![]() ![]() Section One: Shows which Im currently gathering information on. This probably means I havent seen enough of the shows yet to review them. Section Two: Shows which are next to research. If you know of any good sources of information on these series then please let me know. Second Three: A VERY long list of programs Ill probably never get to. Either theyre too old, too obscure or just havent caught my eye enough to move them up. Section One Both of these are pretty ambitious programs. Adolescent horror shows which dont talk down to their viewers. The characters even solved their own problems with hardly any adult supervision. (Before correcting me I said supervision not guidance) Are You Afraid of The Dark? - This Nickelodeon series wasnt stingy when it came to special effects. Very well done. If your child seems interested in fantasy and horror stories this is a perfect series to introduce them to. Goosebumps - Syndicated spooks abound in this series which seemed to be geared toward the Mighty Morphine Power Rangers generation. Gun - The concept of this show was pretty simple. Take a gun and each week show the hands it passes through. Some critics liked this show. Some parents groups didnt. Guess which side won out? Deadmans Gun - Interesting. While Gun didnt really get off the firing range Deadmans Gun had a small cult following. The difference? This series had supernatural overtones to it which probably made it a little more acceptable. (Sort of the real violence versus fake violence argument) And in case youre wondering...yes, they did do an episode where you find out who the original owner was. Darkroom - Only seven episodes. The phrase half a chance doesnt seem to even apply to this series. Veteran actor James Coburn does a great job as host. Unfortunately, someone said they made a movie version of some of the episodes and they cut his part out. (It was a voiceover rather than an appearance.) Desilu Playhouse The Time Element - Considered the unofficial pilot for The Twilight Zone. The series had much better stories but even this episode had the Serling spark in it. K.O. Kitty - Lucille Ball plays a woman who thinks she has inherited a dog. She then finds out shes really getting a different kind of boxer. (Played by veteran actor Aldo Ray.) Ball practicing at the gym his hilarious. Freddys Nightmares - The show which single handily crushed horror off the airwaves. This gory series was hosted by Robert England and only one episode had any connection to the movie series. The other episodes were a hodgepodge of blood, guts, and teen hormones. For 80s conservatives this show crossed the line and it was canceled. [A very unhappy side note to its cancellation was the fact that it drug Friday the13th: The Series down with it. Organizations which rallied against Freddy made the wrong assumption that FT13:TS was also based on the movie franchise. (Which it wasnt). In fact, I remember seeing many, many, interviews where they made mention of Freddy and Jason slashing helpless teens every week. Which, if you saw either series, youd know just wasnt true. Proof positive that some people just didnt know what they were bitching about.] In Search Of... - This series was a ray of light in a sea of skepticism during the 1970s. Back then there was a resurgence of interest in unexplained phenomena. Instead of putting out a schlocky tabloid series, the producers took a more enlightened and documentarian type of stance with In Search Of... Scholars and historians took both sides of an issue. Fact and legends were given equal time and equal respect. Leonard Nimoy expertly hosted and gave the show an air of credibility. But there's still one question...wheres the Crystal Skull episode? Quinn Martins Tales of the Unexpected - Any information on this series would be appreciated. The pilot was one of those episodes I remember seeing when growing up. But, for some reason, I cant find any info on any other episodes. The opening credits were reminiscent of Circle of Fear. Red Shoes Diaries - Sexy, sensuous and voiceovers that could melt butter. Yeah, this SHOWTIME series is much more adult and not really science fiction/fantasy/horror related. And yes theres a lot of nudity. Did I forget to mention the bad language? Okay, so why is this series listed? Because the cinematography and storytelling are excellent. Hosted by David Duchovny of The X-Files fame, each story has camera angles other shows would kill for. (And Im not talking about the sex scenes.) If you like Zahlman Kings work also check out the movie In Gods Hands. Section Two
Section Three
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