TV Show Review: The Fall Guy Season 1 Volume 2

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Fun, great action

Cons: A little cheese, only half the season

The Bottom Line:

Only half season

Filled with action and great stunts

Just get full season

"But When I Wind Up in the Hay, It's Only Hay."

I'm not sure who at 20th Century Fox came up with this idea, but here it is. On the day they released the first season of the 80's show The Fall Guy, they released three sets. One set is the full season. The other two sets were those same six discs but in two sets. And those two sets? Exactly half of what you would pay for the full season set. Doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe that's why I'm not in television.

Either way, this second half of the season set is still lots of fun. Colt Seavers (Lee Majors) works as a stunt man but moonlights as a bounty hunter to pay the bills. He gets his assignments from bail bonds woman Samantha Jack (Jo Ann Pflug). Working along side him is his cousin Howie Munson (Douglas Barr). Also on hand when needed is Jody Banks (Heather Thomas).

In this half of the season, Colt takes on a shady manager in the world of women's wrestling, attempts to save a friend's son from the mob, helps an old friend escape her crooked politician husband, and tracks down $5 million that was stolen from the Navy five years ago.

The plots seem a little better in this half. Granted, they are still just excuses for stunts, car chases, and fist fights. But they actually hold together and feature some unique twists. While still sidelined in most of the episodes, Jody Banks is given more to do in these episodes. Personally, I think that's wonderful, and not just because the actress who plays her is hot. The trio of leads has great chemistry and is lots of fun to watch on screen together. In fact, all three of them do a great job of acting.

While the plots are improving, the stunts are devolving, but only a little. We still get one "movie" stunt as a prologue. But it seems like many of the action scenes are becoming car chases and fights. Granted, we do get some fancy (if poorly shot) skiing and Colt jumping from a helicopter into a hotel room. And how Colt's truck is still running after all those jumps in beyond me. Now don't misunderstand. These action sequences are still plenty fun to watch.

While the first half of the season features lots of cameos by famous stars of the early 80's, this one only features one such appearance. Herve Villechaize of Fantasy Island fame shows up in the last episode. Now Buddy Hackett does show up, but he plays a mentally challenged murder suspect that Colt is trying to help. Also appearing in this set is Heather Locklear before she became famous at all.

These episodes originally aired in 1982, and the 80s cheese does ooze out occasionally. Some of the acting could be better and there are times you can tell something is fake. Still, for a TV show, there are an impressive number of stunts. And it isn't as cheesy as some shows from the era.

As I mentioned earlier, this show is half, and I do mean half, of the season 1 set. 11 of the 22 episodes are here on three DVD's. And you get half the bonus features, too. The last disc of the set contains a 5 minute featurette on the theme song. About the only thing interesting about it is they sing the full song. Who knew there were more verses, right?

Personally, I'd skip this set and wait for the full season set. In fact, you can sometimes find the full season set on sale for less than the two half sets combined. But either way, this is a fun action show for those looking for some nostalgia.

Included Episodes:

1. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harold

2. Soldiers of Misfortune

3. Ready, Aim, Die

4. Ladies on the Ropes

5. The Snow Job

6. Guess Who's Coming to Town?

7. Child's Play

8. Charlie

9. Three for the Road

10. The Silent Partner

11. Scavenger Hunt