The Box of Delights 1.03

In the Darkest Cellars Underneath

Kay and Mouse, both still small, listen to the conversation between Abner Brown and his henchmen. Both of the suspicious clergymen are there plus Kay's former governess. They have Maria but she seems to think that everything is okay and leaves with Brown and the others. They are off to see some stained glass windows.

Kay returns to Seekings Hall but Maria has yet to return. Kay goes into town and stops at the Rupert Arms, where Abner Brown was staying. He asks the lady at the front desk about him. She calls him the Reverend Doctor Bottledale.

Doctor Who (1963) 11.02.03

Invasion of the Dinosaurs - Part Three

The Doctor almost gets killed by the dinosaur because the gun he built isn't working the way it was intended. Captain Yates rushes in, removes the device he attached to the gun, and uses it on the dinosaur. The large reptile collapses. UNIT moves the dinosaur while it is still unconscious to a warehouse where the Doctor can observe it.

Captain Yates meets with Whitaker and Butler, once again. When he tells them what the Doctor is planning they send him to sabotage the machinery the Doctor is using to observe the dinosaur.

Big Night (1996)

Big Night (1996)

starring Stanley Tucci, Tony Shaloub

directed by Campbell Scott, Stanley Tucci

109 minutes

Secondo (Stanley Tucci) and his brother Primo (Tony Shaloub), immigrants from Italy, run a restaurant together. Primo is the chef and Segundo takes care of the business end of the restaurant. They put everything they have into one big meal for a celebrity just as the bank is getting ready to foreclose on them.

Abbott Elementary 1.07

Art Teacher

Zahar, a friend of Janine, gets hired to be Abbott Elementary's new art teacher. Zahar is qualified but her approach brings her into conflict with Melissa who has her students doing an art project. Janine gets caught in the middle.

Jacob talks Barbara into joining him in starting a garden for the school where they can grow vegetables for the school cafeteria. Greg declines an offer to join them even though he has secret garden skills.

Thoughts

This was a fun episode, better than average. It wasn't hard to see where things were going or where they would end but it was still a fun ride.

NewsRadio 5.07

The Lam

Lisa acknowledges that Johnny is evil but also admits that he is a fun date. Johnny proposes to Lisa. Max also owns up to the fact that Johnny is evil, but also finds him irresistible. Mr. James calls Dave from his parents' home in Wisconsin. Joe and Beth take Dave to task for not liking Johnny.

The episode ends with the FBI getting their hands on Mr. James, his green duffle bag, and Matthew.

The Color Purple (1985)

The Color Purple (1985)

starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery

directed by Stephen Spielberg

154 minutes

This is an epic story which set in rural Georgia in the first half of the 20th century and which follows the life of Celie Johnson (Whoopi Goldberg). She is separated from Nettie, her sister, when they are in their early teens. Celie is forced by her father to marry Albert Johnson (Danny Glover). Mister, as she knows him, needs her to take care of his home and his children. He doesn't care for her and is infatuated with a singer named Shug Avery (Margaret Avery).

Celie loses contact with her sister. Other people come in and out of Celie's life. 

Better Call Saul 3.04

Sabrosito

The episode opens with a flashback in which Hector goes to visit Don Eladio. He is there to deliver Don Eladio's take of the money that Hector's operation has collected. Juan Bolsa, Gus's boss, is also there. The amount of cash and the manner in which it is delivered shames Hector. 

In the present, Hector's ice cream business is investigated by the Feds. Hector goes to Los Pollos Hermanos. Gus is not there. Hector and his men insist on staying until Hector returns. They scare off his customers and hold his employees there until Gus returns later that day.

Hector wants Gus to start helping him to smuggle drugs into the United States from Mexico. Gus does not get flustered. He fails to see why he should help Hector but Hector insists.

Russian Doll 2.05

Exquisite Corpse

Nadia gets off the train in Budapest in 1944, in her grandmother Vera's body. She goes looking for the family treasure which she knows was taken by the Nazis. She goes to her family's old apartment. It is empty but in the building she finds Delia, Vera's friend, who was last seen in 1982 in 2.03 (Brain Drain).

Delia tells Nadia about the warehouse where confiscated valuables were taken. Nadia finds the warehouse and in the basement finds the box that holds her grandmother's valuables. She takes them and hides them in the sewer. She knocks a hole in the wall, places the valuables in the wall and then seals the hole up. She makes a map and gives it to a priest to send to Vera in New York after the war is over.

Nadia gets on the train and winds up in 1968 with Delia. They have the valuables that were hidden in the sewer in Budapest. They exchange the valuables for Krugerrands. Nadia has second thoughts about the Krugerrands but she goes along with Delia's suggestion that Krugerrands, gold coins, are the best things to take in exchange for the family valuables.

The Tick (2001) 1.03

Arthur, Interrupted

Arthur tells his mother and sister about his new career as a superhero. They hire Francis Peacock, who specializes in curing people of their desires to superhero, to cure Arthur.

The Tick thinks that the toilet in Arthur's apartment is talking to him. 

Thoughts

Dave Foley plays the part of Francis Peacock. I know him best from NewsRadio where he plays Dave Nelson.

This was a lot of fun. I really enjoy the absurdity of it all. I doubt that it will please everyone but I liked it.

John Wick (2014)

John Wick (2014)

starring Keanu Reeves

directed by Chad Stahelski

John Wick, retired assassin, comes out of retirement to get revenge on the man who killed his dog. That man turns out to be the son of Viggo, a powerful crime boss. John doesn't care. Viggo puts a price on John's head which brings lots of other assassins out looking for and hoping to be the one to kill John and collect the reward.

Thoughts

I had heard a lot of good things about this movie. I may have to revisit what I heard because this movie failed to impress me. I'm satisfied that I can say that I have seen this movie. I don't feel like I need to see the two sequels.

There are a lot of familiar faces in this movie: Willem Dafoe, Dean Winters, Adrienne Palicki, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Clarke Peters. Most of them do not get very much screen time.

The Box of Delights 1.02

Where shall the 'nighted Showman go?

Kay helps Herne the Hunter to defend the camp from wolves. Before returning to the world that he comes from, Kay encounters Cole Hawlings. He gives Kay the Box of Delights. Mr. Hawlings knows he is being pursued and hopes that Kay can keep it safe. He explains how to use the box before leaving.

Kay wakes up back home in bed. He has the Box of Delights next to him. He and Peter get up early and head to King Arthur's Camp at Bottler's Down. They get there in time to see but not prevent the abduction of Mr. Hawlings. They go to the police to get help for Mr. Hawlings but the Inspector is convinced that what they witnessed was a prank.

They head home. The maid gives them a hard time for getting wet playing in the snow. Kay's aunt Caroline Louisa is still away. Kay and Peter decide not to stick around. They head back to King Arthur's Camp. They spot the two men who were dressed as clergymen digging in the snow looking for something.

UFO Robo Grendizer 2.21

The Pond Brings Forth Hellfire!

or Le lac embrasé (The Burning Lake)

or The Lake Erupts The Hell-Fire!

The Vegans launch small devices toward Earth which go unnoticed by Space Science Center. Daisuke, Hikaru, Kouji, Danbei, and Goro go camping near a lake. Kouji and Daisuke race on the way there, on their cycles. Kouji seems to take the race much more seriously than Daisuke.

Doctor Who (1963) 11.02.02

Invasion of the Dinosaurs - Part Two

The Doctor and Sarah escape from the soldiers who are too busy dealing with a large dinosaur to notice their prisoners running away. The Doctor and Sarah escape into a garage where the Doctor finds some tools and removes the handcuffs that join them. They encounter a man who seems to come from the distant past. He attacks them but then he disappears. The Doctor thinks he was sucked backward in time.

The Brigadier finds the Doctor and Sarah and takes them back to his command post. He and Sgt Benton explain everything they know about the current situation. They are interrupted by General Finch who doesn't care for the Doctor's theories about what brought the dinosaurs to 20th century London. The Doctor comes up with a plan to capture one of the dinosaurs so that he can study it. 

The Phil Silvers Show 2.26

Bilko Goes Around the World

Sgt Bilko tries to win $20,000 by flying around the world in 80 hours. He makes arrangements for flights but at the last minute his place is taken by a young boy named Sidney.

The Wrong Missy (2020)

The Wrong Missy (2020)

starring David Spade, Lauren Lapkus

directed by Tyler Spindel

90 minutes

Tim (David Spade) invites the wrong woman to go to Hawaii with him for a coporate retreat. He went on one date with Missy (Lauren Lapkus) and accidentally invites her thinking he was inviting Melissa (Molly Sims). Missy was too wild and crazy for him. He doesn't tell her the truth because he fears she is suicidal. 

Tim is forced to spend three days with Missy and introduce her to all his coworkers as his girlfriend. Complicating things is the fact that his ex-fiance is also there with her new boyfriend. The time in Hawaii is one disaster after another for Tim but eventually Missy starts to grow on him.

13th (2016)

13th (2016)

directed by Ava DuVernay

100 minutes

This is a documentary about a loophole in the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution. The documentary looks at how that loophole has been used and abused to keep as many people of color as possible in a state that bears a strong resemblance to slavery. 

The documentary examines the transition from slavery to mass incarceration. It shines a light on events since the end of slavery that point to the fact that there is a strong bias in the United States of America toward keeping a large percentage of African American and Latino men locked up.

Better Call Saul 3.03

Sunk Costs

Jimmy gets arrested for breaking into Chuck's home and destroying his tape recorder. Jimmy spends the night in jail. 

Mike meets Gus for the first time. Gus explains that he doesn't want Mike to kill Hector Salamanca but he doesn't mind if Mike messes with Hector's operations. Mike reads between the lines and comes to the conclusion that Gus and Hector are competitors.

The Tick (2001) 1.02

The Terror

Arthur, Captain Liberty, and Batmanuel help the Tick celebrate the first anniversary of his arrival in the City. They eat cake, drink beer, and reminisce about the time he fought the Terror.

Thoughts

Not a whole lot happens in this episode. I'm not sure I would recommend this show to most people. It isn't great but it is fun to watch and it makes me laugh. I think it is the Tick's over the top bluster that does it for me. He is just so ridiculous.

Russian Doll 2.04

Station to Station

Alan travels back in time and space. The train takes him to East Berlin in 1962, in his grandmother's body. Agnes was a college student, from Ghana. He never knew her. It all seems great to him until he learns that her friends have plans to tunnel under the Berlin Wall and escape to West Berlin.

Nadia travels to Budapest, but not by train. She takes Maxine with her. Nadia is looking for clues about her family's past. She has the name of the Nazi officer who took her family's money. She finds Krystof, his grandson, but he doesn't have any answers for her. Maxine starts flirting with Krystof. He offers Nadia a hit of something that gives her a crazy dream.

The Box of Delights 1.01

When the Wolves Were Running

Kay Harker, schoolboy, takes the train to see aunt, Carolyn Louisa, during Christmas break. On the way he meets Cole Hawlings, an old Punch and Judy performer. He also meets a couple clergymen who insist on showing him card tricks. Kay realizes when he gets off the train that his wallet is gone.

Carolyn Louisa meets Kay at the train station. She lets him know that they have company for the holidays, four kids whose parents are out of the country at the present. Kay gets a chance to speak to Mr. Hawlings before he and his aunt leave the train station. The old man tells him to keep an eye out for an old lady with a magic ring.

Outlaw Star 1.22

Gravity Jailbreak

Gene is sent to Gehenna Prison on the planet Hecatoncheir. The planet has an unusual gravity profile. The gravity is 3G where the prison is located and 10G at the poles. There are no guards, just robots that are all controlled by the warden. Gene is there to get the coordinates to the Galactic Leyline from Saiyo Wong, another prisoner. 

Gene meets Wong while they are both being punished. Gene has a plan to get them out of there. The plan works and they get picked up by the Outlaw Star. Wong gives Gene a device which has the coordinates but Wong has no interest in going after it.

Doctor Who (1963) 11.02.01

Invasion of the Dinosaurs - Part One

The Doctor and Sarah arrive back in London only to find it deserted. The first person they spot almost runs them over in a car. They eventually find a couple more people who also are very unfriendly and try to do them harm.

The Doctor and Sarah find a land rover but they are attacked by a large flying reptile as they are getting into the vehicle. They drive away from the creature but they are stopped by soldiers before they get very far. The soldiers arrest them for looting. The Doctor and Sarah try protesting that they weren't looting but that gets them nowhere.

Strictly Business (1991)

Strictly Business (1991)

starring Tommy Davidson, Joseph C. Phillips, Halle Berry

directed by Kevin Hooks

Waymon Tinsdale, III (Joseph C. Phillips), a high powered real estate broker, is trying to get some Japanese investors to put money into a planned building when he meets Natalie (Halle Berry) by chance. Bobby Johnson (Tommy Davidson), one of Waymon's coworkers, knows Natalie and offers to help Waymon get to see her again. Bobby works in the mailroom and wants some help getting a better job at the real estate investment company, in return for the help he has offered Waymon.

Everything doesn't flow smoothly. David (David Marshall Grant), Waymon's rival at the firm, does his utmost to sabotage Waymon's efforts with some help from Gary (Sam Rockwell), his assistant. Waymon already has a girlfriend, Diedre (Anne-Marie Johnson), although their relationship isn't going very well. Waymon almost ruins his chance at a relationship with Natalie, after he has split with Deirdre, by focusing too much on his job. Everything works out in the end for Waymon, Bobby, and Natalie.

The Phil Silvers Show 2.25

Bilko Goes South

Bilko unintentionally signs his platoon up as volunteers for medical testing in Miami, FL. He and his platoon don't read the fine print and think that they are going to take part in a singing contest. The officers in charge of the medical tests think that Bilko and his men think they know that they are putting their lives on the line but it isn't until the very end of the episode that they find out how close they were to death.

The Tick (2001) 1.01

Pilot

The Tick leaves the bus station where he lives and moves to the City. There he meets Arthur, a would be superhero, and together they defend former President Jimmy Carter from a Soviet killing machine. They also cross paths with Batmauel and Captain Liberty.

Thoughts

This show only lasted for 9 episodes. It was broadcast on Fox. I did not see it then. This is my first time watching it. 

Patrick Warburton plays title the Tick. He is completely clueless but supremely confident. I know Warburton best from his appearances on Seinfeld, NewsRadio, and in The Emperor's New Groove.

Better Call Saul 3.02

Witness

Chuck is nervous. He hires security to guard his home,

Mike follows the guys who changed the tracking device in his car. They lead him to another guy who takes the device he planted in the car. Mike follows that guy around to various locations. This eventually leads him to a fast good joint, Los Pollos Hermanos.

Jimmy and Kim interview Francesca, a potential receptionist. Jimmy offers her a job in the middle of the interview. Kim isn't happy with Jimmy's rush to judgement. It is their first interview. Kim agrees to give Francesca a try.

NewsRadio 5.06

Jail

The FBI arrests Mr. James after accusing him of being D.B. Cooper. Dave takes Lisa off the D.B. Cooper story after she finds evidence that incriminates Mr. James. Dave puts Matthew on the story in Lisa's place. Joe and Beth come up with a plan to break Mr. James out of prison. Max is afraid that the FBI is going to come after him next until Johnny Johnson, an executive from Jimmy's company, flies in to take charge of the situation. Everything is better until Jimmy finds out about Johnny and warns Dave that Johnny is up to no good.

Abbott Elementary 1.06

Gifted Program

Janine talks Ava into starting a gifted program for the more "intelligent" students. Janine gets Jacob to teach the program but everything doesn't go as planned.

Barbara notices that the guy who restocks the vending machine has a crush on Melissa. She encourages Melissa to ask him out on a date.

Thoughts

This was a good one. I liked both storylines. Nothing fell flat.

Russian Doll 2.03

Brain Drain

Nadia decides to stay in 1982 and try to figure out what is going on. She goes to see Ruth who takes her to the hospital for a sonogram. Vera, Nadia's grandmother, is there. They have a chat. Nadia learns that the gold coins were stolen once before, during World War II, by Nazis.

Nadia goes home with Vera. She gets some time alone in Vera's apartment and finds some documents hidden behind photographs. She grabs a bunch of stuff and heads out. She notices that she has some weird insect bite like marks on her arms. 

Nadia goes to the public library. She asks Ethel, a librarian, for help. Nadia leaves her name and number. She takes some slides she finds at the library and goes to Crazy Eddie's. She gets a slide projector and goes back to Nora's apartment. Nora shows up. Nadia and Nora talk, they go out for cigarettes. Other people seem to see Nora but then Nadia gets locked up because a cop says she is crazy.

Nadia escapes with some help from Nora. The doctor can't see Nora. Nadia returns to 2022. She finds a note on her door from Alan. He's been looking for her and wants to talk.

The Addams Family (1991)

The Addams Family (1991)

starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd

directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Fester Addams (Christopher Lloyd) mysteriously returns from the Bermuda Triangle after 30 years. He is accompanied by Dr. Pinder-Schloss, a psychiatrist, but everything is not as it seems. Fester believes he is Dr. Pinder-Schloss's son but he develops a fondness for the Addams family and starts to push back at the doctor's attempts to control him.

Thoughts

This was the first movie that Barry Sonnenfeld directed. He was primarily a cinematographer prior to this movie. He makes a cameo appearance in this movie as the passenger on the train. He also directed the sequel, Addams Family Values.

This is such a fun movie to watch. It isn't great but I really like it. I don't think I saw it in the theater when it first came out but I'm pretty sure I saw it at an outdoor screening the following year. I've probably seen it several times since then but it has been several years since I last saw it. I was a big fan of the 1964 TV show of the same name which I first saw in reruns in the mid-1980s.

Doctor Who (1963) 15.02.X

Dreams and Fantasy: Making the Invisible Enemy (2008)

20 minutes

This short documentary is mostly focused on behind the camera aspects of The Invisible Enemy. There are just two actors interviewed for this short film which is divided into the following chapters:

• Writing the Enemy
• Creating K9
• New Directions
• Nostalgia
• Studio Nightmares
• Inner Space
• Looking Back

You Can't Take It With You (1938)

You Can't Take It With You (1938)

starring Jean Arthur, Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold

directed by Frank Capra

Alice Sycamore (Jean Arthur) and Tony Kirby (Jimmy Stewart) are in love. His parents are rich, hers are not although they are not dirt poor either. The Sycamores are much more care free that the Kirbys. Complicating things is the fact that Tony's father, Anthony Kirby (Edward Arnold), wants to buy the house where Alice lives. The house belongs to Martin Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore), Alice's grandfather.

Things start to unravel when Tony brings his parents over to meet Alice's family a day earlier than they had arranged. Kirby and Vanderhof get to speak and spend some time together, first in a jail cell and then in court, after they are arrested for distrubing the peace, along with the rest of Vanderhof's family.

Better Call Saul 3.01

Mabel

Jimmy tries to patch things up with Chuck but Chuck isn't swayed by Jimmy's charm. He has him on tape admitting to a felony. Chuck shares the tape with Howard who points out that it wouldn't get them anywhere. Chuck has ideas about how to use it.

NewsRadio 5.05

Flowers for Matthew

Joe tests a drink on Matthew that is supposed to make him smart. Matthew gets smarter, for a while.

Max tells Lisa about the crush he has on Beth. He panics when Beth finds out, after Lisa tells her, and makes up a story about Lisa having a crush on him.

Thoughts

This was an okay episode. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great. It ended with a bit of whimper. 

Abbott Elementary 1.05

Student Transfer

Janine loses some confidence when she learns that a parent has given her a bad rating. A student gets transferred from Melissa's class to Janine's class. Janine quickly finds out why.

Jacob turns to Greg for advice when it comes to dealing with students who have been roasting him.

Thoughts

This was a pretty good episode. It wasn't perfect but I like the idea behind it and I think it was well executed.