Old Zelda Cartoon…
I was a big fan of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, because everyone my age was. As I recall, it ran on weekday afternoons, with Cap’n Lou throwing to his animated equivalent from Monday through Thursday.
Fridays were extra special. That’s when we got the Zelda cartoon. I don’t know if I’d say that it was objectively better than Mario’s, but at the time, it sure as hell seemed cooler. Ganon was especially awesome, looking like Bebop with the flu and a voice like Krang’s grandpa.
Here’s the very first episode, The Ringer, from 1989. Let’s see if it holds up!
The Making of Jaws 3-D!
Here’s The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don’t Die, which aired as a TV special back in ’83. The thumbnail alone should sell you on it:
I’d never argue that the original Jaws wasn’t the objective best in the series (and by miles, to boot), but if I’m being honest, I’m more drawn to both this movie and Jaws: The Revenge. Maybe I just feel like they need me a little more, I dunno.
Jaws 3-D ruled my world as a kid, because even if the execution had some dopey moments, the concept of a great white shark invading a futuristic-yet-flimsy aquarium-at-sea was irresistible. Plus, for as much as the infamous “glass breaking” scene has been ridiculed over the years, I always thought it was a damn cool moment!
Tales from the Crypt!
I haven’t written much about Tales from the Crypt, but make no mistake, I was a huuuuge fan of the series.
Some of my fave memories from the early ‘90s are of watching that show on our “downstairs television.” At the time, there were no bedrooms down there, and upstairs felt like it was ten miles away. That let Tales from the Crypt hit me extra hard. By the end of most episodes, I’d either be too paralyzed with fear to move (and would instead sleep downstairs under ten ratty blankets), or I’d scurry back upstairs like I was being chased by goblins.
It was awesome.
Here are two episodes that I distinctly recall watching, way back when. I doubt that either of them rank very high on most fans’ lists of favorites, but I think they’re good representations of the series as a whole… warts and all.
From the second season, Three’s a Crowd is about some down-on-his-luck dude losing his grip over his wife’s seeming affair with his best friend.
…and from the third season, all I really remember about Carrion Death is that it featured a criminal handcuffed to a dead cop’s body. But I think that’s enough to remember, no?
Enjoy!
In other news:
– Have some killer articles on deck for this month. A few of them coming this week! The one nice thing about losing my beloved holiday season is that my brain is no longer trying to create “thematic” content. It’s fun to just dig my hands into piles of garbage and see what comes out.
– Dino Drac’s January Funpack is debuting this week, too. It’s a contender for best Funpack ever. Stay tuned!
Hobgoblins!
If I can trust a hundred strangers on the internet, 1988’s Hobgoblins is a laughably wretched Gremlins ripoff that’s earned the enmity of everyone from random bloggers to Tom f’n Servo. Sounds perfect for Saturday night!
Good luck with this one. I think you’ll need it.
