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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 24, 2024 6:11:45 GMT
Wow I didn't realize he only did four! Goodbye Jeremy Pike.That went fast. He was more serious and focused on the mystery he had to solve in this one. His Baron seemed to be most Artie-like in behavior.
Neat to see the academy for training secret service agents and they had their own Q.
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 24, 2024 6:45:34 GMT
BTW one interesting thing I came across--Charles Aidman and Ross Martin did episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater, a day apart. October 9 and 10 1974.
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Post by alpha128 on Aug 24, 2024 18:31:19 GMT
"The Night of the Janus"Wow, I didn't realize he only did four! Goodbye Jeremy Pike. That went fast. Neat to see the academy for training secret service agents and they had their own Q. Yes, that's it for Jeremy, "the not-Artie". Next up in the Season 4 Alternate Viewing Order is the two part "The Night of the Winged Terror", featuring Frank Harper (William Schallert). After that, it's a revolving door of guest stars for three episodes, and then Ross Martin returns for the final three of the season. As I've written previously, the upcoming two-parter not only includes the West equivalent of SPECTRE from the James Bond films, but also the big headed Tycho (Christopher Cary) that you've been waiting for!
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 24, 2024 19:37:13 GMT
Yes, that's it for Jeremy, "the not-Artie". Next up in the Season 4 Alternate Viewing Order is the two part "The Night of the Winged Terror", featuring Frank Harper (William Schallert). After that, it's a revolving door of guest stars for three episodes, and then Ross Martin returns for the final three of the season. As I've written previously, the upcoming two-parter not only includes the West equivalent of SPECTRE from the James Bond films, but also the big headed Tycho (Christopher Cary) that you've been waiting for! Oh yeah I have been waiting for him all these years.
One thing I don't understand though--we already had Ross Martin after his recovery, appear at the very end of Night of the Pistoleros right? That was shot after he was back.
So if production order had been followed then he would have been shown after the recovery first, and then all the replacements following--but the scene with him shot after the recovery would have been the first to show right? Or would that recovery scene have not been included in the original broadcast if it had been aired in production order?
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Post by alpha128 on Aug 24, 2024 20:18:48 GMT
Next up in the Season 4 Alternate Viewing Order is the two part "The Night of the Winged Terror", featuring Frank Harper (William Schallert). After that, it's a revolving door of guest stars for three episodes, and then Ross Martin returns for the final three of the season. One thing I don't understand though--we already had Ross Martin after his recovery, appear at the very end of Night of the Pistoleros right? That was shot after he was back... Would that recovery scene have not been included in the original broadcast if it had been aired in production order? The tag we see at the end of The Night of the Pistoleros would not have been included if the network was forced to air that episode in production order. Probably they would have rewritten the tag to give Artie's exposition to another character. For example, Colonel Richmond could have showed up to deliver the appropriate lines, while explaining that Artie was still on his way back.
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 24, 2024 20:37:44 GMT
The tag we see at the end of The Night of the Pistoleros would not have been included if the network was forced to air that episode in production order. Probably they would have rewritten the tag to give Artie's exposition to another character. For example, Colonel Richmond could have showed up to deliver the appropriate lines, while explaining that Artie was still on his way back. I don't know why I am so dumb about it--it just seemed strange since I am watching it in production order and that ending baffled me. Since they did not air it in order, they didn't need to think about that end scene until later anyway.
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Post by alpha128 on Aug 24, 2024 22:19:25 GMT
The tag we see at the end of The Night of the Pistoleros would not have been included if the network was forced to air that episode in production order. Probably they would have rewritten the tag to give Artie's exposition to another character. For example, Colonel Richmond could have showed up to deliver the appropriate lines, while explaining that Artie was still on his way back. I don't know why I am so dumb about it--it just seemed strange since I am watching it in production order and that ending baffled me. Since they did not air it in order, they didn't need to think about that end scene until later anyway. Right, the network had the luxury of waiting, and wait they did.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 7, 2024 6:31:13 GMT
"The Night of the Winged Terror" (Parts 1 and II)This is the only two-parter in the series. I've always thought that the secret organization RAVEN was the West equivalent of SPECTRE from the James Bond films. Over on the TWWW board of that other site, I even came up with not one, but two versions of what the RAVEN acronym stood for - a serious one and a jokey one that Artemus would use. Alas, this bit of creativity on my part was purged from the IMDb board long ago. Finally Mr. Big Head! Only took me 5 years.
Did Jim meet Frank at the same place Kirk fought the Gorn? Sure looked familiar. I liked the start with the raven on the trolley car and how hippie glasses were used for evil.
I thought Frank Harper was interestingly contrasted from Artie since he is a card player. I wasn't sure about Schallert beforehand but he was fine. He captured the humor aspect to the disguises rather effortlessly I thought.
Also, quite a few agents show up in part 2 assisting him. That's something different.
Those fine art pieces being smashed by the Controller in part one looked like stuff you could buy as reproductions anywhere--especially when they had a few duplicates.
Tycho--I wonder what Dr. Loveless would think of him.
Probably would think him a wimpy amateur.
I had planned to wait a week to watch the second part but decided to--it didn't end on much of a cliffhanger--seems to me if it ended with him shooting the guy and fleeing it would have been more suspenseful.
I thought the part where they trick Tycho and grab him after blowing up the glass seemed very feeble. They didn't have much of a plan--they grab hm and then the RAVEN henchmen come in with guns. Some plan.
Also, the way Jim tells Frank not to worry about him--seemed so obviously suspect. "I never got the glasses so I can't be hypnotized."
I liked the pinata sequence. And Michele Carey. Forgot we had seen her before. She always makes me think of the Star Trek Mirror, Mirror episode with Barbara Luna. Her voice is very similar. Actually Nancy Kwan also has a similar kind of voice too.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 7, 2024 17:30:06 GMT
"The Night of the Winged Terror" (Parts 1 and II)I thought Frank Harper was interestingly contrasted from Artie since he is a card player. I wasn't sure about Schallert beforehand but he was fine. He captured the humor aspect to the disguises rather effortlessly I thought.
Also, the way Jim tells Frank not to worry about him--seemed so obviously suspect. "I never got the glasses so I can't be hypnotized." William Schallert had his to say about his appearance on West: I agree with you that Jim and Frank were far too quick to accept that Jim couldn't have been hypnotized. Since you watched both parts in one sitting, you are now two-thirds of the way through the nine Artie-less episodes. The next three episodes in the Season 4 Alternate Viewing Order have three different guest stars. Unlike Aidman and Schallert, none of the remaining guest stars provide the Disguise element. You'll have to manage without that until Ross Martin gets back.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 7, 2024 17:53:45 GMT
William Schallert had his to say about his appearance on West: I agree with you that Jim and Frank were far too quick to accept that Jim couldn't have been hypnotized. Since you watched both parts in one sitting, you are now two-thirds of the way through the nine Artie-less episodes. The next three episodes in the Season 4 Alternate Viewing Order have three different guest stars. Unlike Aidman and Schallert, none of the remaining guest stars provide the Disguise element. You'll have to manage without that until Ross Martin gets back. Frank had some skepticism in his mannerism--he wasn't convinced. But it was so rushed and artificial.
OMIGOD how can they have no disguises?
That doesn't sound good.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 7, 2024 18:10:56 GMT
Unlike Aidman and Schallert, none of the remaining guest stars provide the Disguise element. You'll have to manage without that until Ross Martin gets back. OMIGOD how can they have no disguises? That doesn't sound good.
You should have no problem coping, especially if you like mystery stories. Some non-spoiler excerpts from my upcoming reviews: "The Night of the Sabatini Death" - "is in fact a pretty creepy mystery, and a very good one at that!" "The Night of the Bleak Island" - "So while the episode is not very original overall, it is nonetheless very enjoyable, with great atmosphere." "The Night of the Tycoons" - "And it's a good episode, certainly much better than (Artie episode) "The Night of the Cossacks", the previous episode (in air date order) directed by Mike Moder."
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 8, 2024 23:33:41 GMT
You should have no problem coping, especially if you like mystery stories. Some non-spoiler excerpts from my upcoming reviews: "The Night of the Sabatini Death" - "is in fact a pretty creepy mystery, and a very good one at that!" "The Night of the Bleak Island" - "So while the episode is not very original overall, it is nonetheless very enjoyable, with great atmosphere." "The Night of the Tycoons" - "And it's a good episode, certainly much better than (Artie episode) "The Night of the Cossacks", the previous episode (in air date order) directed by Mike Moder." Only three left! It did go fast. So I assume that, based on Schallert's comments, the writers by the time he was brought in were not just taking Artie scripts and converting them--for these three episodes--they wrote them with the knowledge that he was not available from the inception of the idea? So they would actually be more tailored to the actors chosen? Or would they not have known who they were getting when they wrote them?
I assume with John Williams (great composer too--just kidding--I know he is the guy from Night Gallery--especially memorable in The Caterpillar if I recall correctly) they wanted to have a British agent involved.
I am not into binge watching--I think it is a bad idea to watch a series--one episode after the other because you don't have time to absorb it.
Unless it is a two-parter, I don't like to wait.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 9, 2024 1:45:37 GMT
So I assume that, based on Schallert's comments, the writers by the time he was brought in were not just taking Artie scripts and converting them--for these three episodes--they wrote them with the knowledge that he was not available from the inception of the idea?
So they would actually be more tailored to the actors chosen? Or would they not have known who they were getting when they wrote them? I assume with John Williams (great composer too--just kidding--I know he is the guy from Night Gallery--especially memorable in The Caterpillar if I recall correctly) they wanted to have a British agent involved.
The Jeremy Pike episodes were originally written with Artemus Gordon in mind and repurposed. (They just wrote "not-" in front of each instance of "Artie" ) But you're correct that, by the time Schallert was brought on board, the writers knew that guest stars would be playing Jim's sidekicks, and wrote the scripts with that knowledge in mind. I assume the parts were cast like any guest star role. You are also correct the they wanted to have a British character in "Bleak Island" and cast accordingly.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 21, 2024 6:20:33 GMT
"The Night of the Sabatini Death" I thought it was pretty good! At first I was also thinking "noooo!" with Alan Hale but then accepted him as it got more serious. And his talkative cat co-star was a bonus. And they also got in a disguise too (I suspected as much).
It's too bad they couldn't have had Bob Denver or Russell Johnson show up as the limping man! I wonder if they had intended some other guest star for it? As a surprise? I know they said "the whole town is in on it" but they could have kept him hidden.
I didn't like the sheriff. That guy was obnoxious.
Amusing last line.
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vrkalak
Sophomore
@vrkalak
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Post by vrkalak on Sept 21, 2024 8:54:30 GMT
"The Night of the Sabatini Death" I thought it was pretty good! At first I was also thinking "noooo!" with Alan Hale but then accepted him as it got more serious. And his talkative cat co-star was a bonus. And they also got in a disguise too (I suspected as much).
It's too bad they couldn't have had Bob Denver or Russell Johnson show up as the limping man! I wonder if they had intended some other guest star for it? As a surprise? I know they said "the whole town is in on it" but they could have kept him hidden.
I didn't like the sheriff. That guy was obnoxious.
Amusing last line.
I’ve probably mentioned this previously, paging alpha 128 😄, the scene where James T first rides into town was taken from the season 2 episode TNOT Colonel’s Ghost.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 21, 2024 16:38:54 GMT
"The Night of the Sabatini Death"I thought it was pretty good! At first I was also thinking "noooo!" with Alan Hale but then accepted him as it got more serious. And they also got in a disguise too (I suspected as much).
I'm glad you enjoyed it! I had forgotten about the female villain's disguise. For the record, I don't count villain disguises for the element, just those of Artie and Artie substitutes.
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 21, 2024 16:48:48 GMT
I’ve probably mentioned this previously, paging alpha 128 😄, the scene where James T first rides into town was taken from the season 2 episode TNOT Colonel’s Ghost. You did mention it previously. We had a nice little discussion about it right here.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 21, 2024 18:06:14 GMT
What about the shot of the plantation workers outside on the street? That looked like it was taken from a movie.
The contraption Ned Brown uses to distract the goons was interesting--it wasn't something fancy--just a noise maker.
How many chemists did the Secret Service have? Wasn't there another chemist in one of the earlier replacement episodes?
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Post by alpha128 on Sept 21, 2024 18:40:50 GMT
How many chemists did the Secret Service have? Wasn't there another chemist in one of the earlier replacement episodes? Certainly Prof. Montague from "The Night of the Janus" would qualify as a chemist.
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Post by Prime etc. on Sept 23, 2024 1:29:42 GMT
I like the one for the tv-movie at the end with the added drum and banjo elements
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