What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
I wasn’t going to do this prompt, but it occurred to me it is a great way to practice quick research and getting facts, dates and spelling of names correct. As I got into it, it was fun. Especially watching “Chuckles Bites the Dust,” again. I needed a good laugh.
Movies
I don’t watch as many movies as I used. But there are few I will watch every time they are on.
Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. If you think about this movie it is a little creepy, but I’m willing to forgive that because it’s well acted. I love the transition Goldie Hawn makes from JoAnna, a selfish, rich bitch; to Annie, a mother of three boys who thinks or others. And Kurt Russel plays the sweaty carpenter very well, until we see, through Annie, the real man underneath. My favorite line is when Annie asks Andrew (Roddy McDowell) if she was really that selfish and he quotes her, “I lost my earning between 33rd and 37th Street. Find it.” And she thanks him for all he’s done for her. I tried to find the clip, but I couldn’t. It is paraphrased.
Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. I can’t resist. Watching Julie Roberts go from the blonde in the tall boots to the girl in the gown going to the opera. Very satisfying. The snotty sales people revenge scene, “Remember me? I was in here yesterday and you wouldn’t wait on me? You work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge.” And the fairy tale ending. The entire story is a fairy tale and that’s how I watch it.
Disney’s The Kid starring Bruce Willis. Bruce Willis plays a 40-year image consultant who meets himself as an 8-year old boy. It is treated realistically which is what I like about the story. It has a great ending. Odd I can’t find this movie on IMDb. I learned it is called both Disney’s The Kid and The Kid. It was made in 2000.
Television Shows
TV series–I’m odd in how I watch them. Sometimes I love the first season, but lose interest over time. I rarely watch a series all the way through. With exception of a few Monk, Columbo and M*A*S*H–except the last episode.
Seinfeld. I love the human nature, although exaggerated, that you see in this show. It’s very New York. I find people hilarious in the things they do, and I feel Seinfeld showcases this type of humor. I have two favorite episodes; “The Chinese Restaurant,” where they wait for a table at a Chinese restaurant, and “The Marine Biologist,” where Kramer hits golf balls into the ocean and George pretends to be a marine biologist and pulls a Titeist golf ball out of a beached whale’s blow-hole. If people acted like the characters on Seinfeld, we’d look at them with a raised eye-brow, but yet their actions ring true for me.
The episode “Chuckles Bites the Dust” of the Mary Tyler More Show which aired October 25, 1975 is one of the funniest episodes I have seen. I was a small child when I first saw this and didn’t understand it, but thought watching the adults laugh was funny. No matter how many times I see it, it makes me laugh out loud. You can watch it on YouTube and see a young Betty White, along with Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Asner, Gavin Macleod, Ted Knight and Georgia Engel. With stellar writing by David Lloyd
WKRP in Cincinnati. A show about a radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio, that ran from 1978 to 1982. This show has not held up very well over the years. Except for this episode, “Turkeys Away” written by Bill Dial. It is a classic. Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump) has the idea to promote the radio station by giving away free turkeys for Thanksgiving. We hear the man on the street report from Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) as he witnesses Mr. Carlson and Herb (Frank Bonner) tossing live turkeys from a helicopter. Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) grabs the mic and says, “The Pinedale Mall has just been bombed by live turkeys! Film at 11.” Then there is Les Nessman’s telling of what happened next. I’m laughing remembering it. The show introduced the world to Howard Hesseman. It also starred Gary Sandy, Tim Reid and Loni Anderson. You can watch most of the episode on YouTube.
Poker Face. This is a new TV show that airs only on Peacock Streaming Service. It stares Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, the human lie detector. At first, I was not sure how I felt about the ‘super power.’ But it allows for justice that isn’t the law and order kind. My favorite episode is “Time of the Monkey,” staring S. Epatha Merkerson and Judith Light. It was wonderful to see these two actresses in these roles. And what a story. I have already watched the first season 3 times.
Please let me know what your favorites are in the comments below.
If you like my writing please support me by donating to help keep the lights on. Even a dollar will be appreciated.
FranklyWrite 