Amazing Colossal Grade: Phew, and here I was whinging over my mutation, poor Dr. Erhardt!
Movie Pain: Low - Dry but entertaining, with some great
(though repetitive) monster FX
Riffing: Oft clever chuckle-fest, peppered with big guffaws
Skits: Induced mostly smiles
Giant growling scorpions run amok in Mexico! Josh's "not" last show(?) has him looking like David McCallum in the Outer Limits episode, the "Sixth Finger". (Technically this is not his last show, just the last via the production number - Prehistoric Planet was the true season finale)
The movie is the of the
"giant bug" variety and features a little kid named
"Juanito", who rivals "Gamera's Kenny, for doing dumb things
that nearly gets himself and others killed! Richard Denning (The Gov in Hawaii
5-0, Creature From the Black Lagoon) stars and Willis O'Brien oversees some
impressive stop motion FX.
Riff-wise, the humor levels ping pong between hilarious to fair. I am hearing more variety and a hint of the show's future. The gang reference everything from Cajun cook Justin Wilson to
the Corn Palace, and adroit observations are in force - as when the good
Doctors note the Scorpion's weak spot on the throat; Crow suggests that Hal
should go over and strangle the creature. The silly stuff is just as fun (haircut, haircut, haircut). Saying that, the work does drag in a
few spots; for example -the lengthy golfing quips, which lead to lengthy
Jacques Cousteau-like narration- did little for me.
While the Host Segments are
less than memorable (though I did get a chuckle from the Deep 13 sections),
overall, Scorpion offers enough goodies and treats to make it worthwhile. A few
more examples? #1) Years before "Viking Women", waffles provide some
big laughs during an elegant dining scene. #2) The use of props continues - This
time the guys have a weenie roast and Joel throws a rock back at Dr. Scott. Also, the sound of applause is heard whenever Dr. Ramos' name is spoken.
Host Segments
Intro: The bots throw a party, Joel does a spit take.
Invention: Aboard the SOL it's the giant party favor. While on Deep 13 the Mads have gone and mutated themselves. Segment
1: Speaking Spanish. Segment 2: Gypsy
becomes a scorpion and bugs Tom and Crow. Segment
3: A look at Willis O'Brien, FX wiz. End:
Letters, and a few moments with the Mads. No
Stinger -But if I chose one? Teresa sez, "I really can ride,
gentlemen"
Notable Riffs
* "Edward Fitzgerald? This must be his
wreak." - Joel
* "I'll just move this high voltage power line
with this piece of metal...let me dip it in water first." - Servo as Ramos
* "What the Devil was that?" - "The
Devil" - Dr. Scott/Crow
* "No more beans and tortillas for that
kid!" - Servo (after the sound of a scorpion growl is heard)
* "Meanwhile, in the shower..." -
"MOOOO!" - Crow/Cows
* "Mrs. Butterworth! Help!" - Joel
* "Hey! How'd he know his name was 'Fella'?"
- Crow
* "It's obsidian!" - "Oh, I don't think
it's that bad..." - Dr. Scott/Crow
* "Now, if you look out the left side of the
train, you'll see -- the right side of the train." - Crow
* "The horse must have eaten her!" - Servo
* "Mmmm, delicious guy on a stick." - Crow
* "Better call Orkin... Or throw the boy at
'em!" - Crow
* "Sounds like there's an opera going on next
door." - Crow
* "He's the granddaddy of them all." -
"Wilfred Brimley?" - Dr. Scott/Crow
* "Well, this isn't good, not at all. I mean, I've
seen good before, and it didn't look anything like this. Remember that bad
thing we saw, well it looked like this..." - Joel
* "I don't think your hat's quite dead yet."
- Joel
* "Let's roll back the instant replay... yup,
there it is, contact with the ground." - Crow
Riffs Explained
"Amen to that Sluggo. I mean, Father Sluggo" - Crow
Sluggo was a character in the comic strip "Nancy". Created by Ernie Bushmiller in 1933, Sluggo was a tough little guy who always wore a hat (mostly a ballcap of some kind, but at times he was drawn in a sailors-type hat), much like the one worn by the Priest in this movie. Ha Ha
"Hey wait, that's my Motorman's helper!" - Crow
Said when the lead character drinks from a canteen. Refers to a hose & jar devise that truckers used so that they would not have to stop to use the restroom. EWWW!
Stuff &
Nonsense
The John Wayne
Connection: Arturo Ramos "clap,
clap, clap!" was played by Carlos Rivas, who acted in Wayne's True Grit as
Dirty Bob.
Russian born Edward Ludwig,
Directed this movie as well as 3 starring the Duke, including "Wake of the
Red Witch". The octopus used in that film was the same one seen in Ed
Wood's "Bride of the Monster" (show #423)
The worm and
spider models seen in "Black
Scorpion" were created by Willis O'Brien for use in "King Kong".
If you recall, there's a scene where a few men are crossing a chasm; Kong picks
up the log they are walking on and they fall into a pit. Originally, the men
are shown being devoured by spiders and other creatures, but the sequence was
cut out and has never been found.
Available on DVD: Volume 30
