Gone, But Not Forgotten:
Misfits of Science
By Jessica Dwyer

The 80’s gave us many things; inflation, big hair, Clear Pepsi, and some truly great TV. Part of this truly great TV was a show called Misfits of Science that aired smack in the middle of the decade in the year 1985.

It was a different show with a kind of rocking, pop music vibe. It was funny, it was kooky, and it was oh so cool. So let’s get to the meat of the show.

PLOT

Dr. Billy Hayes (Dean Paul Martin, yes son of that Dean Martin) is a young scientist who’s a maverick type. He’s cute and his energetic. He works for The Humanidyne Institute with his partner in trailblazing new fields of science Dr. Elvin Lincoln (played by Kevin Peter Hall.)

They help those who are considered Misfits of Science (catchy huh?) and do some bizarre experiments of their own, sometimes even on themselves. This happened to Elvin when he tried to make himself shorter (Hall himself was over 7 feet) but it backfired. Now when he pushes a spot on his neck he becomes the size of a Barbie doll.

Wacky adventures ensue every episode (getting back ray guns that could be used against man kind, that kind of thing) and require the aide of some of their previous subjects:

Johnny Bukowski, AKA Johnny B (played by Mark Thomas Miller) who is an ex-rock and roller. He was involved in an accident on stage during a show and was electrocuted. This gave him some special abilities; glowing eyes, he can shoot electric bolts from his hands, and he can move really fast when he wants. There are drawbacks though to his new condition. He can’t be touched by water or it burns him (which begs the question how does he bathe…eww!) so he lives in the desert and pretty much shuns contact with people until Billy talks him into helping out. He looked really good in sunglasses and a leather jacket.

Gloria Dinallo (played by the fresh from the set of cousin Bruce’s Dancing in the Dark video Courtney Cox) was a telekinetic with some issues. She had a parole officer named Jane Miller (played by Jennifer Holmes) who stuck around for a couple episodes as a love interest for Dr. Hayes, but she kind of disappeared after awhile. Every time she used her “powers” Gloria got real negative. No really…she did! The screen turned this grayish monochrome and there’d be cymbals playing to emphasize the effect. Cox would later be known for her work in the super big hit….Masters of the Universe: The Movie with superstar Dolph Lundgren.

The Iceman (played by Mickey Jones) was a character for the pilot only. He was frozen back around the 30’s or so and kept say “Amelia!” due to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. He was very very cold and could freeze things by touch. This is why you’ll see the ice cream truck that the crew drive around in. That’s the only way they could transport him, that and a cryo-suit. It was a neat make-up job and a shame they had to get rid of him. I guess you really couldn’t do much with the character though since he was really a frozen hulk.

In addition to these guys we had Dick Stetmeyer (played by Alf’s dad Max Wright) the director of the institute. Wright plays pretty much the same character in everything he’s in; a stuttering, nervous, bean counter type who acts like he’s going to have a breakdown at any moment. He gets in the way but is pretty much on the sidelines for most of the shows.

END PLOT

Misfits lasted a total of 17 episodes, one of which wasn’t even aired. NBC decided to kill it, but would wind up keeping Wright’s other series Alf for 4 years!!! (but I’m not bitter, can you tell?)

Tragedy would strike the cast twice after the cancellation.

Dean Paul Martin was killed in a plane crash not long after the show left the air in 1987. It was a heavy blow to his father Dean Martin, who would never really recover from the loss of his son. It was the end of a promising career far too soon.

Then in 1991 Kevin Peter Hall passed away from AIDS he contracted through a blood transfusion. Hall was beloved by many as Harry the Bigfoot in Harry and the Hendersons and as the first Predator to go against Arnold. Another young actor taken from us too soon.

But in the hearts of sci-fi geeks everywhere Misfits of Science lives on. It’s quirkiness and kicking soundtrack will forever be remembered as that show on Friday night we’d watch while eating our Peanut Butter Boppers and wearing our neon green socks. Ah, memories…

Links of interest

TV.com Misfits of Science Page

Gone, But Not Forgotten:
Automan
By Jessica Dwyer

Back in the days of yore, when floppies were actually floppy and Diet Dr. Pepper was in a blue can (and made Tab actually taste good) was a time called The 80’s. The Early 80’s actually, when home computers were really starting their rise and Tron showed us that Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner could make nerds hot.

Well out of this TronTime came a show on ABC called Automan. Heavily borrowing from Disney’s then flop Tron (it was a flop sorry to say, but now is what we call “a beloved classic”), Automan tried to cash in on the newly blooming love of technology and computers that was sweeping the land.

It’s premise is total and complete BS and anyone who even tries to rationalize the physics is more than welcome to (good luck to you and Gods speed) but that doesn’t stop this from being a fun escapist bit of 80’s techno-fluff.

PLOT: Walter Nebicher (played by Dezi Arnez Jr.)is a police officer who is part of the new age of crime solving, using computers. Of course there are those in his squad who are bitter about this and say “We don’t need no new fangled claptrap. I gots all I need right up here to take down the bad guys!” <pointing finger at head> So of course you have the old pro cop who is idolized by Walter and who he tries and tries to impress.

But alas, Walter is stuck in his computer lab, longing to be the next Joe Friday or Eliot Ness. He’s also lusting after Roxanne, who is also on the force (for some reason on every sci-fi show on in the 80’s there had to be a blonde co-star. I blame Heather Locklear or Heather Thomas, one of the Heathers…funnily enough this girl was named Heather McNair. Conspiracy!!)

Then one day Walter realizes his dream. He’s been draining power right and left over a period of time, causing the lights to go out in the building with a new kind of super cop he’s building. This supercop is Automan (Chuck Wagoner, Mr. Beautiful Blonde All-American, that sounds slightly British for some reason), a special hologram type of AI who’s been programmed with the knowledge of the greatest crime fighting minds of all time (see this is where the physics goes out the window and in comes suspension of disbelief with the popcorn.)

Auto also has a helper, a feisty little bit named Cursor who creates/morphs into his cool as beans glow-in-the-dark car and helicopter when the need arises. Walter can ride in these vehicles too, because they, like Auto, are a type of “hard light hologram” (here’s where that extra butter comes in handy with that suspension of disbelief) Cursor is the bastard offspring of Bit, Flynn’s little helper from Tron. Cursor doesn’t answer in positive/negative though. He just makes little whooshing noises and tries to look down girls shirts.

Auto can also “possess” Walter and they can walk around as one person to solve crimes. Yes, kinda wierd, but go with it. The downside though is Auto can only come out at night mostly. He sucks up so much energy to run that that’s the only time of day he can get enough juice to run (Wouldn’t there be more lights on at night you ask? Yeah, as stated before just go with it.) Also, nighttime allows the neat “Automan Blue Glow” to show really well on both him and the vehicles. This is where you really see the Tron influence, with Auto’s full body light suit being nearly identical to the ones in Tron (the difference is Auto’s is more glittery.) The ongoing joke is how, when he’s in plain clothes, you still see the glow through his collar.

END PLOT

Automan was a fun show and campy as all hell. One of the most memorable of the campy moments being Auto dancing ala John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever and making the women swoon. It was a neat concept and Chuck Wagoner was a dreamy guy. Heck, I was only 8 years old when it was on and I remember saying “Boyfriend!” and pointing at the screen. Mom was concerned I’m sure, but I turned out okay didn’t I?? Didn’t I?

Sadly, ABC did not see it the same way and pulled it after a season. Believe it or not though, there were Automan action figures (only the Automan one was produced though), Halloween Costumes, and a couple other cheapy toys like plastic flashlights produced. These are ultra rare, but they are out there, sometimes showing up on Ebay! I vaguely remember being in a grocery store and begging my mom to buy me the flashlight, but she wouldn’t do it (I could have sold this thing and gone to college on the money….thanks mom!)

See the below links to find out more about this oldie but goodie!

TV Tome Automan Series Guide

ToyArchive.com Automan Toys

Chuck Wagoner.com

Gone, But Not Forgotten:
American Gothic
By Kristi Walsh, TV Fangirl
Creator: Shaun Cassidy
Executive Producers: Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert

From September 1995 to July 1996, before it became the bastion of family-friendly sitcoms and CSI franchises, CBS brought us a quirky show about the battle between good and evil called American Gothic. It was created by Shaun Cassidy (yes, the same one who solved mysteries as a Hardy boy), and counted Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert among its executive producers. This ongoing battle took place in the small town of Trinity, South Carolina (actually filmed in scenic Wilmington, North Carolina), where it seems everyone is indebted to Sheriff Lucas Buck. As Buck says, “For those who follow my lead, life can be a paradise. For those who don’t, it can be a mighty rough road.”

THE PLOT

The show opens by introducing us to the Temple family on their run-down farmstead outside of Trinity, South Carolina. But don’t get too attached to anyone, because in an hour, most of them won’t be with us anymore. Just focus on young Caleb Temple, who is celebrating his birthday by lighting the candles on his own cake. You see, Mama Temple threw herself out of a window soon after Caleb was born. Caleb’s father, Gage, spends most of his time drinking himself into a stupor and before this night is over, he’ll be dead in the county jail with a pen stuck in his throat. And Caleb’s older sister, Merlyn, traumatized at a young age by witnessing the rape of her mother, will shuffle off this mortal coil after having her neck snapped by Sheriff Buck. Thus the stage is set for the battle over Caleb’s orphaned soul, with Merlyn’s guiding spirit on one side trying to counteract the evil influence of Sheriff Lucas Buck, who happens to be Caleb’s real father. Yeah, it ain’t Everybody Loves Raymond, y’all.

Also batting on the side of good are Caleb’s cousin, Gail Emory, and Dr. Matt Crower, both of whom have their own demons to fight. Gail is a reporter who leaves the big city of Charleston, SC, to come to Trinity and take care of Caleb. Dr. Crower has come to Trinity from Massachusetts to be the local doctor. Matt quickly takes responsibility for Caleb’s welfare but finds that facing off against Lucas will require a lot more strength than he thought.

Other prominent citizens include Deputy Ben Healy, Selena Coombs, and Dr. Billy Peele. Ben has witnessed firsthand the crimes that Lucas is capable of committing, but he also has an overwhelming sense of loyalty to his boss. Selena is Caleb’s teacher and Lucas’ lover, who may or may not be a sorceress in her own right. She certainly puts a spell on Dr. Peele, a CDC specialist whom she tries to convince to kill Lucas.

But at the center of it all is Caleb Temple, a lonely orphan who has to decide on his path in life and whether that path will follow in his father’s footsteps.

END PLOT

 American Gothic lost no time in establishing itself as the antithesis to Sheriff Andy Taylor and the folks in Mayberry. In the first episode, Sheriff Buck nonchalantly whistles the theme to The Andy Griffith Show while on his way to hand a prisoner a death sentence. As a show that dealt with the difference between good and evil, American Gothic spent a lot of time exploring that intriguing grey area in-between. Each episode was set up like a one-hour morality play; good usually triumphs, and the wicked are punished in ironically appropriate ways.

Every character has their own flaws, their own shortcomings, and not all bad events can be blamed on Sheriff Buck. Heroes like Gail and Matt have demons of their own to contend with. Paige Turco’s Gail is still mourning the tragic death of her parents in a suspicious fire when she was young, and despite her better judgment, she ends up falling in love with Lucas and becomes pregnant with his child. Matt (brilliantly played by Jake Weber of Dawn of the Dead ’04) is consumed with guilt over the drunk-driving accident that killed his wife and daughter years earlier. He always has the intention of protecting Caleb from Lucas and is desperate to atone for his past sins. But his obsession goes too far and he actually tries to shoot Lucas, at which point Matt is locked up and we have to say goodbye to the dulcet tones and soulful eyes of the marvelous Jake Weber. Even the resident villains, Lucas and Selena Coombs, had their moments of good deeds.

Undoubtedly, the show rests on the “holy trinity” of Caleb, Sheriff Buck and Merlyn. Lucas Black (Sling Blade, Friday Night Lights) portrays Caleb and makes the most of his first starring role. He can be vulnerable, he can be childish, he can be morally upstanding, but he also shows flashes of being a ruthless manipulator like his father. As for his father, it would have been easy for Gary Cole to have played Buck as a cartoonish caricature of a small-town sheriff, but Lucas has many shades of compassion, contempt, and control. Oozing charisma in assorted ensembles of suede vests and long coats, he makes a deal with the dark side seem very tempting. To its credit, American Gothic never implicitly explained Buck’s true nature. Though he did show some evidence of supernatural powers, it was never established whether he was the Devil, a demon, or just really good at manipulating people. Lucas’ actions are continually countered by Merlyn’s ghost, played by the luminous (literally) Sarah Paulson. Yet Merlyn can also be overzealous in her pursuit of good, as evidenced by the time she inflicted a gruesome plague on the citizens of Trinity, including Matt and Gail—an action that turned even Caleb against her.

American Gothic was at its strongest when it dealt with the battle over Caleb’s soul, between the angelic Merlyn on one side and the devilish Lucas on the other. Strong casting choices also played in its favor, with notable guest turns by Bruce Campbell as a State Police officer investigating the disappearance of his brother-in-law, Ted Raimi as a nervously inept kidnapper, and Veronica Cartwright as Lucas’ jilted ex-lover who deceives Dr. Matt into trying to shoot Lucas. The stories became stronger and more solid as the show went on, but CBS wasn’t quite willing to give it time to grow. In fact, they made a habit of pre-empting the show and airing episodes out of order, so any semblance of continuity went right out the window.

Is there a future for the series? The website Moviehole.net reported in July 2003 that there were plans for an American Gothic film as well as a revival of the television series, but there have been no further developments since that announcement. And at last report, the release of the series on DVD was being held up because Sam Raimi wanted to participate in the commentaries but was busy with other projects (y’know, some comic book movie or other). Much like Caleb’s fate, the future of Trinity is in limbo. But American Gothic deserves credit for making a horror/drama/thriller last as long as it did in the increasingly conservative world of primetime dramas.

They say the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he doesn’t exist. But fans of American Gothic know that he’s alive and well, and looks damn good in a suede vest.

Related Links:
www.tvtome.com/AmericanGothic
Visit Buck’s Mansion, a well-designed fansite chock full of AG info:

I give you one of the most epic scenes in TV history.  I’d be happy to call this guy my King.

(spoilers for those who did not see this weekends True Blood)

*edit: aw it’s gone already :[ maybe J has a link to the same video somewhere else. i’ll ask her since i don’t know what she posted.
-Ren

This is the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone.  Get ready for the controversy….I’ll be in my bunk.

Thanks to http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/ and Deadline we now have word on a new possible pilot for NBC.  And get this!  It’s combining Zombies and Vampires.

This has hit written all over it right?

Zombies vs. Vampires is described as a “fun buddy cop procedural.” It is set in a world where zombies are a part of society, controllable with medication. The show’s two leads (one secretly a vampire) are cops assigned to a squad specifically formed to deal with “zombie crime”

Buddy Cop Procedural (which we already have a glut of,) vampires (that’s not everywhere,) and zombies (because that isn’t already on AMC and every other horror film out right now.)

Is this their hopeful replacement for Law and Order Criminal Intent which is on the downward spiral?  They screwed up Fear Itself and let it wither on the vine.  Ugh.  If this gets a greenlight and something funny and different like “Rex is not your lawyer” doesn’t then letters need to be written.

The epic that is GRINDHOUSE !!! ON BLU RAY THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE!

TRAILERS AND ALL!!!!

RIP-ROARING, ADRENALINE-PUMPING DOUBLE FEATURE TWICE AS SATISFYING – GRINDHOUSE
 
Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof and Robert Rodriguez’ Planet Terror Debut On 2-Disc Blu-Ray And Back-to-Back In Original Theatrical Format From The Weinstein Company And Vivendi Entertainment

Two Hours Of Bonus Material Including Brand New Content Including Extended Trailers, Making-Ofs, Cooking School With Rodriguez And More
                                                                     
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – An exhilarating homage to the titillating B-movies of the 60s and 70s, GRINDHOUSE, a double billing featuring Academy Award® winner Quentin Tarantino’ Death Proof and Robert Rodriguez’ Planet Terror burst onto two-disc Blu-Ray on October 5 from Vivendi Entertainment and The Weinstein Company.  Debuting for the first time in high definition and in its original theatrical exhibition format, the presentation starts with the deliciously over-the-top horror flick Planet Terror, followed by an intermission featuring three gritty trailers and concluding with the ultra-intense vehicular slasher film Death Proof. The set features over two hours of brand new bonus material including a 10 Minute Cooking School feature with Rodriguez, five features on the trailers including an extended trailer and making-ofs, deleted scenes and much more.
 
“A total blast – funny, gloriously gory and over the top” (Associated Press), Planet Terror stars Rose McGowan (“Charmed,” Scream, The Black Dahlia) and Freddy Rodriguez (Bobby, “Six Feet Under”) as go-go girl-turned-vigilante Cherry Darling and one-man wrecking crew El Wray, as they try to save the world from a horde of flesh-eating zombies.  “A movie that knows, at long last, how to put the bad back in badass.” (Entertainment Weekly), Death Proof stars Kurt Russell (Poseidon, Escape From New York) as a deranged stuntman turned psycho serial killer who stalks his victims from behind the wheel of a roving, revving, racing death machine, but when he picks on the wrong group of badass babes, all bets are off in this high speed vehicular duel of epic proportions. The two-disc GRINDHOUSE Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.95.

DISC ONE
Grindhouse Feature Planet Terror
Intermission Cards
Don’t trailer
Werewolf Women of the SS trailer
Thanksgiving trailer
Grindhouse Feature Death Proof

DISC TWO (new content bold)
 
Planet Terror
Robert Rodriguez’s 10-Minute Cooking School**
The Badass Babes Of Planet Terror
The Guys Of Planet Terror
Casting Rebel
Sickos, Bullets And Explosions:  The Stunts Of Planet Terror
The Friend, The Doctor And The Real Estate Agent
Poster Gallery

Trailers
Intermission Cards
Don’t Trailer
Werewolf Women of the S.S Trailer
Thanksgiving Trailer
Extended Werewolf Women Of The SS Trailer
View Extended Cut Of Werewolf Women Of The SS Trailer
With Commentary By Director Rob Zombie
The Making Of Werewolf Women Of The SS Trailer
Extended Don’t Trailer
View Extended Cut Of Don’t Trailer With Commentary By Director Edgar Wright
The Making Of Don’t Trailer
Don’t Storyboard/Trailer Comparison
View Don’t Storyboard/Trailer Comparison
With Commentary By Director Edgar Wright
Don’t Storyboards Still Gallery
Don’t Poster
The Making Of Thanksgiving Trailer
 
Death Proof
Hot Rods of Death Proof
From Texas to Tennessee, The Look of Death Proof
New York Times Talks With Quentin Tarantino and Lynn Hirschberg
Comic Con 2006 Featuring the Directors and Cast of Grindhouse
Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof
Quentin’s Greatest Collaborator:  Editor Sally Menke
The Guys Of Death Proof
Kurt Russell As Stuntman Mike
Finding Quentin’s Gals
The UnCut Version of “Baby, It’s You” Performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Introducing Zoe Bell
Extended Music
Poster Gallery

Additional Bonus Features
New York Times Talk with Quention Tarantino and Lynn Hirschberg
Comic Con 2006 Featuring The Directors And Cast Of Grindhouse
Hobo With A Shotgun Produced by Rob Cotterill Directed By Jason Eisner Grindhouse Trailer Contest Winners

Synopsis:
Planet Terror – Married doctors William and Dakota Block (Brolin and Shelton) find their graveyard shift inundated with townspeople ravaged by gangrenous sores and a suspiciously vacant look in their eyes.  Among the wounded is Cherry (Rose McGowan), a go-go dancer whose leg was ripped from her body during a roadside attack.  Wray (Freddy Rodriguez), her former significant other, is at her side and watching her back.  Cherry may be down, but she hasn’t danced her last number.  As the invalids quickly become enraged aggressors, Cherry and Wray lead a team of accidental warriors into the night, hurtling towards a destiny that will leave millions infected, countless dead, and a lucky few struggling to find the last safe corner of PLANET TERROR.
 
Death Proof – A creepy stunt driver whose taste for stalking lovely young ladies gets him into big trouble when he tangles with the wrong gang of badass babes.  Their confrontation escalates to an extended mano-a-mano car chase with one of the girls strapped to the hood of a thundering Dodge Challenger.
 
BASICS
Price:   $39.95
Street Date: October 5, 2010

Just received from Lionsgate which premiered it on MTV.com (because MTV screams horror…well, it makes me scream in horror)

Do you love Brad Pitt?  Do you love David Duchovny (why don’t you love me?)

Then you have to have a special place in your heart for the trashy wanna be Natural Born Killers that is Kalifornia.

Oh yes…I know I do (hello wall sex with Mulder and Ro)

Pardon me…

Anyway, Fangirl Magazine is giving away the BLU RAY of Kalifornia that includes the extended unrated edition.

You want?  Well here’s all you have to do.  Comment below on which movie psycho you’d like to be stuck on a road trip with and why.

Best answer by August 20th gets the DVD.  And boys, you can play along too!