ramsfan
Joined Jan 2005
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Reviews82
ramsfan's rating
Helpful•00
Dan August starred Burt Reynolds as a homicide detective working cases in a fictional California town. The opening scene usually depicted a murder being committed by a concealed figure, and the episode would eventually reveal the killer. Despite a solid supporting cast and thoughtful episodes centered on topical issues like prejudice, workers' rights and military desertion, the show was never really given a chance, ending its run after only 26 episodes.
Many television executives cannot exactly be accused of being visionaries, and it's obvious they didn't know what they had in Dan August, which was at least on par with many of the other similarly-themed shows of the time. Ironically, the impetuous, short-sighted decision to cancel the series led to great success for three of its principal characters: Both Richard Anderson and Norman Fell, two solid character actors would each later co-star in highly successful television series The Six Million Dollar Man and Three's Company respectively. And of course Burt Reynolds went on to box office superstardom in the 1970s and later returned to television, winning an Emmy for the show Evening Shade. Producer Quinn Martin didn't miss a beat and continued his track record of successful series, conceiving Cannon, Barnaby Jones and The Streets of San Francisco throughout the decade. Nonetheless, one can't help but wonder what a little patience could have meant for the trajectory of Dan August.
Many television executives cannot exactly be accused of being visionaries, and it's obvious they didn't know what they had in Dan August, which was at least on par with many of the other similarly-themed shows of the time. Ironically, the impetuous, short-sighted decision to cancel the series led to great success for three of its principal characters: Both Richard Anderson and Norman Fell, two solid character actors would each later co-star in highly successful television series The Six Million Dollar Man and Three's Company respectively. And of course Burt Reynolds went on to box office superstardom in the 1970s and later returned to television, winning an Emmy for the show Evening Shade. Producer Quinn Martin didn't miss a beat and continued his track record of successful series, conceiving Cannon, Barnaby Jones and The Streets of San Francisco throughout the decade. Nonetheless, one can't help but wonder what a little patience could have meant for the trajectory of Dan August.
Helpful•00
First let me state that All in the Family is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. Part of its appeal was its willingness to take on controversial topics that simply were not discussed at the time on television. The acting and writing were first rate. And it effectively blended serious topical issues into a comedic format. In short, a brilliant show.
Nonetheless, and despite Norman Lear's track record of pushing the envelope, it was a mistake to make the two-part Edith's 50th Birthday episode, an awkward and disturbing show. Despite being well-acted. It unnecessarily revisited themes already presented in the more sedate season 3 episode "Gloria, the Victim". We already saw the trauma of someone accosted by a stranger and the reluctance of victims to identify and/or hold their attackers responsible. Why do it again in even more traumatic fashion? Supporters of the episode will suggest that's the point of a show depicting sexual assault; to make the viewer rightly uncomfortable while watching such a horrible event. But for my tastes, this was too much of a departure from traditional All in the Family. And that's really saying something given this show successfully tackled everything from menopause to abortion to race relations.
I've probably seen every episode of All in the Family two dozen times. Not so with Edith's 50th Birthday, which I won't watch again.
Nonetheless, and despite Norman Lear's track record of pushing the envelope, it was a mistake to make the two-part Edith's 50th Birthday episode, an awkward and disturbing show. Despite being well-acted. It unnecessarily revisited themes already presented in the more sedate season 3 episode "Gloria, the Victim". We already saw the trauma of someone accosted by a stranger and the reluctance of victims to identify and/or hold their attackers responsible. Why do it again in even more traumatic fashion? Supporters of the episode will suggest that's the point of a show depicting sexual assault; to make the viewer rightly uncomfortable while watching such a horrible event. But for my tastes, this was too much of a departure from traditional All in the Family. And that's really saying something given this show successfully tackled everything from menopause to abortion to race relations.
I've probably seen every episode of All in the Family two dozen times. Not so with Edith's 50th Birthday, which I won't watch again.
Helpful•54