A CHILLER THEATER REUNION was a special hour long broadcast (no movie) reuniting the Chiller Family for the first time in nearly 10 years (last appearance Feb. 1982), kicking off with "The Break-In," as Chilly Billy rifles the safe to discover a trio of singing skulls exulting to the tune of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Castle Keeper Norman still insists that 'Boss Chilly' is cheap, Pizza Man Skeets Skettino isn't as close a friend to demand a tip, Terminal Stare (Donna Rae) zaps herself on set, and Stephen the Castle Prankster arrives in style by limousine. Chilly Billy seats himself for "Dial-a-Gripe" wearing a "Day of the Dead" t-shirt (the 1985 sequel that starred his daughter Lori), advising a female caller who wants to end a long love affair to 'get married!' (current Steelers quarterback Bubby Brister gets a brief mention). Dr. Cyril Wecht turns down his invitation because he can't think of a 'bigger stiff than Bill Cardille, the guy's been dead for 10 years, rigor mortis set in a long time ago, somebody just forgot to tell him!' Phyllis Diller pops up to reminisce about her appearance in "Little Old Monster Maker," adding that Chiller Theater was 'the highlight of all of my trips to Pittsburgh!' "Drac-Net" was a DRAGNET spoof spotlighting old Hollywood footage from Bela Lugosi's "Dracula," Lon Chaney's "Son of Dracula," and Lugosi's "The Ape Man." Professional championship wrestler Bruno Sammartino sums up the secret of the show's success: "in 20 years of Chiller Theater Bill Cardille put more people to sleep than anybody I know!" We see "Captain Bad" one last time (CAPTAIN NICE enjoyed its brief run in 1967), Barbara Feldon's 1966 appearance as Agent 99 from GET SMART, then a presentation of "Double Bill," Chilly Billy trading barbs with himself in front of a replica of the original lab set: "two things are important in life Chilly, sex and laughs, unfortunately I usually get them at the same time!" Original repeats of "The Break-In" (the guy singing in the shower) and "A Chilly Happening" (the Boston Strangler) are sandwiched around new editions of "Strange But True," the "PSS (Pittsburgh Subway System)," "Mr. Magnificent," and "Mess World," plus a clip of news anchor Bill Cardille playing himself in George Romero's original 1968 "Night of the Living Dead." This would be our last visit with the Chiller Family, Norman Elder passing away in 2000, Stephen Luncinski in 2009, Bill Cardille in 2016.
