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The Ugliest Girl in Town (1968)
It's not that bad
"The Ugliest Girl in Town" as a sitcom would hold its own against any ABC sitcom from the 70s and 80s (well that is a low bar). The premise for each episode is set up in the first few minutes by one of the main characters who speaks to the audience, a la "Call me Kat". Tim and Julie fall in love in the USA, but Julie must return to UK. Through the accidental help of Tim's photographer brother Gene, Tim is offered a modeling job in London (as a girl!) and he takes it to be close to Julie. The three main characters spend most of the episodes in England doing photo shoots and working odd jobs. Tim works as "Timmie" and must hide his true identity. He also has to make money to pay off debts before signing off as the girl model so he and Julie can continue their relationship in public.
The theme song sounds like a mashup of Spanky and Our Gang's "Lazy Days" and "Georgie Girl".
The highpoints of the show are the settings and styles of 1968 which are shown like paging through a style magazine of the era. It's a very nostalgic view of young love in discotheques and on the streets of London and Paris. The camerawork is used to great advantage in these scenes. The other positive aspect is the character development of Tim/Timmie and Peter Kastner's ability to seamlessly exchange character identities when needed. The low points are the silly plots (what would our trans character do in this situation?), and the lack of any of the other characters development, except for the antagonist David Courtney. It might be considered that a show like this would work well with our 2020's focus on LGTBQ and DEI, but Tim makes it clear he is just playing a role to stay with his girl.
All in all, an average sitcom with some positive unique nostalgic aspects of 1968. At least, the pilot and some of the available episodes online are worth viewing if only for the nostalgic potential.
7th Heaven: The Kid Is Out of the Picture (2003)
This is why professors should avoid lecturing
This series is fine, but the delivery of this episode is mind-numbing at first. It was difficult to endure for a while. The writers use pictures, lists, and narration to give the viewer a review of the family history as perceived by Simon. Some of the associations are clever, but it reminds the viewer about how much of an overdramatic soap opera the series could be. It was a good way for the producers to save money on acting too, as it combined a novel idea of delivery to present clippings of earlier shows. It ends on a good note, so if you can get through the first half of the episode, you should be all right in my opinion.
How the Universe Works (2010)
Good show reaching out to wide audience
This show does a good job of reaching out to a wide audience. The scientists show their passion for the topics, provide explanations ln lay terms, and infuse some humor at times. These scientists are more than two-dimensional California-dwelling Sheldon Coopers. To answer one criticism placed by another reviewer, having all races and genders represented as experts is not surprising, as that is pretty standard at most universities. The show recycles the exellent animations a little too much though. "How the Universe Works" is both entertaining and educational, which is something that is difficult to pull off.
The Good Doctor (2017)
Hospital has become infected with MRSO (medicine-resistant soap opera)
The first season focused on how an autistic doctor could envision a miracle intervention during surgery. This season, drama and personal issues have intervened, to the point where standing over a patient is just an excuse for a gossipy conversation. And how seriously stern and concerned the doctors look when someone has sexual problems. Not so much when the surgery goes wrong. Wait, was there a surgery just now?
To Tell the Truth (2016)
Comedic version of an old favorite
If you like improvisational comedy interjected into an old favorite theme, this show will be entertaining to you. If you are old enough to remember, this formula is what made the 1970's Match Game a refreshing and entertaining change from the 1960's Match Game. Some of the newer remakes of old game shows have been off the mark, but having guest stars who are good at improv makes To Tell the Truth worthwhile and one of the better remakes because it does not try to be a copy of the older versions. Sometimes it's too tacky and you might find you agree with some of the other negative reviews posted here, if you like being the critic. If you are going to watch one episode, go for season 4 episode 11; be sure to stay for the entire episode, and relax!
America Before Columbus (2009)
1492, when the Atlantic changed from barrier to highway.
This might have been a more-fitting title, at least the subject matter was more closely aligned with this rather than the sampling of America before Columbus. Some Pre-Columbian information was interwoven within the larger emphasis on how America and Europe were changed by the European discovery of the Americas. As other reviews stated, the title was a misleading bait-and-switch.
The Virginian: Big Tiny (1968)
Music score was so expensive, no money left for the script
Consider yourself spoiled, but not by this episode. The "Big Tiny" episode starred Trampas and David. They went to another town on business, with the intention of buying some cattle, where David immediately got himself into a sticky situation with a local. The storyline was average and contrived; there was neither suspense nor much background to help us understand why the story was progressing the way it did. The music score was excellent, it was reminiscent of "Support Your Local Sheriff" or "Apple Dumpling Gang"; that is, a movie score. The viewer might expect some slapstick comedy, or any comedy for that matter; there was little life to the storyline or the characters; probably Mabel Alberston was the liveliest character in this episode, if that gives you a clue. This episode would have been a good reason for David Hartman to saddle up and mosey over to Good Morning America, better yet even to gallop full speed. Roger Torrey guest starred as Big Tiny; he resembled the Skipper from Gilligan's Island, and if his acting had been more Skipper-like, the episode may have had been more lively. Sarcasm aside, there have been better episodes, mostly in the Judge Garth days, but at least you will have the opportunity to turn up the sound and listen to the music score while doing some necessary drudgery, which will be more fun than watching Big Tiny.
The Beverly Hillbillies: Shorty Go Home (1969)
Shorty Kellams' playboy days are over?
In the previous episode, the Commerce Bank secretarial pool (at the behest of the head Golddigger Drysdale) dumped Shorty (into the Ceement Pond) when they found out he had only 200 dollars to his name. He spent this episode trying to regain their interest (another bank joke), promising never to play checkers again (he thought his weakness for the game was their reason for dumping him). Meanwhile, Granny had him doing chores to work off his energy. Jed convinced Shorty that girls from the hills back home were just as pretty and more sincere than city girls, so Shorty slipped a proposal of marriage under Ellie's door. Jed convinced Shorty he had just proposed to Granny, so Shorty took off to the hills in his jalopy.
The Beverly Hillbillies was one of the best sitcoms of the 60's; unfortunately, this is one of the blandest episodes I can remember. Probably helped to speed the demise of the series.