If you're not paying attention to WGN America, you're missing on out some cool stuff. In addition to the Outta Sight Retro Night action on Sundays, the channel has been throwing in some fun theme weeks, most recently 4 days of "lost" sitcoms from the eighties.
The programs, all from production company DLT entertainment, were "Three's a Crowd," "The Ropers," "Too Close for Comfort," and "Check it Out." I would only consider the last one a truly "lost" show, as I think it's been M.I.A. since USA first aired it, but still, I commend WGN for the fun gimmick and for giving some play to series that have not been run into the ground lately.
"Crowd" is pretty much "Three's Company Lite," for better or for worse. "The Ropers" is a bad show, but I find myself strangely compelled to watch whenever someone unearths it. In addition to the classic Norman Fell shenanigans, there's a look at a younger Jeffrey Tambor and perhaps the single lamest credit/theme song sequence in TV history.
I enjoyed seeing "Too Close for Comfort" again, not because it's a particularly funny sitcom, but because Ted Knight's grumpy mugging amuses me, especially when directed at the lame foil played by Jm J. Bullock. Imagine my delight, then, to see via WGN a clip show episode in which the characters find different reasons to ask, "Remember that time Monroe..." so we could flashback and enjoy a different generic sitcom situation in which Knight's Henry Rush and Monroe found themselves entangled. Of course, it's one of those episodes where at the end we see that, aw, Henry likes Monroe after all, and everybody hugs. Sitcom mediocrity at its "best."
The worst of the 4 "lost" shows is undoubtedly "Check It Out," a Canadian Don Adams vehicle that should have been impounded before it crossed the border. The only reason to watch this one today is to remind yourself of the innocent mid-eighties, a time when a series could get away with a nonironic white rap theme song.
May I suggest some more obscure sitcoms for a future theme week? If WGN wants to go for quality, how about something like "Police Squad" or "Sledge Hammer"? If kitsch is the goal, a lineup of "Small Wonder," "The Charmings," "She's the Sheriff," and "He's the Mayor" would do the job.
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2 comments:
It's interesting also to note that all four of these series were adapted from fairly successful Britcoms; The Ropers is the American version of George & Mildred (spun-off from Man About the House, the series that inspired Three's Company) and Three's a Crowd an adaptation of another House spinoff, Robin's Nest. Too Close for Comfort was inspired by the British comedy Keep it in the Family.
Check It Out is the only exception here: it was adapted from a series called Tripper's Day starring the legendary comic actor Leonard Rossiter. It lasted only one series, and in fact Rossiter died shortly after its completion (some have speculated the sheer awfulness of it killed him). It managed to soldier on for an additional two series as Slinger's Day with TV personality Bruce Forsyth replacing Rossiter.
Somehow, the comment I thought I posted yesterday didn't take, so I'll just say thanks, Ivan, for the comment and the info on the Britcoms. I had no idea "Comfort" and "Check It Out" had roots across the pond. I can only presume that Jm J. Bullock and his character is a singularly American creation.
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