by Sam Juliano
October already? Hard to believe, but here we are looking at Halloween decoration full front and getting some weather that seems to suggest summer has spent its oppressive resources. Movie fans can expect the cream of the crop, baseball fans the playoffs, NFL football aficionados the season in full swing. The opera and classical music seasons have now launched in their famous homes, classes are almost a month old and even Christmas countdowns have started up.
Here at Wonders in the Dark we have just concluded one of the most remarkable ventures in the site’s history, though in reality the other part of this project won’t be commencing again until December 11th or so. Do to the unprecedented enthusiasm to our Top 80, we have decided to go deeper into the balloting, so deep in fact that in a burst of insanity the site has resolved to countdown from Number 236 to 81. This means we will be covering or highlighting (in the event full reviews can’t quite be managed on certain days) 155 more shows. I know. I know. This is utter lunacy, and an example of the extent enthusiasm can lead one. How can this possibly work? At this point I am really uncertain. Yes Adam Ferenz, Dennis Polifroni, Brian Wilson, Robert Hornak and myself have volunteered together for an incredible number of essays, but others have also pledged contributions. All I can say is that we will take it one day at a time. As if that proposition crosses the line of mental stability, I will still have the latter part of my Caldecott Medal Contender series to complete. It started this past weekend, and will be continuing through October, November, December and January. Yes it will for that last section run concurrently with the television countdown, but that kind of thing has never really been a problem. There will just be more posts, that’s all.
Some of the most spectacular/superlative essays ever published at this site were accomplished for this countdown. Many thanks to Adam Ferenz, Dennis Polifroni, Brandie Ashe, Brian Wilson, Robert Hornak, John Greco, Jon Warner, Stephen Mullen, Marilyn Ferdinand, Pierre de Plume, Patricia Perry, Lucille Juliano, J.D. Lafrance, Joel Bocko, Maurizio Roca, Samuel Juliano IV, Jillian Juliano and David Schleicher for manning up the writing brigade so brilliantly. Yes, Yours Truly ended up penning the most essays of all, but I’m much too busy now pondering how I can possibly juggle my even greater workload for Part 2 while doing the Caldecott series at the same time. I must set up an appointment to visit a psychiatrist soon.
The comment sections were fantastic as well. Many thanks to: Celeste Fenster, Dennis Polifroni, Duane Porter, Jeff Stroud, Bobby J., Jon Warner, Jamie Uhler, Frank Gallo, Pierre de Plume, Tim McCoy, Adam Ferenz, Patricia Hamilton, Bill Riley, Stephen Mullen, Brandie Ashe, Robert Hornak, John Grant, Peter, Rick Chinigo, Frank Aida, Karen, Steve Mazzone, David Noack, Maddylovesclassicfilms, Paula P., Marilyn Ferdinand, Patricia Perry, Maurizio Roca, Wendy Wahmann, Barry Germansky, Maxine Grgurev, Larry Weise, J.D. Lafrance, Sachin Gandhi, Brian Wilson, Lee Price, Jim Clark, Laurie Buchanan, John Tonner, jamiepeeps, John Greco, Simply Megan Joy, Lucille Juliano, Samuel Juliano IV, Jack Marsh, Jillian Juliano, Arturo Gomez, George Pappas, Cassandra, Broadway Bob Eagleson.
The longest essay in the countdown was Robert Hornak’s superlative marathon piece for The Twilight Zone (#1) at 16,990 words. The runners-up were my own Boris Karloff’s Thriller (#35) at 12,000 words and Joel Bocko’s incomparably brilliant Twin Peaks (#2) at 11,000 words. But some of the countdown’s greatest essays were some of the shortest and mid-length ones as always.
The most comments for any essay were recorded for my own piece on The Andy Griffith Show (#44) with 69 comments. The runners-up were my own The Avengers (#76) with 64 and Boris Karloff’s Thriller (#35) with 61. Needless to say some of the greatest essays didn’t get many comments. Timing, controversy and attendance on specific days always plays a major role in how many comments are entered, not to mention how aggressive the writer is in answering comments. Also, I am a pedant in that regard.
Page view totals for the individual essays have not yet been sorted out.
Brandie Ashe, you made us cry with your wrenching and lovely essay on The Carol Burnett Show, and dazzled us with your appreciation of The Simpsons; Brian Wilson, you greatly expanded the scholarship on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (with Stephen Sposato) and I Love Lucy and penned one of the most gleefully engaging pieces in the countdown with your appreciation of The Muppet Show; Patricia Perry, while your work for the countdown was once again exemplary, you really did move mountains with your examination of Frasier and Mad Men; Pierre de Plume, if there is a greater exploration online or anywhere on SCTV, please appraise me of it, your piece was utterly magisterial and definitive; Marilyn Ferdinand, you have proven again why you are one of the most brilliant film and television writers out there, and one of the very few, along with Allan Fish who has completely mastered the art of word economy. Your The Mary Tyler Moore essay seriously contends for countdown honors for one. Stephen Mullen, your acute scholarship and lyrical writing is a real joy to behold – your essays on The Civil War, Dekalog and Monty Python’s Flying Circus will be forever seen as models; David Schleicher, you have once again used the English language creatively and economically to masterful effect in your two unforgettable forays; Adam Ferenz, your authoritative grasp of this medium, which has gone the limit has resulted in some stupendous essays among your astonishing output – your essay on Cheers was a tour de force, and the comprehensive examination of The Wire brilliantly wrought. John Greco, your generous bevy of contributions resulted in some splendid, indeed stupendous essays, as authoritative as they were engaging with The Honeymooners and Your Show of Shows standing as glowing examples of first-rate writing and appreciation, Dennis Polifroni, your “no stone unturned approach” has brought some unparallelled electricity to the countdown, and your late count hat trick of The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Sopranos and All in the Family were definitive and revelatory; J.D. Lafrance, your contributions as always were top drawer and a lesson to those looking to outline the way to write a professional review, case in point, your stunning examination of The Prisoner, and your comment-heavy Moonlighting. Jon Warner, as always your generosity in the comment section is the fuel that keeps the project running, but on the writer’s end you have produced some masterpieces that not only stand as among the very best in the countdown, but among your own very best- your Seinfeld was a jewel and your My So-Called Life a treasure. Maurizio Roca, your terrific Deadwood essay brilliantly encapsulated the short-lived work its work and artistry, not to mention its sadly untimely end; to the members of my own family I say an unqualified kudos for your yeoman entries for the countdown – Lucille’s beautifully-penned essays on The Waltons and Bewitched generated lively comment sections, and Sammy IV’s wonderful piece on Friends was also all the rage in the comments. Jillian’s sole contribution, Orange is the New Black resulted in a pointed and splendid examination of the still running show. Many thanks to Sierra Fox and Nicholas Perry for their buffo guest contribution on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Robert Hornak – your boundless enthusiasm was a prime reason why this countdown thrived, but of course your superlative pieces for the countdown capped by that stuendous final on The Twilight Zone brought this its final triumph! With Part 2 in the future you will again be seen a vital component. And then there is Joel Bocko. His sole contribution on Twin Peaks was a staggering masterpiece, a landmark for him, for this site and for the literature on the show. The extraordinary essay has since been re-blogged by John Grant at Noirish.
And looking down with a smile is Allan. We called on him seven times to re-publish his work and in each instance we saw again why he is such an incomparable talent.
Thank you All! See you again on December 11th for Part 2!
Lucille and I saw one film in theaters this week, and attended the Princeton Children’s Book Festival. The latter was another fabulous event. Our son Jeremy also was aboard as always.
Victoria & Abdul **** 1/2 (Saturday night) Chelsea Cineopolis
Don’t tell the psychiatrist about your commitments. You might leave his office in a straitjacket.
Hahahahahahahaha Arne!!! That is precisely what I was suggesting might happen. 🙂
Calling all ships, calling all ships…essays desperately needed for part 2!
But, seriously, it was great fun partaking in part 1 and I am eagerly anticipating part 2, having already begun many of the essays I have signed up for.
Adam, you are a centerpiece to say the least!
Funny you should mention psychiatry, Sam. 🙂
Hahahahahahahahaah literally and figuratively Pierre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Thank you for mentioning my name Sam. My sister and I had so much fun, and it brought back memories. We are still plowing through DVDs of some of our favorite shows. We are waiting on Part 2, but until then we will focus on your Caldecott series.
Karen, your support throughout has been deeply appreciated. Great to hear you and your sister enjoyed the coverage!
Sam, it was a delight to contribute, in my small way, to such a great countdown, marshalled by your passion and enthusiasm.
There were some shows that I hadn’t seen enough of, others too indistinct to make a comment on. There were even some shows that I was completely indifferent about and disliked but I couldn’t criticise – it’s easier to do that to a movie, but a TV show can be so intricately interwoven into a viewer/writers life that to criticise it would seem to be churlish. Or so I thought.
Anyway, I saw a host of 3D 50’s movies in the last couple of weeks as my brother was on holiday and I was popping over to my mums and tested out his 3d tv.
‘It Came from of Outer Space’* – a bit dreary from the film I remembered years ago, it’s still spiked by some great Bradbury lines and ideas but the performances are strictly ‘b’ movie. But for the budget Jack Arnold had, pretty impressive in minor ways.
‘House of Wax’*** – is a pretty superb remake, some really atmospheric moments; the only thing letting it down is the quality of performances with the best and most outstanding one going the barker throwing the ball into the audience’s pop corn and even breaking the fourth wall.
Inferno*** – is a crime film directed by Roy Ward Baker in which Robert Ryan’s millionaire business magnate is left to die by his treacherous wife and her lover. The 3D really is astonishing with virtually every scene a stand out, from the table in the cafeteria on which the ketchup feels as if it is touchable, ot those scenes in which Ryan’s character is isolated and so vividly there in a barren desert. Both exteriors and interiors feels like I could walk into them. It keeps all the 3d effects of items being thrown at the audience in check till the final.
‘Dial M for Murder’** – not a Hitchcock classic but still a gripping little crime yarn and again 3d made it feel and look alive.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ – great movie but I’m a purist and hate others later altering something they shouldn’t even be near, just like colourisation.
I also watched a stack of cartoons from 1953 to the present , all 3D, but most very tiresome.
I’d have to say that all the bullshit I’ve heard about 3D over the years, that it was just a gimmick – were dispelled. In the present era, only ‘Gravity’ and ‘Avater’ have been decent 3D films worthy of their ’50s classics. Of all the technical innovations, sound, colour and widescreen – all took some thing away from another form, so it’s sound or silent, colour or back and white, academy of a variation wider and wider formats. 3D is the only format that complemented the existing forms, made them richer and deeper and more immersive.
Will be watching Ken Burns ‘The Vietnam War’ next. Looking forward it.
Hahahaha Bobby, THE WIZARD OF OZ makes me smile. No film has been the center of attention at this site more often. Allan’s book rating is his highest rating *****, yet he often said despite this he hated its message. A few others call it a big lie (a very very very very few that is) but no film builds a more sturdy positive concensus. I totally agree on the tampering being totally unacceptable. I was actually watching IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE on the Indicator blu ray set last night, and I do stand with you on INFERNO and HOUSE OF WAX. I’ve always been a fan of DIAL M FOR MURDER too, though I agree it is not an absolute classic. I also love the use of 3 D in AVATAR and think it well employed in GRAVITY which is not a film I love but think decent. And yes, yes, yes my friend, the aspect of television shows being interwoven into a viewer’s life is an excellent point, and should be considered when there is any objections to certain programs. I quite agree. Thanks for your tremendous support and amazing insights throughout the countdown. Part 2 will begin sometime around the 1st of February.
Sam — I am so excited to see Victoria & Abdul. I love Judi Dench!
Thanks so much Laurie! You will surely LOVE Victoria & Abdul!
Thank you for giving me top billing Sam, but I don’t think I’ve earned it. Mark and I did see ‘Victoria & Abdul’ and loved it. Some historical inaccuracies but who really cares? Not me.
The television countdown was a blast, and am looking ahead to the second part!
Celeste, you’ve erned it my friend! 🙂 Thrilled to hear you and Mark loved the film. The countdown has been pushed back a bit but will commence in late January! Many thanks!
As an Aronofsky acolyte, Sam, have you seen mother!? I’ve read the spoilers and Richard Brody’s bizarre defense of the picture, so now I’m hesitant. The film sounds disgusting. Gratuitously vile. I like Lawrence, Bardem, Harris and Pfeiffer and I know you have a high tolerance for the extreme, but……
I’ve seen Mother! and it’s definitely not vile or disgusting Mark. It is heavy handed and absurdly over the top though. As I told Jamie and Sam in a private email, I’m not a huge fan of Aronofsky either….and his new film doesn’t really change that in any way. The movie it most resembles in Aronofsky’s filmography is Black Swan. If you’ve seen that one, then you should get an idea of the direction the film takes (albeit even more extreme in many respects).
The biggest surprise is that such an arty and uncompromising picture got shown in wide release. No doubt that Jennifer Lawrence was a major catalyst in that department. It’s not the type of film that will find a mainstream audience.
OK, Maurizio, I’ll give it a whirl, but whenever a movie gets lauded as a ‘Fever
OK, Maurizio, I’ll give it a whirl, but whenever a movie gets lauded as a ‘Fever dream’ or ‘batshit crazy’ my instinct is to run the other way.
Check out Vulture’s list of the 100 greatest screenwriters ever. Hollywood chauvinism. Hollywood provincialism. Billy Wilder but no I.A.L. Diamond. Nora Ephron in the top 10. Welles at #41. Herman Mankiewicz at #56. Harold Ramis above Bergman. Chris Columbus (Goonies) ahead of Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep). And, as Self-Styled Siren has pointed out, no Samson Raphaelson. Is this list intended as a joke, because it sure reads like one.
I suspect I may wind up agreeing with Maurizio, Mark, but we’ll see. Your objections make a lot of sense to me.
Hahahaha Mark, that screenwriter list looks dodgy to me! Ramis over Bergman and Welles in the 50’s. Who composed the list? Second grade students?
Love teh Self-Styled Siren though. She is a gem of a woman.
Footnote – The Ephron script for ‘You’ve Got Mail’ was inspired by the Raphaelson scripted ‘The Shop Around the Corner.’ Ephron in the top 10, Raphaelson nowhere in sight.
Ha, point VERY well taken there Mark!!!
I’ve never been a fan of Aronofsky’s (with the exception of THE WRESTLER, which is pretty much an anomaly in his career) – but I actually admired MOTHER! and might even see it again. That last chapter is very difficult to watch, but I found it fascinating to see how many themes and issues it tackled concurrently in those last, frantic 25 minutes.
I will keep your observations in mind Pat when I see it this week.
Monday morning, appalled by the carnage in Las Vegas. A man is able to fire 1000 rounds out of a hotel window before he can be stopped. All this horror and suffering would not have been possible were it not for the inane free access to high capacity automatic weapons in this country. Are we never going to wake up?
Aye Duane, it is horrifying beyond words. I found out this morning after I had posted the MMD last night. Really puts everything in perspective. I have some relatives on both sides of my family living there and the first thing I did was to check on them. You live fairly close to there I know. Yes as long as such weapons are easily attainable we will face this over and over. I can’t even bear to look at some of the photos of those we lost. One of the saddest days.
It’s been a real pleasure to read all the fantastic essays written for this countdown. It’s been fun to discuss and read others thoughts on some of the finest TV series ever made. I am so happy to have stumbled across this site. The passion you and your regular contributors have for TV and film is evident. Never stop writing! I love dropping by here so much. Looking forward to more reviews, essays and quality discussion. Maddy
Maddy, it has been more than a pleasure but a revelation to have you aboard, and I can’t thank you for all the insights you have imparted in behalf of the countdown. I am now thinking that Part 2 should be held up an additional four weeks more, probably now around January 20th or so.
Maddy, I have been thinking about you and a prospective involvement beyond the comment section. I am thinking of the ONE STEP BEYOND essay and others. Anyway I will email you my friend. Thank you so much!
Congratulations to everyone on a tremendous countdown! I read far more posts than I commented on (repeatedly forgetting my Word Press password kept me from getting my thoughts into the comment threads), but I think everyone did a terrific job. I was honored to be a contributor.
I’ve been catching up with 2017 films over the last several weeks, streaming a variety of films which included: BEATRIZ AT DINNER, THE BIG SICK, THE LITTLE HOURS, LEMON, MANIFESTO and PARIS CAN WAIT. I also saw mother! which I actually was positive about (see my comments above).
Also watched BLADE RUNNER this weekend to prepare for seeing BLADE RUNNER 2049 this weekend. I realized early on that I hadn’t actually seen BLADE RUNNER in its entirety before this weekend – it’s one of many gaps in my pop culture experience that I’m finally getting around to.
Looking forward to Victoria and Abdul, as well.
Pat, thank you for your brilliant contributions, comments and passionate support of the countdown! I’ve actually only seen two of teh films you streamed there, but plan to get to them all. I really liked THE BIG SICK, though not quite on thelevel of a Top 10 of the year. Wow, BLADE RUNNER, eh? This was the best time to watch it indeed! I just filled a request from a friend, who wanted to watch the blu ray of the original. I am thinking you will be warm to VICTORIA & ABDUL and look forward to comparing notes. Thank so much my friend!
What a horrible week this has been. And now Anne Wiazemsky has died of cancer. Let’s all bow our heads for a moment of silence to honor this icon of 60’s art cinema.
I was so deeply saddened to read of this Mark. She was legendary and she starred in a film I frequently say is the greatest of all-time
Yes, there’s ‘Balthazar’ and also ‘La Chinoise’ and ‘Theorem’ — Bresson, Godard and Pasolini.