Saturday, October 12, 2024

5 Horror TV Dramas You Probably Never Heard Of

 

Spooky season is the perfect time for some good dramas to check out. Dramas like Stranger Things, Masters Of Horror, Black Mirror, From, and the American Horror Story series. Are all well beloved and known amongst horror enthusiast and the general public. For each one of these series that are popular, there are several that just never caught on. With that here are 5 horror dramas you probably don't remember.

All Souls-UPN


Debuting on UPN in April of 2001, this horror drama actually was a interesting concept. It followed the staff at a teaching hospital that is haunted, beget by the spirits of the hospital dating back to the civil war. Victims of various experiments that have been conducted at the hospital over the years. The show created a mythology for the series that was to be revealed as it progressed, but the show was pulled after 2 episodes. Remaining episodes were aired later that summer, but All Souls was cancelled with only 6 episodes airing.


GvsE-USA network


G vs E was a USA network drama that aired during the days of Pacific Blue and La Femme Nikkita. Entertaining series in their own right, but not the quality of later USA network originals like Suits and Burn Notice. Debuting in the summer of 1999, the drama had a comedic tone to it as well and a very 70's aesthetic. It followed partners Chandler and Henry agents of the "Force", a agency that works under the leadership in heaven against "The Morlocks" who operate as soldiers for hell. 

Even though they are technically dead, Chandler and Henry walk amongst the mortals and have strict rules about their mission and the rules they abide by to survive. The show was later retitled to Good vs Evil, moved to the Sci-Fi Channel and lasted one more season. Which is a shame because it had potential.


Midnight, Texas-NBC


A fairly recent drama that no one seems to remember, Midnight, Texas debuted on NBC in 2017. Main character Manfred Bernardo (François Arnaud) who is a psychic, guided by the spirit of his grandmother to travel to the town of Midnight. Once there he finds a community of various "types", vampires, werewolves, witches, warlocks, fallen angels etc. All who have come to the small town to get away from something, and be around common type of people. While uniting to combat outside threats. 

The show managed to get 2 seasons before being cancelled, and lost in the consciousness of people's minds.

Fear Itself-NBC

 
                                  

This 2008 horror drama Fear Itself  was an anthology series much in the same vain as Twilight Zone or Masters of Horror. Actors and actresses such as Eric Roberts, Elizabeth Smart, Wendell Pierce, Anna Kendrick, and Brandon Routh all appeared in various episodes for the series. While having buzz and potential the show never caught on. Debuting in June of that year, it was never really given a chance being preempted for the Olympics that summer. With no definitive date on when it would return, the show only aired for eight episodes, with an additional four filmed and completed never to be seen.



50 States Of Fright-Quibi




50 States Of Fright caught a raw deal, it was released during the height of the pandemic on a upstart streaming platform that was shut down by the end of the year. Executive produced by Sam Raimi, 50 States of Fright was an anthology horror series, that told a horror story from each state. Since Quibi was intended to provide short form storytelling, each episode was only around 10 minutes long. Thus the show was able to produce 20 episodes spilting them into 2 seasons before the service was dissolved.





Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Ten Random Funny Halloween episodes

 Just like spooky season brings great films, it also brings forth some great episodes of sitcoms. So I spent some time digging through various crates and crafted a list of ten funny Halloween episodes. Let's begin!

Everybody Hates Chris-Everybody Hates Halloween


This season 1 episode has all the hallmarks of a classic Halloween sitcom you can relate to. Rochelle ever the overprotective exaggeration mother lets the kids know they can't eat the candy without her inspecting it. Julius needs to make the candy stretch, and Chris feels he is too old for Halloween. That is until he get's invited to a party, and askes Rochelle to make him a costume. In this episode all the characters are true themselves through the spirit of Halloween.

Everybody Hates Chris is available on Peacock, Paramount +, Disney + and Hulu, and Tubi.

Modern Family-Halloween


This season 2 episode of Modern Family, is a delightful episode. It shows how OCD Claire is about Halloween. Her house is top notch decorated for Halloween and she has the entire family involved in her holiday shenanigans. All she wants is a perfect Halloween and to scare trick or treaters while her family deals with work issues, and in the case of Gloria accent issues. 

Modern Family is available on Peacock and Hulu. TBS and USA wear reruns out of this show.


Bernie Mac Show-Night Of Terror


This season 5 episode goes by two titles Night Of Terror and 13 going on 9. It's not a  Halloween themed episode per say, but fits into spooky season. The episode involves Jordan just turning 13 wanting to stay up late and watch a Horror movie. When he goes against the grain and does, his nerves get the best of him and he must become a "man" as the forces are coming to get him. Meanwhile Wanda has her own bad luck at a church auction when she has a wardrobe malfunction.

Bernie Mac Show is available on Hulu and Disney + and Tubi.


Freaks And Geeks-Tricks And Treats


The third episode of the cult classic Freaks And Geeks is funny and has a lot of messages about growing up and life. This was the episode that drew me into the show and I backtracked and followed it from there until it's cancellation. Anyway it's Halloween night, and the freaks in the story decide they are gonna to cause mischief and chaos smashing pumpkins and mailboxes. Meanwhile the Geeks all deal with some kind of insecurities and uneasiness about growing up, as they have different opinions on costumes, Halloween, and is it "cool" to trick or treat anymore.

Freaks and Geeks is available on Hulu and Disney +, and Paramount +.

Black-ish-The Purge


This season 3 episode brilliantly spoofs Halloween and the film franchise The Purge, and all the wackiness that comes with spooky season. The neighborhood decides to have mischief night on Halloween. Ruby's all in while Rainbow is not. Diane and Jack decide to venture out and Rainbow has to save the night.

Meanwhile Dre and Charlie decide to play a Halloween appropriate prank on Jr. After Jr. Embarrasses Dre on the court and it goes viral.

Black-ish is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Malcolm In The Middle-Halloween


This season 7 episode of Malcolm In The Middle has the family on edge. During a guided death tour around town, Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey get startled when their house is one of the tour stops. With the story being a grisly murder occurred there years ago. When they share the news with Hal, he can't handle it and borderline has a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile Lois has a day with a shoplifter at work and her coworkers could care less. While Dewey and Reese have a run-in with a elderly neighbor. 

Malcolm In The Middle is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Boy Meets World-Then There Was Shawn


While this episode technically did not air during spooky season, it 100 % is a Halloween episode. Inspired by the slasher genre that gained popularity in the late 90's, this season 5 episode is one of the sitcoms best.

After the group is stuck in detention and Mr. Feeney leaves the room, things start going awry. One by one folks are picked up and nothings adding up. It's a really fun and entertaining episode.

Boy Meets World is available on Disney +.

Abbott Elementary-Candy Zombies


This season 2 episode of Abbott is kind of like a caper crime episode. A bag of candy is stolen by a student at Abbott and dispersed to other students (even babies). Soon all the kids are on a sugar high, and the staff must stop them from overrunning the school like zombies, find the culprit and a loose baby. Meanwhile Janine starts rethinking her personal life and work/life balances after being invited to a Halloween party by a old friend. 

Abbot Elementary is available on Hulu, Disney +, and Max.

Family Matters-Stevil


At this point in Season 8 of Family Matters, the show had reached jump the shark levels. Regardless of how iffy that season was, this episode is a bonafide Halloween classic. Stevil was a ventriloquist doll Steve Urkel acquired, one night as Steve fell asleep and left the bedroom window open. A lightening bolt struck the doll and bought him to life. Stevil wastes no time making Urkel think he is crazy and terrorizing the rest of the Winslow family. 

Family Matters is available on Max, Disney + and Hulu.

Martin-The Night He Came Home


One of the funniest Halloween episodes ever, now I'm a bit bias because of how much I love the sitcom Martin but it is top tier. This season 1 episode features the gang congregating on Halloween night to enjoy the night. They decide to perform a seance to call on Old Man Ackerman, Martin ever the cynic doesn't believe in it. He's in a rough Halloween night.  

Martin is available on BET +, Netflix, and Peacock.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Remake Theater: My Boyfriends Back

 Earlier this year Lisa Frakenstein debuted in theaters. I enjoyed the movie and its campy 80s quirks,  although it did not do well during it's release,  moviegoers who saw it during that time enjoyed it, now that it has been streaming for a few months. More people have learned what a gem it is, I truly believe it is on the path to becoming a cult classic. Watching it reminded of a quirky comedy from the 90's My Boyfriends Back. If you've read previous blogs of mine, you're aware I am a advocate of Hollywood remaking films that had potential but just weren't successful for whatever reason, and starting over. My Boyfriends Back fit's perfectly into that category.


My Boyfriends Back is a 1993 film starring Andrew Lowrey (Andy the goofy friend of Buffy's boyfriend in Buffy The Vampire Slayer film) and Traci Lind. Then unknown actors Matthew Mcconaughey (almost unrecognizable), Matthew Fox, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman appear in the film as well. Lowrey's character Johnny has a crush on Lind's character Missy, the prettiest girl in the school. He concocts a plan to save Missy from a fake robbery win her heart and her hand as her prom date, but what a ill-conceived plan that is. Andrew dies, but returns from the grave to win her heart. Causing mass hysteria in their small town, and learn what young love is all about.



The film is a horror comedy covering a young zombie. There's no real gore in the film and most of the film is played for laughs. I mean at it's core it is a film about teenage love so that is understandable. It also plays into the lore of zombies, which has gained a huge interest from the pop culture world after the success of The Walking Dead series. A remake would not survive in today's theater landscape, but it is a prime streaming candidate.

Light-hearted fare, young teenage love, a guy doing crazy things to win his crushes affection, zombies. It has all the making's to be entertaining material for a new generation with some slight updates to fit the 21st century. The original was distributed by Touchstone Pictures, which is a Disney subsidiary, so Disney could make it a Hulu original film or sell the rights for a remake. Peacock could use material like this for original content. 


It's been 31 years since the original debuted and it had a lot more potential than it was given credit for. Time for someone to sort through the crates, find this hidden gem and start crafting a remake.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

10 Of My Must Watch Spooky Season Movies



 


It's spooky season! Besides the decorations, carved pumpkins, and lot's and lot's of candy. Spooky season always brings us to catching up on horror favorites or checking out a new horror movie. For this blog I decided to share my ten Halloween movies I must find the time to watch, every year.


10. Vampire In Brooklyn


I love a good vampire movie, and despite what critics and haters may say Vampire In Brooklyn is a very good vampire movie. Argue with your mother if you feel otherwise, but it serves it's purpose. It may not be Eddie Murphy's best work, but it was a perfect blend of comedy and horror. The make up for Eddie's character Max was top notch, and the story touched upon and left a goldmine of an idea on the table. Black Caribbean Vampires and Max trying to preserve his race, perfect fodder for a legacy sequel. 

9. Beetlejuice


Not sure if it's Michael Keaton's performance, or the rendition of Harry Belafonte's Jump In The Line, Shake Senora that make the movie infectious. Either way it just is, it has comedy, world building with how the undead operate and is surprisingly timeless. The film has spawned a cartoon, broadway musical, and just released last month a sequel. Which highlights the movie is a classic and must be watched every year.

8. Monster House


I was twenty years old when Monster House released, I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. I really think if I was a kid when it released, you couldn't tell me it's not the greatest movie ever. It has the tropes of the old creepy neighbor, neighborhood rumors, and that house. Oh man something is up with that house, and the legends behind it are believable. It's a great movie for kid's with just enough scares but nothing gruesome, and adult's will enjoy it too. Hench why I watch it every year.

7. Zombieland


I'll admit I've never gotten into zombies, even when The Walking Dead was probably the most popular show on earth I didn't watch it. Zombieland however is one good funny ass movie, starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. The movie is part road trip, part survival movie as the quartet hit the road in hopes of reaching a city free of zombies. It's hilarious and the few action scenes don't disappoint. When it's on, I take a break from whatever I'm doing and watch it.

6. Final Destination


The original Final Destination released in 2000 was legitimately the last movie, for a good 10 plus years that had me on the edge of my seat and scared (The Conjuring released in 2013 took that spot).  The story and as a result the murders in the movie were very unique and a bit believable. The sequels are hit or miss in my opinion, but 20 plus years later I watch this every year like it's my first time seeing it.

5. Fright Night


1985's Fright Night is an unapologetic 80's movie, a true product of it's time. It's campy as well, and has some undertones that leave you not sure if the filmmakers intended to have it that way or not. Outside of that it's a damn good vampire movie, about a horror film obsessed young man who suspects things are not quite right with his new neighbor.

4. People Under The Stairs


Wes Craven's 1991 film The People Under The Stairs is his best work outside of the original Nightmare on Elm Street and hell that is debatable in my opinion. The film stars Brandon Adams as a young boy through some mishaps, finds himself trapped inside the house of some psychotic occupants. He set's out to escape and save those trapped in the house done wrong. I didn't realize until I got older the movie has a strong socio-political message about racism, the effects of certain economic policies on lower-income citizens, and gentrification among others. It's really a dope movie with a dope message. 

3. Killer Klowns From Outer Space 



Sure it's campy, the plot quite absurd and the production low budget, but damnit the film works. Alien clowns come to earth and wreck havoc on a small town. What could embrace the spooky and wildness of spooky season than that? The movie actually has some very creative death scenes due to the nature of the  villains. It's campy, it's B-movie grade, and it works. 

2. Ghostbusters I and II


This maybe considered cheating, cause it's two films but oh well. The original Ghostbusters film and it's sequel I can watch year round all the time. However during spooky season both are getting multiple views from me like I've never seen them before. Besides the films themselves, you can't miss the theme song during this time of year. It has a stranglehold on pop culture 40 years later for a reason.

1. The Lost Boys 


Let's be honest some vampire movies may have better plots or special effects, or gore. It's just one problem, none of those films are The Lost Boys. To me  The Lost Boys is the epitome of  a cool ass film, let alone a Vampire film. Keifer Sutherland as head vampire David oozes a charming but vicious demeanor. The rock and rap medley of the late 80's is in force here, and the beach front town provides a different aesthetic from other vampire movies of the time. I can quote the film like it's second nature, and the third act at the house is still one of the better horror film third acts.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Hey Subscription Services..Enough Is A Enough

 



Hulu, Espn + and Disney + have been notifying subscribers for months that a price hike was coming in October. This hike 25% across various plans offered is the latest in a series of streaming/subscription services raising prices which seems like just cause. The Disney owned services weren't the only ones hitting wallets this year. Peacock, Max, and Paramount + have all increased their subscription prices at some point this year.

Which has made it even more annoying is all of these services run ads as well, and a lot of their original content has been lackluster lately. And many of the apps have the same library of films.  Not to mention the original appeal of these streaming apps was a cheaper alternative to cable which became overran with quantity of channels and content many didn't ask for.

These providers justify the increases by saying they are investing in "content", but we all know they have to show profit for investors and make back all the infrastructure costs it took to make these services. I have a tip for these services I get you have to make money, but slow down on the price hikes.

We as consumers learned relatively quickly and with ease, hey we don't need cable. Pretty soon we will come to realize the same for many of these apps and cut them loose. Especially once they start trying to charge $25-$30 for subscription and it takes 2 years for the show you really wanted to see to return for a new season.

Hope they figure it out before they price themselves out of subscribers and eventually business.


Saturday, September 28, 2024

5 Disney Channel Shows You Dont Know or Remember


My family went on a vacation to Orlando earlier this week and during a ride on Winnie The Pooh, I asked my wife if she remembered the live action show that use to air on the Disney Channel. Full disclosure, there is a 4 year age difference between us and often when I mention stuff she likely never saw or too young to remember I get the blank stare or quick "No". So that got the wheels spinning in my head about Disney Channel shows you either don't know or completely forgot about. 

Here I am again with another blog to educate and remind. So here we go, 5 Disney Channel shows that have skipped the memory banks.


5. Winnie The Pooh Corner


Let's Start off with the show that inspired this blog. The live action Puppet show Welcome To Pooh Corner which debuted on the Disney Channel in 1983 (before I was even born). It was one of the original programs when the network launched and was treated as educational programming. The puppets featured were actors in costume which I guess was cutting edge at the time. The series ran until 1986 and aired in reruns normally during the day on the channel until the mid-90's.

4. Adventures In Wonderland


Debuting in 1992, Adventures In Wonderland was an effort by Disney to update the Alice In Wonderland story to modern times. It followed Alice who could easily transport to Wonderland at will through a mirror in her bedroom. When she often had issues at school or home and unsure what to do, she steps through the mirror to gain some guidance. The series ran until 1995 and aired in reruns for a couple more years. It's currently airing on Disney Plus.

3. Secret Bodyguard


Secret Bodyguard is a very obscure show in the history of programs. It starred Ernie Reyes Jr., his father Ernie Reyes Sr. and Heather Campbell. Originally airing as a series of shorts for a season during episodes of  the New Mickey Mouse Club. Disney eventually took those shorts and made full length episodes airing them on their own. It stars Ernie Reyes Jr. as a teenager who studies martial arts hired by a wealthy overprotective father to look after his daughter as she attends public school for the first time. 

2. Flash Forward 


Flash Forward was kind of new territory for the Disney Channel as it was more in the dramedy realm than previous programs. It also was the first series to air on the network with the "Disney Original Series" branding. Debuting in 1995 the series followed best friends Tucker (Ben Foster) and Rebecca (Jewel Staite) as they navigate 8th grade and all that comes with it alongside their friends. The show lasted one true season spread out across 26 episodes that were often broken up. It seemed like it ran in rerun infamy for years. 

1. Dumbo's circus


Dumbo's Circus pretty much followed the same format as Pooh's Corner, featuring actors in puppet costumes portraying Dumbo and his friends. They perform as a traveling circus act going town to town to entertain and educate. The series debuted in 1985 and lasted one full season ending in 1986, but somehow produced 120 episodes (They were working). It continued airing in reruns until the mid-90's as well. 


Friday, September 27, 2024

Freaks & Geeks Even 25 Years Later Gone Too Soon

 


This week marked the 25th anniversary of the cult classic series Freaks And Geeks, a brilliant show that was cancelled way too soon. It had so much going for it and it's a shame that maybe just maybe it was ahead of it's time. The show had a pedigree of who's who talent before they really became stars. Created by Paul Feig who later directed Bridesmaids, the much maligned but actually good 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, and The Heat among other films. Judd Apatow (40 year old Virgin, Knocked up, TrainWreck) executive produced the series and helped it get greenlit. Future stars such as James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Linda Cardellini, Samm Levine, and Busy Phillips rounded out the cast. 


Set in the 1980's it followed brother and sister Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and Sam (John Francis Daley) Weir. They both attend William McKinley high school and while trying to navigate high school and find themselves they attach themselves to two separate groups. Lindsay trying to shed her good girl image hangs with the slackers and losers dubbed "The Freaks", while Sam hang's with the akward, timid Dungeons & Dragons loving crew known as "The Geeks". 


In short 18 episodes the series spoke to people of all ages, especially teenagers and young adults trying to find themselves. It also was able to transcend generations as what the kid's experienced in this fictional show set in the 80's, kid's today in 2024 still go through the same thing. In fact, I feel the show would have been more relevant now with nerd/geek culture being more accepted and mainstream now. It had so much more story to tell with these characters and we all saw a little bit of ourselves in Lindsay, Sam, and crew. 

It's a shame NBC didn't do right by the show and didn't see the gem it had on their hands. It's also a shame other networks at the time didn't see the same and swoop in and save the day when it was cancelled. We hardly knew the Freaks and Geeks, 25 years later we lament that it was gone too soon.