tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post4945149530723608020..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: "Police Squad!"... Making Our Streets Safer (and Also Very Funny)Rick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-49889671954337443112010-07-11T15:28:05.261-04:002010-07-11T15:28:05.261-04:00Sark, I haven't seen this, but your review mad...Sark, I haven't seen this, but your review made it seem so funny I may have too. Sometimes I need to see a silly comedy especially after a hectic day. I will keep this one in mind. A nicely written and informative review!Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037507780056714337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-15367880320468734272010-07-10T09:34:13.887-04:002010-07-10T09:34:13.887-04:00Sark, I always love reading your reviews. I know i...Sark, I always love reading your reviews. I know it is silly.. but, I have a hard time watching Leslie Nielsen, perform in goofy rolls. I always see him as a very sophisticated, highly intelligent, man. <br /><br />I have not yet seen Lee Marvin, perform in the police drama, M Squad. That does sound like something I would enjoy watching. Thank you for your wonderful review.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-23377273878551248862010-07-08T02:53:34.010-04:002010-07-08T02:53:34.010-04:00Oh, and by the wsy, I adore movies with the kind o...Oh, and by the wsy, I adore movies with the kind of fast-moving humor that you really have to pay attention to. I remember in Airplane even the credits were funny, and if you read them all the way to the end, after all the "This movie is protected by .... you can be fined or arrested", you see under that the phrase "So there." Good stuffClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-9657185750482920322010-07-07T22:18:48.736-04:002010-07-07T22:18:48.736-04:00Sark, I will never forget seeing Leslie Nielsen in...Sark, I will never forget seeing Leslie Nielsen in "Airplane". I laughed til I was sick at that movie, and it was the first time he ever did that kind of comedy. He is perfect at it. I didn't watch the TV series, but did see the movies, and agree with your assessment of them, except for one point. I think Mel Brooks' "Dracula Dead and Loving It" was hilarious. Nielsen was wonderful, and Peter McNichol (is that right?) who played Renfield was a perfect foil to Nielsen. Of course, I am a rabid Mel Brooks fan! I will have to go back and find some of the TV series so I can compare it. Great article, Sark!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-91746648268745846862010-07-07T16:58:06.737-04:002010-07-07T16:58:06.737-04:00Great reading your informative post, Sark. I never...Great reading your informative post, Sark. I never watched the TV show, but I am quite familiar with most of the movies that spawned from the show. The one problem I have with some of the films (though I thoroughly enjoyed them when I first saw them) is that they don't date well. When a lot of the jokes and gags are topical then people can say "huh?" when watching them 10 years later. For example, I love 30Rock, but it will not look as good as it does now say in 20 years. The one thing I really enjoy are the references to older films.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-88914670743903527142010-07-07T14:41:29.775-04:002010-07-07T14:41:29.775-04:00Sark, this was so much fun to read that you make m...Sark, this was so much fun to read that you make me wish I had paid better attention to this short lived series! I enjoyed the "Naked Gun" movies and really liked Leslie Nielsen. I was pleasantly surprised by Priscilla Presley's performance. Try saying that aloud a few times!<br /><br />I smiled when I read about Peter Lupus being in "Police Squad!" I saw him in "Muscle Beach Party" and have been catching up on the "Mission: Impossible" series. We have a standing joke in our family as to whom is the most important character to the MI team. Everyone knows it must be Barney, though Rollin is also essential with his masks and acting ability. But certain family members maintain it is Willy, for the muscle he provides.<br /><br />Great review!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-27710369756392574912010-07-07T09:10:36.451-04:002010-07-07T09:10:36.451-04:00I second Rick's appreciation, Sark...and parti...I second Rick's appreciation, Sark...and particularly enjoyed your mentioning the debt <b><i>Police Squad!</i></b> owed to the earlier Lee Marvin series <b><i>M Squad</i></b>--even the musical theme is similar. The police siren in the opening credits of <b><i>Police Squad!</i></b> (as well as the "in color" declaration) is a nod to <b><i>N.Y.P.D.</i></b>, a forgotten half-hour crime drama that ran from 1967-69 and starred Jack Warden, Frank Converse and Robert Hooks.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-48354795727303774612010-07-07T08:10:54.223-04:002010-07-07T08:10:54.223-04:00Sark, this is a superb write-up of an under-apprec...Sark, this is a superb write-up of an under-appreciated TV series. Sadly, I was one of those who didn't appreciate POLICE SQUAD! when it was first on. I watched the first couple of episodes, but didn't stick with it. I think perhaps if ABC had given it a longer run, it might have found an audience. Great shows often get yanked off the air after a handful of episodes (e.g., WONDERFALLS), but they need time to "marinate." I loved your background info on the series and hilarious examples of POLICE SQUAD humor, which often require great attention to background details. I also derive great satisfaction in recognizing the subtle homages and visual gags (perhaps because I miss so many of them). For example, the title card you showed states "IN COLOR" just like TV shows in the 1960s did (when it was a big deal because only some shows were in color). I agree that WRONGFULLY ACCUSED is one of the best post-ZAZ films. I also enjoyed Leslie Nielsen in DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT; I thought it was one of Mel's more consistent outings.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.com