Movie
Summary: In a time and place
much like our own, only it's the '80s, a balding J.D. named
Brad picks up a dreamy guy whose full name, I happen to have
just noticed, is Zachary Taylor, the same as our twelfth
president. Everyone calls him Zack, though, and he's not
very presidential, but he is dreamy, I'll give him that. Prologue: Crow and Servo hold a wet t-shirt contest. They put some t-shirts in pans of water and can't see what the big deal is. At the end, after Mike says "we'll be right back," nothing happens for a bit. Hm. Segment One: Upon returning, an a image of Martin Van Buren appears suddenly, followed by an image of Martin Van Buren mixed with that of a gesturing, muffled man, a fellow sharp-eyed viewers might recognize. When Gypsy turns unusually vulgar, all realize that something is wrong, and they appeal to Pearl. Pearl doesn't care, and only sends them the movie. The theater doors don't work at first. Segment Two: Gypsy announces that a mysterious ship is keeping pace with the SOL and stalks off crabbily. Mike tries to take control, and fails. "Um...shields up!" (There are no shields.) He breaks the hexfield. Segment Three: The SOL suddenly begins plummeting, out of control, death is certain. Mike appeals to Pearl, but havoc reigns in the castle as a hooded figure tries to take Bobo's soul. The Soultaker turns out to be TV's Frank, who is in fact dead and is working as an Angel of Death. He explains he was in Second Banana Heaven for a while, "but it was so political up there; Pat Buttram had it in for me right from the start!" Pearl and Frank have a great time catching up and insulting Brain Guy. The SOL's nosedive stops -- they've been saved by a beam from the mysterious ship. Segment Four: Crow and Tom wonder about the mysterious ship, terrified. "Who are you!!!?" cries Crow; the doors open and Joel Robinson appears. Turns out Joel discovered that Dr. Forrester had rigged the ship to self-destruct after ten years, and he came to fix it. Everybody's happy and they all get reacquainted. Joel comments that Crow's voice sounds different, and ascribes it to a new bowling pin. He explains that after he crash-landed in Australia he worked for the band Man Or Astroman for a while, doing pyrotechnics; now he manages a Hot Fish Shop in Osseo. Mike appears and is very impressed with Joel's new job, but is depressed he can't take the overnight cook job, being stuck in space and all. Joel cheers him up. Segment Five: Joel's about done. He explains a few problems he's found, including some gunk from when Mike tried to patch something with strips of bacon. They check in at the castle and discover Frank, who says that Joel's soul is on his list, so he's going to need that -- "you know, when you get a minute." Joel leaves, proclaiming he can't take Mike and the 'Bots because the time he spent on the SOL "made a man outta me and maybe, just maybe, it'll make a man out of you too." Mike is grateful. In the castle, Frank needs a soul, and finally agrees to take Bobo's. Bobo and Frank play ring-toss with Bobo's soul. Stinger: Natalie's mom (AKA Joe Estevez) stares quizzically though an open door. Reflections:
A major show, to say the
least. Obviously I should explain a little about the "Hot
Fish Shop." The only Hot Fish Shop I know of was, until very
recently, located along Highway 61 in Winona, Minnesota, on
the Mississippi. A local landmark, it closed just weeks ago,
in fact possibly on the very day this show aired for the
first time. I wonder.
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