Episodes you just can't stand to watch

[firepoint525]

On the subject of the same actor playing different characters on the same show (well, sort of): on an old episode of the Jeffersons, George has a flashback to his own childhood, in which his father (obviously played by Sherman Hemsley) warns little George not to get his clothes dirty because "dry cleaning is expensive!" Little George takes that statement to heart, and this is how (we are led to believe) that George got into dry cleaning.

I used the "sort of" disclaimer above because Sherman Hemsley, as George's father, does not directly interact with Sherman Hemsley, as George Jefferson. A little kid obviously played young George in that flashback segment.

 

[Stanislav]

This whole "doubles" thing should almost have a thread of its own, but.....

The worst "doubles/lookalike" plots (and a sure sign that a show has jumped the shark and is running out of ideas) are in the genre "Character Meets Real-Life Star Who Plays Him/Her." The two that come to mind are Lucy Carter meeting Lucille Ball on Here's Lucy, and Fred Sanford meeting Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son. I'm sure there are a few other examples that could be cited.

Also, episodes where actors play multiple roles were traditionally limited by logistics and technology: the basic split-screen technique was stilted and contrived, locking scenes involving the two doppelgangers into a standardized, static "opposite sides of the screen in profile and always at least two feet apart" configuration. (Spelled only occasionally by the equally fakey "over the shoulder shot with the back of an actor in the foreground who only vaguely resembles the star in height and appearance" variation.) : These limitations, and the sometimes poor staging of the effect, added an element of contrivance that rendered an already hackneyed idea even more ludicrous. Plus, not every actor, no matter how talented, is able to convincingly master the art of playing a scene "with themselves."

But digital technology has changed that. The first time I was "wowed" by such technology in a TV show was the episode of Family Matters in which Urkel clones himself. The two Steves were able to cross in front of each other (even do a 360, circling around each other), embrace or otherwise physically interact, etc., and the effect is flawless. Coupled with the talent of Jaleel White, you could really believe that there were two Urkels interacting with each other. The realism of the illusion greatly improves the entertainment value of what could well have been another typical "doubles" plot in the classic mode.

Stargate SG-1 frequently used (some would say overused) the technique, and there was usually at least one episode a season in which the characters encountered doubles in some fashion or other. Fortunately, the excellent writing and the consummate talent of the actors helps to pull it off. There is a scene that is an absolute scream in a late-season episode involving a rift that has multiple parallel universes "leaking" into ours, in which about 20-odd Colonel Carters are all in the same room together, believably talking to each other, moving around, etc. (Leading to a funny moment when General Landry enters the room and calls Sam's name, and all the Sams react simultaneously, prompting him to chuckle and clarify that he meant "MY Colonel Carter.") One can only imagine how much time and effort -- carefully staging Amanda Tapping's position, movements, and gestures in 20+ takes, not to mention the amount of post-production digital magic -- must have been expended on a scene that lasts perhaps a minute on screen!

 

[Prais]

Stanislav,
Wow. (in the post above) It sounds like you are writing a textbook., Did you ever used (Herman) Zettl to study tv production? I did. Great book (60's vintage so it's REALLY dated).

Reading your post, I note that if I would have commented as you have while I was living at home (back in the 60's) (HA!) my mom would have said, "If only you could do your math homework in such great detail."

Great post.

 

[Stanislav]

Stanislav,
Wow. (in the post above) It sounds like you are writing a textbook.

I do enjoy writing, and take pride in a well-turned phrase. A shame I could never figure a way to make money doing it. I'm cool writing short burbs for forums and blogs and Wikipedia pages, most especially on subjects in which I have a passionate interest, but anything longer requires a discipline that I just do not possess. (Translation: "I'm lazy.")

Did you ever used (Herman) Zettl to study tv production? I did. Great book (60's vintage so it's REALLY dated).

I did take a few TV production courses way back when and, yes, I remember the Zettl textbook very well!

 

[Otto Maddock]

It's one of your favorite classic TV shows. You watch reruns of it every chance you get.

BUT.....there's that one episode. Maybe it has an annoying guest star. Perhaps it's a very poor concept, or has your favorite character(s) acting horribly OUT of character. Or there's something that just rubs you the wrong way -- sticks in your craw. As much as you love the series as a whole, whenever THAT episode comes on, you groan and quickly flip the channel.

And that episode is.............?

The Bewitched episodes featuring Aunt Clara or Dr Bombay (what nincompoops!), or the Dick Sargent as Darrin episodes.

was I imagining that Fred Mertz used to kick in TVs a lot..like every time he saw one...or was it just one episode (or a completely different show)?

Come to think of it, there was an episode where Fred goes on a rampage and kicks in the Ricardo's TV set after Ricky causes the Mertz' set to explode while trying to fix it (or something to that effect).

I always hated episodes of shows where one of the main characters plays a second character (i.e. an out-of-town cousin) on the same show. Always bad acting and just plain stupid! The one exception would be Bewitched where Elizabeth Montgomery played her own evil cousin Sarina.

What? That wasn't Pandora Spox?
And didn't Barbara Eden put on a dark wig to play Jeannie's sister?

I don't remember the plot, but wasn't there a Munsters episode where Herman gets struck by lightning and ends up looking like Fred Gwynne?

 

[Stanislav]

And didn't Barbara Eden put on a dark wig to play Jeannie's sister?

Yes, and her sister was also named "Jeannie!" (I believe NBC referred to her as "Jeannie II" to distinguish between them.) There was even one episode in which Jeannie II is masquerading as Jeannie, and then reveals herself...by pulling off her blonde wig to reveal her dark hair. Meaning Barbara Eden that day wore a blonde wig...over a black wig...over her natural hair. (At least for that "Reveal" scene, anyway...)

I don't remember the plot, but wasn't there a Munsters episode where Herman gets struck by lightning and ends up looking like Fred Gwynne?

Yes, and it is one of my favorite episodes! I've never seen the documentation, but I'd bet anything it was the result of Fred Gwynne approaching the writers and saying, "Listen....getting up at 4 am and sitting in the makeup chair for 4 hours is getting old, fast. Can't you guys cut me a break, and cook up a plot where I could just be me for one episode??" ;D

 

[donnyg]

I can't stand the MASH dreams episode, that just totally disgusts me, or the MASH episodes in black and white, especially since they did two of them with the same premise, we know they were at war, thanks for the reminder there. As far as WKRP goes, the reruns are forever ruined because FOX won't pony up the money for music clearances. here's an interesting twist, an episode that I like and it breaks the 4th wall or at least I think it does, is the Sanford and Son episode where Fred and the gang go to NBC studios in Burbank to watch a taping of "Steinberg and Son" and Fred ends up suing NBC for creative control ;D

Donny G ;D

 

[compubit]

Did you ever used (Herman) Zettl to study tv production? I did. Great book (60's vintage so it's REALLY dated).

I did take a few TV production courses way back when and, yes, I remember the Zettl textbook very well!

I used the Zettl book (fourth edition) in 89-90. Now if today's local stations could at least take a few of the concepts to produce better product...

Jim

 

[mleach]

This whole "doubles" thing should almost have a thread of its own, but.....

The worst "doubles/lookalike" plots (and a sure sign that a show has jumped the shark and is running out of ideas) are in the genre "Character Meets Real-Life Star Who Plays Him/Her." The two that come to mind are Lucy Carter meeting Lucille Ball on Here's Lucy, and Fred Sanford meeting Redd Foxx on Sanford and Son. I'm sure there are a few other examples that could be cited.

The worst "double" storylines I can remember over the years were actually not in TV shows but rather in movies. Such as Larry Storch in one of those cheesy grade Z horror flicks from the 70s ( I have since forgot the title ) where Larry Storch stabs to death...Larry Storch. Bad scene..almost as bad as that Frankie Avalon horror flick from the 70s where Avalon plays an ax murderer and yes I think there was a scene in that movie where he ( or was it his double? ), while he was slashing a woman to death, he is singing "Venus".

Then there was that infamous rape scene in John Waters' "Female Trouble" where Divine the drag queen gets raped by a man..played by Divine. I guess that scene gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "go f*** yourself". Ah.......Hmmmmm.

 

[firepoint525]

Can't believe no one mentioned this, not even me (until now).

This was done more than once, on several different sitcoms (usually on sitcoms). An event happens at the beginning of the show, then all the witnesses and participants in said act each take turns giving their own versions of what "actually" happened, usually "spinning" it a little to make themselves look like the big hero. For the viewer, this results in viewing the same scene four or five times over the course of just half an hour, with the only difference being each time, someone else telling the story gets to be the big hero. It's boring, repetitive, and predictable. I specifically remember this being done on an episode of "Diff'rent Strokes," although it may have been done on other shows as well. I suppose it's easy for the cast and crew, writers and wardrobe people, because they get to simply re-shoot the same scene, with the afore-mentioned minor changes, four or five times straight! :

 

[Legend City]

Any Northern Exposurfe episode after Joel and Maggie "did it" and Maggie became a super-bitch.

Northern Exposure went from a charming show to an overly preachy, and completely boring show. When Anthony Edwards came on, it was nothing but a whine fest.

Another show that jumped is Six Feet Under, it became such a pretentious and annoying show, I thought that every character was going to have a gay romance. OK, we get it...

 

[Legend City]

Can't believe no one mentioned this, not even me (until now).

This was done more than once, on several different sitcoms (usually on sitcoms). An event happens at the beginning of the show, then all the witnesses and participants in said act each take turns giving their own versions of what "actually" happened, usually "spinning" it a little to make themselves look like the big hero. For the viewer, this results in viewing the same scene four or five times over the course of just half an hour, with the only difference being each time, someone else telling the story gets to be the big hero. It's boring, repetitive, and predictable. I specifically remember this being done on an episode of "Diff'rent Strokes," although it may have been done on other shows as well. I suppose it's easy for the cast and crew, writers and wardrobe people, because they get to simply re-shoot the same scene, with the afore-mentioned minor changes, four or five times straight! :

That is all a rip off of "Rashomon", the Akira Kurosawa classic (who probably ripped it off from something as well)


Also, for sheer gall, Gilligans Island had 3, count them 3 "Evil Twin" episodes, and the show only lasted 3 seasons. The previously mentioned Ginger one, the Mr. Howell twin, and Gilligan's twin, an East German spy.

How come, the only time they turned on the radio, they just happened to catch a special warning that was very specific as to what would happen to them?

 

[cspotrun]

the Star Trek "Tribbles" episode, it was cute, and it is always listed as a favorite, but, it seems to be repeated too often, i can't watch it again.

 

[bpatrick]

"Pandora Spox" was Elizabeth Montgomery's alias
when she played Serena (actually, I think it was
spelled "Spocks," but no matter).

The posting on how dual roles were handled was
most informative. I think that's exactly how "The
Patty Duke Show" was handled, with an actress who
vaguely resembled Patty playing whichever "identical
cousin" Patty wasn't playing at the moment. Of course,
you never saw her; that would have spoiled the whole
setup.

To get back to the title of this thread: I, too, avoid
the Dick Sargent episodes of "Bewitched" and the color
episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show."

 

[gr8oldies]

Now you can find patty Duke and her "identical cousin" at your local Social Security office promoting filing online for retirement benefits.

 

[RicoGregg]

Also, for sheer gall, Gilligans Island had 3, count them 3 "Evil Twin" episodes, and the show only lasted 3 seasons. The previously mentioned Ginger one, the Mr. Howell twin, and Gilligan's twin, an East German spy.

How come, the only time they turned on the radio, they just happened to catch a special warning that was very specific as to what would happen to them?

Ok, ok. Gilligan's Island has gotten a lot of mentions here, and not in positive ways. I watched it as a teenager when it was brand new. I've watched reruns on various outlets throughout my adult years. Our children and grandchildren have been exposed to Gilligan, The Skipper too, and the rest, and can talk serious Gilligan with any of us. I think that we can all pretty much agree that the show was badly written, not very original or creative, and really didn't do much to counter the worldwide image of the Ugly American.

This brings me to ask the inevitable questions: Why in the hell did we watch this show? And repeatedly, at that. By any standards, this show would normally be labeled "unwatchable." And to some people, it was. Why in the world did it dodge that bullet? And how?

My biggest question here is why did I keep watching this gawdawful show? The only answer I can come up with is: Dawn Wells. Is that really a reason to keep watching?

With apologies to our Jewish friends, Oy Vey! :-\

 

[firepoint525]

I believe if Gilligan had been allowed to stay on the air longer than it did, we wouldn't have continued to receive it as well as we have.  If it had stayed on the air longer, it wouldn't have "worn" as well.  Not saying that it didn't jump the shark; just saying that it didn't overstay its welcome.

 

[gr8oldies]

Maybe Gilligan's Island goes in the category of "so bad, it's good".

 

[WMC2006]

Ok, ok. Gilligan's Island has gotten a lot of mentions here, and not in positive ways. I watched it as a teenager when it was brand new. I've watched reruns on various outlets throughout my adult years. Our children and grandchildren have been exposed to Gilligan, The Skipper too, and the rest, and can talk serious Gilligan with any of us. I think that we can all pretty much agree that the show was badly written, not very original or creative, and really didn't do much to counter the worldwide image of the Ugly American.

This brings me to ask the inevitable questions: Why in the hell did we watch this show? And repeatedly, at that. By any standards, this show would normally be labeled "unwatchable." And to some people, it was. Why in the world did it dodge that bullet? And how?

My biggest question here is why did I keep watching this gawdawful show? The only answer I can come up with is: Dawn Wells. Is that really a reason to keep watching?

The series was a lot better than the eventual rescue reunion movie with the Harlem Globetrotters. ??? :

If the show had been written more in present day than 30 years ago, we'd probably see Mary Ann and her coconuts (ooops, I mean coconut pies) down on the beach, shorter shorts, belly button showing with belly button ring. I don't really think we saw her belly button any more than we saw Jeannie's on I Dream of Jeannie which was never due to Standards and Practices. THEN maybe the show would have lasted longer and we wouldn't have cared about the writing.

It was sort of a pre-Baywatch show about which no one cared about the writing either. As long as Mary Ann or Pam Anderson was showing lots of skin, that's all the producers cared about.

So, to answer your final question, Yes, THAT was really a reason to keep watching. ;D ;D

 

[LKellerIII]

Now you can find patty Duke and her "identical cousin" at your local Social Security office promoting filing online for retirement benefits.

Actually, "identical cousin" Cathy probably went back to England where they have a good pension system and free national health care. ;D