This being Thursday, it's time for another Thursday Movie Picks, run by the Wandering Through the Shelves blog. This week is a TV edition. Normally I don't know that I would take part in a TV edition since I don't watch much episodic TV any more. But the theme is Superheroes and Superpowers, and I had some fun thinking of old TV shows and looking for clips on Youtube:
(The New Adventures of) Wonder Woman (1975-1979). Lynda Carter spinning. What more needs to be said? This one showed up on MeTV on Saturday nights some time back -- heck, it might still be there as I haven't paid that much attention to the schedule. I know The Rifleman is on during Saturday dinner and The Love Boat during Sunday dinner, but that's about it. Lynda Carter played the superhero who changed into her skimpy outfit by doing a ballet/figure skating spin, combined with ultra cheesy music and effects. But with Lynda Carter, what's not to love?
I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970). Barbara Eden in those skimpy outfits. Well, genies aren't superheroes, but she certainly had supernatural powers that mere mortals don't. Oh, and as a kid watching syndicated rerums, I noticed that they had that guy from Dallas. I also recognized the name of the show's creator, Sidney Sheldon, from trashy novels like "Rage of Angels" (full disclosure: I've never actually read any of Sheldon's novels; I just recognize the names from the advertisements). It was only much later that I learned Sheldon won a screenwriting Oscar for The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001). Lucy Lawless and Renée O'Connor are both lovely to look at in outfits that seem inspired by the tunics male leads wore in all those old Hollywood sword and sandal epics. I don't think anybody was actually supposed to take this one seriously.
Grace Kelly
8 hours ago
9 comments:
Xena! I used to watch that show all the time. I Dream of Jeannie is an inspired choice. I wouldn't have thought of it for this theme.
Oh, you can't go wrong w/ any of those choices. Plus, I ain't fucking w/ Xena nor Wonder Woman. They're badass.
I didn't even think of I Dream of Jeanie- great choice.
An all female lineup, nice. I join with the others in saying I Dream of Jeannie is a nice off center choice. It's my favorite of these three as well. I've seen some episodes of Wonder Woman but I was never much of a fan. I think I saw one Xena episode but I'm more familiar with Lucy Lawless from her time in Spartacus.
I had to reach back some for picks since I watch very little series television nor superhero stuff.
The Tick (1994-1996)-Ridiculously amusing animated series about a somewhat thick superhero clad in a bright blue costume along with his moth costume wearing sidekick Arthur, who has a wry, patient attitude with his often lunk-headed compatriot fights the bad guys in “The City”. They blunder about but still somehow manage to say the day. What else is there to say about a superhero whose call to arms is “SPOON!”
The Flash (1990-1991)-When Barry Allen (John Wesley Shipp), a forensic police scientist, suffers a freak accident being struck by lightning and covered in chemicals at the same time a chain reaction occurs giving him super human powers and the ability to move at the speed of sound. While learning how to control his new found powers a calamity occurs which sets him on the path to be the protector of the good people of Central City. Short-lived series had a nice sense of humor mixed in with its action sequences.
The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983)-After a chance encounter with aliens in the desert late at night where he is gifted with a magical red suit high school teacher Ralph Hinkley (William Katt) along with fellow witness FBI man Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) attempt to fight crime using the suit’s powers. A couple of problems present themselves right away, Ralph and Bill are a silk and sandpaper match and even more troubling the pair have lost the instructions for the suit so they have to puzzle out how it works as they go along leading to trouble and a lot of bruises for Ralph. Engagingly played by Katt & Culp along with Connie Sellecca as Ralph’s girlfriend Pam.
Loving your choices! I have seen all of f these and used to watch all of them avidly. Yes, I am a Xena fan and that ughh some of the scenes were quite daring, like the heads on a stake when she was a mean badass instead of a good badass. I thought of I dream of Jeannie and Bewitched but I might save these for later.....although not sure when. I love Eonder Woman even though it was cheesy. Her costume was fun and not skanky as they would make it nowadays. She always saved the day which was funny to watch
I actually thought about using Bewitched, which would have allowed me to make a reference to Robert Montgomery.
I think I also went with an all-female lineup because male superhero outfits creep me right out. Probably goes back to when I was in elementary school and played the Pied Piper in a class production. I had to wear white tights. And you could see my undies through them if you were close enough. Eek!
[I got the lead part in elementary school class productions not because I could act, but because I could remember my lines. An important skill to have.;-)]
Ahh I've always heard good things about Xena! I might just have to have a binge watch session someday :)
I used to watch Xena all the time. My cousin and I even used to pretend we were her and we would fight with bamboo sticks and stuff like that.
Much applause for going off the beaten path with I Dream of Jeannie. Used to watch reruns of that all the time. Barbara Eden...drool. We have a match with Wonder Woman. Can't go wrong with that one. Never much of a Xena fan, but to be fair I didn't give it much of a chance, only watching a handful of episodes spread over a lot of years.
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