AudioFileZ Reviews

Green Acres (1965–1971)

Silly Surrealism Taken To A High Level

[8/10 · 17 April 2024]

Green Acres, not simply a reversal of the premise used in The Beverly Hillbillies, is brilliant. Yes, the idea is gold, but the true hook lies in the hilarity of the whip-smart writing and wicked good cast. I can't imagine anyone but who we have as each quirky character. The cast delivers so well they can't help but suffer as they probably get passed over by producers claiming I can't do a serious movie with "Ebb". Lol.

Throwing in a lot of pure absurdity played straight is a tasty base. But, to reiterate: the crack cast for each character makes each character rise to iconic levels. Stereotypes are skewered to such a high level I can't even relate it to a number. I mean, really, a town named "Hooterville"? I laugh out loud more with this show, especially seasons one through three, more than any TV series I can think of. It had the magic of Sienfeld before that series found it. It is so rich in comic fairy dust it bears watching multiple times. I even like how the producers ditch common sense and increasingly kick saneness to the curb as the series progresses. This is the core that makes things have a cult following. I think it's definitely not for everyone, but somehow masqueraded as such and got a solid viewership in it's day. With the luxury of looking back it's better than ever. For those of us who like a little lighthearted buzz in the PM, it gets infinitely more layered and hilarious. I just have to say it again...this is brilliant stuff.

Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case (2023)

Horrible Documentary In Style & Substance

[3/10 · 12 April 2024]

I figured going in this missing person case would not parallel a domestic, or even UK, case. Immediately it was fairly frustrating to watch from early on. Lucie, a UK woman in her early twenties, came to Tokyo for a life adventure. Becoming what is called a "hostess" in the unusual Tokyo club scene certainly was that. The concept just seems dodgy and dangerous even if we're told it isn't sexually like prostitution. That may be so, but it certainly provided an excellent hunting ground for a sexual predator. I am certainly uncomfortable with this as the father of a daughter. Being told for such a massive population center the crime rate is low begs many questions when young Lucie comes up missing. All cultural differences aside, the human animal is driven in similar ways regardless, maybe more so in a traditionally male dominated society?

The film omits so much of what I have come to expect in crime docs about the missing, again, it's frustrating. I don't think these omissions are things lost in translation either. Whatever the Japanese police are finding early on is not revealed. Instead of keying on who was last believed to be with Lucie, and information given by those who worked with her in the same bar, the story focuses on the arrival of Lucie's father. He clashes with the locals taking the story to the press who he tells his youngest daughter are the people who will find Lucie. I take it he has little respect for how Tokyo's finest are moving. There is definitely a disconnect between the two as the lack of respect seems mutual. While the father's modus operandi is of interest, it's Lucie we want to know about which the makers of this documentary never dig into.

I also should mention besides the omission of lack of insight into both victim and early investigation, the film moves at an extremely slow pace. Boring comes to mind. It never pulls the viewer in as such. One never feels a connection to the victim as such. It meanders until it finally, past the mid-point, the police find a gal from Australia who worked in the hostess profession with a chilling experience. She reveals her rape by a client raising red flags. Now, finally armed with some facts, the Tokyo police go more into a mode we're familiar with in the west. But surprisingly this is again drawn out too slowly. Lucie's story could have been told much more succinctly - and much more palpably. Where's the interviews with actual victims who survived? Even when the perpetrator's real name is known, we won't know much about him. A frustrating feeling seems to be the only constant watching this.

I've read many peoples comments about this case as it did make the rounds on the "podcast circuit". I'd have to say just about any of these gave more of the down and dirty grit about Lucie's abduction and murder than this long-winded and un-focused telling. The final irritation is how much was left out about the victim (mainly), the actions of the father beyond the press, and the perpetrator himself. Too add insult, though convicted for life of multiple rapes, the perpetrator escapes being convicted of the actual murder of Lucie which seems to go unanswered as to why he escaped, possibly, his worst crime. The absent murder conviction, though no fault of the film, deserves an explanation as to why which is not properly explored at all. Sorry, but I can only give this production low marks and no recommendation.

The Gentlemen (2024)

Episodic Version of The Gentlemen Is Great

[8/10 · 25 March 2024]

The Gentlemen, the 2019 movie was a very entertaining Guy Ritchie addition to his reliably well-received UK gangster collection of films. Cracking good cast with a bit of a well done wicked humor separating it from others, including all imitators. As such, one might ask why redo it? With the solid basic drug related foundation a series offers much more real estate to flesh out an even better story.

So, in 2024 we get Ritchie's Netflix series of the same name. Once again we get an exceptional cast. This time the mix of the same premise gets the long-form. And, in this longer telling of a novel underground UK weed operation there's time to develop the characters quite well. Carried by the trio of Theo James, Kaya Scoelario, and Daniel Ings their characters of Eddie Horniman, Susie Glass, and Freddy Horniman admirably propel this 8-episode retelling of The Gentleman - often it seems better than the movie. Adding gobs of twists and deceit along the way, this version hardly lags, even at eight episodes. In fact, it's addicting to watch leaving one hoping for another season. Definitely one of the best things I've seen on Netflix.

One Life (2023)

A Story That Needs To Be Seen, Remembered, & Learned From

[9/10 · 12 March 2024]

Nicholas Winton is a name not well known outside of the UK. His story, however, should be. This film will certainly raise awareness of how he played an integral part in saving the lives of almost 700 Czechoslovakian children comprised of mostly Jewish descent (there were some children of Czech politicians deemed as enemies by Germany) by organizing their transport to English families willing to provide homes for these refugees. Otherwise, they faced certain death as was the case for most of their parents left behind It was a thankless up-hill task Winton, along with an equally selfless group of young people, took on with dogged determination. The British Parliament seemed absent from stepping up leaving the mission on the shoulders of these brave souls which Winton ended up spearheading.

So as an American whose father fought in WW II, I welcome all stories from this time, especially gripping ones exposing the best of humanity in the face of Nazi genocide. In simple terms this is a very moving story with implications right now the world needs to learn from.

For the movie itself, well, it's fairly low-key. Not a bombastic reliving of actual gore. Rather it tells the story of Nicholas Winton. It does so in two timelines that are visited back and forth. First, we meet Winton, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins as an elderly man with unfinished business in the late eighties. The seriousness of Winton's emotional state is expertly depicted by this master thespian. The man isn't morose, but he's still got a lot on his mind regarding his past. He's gentile, but focused in that he wants this to be a living lesson to humanity for all time never to be forgotten. The young Winton of the late thirties is portrayed by Johnny Flynn. Successful as a stock broker he has things far larger than money on his mind. Flynn gives a warm yet serious feel to a man driven by a strong moral code fighting hard upstream for what he knows needs to be done. Helena Bonham Carter, as young Winton's mother, also turns in nice characterization of a upper class woman who chooses to fight for the cause with UK politicians over petty social class matters These are seriously good people whose stories are well laid out by the cast.

For the star power on display this is actually a lower budget movie that never feels like it. Everything is well done without theatrics or bombast. Period costumes and sets, especially the look of the children who the film is really about, is spot-on. The cinematography is slightly sepiia toned in the thirties and modern in the late eighties as it should be. It gets out of the way for the most part and feels right. In the end this is a movie of some importance with a cause that the work depicted here isn't finished. What will it take for our fellow humans to stop killing innocent children and oppressing those we see as "different"? Perhaps watching this will help in that cause. Most assuredly a story we should all know about and learn from.

Moonshiners (2011– )

Illegal Distilling My Left Foot...LOL!

[9/10 · 10 March 2024]

We all know it's scripted. No one could pay off enough law enforcement & politicians to do this when you're taunting them weekly on national TV. But, you know, it really doesn't matter. These characters are pretty true to the type of renegades who actually have done this for a well over a century. They build authentic stills and add some zany creativity in the mix. I really find it funny when they're selling this stuff for top prices when you can go now to any legal liquor store and buy authentic moonshine for not very much more. People always will want what someone tells them they can't have and this whole show masterfully taps into that ethos. It's the characters though that put this show over-the-top. Well done for entertainment purposes.

Trailer Park Boys (2001–2018)

From Trash To Treasure

[9/10 · 27 February 2024]

This show is off the rails. Ricky is either the most stupid human on planet earth, or...the Tom Thumb of dope horticulture. Either way Ricky is a fantastic character that makes me laugh. Julian would be a standard issue Tom Jones suave ladies man, but he also got hit only slightly less hard with the stupid stick. That kind of makes him a mastermind within his circle. Mastermind of what? Petty crime with few holds barred centered in life in a trailer park. Then there's the brilliant parlor trick that makes Julian rise to the level of Ricky. That would be he is only ever seen with a cocktail of rum and coke in hand as if it's an appendage. Speaking of hat tricks. Perhaps the totally accidental are the best? Mike Smith as the Bubbles character is like...ahh, really. His intentions and actual pauses to think are lovable. But, he's also in a universe of his own making - one more cool layer of the TPB's onion. The coke-bottle glasses seal the deal - along with the breathy high pitched sing/songy voice So off the charts funny!

All "superheroes" need villains to be, well, more super. As the show revolves around everyone's life at the Sunnyvale Trailer Park it's fitting that eternal drunk and ex-cop Jim Lahey is a perfect foil. Even Batman needs Robin and so it goes with Jim Lahey. He's got "Randy". Just the name is a riot, but the reality with bloated belly and no shirt really rocks. For good measure these villains are in a homosexual relationship.

Never does the show actually say the phrase "trailer trash" because that would be so one dimensional loser. These guys are like the Royal Family of trailer trash. And in this mix there is brilliance. Like a show that fears to go where no show ever went. It makes The Office look like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood (i.e. A perfect one). Laced with vulgar language and depictions of any crime as justified survival this is a treasure of alternate comedy TV. It makes me wonder can these guys who dreamed this and made it be this lucky, this funny, or this brilliant? Well, I'll go with 50/50 all of that plus amazing luck that they got the chance to find all of us weirdos who think this is a masterstroke of comedy TV. I haven't even mentioned the documentary style which seems so seamless. No wonder it has lasted over two decades in episodes, specials, and movies. As such I can only think of just two other TV shows to achieve something similar. Those would be Dr. Who and Top Gear/The Grand Tour. Kind of makes one think.

The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour: Sand Job (2022) Season 5, Episode 3

Like The Best of The Previous Show!

[9/10 · 26 February 2024]

As would be totally the norm, our three intrepid car enthusiasts have chosen quite inappropriate cars for the task at hand. Obviously the cars require modifications which, again per the norm, aren't quite extensive enough or as robust as needed. Would we expect anything less? The question of are those modifications good enough is constant.

Just getting the cars to someplace named Mari-something proved to be the easy part as they arrived in a most memorable ridiculously long coal/ore train. Surprisingly, James spearheaded what turned out to be a proper vehicle extraction off this weird delivery. Of course, that's a good thing as they'll be plenty of opportunities to breakdown and wreck the cars in due time on the "road" to Dakar. That said, there's plenty of hardships with the proper measures of problem solving and horseplay.

The "Sand Job" is a highlight returning to the old, iconic and fantastic adventures (i.e. Misadventures). This is the entertainment factor that made a car show an institution and is a most welcome return. Absolutely fantastic episode. Oh yeah, the cars. Amazing that all three made it and pretty much spot-on as to which I might imagine faired the best and worst. Plus, we get the obligatory explosion in a most clever way!

The Case for Heaven (2022)

It Was A Blessing To Watch

[10/10 · 19 February 2024]

I have been a Christian throughout my life. I have felt struggles with desires not congruent with being a Christian. I have let guilt enter. Through it all I believed. Believed, not meaning I had no questions, but choosing Faith over letting those questions tear at the core of believing Jesus Christ is my personal, as well as the world's, Savior. So many worldly and personal imperfections sometimes arise to tear at this core Christian belief. I understand much is due to having original sin in a world that also is shaped by this. It makes me need my Savior more. To get encouragement is always a blessing when it comes to Faith. I find this excellent documentary centering around journalist Lee Stroubel very much a blessing of encouragement. The way the filmmaker, Sandoval, goes about telling his story is moving. The side stories are eternal life affirming. The whole is a blessing to watch even coming in as a Believer. It is with great hope that others, including those who are absent of Faith, to find that Blessing too. I am truly moved.

The Andy Griffith Show: The New Housekeeper (1960) Season 1, Episode 1

A Pilot That Was Perfect

[10/10 · 15 February 2024]

Here, in the pilot episode, of The Andy Griffith Show viewers were an open book. The fact that the show was based on Southern homespun humor was not surprising, in fact it was just building on Andy Griffith's success in the movie "No Time For. Sergeants". The phrasing and vernacular of Andy Griffith's "What Is Was Was Football" is lifted almost intact for the Sheriff Taylor character...with just a little polishing. In other words, there was some proven winning comedy here. And that is what is wonderfully leveraged. Andy gets some more veteran help from Francis Bavier as housekeeping kinfolk "Aunt Bee". Bavier is perfect for the role providing a kind of home anchor for Andy as the central character. But, surprise! Precocious Ron Howard. As Opie. Steals his early scenes to great affect. This initial episode, for me at least, will always be a high watermark for Opie. The juxtaposition of his smart quips at his age is pure gold. And then there was Barney Fife. Don Knots as Barney Fife was the perfect yin to Andy's yang. Knots proves on arrival he can.make any scene he is featured in. The character of Barney Fife is as good as Kramer on Seinfeld years later. The show, sadly, weakens with Barney"s absence we will see in time.

This episode makes me want to watch whatever episodes are to come. That's a perfect pilot. Oh yeah, I like this version of Andy best. He's almost the most "country" he'll ever be in the series. Not unlike his central character on his "Big Orange" spiel he's almost overly congenial. It suits him well.

The Andy Griffith Show: The Wedding (1968) Season 8, Episode 26

The Sprague Batchelor Pad Experiment

[8/10 · 13 February 2024]

Belatedly Howard gets to "spread his wings" as his newly married mother moves out with new hubby leaving the homestead to Howard. In a radical move Howard reinvents his home into a "swinging bachelor pad" This in itself is quite humorous as the decor Howard creates is a kind of omage of things considered to be trendy and cool for the time: bearskin rug, hi-fi, abstract art, wet bar, and beads. Howard decides he wants to host an inaugural singles party.

The guests are to include Andy and Helen along with Goober. Emmett very much wants to come too and is roundly snubbed by Howard as it's a singles only affair. This, of course, is also out of character for Howard who previously has been the poster child of kowtowing to mom while being overly polite and, well, boring. One of the funniest parts is how both he and Goober get roundly shutdown while attempting to find dates. When Andy and Helen arrive the awkwardness ramps up to good effect. Helen bears the brunt of it as she has to dance with everyone. As Helen fades and Andy attempts to make their exit. The unexpected occurs. Emmet arrives stag. Emmet turns out to be the real party king with his energetic surprising good dancing skills once more forcing the now tired out Helen to dance. Emmet, the uninvited, save the otherwise dud of a party!

This is a polarizing episode. Personally I find it funny and enjoyable because of the constant insertion of some wicked bits of humor. For instance, when explaining the awful art to Goober, Howard reiterates again about the "out of the way little shop this time with the "individual" (does this mean not heterosexua,l or simply a hippie?) who sold him the art underscoring Howard's klunky liberal personna that is still absolutely square underneath. In the epilogue Goober bursts in on Andy announcing there is to be another "bash" and this time Howard has secured two nurses as dates for them both. Andy seems pleased enough at the news to say he and Helen will come...then he hears the dates are being brought by their mother. LOL! Could this be worse than the previous party?

Lover Stalker Killer (2024)

Actually Painful To Watch, & Should Be

[9/10 · 12 February 2024]

Couples with children that are divorced are, sadly, an everyday occurrence. Usually the best case scenario is when the couple stays civil, even caring, especially for the sake of their children. In this case the ex-husband cares to move to the state where his ex relocated with their children to remain a close father. This should have been a good thing for all. It wasn't. It set up a long chain of most unbelievable events involving mental harassment and murder. Dave, the father, got a new job close to his ex and kids which took a turn for the worse when he began a new relationship with a woman named Liz. Liz was independent having her own cleaning business and had some mutual interests which seemed to suit Dave who wasn't looking to settle down any time soon. What seemed innocuous enough was anything but.

Stalking and harassment cases sometimes aren't as cut and dried as other criminal acts. Especially when some very real cloak and dagger methodology is employed. In this case it involved texts and emails, thousands of them, using a myriad of fake IP addresses. In time it would get past the point of threats with physical criminal acts. But from who? A person that was reported as missing who early police investigators shrugged off because she couldn't be located. Shouldn't this ramp things up to a boil? Apparently not. Early on there was zero attempts, at least as documented here, by police to apply digital forensics to the only leads they had, those texts and emails. Is this good detective work? Far from it seemingly, as hundreds ever more threatening texts and criminal acts played out. Dave, his ex, and children's lives were being totally ruined with fear for their lives.

It takes a smaller Sheriff's department with a core of three very dedicated officers to break the case. A case that could have been cracked much earlier if the initial police department had made it a priority. The perpetrator was, perhaps, deemed as an unsophisticated cleaning person not capable of a long-term campaign of digital and worse criminality. Initially, just as she elaborately schemed, she was a victim too as far as that first police department roundly accepted. This changed as the three officers working the case in that small Sheriff's department were certain the author of all of this evil was not who it seemed. In fact, they were sure the supposed text and email author was very much dead. From there they knew who to truly look at. This case took far too long to break as it harmed lives irreparably in the interim. A sense of these innocent people's sorrow hangs heavily as such. It absolutely makes this a hard crime documentary to watch. It should too as law enforcement should be far more sophisticated and involved as seen in the earlier years here. That small Sheriff's department with the three amazing officers are true heroes who should be lauded for their dogged dedication and work. They serve as a shining examples of the best of their craft.

I've been heavy on the story, but the way it's presented here it seems too real not to be discussed. The producers of this documentary takes the viewer on a very deep and disturbing ride genuinely exposing evil can be the person right next to you. It makes for an uneasy watch because even those who seem far from capable are actually very capable of the darkest of evil events. I have to call this a very interesting and well done expose of the darkest parts of humanity. Thankfully, our three heroes offer some much needed light which I believe anyone watching welcomes.

The Andy Griffith Show: The Church Benefactors (1968) Season 8, Episode 20

Boring...

[5/10 · 10 February 2024]

TAGS struggles to be as entertaining as it matures further. Not just without Barney missing an no character in sight that fills the void mind you. But with the scripts. This episode about how to spend some money in our subjects church just isn't entertaining. Forget funny too. This is one of the least appealing episodes in the entire run of the show. For me, Howard's suit with the mid-drift cross button brace was a highpoint (if you can believe that). Reminding me of 50's/60's fashion sense making no sense (I once had a corduroy jacket with that inane button thing). Well, as the shoe is nearing it's end it isn't making any strong case for it's continuance.

The Andy Griffith Show: Howard's New Life (1967) Season 8, Episode 15

Howard's Escape Flops...On Several Levels

[5/10 · 3 February 2024]

I guess it was chance that made sense, but this episode underscores just how far from those first four seasons TAGS will go to fill in that hole ever since we lost Barney. As is clear with each episode of this last season the producers are trying to elevate Howard Sprague. As his character is about the straightest arrow in the quiver it's kind of hard. That episode about his marriage might have been like Howard stepping out, but he didn't make it as he realized he was so set in his ways. Here, however, the writers create a new Howard...in about fifteen minutes. Tiring of being meticulous while working a job in which Opie convinces Howard is meaningless and mundane, Howard acts on what he perceives in a travelog to be the perfect life on a Caribbean island. This might have sounded like a funny role reversal on paper, not so much in the watching. Howard is a much weaker purveyor of comedy than Goober. And Goober no matter what mostly is way short of Barney. That said this Howard totally centric episode just seems flat and out of place. One thing seems notable, Harry Dean Stanton as the island shopkeeper. Stanton's checked out character is underplayed memorably.

The Andy Griffith Show: Opie's Group (1967) Season 8, Episode 9

The Generation Gap Happens In Mayberry

[7/10 · 28 January 2024]

No place is an island and kids are like sponges to changing times and varied outside influences. Mayberry seems to be a kind of island however, and Opie, Andy's pride and joy, has been the perfectly adjusted child in a slow to change environment. Enter rock and roll music. Music can be the great divider, especially when a dramatic shift like amplified rock occurs. I assume the producers of TAGS wanted to "modernize" the show with something both parents and their kids could kind of relate to. While the "amplified rock" here is milquetoast, it serves the purpose as a bookmark for those changes between the generations and a mindful tolerance of both. As this is still TAGS we get a nice reconciliation recognizing both sides. Mayberry ain't going Haight-Asbury! I imagine the young audience at the time likely enjoyed this episode that seems pretty innocent actually. It kind of brings up thoughts in my head that as a viewer I liked the time of the first three seasons of the show best. Opie at that age wasn't going to last for unlimited episodes and TAGS was going to have to address it. I think it was done pretty well here.

The Andy Griffith Show: Howard's Main Event (1967) Season 8, Episode 6

Howard Fits In Better As His Character Develops

[6/10 · 27 January 2024]

It's a bit hard to get excited over a Howard Sprague centric episode one might say. But, Howard is our likable milquetoast everyman. A kind soul that lands on the decided side of being very nerdy. Like nerds we all know though some are ones we like. And so it is a good setup for our nerd getting bullied. Let me back up a few though. Howard is immediately smitten with new bakery employee Millie. Millie radiates sweetness with a good dose of being naturally beautiful. We can understand our quickly aging bachelor's interest. Things go swimmingly well for Howard in spite of his obvious awkwardness. That is until an ex love interest arrives seeking to rekindle something between himself and Millie. The always serviceable Allan Melvin as Clyde Plaunt is the ex. Though Millie isn't interested Clyde isn't going quietly into the night. Actually he plays the bully card thinking he can intimidate Howard. After initially pulling the intimidation thing off Howard gets the right pep talk from Andy and is ready for confrontation with Clyde. Howard, though not bluffing, pulls off his own intimidation and it works without a punch thrown. Who doesn't like to see any bully put in his/her place? The only thing is it may give one a bit of false confidence that presenting that same intimidation to all those out of line is wise. Howard gets a balancing gut check. Though a bit light on laughs I think we get another lesson this time not so much by Andy. I must say my growing like for the Howard Sprague character inches forward though.

The Andy Griffith Show: Opie Steps Up in Class (1967) Season 8, Episode 5

Looking For Laughs In All The Wrong Places

[6/10 · 27 January 2024]

I hate to admit it, but I watch TAGS season eight to pick it apart as much as, hopefully sometimes, still enjoy it. With the producers giving up on a direct Barney replacement the melange of new regulars and guest stars sometimes work and, a bit more often, don't. This brings up the thing surrounding so much art which is the earliest , maybe less sophisticated, work of many artists of every ilk is the best. It makes the bar immediately high which is hard to top and easy to pale in comparison. This certainly, for me at least, hovers over TAGS season eight. For whatever reason, with Floyd retiring and the introduction of the almost comically bad Emmett character, the absence of Barney is suddenly worse. The last episode showed our hero Andy in a light where he falters rather than leads with wisdom. This episode is mess. Andy insists Opie goes to a boy's camp that is for "the elite". Aunt Bee has reservations and Opie outright doesn't want to lose his Saturday to the unknown "camp experience". Opie goes just to please Andy, but when Opie is affected by his new buddy and the way the buddy lives, things take a turn for a definite social "class" division. When Andy sees this he thinks he needs to "nip it in the bud", but is also sucked in. The funniest thing is Andy being in a social situation where he feels uncomfortable, yet Opie navigates it perfectly because Andy told him to "be himself" - advice Andy himself was in short supply of. Andy, of course, comes around to being "our Andy". Not a bad lesson, but the comedy of old is sorely absent. The more I think about it, Andy's actual comment in the shows early days that it should have a five-year run is eerily correct. I can only give this episode a six rating as such.

The Andy Griffith Show: Opie's First Love (1967) Season 8, Episode 1

Opie's Rite of Passage

[8/10 · 21 January 2024]

The eighth season starts with Opies entrance into that tender age where it's suddenly hard to talk to girls even while it becomes an exponentially important part in a youngster's self image and awareness. I think in that first year of high school us guys sense our female classmates are becoming more interested in the upper class boys making things suddenly tougher. All of this is happening to Opie as he is pursuing a crush as his date to buddy Arnold's birthday party. You gotta love how Opie is feeling insecure to ask his crush, but when she accepts he becomes totally upbeat and confident. That confidence is tender like the age. I think for many of us this stirs up a certain rite of passage in the process of growing up and how brittle it can be. Truly a good idea for the show that really hasn't ever been explored unlike many episodes that have bits and pieces recycled. After a bit of some uncharacteristic early-on ribbing by Andy (and Goober for good measure) it seems it's all coming together nicely when Opie's crush accepts his invitation to be his date, setting up a life lesson. When the chips are down though Andy becomes Opie's true support and confidant. Opie, sensing his dad's advice is spot-on, grows a foot taller. Since this is Mayberry, things take a turn for the best while mimicking something relatable. All in all, a somewhat touching and quite entertaining episode.

The Andy Griffith Show: Goober's Contest (1967) Season 7, Episode 30

And Then There Was Another Great Loss

[8/10 · 21 January 2024]

If you consider TAGS revolved around Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, & Floyd in most every episode you'd be pretty correct. You might say Goober after Barney left became a staple, but you get the gist of it. Of course Barneys absence lingered, but this episode signals yet another great loss to the core cast. Floyd the barber, or more specifically Howard McNear. More than in previous episodes the failing health of McNear is painfully obvious. It's not the lines, though we're told he couldn't remember them readily, It's the delivery. Howard as Floyd could be hysterically animated without much physical effort at all save for his expressions and arm movements. Here he's totally flat delivering the lines and always seated with nary any movement, especially the exaggerated expressions with hand and arm movements. Being the trooper he was he stayed until the 11th hour to finish season seven. That's just poignant to all of us who absolutely loved the way McNear brought such a unique character like Floyd to life. If Mayberry was that place we all wanted it to be Floyd would always be there killing us viewer with his sing-songy comments and reflections. Though not much stands out about the episode it will always be important to us fans as McNear soldiered on to finish out his run.

Expedition Unknown: Finding the Lost Pilots of WW2 (2023) Season 12, Episode 2

Reality TV That Matters

[10/10 · 19 January 2024]

I've been a fan of Expedition Unknown for over a decade now. Josh Gates is a very entertaining host. His humble, often humorous, way is very engaging. He gives us a very balanced approach to more than archeology. He tackles folklore and history with equal zeal. By combining his show with some of the best stories/history and some important quite interesting people who pursue whatever his show happens to be about he makes us all armchair travelers. Travelers going the places we'd never go ourselves looking into things we often were unaware of.

When he tackles important historical mysteries, like in this episode, he easily hits the zenith of the series. In this episode, with the Project Recovery people, it all comes together as they find a lost WWII bomber previously never discovered. It's hard to imagine what this find, and this program, might mean to the families who will ultimately have closure as a result. For this viewer, whose father served in WWII, it is especially poignant. A testament to what reality TV can be. Very well done.

Fargo: Bisquik (2024) Season 5, Episode 10

The Ending Message That Divides Us

[7/10 · 18 January 2024]

There's a lot going on here. It probably isn't nearly what many viewers were thinking it might, or even should, be. I'm guessing many of us expected a raid on this sheriff and his unredeemable contingent of followers getting pretty violent. That would entertain a lot of viewers I'm sure. What we got is a raid that worked less spectacularly with the perpetrator in prison. A raid done well. It set up the ending that had a message. Love and forgiveness is the only way to live without fear. Dot had to do some work to get to that point, she survived as a result. That result is bigger than her, which the ending claims with just a facial expression by Olah. Now, that mother-in-law. That's not quite as neat.

The Andy Griffith Show: Floyd's Barbershop (1967) Season 7, Episode 22

Outside Forces Invade Mayberry

[7/10 · 17 January 2024]

This is an interesting episode. It kind of foreshadowed the exit of Howard McNear as Floyd the barber. The oft quoted cliche "time waits for no one" hangs in the air here. Floyd's barbershop, a Mayberry institution, is the centerpiece. When the absentee family owners of the building Floyd leases decides to sell things seem a bit in flux. Will whoever purchases the building want to continue to lease it to Floyd? Floyd is naturally worried. Fears seem to be allayed when Howard Sprague antes up and buys the building. Upon receiving the deed Howard realizes the owners likely sold the property because their insurance and land taxes had both been hiked. Howard approaches it like the gentleman he is drafting a rental agreement with modest increases. Floyd sees it differently and vacates the premises. A bit of small town chaos ensues where "the hangout" shifts from Floyd's place to Andy's courthouse. Simple taken for granted things such as haircuts become problems. Mayberry isn't ready to change in the most simple of ways. Now, none of this seems particularly entertaining. And, perhaps, it isn't meant to be? The magic of Mayberry, and particularly TAGS, is not immune from the change of the world around it. Fortunately, there's still magic in Andy's wisdom and by episode's end the Mayberry we love gets another breath of life. That said, we will soon see there is much truth to what this episode portends. To me, at least, this makes this episode rise up above the entertainment factor to the realm that no place is totally an island to the world around it.

The Andy Griffith Show: Aunt Bee's Restaurant (1967) Season 7, Episode 21

TAGS Goes Oriental

[6/10 · 17 January 2024]

We're believe Aunt Bee is the quintessential southern matriarch not the least of which is her way around the kitchen. When The Tavern spare ribs restaurant closes another door opens. After visiting the restaurant during closing Aunt Bee chums up to the oriental cook and proposes he keeps the restaurant going using his expertise in Chinese fare. Upon her exit she finds a "lucky penny" which she sees as a sign she is to be the backing partner of the new venture. Nothing in this episode is too catchy. It's pretty much benign, just short of boring. What is nice is the two Asian actors. They have great screen presence and when they try to dissuade Aunt Bee's fears based on silly folklore, something funny happens. They convince themselves to buy Aunt Bee out, perhaps due to a fortune cookie of their own. I'd say, superstition aside, it's a good business idea as there's no direct competition and who doesn't love Chinese food? This episode is another outlier. It doesn't fit particularly, but it has some moments.

The Andy Griffith Show: Andy's Old Girlfriend (1967) Season 7, Episode 20

Not TAGS We Love

[4/10 · 17 January 2024]

This episode is an outlier. We've seen Helen get jealous before and if memory serves this kind of dynamic between Helen and Andy doesn't really fit in with the Mayberry ethos. More like stuff from the world outside of Mayberry. That said an old girlfriend of Andy returns to town and Andy doesn't stand up for who Helen is to him when the old friend and Helen meet. Instead of calling Helen his girlfriend he chooses to introduce her as Opie's teacher. BAD. Andy's core character isn't this dumb or, even, devious. But, the episode needs a quick setup so this is it. Smoothing things over by introducing Howard Sprague as Alice's date seems to work. Except the old friend is kind of keeping the door open to which a weekend retreat to the mountains for the two couples goes south. Again, Andy squirms, even lying which isn't the Andy we ever want to see. This episode is just too far from TAGS we love. Sure, writers must fill in for not having Barney, but not this way. No bad performances or anything of that nature, just a poor script for what we watch TAGS for. I don't even fault Helen's reactions because they're spot-on what a person in the kind of relationship we are led to believe is happening between her and Andy. Just a writer's mis-step that actually made an episode when it shouldn't have.

The Andy Griffith Show: A Visit to Barney Fife (1967) Season 7, Episode 18

Can't Beat Andy & Barney Together...Again!

[9/10 · 17 January 2024]

This episode hits so much of what Barney is. Barney is self important. Something that always plays with good natured hilarity in Mayberry. Taken out of Mayberry though Barney is a square peg kind of struggling to fit. Barney, however, still largely live in a bubble so he's hanging in there in Raleigh despite some obvious red flags Andy spots right away. This is the bittersweet part that hovers and can hardly be denied. Barney was right where he needed to be when along side Andy, otherwise his colored vision seems sad. Well, since Andy is along side Barney here things just might take a spin. This is a great story idea, if one that was previously seen. The combination of Andy and Barney triumphs...and, in true TAGS fashion Barney gets the credit. Along the way there's some great opportunity for the chemistry between Andy and Barney. Barney actually living in a boarding house with the "supermarket gang" is pure gold due to the great characters of a Ma Barker like family being Barney's surrogate family and land lords. In the final scene the coffee and danish order is great stuff.

The Andy Griffith Show: Dinner at Eight (1967) Season 7, Episode 17

Carbo Loading TAGS Style

[9/10 · 17 January 2024]

We've seen Aunt Bee reluctantly leave a couple of times. This one is different. Opie will be out too for a Boy Scout's camping trip. This setup is perfect for Andy's reprise from his usual existence into a short and, much anticipated, couple days as a bachelor. We really do not know Andy like this and a chance meeting with Howard Sprague kind of sets the tone. Andy's shopping list, as recited to Howard, signals a bit of a nutty detour from his usual. Andy's excitement kind of bleeds into the viewer. Yes, we want to see Andy's wild side.

Of course, Aunt Bee can never just leave. Andy being by himself horrifies her and when she gases up at Wally's she urges Goober to look in on Andy. In true Goober style he takes it to much more than looking in. He's going to move in, cook, and be Andy's insurance against feeling lonely. Dinner made by Goober along with Goober's confusion over phone messages for Andy sets up a great gag.

This is one of the best color episodes and, for once, Barney isn't missed at all. The joke revolves around having to eat three dinners and because of the "secret ingredient" and Helen's pointedly angry instruction to eat, combined with Opie's recitation of Andy's previous speech, there's real golden humor here. Also, as is Aunt Bee's motherly ways the first thing she does when she gets back is to cook a certain dish. Thoroughly enjoyable with some tucked in wicked good reoccurring humorous elements.