Hi,
I haven't seen any discussion of this series, so it may not be very popular around here. But I thought I'd start a thread and see what happened. According to many sources, the series premiered on October 3rd, while others have it as September 28, 1987 (at least everyone agrees on that!).
If you're not familiar with the series, it has nothing to do with the movie franchise of the same name. Paramount just thought that using the name would generate interest. Suits! The premise is that antique store owners are tracking down and retrieving cursed antiques that were sold by the former owner. The first episode ("The inheritance") does a good job of introducing the main characters, the concept, and even the original owner who made a pact with Devil to distribute the cursed items. It may be a bit cheesy by today's standards, but in its defense, it was a bit cheesy when it originally aired (is that a defense? 😊).
Anyway, any fans here? I think it has a certain charm (and I don't just mean Louise Robey).
Always liked that show. I remember watching that show late nights in high school and early college. We didnt have many options on tv back then. Friday the 13th was one of the few cool horror shows at the time.
So, not a lot of interest :P
I've been doing a "30 for 30" anniversary retrospective. And I finally got around to the series' last episode, "The Charnel Pit." I actually enjoyed the series more than ever before, although that could be because I selected the ones I like the best. I did let "Badge of Honor" sneak in, probably the only one I didn't like the first time I saw it (and still don't). It looks like the director thought she was shooting a 45-minute music video. Having said that, I do like the music. Mollin's score is very 80s-evocative (I've been listening to the soundtrack quite a bit, too), and the Robey club track is a very nice addition.
The rest of the episodes are highly entertaining, with better scripts, direction, and acting.
Lots of changes in Season 3, including the exit of John D. LeMay as Ryan, Steven Monarque becoming the new regular, and a greater emphasis on the backstories of guest characters—something I liked, but which came at the expense of the regulars. They came up with a good way to retire Ryan's character, with a great call back to "Scarecrow"—even though it required his mother's sudden reappearance and what appears to be some retconning of their relationships (Ryan remembering Jack being invited over for dinner?—they seemed to be complete strangers in "The Inheritance"). But those things are fairly minor. I like to think that when Ryan grows up again, he'll find out about the cursed objects and re-join the quest. I also like to think of Micki having taken over for a retired Jack as the mentor/matriarch of a new team of antique hunters, maybe with Mary Simms (from the Inheritance), Richie (Bedazzled), Micki's nephew, J.B. (Friend to the End), and/or Jordan (Scarecrow). And Allison (What a Mother Wouldn't Do), who might have some after effects from the cradle that saved her life.
Anyway, here's my "30 for 30" list:
1. The Inheritance
2. Hellowe'en
3. Doctor Jack
4. Root of All Evil
5. Scarecrow
6. Bedazzled
7. Tattoo
8. The Electrocutioner
9. Brain Drain
10. The Pirate's Promise
11. Badge of Honor
12. Doorway to Hell
13. The Voodoo Mambo
14. And Now the News
15. Tails I Live, Heads You Die
16. Symphony in B#
17. Wax Magic
18. Night Hunger
19. The Mephisto Ring
20. The Butcher
21. Wedding Bell Blues
22. The Shaman's Apprentice
23. Coven of Darkness
24. The Prophecies (1 & 2)
25. Demon Hunter
26. Bad Penny
27. Night Prey
28. Year of the Monkey
29. Midnight Riders
30. The Charnel Pit
-- Scott
Count me as a fan. My best friend and I watched it every Friday night. When I read the title of the thread I thought, "It can't be 30 years when this came on". Then after some calculations--I was 25 when it premiered and I'm 55 now. Dang I'm old!
Never missed an episode but haven't revisited it in years.