Babsies Reviews

The Naked Truth (1995–1998)

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

[25 July 2003]

This is the only way I can describe the 3 seasons of this show. As with other shows that aren't in a league with "Friends" and "Frasier", the Powers That Be 'retooled' the show after the first season (the Good). Then the show just went from Bad to Ugly and was gone. I became a fan of Téa Leoni because of this show--back then, she was correctly described as "a cross between Lucille Ball and Sharon Stone"--and I was very disappointed when they 'retooled' and eventually cancelled the show (by that time, I was just happy they put it out of it's misery). This is a classic example of If-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it Syndrome. (And, by the way, calling Mark Roberts' character 'Stupid Dave' was funny!!!) I'm still a fan of Téa's (and her husband--I think his name is David-something;~}), and if this was the show that put her on the map, then it was worth it.

Apt Pupil (1998)

VERY disappointing!!!

[26 April 2003]

This is one of the few King stories that stuck in my mind--I was so riveted, I read it in one sitting (which for me is amazing!!). So, when I heard that they were making a film based on it, I was all kinds of excited!!!! Sitting in the theater before the show started, I noticed that people had brought their young children--my first thought was, "This is a FRIGHTENING story--I can't believe they would bring their kids!!!" Then the movie started, and I waited for the frightening part--it never came, and my concern for the kids being traumatized faded quickly. The original story is SO full of images of the Holocaust--images that are essential to the plot--that they leap off the page and grab you by the throat. The movie has one, maybe two quick flashes of Holocaust victims--they might as well have left them out. I really cannot believe that this is the same director of "The Usual Suspects" and "X-Men" 1 & 2!!!

Bottom line: Don't let this bad film deter you from reading the story--it's in King's "Different Seasons"**.

(**also in "Different Seasons" is 'Hope Springs Eternal', which is the movie "The Shawshank Redemption" and 'Fall from Innocence', which is the movie "Stand by Me")