I saw this special back in 1979, but at age 17 I was at least 10 years too old for it. Not that Halloween specials are known for their sophisticated humor, but this one manages to be inept even by that standard.
THAT thing won an Emmy? It must have been a very weak year. This is for you if you're so young that you think showing four actors running fast-forward is clever. Showing people repeatedly swinging on a rope unsuccessfully definitely has its limits, even for slapstick. The appearance of the little kids at the climax was especially shameless. (I know they're supposed to seem "cute" and all, but call me WC Fields.)
I know that Judd Hirsch and Mariette Hartley were talented comedians, but here those talents are definitely wasted. I must have seen a different show from what these other reviewers saw.
Urrgh.
THAT thing won an Emmy? It must have been a very weak year. This is for you if you're so young that you think showing four actors running fast-forward is clever. Showing people repeatedly swinging on a rope unsuccessfully definitely has its limits, even for slapstick. The appearance of the little kids at the climax was especially shameless. (I know they're supposed to seem "cute" and all, but call me WC Fields.)
I know that Judd Hirsch and Mariette Hartley were talented comedians, but here those talents are definitely wasted. I must have seen a different show from what these other reviewers saw.
Urrgh.