Wonder Woman 1.9: Judgment from Outer Space, Part 1

Airdate: 1/15/77

In outer space, a planetary council has decided that earth’s newfound atomic power and warlike tendencies are a bad combination, and must be “sterilized” before humans can colonize other planets when they develop space travel. One lone councilmember, Andros, objects, and so it is agreed that he will travel to earth and judge whether the planet is salvageable. Immediately, he is greeted with guns and grenades by the U.S. Army, but asks to be taken to the president so he can discuss his mission. Steve Trevor and the rest of the military are suspicious, partially due to his imperviousness (courtesy the special protection offered him by the council), but Wonder Woman identifies with his “fish out of water” idealism, even if she disagrees with his solution to the problem despite her efforts to make the world a better place. At the Library of Congress, Andros is accosted by a Nazi spy posing as a Swedish newspaper reporter and captured, despite WW’s best rescue efforts. The council, seeing this as a good test, takes away Andros’s protective powers and decides that if he is killed, they will destroy earth as proof that its violent proclivities are unredeemable. WW tries to communicate with them to convince them otherwise, but evidently fails to do so.

Terrific beginning to a more sci-fi themed double installment finally hassomeone besides that Nazis as bad guys. Shades of The Day the Earth Stood Still offer some sobering reminders of the darker side of humanity, although one can’t help but notice he hypocrisy of the aliens’ rebuke of earth’s warlike tendencies and their destruction of it as punishment. Best scene: WW and Andros debate about the necessity of fighting for good or whether it’s still fighting (I’m reminded of the John Lennon quote – “Fighting for peace…”). Timely topics in 1977, particularly when space travel was a reality but a lengthy, costly war had just ended for America. Too timely these days as well.

First episode to have its title listed (perhaps because it’s a two parter). And again – WW’s Achilles’ heel, being gassed, stymies her rescue attempts during the episode’s climax. Of course, it’s not lethally poisonous gas, but that would sure be a quick way to do her in once and for all.

Check out General Blankenship’s walkie talkie near the end – it looks like the biggest cell phone ever!

Cheers 3.7: “Coach In Love, Part 2”

Airdate: 11/15/84

Three weeks have passed since Coach’s proposal, and his would-be-bride is incommunicado, but this doesn’t quash his expectation that they will be married on their wedding date as planned. Everyone at Cheers pities the cockeyed-optimist, except Diane, who admires his hopeful romanticism, but once she caves in and implores him to “wake up and smell the coffee,” he starts to see reality, especially once Sam has informed him that Irene is engaged to be married to an obscenely rich industrial magnate. Coach finally finds closure when the phone rings, and he answers it with the admission that she is probably better off with her new fiancée. We never find out if it is really her on the line.

Expertly crafter conclusion is probably better written than Part 1 – kudos to David Angell for deftly navigating all the Cheers hallmarks: Sam/Diane bickering (still thinking each other carries a torch), snappy barfly commentary on the action – and worship of the almighty character above all else - even their jokes – because he knows that the humor will come with a well-developed character.

The Cheers two-parters have always approached the obligatory recap at the top of Part 2 in a highly original way, and this episode is no exception; in fact, it’s probably the best example. In a series of slow zoom ins to the residences of Norm, Carla, Cliff, Diane and Sam, respectively, we are apprised of all heretofore happenings and get entertained in the process. Sure beats how it used to be, when we just get a series of clips introduced with “This is _________ (series star). Here are some scenes from last week’s episode of _____________ (series title).” BTW, the funniest part is Norm’s, when he recaps part of the Coach story, we think, to his wife, Vera, but it turns out to be his dog!

Cold open: Sam berates Carla for reading trashy tabloids (“Bigfoot Stole My Wife,” “Have Aliens Taken Over Your Pets?”), until hearing about a common condiment that can also be an aphrodisiac, oregano, which he furtively jots on a bar napkin.

Norm’s opener: Sam: “Tell us what you know.” Norm: “God did his heaven, and something, something…” Sam: “How ‘bout a beer?” Norm: “Yeah, that’s it!”

Waltons 7.21: “The Torch”

Airdate: 3/8/79

The new owner of the Dew Drop Inn, Callie May, happens to be John’s old fame, and with Olivia away and John getting lonesome, the Walton kids are concerned that their reunion will escalate into something further. Callie does seem to have an active interest in reigniting some sparks, but when Ike and Corabeth intercede, she feels resentful and ashamed and wants to leave town. John persuades her that there is a happy medium, and he invites her on a trip to Rockfish, “chaperoned” by his children.

Say it isn’t so! John: tempted? Well, we’ve been down his road before, in the “John’s Crossroads” episode, and the result is of course the same: despite have some natural feelings and longings, he resists the forbidden fruit, bringing him closer than ever to the ones who matter, both present and in absentia. Guest actress Dorothy Tristan is remarkably appealing as spitfire Callie – a car race between her and John is definitely a show highlight.

Subplot: Noticing bored soldiers on leave from Camp Rockfish, the Walton girls open up a canteen – a fizzle at first, until Callie suggest changes to make it more homey.

Waltons 7.20: “The Outsider”

Airdate: 3/1/79

Ben wakes the entire house up a 3 in the morning with a real shocker: he’s married! He and his new bride, Cindy, had gotten married in Maryland  - or should we say eloped – because he was in love and just couldn’t wait (without making a “mistake”). Everyone is speechless at first, but when John has a heart-to-heart he’s miffed that his son didn’t tell anyone beforehand; Ben rejoins with the accusation that everyone thought Cindy was a hussy and would be against the union.

Once the smoke clears Ben finds himself arguing more often with Cindy herself, on topics ranging from the new curtains she’s made for their new room in John-Boy’s old shed, to the record player she bought with money he claims they don’t have. After she decides to leave, having had enough of his bossiness and lack of listening ability, things simmer down once Grandma imparts a few words – and techniques – of reason.

Milestone episode adds a new Waltons girl to the family – knockout LeslieWinston as Cindy Brunson Walton, whom I’m sure Ben portrayer Eric Scott had no problem having kissing scenes with – and there are a number of them in this episode. Great choice to have Ben come in and announce the marriage at the top of the sow; it’s in keeping with his character and saves us the usual pomp and pageantry of a Waltons wedding, which we’ve had already and will have again in the coming years.

 

Winston had done appearances on Quincy and B.J. and the Bear before landing this role, which she kept until the end of the series. Welcome to the family, Cindy!

Subplot involving a sculpture Corabeth remembers better than it actually is pales by comparison.

Wonder Woman 1.8: Last of the Two-Dollar Bills

Airdate: 1/8/77

Wotan, a nefarious Nazi agent, makes an amphibious landing on the Virginia coast, and thwarts Wonder Woman’s plans to stop him, but not before she gets a good look at the masked man’s baby blue eyes. Later in Washington, she and Etta get “film-flammed” by a street photographer, and she recognizes him as Wotan. Why the ruse? His pictures are used by the Nazis to create lookalikes of a head employee at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Frank Wilson, and his wife; the doppelgangers will steal plates to make millions of counterfeit 2-dollar bills and destroy the nation’s economy (Wotan himself pretends to be a new hire at the café where the wife works so he can oversee the entire operation). A meddling Wonder Woman gets captured by the evildoers and locked up – she managers, however, to lure Steve closer to the action by impersonating an agent who sees signs of trouble. A toothache gives away the imposters when a canny dentist observes Frank’s steel filling as a uniquely German trademark, but before the group can rendezvous with their U-boat Wonder Woman stops them in their tracks, courtesy her boomerang tiara which slices through Wotan’s inflatable raft!

Using her voice-imitation powers

Above-average episode FINALLY explains the real reason 2-dollar bills stopped being printed. Actually, they had been out of circulation for 10 years at the time of this airing, and were just about to be reintroduced as a cost-saving measure and not celebrate the nation’s bicentennial. They still didn’t improve Jefferson’s portrait.

Excellent, textbook-example of how to create exposition by withholding information – not until about 10 minute in do we figure out what the villainous plot is all about. Congrats to scribes Paul Dubov and Gwen Bagni. Also enjoy more time devoted to Diana/WW’s unrequited love for Steve; best scene: Diana moons over a sleeping Steve, with heartache written all over her face. Poor girl!

We get a good look at WW’s full outfit when she meets Steve at the Engraving Bureau, complete with miniskirt and cape.