Today’s song of the day features words of wisdom from Herve Villechaize.
Author Archives: Lisa Marie Bowman
Scenes That I Love: Edward Van Sloan Introduces Frankenstein
Though Horrorthon may be over, that doesn’t mean we can’t reach back to a horror film for today scene that I love This is scene comes from the 1931 classic, Frankenstein. The scene below features neither Colin Clive or Boris Karloff. Instead, Edward Van Sloan breaks the fourth wall and, in his humorously avuncular way, lets the audience know what’s in store for them.
Today, of course, we all know the story of Frankenstein and his monster. However, imagine how audiences in 1931, many of whom probably knew nothing about the story they were about to watch, must have felt when Edward Van Sloan specifically took a minute to warn them that they were about to see something terrifying. You have to remember that Van Sloan was talking to the first generation of regular filmgoers and he was introducing them to one of the first true horror films of the sound era. Today, it’s easy to smile when Van Sloan says, “You can’t say we didn’t warn you.” In 1931, I imagine it probably sounded more like a dare. Van Sloan was asking, “Do you have the courage to stay in theater?” It’s kind of charming, isn’t it?
Edward Van Sloan was a bit of fixture when it came to the early Universal horror films. Not only did he play Henry Frankenstein’s mentor but, in the same year, he played Prof. Van Helsing in Dracula. He also had a key supporting role in The Mummy. When it came to explaining the supernatural and the undead, no one else did it with quite the class of Edward Van Sloan.
4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Edward Van Sloan Edition
4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
Today, we celebrate the 144th anniversary of the birth of the great character actor Edward Van Sloan! It’s time for….
4 Shots From 4 Edward Van Sloan Films
Dracula (1931, dir by Tod Browning. DP: Karl Freund)
Frankenstein (1931, dir by James Whale, DP: Arthur Edeson)
The Mummy (1932, dir by Karl Freund, DP: Charles Stumar)
Dracula Daughter (1936, dir by Lambert Hillyer, DP: George Robinson)
Late Night Retro Television Review: Saved By The Bell 3.12 “Date Auction”
Welcome to Late Night Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Saturdays, I will be reviewing Saved By The Bell, which ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993. The entire show can be purchased on Prime!
This week, the school is torn apart by a date auction!
Episode 3.12 “Date Auction”
(Dir by Don Barnhart, originally aired on November 9th, 1991)
The cheerleaders need to buy new uniforms but they’re informed that Bayside doesn’t have enough money in their budget. (That’s what they get for not drilling for oil on the football field). Zack suggests that the cheerleader cheer “in their bikinis.” Kelly suggests a date auction to raise money because “lots of people would bet on Zack and Slater!” Jessie, who views the whole idea as being sexist, announce that she will not be bidding and then proceeds to threaten any girl who would even think of bidding on Slater.
At the auction, one of the many Bayside nerds is purchased, for 15 cents, by a girl who wears glasses. “Awwwww!” say the audience and they should because they’re a cute couple.
Lisa purchases student council vice president Brian Watkins (Patrick J. Dancy). Brian is an intellectual who loves Catcher In The Rye. (“I love baseball!” Lisa says). Brian insinuates that Lisa is too shallow for him so Lisa pretends to be an intellectual too. When Kelly tells Lisa that she’s not showing her true self, Lisa replies, “This Lisa has a boyfriend. The old Lisa didn’t.” Awww, what a sad line! Actually, why doesn’t Lisa just go out with Jessie’s stepbrother? They seemed to have a lot of chemistry. For that matter, where is Jessie’s stepbrother?
No one bids on Slater until Kelly, feeling sorry for him, finally speaks up and purchases a date with him. An angry Jessie slaps down $25.00 and ends up buying a date with Screech.
Finally, Zack comes out on stage. There’s a bidding frenzy. Eventually, Wendy (Judy Carmen) announces that she’s bidding a hundred dollars. A shocked Zack is sold to Wendy. Zack doesn’t know how to react because Wendy is — wait for it — overweight!
This episode features both Zack and Jessie at their absolute worst. Jessie, at least, eventually sees the error of her ways and ends up not only going to the dance with Screech but also forgiving Slater. Zack, on the other hand, attempts to get out of the date by faking an old track injury. Of course, Zack then goes surfing. Did Zack think Wendy wouldn’t hear about that?
Wendy breaks off her date with Zack and the audience applauds. Even they know that Zack is being a jerk. Zack goes to the dance alone and sits with the nerds (including the guy who was purchased for 15 cents). When Wendy shows up, Zack walks up to her and asks her to dance. Wendy agrees but then Zack ruins the moment by saying that he just feels guilty about the way he treated her. Wendy doesn’t want Zack’s pity.
Now, that is where the episode should have ended. Zack screwed up twice. He’s humiliated at the school dance. Wendy has stood up for herself. A lesson has been learned. Instead, Zack then apologizes to Wendy for a third time and invites her to go to the Max after the dance. He also turns down Lydia when the latter asks him to dance. In regards to going to the Max, Wendy says, “I’d like that.”
“And I like you,” Zack says, sounding a bit like a serial killer who is trying to lure his latest victim into his basement.
If anything, Zack is even more condescending at the end of this episode then he was at the start. But the audience is now on his side. That’s the important thing.
The other important thing is that Lisa dumps Brian after he starts complaining about her friends. “Mr. Too Much Attitude!” Lisa calls him. That’s a line that I’ve used several times since I first watched this episode, usually while talking to a cat. That said, I do wish the episode had taken the time to explain that, even if Brian was a jerk, it’s still not a bad idea to read a book and expand your mind. Remember when Zack read about Chief Joseph?
As for Wendy and Brian, they will never be seen again. Maybe they started hanging out with Jessie’s stepbrother….
Lisa Marie’s Week In Television: 10/25/26 — 10/31/26
The Amazing Race (Wednesday Night, CBS)
I wrote about The Amazing Race here.
Bar Rescue (Weekdays, Paramount+)
I woke up on Monday with a splitting headache and an aching ankle. I watched two episodes of Bar Rescue and I realized that, as bad as I was feeling, at least I wasn’t getting yelled at for not knowing how to make an obscure cocktail.
Community (Peacock)
On Friday night, I watched the first Halloween episode of this classic sitcom.
The Elvira Show (YouTube)
I reviewed The Elvira Show here.
Game 4 of the World Series (Tuesday Night, Fox)
Tuesday was a strange day for me. I had a terrible attack of anxiety which kept me from getting much done and I ended up falling asleep in the afternoon and not waking up until it was nearly 7:00 pm. When I get like this, my sister Erin is usually the only person who can calm me down so, on Tuesday night, I watched the World Series with her. Little did I suspect that the game would last for six hours. That’s okay, though. The important thing is that I got to spend time with my sister.
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Apple TV+)
Erin and I watched this on Friday. You can read her thoughts here.
Kitchen Nightmares (Hulu)
On Thursday, I watched the infamous Burger Kitchen two-parter. This is seriously one of the most anxiety-producing television episodes ever aired and I was a nervous wreck by the time it ended. I would let Executive Chef David Blaine make me a burger any day.
Survivor (Wednesday Night, CBS)
Toy Story of Terror! (Disney+)
As a part of our Halloween tradition, Erin and I watched Toy Story of Terror! on Friday. You can read her thoughts here.
A Blast From The Past: The Tell Tale Heart, performed by Vincent Price
I couldn’t let Halloween end without sharing at least one more thing featuring the patron saint of the holiday, Vincent Price.
Here is Vincent Price, performing The Tell-Tale Heart. This is from 1970 and was a part of a PBS special called An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe.
Bonus Horror On TV: In Search Of…. The Amityville Horror
Tonight, on In Search Of…., Leonard Nimoy guides us through an investigation into the Amityville Horror!
Horror On TV: One Step Beyond 3.36 “Eyewitness” (dir by John Newland)
For this year’s final Horrorthon episode, we have the …. final episode of One Step Beyond!
In this, the series’ very last episode, a Boston newspaper reporter in 1883 somehow manages to write a firsthand account of one of the greatest natural disasters in human history, the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa. Making his accomplishment all the more amazing is that he not only filed the story the day before it happened but he also says that he has no memory of writing it! What’s going on? Take one step beyond and find out!
This episode originally aired on July 4th, 1961.
Lisa Marie’s Oscar Predictions For October
Needless to say, I’ve been more concerned with horror than Oscars this month but still, the Awards Season approaches and that means it is time for me to post my predictions for October! If you want to see how my thinking has evolved, be sure to check out my predictions for March, April, May, June, July, August, and September!
Here are my latest predictions!
Best Picture
- The Debut
- Elsinore
- I Play Rocky
- The Invite
- La Bola Negra
- The Odyssey
- Primetime
- Project Hail Mary
- Wild Horse Nine
- You Can See Everything
Best Director
- Javier Ambrossi & Javier Calvo — La Bola Negra
- Jesse Eisenberg — The Debut
- Phil Lord & Christopher Miller — Project Hail Mary
- Martin McDonagh — Wild Horse Nine
- Christopher Nolan — The Odyssey
Best Actor
- Matt Damon — The Odyssey
- John Malkovich — Wild Horse Nine
- Robert Pattinson — Primetime
- Andrew Scott — Elsinore
- John Turturro — The Only Living Pickpocket In New York
Best Actress
- Jeon Do-yeon — Possible Love
- Sandra Huller — Rose
- Ruth Madeley — Being Heumann
- Julianne Moore — The Debut
- Inde Navarrette — Obsession
Best Supporting Actor
- Colman Domingo — Michael
- Paul Giamatti — The Debut
- Edward Norton — The Invite
- Guy Pearce — Ink
- Sam Rockwell — Wild Horse Nine
Best Supporting Actress
- Colleen Camp — Club Kid
- Penélope Cruz — La Bola Negra
- Anne Hathaway — The Odyssey
- Samantha Morton — The Odyssey
- Kate O’Flynn — Tender Loving Care
Retro Television Review: Baywatch 3.4 “Rookie of the Year”
Welcome to Retro Television Reviews, a feature where we review some of our favorite and least favorite shows of the past! On Saturdays, I will be reviewing Baywatch, which ran on NBC and then in syndication from 1989 to 2001. The entire show can be viewed on Tubi.
This week, Brody and Summer go through rookie school!
Episode 3.4 “Rookie of the Year”
(Dir by Gus Trikonis, originally aired on October 5th, 1992)
This week’s episode follows Matt Brody and Summer Quinn through rookie school as they compete for Rookie of the Year. The winner gets to choose a beach assignment. Eddie Kramer won the honor in his class. Brody has a shot this year, but only if he can beat arrogant Clint Chandler (Race Nelson) in the Gauntlet, a grueling race across the beach and through the ocean.
The episode gives us a few questions to ponder.
Will Brody overcome his rebellious attitude and the disapproval of his wealthy father (Dirk Benedict)?
Will Summer find the courage to make the pier jump?
When C.J. and Stephanie discover that they share an ex-boyfriend, and that he rented his old apartment to both of them, will they be able to live together?
The answer to all three questions is yes. If you didn’t instinctively know that, you have obviously never watched Baywatch.
Brody comes close to dropping out of rookie school, until Mitch tells him he reminds him of a young hothead who had a problem with his dad. “Eddie Kramer?” Brody says. Mitch shakes his head. “About a foot taller.” (Mitch means himself. Brody still deserves some credit for clocking that he is basically Eddie Kramer with a rich dad.)
C.J. may be into crystals and Stephanie may be down-to-earth and practical, but they still make their odd-couple dynamic work.
And Summer may be scared of jumping off the pier, but she does it after encouragement from C.J. and Brody. Brody wins Rookie of the Year not just because he beat Clint in the Gauntlet, but because he helped Summer make the jump.
Meanwhile, it is announced that Guido Torzini (Buzz Belmondo), a guy with a pencil-thin mustache who has been hanging around headquarters whether anyone asked him to or not, will be Baywatch’s official maintenance engineer. Congratulations, Guido, whoever you may be.
This was an episode built out of montages. The rookies run into the water. The rookies run out of the water. Sometimes they do it in slow motion. It was thoroughly predictable, but the beach was lovely and the ocean was inviting.
There was nothing at all challenging about this episode.
And sometimes that’s just fine.
