out-loud moments.)  The director is also a woman, Gail Mancuso, who would go on to do fifty more for the series over the next five years.

Becky is seeing Mark again.  (He doesn't appear but will in later episodes of course.)  She gets Darlene to lie for her, but their parents sense the truth. Becky moves in with Jackie, which causes tension with Roseanne and Jackie.  And Darlene resents being punished while Becky isn't.  Things aren't tied up neatly at the end, although there is enough closure for this week, just like real life.  OK, some things are exaggerated for humor, like in the (described rather than seen) prank phone call where Crystal is surprised to hear from Nancy Reagan (another LOL moment).  Note, there is of course some irony to Becky saying that Darlene is jealous and wishes she had a boyfriend like Mark.

This is the 100th show I've given a B+, and you know the series will be earning more.

Who's the Boss?: You Can Go Home Again

Who's the Boss?: You Can Go Home Again
ABC
January 22, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Sam has a cold and is feeling overwhelmed by life, not just school but a fight with Matt.  (We never hear if this is resolved, but they will break up later.)  She ends up moving back home for a few days, where the adults are happy to baby her.  (Jonathan figures out she's milking it.)  She even reverts back to high school enough to sneak out to go to a party and see her old friends.

This is Shana Lane-Block's last appearance on WtB.  Presumably, Bonnie (whose last name we finally find out is Munson) and Sam drifted further apart.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: 3.1

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: 3.1
Channel Four
18 January 1991
Improv Game Show
VHS
B-

First of all, this is not the order that I watched that year's episodes the following year on Comedy Central.  The American episodes aired first and then this was in the middle of the British episodes.  But either way, it is the first episode for Jim Sweeney, who proves a welcome addition.  He's funny in a modest, unassuming way and not a bad singer, so there are a lot of musical rounds, including an American Musical that will appear on the compilation.  And of course Josie, Greg, and Tony had already proven what a fine team they are, musically and otherwise.  The non-musical highlight is the four-person Helping Hands, which would prove to be uncharacteristic.  Josie's "Thank God for that!" reaction to Tony providing the Hands for Jim has less to do with her flirtation with Greg than the knowledge that he'll be much less naughty than Tony.  The shippiness here is muted on all sides, although note that Tony sings that he likes to call the turtle he's in love with "Josie or Myrtle."  And Tony swears twice, getting blanked out by CC.

Roseanne: The Wedding

Roseanne: The Wedding
ABC
January 15, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

The wedding goes forward, despite Dan's disapproval, especially when he finds out that Crystal is pregnant.  (I remember calling it when I first saw this episode, as soon as they said that Crystal kept going to the bathroom.)  He does come around eventually.  Jeff Abugov's script again offers drama and comedy, the latter including the awful pink bridesmaids' dresses that of course haven't improved with age.  Note that Crystal's recounting of her marriages does not match what we heard in the first season.  Also, the title is retrospectively plain, considering how many more weddings would be on this somewhat soap-operatic sitcom.

Lynn Ann Leveridge appears as Lucy and would return as an unknown character.  Kristopher Kent Hall takes over the role of Lonnie, which he'll keep for three years but only four more appearances.  And, yes, Crystal and Anne-Marie (Adilah Barnes) remember each other from high school.

Roseanne: The Courtship of Eddie, Dan's Father

Roseanne: The Courtship of Eddie, Dan's Father
ABC
January 8, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

After a slow start, this episode with a story by Bob Myer and a teleplay by Don Foster and Joel Madison, offers a fine blend of comedy and drama.  As the title suggests, Dan's father Ed pays a visit, bringing gifts, including a VCR, which causes Darlene to remark that the family is "leaping into the '80s."  (By this point, it had been about a decade since VCRs were accessible to the upper middle class, and they'd been trickling down to the middle middle throughout the '80s, but, yes, there were still some working class families that couldn't afford them in '91.)

Roseanne decides to matchmake Crystal with the guy who owns the camera shop at the mall, until she walks in on Ed and Crystal kissing passionately.  Then she tries to matchmake Jackie and the camera guy, but mostly so she can get them to leave so she can find out what's going on.  It turns out that Ed and Crystal have been seeing each other since they were at Thanksgiving the year before last.  (This episode is specifically set in January.)  In fact, they're engaged.  Dan does not react well, although Roseanne is supportive.  The episode ends on a cliffhanger, but as the next episode is called "The Wedding," I think we know how this will turn out.

D'Anne Avner, who plays the Woman in the Coffee Shop, would return in an unknown role.

Who's the Boss?: Days of Blunder

Who's the Boss?: Days of Blunder
ABC
January 8, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Leschin & Vignon story has Mona, Sam, and even Billy covering for 15-year-old Jonathan when he borrows Tony's Jeep to impress a Goth girl and gets into an accident.  Interestingly, Mona says, without kidding, that Jonathan "worships" Sam and has her picture in his wallet.  I would say that Halyalkar's acting is gradually improving, or maybe the lines they're writing for him fit Billy better.  There's a cute during-the-closing-credits scene with Angela moving the refrigerator to block Jonathan from going out with the Goth girl again.

Justin Lord, who was Harkness on M*A*S*H, plays Officer Norton.

The Golden Girls: Isn't It Romantic? [fragment]

The Golden Girls: Isn't It Romantic? [fragment]
NBC
November 8, 1986
Sitcom
VHS
B-

There is only one reason I taped a scene from this episode, and it has nothing to do with the ground-breaking character of Dorothy's lesbian friend Jean.  No, it's because of those adorable clown-face sundaes Rose makes.  No wonder Jean falls for her!  (The photo is courtesy of https://thegoldengirlsreviewed.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/episode-5-isnt-it-romantic/)

Generations: Sample Episode #2 [fragment]

Adam and Maya

Generations: Sample Episode #2 [fragment]
NBC
December 1990
Soap Opera
VHS
B-

I don't remember this era of the show as well as the previous one.  And this is just the episode up until the opening credits, followed by the next day's or week's credits because there was a cast change that meant that a family portrait had to be redone.*  Anyway, at this point Sam is in a loveless marriage with Jordan, so Kyle is worried about her, enough to show up and interrupt some smooching time between Sam's friend Adam (Kristoff St. John, who was a kid on the '77 Richard Pryor special) and his girlfriend Maya (Vivica A. Fox, then 26 but looking young for her age, as she had on the "Living Dolls" episode of Who's the Boss? the year before).  Meanwhile, Adam's parents, Henry (Taurean Blacque) and Ruth (Joan Pringle), are looking forward to Christmas and are happy about daughter Chantal (not seen this time) dating Eric Royal, the jock she prosecuted a few months ago.  However, Henry admits that he told Chantal that she "was not exactly born premature."  And Sam is reunited with her father, who's on the run, I think from Jordan.

This is finally the 100th NBC show I've reviewed.  Not exactly my favorite network.


*If I remember correctly, it was when Blacque was replaced by James Reynolds, although this was far from the only recasting in the show's short life.

Deee-Lite: Groove Is In the Heart

Deee-Lite: Groove Is In the Heart
MTV
Song released August 1990
Music Video
VHS
B+

I know this has nothing to do with how good the video is, but let me say that watching this today took me back to that summer and fall, as we moved inexorably towards the first Gulf War and the economy crumbled and I was an unemployed newlywed living with my husband in Oregon.  And I kept saying, "You know that woman that can't sing?  Why can't I get enough of this awful song?  OK, maybe it's not awful."  And the video that surpassed "Love Shack" for its blending of decades (and I mean puree) that I couldn't stop watching, and I didn't know anything about rave culture then, so I thought this was really disco, after all there was Bootsy Collins himself, stars and all, just like on the kitschy record albums I'd buy at bookstores.

So that all came back to me, plus how can you not be charmed by faux-fur-wearing and faux-French-speaking Lady Miss Kier; DJ Dimitry, man-bun pioneer, grinning throughout; and Towa Tei, who I think I thought was a somber lesbian.  Then and now I want to get up and dance with them and all those colorfully dressed people, and, yes, I still own the cassette of World Clique.  Oh, and I know this is from MTV because Adam Curry says the video has climbed to #5 that week, whatever week that was.

America's Funniest Home Videos: Cat Videos #2

America's Funniest Home Videos: Cat Videos #2
ABC
1990
Reality TV
VHS
B-

Not as funny or as cute as the last batch, but you know, it's cat videos, so I'm not complaining.

Generations: Sample Episode #1

Sam Whitmore

Generations: Sample Episode #1
NBC
1990
Soap Opera
VHS
B-

This short-lived, 1989-91, soap was one I watched pretty faithfully but it just didn't catch on.  (Wikipedia says it came in 12th in the ratings out of 12 or 13 soaps each season.)  It was interracial and only half an hour, two things that set it apart from other soaps of its time and before.


The regulars who appear in this episode:

• Robert Gentry as Jordan Hale
• Debbi Morgan, who was a semi-regular on the first season of What's Happening!!, as Chantal Marshall
• Stacey Nelkin as Christy Russell
• Gail Ramsey as Laura Whitmore McCallum
• Kelly Rutherford as Sam Whitmore 
• Robert Torti as Lt. Kyle Masters

Watching this today, I could easily remember the story lines, and not just because of the helpful expository dialogue that comes with the territory.  Sam was arguably the star of this episode and the series.  She was gorgeous and glamorous but also self-deprecating, feeling in the shadow of her perfect niece Monique, who was only one year younger than her.  

Chantal Marshall, also gorgeous and glamorous

This episode showcases not only her insecurities, especially in regard to her mother, but also her position in a romantic quadrangle.  Wealthy, middle-aged businessman Jordan Hale is interested in her, while her boyfriend Kyle's fellow police officer Christy is after Kyle.  We see Christy setting up a scheme, with Jordan's help, to make Sam think that Christy slept with Kyle while Sam was in Hawaii, and we get to see the scheme succeed, all in thirty minutes, mixed with other plots, like Chantal's ambivalence about the sports star she successfully prosecuted.  (For drunk driving?  Something like that.)  Kyle and Chantal are friends and have a couple nice scenes together.  The main weak point is Sam's older sister Laura and her even blander husband, whose name I've re-forgotten after a few hours.

I don't think I was trying to preserve this show for historical reasons and I wasn't collecting it, although we do have another episode coming up.  Probably I just taped it for viewing later and then it ended up preserved in amber as it were.

Siskel & Ebert: "Stella" and "Men Don't Leave"

Siskel & Ebert: "Stella" and "Men Don't Leave"
Syndicated
February 3, 1990
Movie Review
VHS
B

Sisbert reviewed other movies but these are the only ones I taped that week.  As they note, that Roger likes the former and Gene the latter highlights a lot of their differences.  For the record, I still haven't seen either movie.  This is the 2100th TV show I've reviewed, and we've barely started the '90s.

America's Funniest Home Videos: Cat Videos #1

One of the videos, squee!

America's Funniest Home Videos: Cat Videos #1
ABC
1990
Reality TV
VHS
B

They're cute, they're funny, they'll take over the Internet someday.  And Saget's commentary, including a Dr. Science reference, isn't bad.

B-52s: Roam

Not that this wasn't WTF at the time.

B-52s: Roam
Song released December 1989
Music Video
VHS
B-

I don't think this has aged as well as "Sowing the Seeds of Love," or for that matter "Love Shack."  It's still a catchy song but what some would now call "cultural appropriation" makes the shenanigans look more embarrassing even than intended.