koconnor-1

I was one of the lucky few that got to go into the Disney MGM Studios just a couple of days before it opened to the general public. This show was broadcast three days later. I greatly enjoyed it, particularly looking at all of the attractions that I had just walked through a few days before. But now many of those attractions have either been removed or altered, so the show is dated. (As an example, Superstar Television has been replaced by an audience-participation "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?" show. And the "Monster Sound Show" has been retrofitted with a Drew Carey sound effects extravaganza. Likewise, the areas previously only accessible via trams are now walk-throughs. The theme park has lost some of its "Real Hollywood Studio" feeling in favor of the "Theme Park" setting. But even so, this show is a great testament to the Hollywood of days gone by. And a stellar lineup of talent that participated - everyone from Dick Van Dyke to Ronald Reagan to Mickey Rooney and Tony Randall played a part.

Outstanding documentary on what has been dubbed "The Night that Panicked America". Filmmaker James Cameron narrates a behind the scenes look at the infamous "War of the Worlds" broadcast of 1938 by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater Company. Includes rarely seen/heard footage of the great huckster and his statement to the world following the harrowing night of the hoax, and even a footnote of a greater tragedy that took place following a similar broadcast in Mexico two decades later. For fans of old time radio, WW2 and Scifi, this is a must see. I particularly liked the real comments from residents of New Jersey who listened to the actual broadcast on that Halloween eve. While we have heard stories about the various fears and panics of persons who witnessed the events of that night, this is the one documentary I have seen or heard that truly puts it all into perspective. As a companion piece, I recommend the film, "The Night that Panicked America" which starred John Ritter.

This admittedly forgettable short-lived comedy gem served a dual purpose for me... It was mildly amusing in a "Barney Miller-esque" sort of way, but more importantly, it was my introduction to the Mystery genre... The eager young (or old!) detectives in training helped PI Nick Hannigan (a "Miller" veteran) solve a puzzling crime/mystery. For me, the real payoff each episode was when the culprit was unmasked, or the lost item found, the studio audience burst into applause. This never happens on traditional detective shows, and I finally understood WHY people loved a good mystery. Now, I love cop/detective shows, and am an avid reader of Sherlock Holmes. And it's all thanks to Hannigan and his students...