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The Shazam Isis Podcast

Two fans of two iconic 70s Saturday morning programs get together to discuss an episode each podcast. Plus, look out for special episodes with the actors and writers who made the shows possible.
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Now displaying: 2016
Nov 26, 2016

Isis

"Rockhound's Roost"

October 11, 1975

Kevin is a young student who tries to avoid any of his responsibilities at any cost.  But he goes too far when forges his father's name on a permission slip to avoid a cleanup job at home.  On the trip, Kevin continues to shirk his responsibilities and decides to run away before getting caught.  The problem is he brings along a fellow student named Fabian.  Will the two become lost or even worse or can Isis find them in time?

John and Richard discuss this episode in detail and also talk about how the episode is important for today's youth who many do not accept their responsibilities.  Plus, what is the deal with the bear?  It's pretty bad, even for Isis/Shazam standards.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "Being responsible means knowing the right thing to do an doing it."

Guest Cast

Steven Paul as Kevin McCauley

Thomas Carter as Fabian

Bill DeLand as Mr. McCauley

Nov 6, 2016

Shazam!

"Speak No Evil"

October 11, 1975

Paul and his friends are hanging out on a Sunday afternoon and are bored.  So they decide to go to school.  Makes sense, right?  Paul has his misgivings and he's proven right when his friends accidentally start a fire and his dog is almost killed in it before being saved by Captain Marvel.  Billy and Mentor know Paul knows something but he doesn't want to be a "fink".  Will he see it's better to admit the truth before it's too late?

 

Danny Bonaduce plays the misguided, but well intentioned teen who keeps his silence in this episode.  John and Richard play the hosts of a podcast discussing the episode.  They discuss how many kids learned to take off in flight from Superman and Captain Marvel as well as the "rural" effect on television in the 70s.

 

 It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: “Don't ever be afraid of being called a name. As long as you're sure what you're doing is right, there's no word... no name... that can harm you."

 

Guest Cast

Melvin F. Allen as Sheriff

Danny Bonaduce as Paul

Eric Chase as Sam

Ty Henderson as Kyle

Hal Lynch as John Jerome

Kerry Maclane as Chuck

 

Oct 22, 2016

Isis

"The Rival"

October 4, 1975

A new student shows great potential in environmental science, but he's having trouble fitting in with the student body.  He discovers that a nearby piece of land that supports a great deal of wildlife in the area is in danger of being cleared for new housing.  Will he take the law into his own hands or can Isis resolve the situation before it gets out of hand or worse, deadly? 

 

 

This episode features themes that a little more mature in terms of concepts concerning the environment.  But one's never too young to be concerned with how changing our environment can affect our future.  Richard and John do not exactly see eye to eye on the merits of this episode and one is a little more down on it than the other.  Take a listen and see if you agree.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "You can't judge a book by its cover."

Guest Cast

Mitch Vogal as Wayne Moss

Morgan Jones as Mr. Tilden

Harry Hickox as Mr. Winstead

Wirt Morton as Charlie Michaels

Anson Downes as Phil Hobbes

 

Aug 21, 2016

Shazam!

"Goodbye, Packy"

October 4, 1975

Kathy has raised Packy since he was a pup.  It's an adorable relationship, but there is one hitch - Packy is a wolf.  He's getting older now and harder to control.  Add to it, the danger he poses to livestock in the area and Kathy's father wants to release him to the wild.  But Kathy and Packy run away and quickly find themselves in danger.  Can Captain Marvel rescue the two in time?

It's the first episode of the season that John and Richard do not like which is surprising considering how good the stories have been to this point and the fact that this one was written by a team who wrote some good stories in the first season.  The two discuss where this one went wrong, the laws concerning the possession of wild creatures, and the motif of eating that runs throughout the entire Shazam! series.

 It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: “Having a pet carries responsibilities. Some animals are born to be free. To deprive them of that right is selfish, so we all must understand and respect the laws of nature... for our sake, as well as for our animal friends."

Guest Cast

Conlan Carter as Bob Rose

Shannon Terhune as Kathy Rose

Aug 14, 2016

Isis

"The Sound of Silence"

September 27, 1975 

Andrea has developed a force field generator called the Circlegard.  It's just what a disgruntled student needs to get himself a new car.  Can Andrea save Bill from the dangerous turn he's taking by aligning with a local mobster?  Will she be in time to also save him from the radiation that is leaking from the Circlegard?

The Secrets of Isis takes a turn toward the more technical with this episode.  It's a story dealing with the usual misguided teenagers and the men who manipulate them, but it also has the element of the force field generator and the dangers of radiation.  John and Richard discuss how this new element propels the show forward in terms of story telling opportunities.  They also wonder how a project like the Circlegard could be developed in a high school with the dangers of radiation involved.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "We all know that two wrongs don't make a right.  They only make things worse.  If you're ever tempted in that direction, just remember that the right way is always the best way."

Guest Cast

Leigh McCloskey as Bill Cady

James Canning as B.J. Tanker

Philip Bruns as Jack Evans

Wayne Storm as Jocko

and

Albert Reed as Dr. Joshua Barnes

Aug 6, 2016

Episode 29

Radames Pera

From Grasshopper to the Prairie, actor Radames Pera performed in a number of iconic 70s television.  He joins us in this special episode giving us a look at how his career all began with a chance encounter with the director of a movie his mother, actress Lisa Pera, was trying out for.  From there, he went on to appear in shows such as Medical Center, The Rookies, Night Gallery and many, many more.  He talks about his time as Grasshopper on Kung Fu and the adoptive son of Mr. Edwards on Little House on the Prairie.  Also, he shares his memories of his appearance on "Fool's Gold" on Shazam!

Radames Perá (born September 14, 1960) is an American former actor best known for his role as "Grasshopper" the student Kwai Chang Caine in the 1972–1975 television series Kung Fu. He is the only living regular cast member from the show.

 

Radames serves as a member of A Minor Consideration, a non-profit organization formed to give guidance to young performers, past, present, and future.

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Jul 23, 2016

Shazam!

"Double Trouble"

September 27, 1975

Billy and Mentor are shocked to learn that Captain Marvel is accused of robbing a gas station.  Billy's first instinct is to investigate the matter, but he turns himself in as Captain Marvel in order to prove a point to a young boy about the idea that no one is above the law.  But if Captain Marvel is in jail, who is going to prove his innocence?

John and Richard are both in agreement that this is one of the best episodes in the entire series.  We learn though it's one that Jackson Bostwick suggested as an idea for the show and it allows Captain Marvel a lot more dialogue and screen time.  The two discuss the potential of the episode, the importance of the moral today in a world where many feel they are above the law, and the number of known actors who appeared in this episode.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: “Respecting the law is just another way of saying that we respect each other. Laws have been made for the good of everyone, and when someone breaks the law, they're saying "I don't care about you." When you respect the law, you respect yourself."

Guest Cast

Ben Andrews as Pierce Young

William Bassett as Bill Ritzi

Ross Elliot as Sheriff Martin

Jack Garner as Phil Schartoff

Jimmy McNichol as Kelly Martin

Bill Quinn as Larry Frank

Jul 20, 2016

Isis

"Spots of the Leopard"

September 20, 1975

Jenny's father Chuck has returned after a stay in prison for theft and wants to start his life over.  A series of thefts of industrial diamonds has a similar MO to Chuck's leading to almost everyone, including Jenny, that Chuck may be guilty.  Everyone, except Andrea.  Can she prove this to Jenny before it's too late?

John and Richard are impressed with this episode, which they feel has more depth than a usual episode of either series.  They go on to discuss how Isis feels like it learned from the mistakes of the first season of Shazam! while Shazam! continues to produce the same kind of stories as before.  Finally, they make the comparison of these two shows with Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "Today we learned the importance of keeping faith in a friend or someone you love even if it seems they’ve done something wrong.   If they have, it will come out soon enough.  If they haven’t, they need someone who will believe in them when others won’t.  That’s what being a true friend really means."

Guest Cast

Lou Frizzell as Chuck Nelson

Debralee Scott as Jenny Nelson

Edward Cross as Sgt. Connors

Paul Jenkins as Tom Jenkins

Jul 13, 2016

Shazam!

"Fool's Gold"

September 20, 1975

An old gold prospector is tormented by a group of young boys in the mountains near his claim.  But when he's trapped within his mine, will they do the right thing and save him in time?

 

Actor Michael Gray returns to the podcast to discuss another favorite of his from the Shazam! series.  This episode marks the final appearance of Jackson Bostwick in the role of Captain Marvel.  In addition to discussing the episode, Michael also talks about the accident that brought about Jackson's departure, the bonus feature he appears in on the Archer sixth season DVD set, and the possibility of his appearing on Dancing with the Stars.

 

 It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

 

Moral: “There are some things even more precious than gold, things like respect and understanding. Respect means more than being polite. It means knowing we've learned from each other. There's a lot we can learn, if we only listen.

 

Jun 30, 2016

Isis

"Fool's Dare"

September 6, 1975

Cindy Lee takes a dare to spend time in an abandoned junkyard.  But she's unaware of the danger that lies within.  And how is the junkyard connected to a car theft ring?  And why doesn't Andrea simply turn to Isis for help when her car is stolen?  These questions and more will be discussed on a new episode of the podcast.

John and Richard wind up being split on how they feel about this episode.  It's good, but is it as good as one of them feels?  Also, what were the producers thinking when they dressed Cindy Lee in the more child-like clothing?  And just how cool is Tut?  Take a listen and let us know what you think.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "When someone dares you to do something, it's often either something dangerous or wrong to for some other reason.  So the question isn't whether you have the guts to do it or not, the question is do you have the nerve enough not to take the dare? Doing anything that you know is wrong is dumb, because you're the one who pays for it."

Guest Cast

Charles Cyphers as Sam Niles

Frank Whiteman as Cy Khan

Josh Albee as Ernie Rothchild

Jeff Tyler as Frank Iverson

Albert Reed as Dr. Joshua Barnes

Jun 22, 2016

Shazam!

"Debbie"

September 13, 1975

Debbie is a girl who finds herself attracted to wrong people, despite her mother's warnings.  When she finds herself getting in too deep and her life in danger, can Captain Marvel save her in time?  Also, what happened to Captain Marvel?

 

On our last Shazam! review, we pointed out how the show did nothing new or innovative with the premiere of the second season.  It all seemed like business as usual.  Be careful what you wish for.  As the credits to this second episode begin, one can see there is clearly someone new in terms of who is wearing the big red suit.  John Davey takes over the role of Captain Marvel.  Hosts John and Richard discuss Davey's first outing and draw their own comparisons, from childhood and today, to the portrayals of the two actors in the series.

It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "When a parent sets rules and regulations, it really is a form of expression of their love and concern. Sometimes the hardest thing for them to say is "no." But we can be sure that if they say "no", that most of the time there's a good reason for it."

Guest Cast

Cindy Henderson as Debbie

Harry Moses as Tom

Casey Young as Paul

Apr 24, 2016

We begin our reviews of The Secrets of Isis with this episode.  Cindy Lee reports of the strange lights in the skies over Mystery Mountain.  Is it possible that an alien invasion is coming?  There are those missing people to account for.  And what happens when Cindy Lee herself disappears?

 

 
 

John and Richard discuss the the poor transformation sequence, the lack of stunts, and the odd plot choices in this opening story.  Despite all this, they also both agree that this is a much better beginning episode for a series than Shazam! got.

 

 It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

 

Moral: "Practical jokes can be taken too far."

 

Guest Cast

Kelly Thordson as Joel Moss

Hank Brandt as Sheriff Harley

Kenneth Wolger as Art Byron

Michael Maitland as Chick Jeffers

Albert Reed as Dr. Joshua Barnes

Apr 20, 2016

Just before we begin our review of The Secrets of Isis, we have the opportunity to sit down with the man who played Rick Mason on the series.  Actor Brian Cutler talks with us about his career, his time on the show, how he was the first one cast, and The Actor's Studio he runs today.

 

 

Brian Cutler was born in Los Angeles; he has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 60 years. He has had an extensive career in theatre, film, and television, including starring in the hit series The Secrets of ISIS and co-starring in Emergency, The Long Hot Summer, and Young Lawyers. Brian has guest starred on over 100 major television shows and appeared in over 200 national commercials. He has been teaching film, television and commercial acting technique to both beginners and professionals for over 40 years.

Feb 25, 2016

Shazam!

"On Winning"

September 6, 1975 

The second season of Shazam! begins and it looks like business as usual.  In fact, that's the problem here, for a season premiere of a hot Saturday morning television show, the opening of its second season is somewhat lackluster.  Two brothers are vying for their father's attention and the younger of the two feels left out.  But he soon learns that his father loves him enough to risk his life for him.

The second season of Shazam! begins and while there are many changes in store for the coming season, this first episode doesn't seem to demonstrate it.  John and Richard discuss how what is right with a usual episode of Shazam! is what is wrong with this season opener.  Plus, they discuss how the Elders flashbacks that Billy has during the course of the episode are not neccessary and won't be missed on Isis.

 It's all here and we want to hear from you on what you think of the episode.  Write us as ShazamIsisPodcast@gmail.com.

Moral: "Winning isn't the important thing. What is important, is to do the very best you can. And a parent's love is a very special kind of love, its so big, that no matter how many brothers or sisters you have, there's more than enough love for everyone."

 

Guest Cast

Stephen R. Hudis as Dan

John Lupton as Craig Enright

Eric Shea as Corky

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