Friday, March 30, 2007

The Transformers Animated TV Series

The Transformers TV Series

The Transformers ('Fight! Super Robot Life Form Transformers' in Japan), most popular robotic cartoon TV series in the 80's (first seen in late 1983), was made by US/Japan Co-Production (under Hasbro/Marvel & TOEI Animation) produced by Sunbow Production, features the giant robots who could think & feel and capable to transform themselves into vehicles, animals or other objects. The show truly captured the hearts, imaginations and minds of children worldwide as well as Transformers in comic books, toys and movie.

Million years ago, in a distant corner of universe, a metal planet called Cybertron, life existed in form of giant-intelligent sentient robots who could feel and transform themselves into different form of vehicles and weapons, they are called Transformers (created by secret race of multi-faced aliens called Quintessons). A city was inhabited by races divided into two clans engaged in a war over supremacy – the heroic Autobots (transform into cars) led by Optimus Prime wishing peaceful co-existence between everyone and evil Decepticons(transform into military hardware) led by Megatron sought conflict and military dominations. With energon supplies running low, Autobots built & launched Ark spacecraft to locate new source of energy while Decepticons aboard space-cruiser Nemesis attacked/sabotaged the Ark resulting both ships crash landing in pre-historic Earth (Ark into side of dormant volcano while Nemesis into remote region of South America), both buried underground and all robots were deactivated. Four million years later, in 1984 a volcanic eruption bring ships into surface reawakening automatic system computer (Teletraan I), repair & modified both transformers to mimic Earth, and the clans continue the war now more ferociously where Decepticons wished to drain Earth resources & enslave humanity while Autobots committed themselves stopping them and protecting human race.

The fantastic cartoon tv series, The Transformers was premiered on September 1984 and lasted until November 1987, completed 4 seasons with 98 episodes, now available on DVD.

The Transformers DVD at TV Shows on DVD


The Transformer 1984 TV Series Voice Cast Actors:
  • Peter Cullen ........... Optimus Prime, Iron Hide, Slugslinger, Wingspan & Streetwise
  • Aron Kincaid ........... Sky Lynx
  • Frank Welker ........... Megatron, Galvatron, Soundwave, Wheelie, Rumble, Mirage, Blades, Chromedome, Frenzy, Groove, Mixmaster, Skywarp & Slu
  • Rob Paulsen ........... Air Raid, Chase , Fastlane & Slingshot
  • Casey Kasem ........... Cliff Jumper, Telatran-1, Bluestreak & Dr. Archeville
  • John Stephenson ........... Alpha Trion, Huffer, Kup, Thundercracker & Windcharger
  • Michael Bell ........... Bombshell, Brainstorm, First Aid, Prowl, Sideswipe, Scrapper & Swoop
  • Jim Cummings ........... Afterburner & Rippersnapper
  • Charlie Adler ........... Silverbolt &Triggerhappy Duros
  • David Mendenhall ........... Daniel
  • Brad Garrett ........... Trypticon
  • Ed Gilbert ........... Blitzwing, Thrust & Superion
  • Corey Burton ........... pike Witwicky, Brawn, Shockwave, Sunstreaker, Wideload
  • Victor Caroli ........... Narrator
  • Neil Ross ........... Bonecrusher, Crosshairs, Hook, Monzo, Pointblank, Sixshot, Slag & Springer
  • Michael Chain ........... Hoist, Powerglide & Red Alert
  • Ron Feinberg ........... Headstrong
  • Jack Angel ........... Astrotrain, Omega Supreme, Ramjet, Smokescreen & Ultra Magnus
  • Regis Cordic ........... Menasor

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Simpsons Animated TV Series

The Simpsons

From being a 1 minute filler from 'The Tracy Ullman Show' on April 1987 into a spin-off, The Simpsons Animated TV Series became Fox Network's most successful series and the longest-running primetime animated sitcom show on TV up today (19th season coming on 2007-2008). This cartoon series even enjoying not only worldwide success but also amazingly won several major awards (almost 89 in over 90 nominations) from Emmy, Peabody, ASCAP, Environmental Media, Kids' & People's Choice Awards, etc., plus from Time Magazine as “The Century's Best Television Series”. The characters created by Matt Groening (named after members of his own family & his hurried sketches of characters traced over by animators & used as basics), a dysfunctional/politically incorrect family in their wacky, entertaining & hilarious Middle American lifestyle which become influential in popular culture with their catchphrases used in real life.


Living in fictional Springfield city, Homer as unintelligent, beer-drinking but lovable dufus father working as safety inspector in local nuclear power plant, his hardworking wife Marge as supermom for three kids; a 10-yr old 4th grade proud to be 'underachiever' Bart as rebellious troublemaker son but a helpful one, 8-yr old gifted & responsible Lisa as genius daughter and the youngest Maggie often forgotten baby in her pacifier, together they are The Simpsons. The family pets dog Santa's Little Helper and cat Snowball II, they live and deal with co-workers, teachers, some wealthy/evil friends & neighbors in their wacky, humorous brilliant life and adventures that delivered huge variety of different things to viewers.


The Simpsons Animated TV Series was premiered on December 1989 enjoying 400th episodes at the end of 18th Seasons (19th season to be aired in 2007-2008) celebrating it's 20th anniversary, now seasons 9-16 avilable on DVD.


The Simpsons Seasons 9-16 DVD at TV Shows on DVD


The Simpsons Voice Actors:
  • Dan Castellaneta .............. voices of Homer Simpson, Abraham Simpson, Krusty the Klown, Barney, Willy, Sideshow Mel, Mayor Quimby, Hans Moleman, Gil, Itchy
  • Julie Kavner .............. voices of Marjorie "Marge" Bouvier Simpson, Patty Bouvier, Selma Bouvier, Jacqueline Ingrid Bouvier
  • Nancy Cartwright .............. voices of Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, Kearney
  • Yeardley Smith .............. voice of Lisa Simpson

Monday, March 26, 2007

The Little Mermaid Animated TV Series

Little Mermaid was first published in 1836 by it's author/creator Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen, a magical fairy tale about a young princess mermaid who fell in love with a human prince she saved from drowning. In 1989, Walt Disney produced it's best animated motion pictures which gain box office success on the big screen, based from H.C. Andersen work, featured a young sixteen-year old mermaid Princess Ariel (youngest of seven daughter of Sea King Triton) who dissatisfied with under-sea life and take her adventures with her friends in human world on land, met human prince 'Eric' where she fall in love and give up everything to gain the love of prince and an eternal soul to become a human. In 1992, Disney created the prequel of film, The Little Mermaid Cartoon TV series, featured the year and life of Princess Ariel at sea before the movie.


At age of fifteen, Princess Ariel as she finishes growing up, she listen stories from her sisters who yearly go in the surface and from her grandmother who know many things about human world, with her curiosities she take her adventures and journey. With her friends, Sebastian (King's Royal assistant), childhood friend Gabriella & merboy Urchin, her best friend Flounder, her wildcat party-lover cousin Pearl, mobster lobster Little Manta Ray, goofy seagull Scuttle who knows a lot about human objects, etc., Ariel learned many things about human world. Ariel saw a handsome prince in a ship where she falls in love, a great storm come and the prince drop and almost drown, she save him to the shore. Ariel goes to the Evil Sea Witch Ursula for a potion that give her legs in exchange of her most intoxicating voice, even like walking in knives, she fight for her love to Prince Eric and get an eternal soul (if the prince love and marry her).


Disney's outstanding, educational and magical Cartoon TV Series, The Little Mermaid was premiered on September 1992 and lasted until November 1994, completed 3 seasons with 31 episodes, now available on DVD.


Little Mermaid DVD at TV Shows on DVD



The Little Mermaid Cartoon TV Series Voice Casts:
  • Jodi Benson ............... Princess Ariel voice
  • Edan Gross ............... Flounder voice
  • Samuel E. Wright ............... Sebastian voice
  • Kenneth Mars ............... King Triton voice
  • Jim Cummings ............... Mr. Clambakersfield voice
  • Joe Alaskey ............... Lobster Mobster voice
  • David L. Lander ............... Da Shrimp voice
  • Kath Soucie ............... Mrs. Clambakersfield voice
  • Joan Gerber ............... Babies voice
  • Danny Cooksey ............... Urchin voice
  • Maurice LaMarche ............... Scuttle voice
  • Mary Kay Bergman ............... Arista voice
  • Sheryl Bernstein ............... Aquata voice
  • Pat Carroll ............... Ursula voice

Friday, March 23, 2007

"The Muppet Babies" - Imaginative Adventures

Jim Henson's The Muppet Babies, even basically featured the famous Muppets as babies, (inspired from 1984 TV film, “The Muppets Take Manhattan”), was a successful cartoon TV series on it's own (combined humors with childhood innocence) and an instant favorite for viewers appealing not only for children but also for teen & adult, a sensational children's program. Unlike most cartoon tv series done for toys, clothing or gimmick, The Muppet Babies was considered an outstanding & iconic cartoon show providing a pure educational, imagination rich adventures with cool music & comic reliefs of the cute, entertaining and lovable Muppets in their childhood. A group babies who love to sing about everything & thought many wonderful things will come true through dreaming and power & magic of imaginations.

The show centered on infants living together in a nursery but through their wild, over-active imaginations they turn the room into exciting world of adventures. The group of babies led by Kermit with wannabe comedian best friend Fozzie with his jokes, shy but friendly Rowlf the musician, bossy and dominant Miss Piggy, the “whatever” weirdo Gonzo who have huge crush on Piggy, the computer nerd Scooter with his gymnast twin sister Skeeter, and the loud speaking rambunctious Animal, they gone in many wild wonderful places & take crazy adventures like playing as Star Wars characters or being caught on giant squid tentacles but in reality, only in curtain tails. The babies are under supervision of human woman called Nanny only seen on her white-green striped socks & stockings, her face never seen but she give tough-love & caress and teach lessons to the babies.

The Muppet Babies also an award winning TV series from Humanitaz Prize, Daytime Emmy & Young Artists Awards, the series was aired from September 1984 until December 1990, completed 7 seasons with 106 episodes.


Catch The Best of Muppet Babies DVD available at TV Shows on DVD


Muppet Babies Voice Casts:

  • Frank Welker ............. Baby Kermit, Baby Skeeter (1985–1991), Baby Beaker
  • Greg Berg ............. Baby Fozzie and Baby Scooter
  • Barbara Billingsley ............. Nanny
  • Dave Coulier ............. Baby Animal, Baby Bunsen, Baby Bean Bunny, Uncle Statler and Uncle Waldorf
  • Katie Leigh .............. Baby Rowlf
  • Howie Mandel ............... Baby Animal, Baby Bunsen and Baby Skeeter (1984-1985)
  • Laurie O'Brien ............... Baby Piggy
  • Russi Taylor .............. Baby Gonzo

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

"Super Friends" – 70s Justice of League TV Series

Super Friends – 70s Justice of League TV Series

The Super Friends animated series, produced by creative team of William Hannah and Joseph Barbera in 1973, features the adventures of the long-running DC Comics book series started in 1960s, well-known as “The Justice League of America”, compose of all time heroes Superman, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman and Aquaman plus their apprentice training to become superheroes Wendy Harris, Marvin White and their caped-pet Wonderdog. The early Saturday morning hour-long tv series of action-adventures Super Friends putting down criminals, saving people lives and stopping terrible disasters, in a child-friendly version show with some lesson of educational values like environmental issues, moral dilemmas and other thought-provoking conflicts. The Super Friends routinely monitoring the world from their headquarter called Hall of Justice with an automated warning system the “Trouble Alert” signals someone need their help, they fight injustice, right that which is wrong and serve all mankind.

The show in later years featured many follow-up spin-offs and revivals until 1986 such as The All-New SuperFriends Hour (1977 - Wendy, Marvin & Wonder dog replaced by planet Exxor Wonder Twins Zan & Jayna and their space-monkey Gleek), Challenge of the SuperFriends (1978 - now features the team Justice League of America versus super villains group in DC Comics The Legion of Doom), The Worlds Greatest SuperFriends (1979), SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984), The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985).


The SuperFriends animated TV series first season by Hannah-Barbera Production was premiered on September 1973 and lasted until August 1974 with total of 16 episodes, now on DVD.


The SuperFriends DVD at TV Shows on DVD

SuperFriends Voice Casts:
  • Danny Dark ............... Superman / Clark Kent voice
  • Olan Soule ............... Batman / Bruce Wayne voice
  • Casey Kasem ............... Robin / Dick Grayson voice
  • Shannon Farnon ............... Wonder Woman / Diana Prince voice
  • Norman Alden ................ Aquaman voice
  • Sherry Alberoni ............... Wendy Harris voice
  • Frank Welker ............... Marvin White voice
  • Ted Knight .............. Narrator

Monday, March 19, 2007

"Snorks" - 80s Cartoon TV Series

The Snorks Animated TV Series

The Snorks, the little cutie fictional underwater creatures adapted from characters of 1974 Belgium comic-book created by Freddy Monnickendam with the same title. Hanna-Barbera Production produced these Belgian comic characters into animated tv series of the tiny playful, colorful and harmless creatures with a large genital like tube or pipe thing on their heads called 'snorkels' they use to breath & propel swiftly in water and when Snorks get excited, their tube makes a 'snork' sound. They are living in an under sea community called Snorkland with adapted modern cultures, technology and habits of humans; they wear dress, eat similar foods, live in houses & go to school, have money, ride vehicles, watch tv, etc. The story elements of the series are helpful to children; not all government officials are evil/money-hungry or looking down on people but taking care of their fellow citizens, to love and care for animal pets, to give respect to others as well as their own self and also to be responsible & stand up against bullies, all in these cute and colorful cartoon series.


In 1643, ancient Snorks witnessed a ship attacked by pirates, they rescued the wounded captain thrown overboard from ship, the captain made friends with happy little aquatic animals and shared stories things about humans soon adapted by the Snorks. In modern days, teenage Snorks AllStar Seaworthy with his red-headed girlfriend Casey Kelp and their friends, the cute mute Tooter Shelby speaks only with 'toots', pretty Snork Daffney Gilphin and her boyfriend Dimmy Finster, they take adventures in human like life under water and deal against infamous Snorkland governor Wetworth with his snobbish arrogant son Junior Wetworth who taking down and manipulate other Snorks. Other villains Bigweed with sidekick Lil Seaweed also try to bully Allstar's groups but they managed to keep themselves safe. Brave and friendly Allstar adapted Junior's abandoned octopus pet Occy, and also make friends with the bad guys & work together when they all get in trouble.


Children entertaining cartoon show The Snorks was premiered on September 1984 and lasted on January 1989, total of 3 seasons with 108 episodes, now available on DVD.


The Snorks Seasons 1-3 DVD at TV Shows on DVD


Snorks Voice Casts:
  • Michael Bell .......... Allstar Seaworthy (voice)
  • B.J. Ward .......... Casey Kelp
  • Nancy Cartwright .......... Daffney Gilphin
  • Brian Cummings .......... Dimmy Finster
  • Frank Welker .......... Tooter Shelby/Occy
  • Barry Gordon .......... Junior Wetworth
  • Rene Auberjonois ................. Dr. Strangesnork
  • Roger DeWitt .......... Jo-Jo
  • Joan Gardner .......... Mrs. Wetworth
  • Joan Gerber .......... Mrs. Kelp
  • Bob Holt .......... Mr. Seaworthy
  • Gail Matthius .......... Baby Smallstar Seaworthy
  • Edie McClurg .......... Mrs. Seaworthy
  • Frank Nelson .......... Governor Wetworth
  • Rob Paulsen .......... Corky - The Snork Patrol
  • Clive Revill .......... Galeo
  • Robert Ridgely .......... Mr. Kelp
  • Fredricka 'Freddie' Weber .......... Willie Wetworth

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

"Are You Afraid of the Dark?"

Are You Afraid of the Dark?” was 1990's popular Saturday night TV series by Nickelodeon, a scary, pretty creepy but very entertaining show that features tales and story themes of paranormal phenomena such as magic, haunted houses, ghosts, curses, aliens, witches, etc. A group of teenagers that do different things, go to different schools and meet different friends in normal days and each week they gather together sitting around a campfire and draws on one thing, the dark. They are called 'The Midnight Society', swapping strange scary stories and tales, a storyteller toss a birch bark powder to heighten the fire and say "Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, I call this story... Tales of..." and share things that go bump in the night.

The source of interesting stories from adaptations of public domain fairy tales, urban legends and short stories, some episodes like from the books written by R.L. Stine, the Goosebumps. Memorable recurring characters were Sardo with his magic tricks (Sardo's Magic Mansion selling magical things), and Dr. Vink (a mad scientist, sorcerer and response when his name mispronounced “Vink with a va-va-va, his popular riddle "What is lighter than air, can be seen by the naked eye, and if put in a barrel, will make the barrel lighter? - a Hole). Viewers remember some memorable episodes like Tales of the Laughing in the Dark, Tale of the Twisted Claw, Tale of the Lonely Ghost and many more, the show catch up not only young audience but also appreciated by older, new fresh ideas, variable characters, and multiple unnatural force stories covered the series. Even casts changed every now and then, the same new interesting spooky & scary tales and stories, one of the best shows in the 90s.

Are You Afraid of the Dark TV series was aired August 1992, canceled on April 1996, relaunched on April 1999 and ended on June 2000, completed total of 7 seasons with 91 episodes, now available on DVD.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? DVD at TV Shows on DVD


Are You Afraid of the Dark Casts:

  • Ross Hull ........... Gary (Seasons 1-5)
  • Jodie Resther Kiki ........... (Seasons 1-5)
  • Raine Pare-Coull ........... Betty Ann (Seasons 1-5)
  • Jason Alisharan ........... Frank (Seasons 1-4)
  • Rachel Blanchard ........... Kristen (Seasons 1-2)
  • Nathaniel Moreau ........... David(Seasons 1-2)
  • Jacob Tierney ........... Eric (Season 1)
  • Joanna Garcia ........... Samantha (Seasons 3-5)
  • Daniel DeSanto ........... Tucker (Season 3-7)
  • Codie Wilbee ........... Stig(Season 5)
  • Elisha Cuthbert ........... Megan (Season 6-7)
  • Vanessa Lengies ........... Evangeline "Vange" (Season 6-7)
  • David Deveau ........... Andy(Seasons 6-7)
  • Kareem Blackwell ........... Quinn (Season 6-7)

Recurring Roles:
  • Aron Tager ........... Doctor Vink (Episodes Phantom Cab, Midnight Madness, Dangerous Soup, Cutter's Treasure 1 & 2)
  • Richard Dumont ........... Sardo (Episodes Super Specs, Dark Dragon,Carved Stone, Cutter's Treasure 1 & 2, Door Unlocked, Oblivion & Time Trap)

Monday, March 12, 2007

"Quack Pack" - Disney's Animated TV Series

The - Quack Pack - Adventures

Quack Pack, a Walt Disney's animated TV series, follows the adventures of triplet nephews Huey, Dewey & Louie with their Uncle Donald Duck. The triplets from being young innocent, tow-headed tykes & more serious characters especially in 1987 “Duck Tales”, they are now grown denser, hot blooded & hormonal teenagers (portraying like human in adolescence) attracted & love to chase girls while their “Uncle D” in his middle-age, frantic less-compelling guardian & very loving “parent” to the three, as well as Daisy in her modern 90's women. The great revolution of character personalities plus humor--biting, sarcastic, witty and intelligent story lines give mark of success to the series.

In Quack Pack, nephews tormenting under the parenting concern of their Uncle Donald who was working as cameraman of his love interest, career-driven reporter, Daisy in a television news show called “What in the World”. The triplets with their new individual personalities and hip lingo attire, the leader Huey in his red collared shirt with sleeves rolled up over a matching T, the smart Dewey in his sports something mop-top/mushroom haircut & blue-toned pinstripe baseball jersey with blue T-shirt underneath, and the a bit clueless but sweet Louie now entails backwards green baseball cap & tank top sando. The boys in their saccharine cuteness, wacky hysterical teenage hood adventures, attractions with human ladies, their silly slapstick heavy comedy & playing practical jokes with their hapless Uncle D, they always get in trouble.

A year of the triplets adventures in Quack Pack TV series from September 1996 until September 1997, completed 1 season with 35 episodes, now available on DVD.

The Quack Pack DVD at TV Shows on DVD


Quack Pack Voice Casts:
  • Donald Duck ....... voice by Tony Anselmo
  • Daisy Duck ....... voice by Katie Souchie
  • Huey Duck ....... voice by Jeannie Elias
  • Dewey Duck ....... voice by Pamela Adlon
  • Louie Duck ....... voice by Elizabeth Daily
  • Ludwing Von Duck ....... voice by Corey Burton
  • Gwumpki ....... voice by Pat Fraley
  • Kent Powers ....... voice by Roger Rose

Friday, March 9, 2007

"Josie And The PussyCats in Outer Space"

70s Josie And The PussyCats in Outer Space Adventures

A Saturday morning animated tv series, a continuation and spin off from the popular cartoon TV show, Josie And The PussyCats, a more exciting and new story series as the gang accidentally gets launched into the outer space. The Josie and The Pussycats characters was came from 1968 popular comic book series, Archie and His Friends (Josie McCoy first introduced), Josie formed all-girl pop music band with Melody Valentine and Valerie Brown (wears leopard printed leotard shirt with long tails and cat ears hat), band's roadie and Josie boyfriend Alan M. Mayberry, rich cowardly manager Alexander Cabot III with his twin snobbish sneaky and mean sister Alexandra (have serious crush with Alan) with a black white cat pet Sebastian (reincarnation of a witchcraft ancestor of Cabots).

In Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space series, the band was invited to play at the launch of new NASA spaceship, soon they ride the top gantry of the ship for photo pose but the bumbling Alexandra attempts to knock Josie out of spotlight with body slam bump Josie causing them all go tumbling inside the Rocketship X-M through it's open hatch. Alexandra pulls the launch lever, taking off the ship good thing smart Valerie managed to operate the ship, they face trouble and adventures in outer space chasing with some alien race dictators capture them, perform couple of musical number (alien comatose as they starts to play) and they able to escape return to Earth but Alexandra trying to win Alan always messing things up turning the ship off-course and land to another planet. Cuddly blob-like alien Bleep join and help their adventures.


Josie and The Pussycats in Outer Space cartoon tv series was debuted from 1972 lasted until 1974, created and produced by William Hanna-Joseph Barbera production, now available on DVD.


Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space DVD at TV Shows on DVD

Voice Casts:
  • Josie McCoy ........ Janet Waldo (Voice) / Cathy Douglas(Singing Voice)
  • Alan M. Mayberry ....... Jerry Dexter (Voice)
  • Sherry Alberoni ....... Alexandra Cabot (Voice)
  • Melody Valentine ....... Jackie Joseph (Voice) / Cheryl Ladd (Singing Voice)
  • Valerie Brown ....... Barbara Pariot (Voice) / Patrice Holloway (Singing Voice)
  • Alexander Cabot III ....... Casey Kasem (Voice)
  • Alien Bleep/ Cat Sebastian ....... Don Messick (Voice)

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

"McHale's Navy" - 60's Navy Comedy TV Series

The Funny Crews of - McHale's Navy -

The McHales Navy was a hilarious military situational comedy TV show of the 60s, a group of lively light-hearted and resourceful men stranded in a South West Pacific Island controlled by Japanese Navy, they've found a paradise and their misadventures, leisure, humor and patriotic responsibilities began in this funny tv series, the viewers loved it for many decades.

At the start of World War II, experienced gentleman but naive Lieutenant Commander Quinton 'Skipper' McHale commissioned in US Navy Reserved stationed in the island of Taratupa but Japanese heavily bombed & destroyed the base with heavy patrols in the region, only 18 out of 150 Navy aviators and marines survived, including McHale and his six free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies, they've forced to survive, befriend & live leisurely with native tribes in the island of paradise; make moonshine(whisky), gambling, go surfing, dance with girls etc. McHale received a command to support a Marine battalion rescuer that will be attacked by enemy cruiser, McHale and his men managed to capture a Japanese PT-73 Boat (Torpedo Patrol #73) and use to sunk Japanese cruiser, and again live in fun and luxury. Taratupa Base commander Captain Wallace Burton “Old Leadbottom” Binghamton, aided by sycophantic Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter, they find ways to get rid and want to end the get-rich-quick happy living schemes of McHale's fun-loving, rule-bending “8 Balls”, but McHale and his 'pirates' always have ways to escape from their evil nemesis, and when duty calls they do their job very well.

The classic finest, funniest and outrageous crew assembled, the McHale's Navy, aired from September 1962 and lasted until April 1966 completed 4 seasons with 138 episodes of comic fun and misadventures. Now full 4 seasons of McHale's Navy available on DVD.


The McHale's Navy DVD at TV Shows on DVD

Casts:

  • Ernest Borgnine - Lt. Cdr. Quinton McHale
  • Billy Sands - Harrison "Tinker" Bell (Engineman)
  • Gary Vinson - George "Christy" Christopher (Quartermaster)
  • Edson Stroll - Virgil Edwards (Gunner's Mate)
  • Carl Ballantine - Lester Gruber (Torpedoman 1st Class Lester Gruber)
  • Gavin MacLeod - Joseph "Happy" Haynes (Torpedoman's Mate)
  • John Wright - Willy Moss (Radioman)
  • Yoshio Yoda - Takeo Fujiwara(Fuji) - Cook, Seaman 3C (Imperial Japanese Navy)
  • Tim Conway - Ensign Charles Parker
  • Bob Hastings - Lt. Elroy Carpenter
  • Joe Flynn - Capt. Wallace Burton Binghamton
  • Roy Roberts - Admiral Bruce Rogers
  • Bill Quinn - Admiral Benson


Monday, March 5, 2007

"Rawhide" - Old Wild Western TV Adventure

Rawhide was a fine 50s TV show packed with romantic interests, never-ending adventures, always changing sceneries and an interesting show as the fourth longest western tv series (beyond Gunsmoke, Bonanza and The Virginian). Rawhide made top 20 in Nielsen Ratings for it's premiere episode and one of America's top 10 shows.

The Rawhide's storyline about the adventures a North Texans trail boss Gil Favor of a continuous cattle drive (about 3000 head herd cattle) headed to the Sedalia, Kansas market. Gil (starred by Eric Fleming) was assisted crews; a young ranch ramrod scout Rowdy Yates (starred by Clint Eastwood, his first major role), the trail whiskered cook Harkness “Mushy” Mushgrove, scout Wishbone (Paul Brinegar, the one who provides comic relief with “mother” element for Rowdy), old hands scout experts Pete Nolan and Jim Quince, they take adventures and meet people and trouble on the trail. They encounter inconveniences and confronts, they get drawn solving problems and situations in towns, they rescue cattle in dangers in Old West (diseases, injuries, stampedes and lack of water, etc.), but they proved it as a true cowboys in gunfights, brawls and journey on the way. The series made it very realistic and convincing, packed with romance and comic plus a movie-like quality (music in full studio orchestra and scenes view as expansive as West).

The fascinating Rawhide TV series was premiered on January 1959 and end on December 1965 with 8 seasons and 217 episodes, now full 8 seasons available on DVD.


The Rawhide DVD at TV Shows on DVD


Casts:
    • Gil Favor, Trail Boss ....... Eric Fleming
    • Rowdy Yates ....... Clint Eastwood
    • Simon Blake, Scout ....... Raymond St. Jacques
    • G. W. Wishbone, Cook ....... Paul Brinegar
    • Jed Colby, Scout ....... John Ireland
    • Clay Forrester, Scout ....... Charles Gray

Friday, March 2, 2007

- Hercule "Poirot" - TV Series

I admit freely and without hypocrisy that I am a great man.” - Hercule Poirot

Hercule Poirot, a fictional, brilliant Belgian Detective who had a long glorious career, who finished every case with a dramatic dénouement, confirming he has “the greatest mind in Europe”. Poirot's first published appearance was in Agatha Christie's novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles (published 1920), with many influence from other two fictional detectives (Marie Lowndes' “Hercule Popeau” and Frank Evans' “Monsieur Poiret”). A 5 feet 4 inches green eyed man, with egg-shaped head (which he perches to one side), has the blackest of hair (he use dye), his black waxed moustache is perfection (very stiff and military) and always wear patent leather shoes, neatly dressed with finest clothings and love finer things of life.

1989 Poirot TV series, short episodes based on Christie's short stories and long episodes on Christie's novels as a monumentally fastidious and arrogant detective in 1930s, he was the famous sleuth, using his mind as greatest tool in solving crimes the “little grey cells”, believing all crimes are psychological and evidence cannot solve it alone, he is a clue-based detective and depends on logic “order and method”. He focuses on traditional trail on clues; fingerprints, footprints, cigar ash, he was able to establish a thinking and enquiring into the nature of the victim and active pursuit of the psychology of the murderer, noting tiny details and freudian slips by asking a series of seemingly pointless questions. Poirot (David Suchet) was assisted by his life-long partner Captain Arthur Hastings (Hugh Fraser), a man with plenty of imagination but not a great deal of brains, and Poirot's terrifyingly efficient secretary Miss Felicity Lemon(Pauline Moran), together they solve complex crimes ranges around the world. Hastings first describe Poirot in The Mysterious Affair at Style:


"He was hardly more than five feet four inches but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side. His moustache was very stiff and military. The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound."


The Poirot TV Series, debuted from January 1989 still continuing it's seasons in 2007 (Season 13), all credits from Christie's seventy-two Poirot stories (nearly sixty already produced), now seasons 1-9 with 64 episodes of Piorot available on DVD.