30 SECONDS OVER LITTLE TOKYO

[Houdiniderek]

How do you vote for 30 SECONDS OVER LITTLE TOKYO?

SOLID GOLD *****
GREAT GAH ****
Average GAH ***
Bad GAH **
Schlock *
Sub-Schlock --


Feel free to explain.

[Jo Pierce - GAH Noir]

Three stars for plot and action. I did not like the whole Ninja theme running through this. I did, however, like the uncle and his gardening.

Five stars for Bill and Dotty Parker interaction. I also like that Pam and Ralph are trying to set him up.

[melmac]

I can't just give this one or no stars, though it's my least favorite of the original series. I don't like the ninjas bit in here except for the fight where Ralph kicks butt (because those ninjas think "Oh, we're on our fourth/fifth black belt and this guy's in his dancing tights" and they get creamed.)

The bit where the uncle gets kidnapped is funny because Ralph ducks underwater to hide, comes running out covered in suds and a bathtowel, then dresses and charges the bad guys.

What I really don't like about this ep is the whole tenure bit. Knight's a turkey to begin with, as they should've just had Bill be removed IMHO. Ralph could argue to the school board if he was fired that he didn't invite Bill and tried to have him removed, but the tenure board didn't listen to him and let him leave momentarily. The fact they don't specify if he's lost his job or not too makes it more confusing to me when he appears in "GAHeroine" with books at Holly's school. Is he teaching in Elementary school now or did he go over from the HS or what?

[billswoman]

I think the reaction to Bill showing up should've been the opposite: I mean, the man's in the FBI (all caps, mind you, for emphasis)... I would think if an FBI agent showed up to talk to one of my employees, I'd be like, Go, go! We can finish this some other time! I don't know about them, but to me, in real life, I'd be rather intimidated if an FBI agent showed up at my workplace to speak to someone (hopefully not me).

And I'm digressing, but my sister had a good laugh afterwards... her first husband was a total dink. During the time of the big hoo-rah over the Green River murderer, her now-ex-husband was mackin' on some chick, and told her how he was helping the FBI in their investigation (this is a guy who also claimed that he'd worked for Queen Elizabeth as a mercernary). Well, this guy's a creep... and she knew this, and she reported the conversation to the FBI.

They started checking him out, and my sister too as his ex-wife. They showed up at her door one day, asking about him. She busted up laughing when they told her what he'd been claiming, and conveyed to them that A) he was full of sh*t and B) he was harmless, he just talked big.

From there, they talked to him, basically putting the fear of gawd into him, and he shut up about it, and that was that for his role in anything.

So I mention all this because, like I said, IRL people are usually quite awed/impressed/scared when the FBI shows up... why these people on the tenure panel were not, I've got no idea. (Okay, maybe not ALL people are impressed by da Man.)

[Jo Pierce - GAH Noir]

I already voted, but I wanted to say more... There are lots of things that I like about this episode. I LOVE Dotty Parker. I don't know why. I just do. I think I love the idea of Dotty Parker, and Bill with her as opposed to the only two other women he ever had any kind of interest in. O'Neil.... nothing more to say. But Paula - although she may have been a nice lady seemed like she was too old for him. Why would I say that? I mean they were the same age chronologically. And he liked that they could relate. But I like the idea of Bill with someone younger (maybe in their late 30s or early 40s?) He needs to have that sort of person to stretch him to the limits. Maybe Paula would take him dancing or something, but I just imagine the relationships being too easy for him to be interested long term. I think he would want something a little less cut and dry. For as much as I hated O'Neil, I think that's one of the things that he liked about her.

[helane4bill]

I give it 3 stars. I happen to love the tenure story line. The fact that in this episode, it is Bill who teaches Ralph a lesson in humanity. Ralph is so focused on his tenure that he neglects to see that this poor man really needs his help. The scene with Ralph and Bill in the car when Ralph tells Bill that Bill does not understand how important the tenure is and then Bill tells him that he has the power to help this man and Ralph needs to stop focusing on the tenure. In the end, as Ralph advises the tenure group.......friendship is more important then tenure. This is a lesson that Bill teaches him. I liked that.

As for the actual plot with the machine, it was pretty awful. I also like the Dotty Parker storyline too...