Dan is much too proud to ever ask help from anyone to the point where he risks his and his girlfriend's lives. But will he learn a lesson when he sees the World's Mightiest Mortal asking for help from the Champion of Truth and Justice?
Long before Hercules and Xena - long before Buffy and Angel - long before Steve Austin and Jaime Sommers, there was Captain Marvel and Isis. It's the first of several team-ups featuring the two stars of our iconic Saturday morning TV shows. The question is, is it all worth it? Is the story worthy of such a meeting? John and Richard discuss this as well as begin a series of reviews of the DC Comics Isis series from 1976-77. They start with Isis' first appearance in Shazam! #25.
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 a lot of things we can do by ourselves, but it's kind of foolish and maybe even dangerous to try to do something when we don't know how."
Guest Cast
Steve Benedict as Dan Haley
Cindy Eilbacher as Susie Walsh
&
Joanna Cameron as Andrea Thomas and Isis
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Links
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
Vinnie is out of jail and looking for revenge on Jackie. Will Jackie take on Vinnie? Why does everyone thing Billy is looking for a fight? Was this episode really necessary?
The first season of Shazam! comes to an end with the second of a two-part story. And the real question is, "Was this episode really necessary?" John and Richard come at the episode from different sides and have very different opinions on it.
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: "In the end, fighting doesn't prove anything. It makes more sense to work together, and iron out our differences in a constructive, rather than a destructive way."
Guest Cast
Greg Mabrey as Jackie
Jack McCulloch as Vinnie
Tom Ruben as Vinnie's Lieutenant
Carol Anne Seflinger as Mellie
Chad States as Vinnie's Pal
The next in our series of interviews with the people who made Shazam and The Secrets of Isis happens with actor Jack McCulloch. Jack appeared as Vinnie in the two-part first season finale of Shazam! In this interview, he talks about his career, from his start in religious programming to his appearance in the pilot of Happy Days, to his turning down the chance to audition for Luke Skywalker to his appearance in the final season of M*A*S*H, to working with Jackson Bostwick on Shazam!
Jack McCulloch was a character actor who appeared in television and movies throughout the 70s and into the early 80s. He has the distinction of being there for the start of Happy Days, by appearing in the pilot episode and playing a solider in the final season of M*A*S*H. In addition, he appeared in such movies as The California Kid and The Big Red One.
Jack played Vinnie, the leader of the vultures in the two-part season finale of Shazam!'s first season. After appearing in M*A*S*H, Jack walked away from Hollywood in 1982 and opened a business that specializes in wide width shoes - McCulloch's Wide Shoes. His store features tributes to Hollywood and many cone from far and wide, not just to buy shoes, but to see his museum-like store.
Jackie has a past that he feels defines who he is. The problem is, it has some back to haunt him and threaten his future. Can Billy separate his feelings from the facts and determine if Jackie is truly innocent of the crime he's accused of committing?
The first season of Shazam! comes to an end with the first of a two-part story. It's an odd duck in many respects, but John and Richard do find the good in it and remind everyone that odd does not mean bad. The question though is, does it hold up today?
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: "Making one mistake isn't the end of the world. We often get a second chance. Just make sure you don't mess it up, or let others mess it up for you."
Guest Cast
Jimmy Hayes as Mister Samuels
Greg Mabrey as Jackie
Jack McCulloch as Vinnie
Tom Ruben as Vinnie's Lieutentant
Carol Anne Seflinger as Mellie
Chad States as Vinnie's Pal
RIGHT CLICK IMAGE TO SAVE EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER.
Our series of interviews continues as we near the start of our reviews of the first season of The Secrets of Isis. Joining us for this episode is actress, dancer, teacher Joanna Pang Atkins who played Cindy Lee on the first season of the show. Joanna talks about her career leading up to her her on the show, her memories of the episodes and her co-stars, and her career following her departure.
Joanna Pang Atkins has a unique perspective gained from a fascinating lifetime of experience. Since she was a young girl, Joanna has traveled the world over, performing as an actress and dancer on stage, television and film. As a natural progression, she began producing and directing theater for teens and now brings her experience into schools with multi-cultural dance assemblies and residencies.
From her starring role as a teenage idol on CBS’ top-rated children's showThe Secrets of ISIS, which recently came out on dvd, Joanna's TV appearances have varied as widely as Saturday Night Live, numerous daytime soap operas, The Lawrence Welk Show, and dozens of TV commercials.
Joanna's stage performances have taken her throughout the country, touring in well-known musicals including West Side Story, South Pacific, Music Man, and The King and I, as well as close to home in the world premiere production of Sayonara at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. Performing with an Asian touring dance company carried her to the far reaches of Europe, South America, Canada and the U.S.A.
Her professional teaching background is in dance, ranging from ballet to jazz to folk. She teaches all ages from kindergarten through adult. Her special rapport with children has her teaching them on TV and as far afield as California studios, a school in Budapest, and right at home in New Jersey. At many schools, Joanna’s multi-cultural dance residencies have become an annual tradition. For over ten years, she has also been a teaching artist for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).
In addition to her own performing, Joanna has traveled extensively with her husband, Dick Atkins, a producer and writer of television and feature films, and their son Davy, to movie locations from Los Angeles, Georgia and Vermont in the U.S., to Africa, Budapest, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Joanna’s biography has been published in Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who of American Women.
Links
Alan has self-esteem issues and compensates by making up wild stories about himself to impress his friends. But when he has to prove what he is saying, will he endanger not only himself but his friends as well?
RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE TO SAVE EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER
This episode bares some similarities with the previous episode, "The Delinquent" in that we are dealing with young men with self-esteem issues. The difference he is that Alan is actually quite friendly, but his friendship comes at a cost as he weaves his wild stories. Does it hold today? Why didn't Jackson Bostwick wrestle a lion? And did Richard really beat up Captain Marvel?
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: “Honesty is the best policy."
Guest Cast
Gary Dubin as Mitch
Scott Garrett as Jerry
Steve Gustafson as Alan
Sean Kelly as Tim
Kerri Shuttleton as Debbie
and
Frank Coghlan Jr. as the Guard
RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE TO SAVE THIS EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER
We're entering the age of "Free to Be You and Me" as Shazam! teaches kids to get in touch with themselves before they can be liked by others. In this episode, John and Richard talk about a kid's self-esteem, Richard as "The Great Indoorsman", and sharing soda cans and ice creams.
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: “Before we can like others, we must like ourselves."
Guest Cast
Jackie Earle Haley as Norm
Hilly Hicks as Frank Carlin
Larry Michaels as Doug
RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE TO SAVE THIS EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER
As we discussed in a previous interview, this is actor Michael Gray's favorite episode. So it made sense to ask Michael to join us to review "Little Boy Lost". In this episode we discuss the mixed moral message, writer/director Arthur Nadel, real life trauma of children, and John's reversal of his opinion of 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: “If you don't communicate, you'll never solve your problems, and the most important communication for all of us, is with the ones we love. Remember, there are times when everyone needs help, even you."
Guest Cast
John Carter as Sam
Eddie Firestone as Lou
Mark Edward Hall as Howard
RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE TO SAVE THIS EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER
We come to the episode written by Donald F. Glut who we interviewed on a previous podcast. He mentioned how there were elements of Jim he could relate to as a kid. Indeed, being a fan of genre television, movies, and books was not as well accepted back in the 70s as it is today and John and Richard relate to the character in many respects as well. The two get into a further discussion on why higher powers do not use their abilities to help mortal beings and wonder what role Satan may have in this story.
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 want to be liked, but scary, daredevil stunts aren't the way to go about it. If a person can't like you for who you are, then maybe they aren't worth having as friends."
Guest Cast
RIGHT CLICK THE IMAGE TO SAVE THIS EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER
We all have felt, at one time or another, that some of the classes we took in the course of our education were useless. But one never knows what life will throw at them. In the course of this episode, lessons in ancient history and geology pay off for Billy and Cathy, but will Don learn his lesson before it's too late. Plus, Richard relates some personal stories of times he spent with Shazam! stars Jackson Bostwick and Michael Gray. Stay tuned for the story of how guest star Wink Roberts set the desert landscape on fire.
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: “If you close your mind to learning, sooner or later you're going to have it opened and be surprised at just how much you've shortchanged yourself. So if you ever think about dropping out of school, you're only hurting yourself."
Guest Cast
Wink Roberts as Don
Lisa Eilbacher as Cathy
RIGHT CLICK IMAGE TO SAVE EPISODE TO YOUR COMPUTER.
Pamelyn Ferdin (born February 4, 1959) is an American former television and film child actor who grew up in Glendale, California, where she attended Herbert Hoover High School, graduating in 1977. She was mainly active both in live action and as a voice actress in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, but has since appeared more sporadically in recent films, concentrating more on animal rights activism than acting.
Ferdin played the Bumsteads' daughter Cookie in the 1968–1969 CBS revival series Blondie. She played Felix Unger's daughter Edna in the 1970s ABC series version of The Odd Couple and Paul Lynde's daughter Sally on the short-lived The Paul Lynde Show.
She appeared on the original Star Trek in 1968 as one of a group of orphaned children led by an alien with sinister motives in the episode "And the Children Shall Lead", and in the 1977 series Space Academy as Laura Gentry.[1]
Ferdin provided the voice of Lucy van Pelt in three Peanuts cartoons: the 1969 TV special It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown, a 1969 feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the 1971 TV special Play It Again, Charlie Brown.
She appeared as Mary Constable in the supernatural thriller Daughter of the Mind and as Abby Clarkson in The Mephisto Waltz (1971). Other films include The Reluctant Astronaut, The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, The Christine Jorgensen Story, Happy Birthday Wanda June, and The Toolbox Murders. Pamelyn was a frequent guest star on episodic television in the 1960s and 1970s, with appearances on Bewitched, Green Acres, The Andy Griffith Show, Branded, Daniel Boone, Custer, The Monkees, The Flying Nun, Gunsmoke, Shazam!, The High Chaparral, Mannix, The Brady Bunch, Family Affair, Love, American Style, Marcus Welby, M.D., Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Apple's Way, The Streets of San Francisco, Baretta, CHiPS, and 240-Robert.
Her character "Amy" in The Beguiled (1971) turns against the Clint Eastwood character after he kills her pet turtle.[citation needed]
She voiced Fern Arable, the little girl who works to save the life of Wilbur the pig, in the 1973 film version of Charlotte's Web. [2][3][4][citation needed]
She has been married to Dr. Jerry William Vlasak Jr. since Oct. 12th, 1986.
Links