Television, when it was good :)

[wraithfodder]

Just some observations in watching some rather old VHS tapes (yes, some of us still have uh, *cough*, far too many).

First, I'm watching VHS tapes of the show "Picket Fences," which to those really young, aired in 1992 for a few seasons. As with most shows, the early seasons were the best.

But overall, the writing was a lot better. You got more show (aka less ads) and what commercials you did get, did not insult your intelligence, scream at you, talk about four-hour erections and other stuff.  I saw Nathan Lane doing an Alka Seltzer ad! I'm hoping that I was lazy taping the rest of the PF episodes (about six tapes) so I can see the ads. I mean, I have a Simon & Simon tape somewhere with an ad boasting a brand new car for $10K. Ah, sigh, if only! However, did see ads for "Crime Time After Prime Time," which was  novel CBS experiment in which for most of the week, they aired inexpensively made (aka Made in Canada) series like (sigh) Adderly, NIght Heat and Dark Justice. Oh, and ads for Raven! That was a prime time CBS series starring Jeffrey Meek as a retired martial experts (with a mysterious background, as I recall) residing in gorgeous Hawaii. Only last a year ,but it was fun.

But, these tapes are fascinating. You can read the credits at the end of the show (impossible today with the way they shrink stuff), there are no 'bugs' on the screen, Tom Skerritt hadn't gone totally gray yet ;)  and nobody seemed to have cellphones. So nice :) Hmm, waht else? Large glasses, smaller cars (no SUVs, yeah!). Tylenol seems tto be the strongest drug... and did you know they have (or had) a shampoo that makes your hair curly (all the rage in the early 90s, not that I can remember it).

Wow, and I left news bit in. Sadham Hussein might challenge the U.S. Wow, this is old, and news snippets on catching suspects in the World Trading Center bombing ('92). Good grief, there's Andy Dick in a Pepsi ad! Ohmygawd, Kevin Sorbo in a real estate ad!

So I poked around the tape collection more: David Hewlett, in his early years, as a whacko escaped psychiatric patient with murderous intent in Forever Knight. Let me see if I can get it up on YouTube... Ohmygawd, and Night Heat! Must get that up on YouTube!


 

Comments

[thefannishwaldo.livejournal.com]

Which FK was it? I have them on DVD and can pull some of the DH clips pretty quick. :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah geez, I'm uploading while you're posting. Anyway, it's from 'Dead Air' and I loaded it up in my primitive style ;)

[thefannishwaldo.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to pull his scenes from the DVD? Up to you.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

It was basically just the one scene and since I've loaded... but if someone wants to see a better quality copy (I'm so addicted to grain, I swear) ;)

[casett.livejournal.com]

Ah Picket Fences - I loved that show. Lots of black humor and heart. I remember those days when there were less commercials. You barely had time to go to the bathroom or get a snack! So much better now - with lots of time to make a run now that I am slower (NOT :p).

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was. I thought I'd better xfer these tapes to DVD, so that's what I'm doing. Oh wow, the fashioins are so... early 90s, at least on the women.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

What's bizarre is I left the ads in, so the news comes on about a snowstorm and I' like "WTF?"! and go 'oh, tape..." ;)

[casett.livejournal.com]

You know - it always makes me happy to see my icons when I don't expect it. Thanks for making my night!

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

I remember Picket Fences! I used to have tons of old stuff on vhs, but sadly had to purge when I moved.

When I first got into SGA I searched my tapes and lo and behold, unearthed my Friday the 13th (the series) tapes - scarily, I was a huge fan of that show - including the ep with a very young David Hewlett! I actually remembered him and knew exactly which one he was in.

Nostalgia can be fun!

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I have to really dig to see if I taped any Friday the 13th episodes. I do know he did one and wouldn't mind seeing it one day.

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

He's in the one with Ray Walston and the comic book creature that comes to life and kills people.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I don't remember that one. DId his character die?

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

Um, yes?

He's a punk kid who steals a (cursed) comic book from a comic store and discovers it's evil powers. (It turns the owner into the giant robot featured in the comic.) Ray Walston is the guy who drew the comic in the first place and he wants the power for himself and steals it back. Pretty sure Ray kills him, but it's been a while since I've watched it.

Damn, how do I not have this on disc somewhere??

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Of course he dies *headdesks* He always died in his early works! ;) Now you must find the disc!

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

*g* Yes, was going to mention that. I watched too many in a row once and got very depressed. lol!

I've found a download of just his bits from the episode. I'm in the process of uploading it now. Will link you, when it's done.

[nakedwesley.livejournal.com]

Try this: hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=91XV51UH

I got a weird error message at the end, but I think it uploaded okay. Haven't watched it yet. Original file courtesy of melloniel.

Edited to add: feel free to share the link if it works. :o)

[vecturist.livejournal.com]

Oh, I remember PF - not quite as weird and creepy as 'Twin Peaks' and life in my college dorm used to pause to watch 'Northern Exposure' (it actually took precedence over Monday Night Football. (And Saturdays were Kung Fu, Highlander, Forever Knight, and Babylon 5).

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Ah, Twin Peaks got really weird! PF was fun, even when it was being a bit preachy.

[faekitty71.livejournal.com]

don't worry, I got rid of about three boxes of videos but still have hundreds. I have a lot of doctor who that I don't want to get rid of b/c it has a lot of cast interviews that are impossible to find. I need to dubbed them off the tapes but it takes a lot of time.

I often wonder why I taped so much. Especially when I didn't watch most of it later on.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I gotta admit watching the old tapes is better than watching hte new stuff on tv, and the commercials. Oh, they're a scream. Occasionally I spot somebody who did go onto better things than pushing Pepsi ;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

yeah, i wonder too, but hey, tv was better back then! now, i can watch it and ignore the dreck on now ;)

[pisces227.livejournal.com]

I loved Picket Fences, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure *strolls down memory lane* Seems there were more eps a season back then.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there were more episodes, and they last over 42 minutes, that's for sure!

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I loved Adderly and Raven. I also remember watching a lot of Night Heat.

What cracks me up when I watch old VHS tapes is the commercials for 'new' movies coming out. It's always a treat to see 'coming soon' ads for something like the original Die Hard.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I can't remember which movie ad I saw on my Picket Fences tape, but it was "the next blockbuster" but I remember laughing as the movie TANKED.