Airwolf: a one season classic!

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Thursday, June 16, 2011 23:49
VIEWED: 38470
PAGE 1 of 1

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:59 AM

Anyone here remember the first (& only REALLY good season) of this politically centerist & hi-tek cold war series?

Geeze, I love that Andrew Probert (Trek TMP) redesign of the Bell 222 helicopter. And the writing was phenomenal for the time. Too bad it was abandoned to mediocrity in the second season due to Jan Michael-Vincent's increasing alcohol problem- it might have reached even higher storytelling plateaus than the excellent first season...

The Stringfellow Chrisisall

KATESFRIEND

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 3:36 AM

I agree, it was fun when it started, then got kind of repetitious especially with evil foreign agents. So many TV stars from that time seemed to have self destructed, and are no longer even in the business if they lived. It's a relief to see so many of our BDH's so emotionally stable.

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 3:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Katesfriend:
It's a relief to see so many of our BDH's so emotionally stable.

Ahh, Alec.

The laughing Chrisisall

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 5:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Anyone here remember the first (& only REALLY good season) of this politically centerist & hi-tek cold war series?

Geeze, I love that Andrew Probert (Trek TMP) redesign of the Bell 222 helicopter. And the writing was phenomenal for the time. Too bad it was abandoned to mediocrity in the second season due to Jan Michael-Vincent's increasing alcohol problem- it might have reached even higher storytelling plateaus than the excellent first season...

The Stringfellow Chrisisall

Oh how I loved this series as a kid! My dad and I use to watch this religiously when it first aired, and I have to admit to owning all 3 of the available seasons on DVD (though I doubt the truly mediocre 4th season will be available any time soon

)

And yeah...it was truly was ahead of its time, in that the hero wasn't blatantly pro-American and it portrayed Vietnam War vets in a good light. At least for the most part, sine I do recall a couple of episodes having war buddies of String's be the villain. But still, definitely centrist in the political leanings...seems to be a general trend with Bellasario productions.

Interesting to note, Jan-Michael Vincent's most recent credit was 2002 (according to IMDb), but looking at the filmography? Nothing top-calibre there except maybe his guest shot on "Nash Bridges" and that was for like all of 5 minutes for an alleyway confrontation with Don Johnson. Powerful stuff from what I remember, if only for how burned out he looked

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

KWICKO

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 12:04 PM

YIKES!

AURaptor's Greatest Hits:

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 20:32 To AnthonyT:
Go fuck yourself.
On this matter, make no mistake. I want you to go fuck yourself long and hard, as well as anyone who agrees with you. I got no use for you.

Friday, May 28, 2010 - 18:26 To President Obama:
Mr. President, you're a god damn, mother fucking liar.
Fuck you, you cock sucking community activist piece of shit.
... go fuck yourself, Mr. President.

LWAVES

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 3:04 PM

I own the first three seasons although I have to agree that the first is easily the best, the second is watchable, the third is poor with JMV appearing drunk most of the time.
If I have to mention the so called 'fourth season' then it's only to say you are better to ignore that it even exists. Different cast, multiple re-used aerial shots, extremely lame acting that starred Barry Van Dyke and Gerant Wynn Davies, which should be enough to put anyone off.

Airwolf itself was also the best of the super vehicles. It looked cool, was fast, could outgun and outfly most other aircraft plus it had the howling sound when it arrived to make enemies crap themselves. Good stuff.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
I own the first three seasons

I used to own season two, but I sold it to get Star Trek Remastered season two.
The third season of Airwolf was unwatchable IMO, and the second only had "Firestorm," & "Fallen Angel" to make me wanna keep it.
But JMV was drunk during most of "Firestorm." Ironically it concerned a drunken friend of Dom's...

"Moffett's Ghost" started out cool, but ended very silly.
"Condemned" was almost good...
See, EVERY episode of the first season was great, and JMV hadn't started drinking on the set yet.

The laughing Chrisisall

LWAVES

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
I used to own season two, but I sold it to get Star Trek Remastered season two.

Genuinely a good reason to sell most seasons not just that one. TOS Trek will always be worth it.

Quote:

But JMV was drunk during most of "Firestorm.

See, EVERY episode of the first season was great, and JMV hadn't started drinking on the set yet.

Another one of those actors who could have gone places under different circumstances.
I remember him pre-Airwolf in Big Wednesday. It was a pretty good surfing movie that showed he had some potential.

The show could have developed a lot more into something really classic instead of a great start and then....well you know the rest.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

I remember him pre-Airwolf in Big Wednesday. It was a pretty good surfing movie that showed he had some potential.

Pre-Airwolf I was a fan of his from Damnation Alley, The Mechanic, Hooper, and Defiance.
I was thrilled to see him get Airwolf.

And then...

frak.

The laughing Chrisisall

NAVYSEILS

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:31 PM

I loved airwolf as a kid. I hardly remember any specifics about it now, it's been a while. The theme tune never left my brain though.

OPPYH

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:32 PM

Picking specific seasons that suit your tastes still baffles me. I agree season 4 of Airwolf was horrific. Seasons 1-3 are pretty much in the same mold and are perfectly enjoyable.

Kung Fu-All three seasons(especially season 3) are fantastic.

Star Trek TOS-Season 3 was as equally satisfying as the first two seasons.

Buffy seasons 1-7 All great.

You can pick and choose all you want but in that process you lose a little of the identity of that particular series. It's like saying you enjoy the first 40 minutes of a movie, despise the remainder of the film and still say it was a great film.

Like robbing Peter to pay Paul, it makes no sense.

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70's TV FOREVER

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
I agree season 4 of Airwolf was horrific. Seasons 1-3 are pretty much in the same mold and are perfectly enjoyable.

Clearly it's been some time since you watched Airwolf. Season one was written with the same attention to storytelling that Magnum PI was- however, Bellisario recognized that Magnum would work, whereas Airwolf would be terminally weakened by it's now seemingly endlessly drunken star. All the creative juice poured into Magnum, and Airwolf was left to decay on its own. To say ANY season two ep was equally as good as the worst season one ep is delusional, or forgiving at best. Notice how Alan J. Levi bailed just after Bellasario did? Deborah Pratt (Bellisario's girl at the time) did the best she could by writing "Fallen Angel," arguably the best ep of season two, but it wasn't enough to do much for the season as a whole.
Kung-Fu, Trek and Buffy are completely different situations IMO. There's gold in any of those seasons.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 1:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
It's like saying you enjoy the first 40 minutes of a movie, despise the remainder of the film and still say it was a great film.

Non sequitur, your facts are uncoordinated.
Different writers, producers and directors lead to uneven levels of consistency.
I will sterilize.

The Nomad Chrisisall

OPPYH

Thursday, July 29, 2010 3:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Non sequitur, your facts are uncoordinated.
Different writers, producers and directors lead to uneven levels of consistency.
I will sterilize.

Having different writers in a series(some much weaker than the better writers) has always been the bane in any tv series. I have the three seasons of Airwolf on dvd. Yes, season 1 is the best...no arguments on that. I won't exclude seasons 2 or 3 because they aren't as consistently entertaining. I still enjoyed them. If you found seasons 2, and 3 a waste of time, then I am sorry for the analogy. I just thought you were a huge Airwolf fan, and was rather shocked to see you of all people the author of this thread. Watch, and enjoy what you will.

Let's face it Airwolf was a Knight Rider knock off(as was Street Hawk). Knight Rider was an absolute train wreck of a show that boasted a cool gimmick with stories that went nowhere, main characters so poorly written that they were unrecognizable from episode to episode, and absolutely no continuity. The worst episodes of Airwolf are better than the best episodes of Knight Rider. That is my comparison.

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70's TV FOREVER

LWAVES

Thursday, July 29, 2010 10:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

Having different writers in a series(some much weaker than the better writers) has always been the bane in any tv series.

Very true and that's one of the reasons you get weaker episodes over a season but when people who could be considered the driving force behind the show leave and are replaced it can change the dynamic and tone of the show. Imagine if Joss had quit Buffy after the first or second season and he took some of the other better writers with him. Buffy may have suffered because of it, we have no way of knowing of course, but with him there it was his show, his brain that kept things on track. Supernatural may or may not show this next season now that Eric Kripke has left.

Quote:

I have the three seasons of Airwolf on dvd. Yes, season 1 is the best...no arguments on that. I won't exclude S2 or 3 because they aren't as consistently entertaining.

I have the three seasons because I'm a bit of a completist when it comes to TV and movies. And I don't think I feel as badly about S2 + 3 as Chris does, but I can understand his point. If he doesn't like them in anyway, why buy them?
By your reckoning you should own season 4 as well (however bad you feel it is) when it's available because it's still Airwolf.

Quote:

The worst episodes of Airwolf are better than the best episodes of Knight Rider. That is my comparison.

I completely agree with that (although I did find some of KR entertaining at the time) but I don't think that's what folks are saying and I don't think it's a correct comparison for what's being said. I don't want to put words into Chris's or anyone else's mouth but I think everyone is comparing it to itself.
It would be like comparing Firefly to pretty much any other show. It beats them by far. But Firefly still has it's lesser episodes (depending on each viewers own opinion). If it had gone on for several seasons I'm sure some seasons would have been better than others. Doesn't make them bad seasons just not quite as good as others from the same stable. Buffy had the same situation with S2 + 3 generally considered the best and S4 the worst. But S4 is still a great season and again compared to other shows it beats them by miles.

Hope that all sounds right.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
I just thought you were a huge Airwolf fan

That's my ERTL diecast that I repainted a couple days ago to get it more accurate.

Where's yours?

I'm a fan from back in '84 my man.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
I don't want to put words into Chris's or anyone else's mouth but I think everyone is comparing it to itself.

Yeah, see, if there had been no first season, and it just started at two, yeah, I'd actually like season 2 & 3 just fine. But season 1 was just SO perfect & amazing, I really can't watch the other two. Plus: it wasn't a story arc that made you HAVE to own any other seasons- it's rather self-contained that way.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

Quote:

The worst episodes of Airwolf are better than the best episodes of Knight Rider.

I completely agree with that (although I did find some of KR entertaining at the time)

I still think the Knight Rider pilot is pretty dang good.
I loved when KITT drove right THROUGH that other car!

The laughing Chrisisall

OPPYH

Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

That's my ERTL diecast that I repainted a couple days ago to get it more accurate.

Where's yours?

I'm a fan from back in '84 my man.

I have no Airwolf model, and stand humbly in awe my friend. I'll be honest, you are very passionate about your favorite tv shows, and this is a very good thing.
So let me ask you a Star Trek related question super fan to super fan:

The Chicago Comic Con is coming up in August, and I will be attending. Both Patrick Stewart, and William Shatner will be there signing autographs. This is rare....very rare. Shatner hasn't been doing conventions for the past decade(that I know of) and have a feeling this will be the last time I have a chance to meet him.

I've heard the rumors. He can be a colossal jerk to certain fans that pay for his autograph.
Should I risk meeting him, and have him give me the brush off or worse? Or I can keep my distance get a few pics and call it good.
Would you meet the legendary Captain Kirk if given the opportunity?

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70's TV FOREVER

PIRATENEWS

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:21 PM

I used to work with a guy who said he partied with JMV. By party he meant coke and sex. Sex with hos or sex with JMV, I didn't want to know.

He was the top car salesman at the Toyota dealership, paid $200,000/year or more, before the economic Depression. He was formerly owner of a health club, when he met JMV.

He was an iceman at sales, when he wasn't falling off the wagon or getting arrested...just like JMV. I'd say that story was true.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:
Shatner hasn't been doing conventions for the past decade(that I know of) and have a feeling this will be the last time I have a chance to meet him.

I've heard the rumors. He can be a colossal jerk to certain fans that pay for his autograph.
Should I risk meeting him, and have him give me the brush off or worse? Or I can keep my distance get a few pics and call it good.
Would you meet the legendary Captain Kirk if given the opportunity?

Wow- that IS a hard one.
I'd either keep a distance & snap some pix, or do something unexpected- like pay him, but not for an autograph but a handshake. If he questioned me or looked shocked, I'd say something about touching a legend... and that I hoped to be a legend myself someday. Heh heh. Goofy is the way to go with the Shat IMO.

I took a picture of Marina Sirtis once, and had to hold the camera high to do it, and just then the crowd cleared suddenly & she thought I was trying to get her cleavage better that way.
Never been called a "Littl' bastard" before or since.

She was smiling, though.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by piratenews:
I used to work with a guy who said he partied with JMV.
I'd say that story was true.

My take is that JMV found himself on top at 40 & the demons told him it was a slow ride down from there. So he accelerated it unconsciously by anesthetizing himself.
Too bad.

The laughing Chrisisall

LWAVES

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

Shatner hasn't been doing conventions for the past decade(that I know of) and have a feeling this will be the last time I have a chance to meet him.

I've heard the rumors. He can be a colossal jerk to certain fans that pay for his autograph.
Should I risk meeting him, and have him give me the brush off or worse? Or I can keep my distance get a few pics and call it good.
Would you meet the legendary Captain Kirk if given the opportunity?

You kind of answer your own question. This may be the last time you get the chance so it's now or never. You have to get his autograph.
And yes he may turn out to be a jerk but at least you will know for yourself and not from rumours. It may hurt as it does when meeting idols/heroes who turn out to be assholes and your thoughts are forever tarnished or destroyed.
But ask yourself this. What if you don't meet him. What if you read reports after that he was great and funny and charming etc etc. What if he never does another signing again. How will you feel then having missed your opportunity.

Does that give you an answer?

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

I have no Airwolf model

http://airwolf.tv-series.com/default.asp?ModuleID=16&PageID=50&cat_id=
181&p_id=1291

Here's a picture of the ERTL before painting, with the rest of the set it sometimes came with. This is also the most excellent Airwolf site around IMO.
If you should be curious to read reviews of episodes, I am "Rarebutafact."

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 8:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
What if he never does another signing again. How will you feel then having missed your opportunity.

Yes. This. Definitely get close at least.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, July 29, 2010 10:25 PM

Quote:

http://airwolf.tv-series.com/default.asp?ModuleID=16&PageID=50&cat_id=
181&p_id=1291

Here's a picture of the ERTL before painting, with the rest of the set it sometimes came with. This is also the most excellent Airwolf site around IMO.
If you should be curious to read reviews of episodes, I am "Rarebutafact."

Okay, sure, it's down when I try to show someone something... whatever.

Another show that had a great first season and then went wonky was Lost In Space. But THAT was intentional as many sixties series were sillying it up some to lighten up the mood during the Vietnam War... even Wild Wild West goofed it down a bit after it's awesome first season although the magic never really disappeared.

The historian Chrisisall

PIRATENEWS

Friday, July 30, 2010 12:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

Quote:
Originally posted by piratenews:

I used to work with a guy who said he partied with JMV. I'd say that story was true.

My take is that JMV found himself on top at 40 & the demons told him it was a slow ride down from there. So he accelerated it unconsciously by anesthetizing himself.

My point being, go party with The Shatman, pick up some hookers, and bail him out of jail.

Then call him a jerk and ditch him!

CHRISISALL

Friday, July 30, 2010 2:07 AM

That's very close to seriously funny, PN.

The laughing Chrisisall

FREMDFIRMA

Friday, July 30, 2010 11:54 AM

Go.

Shatner's an ass, true - but it's long since past that anyone denies it, up to and including him, plus the years have really mellowed the guy, and never forget this one little bit...

Shatner, has never, EVER in his life been *half* the asshole Kirk was - and we LIKED Kirk, didn't we now ?

Funny thing, even wayyy back when I figured he prolly got really sick and tired of people calling him Captain Kirk - and so addressed him as "Mister Shatner" in a respectful businesslike tone, and he calls me on it, so I flat told him I felt it disrespectful to him as a person and actor, and he all but snickered at me for it.

Got snickered at WORSE much later, there's less than a dozen people on the PLANET that rate an automatic "Mister" from me...
And one of em is THAT asshole ?!
I still haven't heard the end of that.

As for Airwolf, yes, it was pretty nice, but I could never get into those 80's shows much even if I did like em, Knight Rider, A-Team, it was all prettymuch the same plot format, over and over again - and as a wee little kid I *despised* Mighty Mouse for just that reason.

Where Airwolf really shines, the genius of it, is the AUDIO - how they tell the story with the background, and very most especially, not just the howl, but the way they used sound alone to IMPLY hi-tech powers to the damn thing, and MADE YOU BELIEVE IT, when you knew damn well that was just a repainted Bell222.

Anyhow... go see the shat, might be your last chance - and if you get really lucky, you might run into John de Lancie, man that dude is a riot, and a right nice guy for all that, he really *DOES* act a lot like "Q", but way nicer.

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

CHRISISALL

Friday, July 30, 2010 2:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
that was just a repainted Bell222.

Excuse ME, Frem, it was fitted with custom body additions designed by Andrew Probert, the designer of the Motion Picture Enterprise!!!!

Repainted indeed!

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 1:23 PM

http://probertdesigns.com/Folder_DESIGN/A-WOLF_Designs1.html

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 1:47 PM

Nice find!

FREMDFIRMA

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 7:47 PM

Well, yes, the add-ons were pretty nice, as was the body styling - it did look very realistic.

As I understand it, most of those parts wound up in the hands of a private collector and the aircraft itself wound up serving as an ambulance, far as I know.

There's also a replica of it down in Sevierville, TN - right nearby some of my distant cousins, who like to send me postcard shots of the thing.

Oh, and if you wanna see a nice modern take on a seriously badass piece of chopper - look up the Sikorsky X2 - that is one mean mutha hubbard, oh yes, damn thing even makes that Airwolf howl, kinda-sorta...

Disclaimer: I own Sikorsky stock and have a personal interest in one of their subsidary corps.

-Frem

I do not serve the Blind God.

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, August 4, 2010 8:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
the aircraft itself wound up serving as an ambulance, far as I know.

And crashed in Germany during a lightning storm after delivering a person to a hospital, if memory serves.

Found my model:

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Monday, October 25, 2010 5:16 PM

I just saw the movie RED, and was simply amazed at how good Ernest Borgnine looks and sounds at 93 (!), so now I'm re-watching Season 1.
I'd almost forgotten how much he added to the show!
He has all the great lines: "Hey, why not let those people mow their own lawns, huh!"

MOOSE

Monday, October 25, 2010 10:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

I took a picture of Marina Sirtis once, and had to hold the camera high to do it, and just then the crowd cleared suddenly...

So, that's your story and you're sticking to it?

Where's the pic of her cleavage, er...I mean her?

I'm another huge fan of Season 1 Airwolf. I watched 2 sporadically and stopped before 3.

CHRISISALL

Monday, October 25, 2010 10:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Moose:

Where's the pic of her cleavage, er...I mean her?

I cannot show it here due to the *seeming* salacious nature of the angle...

Yeah, I loved Airwolf, its design by Enterprise refit artist Andrew Probert, and its quirky left/right geo-politics...

Those days are truly gone.

The laughing Chrisisall

MOOSE

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 1:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

I loved Airwolf, its design by Enterprise refit artist Andrew Probert...

I did not know that, very cool!

I had forgotten about the 4th season on USA Network, so I read up about it on Wikipedia...holy crap I am so glad I never saw it.

I'll probably Netflix 2 and 3 though.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 4:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Moose:

I did not know that, very cool!

Scroll up a bit, CL posted a cool link!

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 4:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
so now I'm re-watching Season 1.

And resurrecting dead threads.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 10:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
And resurrecting dead threads.

Sorry, did you want me to start a new one?
Blame Ernest Borgnine for still kickin'!

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 10:58 PM

Whoah, when I'M 93.... well, I don't conjure I ever will be...

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 11:22 PM

Yeah, Borgnine aged better than Eastwood & Eli Wallach, that's for sure!

BTW Chris, are you on Facebook?

Facebook | Whose your favourite early 80's TV show helicopter?
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=533703&id=51917755426

OPPYH

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 6:03 AM

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Airwolf-Season-4/14611

I can't wait. No, I'm serious. I never watched all of season 4, and I'm a completist. I remember this being bad, and expect nothing more.

BTW, seasons 2, and 3 are still awesome!!!!!

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70's TV FOREVER

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:34 PM

I forgot to ask you, Chris: Have you heard of a freeware flight sim called FlightGear?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightgear

A French user named Helijah created an add-on that looks oddly familiar...

http://helijah.free.fr/flightgear/les-appareils/bell222x/appareil.htm

Quote:
Okay, you all know that this helicopter has a relationship with a wolf flying. But not wanting to have a problem with rights, I prefer to leave a name referring to the actual helicopter behind.

I've never been able to actually fly it (don't have rudder pedals), but it sounds really great when you start 'er up!

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 9:15 PM

Suhweeeeet.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 9:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by OPPYH:

I can't wait. No, I'm serious. I never watched all of season 4, and I'm a completist. I remember this being bad, and expect nothing more.

You will not be disappointed.

Quote:

BTW, seasons 2, and 3 are still awesome!!!!!

They certainly have their moments. My faves are Firestorm, Moffett's Ghost, Fallen Angel & Airwolf II.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:16 PM

Yeah, "Moffett's Ghost" is about the only one I really like from Season 2, even though I love that final showdown with the sheriff at the end of "Sweet Britches"...

Basically I just love it whenever she hovers, wheels-up, a foot off the ground, and then maybe does a pedal turn or two.

Speaking of Moffett, I really liked the way David Hemmings handled the chopper action in the episode he directed, "Mad Over Miami".

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:31 PM

Mind Of The Machine had some awesome 'road test' stuff in it, as well as a kick a*s guest star!

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:52 PM

Well, the slalom was cool, but I can only watch David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine. Some'n off about his normal speaking voice.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:56 PM

So... Kill Bill 1 & 2 were no good to you...?

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 10:58 PM

Never saw 'em. Not a big Tarantino fan. Sorry.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Never saw 'em. Not a big Tarantino fan. Sorry.

S'okay- they weren't all that.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:25 PM

Actually, come to think of it, there was one other David Carradine project I really liked...

Cloud Dancer (1980)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080545/

Oddly, the only clip from it I could find is dubbed in Spanish.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:35 PM

I liked Circle Of Iron:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_of_Iron

But alas, I totally can't stomach the star of the flick...

Maybe I should get over it- the story is pretty good....

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:46 PM

Hmmm, don't recognize 'im.

CHRISISALL

Thursday, October 28, 2010 11:51 PM

He was on Dallas briefly...

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Friday, October 29, 2010 12:35 AM

Okay, well, gettin' back on topic...

One of my favorite scenes in the whole series is when Hawke does that "neener, neener" job on the KGB guy at the end of the second episode, "Daddy's Gone a Hunt'n".
He unloads his clip, to no avail, and Hawke (in that trademark wheels-up hover) inches forward while the guy soils himself.
After Airwolf departs, the guy just kinda stands there looking utterly demoralized for about 15 seconds.
What cracks me up every time is that it's now so quiet out there on the smoking tarmac, when he finally musters the strength to take a single pathetic step, the sound of his heel on the concrete really stands out.

CHRISISALL

Friday, October 29, 2010 12:50 AM

And They Are Us is a personal fave. KILLER Levay score. Written & directed by an Incredible Hulk vet.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Friday, October 29, 2010 12:56 AM

I knew I'd seen Nick Corea's name somewhere before!
He also wrote the Airwolf episode Shannen Doherty was in.

CLJOHNSTON108

Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:03 PM

Here's a cool website, but it's in French...
http://www.airwolf.fr/

Some great pics, though!

EDIT: Oooh, and here's Dennis Ideue's 1:7 scale replica...
http://www.dennisrc.com/Airwolf_build.htm

CHRISISALL

Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:15 PM

Very not bad!

This is a place I used to frequent- it has lots of great info on the series, and reviews. Mine for Daddy's Gone A Huntin' is here, near the end. I'm 'Rarebutafact.'

http://airwolf.tv-series.com/default.asp?ModuleID=5&PageID=7&EpisodeID
=3

I reviewed all first season eps, and a few second season ones too.

The laughing Chrisisall

CHRISISALL

Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:

EDIT: Oooh, and here's Dennis Ideue's 1:7 scale replica...
http://www.dennisrc.com/Airwolf_build.htm

That's freakin' dedication!!!

CLJOHNSTON108

Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
This is a place I used to frequent- it has lots of great info on the series, and reviews. Mine for Daddy's Gone A Huntin' is here, near the end. I'm 'Rarebutafact.'

I like some of those comments!

Quote:
07 Apr 2003, barraw 40, Rating 6:
I love this episode, purely for the scene in 'Russia'. The skill required to hover several tons of steel 18" off the ground while Dom disembarks is incredible. Kudos to the stunt pilot!!!

10 Dec 2003, Louis Theb 26, Rating 5:
"Daddy´s Gone a Hunt´n" is, like all season 1 episodes, a great episode. I didn´t use to like it very much but after watching it a couple more times I really started to appreciate it.
>snip<
Plus there are some great angles of camera like just after she leaves the bad guy kind of begging for his life. Definitely a must-see.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, October 30, 2010 8:52 PM

Yeah, that site is full of really articulate & die-hard fans. It helped me through the dark times, before I discovered Firefly, and this site.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Saturday, October 30, 2010 9:27 PM

Okay, I just watched "Mind of the Machine", and it was way better than I remember it being, especially the ending (you were right about the music!).
EDIT: Reading the reviews is getting me all misty-eyed!
http://airwolf.tv-series.com/default.asp?ModuleID=5&PageID=7&EpisodeID
=11

Quote:
11 Nov 2004, Buried Alien 38, Rating 6:
This was the first episode I ever saw of AIRWOLF, and it left a deep impression upon me. I was eleven or twelve years old when I first watched this episode with my parents, and I only caught the last twenty minutes or so of it. I recognized David Carradine from KUNG-FU, and I´d seen Ernest Borgnine in movies, although Jan Michael Vincent was a new face and name to me at the time. Robert Winchester´s death scene really got to me. I was accustomed to action shows like KNIGHT RIDER and THE A-TEAM, where characters almost never died. AIRWOLF was clearly darker and more serious in tone than those series: sometimes, heroes fail. Sometimes, the valiant die pitiably. Sometimes, even a hero can cry. This was the episode that made me an AIRWOLF fan.

CHRISISALL

Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:04 PM

One Way Express was my least favourite season one episode.
But I still liked it A LOT. It's the ONLY season one episode that isn't hands down better than all the episodes from other seasons (Fallen Angel is a bit better IMO...).

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:26 PM

I was off at college when the show first premiered, just weeks after the ghodawful Blue Thunder series did.
My Dad always liked the same SciFi/Techie stuff that I did, but he'd never even heard of Airwolf until I called from school and asked him to tape one of the Season 2 episodes, "Fallen Angel", I think it was. (Or was it "HX1"?)
His only comment was, "Meh. It's not a very good show."
Re-watching the Season 1 eps, especially the Pilot, I find myself tearfully saying, "Man, I wish Dad could've seen these!"

CHRISISALL

Saturday, October 30, 2010 10:54 PM

My Dad, who's 87 now, never liked Airwolf OR the movie Blue Thunder. In fact, he's never liked much made after the 50's. Forget Planet of the Apes, Serenity or Iron Man. The only post-50's thing he showed any interest in was The Prisoner.
He is very much lacking in imagination.
Be glad you could share with your Dad what you could.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 11:38 AM

I was just perusing the 3D Warehouse for Google SketchUp, and I found the design that I hope they go with when they do the inevitable remake!

AirWolf 2050 by ALM Model Works
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=b148fcfe9e049c79383
d7b4f15bcb32

It's a bit like the WhisperCraft from The 6th Day, with the swept-back rotors, which makes more sense for supersonic flight, methinks.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 4:38 PM

That IS an awesome design!

The laughing Chrisisall

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 3:30 AM

*drools openly*

Oh yes...yes yes yes! The original was a thing of sheer beauty (and Andrew Probert definitely is a genius for the design of the modifications) but damn is this definitely a fine runner-up!

Speaking of remaking Airwolf...anyone up to trying to a create a cast list of proposed actors and actresses for the various roles?

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

CHRISISALL

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 3:41 AM

James Marsters for Stringfellow!!!

The laughing Chrisisall

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 5:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
James Marsters for Stringfellow!!!

The laughing Chrisisall

Oohh...nice choice! Though, with James' musical proclivities, would the "new" Stringfellow Hawke be the owner user of a Les Paul Gibson or Fender Stratocaster instead of a Stradivarius cello?

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

LWAVES

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 11:58 AM

James Marsters could do Hawke pretty well and yeah, he'd definitely need a guitar rather than a Strad.

But for some quick casting thoughts I'd pick:

Hawke: Chris Evans or maybe Tom Hardy
Santini: Ron Glass
Archangel: Sam Elliot, Edward James Olmos or John Glover
Caitlin: Jewel Staite

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, November 4, 2010 12:17 PM

No, for Hawke you'd need someone who's naturally sullen & moody... Russell Crowe maybe (too old?)
I'd have cast Maury Chaykin as Dominic, but he died recently.
I'm lookin' through this list of character actors < http://www.460xvr.com/tg/not.htm> and it's bringin' back lots of great memories (so many of them aren't with us anymore ).
Ooooh! Saul Rubinek (Warehouse 13) would be great!
But he really should be an older Italian... Dennis Farina! Yeah, there we go!

I second the nom for John Glover as Archangel, though.

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Thursday, November 4, 2010 11:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
I second the nom for John Glover as Archangel, though.

The man has played Satan, so I can totally see him having the skills to play a modern take on Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III, with hopefully lots of carefully balanced snark between himself and Hawke or Dominic, who represented the more well meaning patriotism of WWII and early Vietnam in the original.

Russell Crowe as Hawke, though? Eh...I dunno about that. Age-wise, he's outside the bracket for that character, IMO, plus I never really classified Stringfellow Hawke as sullen and moody. Maybe introverted and a savant in things like music and math that make him a wizard behind the stick, and a bit unable to function in public.

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 5, 2010 12:00 AM

Here's Hawke:

He does silly on CHUCK, but I KNOW he could handle serious!

The laughing Chrisisall

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Friday, November 5, 2010 12:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Here's Hawke:

He does silly on CHUCK, but I KNOW he could handle serious!

The laughing Chrisisall

Ryan McPartlin, huh? Not a bad choice, you do point out rightly anyone familiar with him via Chuck only would think him capable of humour roles.

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

CHRISISALL

Friday, November 5, 2010 12:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BlueEyedBrigadier:

Ryan McPartlin, huh? Not a bad choice, you do point out rightly anyone familiar with him via Chuck only would think him capable of humour roles.

Like Joss said, if you can do the funny, you can do anything else. Funny is HARD.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 12:07 PM

I've recently become addicted to the show Archer, and I think it might partly be due to something subliminal in the opening credits...

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 5:39 PM

Oh, that is just so geek! I love it.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 6:33 PM

I knew you would!

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 8:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
I've recently become addicted to the show Archer, and I think it might partly be due to something subliminal in the opening credits...

Aw yeah! Another reason I have to get my hands on that series and bad!

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:21 PM

Airwolf DVD news: Press Release for Airwolf - The Movie | TVShowsOnDVD.com
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Airwolf-The-Movie/15513

I had this on VHS a long time ago, and I was quite shocked when Hawke dropped the F-bomb during that, um, intimate scene at the cabin with Gabrielle.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:40 PM

Must I double dip?
I guess yes....

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:49 PM

Truth be told, I rather liked the version that aired on TV better.
I seem to recall that the movie version ends right after Hawke serves up his revenge on Moffett. You don't get that last scene with Archangel at the cabin, and Hawke serenading the eagle one final time.

CHRISISALL

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 10:51 PM

Yeah.

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, June 16, 2011 11:06 PM

Airwolf - Clarification of the upcoming 'TV movie' release
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Airwolf-TV-movie-clarification/15533

CHRISISALL

Thursday, June 16, 2011 11:27 PM

You're MAKIN' me buy this, you know....

The laughing Chrisisall

CLJOHNSTON108

Thursday, June 16, 2011 11:36 PM

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAaaaaaa... heh.
(Mine is an evil la... well, I wouldn't go so far as to say evil, per se...)

CHRISISALL

Thursday, June 16, 2011 11:49 PM

I'm sure the transfer will be vastly superiour to the present TV DVD release.

The laughing Chrisisall