Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 125, Best of Mad Movies

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 125, Best of Mad Movies
Syndicated
1985-86
Parody
VHS
B-

As the title suggests, the final episode of this one-season series is composed mostly of highlights, plus yet another home movie from a California resident.  The best of the best seems to be The Little Princess, with Shirley Temple possessed by a demonic doll.  President Reagan can be seen in clips from Santa Fe Trail, made when he was about 29.

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 109, "Doll Face"

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 109, "Doll Face"
Syndicated
1985-86
Parody
VHS
B-

This time, Rachel Lutjean helps out with the female voices, as the story is made into a sleazy beauty contest.  The home movie becomes an ad for "Beer Beach."

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 107, "Nothing Sacred"

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 107, "Nothing Sacred"
Syndicated
1985-86
Parody
VHS
B-

This time the main movie, which featured Margaret Hamilton, is rewritten to be a sequel to The Wizard of Oz, if Dorothy had grown up and hired Jim Rockford.  The home movie becomes a spy training film.  With more female characters to voice this time, April Winchell is added to the cast.

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 100, "Cyrano de Bergerac"

Mad Movies with the L.A. Connection: Episode 100, "Cyrano de Bergerac"
Syndicated
1985-86
Parody
VHS
B-

This series aired in syndication during that season of '85-86, so now is just as good a time as any to revisit it.  (I caught it on Nick at Nite later in the '80s.)  It predates Mystery Science Theater 3000 by a few years and shares the sensibility of affectionately mocking old movies, although MST was not as likely to choose an Oscar winner.  The concept here is not as fresh as it was three decades ago (and at that had been done by Woody Allen in What's Up, Tiger Lily?), but even at a time when even (well, maybe especially) teenagers can redub clips on Youtube, there's a certain charm in seeing a low-budget '80s show where an already-old-at-that-time movie is condensed to about twenty minutes and made sillier.  And this is definitely rooted in the '80s, with references from Tip O'Neill to Miami Vice.  Not every joke works but at least they try.  The best part here, other than the home movie that is turned from Halloween memories into sci-fi, is the use of music.  You'll certainly never hear "Greensleeves" quite the same way again.

The regular cast is Bob Buchholz, Connie Sue Cook, Steve Pinto, Stephen Rollman, and writer/producer/host Kent Skov.  Re the numbering of the episodes, that's from Wikipedia and I think is meant to represent that they had done live shows as a comedy troupe before they were on TV.