wwgrayii
Joined Apr 2001
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Since 20th Century Fox found some success with a TV version of its 1970 military black comedy film "MASH", Paramount tried to find similar success with a TV version of its own 1970 military black comedy film, "Catch 22".
Richard Dreyfuss stars as Captain Yossarian, a bombardier who has completed his required number of missions and is on his way home. His plane stops for refueling on Pianosa (the base in the movie) where he learns all about the (possibly mythical) "catch-22" and engages in the usual standard issue military sitcom hi-jinks.
As with the TV version of "MASH," most of the characters from the film appear (although unlike TV "MASH," no actors from the film version of "Catch-22" appear). Also, like TV "MASH," the R-rated movie hi-jinks are considerably toned down for broadcast TV (in the movie, for example, Captain "Aarfy" Aardvark commits murder to cover up a rape. Suffice to say, nothing like this happens in this show). It's mostly harmless, early 70's sitcom stuff.
Dreyfuss is quite good as Yossarian. It's always fascinating to watch future award winning movie stars act in shows like this, because it shows a certain Hollywood meritocracy at work: Dreyfuss just seems to be acting on a whole other level than everyone else in the show (you can see the same phenomenon when you watch an episode of the Steve McQueen western "Wanted Dead of Alive").
Now, the movie version of "Catch-22" isn't all that good. It's certainly not as good as "MASH". This pilot isn't that great either, but quite frankly, it's about on a par with the "MASH" pilot (which was only OK), although I think the "MASH" cast is a lot better overall. But after watching this, you can see why ABC passed.
Richard Dreyfuss stars as Captain Yossarian, a bombardier who has completed his required number of missions and is on his way home. His plane stops for refueling on Pianosa (the base in the movie) where he learns all about the (possibly mythical) "catch-22" and engages in the usual standard issue military sitcom hi-jinks.
As with the TV version of "MASH," most of the characters from the film appear (although unlike TV "MASH," no actors from the film version of "Catch-22" appear). Also, like TV "MASH," the R-rated movie hi-jinks are considerably toned down for broadcast TV (in the movie, for example, Captain "Aarfy" Aardvark commits murder to cover up a rape. Suffice to say, nothing like this happens in this show). It's mostly harmless, early 70's sitcom stuff.
Dreyfuss is quite good as Yossarian. It's always fascinating to watch future award winning movie stars act in shows like this, because it shows a certain Hollywood meritocracy at work: Dreyfuss just seems to be acting on a whole other level than everyone else in the show (you can see the same phenomenon when you watch an episode of the Steve McQueen western "Wanted Dead of Alive").
Now, the movie version of "Catch-22" isn't all that good. It's certainly not as good as "MASH". This pilot isn't that great either, but quite frankly, it's about on a par with the "MASH" pilot (which was only OK), although I think the "MASH" cast is a lot better overall. But after watching this, you can see why ABC passed.
It took three tries, but they finally got it right. Not good, mind you (The Love Boat could never be "good."). But taken on its own terms, this pilot hits the right notes.
Kopell, Grandy and Lange were all wisely held over from The Love Boat II, while Gavin MacLeod and Lauren Tewes are piped aboard as the third captain and cruise director. As cruise director Julie McCoy, Tewes provides the same level of acting ability as Diane Stilwell from The Love Boat II (that is, they're both good actors), but she has real chemistry with the rest of the cast, something Stilwell couldn't manage. MacLeod nails the captain role. Ted Hamilton (captain number one) is too stiff, while Quinn Redeker (captain number two) is too serious and dramatic. MacLeod is the only one of the three who seems to understand that he's in a situation comedy. So while the basic outlines of the role are the same (tough ex-naval officer), MacLeod brings some real warmth to the part, along with an always present twinkle in his eye. He makes all the difference.
As for the rest of it, pretty much the same in tone and structure as the second pilot, but ABC didn't put as much money into this one so it's only 90 minutes long (including commercials) and has no real cruise location footage, just a few shots on the deck of the (docked) Queen Mary and a few on and around the (docked) Pacific Princess.
Kopell, Grandy and Lange were all wisely held over from The Love Boat II, while Gavin MacLeod and Lauren Tewes are piped aboard as the third captain and cruise director. As cruise director Julie McCoy, Tewes provides the same level of acting ability as Diane Stilwell from The Love Boat II (that is, they're both good actors), but she has real chemistry with the rest of the cast, something Stilwell couldn't manage. MacLeod nails the captain role. Ted Hamilton (captain number one) is too stiff, while Quinn Redeker (captain number two) is too serious and dramatic. MacLeod is the only one of the three who seems to understand that he's in a situation comedy. So while the basic outlines of the role are the same (tough ex-naval officer), MacLeod brings some real warmth to the part, along with an always present twinkle in his eye. He makes all the difference.
As for the rest of it, pretty much the same in tone and structure as the second pilot, but ABC didn't put as much money into this one so it's only 90 minutes long (including commercials) and has no real cruise location footage, just a few shots on the deck of the (docked) Queen Mary and a few on and around the (docked) Pacific Princess.
Zack and Cody Martin (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) are twins who live in a suite on the 23rd floor of the swanky Tipton Hotel in Boston, where their divorced mom Carey (Kim Rhodes) works as the lounge singer.
The first season, is by far the best of the series. I'm not saying it's great by any means, just the most watchable. Most of the stories revolve around the twins using the hotel as their personal playground, much to the annoyance of the hotel's manager, Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis). This leads to a lot of really broad, physical comedy, the sheer volume of which overcomes some of this show's very serious shortcomings (such as the rather poor acting of the Sprouse twins. Let's face it: they're just don't have any real acting talent).
Aside from the lead actors, the rest of the cast, including Ashley Tisdale and Brenda Song (as spoiled heiress London Tipton) are game. Token adults Lewis and Rhodes are fine, although Rhodes is generally relegated to straight man duty for now (she would become a much wackier character by the third season, but by then, the show is not really worth watching).
The first season, is by far the best of the series. I'm not saying it's great by any means, just the most watchable. Most of the stories revolve around the twins using the hotel as their personal playground, much to the annoyance of the hotel's manager, Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis). This leads to a lot of really broad, physical comedy, the sheer volume of which overcomes some of this show's very serious shortcomings (such as the rather poor acting of the Sprouse twins. Let's face it: they're just don't have any real acting talent).
Aside from the lead actors, the rest of the cast, including Ashley Tisdale and Brenda Song (as spoiled heiress London Tipton) are game. Token adults Lewis and Rhodes are fine, although Rhodes is generally relegated to straight man duty for now (she would become a much wackier character by the third season, but by then, the show is not really worth watching).