This is an episode I didn't fall asleep in front of. I don't know why, because it was a giveaway, except for the motive. I think that for a show to work, you have to care about the plot, story, or main character. In this case, I couldn't care about the character, and the story had been used before many times; in this series, I think it's a direct descendant of the Blonde Cried Wolf. In this issue, Francine York is the imported beauty that keeps it interesting. Besides that, nothing.
3 Reviews
WHO KILLED THE FADING FILM STAR?
tcchelsey1 April 2024
Good old fashioned Hollywood mystery all about the suicide of a veteran film actor. Ventriloquist Paul Winchell guest stars as comedian Skeets Riley, who seems be caught up in the case, now the object of a killer who also wants him dead? The fun part of it all, while Stu and Jeff investigate, there's some nice shots of the Warner Brothers studio backlot, which hasn't changed too much since the 60s.
Best scenes have Riley being shot on camera while he's doing his comedy monologue -- and laying in a hospital bed reading "Looney Toons" magazine? Great PR for Warner Brothers!
Some notable guest stars, such as beautiful Francine York, playing Melba. York later appeared on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Grace Lee Whitney is featured, just a few years before fame as Yeoman Janice Rand on STAR TREK. Actor and director Jerry Paris (DICK VAN DYKE SHOW) plays Winchells' agent. Look for popular actress Linda Watkins as the widow of the film star, and in an excellent role.
Highlight is JR sporting around Hollywood in his hip remastered 30s Ford roadster. Gotta' love it.
Solid direction from Paul Landres, who later directed DAKTARI. Co-written by George O'Hanlon who was the voice of George Jetson. SEASON 5 EPISODE 13 remastered/WB. 1963. Thanks to METV for running this classic show on Sunday nights.
Best scenes have Riley being shot on camera while he's doing his comedy monologue -- and laying in a hospital bed reading "Looney Toons" magazine? Great PR for Warner Brothers!
Some notable guest stars, such as beautiful Francine York, playing Melba. York later appeared on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Grace Lee Whitney is featured, just a few years before fame as Yeoman Janice Rand on STAR TREK. Actor and director Jerry Paris (DICK VAN DYKE SHOW) plays Winchells' agent. Look for popular actress Linda Watkins as the widow of the film star, and in an excellent role.
Highlight is JR sporting around Hollywood in his hip remastered 30s Ford roadster. Gotta' love it.
Solid direction from Paul Landres, who later directed DAKTARI. Co-written by George O'Hanlon who was the voice of George Jetson. SEASON 5 EPISODE 13 remastered/WB. 1963. Thanks to METV for running this classic show on Sunday nights.
Stale comedian
bkoganbing26 May 2018
This episode might have been better if Paul Winchell had brought along Jerry
Mahoney and/or Knucklehead Smiff and showed off some of his ventriloquist
talents as well. As it is he's playing a comedian who is getting a bit stale and is
fearing cancellation of his TV series.
So is his tagging onto the suicide of an old film star with a series of stunts the real deal or is Winchell using his agent Jerry Paris to set things up for him. One thing for sure is that Jeff Spencer does not like the Bailey&Spencer name being used for cheap publicity.
Not one of the better episodes, but the series fans should like it.
So is his tagging onto the suicide of an old film star with a series of stunts the real deal or is Winchell using his agent Jerry Paris to set things up for him. One thing for sure is that Jeff Spencer does not like the Bailey&Spencer name being used for cheap publicity.
Not one of the better episodes, but the series fans should like it.
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