Voyage of the Rock Aliens (1984)

It’s 100 degrees outside, and I’m compelled to revisit a musical I discovered around this time last Summer, during a similar heat wave. I watched it at least three times during my daytime activity hours, which means I had it on while I was doing my work. It’s a perfect Summer companion movie, not deserving of too much attention, yet too fun to ignore.

Screenwriter James Guidotti regarded the film as a sendup of various exploitation genres: "It's a little like sitting home and watching TV late on a Saturday night, all the while switching channels… on channel 5 they're airing an old Beach Party movie; on 9 one about alien invaders; on 11 a film about a mad, homicidal maniac on the loose; and on 13 a rock 'n roll program."
 
Synth-Pop band Rhema was recruited after the producers, and the film’s star Pia Zadora, flew to Arizona to see them perform live. They seem to get at least as much screen time as anyone else in the movie, and that’s a good thing. They’re exactly the sort of band I wanted to be in when I was like 12 years old.

After wrapping the shoot, Pia flew on her private jet to Italy (she was married to a rich dude) and produced a music video with Jermaine Jackson, using a totally different crew. It was decided that they would tack the video onto the beginning of the movie. So you’re free to skip that part. Otherwise this is a cool frosty Summer confection, and you get to see it on Youtube for free. For now.

Larry Cohen Memorial Post: God Told Me To (1976)

The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

edited from wikipedia:
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American television series that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1968, through February 23, 1969. After the show's original run, the series continued to air in reruns as part of The Banana Splits and Friends Show syndication package. During development, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera stated the show was to be the most expensive half hour ever put on television.

I assume it was the excessive cost that led to this only lasting 20 episodes, because it was popular in its time. Even when I saw it regularly as a five-year old on UHF in the 70's, I recognized a unique show. I'm unaware of anything like it that had been done before or since, at least not as a regular series.

All of the episodes are currently available for watching on dailymotion.  But they aren't nearly the same quality as this youtube clip. And yes, that voice is Ted Cassidy (Lurch).