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Teleplay writer Oliver Crawford says "The Galileo Seven" was inspired by his viewing of a 1939 film called Five Came Back. (A catty footnote: David Gerrold, scribe of the famous "Trouble with Tribbles" episode, called "The Galileo Seven" a rip-off of the Jimmy Stewart film The Flight of the Phoenix. Meow.) Five Came Back concerned a plane crash in the Andes and the survivors who faced the constant threat of surrounding headhunters. Crawford toyed with the idea and came up with a story line in which Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and a couple of other crew members crash on the surface of a hostile planet during a shuttle mission. With communication between the small craft and the Enterprise disrupted by quasar activity, Spock and the others must defend themselves against a formidable threat with only primitive, handmade weapons. That's the scenario, but the real drama is in the rising conflict between the half-Vulcan Spock's coldly logical approach to survival and the passions of his human crew, who soon come to regard him as a hateful, unfeeling monster. This is an interesting episode, both as a taut action piece and, somewhat indirectly, as a portrait of intolerance (specifically, an intolerance of individual differences) developing under stress. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

And then there were...
This episode, in which a shuttlecraft is forced to land on a planet with giant bear/ape-like creatures, was an average offering by first season standards. The episode has just sufficient action and substantial suspense, and explores the circumstances under which even otherwise well-behaved crews may be led to (?) mutiny. As others have noted, this episode, one of the few in which Kirk has a secondary role, was seminal to Spock's development. Unfortunately, the logic vs. emotion arguments are talky and overdone, to the extent that they-and the participants-become tedious. The creatures also looked pretty silly, but as I've said before I try not to hold Star Trek to a high standard when it comes to such things; the effects weren't bad enough to totally compromise the 'primal fear' element so central to this (and few other) episodes.

Also tedious was the dour Starfleet official. Scotty is in some ways the only member of the landing party presented particularily positively. He stays out of the bickering until he feels that a line has been crossed, at which point he speaks out very strongly. Both he and Spock come up with key solutions to the dilemma faced by the landing party. Also present here are the Trek ideals of loyalty and sacrifice for comerades, as well as unconditional respect for other life forms.

Silly irrational humans
Spock here. What a bunch of kooks I work with. They don't follow orders, we have no phasers becasue Scotty drained them to use for our damaged shuttle, and to top it off that damn doctor. We're being attacked by giant apes, and instead of working to get the ship ready, we have to have a funeral for one of our own. They had better start listening to me, or those giant apes will eat us all. Silly humans, why do I put up with this?

Spock learns about the limits of logic in a crisis situation
Spock faces the burdens of command in "The Galileo Seven," when the Enterprise's First Officer is in command of a shuttle mission gone horribly awry. The Galileo is investigating a space anomaly when it loses sensors and crashes on an unknown planet with Spock, McCoy, Scott and four crew members (totaling seven). Meanwhile, the Enterprise has been ordered to delivery badly needed emergency medical supplies to Markus Three, which means Kirk cannot spend much time looking for the missing shuttle. Back on the planet, Spock discovers the place is inhabited by savage giants who are no more impressed with Vulcan logic than the damaged shuttlecraft. The best parts of this episode have to do with the confrontations between Spock and McCoy, who do not have Kirk acting as a buffer this time around, so they get in each other's faces while Scotty tries to work another miracle on the damaged engines. "The Galileo Seven" is one of the better first season episodes of Star Trek and also pretty much proves once and for all which of Kirk's senior officers is the most stubborn (hint, he has pointed ears).

Good, scary show
This Star Trek episode was written with a lot of action and this show had a lot of frightening times in it. This show is where the Enterprise is delivering medicine to a planet, but stop to investigate the Murasaki 312. Since it's off course, Spock and some crewman take a shuttle to investigate, but a shockwave hits the shuttle, and it impacts on a world with hostile ape-like creatures. Do they survive and escape? You'll have to find that answer on this exciting episode. Enjoy!

Spock in Command
Spock learns that there is more to commanding a ship than following the logical procedure.

This episode has lots action, suspense, and interpersonal tension both between Spock and his crew and between Kirk and his temporary commander. Thought provoking and exciting, this is definitely a vital part of any serious Star trek collection.

This episode is the first (and one of the few) episodes to use a shuttle craft. ... Read more

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Hogan's Heroes was a hit from the beginning of its televised run, from the fall of 1965 through the spring of 1971. This videocassette, volume 3 of a three-volume collection, comprises two uncut color episodes: "Hogan Go Home" from the third season and "Will the Real Adolf Please Stand Up?" from the second. With good transfers and no commercial interruptions, these shows make for some charming, nostalgic, laugh-track-filled family viewing.

In "Hogan Go Home," a message from the Allied high command orders Colonel Hogan (Bob Crane) to return to the U.S. for a hero's welcome and a bond-selling tour. Needless to say, the Heroes--Kinch (Ivan Dixon), Carter (Larry Hovis), LeBeau (Robert Clary), and Newkirk (Richard Dawson)--are loathe to let the delighted Hogan go, but they plan a going-away party that is quickly exposed by Sergeant Schultz (John Banner). Just as Hogan changes his mind and decides to stay, his seniority is usurped by Colonel Crittendon (Bernard Fox, Dr. Bombay on Bewitched), a prisoner of war who had once visited Stalag 13. Crittendon embodies the caricature of the bullying, stoical British officer, strutting about with his riding crop, and nearly bungles several operations before being transferred to Stalag 15, Hogan's interim destination.

"Will the Real Adolf Stand Up?" gives Carter a chance to strut his own stuff, as the cantankerous Hitler--thumb in belt buckle, shifty eyes, bothersome bangs, backward salute, and all. The usual contact for smuggled reconnaissance has been captured, so Carter must arrive at Stalag 13 at night in the guise of the dyspeptic Führer and transfer the secret photos himself to the underground. Carter's over-the-top performance ("Love your Stalag.... Wiedersehen, folks!") nearly blows his cover, and provides one of the most hilarious moments of the series. And for you trivia fans, here are a couple tidbits: You'll catch a glimpse or two of William Christopher (who played Father Francis Mulcahy on M*A*S*H) as "Hitler's" aide Foster; and you'll notice an anachronism spoken by Newkirk, who repeats Bette Davis's line "What a dump!" years before the release of the film (Beyond the Forest) that made it famous.--Robert Burns Neveldine ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Need More!
I would like the ENTIRE collection of Hogans Heros on DVD. The show is fantastic and for me it brings back a lot of fond memories.

Hogan has to leave Stalag 13 but then Hitler comes to visit
There is a tendency to consider "Hogan's Heroes" to be something of an abomination when it comes to television situation comedies since it had the audacity to prove that life in a Nazi POW camp during World War II could be funny. Pointing out that historically the camps run by the Luftwaffe were at the opposite end of the spectrum does not matter all that much when the other end consists of a long list of infamous concentration camps where millions of people were murdered. However, there is a tradition of lampooning the Nazis, which goes back to Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator," and "Hogan's Heroes" is certainly in that model. The two things I would point out, by way of observation, would be that "Hogan's Heroes" ran for six years on CBS and that when it went off the air the following season a new military sitcom, "M*A*S*H," premiered. During the first couple of seasons of that classic series one of the main writers was Laurence Marks, who was the main writer on "Hogan's Heroes." Amazing how fast things can change in television.

This videotape offers up a couple of episodes from the first half of the series. "Hogan Go Home" (Episode 19 from Season 3) finds Colonel Hogan (Bob Crane) is ordered home by the brass to help sell war bonds. Of course, everybody at Stalag 13 knows that Hogan can do a lot more good leading the resistance from camp than he can on tour in the U.S. Unfortunately, Colonel Crittendon (Bernard Fox) arrives upon the scene and the bombastic British officer has both seniority and no knowledge of what the POWs are doing. Even without trying, Crittendon does more to thwart the group's efforts than anything Colonel Klink and Sgt. Schultz have ever done. "Will the Real Adolf Stand Up?" (Episode 12 from Season 2) features Larry Hovis as his Sgt. Andrew Carter finally gets to do something fun as low man on the character totem pole. As you can guess from the title, Carter has to impersonate the Führer for a mission and goes completely over the top (not quite "The Producers," but in that general direction and closing the gap). Besides all the shtick it is also fun to see Klink (Werner Klemperer) quivering in the presence of Hitler. Neither episode is to be taken seriously, but that was pretty much established by the premise of the entire series and the two shows actually create a nice counterpoint between the serious undercurrent of fighting the war and the outright ridicule of Hitler and his goons.

The Best....
I remember watching this show all through the 60's and early 70's It was with deep regret when the show was taken off the air.
I purchased about 30 of the VHS tapes about 5 years ago and still watch them..they never get stale.
The final comment I want to make is "if the episodes were reality that war (WW2) would have ended alot sooner than it did!!"
That Sgt Shultz....He..He's so German!!!

video safe and sound.
video arrived quickly,well wrapped.picture and sound quality satisfatory.

Could you trick a brainless German soldier?
This show was before my time. As a matter of fact my parents watched it when they were children. After watching an episode of it on TV Land; I became a fan of the show. Hogan's Heroes is probably the funniest show on TV. They need to keep shows like this on TV, or make copies of all the episodes and sell them to people who love the show for a decent price. ... Read more

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Many episodes of this beloved series focused on either the relationship between Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) or between best pals Lucy and her neighbor, Ethel Mertz (the talented Vivian Vance).And sometimes it was Ricky and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) versus their wives or, once in awhile, the Ricardos versus the Mertzes. No worries, the shows always end with a happy hug.

The most fervent I Love Lucy fans may cite, as a favorite, the first episode on this tape, "Job Switching," in which Lucy and Ethel challenge Ricky and Fred to a domestic role reversal. As the men toil as homemakers, Lucy and Ethel find work at a candy factory. When the shop supervisor explains the process of making and packaging the candy, it seems simple enough, but the conveyor belt isn't working in the gals' favor. Hilarious hijinks ensue. Also on this tape is "Lucy Meets Bob Hope." By the time this episode (number 154) appeared, Lucy Ricardo's reputation as a star-seeker and inadvertent troublemaker had preceded her. So when Ricky hopes that Bob will appear at the opening of his new club, Lucy sets out to smooth things over with the celebrity. Knowing Lucy, misunderstandings abound, but this time they work in her favor. This second episode is also notable because it reunites Ball and Hope, who starred together in such movies as Sorrowful Jones and Fancy Pants. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Funny, Funny, Funny!
"I Love Lucy" is one of the funniest shows ever made. This tape captures two great shows, "Job Swithching" & "Lucy Meets Bob Hope." In "Job Swithching," Lucy and Ethel switch places with their husbands and do their work. They work in a chocolate factory where one of the funniest moments took place. The second show, "Lucy Meets Bob Hope" is a funny show where Bob Hope is going to be part of Ricky's act. Lucy disguises herself as a hot dog vendor at Yankee Stadium trying to talk to Bob Hope. They get to do an act together in the end.

A Lucy extravaganza, with two only two episodes!
Bob Hope is killer funny throughout the one Lucy about Lucy wanting Bob to appear in Ricky's show trying to convince him that she's not a jynx. And in one of their most popular Lucys, Ethel and Lucy try to bring home the bacon while Ricky and Fred take over the housework. The switch creates a disaster! Two very funny and classic episdoes that you're sure to enjoy!

The funniest "I Love Lucy" episode is on THIS tape
"Job Switching" (Episode #36, September 15, 1952), is the classic episode of "I Love Lucy" that I always show to my television classes so they know what a classic sit com looks like. Ricky is tired of the way Lucy spends money without regard for where it comes from, so the boys and girls switch places: Lucy and Ethel will get jobs and Ricky and Fred will do the household chores. One of the greatest moments in television history comes when Lucy and Ethel have to work a conveyor belt in a candy factory. Elvia Allman is the supervisor ("Let 'er roll!") and Amanda Milligan, an actual candy dipper at the Farmer's Market in Hollywood is, uh, the candy dipper. Meanwhile, Ricky is ironing stockings and making rice while Fred bakes a cake. Note: The bit Lucy and Ethel do at the job placement service with Alvin Hurwitz is lifted from the two sisters in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."

"Lucy and Bob Hope" (#154, October 1, 1956), was the sixth season premier episode. Ricky has finally managed to buy a controlling interest in the Tropicana club, which he proudly re-names Club Babalu. Bob Hope has agreed to perform at the opening, but Ricky keeps this little tidbit from Lucy, afraid she will mess things up. Lucy, worried that Hope will not agree because of her fabled troubles with celebrities, tracks him down at Yankee Stadium to persuade him to do the show. Although a meeting between two of all-time great comedians, this ends up being a fairly average "I Love Lucy" episode. Certainly, it is not an absolute classic like "Job Switching."

Speed It Up A Little!
Job Switching is probably one of the most famous half-hours in TV sitcoms. This is one of Lucy's best episodes. The physical humour is amazing, and that is a tribute to all four stars. The scenes between Desi Arnaz and William Frawley are very funny, and of course, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance were a perfect team. The candy factory conveyor belt scene is one of those moments that will leave you laughing out loud everytime you see it. The other episode with Bob Hope is amusing, but not one of the more outstanding episodes of the series. However, there is a great rapport between Hope and Lucy, and their scenes are enjoyable. But the reason to purchase this video is to spend some time with the Ricardos and Mertzes as they discover that everybody's jobs have their good points and bad points!

CLASSIC WITHIN A CLASSIC!
JOB SWITCHING is probably THE most remembered episode in this incredibly beloved series. Lucy and Ethel switch places with Ricky and Fred: The boys will stay home and do the housework and cook the meals while the girls go to work at a job and bring home the bacon. The results have been seen by untold millions and they are HILARIOUS. Lucy and Ethel get a job through and employment agency at Kramer's Kandy Kitchen-wrapping, dipping and boxing chocolates. Lucy sees a fly while she's ineptly dipping with a pro. When the fly finally lights, Lucy swats it good (it just happened to be on the woman's face!) Needless to say the lady (IMMEDIATELY) socks Lucy but good and they go at it! The boys are in the process of making arroz con pollo. The chickens blast out of the pressure cooker and soon the four pounds of rice is literally gushing out of the huge pot onto the kitchen floor while Fred and Ricky use dust pans and the like to scoop the sticky mess while Ricky slips and falls into it. Ethel gets kicked out of the boxing department "I kept pinchin' them to see what kind they were" so the girls work together in their last chance at Kramer's: wrapping the chocolates in wrappers as they come down the assembly line. The rest is television history. LUCY MEETS BOB HOPE is a good episode in which Lucy gets herself disguised as a kid selling hot dogs at Yankee Stadium in order to meet Bob Hope. They (with Ricky) do a dance routine at the Tropicana and it's a pleasant if not rollicking half-hour. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Showcasing the phyical comedy of Lucille Ball
The superb physical comedy of Lucille Ball is on display in this pair of episodes from "I Love Lucy." First up, "The Handcuffs" (Episode #39, October 6, 1952), which finds Lucy desperate to keep Ricky at home with her, so Fred gives her a pair of trick handcuffs that should keep the couple together. Of course, the ones she slaps on Ricky are actually an antique pair of handcuffs that cannot be unlocked, forcing Lucy and Ricky to go through all sorts of gyrations to just get around the house. This is another one of those episodes (and there were a lot) that was based in part on a "My Favorite Husband" episode of Lucy's radio show: but why would two people stuck in handcuffs be funny on the radio? In "The Ballet" (#19, February 18, 1952), Lucy wants to perform in the cavalcade of show business Ricky is going to have at the club. However, the only spots left open in the show are for a ballet dance or a pair of burlesque comics, so Lucy gamely rehearses for those spots with hilarious results. Mary Wickes plays Madame Lamond the ballet teacher in her first of many appearances on "I Love Lucy." Desi Arnaz does a nice job singing "Martha" in two languages while Vivian Vance has a cute bit when Ethel plows through "The Waltz of the Flowers" on the piano.

Two Great I Love Lucy Episodes
This is a great I Love Lucy to own. In the episode titled "The Handcuffs" Lucy and Ricky get handcuffed together by a magic trick gone wrong. This leads to some hysterical attempts in their effort to free themselves. The big question is whether they will accomplish this in time for Ricky's show. In "The Ballet" Ricky needs a dancer for his show and, of course, Lucy is up for the job. Some mix ups though lead into the famous "Slowly I turn" routine and much more. These two episodes are a must have for any I Love Lucy fan. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Good video for "I Love Lucy" collectors
"I Love Lucy: The Very First Show" is actually the film's pilot episode (a pilot is a test film used in those days for TV shows). Hosted by Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, it includes the pilot along with other commentary.

The plot along the line is a common, recurring theme: A crazy redhead wants to get into her hasband's act. TV networks are going to catch Ricky's act, Lucy unsuccessfully tries to convice him to let her be in it. She later comes unsuspectedly into the act after a clown is injured, and the neworks apparently offer her a contract!

The pilot is very similar to the "I Love Lucy" episode entitled "The Audition," but don't let that throw you off. It is a wonderful, heartwarming video!

A Great Beginning
This shows how it all started... This pilot episode of I Love Lucy is very funny. But, the interviews with the creators and stars of I Love Lucy make it even better. It also is hosted by Lucie Arnaz, who does a wonderful job.

It was a great show to start the success of I Love Lucy
It was an awesome start to the show that introduced the great love between lucy and desi. It is about Ricky trying to murder lucy, and in the end, lucy knows that Ricky loves her as much as she loves him. ... Read more

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While exploring an uncharted region of the galaxy, the Enterprise encounters a cube-shaped alien probe (a predecessor of Borg vessels?) that Kirk promptly destroys. That action brings the wrath of a spaceship called the Fesarius, which locks the Enterprise in a tractor beam from which it can't escape. The show is perhaps best known for something of a surprise ending when the "captain" of the Fesarius (played by Clint Howard, brother of Ron and child star of TV's Gentle Ben) is revealed. Directed by Joseph Sargent (Colossus: The Forbin Project). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (15)

This should have been the real Star Trek pilot episode
I always thought "The Corbomite Manuever" should have been the Star Trek pilot episode, because the story deals with the risk of exploring space and encountering new races. The Enterprise is out mapping a region of space when it encounters a cube that blocks their path. When the cube starts emitting radiation, Kirk destroys it with phasers. Then the biggest spherical spacecraft you have ever seen arrives upon the scene and the Enterprise receives a message from Commander Balok that they will be destroyed for violating the territory of the First Federation. What is nice about this episode is not only that Kirk uses his brains rather than his fists to solve the problem but that his relationship with Lt. Bailey speaks to the crux of the show's five-year mission. Compare this with the Kirk-Mitchell relationship in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and you can see that the lesson Kirk teaches Bailey about not being afraid of the great unknown is more central to the show's dynamic. Plus, the dynamic between Kirk, Spock and McCoy is starting to develop and you have to love the twist when we get to look behind the curtain at Balok. "The Corbomite Maneuver" is one of the best of the early Star Trek episodes.

The first real episode
After two pilot episodes, here is the first real episode of the Star Trek series. All the familiar elements are here (although Uhura wears a gold uniform instead of what would later become her familiar, red one). Sulu's at the helm, McCoy's in sick bay, and Uhura's opening hailing frequencies like only she can.

Kirk is in rare form here. In STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, it is taken for granted that Kirk is a miracle-worker who refuses to admit defeat no matter how dire the circumstances. This episode goes a long, long way towards developing that part of Kirk's character. This is Kirk at the top of his game and it's a lot of fun to watch.

A tremendous amount of tension is effectively built in the episode as Kirk tries to think his way out of a no-win scenario and the story approaches its climax. Unfortunately, that tension is inexcusably tossed aside in favor of a cute ending that is too eager to wrap everything up in the allowed time.

POKER EVERYONE!
One of the better episodes. As I look at this episode retrospectively (I saw it during the first run in the 60's), they - Kirk and Balok - are BOTH playing poker. Watch and see.

Funny, I still memember the older daughter of my baby sitter moving away from the TV screen as the scary Balok made his fierce appearance. (She was moving toward me, but I was too young to take advantage.)

"Not chess, Spock. Poker. You know the game?"
Yep, this is the episode that featured that rubber alien that often was the last image you saw during that slide show that accompanied the end credits. This was also the episode that featured that giant beehive in space. And who can forget Tranya? Aaahhh . . . delicious and invigorating Tranya. Yet, despite these dubious distinctions, "The Corbomite Maneuver" is actually a half-way decent episode.

The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a strange cube in space and destroys it in order to pass. The cube's destruction attracts the attention of the I.S.S. Fesarius. Upon making contact with the gigantic ship, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) is confronted by a threatening alien who calls himself Balok. Balok threatens the Enterprise with destruction for its hostile actions. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Kirk bluffs his way to victory by telling the Fesarius that the destruction of his ship will guarantee Balok's end also. Soon Balok's true identity is revealed to Kirk when he beams over to the Fesarius. It turns out he really is only a child-sized humanoid (Clint Howard) and that the threatening alien seen on the viewscreen was a mock-up. An exchange program is suggested to Kirk and Lt. Bailey (Anthony Call) is chosen to be the lucky crew member who will get to spend the foreseeable future hunched over within the corridors of the Fesarius.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" is the ultimate bipolar Star Trek episode. It starts off with the Enterprise in dire peril and ends up with Kirk attending a cocktail party trading laughs with the being who had earlier threatened him. And the strange thing is that it works! There is true suspense in the confrontation scenes. There is true gumption in Kirk's gambling. And there is true amusement in seeing a young Clint Howard guffaw it up while serving drinks. How can you not like an episode that gets goofier and goofier as it goes along? "The Corbomite Maneuver" is not one of the deeper episodes of the original series' run, but it is one of the more amusing ones. Another round of Tranya bartender!

Early early Trek
The Corbomite Manuever-This episode, in which Kirk bluffs a frightening looking alien only to ultimately find out the joke is on him, was the fist produced in season one. The plot is pretty spare, and the episode has a far slower feel than later shows. Part of this can be explained by the fact that everything was new to us (the transporter scenes for example are slow), but there also seems to be a conscious effort to keep things simple for dramatic purposes.

This episode does a nice job of demonstrating that the crew will encounter plenty of unknowns, many of them frightening. Kirk also proves himself to be courageous, resourceful, and ultimately compassionate. The episode also has a nice twist at the end, although the execution (particularly the dubbing) is less than perfect. Also somewhat unusual is the unambiguously happy ending; Most first season episodes had bittersweet and/or preachy endings. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

All "I Love Lucy" episodes celebrate 50th Anniversary.
In this decade, every episode of "I Love Lucy" will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Every episode is still funny as funny as when they first aired. The shows are good. The shows are wholesome. They are healing and warm and will make you feel good. Buy them on VHS or DVD today.

Lucy's funninesses at her best!
These two Lucy episodes are nothing but funny. In the Fur Coat, Lucy is bragging about getting a mink coat to everyone. When Ethel argues about where to hold the club meeting, Lucy decides to spend the money on Ethel's apartment and furniture, instead. Then she buys herself some new furniture. In the other one, Lucy and Ethel are sinched on winning 300 bucks by finding a specific dollar with a serial number printed in the paper. Then they must go down to the laundry to recover half the bill! This video is full of laughs!

What would Lucy rather have: A dollar bill or a fur coat?
This tape from the "I Love Lucy" collection features a pair of episodes in which our favorite redhead mistakenly loses one valuable present and then mistakenly appropriates another. In "Bonus Bucks" (March 8, 1954), a newspaper is running a prize contest where winners have the right serial numbes from dollar bills. Ricky finds a dollar with the winning numbers and sneaks it into Lucy's purse so she can discover it for herself. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished and Lucy gives the dollar to the grocery who ends up giving it to Ethel for change. Getting the bill back proves to be extremely difficult and quite funny. This episode, #87 in the show for those counting, is from the third season.

In "The Fur Coat" (December 10, 1951), Lucy comes home and finds Ricky with an expensive fur coat. She assumes it is an anniversary gift and Ricky, trapped because he did not remember the occasion, cannot take the gift back. After basking in the joy of her new coat, Lucy learns the truth and comes up with a way of making Ricky pay for his folly. This episode, the 9th from the first season of "I Love Lucy," was partially based on an episode of Lucy's radio show, "My Favorite Husband" called "Anniversary Presents." As I indicated above, together these two episodes make a nice comic counterpoint. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Another Great Trek Outing
As a kid, this one and "Doomsday Machine" always made me giddy with excitement. They both feature Sol Kaplan's thumping, nail-biting score, and the special FX were outstanding, even by today's standards.

Star Trek has always been ignored by the Hollywood elite, as a sort of Red-Headed Stepchild; nevertheless, no other show in history did so much to further it's genre, and Trek's overall consistency in quality and storyline have made it a pop phenomenon. This episode contains all that made Star Trek great: Terrific acting and writing, intense drama, spectacular FX, and the wonderful "feel" that only Star Trek could produce. It also has a heaping helping of Star Trek's wonderful and quirky humor.

We begin with Spock nearly passing out with pain due to the mental cries of over 400 dying Vulcans, light years away, "astonished" as to the reason for their death. The episode quickly moves along, showing a tired crew fighting for their lives as duty impels them to explore and ultimately meet head-on with one of Sci-Fi's most amazing baddies: A huge space germ -the cause of the death of the USS Intrepid and it's Vulcan crew, and the demise of several nearby star systems.

Of course, the crew of the Enterprise always prevail at the last second.... but what a ride!

A "must have" for all home TV Sci-Fi lovers.

Maybe it's not it, it's me?
The giant amoeba episode has just never won me over for some reason. While the hook is probably slightly more intriguing than, say, Obsession's, this is really a 'face value' episode. It doesn't pack any subtle messages. If the episode were more engaging, I'd say no problem, but unfortunately this one is pretty dull. McCoy fans will appreciate his prominent role in this one though.

Underappreciated Star Trek Episode
I think "The Immunity Syndrome" is one of Star Trek's best episodes, even though it's always overlooked. The special effects in this episode are top-notch, and hold up extremely well even today, and the buildup of tension in the episode is perfectly paced. But what really makes this episode special is the dialogue between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Spock and McCoy fight for a chance to die studying the creature, leading to some of the most touching lines between the two. My favorite Spock line of all time comes at the end of the show--"Why thank you, CAPTAIN McCoy."

The Enterprise takes on the biggest amoeba in the universe
While "The Immunity Syndrome" does not offer anyone acting like Ahab (a frequent occurrence on Star Trek) we do have a giant amoeba playing the symbolic part of the great white whale. The Enterprise encounters a massive area of darkness and discovers the giant single-cell organism inside. When the always-curious Spock investigates in a shuttlecraft, he ends up inside and discovers the creature is about to reproduce. Since one of these things is a threat to the galaxy, two would probably be a lot worse, so Kirk takes the Enterprise inside the amoeba (I mean, come on, that is obviously what they have blown up here, an amoeba) in an effort to save the universe. The magnified amoeba is certainly interesting looking, but the tension in this episode is equally artificial. But it sure is amazing what you can find out there in deep space. "The Immunity Syndrome" is, at best, an average Star Trek effort.

The Best Effects ever on Star Trek
Special effects and a good story are the highlights of this episode as the Enterprise crew race to destroy an amomba like creature before it destroys the galaxy. Some great Spock/Bones remarks here as well. It's almost like they are both competing with one another to be Jim Kirk's best friend. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Lucy: Very Funny Episodes
These episodes are sooooo funny. You will fully enjoy these.

The first Lucy is really funny. In "Lucy is Envious," Lucy's wealthy school mate, Cynthia Hardcourt, is working in town. Lucy lies about that she gives a lot to charity and gets herself in a jam. She has to get 500 dollars! She is paid to work as martians from outer space. They get get 500 dollars, but Ricky and Fred pose as martians as well to scare Lucy and Ethel. The second episode, "Lucy Tells the Truth," is when Ricky makes a bet that Lucy cannot tell the absolute truth for 24 hours. Lucy is forced to not fib and makes it, barely, after Ricky gives in.

Get these episodes. They are worthy of five stars.

Lucy goes to great comics heights on "I Love Lucy"
Two episodes from the classic situation comedy in which Lucy ends up on the outside part of a building, are offered up in Volume 12 of the "I Love Lucy" collection. In "Lucy is Envious" (March 29, 1954), wealthy old school chum Cynthia Harcourt (Mary Jane Croft) shows up to raise money for charity. Lucy pledges "five" to the cause, only to discover this means $500 not $5. To save face and earn the money, Lucy answers a newspaper ad for girls who are brave and has to climb to the top of the Empire State Building. This episode was the first time Croft, who went on to be a regular on not only "I Love Lucy" but "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy" as well, worked with Lucille Ball. "Lucy Cries Wolf" (October 18, 1954) was the 100th episode of "I Love Lucy." After reading a newspaper story about a woman whose husband refused to rescue her during a robbery, Lucy decides to test Ricky. She calls him up, screams a couple of times and then goes out on the building ledge to see what Ricky will do. Neither of these episodes are classics, but average Lucy is still pretty good.

America's Favorite Redhead
(And America's Favorite Cuban, of course) This video is another one of the episodes of the ever popular I Love Lucy show. Whatever episode it is, everyone is sure to laugh, just like in this one, Lucy Cries Wolf (and I think by looking at the cover has the one where Lucy and Ethel pretend to be alien women from mars to get money.) Everyone i guarantee will watch this, and every other I Love Lucy and/or Lucy-Desi Comedy hour episode over and over again. ... Read more

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Written by Robert Bloch (author of the novel Psycho, the basis of Hitchcock's film), "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" finds Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett) beaming down to planet Exo III, where Christine is to be reunited with her fiancé, Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong). The meeting is less than joyful, however, when it becomes clear that Korby has been developing androids that he intends to spread throughout the galaxy--using the Enterprise as his delivery vehicle. This was certainly the first significant performance for Majel Barrett in the Trek family; longtime fans know she went on to play Lwaxana Troi on The Next Generation (and Mrs. Gene Roddenberry in real life). An entertaining episode all around, with the notion of an android Kirk somehow amusing. (Maybe it was the android who sang on that notorious Shatner album.) Fans of '60s TV will also enjoy the performance of Ted Cassidy (the original Lurch from TV's The Addams Family) as the giant android, Ruk. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (16)

An influential Star Trek keystone
Seminal first season episode of ST:TOS and one of the series best efforts. A science fiction staple, androids make their initial appearance here before becoming a cardinal feature of the Star Trek universe. The story develops nicely, beginning as a bit of a mystery, then injecting equal doses of intrigue and suspense before we get any substantial clues to help us.

The Star Trek production team did an excellent job in creating the massive but agile android Ruk, effectively played by Ted Cassidy. He tosses Kirk around effortlessly; speaks in a deep resonating voice - "More complex...Much superior!" and "Existence...survival must cancel out programming!"; his complexion is dark gray, and he has sharp angular bones that shape his face which are shadowed for effect. He makes one of Star Trek's most formidable foes. They also did an incredible job of seamlessly connecting the two shots of the real Kirk and the android Kirk at the dinner table. It is exceptionable special effects work for 1966.

Beyond that are the discussion of ethics between Kirk and Dr. Korby and then Korby's final passionate effusion of pathos that surface at the conclusion. Kirk strategically uses both Ruk and Andrea as tools to purpose his escape. He first confuses Andrea by attempting to evoke a sense of romance in her which proves too abstract for her programming to comprehend. Then he convinces Ruk that Korby is no different than the creators that Ruk and the previous android population had done away with. Kirk's cryptic message to Spock is also a humorous treat for Trek fans.

One odd thing to note about this episode is the slightly risque clothing that Andrea wears. She seems quite scantily clad in comparison to the men who are fully dressed with only head and hands exposed.

This episode gets a C+ grade and is ranked 45th out of 80
The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives in orbit around Exo III, to search for exobiologist Dr. Roger Korby. When Kirk asks Spock if Korby could possibly still be alive, Spock glances at Christine, then quietly shuts off his monitor. Christine Chapel, McCoy's chief nurse, is Korby's fiancee. Chapel had signed on with the U.S.S. Enterprise in the hope of finding him. Korby is known as the "Pasteur of archeological medicine." At Dr. Korby's request, only Kirk and a very excited Christine Chapel beam down to the planet. They find the doctor living in an underground cavern built by what is known as, "The Old Ones," the extinct natives of Exo III. He tells them that he discovered the caverns while suffering from severe frostbite, five years before. Using equipment left behind by these now-dead beings, Korby has learned how to construct androids who look and act like humans. His android companions, Ruk and Andrea, amaze Kirk and Chapel with their realness. Although, Korby explains, Ruk existed long before he, himself, arrived, a product of "The Old Ones." Christine recognizes Dr. Brown, Korby's aide, but is mystified by his failure to recognize her. The reason for his behavior becomes clear when they discovered that he, too, is a sophisticated android. Korby's plan is to slowly replace key people in the Federation with androids, integrating the machines into other worlds. Taking Kirk prisoner, Korby creates a perfect duplicate of the Captain, which fools even Nurse Chapel. During the duplication process, however, Kirk plants false memories and ideas in his double's brain which makes Spock realize that something is very wrong. Korby, convinced that his android will fool the U.S.S. Enterprise crew and allow him to take over the starship, has the double beamed aboard. The false Kirk is to look over their proposed route and pick a likely planet on which to begin colonization. Spock immediately becomes suspicious of his captain until finally, after spewing an ethnic slur at the first officer, Spock is certain that this is not Capt. Kirk. He orders a landing party to meet him in the transporter room after the Captain has beamed down to the planet. Meanwhile, on Exo III, Christine Chapel realizes that somehow Roger Korby has changed; he's no longer the wonderful man she'd fallen in love with. He's become somehow distant and unfeeling... though he obviously still has a great fondness for his fiancee. Separated from Christine, Kirk is being guarded by Ruk. The Captain convinces the hulking android that Korby is a threat to his continued existence and must be destroyed. Ruk attacks Korby and is eliminated. It is discovered, to Christine's horror, that Korby has housed his essence inside an android body. Kirk convinces the doctor that he's become more machine than human. In front of his horrified fiancee, Korby grabs Andrea and fires a phaser blast that kills them both. Spock arrives with a landing party to find only Kirk and Christine remaining. Chapel announces that she would like to stay with the U.S.S. Enterprise to complete her tour.

"Have you ever been engaged, Mr. Spock?"
Despite an intriguing premise that has been explored often in the realm of science-fiction, "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" is one of those Star Trek episodes that just does not work. It moves at a snails-pace, the androids aren't really memorable, and the spin table technology left behind by "The Old Ones" is kind of silly. Yet, Sherry Jackson's outfit comes close to saving the day. It is so attention-grabbing that it almost manages to keep you distracted long enough to forget about the episode's shortcomings. If there ever was an Emmy awarded for "Outstanding Supporting Performance By A Garment In A Television Series" then Jackson's attire must have walked away with the statue for this outing. Impressive work indeed.

The U.S.S. Enterprise arrives at Exo III in search of exobiologist Dr. Roger Korby (Michael Strong) who is the fiancé of Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett). Both Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Chapel beam down to the planet where they find Korby and the technology he has discovered that enables him to construct androids. They are introduced to the androids Ruk (Ted Cassidy) and Andrea (Jackson) and amazed by how lifelike they both appear. However, matters become dire when Kirk is taken prisoner and an android duplicate of him is constructed. It turns out Korby himself is an android and has devised a plan to infiltrate the Federation with androids of his creation. However, the real Kirk manages to stop Korby before the plan is put into motion.

People typically only remember two things from "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" - the freaky-looking android Ruk and Sherry Jackson's outfit. There's basically nothing else to write home about. Chapel's character wasn't developed much over the run of the series so it was nice to see her grab some of the spotlight here. Too bad her big opportunity came in an episode that has pretty much been forgotten. And to support my point that this episode has been condemned to limbo, I ask if you have ever heard anyone bring up "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" in any conversation dealing with the best episodes of the original series? I thought not. By the way, did I remember to mention Sherry Jackson's outfit?

Best for Andrea
What Are Little Girls Made of?-The first of the android episodes, in which the landing party end up deep inside an icy planet, is a solid episode. As in Charlie X, we see the question of what it means to be human explored, as well as the human quest for immortality and god-like power. While the episode is thoughtful enough in these regards, less convincing are the motives behind the plan Korby hatches. Additionally, the surprise doesn't really come as a surprise at all. Still, overall an offbeat and forgotten episode with enough action to suffice. This episode can't exactly be punished for employing themes what would be beaten to death, since it is one of the first shows to employ them.

Excellent Story
The Enterprise orbits around Planet Exo III to try and find Dr. Roger Korby "The Pasteur of Archeological Medicine." Korby was also the fiance' of Enterprise Nurse Christine Chapel. When Korby is discovered alive, Kirk and Nurse Chapel beam down to meet him, but are unaware of Korby's true motives.They later discover that Korby's assistant, Brown, who met them at the entrance to the caverns, is an android, as are Andrea, a stunning beauty and Ruk,a hulking giant who kills the two security officers Kirk had beamed down, Kirk & Christine find Korby, but discover that he is somehow different. Kirk is captured by Ruk and, to Christine's horror, is locked down naked on a giant turn table and is about to be duplicated into an android himself, but not before the resourceful captain plants an ethnic slur during the duplicating process into his double's mind to warn Spock. A truly great episode, with the erie and dark caverns of Exo III to scare the daylights out of you, not to mention Ted Casiday in the scary make-up and deep sinister voice as Ruk. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Too often overlooked
This underrated 'cold war' episode featuring a gorilla-unicorn, is another taught thriller from the second season. In addition to the non-stop action (shootings, Mugatu bites, Klingon intrigue, etc.) we have a well-reasoned ethical debate about the dual perils of intervention and non-intervention by a superpower. Kirk even acknowledges some ambivalence about the arming of the Hill people (think Vietnam) at the end of the show. Other pluses in this episode are the culture of the planet, as well as Nona. Her healing scene with Shatner is pretty racy, even by today's standards.

Inspiring
I loved the episode so much when I first saw it six years ago,that it inspired me to begin an original serial using a Nona type character as the lead, and Tyree's people as my character's adopted people. Some reading this would say "so what?" but others would say that if an episode that has such good writing can inspire a budding writer, it's gotta be good! As to the Viet Nam parallel that people are referring to, I see the episode as just good story telling on it's own merit.

Maintaining a Balance of Power on a primitive planet
... "A Private Little War" is one of the most thoughtful Star Trek episodes dealing with the problematic Prime Directive, although Kirk has an easy out since the Klingons are already interfering. Obviously there are some parallels to Vietnam, but the episode can clearly stand on its own. Unfortunately, Star Trek never did really work out all the implications of the Prime Directive, even after trying for four different series. Still, there is an inherent sense of sadness to what has happened to the people on this planet that gives this episode an undeniable resonance. But the monster would be more believable if it was not this giant WHITE thing running around the jungle.

Boldly going....to Vietnam?
The crew of the Enterprise visits an idyllic, pre-industrialized world inhabited by the docile hill-people and the greedy villagers. Not incorporated into the Federation of Planets, this pre-techno world is supposed to be free of any interference by either the Federation or the Klingon empire. Nevertheless, on a routine survey, the villagers attack the hill people with crude rifles - though that requires technology beyond them. With Mr. Spock severely injured, Kirk stays behind looking for evidence that the Klingons are illegally supplying technology that will allow the villagers to conquer the planet and rule it for the Klingons. Reuniting with the Hill People, among whom Kirk once lived, Kirk hooks up with their leader, Tyree and his wife, the bewitching Nona. Sneaking into the Villagers' stronghold, Kirk finds evidence of non-indigenous technology (carbon-free metal tools are a big tip-off). Though implicating the Klingons, Kirk now faces an even bigger quandry - allow the rapacious villagers to conquer the planet, or give the hill-people the means to fight back. Either alternative gurantees bloodshed, with the decision coming down to ensuring either the genocide of the hill people or a ceaseless and bloody war with the villagers. Dr. McCoy, who stayed planetside with Kirk, provides the perfect moral foil for Kirk who is defiantly pro-defense.

I must have seen this episode a hundred times as a kid, never knowing that it was obviously a take on the war in Vietnam which had already escalated by then. The weird part is how this film makes as the enemies, the urbanized and technologically advanced villagers, which is more analogous to the Southern Vietnamese regime. Like the very best sci-fi, when it must be topical, the script is dignified enough to explore both sides. It's a weak episode of Trek, suffering because the comedy team of Bones and Spock spends much of the time apart (with Spock stuck on the Enterprise, recuperating from the attack in the beginning of the episode). The script tries juicing things up with the wicked-hot Nona and an attack by the "Mugato", a sort of white, horned gorilla with poison fangs, that both seem to distract from the message of the show (which may have been the biggest reason for putting them there - the guys who write for Trek were brave, but to a fault). A flawed but still important episode.

Horn + white ape suit = alien
I once overlooked this episode and it took me a number of years to realize just how good it is. Along with Friday's Child, the Cloud Minders and Operation:Annihilate, this is one of the most underated episodes of the series. Yes, the Mugato looked like it would put a gleem in Irwin Allen's eye and the Natives wear third rate poofy wigs, but the story is just terrific. They took a foreign intervention story and stuck it out on a primitve planet plus Kirk fights a healer's influence and Spock fights off a possibly fatal attack. This episode is well written and carried out in fine fashion. ... Read more

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The delightful episode "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is a time-travel story with an infectious blend of suspense and humor. After dropping into a black hole, the Enterprise ends up orbiting the Earth in the late 1960s and is spotted by U.S. Air Force captain Christopher (Roger Perry), who happens to be flying by in his jet. Inadvertently giving poor Christopher an unwanted glimpse into the future, and wrecking his jet with an overpowering tractor beam, Capt. Kirk (William Shatner), not having a good day, beams him aboard the Federation starship. The collision of sensibilities and reference points between characters born several centuries apart has a fresh, urgent tone that subsequent Star Trek series have never captured (though Deep Space Nine came close with its dazzling episode "Trials and Tribble-ations"). The problem, of course, is what to do about Christopher now that he knows what he knows, and history demands that he stay put in his own world: the pilot's unborn son, it seems, will one day make a space flight of historic importance. Terrifically entertaining and something of a precedent-setter for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (the theatrical feature set in contemporary San Francisco), "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" is Trek at its best. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Back to the past
The first of the contemporary earth episodes is a solid offering about a USAF pilot who ends up aboard the Enterprise. One might be forgiven for not realizing they were watching Star Trek here; the Enterprise doesn't show up until the end of this unusual teaser. This episode explores the trappings of time travel, with every effort the crew makes at not altering the future invariably leading to more modification of the future. If the questions of logic posed by the above aren't taken to seriously (they shouldn't be, in my opinion) this episode is watchable enough. The strongest aspects of this show are the humor behind the cultural (temporal?) differences and a fallible Kirk. In truth though, not that much happens here, and the contemporary Earth idea isn't too interesting 36 years later after the fact.

Star Trek's first (and funniest) Time Travel episode
For the first time the Enterprise goes back in time in "Tomorrow is Yesterday," thrown back while trying to break free of the gravitational pull of a black hole. The Enterprise ends up in the late 1960's (neat coincidence, huh?) over the United States, where a jet fighter is scrambled to check out the giant blip on the radar. Worried about nuclear missiles, Kirk uses the tractor beam to stop the aircraft, which then falls apart. The Enterprise rescues the pilot, Captain John Christopher, who finds everything (including Spock) a little hard to believe. Then Kirk discovers he is between a rock and a hard place: they cannot let Christopher return with his knowledge of the future but the officer has to return because his son, who is not yet been conceived, is going to be a famous space explorer. If this does not give Kirk a headache, then just think about the old kill a butterfly and cause monsoons in China theory of causality. There are some nice moments in "Tomorrow is Yesterday," having to do with the sudden confrontation of the past and the future, the best of which (Kirk being interrogated by the Military Police and noting wryly that the lengthy prison sentence he is being threatened with would be "just about right" for getting him back to his own time) will pop up again in the movie "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." I have to admit, I like a time travel episode where the entire fate of the universe does not hang in the balance, as in "The City on the Edge of Forever."

Bad Day for Kirk--Good Episode for Fans
When I first saw this episode so many years ago, I was afraid they had replaced Star Trek with some show about the air force. What a classic teaser! What a relief to see the Enterprise make it's surprise appearance!

We don't get to see the Enterprise at its best in this episode, which is what makes it so fun. Kirk makes one blunder after another. The computer has had a recent unfortunate personality transplant. Even Spock overlooks a very important facet in his calculations. As the episode progresses, the situation just gets worse for our heroes. It's very enjoyable watching Kirk squirm under interrogation.

The resolution didn't come across as very believable, but I'm no time travel expert, so what do I know? I just accept it and applaud.

And, of course, the "chicken soup" scene is a classic Star Trek instant.

Tomorrow Is Yesterday
In "Tomorrow Is Yesterday," the Enterprise finds itself in the 20th century, not far above the surface of the earth. It is spotted by a pilot of the United States Air Force and is believed to be a U.F.O. Scared of being shot down and possibly destroyed, Captain Kirk decides to beam the pilot onboard. If Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew don't watch out, they might change the course of history.

I thought "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" was a pretty good episode about time travel. At times in the episode, the Enterprise will travel back in time, making the clock onboard the Enterprise counts backward. I thought that was one of the best things about the episode. "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" isn't one of the best episodes of Star Trek The Original Series, but it isn't a bad one either. If you like The Original Series of Star Trek, I recommend getting "Tomorrow Is Yesterday."

Time Travel on Star Trek.
Captain James T. Kirk must find a way to get his ship and crew home after they are transported back in time after pulling away from the gravity of a black star. Problem is they must also return an air force pilot, they beamed onboard, and he must have no memory of ever meeting people from the future, other wise history will be forever altered.Written by D.C. Fontana.Directed by Michael O'Herlihy.Music Composed and Conducted by Alexander Courage. ... Read more

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It's the supporting players who provide the most watchable performances in the 1969 "Whom Gods Destroy," one of the best episodes from Star Trek's final season on NBC. Running an errand to the planet Elba II, an inhospitable place housing a remote hospital for the hopelessly insane, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) discover that a longtime patient and Starfleet icon, Captain Garth (Steve Ihnat), has overtaken the facility. Suffering delusions of absolute power, Garth declares himself master of the universe, though his mastery fails to lure the rest of the Enterprise crew into a trap.

With Kirk and Spock subdued prisoners of the brutal Garth, the story opens to Ihnat's flamboyant yet sympathetic performance. You can see behind the character's crazy veneer to the bold starship commander whose exploits fired Kirk's imagination as a cadet. Equally good is Yvonne Craig as Garth's would-be queen, the very sexy Marta, a compulsive killer whose seductive dances, wayward intelligence, and exotic, green skin make her one of the most striking females from the original series. Newbie Trekkers will be happy to know that the story by Lee Erwin and Jerry Sohl clarifies a couple of biographical points about Kirk and Spock, including the captain's own reference to his Starfleet career track before becoming an explorer. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A lot of filler to complete an episode
The storyline here is a very thin and old one, based on the premise of an insane, but supposedly brilliant man who has grandiose visions of achieving absolute power. In this case, the man (Garth) is a former starship captain who is locked in an insane asylum on a planet with a poisonous atmosphere. The Enterprise arrives at the asylum bearing a medication that supposedly will cure the inmates, a small group who are the only incurably insane people in Federation space. Given that the group also includes a Tellerite, Andorian and a green-skinned woman, that space is indeed large.
Garth has somehow been transformed into a shape-shifter (one of many far-fetched components of the plot), and takes the place of the governor, so when Kirk and Spock beam down, they are easily captured. After several extremely campy scenes, they of course escape and Garth is medicated, apparently on the road to recovery.
Nearly everything about the episode is an attempt to fill the allotted time. While the dance done by the green-skinned woman is very good, it is much longer than it had to be. Spock and Kirk's dialogue is much wordier than usual and the climactic scene where Spock is trying to decide which of the two "Captains" is the real Kirk, goes on much too long, and naturally involves Kirk fighting hand-to-hand. Spock is of course an expert in logic, so all he had to do is come up with a simple question that only the real Kirk would know. Even human students of logic could do that in a matter of seconds.
Garth has also invented an incredibly powerful explosive, so powerful that a single vial could destroy the planet. This would make it more powerful than anti-matter, making it an absurdity. When watching the episode, I wondered why this feature is even included. It is unnecessary, so my belief is that it was included just to fill the time.
Unlike some of the other stinkers of the original series, there is no underlying philosophical theme that makes it more palatable. At least "The Alternative Factor" dealt with the idea of noble acts leading to eternity in purgatory, "The Mark Of Gideon" dealt with overpopulation and "The Empath" had Kirk, Spock and McCoy each willing to die for the others. This one has nothing of that caliber, so it is very close to the worst episode in the original series.

Like Spock's Brain, bad if taken literally, but good as camp
The second of the insane asylum/ penal colony episodes is no better than the first (Dagger of the Mind). The episode has the cold, impersonal feel that was becoming a staple at this point in Trek's run (at least in part attributable to the actors having to act of character [witness the recondite Spock here], the executive producer's let's get this over with approach, and a growing sense that the run was over.) The episode does have some merit as a camp vehicle, and a caricature of Star Trek (over the top acting, silly performance antics, little effort to have the plotline or character motivations make sense). In a sense, the show was simply no longer taking itself seriously. This approach may (I don't know) have begun with Fred Frieberger (who took over as executive producer), but by this point in the third season it had spread to the rest of the team. As in sports, once you go on a losing streak there is a tendency to stop investing yourself in the product. That kind of demoralization and the resulting distance from the material, is a signature of the second half of season 3.

Much of the dialogue here is aimed at obfuscating plot inconsistencies and stretching out the thin storyline; first and second season episodes generally did not feel this way. Plot implausibilities were also reaching absurd proportions. The transporter / password subplot did not make sense on any level, so this ended up being nothing more than a Kirk in danger story. Spock's behavior during the fight scene between the two Kirks likewise was totally irrational (for lack of a better word).

A telling scene has Kirk and Spock seated, with Garth and his cohorts standing behind them. Are the slouching Kirk and Spock's snickering, knowing, and tired expressions aimed at Garth's entourage of misfits, or a way of telling us, the audience, that they relized the product was no longer classic Trek? Most of the make-up, costumes, and equipment are retreads, and the plot too has nothing new to say. As in other third season shows, we have sadism for its own sake. The cruel and childish antics are reminiscent of the recently finished Plato's Stepchildren. But as in the real world, evil for evil's sake would surface all too often in the 3rd season.

In this sense the stylistically trippy 3rd season is actually more realistic than the idealistic 1st season. Oh well, at least this episode's finale holds out some hope for Garth and company's redemption. Too late for the viewer!

Good Acting Performance vs. Poor Story Line
By the third season, Star Trek had pretty much exhausted the main story lines associated with the basic premise of the show which is how mankind copes with the challenge of meeting the unknown in exploring the universe beyond. This problem manifested itself in poor scripts and a general demoralization among the actors, writers and producers of the show. This episode comes from this period of decline, but it noteworthy for the excellent performance by guest star Steven Ihnat who plays the mad Capt Garth of Isar who developes a megalomaniacal obsession with "conquering the galaxy". The associated story line is sometimes ludicrous, but Ihnat keeps the viewers attention with his constantly changing moods, going in moment from devious subtlety to explosive rage. Ihnat was one of the premier guest stars on action/adventure series of the 1960's in which he played both "good guys" and "bad guys" so he was well suited for playing a role like this one. In my opinion, even someone who is not a diehard fan of S T can enjoy this episode.
This episode also contains one of my favorite lines from the series which is said by Garth: "Don't beg Marta, it's degrading!"

Campy Fun But not For Fans
Though true Star Trek fans are appaled at this episode, and I admit in many ways it is just plain dreadful, it is a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously.

It has a sexy green girl, a crazed mad man, a Tellerite and Andorian...I mean admit it! It's gotta be fun!

It is not intelligent, poetic Trek for what made the show famous, but it is entertaining!

If you watch the shows for deep meaning, you will not enjoy this episode, b ut I don't feel it deserves all the critisism it gets. It is certainly one of the "darker" episodes and one of the last.

Buy at your own risk but it is certainly fun and the ending is a neat little twist.

Kirk encounters a dangerous but really stupid shape shifter
The Enterprise stops by the Maximum Security Asylum on Elba II (cute, huh?) and finds that Garth of Izar, an infamous Starfleet captain who destroyed an entire race, has learned how to alter his appearance and has assumed the face and position of Governor Cory. Locking up Kirk and Spock, Garth changes himself to look like Kirk and tries to take over the Enterprise. "Whom Gods Destroy" is a below average Star Trek episode, especially since Garth's plan can only work if the Enterprise basically has no security measures in place whatsoever. I have children who could program the computer not to let unauthorized characters beam aboard the ship, but that would sure kill a lot of stories on Star Trek. Certainly the idea of a shape shifter running loose on the Enterprise is a good idea, Odo more than proves that on DS9, but beyond his special ability Garth is just pretty stupid for an ex-Starfleet captain. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Some of the most classic moments from this landmark series
This tape contains what for me are two of the very best episodes from the classic "I Love Lucy" television series. Granted that this series contains so many classic episodes that it is hard to pick absolute favourites but the two dealing with the saga of John Wayne's footprints and the wacky Lucy's determination to take them back with her to New York are totally hilarious and have attained true icon status since they were first televised in the mid 1950's.

The first of the two episodes "Lucy Visits Graumans" finds the wacky but lovable redhead along with fellow conspirator in many escapades Ethel, touring the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre to see the stars inprints in the forecourt. Lucy discovers that John Wayne's block is loose and concocts a wild scheme to clain the, to quote Lucy, "the souveneir of all souveneirs". Lucy works out an hilarious plan to steal the footprints that involves "precision timing, a trowel, a bucket of quick dry cement, and a getaway car", to carry off the perfect heist and indeed what girl according to Lucy wouldn't want John Wayne's block under her bed!! Lucy being Lucy of course everything goes wrong and she finds herself in an absolutely hilarious moment with her foot stuck in the bucket of quick dry cement which hardens while they are hiding from some policemen in the bushs near the theatre. Their efforts to get the block back to the hotel are halted by Ricky (Desi Arnaz) who finds out about what has taken place (in another hilarious moment in the Mertzes hotel room) and orders them to take it back upon which Lucy and Ethel drop it and it breaks into a milion pieces.

Episode two "Lucy and John Wayne", continues the story and is one of the very best episodes from the entire series boasting a rare television appearance by John Wayne playing himself. It chronicles the gang's repeated efforts to replace the smashed footprints before that evenings preview of John Wayne's new picture "Blood Alley". Of course their efforts are constantly upset to the point where John Wayne who knows Ricky from the studio and has kindly agreed to redo his footprints to get Lucy out of trouble, is forced repeatedly to set his footprints and signature in wet cement as Lucy erases the first effort and little Ricky crawls through the next set!!! Lucy has a laugh out loud line when Desi states that he is too embarrassed to ask John Wayne to yet again set his footprints in a fourth try when she says "Well he's in pictures tell him it's a retake!". Another hilarious scene occurs when Lucy and Ethel sneak into the studio to try and get the Duke's imprints without him even knowing about it and Lucy gets trapped in John Wayne's dressing room where she is forced to give him a body massage. That scene alone is worth watching the episode for! All ends happily when the Duke provides Lucy with a years supply of cement blocks complete with his footprints and signature to take back to New York with her.

Rarely has this great ensemble of performers worked better together than in these two episodes. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley are all superb and the real revelation of these shows is the wonderful performance by John Wayne