Dancing Lady/The Final Round

The interesting thing in this episode was seeing a credit for "Billy R. Moses". Not long after he'd join the cast of the Perry Mason movies as "William R. Moses". It's interesting he chose to use his middle initial with the nickname ... you don't often see that.

He plays a boxer with some talent who has already suffered a head injury. The fantasy is a boxing manager who'd like to manage a Champion, for a change. But will he risk the young boxer's health for his own fantasy?

The other fantasy is a woman who wants to dance like Ginger Rogers. The interesting thing about that plot is Ken Berry and a dancer recreating a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance on a movie screen behind them, attempting to match the screen move for move. They generally succeed, but aren't nearly as polished and crisp, of course. Also, we get to see a couple of short numbers from an aged Ray Bolger, who still had some moves to show. :-)

The descent into mediocrity has started. We have 2 repeat fantasies here: yet another idiotic boxing match, whose boring scenes had me looking at my laptop and wondering when it was going to be over, and another dance fantasy (how many have they done by now, 8? 10?) with yet another recreation of the "old Hollywood" film projected behind the island guests. Cyd Charisse did it a lot better.

There is no horror elements here, no fun Tattoo/Roarke exchanges and the whole episode is wasted. The Fantasy Island Theater has changed: instead of a small sign and modest entrance, it now is a huge building complete with substantial marquee with lights and red carpet. (Same building shown in the following episode). And the intro music, that which plays after the theme, while they get in their Rovers and go the quay, has a lot more harp.

That's about it. Nothing special, no highlights, boring actors, boring repeat fantasies. And Rue MacLanhan wasn't even funny, this time!