Just the Ten of Us: Quarterback Sneak

Just the Ten of Us: Quarterback Sneak
ABC
September 29, 1989
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In the second episode of the third season, 22-year-old Matt LeBlanc makes his first of two appearances as Todd Murphy, the star player on Coach's football team.  Wendy dates him once and then dumps him, so Coach "pimps his daughter."  Evan Arnold returns as Gavin Doosler, who joins the Lubbock girls' cheer squad.

Just the Ten of Us: Rock n' Roll Fantasy

Just the Ten of Us: Rock n' Roll Fantasy
ABC
April 28, 1989
Sitcom
VHS
B-

Not unlike the Brady kids, the four teenage daughters, AKA the Lubbock Babes, formed a singing group, doing entirely cover songs if I recall correctly.  The girls had nice voices and they wore the height of late '80s fashion.  Here, in an episode written by show creator Dan Guntzleman with Michael Sullivan, who also directed, the Babes daydream as they perform at the local pizza parlor.  Wendy's fantasy in particular breaks the fourth wall, with the family appearing as actors who have the real-life names-- Jamie, JoAnn, etc.  Note that this episode mildly ships Gavin Doosler (Evan Arnold again) with both Connie and Cindy.

Holly Haber, who previously played Sister Adolf on the "fox in the henhouse" episode, is a Doctor here.  Michael Gilbert Lewis, the Priest, would be a Busboy on Who's the Boss? the next year.  Rich Reinhart sort of plays himself, in that he's a Writer in Wendy's fantasy.  This episode closed out the season, and the next one we'll look at is from early in Season Three.

Just the Ten of Us: Zorro en el Gallinero

Just the Ten of Us: Zorro en el Gallinero
ABC
February 17, 1989
Sitcom
VHS
B-

This Growing Pains spin-off had a more likable cast, an offbeat (for its sub-genre) sense of humor, and of course more extreme late '80s fashions.  The title of the series seems like a misnomer, but it was about Coach Graham and Elizabeth Lubbock (Kirchenbauer and Harmon) and their eight children, the youngest two only babies and not often seen.  It aired on Fridays as what became, in the fall of 1989, ABC's TGIF line-up, although I doubt it's as well remembered as, for instance, Full House or Perfect Strangers.

The show focused mostly on the oldest four kids, the teenaged daughters: devout eldest Marie (Langenkamp), airheaded Cindy (Luner), her slutty twin Wendy (Brooke Theiss), and intellectual Connie (Willette).  In this episode, from Season Two, they're all in pursuit of Spanish exchange student Carlos, "the fox in the henhouse" of the title.  Brother J.R. (Shakman) as usual has little to do, but kid sister Sherry (Zeigler) serves as interpreter some of the time, even using the word "sluts"!  And this may well be the episode with the most double or pretty much single entendres.  Keep an eye out for the adorkable Gavin Doosler (Evan Arnold), who contributes accidentally gay entendres.  Also, yes, that's Frank "Herb Tarlek" Bonner in the unlikely but recurring role of a priest, Father Hargis.

This is one of seven episodes that Jonathan Weiss directed, and we'll later look at one he did for the third and final season.  It's also the 600th show I've reviewed for the '80s.  I doubt we'll make it to 700, but we will pass double the output for the '60s.

M*A*S*H: Hey, Look Me Over

M*A*S*H: Hey, Look Me Over
CBS
October 25, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B

Alda co-wrote this episode with Karen Hall and it spotlights one of the minor but long-lasting characters.  Kellye Nakahara finally getting attention from the writers is fitting, as Kellye Yamato struggles to get Hawkeye to notice her.  It's not even about a crush, but more about simple attention.  She tells him off, but it's not till he sees her comfort a dying patient that he sees how wonderful she is.  Meanwhile, a hard-nosed female colonel comes by for an inspection, and Margaret learns a lesson herself.

Gary Grubbs, who plays Lt. Geyer, would be Harry on Three's Company.  Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky) and Shari Saba (Lt. Shari) return, as do Harmon and Wilson.

M*A*S*H: Promotion Commotion

M*A*S*H: Promotion Commotion
CBS
March 1, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C+

This Dennis Koenig story has Klinger becoming a sergeant, and a hospitalized soldier (who's supposed to be 18 but looks 30) defending his choice to stay a virgin, signs that the show has been on a very long time.  Oh, and Charles gets menaced by John Matuszak, not long after the football player was menacing Ringo in Caveman.

Hawkeye's date, Nurse Webster, is played by 30-year-old Deborah Harmon, who would be the mom on Just the Ten of Us.  G.W. Bailey (Rizzo), Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Bill Snider (this time as a Corpsman) return.