An 80's gem that has thus far managed to avoid update (unless you really loosen things up and count Chuck), Scarecrow and Mrs. King took a fairly unique spin on the spy game, and somehow worked things into some pretty entertaining television.
Goodbye, PTA…hello, foreign intrigue! Single mom Amanda King leads a quiet suburban life in Washington DC until the day a dashing stranger shoves a package in her hands with instructions to give it to the man in the red hat. In no time, Amanda is dodging bullets, foiling assassination plots – and finding herself drawn to the dashing stranger, agent Lee Stetson, aka Scarecrow. Of course, Scarecrow has no interest in a ditsy amateur spy, no matter how pretty. But she certainly is handy in a crisis! Share the fun in the lighthearted series that proves laughs and romance are powerful weapons in the battle to protect national security.
Starring Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, the show gave us an interesting mix of espionage and picket-fence home life. The show offers up a lot of fun points even beyond the general premise, like Amanda's struggle to keep her home organized (as opposed to the spotless homes we are used to still), and the efforts to deflect her mother from the odd goings-on in her life.
We also draw a lot of entertainment from the often wacky entrances to the world of crime. The show rather famously brought its worlds together in more ways than one, by finding crime in some of the most classic modes of housewifery. From the "Avon calling"-esque, party sales company, to daytime television, dastardly deeds are afoot all around us, much to Amanda's surprise.
Put it all together, and there's a surprisingly complex, often witty juggling act going on. On the other hand, the show is also famous for some of the cheesiest things to ever air with something like a straight face, as Amanda's efforts to put in her two cents might frequently make you roll your eyes.
While the show's convoluted world gives us the chance to run from childcare issues to beady-eyed gun runners, the stabilizing force is the romantic tension, which is all too easy to overplay. It's handled fairly well, especially through the first season, but the early-80's had a special fondness for, "are they going to get together," shows and the general play may wear thin on viewers coming in from outside the temporal culture.
Overall, this is a little beauty from the past, and while fans out there will obviously be ecstatic to find the show, those unfamiliar should give this one a try as well. In the world of light, fun bits of entertainment, this one has a decent claim to an evening's entertainment. Unfortunately, there are no special features in the release which includes all 21 episodes on 5 discs.
Own it on DVD today!
Leave a comment below and you are automatically entered to win your very own copy of the DVD release. U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected on April 17th.
Check out a few clips below.
Trade You
Earthworms
Prince and Princess
RU?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d8152755-09e6-4cc2-9863-b2778144277a)
© 2010, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
Twitter | Facebook | More Posts (1450)
