Reading the program descriptions for Welcome Back Kotter reruns on one of those digital sub-channels, there's no mention of Travolta in the cast credits.Originally Posted by GuitarGeek
I have 2 uncles named Bill. My mom's brother, and my dad's sister's husband.
"Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama
C'est what now?~!
Yeah I was(and old age) when I posted that. In others words......head up my ass.....
...Bobby..
I know they are cheezy but I have been a Sci-Fi fan since I was a kid and did enjoy 80's series like Automan, Man from Atlantis and Invisible Man. With all the advancements of CGI, those series now look very primitive to say least but were fun nonetheless. The only UK series that has survived for decades of course is Dr. Who but I was never a fan, too weird for my liking.
The listing for an episode later today on antenna TV reads, and I quote:
"Episode 116: Follow the Leader. Barbarino is overthrown when the Sweathogs hold an election for class leader. Cast: Gabriel Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Sylverter White, Robert Hegyes, Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs."
John Travolta has never been listed in any of those program listing cast credits.
"Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama
And you feel his name should be shown, since he became this big movie star for a couple years, then made a bunch of crap during the 80's nobody remembers, then had a comeback in the 90's then had a spectacular fall from grace with that Invasion Earth debacle?
Well, you're being a little tough on the Travolster, however, I can only guess that this is a contractual issue that now prevents his name from appearing in credits. I am not a big fan of his, however, I do think that he was good in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Pulp Fiction and Michael. I haven't seen much more than those, and even the mentioned ones aren't at the top of my list of greatest movies. "Welcome Back Kotter" was a cheaply made, uninspiring TV comedy, however, I thought that Kaplan played it pretty good through the crapola production and acting.
I think initially Welcome Back Kotter was pretty good. As you say, I think Kaplan was great. I'm not sure how they determine what actors get listed in the synopses on those things. I notice on Mannix, they'll list the same cast on every episode, which would read something like "Mike Connors, Joseph Campenella, Ward Wood, Robert Reed", regardless of whether or not those last three appear in a given episode. I don't think Gail Fisher's name is ever listed. And beyond the recurring cast members, I think the only guests they ever list are Milton Berle (in one episode) and William Shatner (in another).
I remember my dad being mystified that Charles Bronson wasn't listed when we watch House Of Wax one night. I'm trying to explain to him, Bronson is in like two scenes, I don't think he had any lines, but somehow my dad couldn't figure out why he wasn't listed in the synopsis.
Unlike Travolta, multiple Oscar winner Tom Hanks is not above participating in skits, and making fun of himself.
"Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama
Took the day off. Long week. Saw a great film on Movie Channel........Somebody Up There Likes Me, with Paul Newman. Rocky?
Seen last night: the 1980 version of Flash Gordeon. Mindless fun. Good character chemistry between Flash (Sam Jones, Jr.), Dr. Zarkov (Topol), Prince Vultan (Brian Blessed), and Prince Barin (Timothy Dalton). Amusing minor part by Richard O'Brien. Max von Sydow marvellously over the top as Ming the Merciless. Alas, the women (Melody Anderson as Dale Arden and Ornella Muti as Princess Aura) were mostly eye candy with very little real acting to do.
The special effects range from meh to cheesy, but that's okay because they blew a lot of their budget on getting Queen to do the soundtrack. Of course, it's probably Queen's weakest album, but still...
Yemen hardly ever exports cookies.
In The Space Capsule, Ming's Theme, The Ring, Football Fight, Battle Theme, and The Hero are all great tracks. The Hero has one of my favourite Dr. Brian May guitar solos, and I love the fills he plays when they come back to the Flash reprise at the end, as well as the vocal harmonies that follow!
As for the movie, it answer the question, "Is it possible to make a B-movie with a big studio budget". Yes, the answer is very much yes.
The movie has the craziest cast imaginable. I mean, you've got a guy who worked with Ingmar Bergman, a Blue Peter presenter, the creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the playwright who wrote Look Back In Anger, a future James Bond, Jason King, Brian FRELLING Blessed, a soap opera actress, a Fiddler On The Roof refugee, Deep Roy, and in the title role, a Playgirl escapee!
And the dialog!
Dale: Flash, did your flying lessons get as far as landing?
Flash: I was afraid you'd ask that!
"This Ming is a psycho"
"Are you men on the right pills? Maybe you should execute that traitor!"
"He's playing some barbaric game! Now match him! Like THIS!"
"We intend to empty your mind, as we would empty your pockets"
"This place is a lunatic asylum"
"Wake me when we're in sight"
"Hail, Flash! You've saved your Earth! Have a nice day!"
And of course that brilliant good cop/bad cop routine Klytus and General Kala try running on Princess Aura is brilliant.
I still maintain they knew they were making a turkey, so they decided to have fun with it.
Yeah, there's some good stuff on that album.
But it's still their weakest album. Can you honestly name one that's weaker...?
Yemen hardly ever exports cookies.
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