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Post by The J-Man on Feb 18, 2005 13:48:23 GMT -5
No question in my mind that Cannell was the best writer on the series; just look at the Season One DVD. He wrote four episodes by himself and co-wrote another. As we sit here discussing our favorite episodes, or which would be the best ones to show the uninitiated, "Reseda Rose", "Fire Man" and "Here's Looking at You, Kid" do not get mentioned much, if at all.
After Cannell, my second favorite was Patrick Hasburgh, followed by Frank Lupo. This was also my preference for The A-Team. BTW, In the past year or so, I've come to appreaciate Lupo's old A-Team and GAH work much more than I did back in the day.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on May 17, 2006 12:51:01 GMT -5
While Hasburgh might have good GAH scripts, Frank Lupo blew him out of the water in the A-Team.
Even Babs had some okay A-TEAM scripts.
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Post by The J-Man on May 18, 2006 23:00:30 GMT -5
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on May 19, 2006 9:09:22 GMT -5
Hey there! Personally, I didn't much care for the work Babs did either. BUT, she DID write This is the One the Suit Was Meant For, The Newlywed Game and Live at Eleven, which I thought were 3 really good season three episodes (the last 2 better than the first, aside from the final scene between Pam & Ralph, that is). Do you agree? I'm just curious...
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Post by HoudiniDerek on May 19, 2006 9:25:08 GMT -5
I did like LIVE AT ELEVEN overall. The other two...EH. A As for her A-TEAM episodes, those mentioned...are not good. However, one that was a good insight into one team member was THE ONLY CHURCH IN TOWN, which talked about Face's past and had guest star Markie Post.  And Hasburgh was a good writer, but not better than Lupo. BLACK DAY AT BAD ROCK was a pseudo rip off of HOG WILD, which was the better episode by far. For a fan of both shows, it made it look like a cheap copy. THE BEAST FROM THE BELLY OF A BOEING was a great episode...and probably his best written A-TEAM one, but not enough to beat Lupo. After all, Lupo was part of the pilot that you love so much, J-Man.  Granted, his scripts got better as he went along (for the most part), but he was the better A-TEAM writer out of the two. As for who was the better GAH writer, well, that is up for debate too. |
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Post by The J-Man on May 19, 2006 19:48:22 GMT -5
I consider "This is the One The Suit Was Meant For" to be possibly the very worst written episode of the series, with "The Newlywed Game" a close second. The A-Team's "The Only Church in Town" was, actually, a fairly good episode (credit where credit is due). I also think Babs did excellent work as a writer on "Riptide", especially the second season. I just don't think she was a good match for "GAH" and "A-Team".
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Post by HoudiniDerek on May 19, 2006 22:59:43 GMT -5
Neither do I overall...although some of my friends love TIL DEATH DO US PART. They think it is funny...and it has elements of that.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 3, 2006 18:00:19 GMT -5
What did everyone think about Juanita Bartlett? SJC admits that she helped with the original concept for the show and had some scripts to her name, but we never hear about her being liked, hated, or tolerated.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 5, 2006 11:41:27 GMT -5
After watching HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID, I can see why she is not highly rated. It is not that the idea is bad or anything: Some of the banter between Bill and Ralph is great, not to mention how Pam reacts to everything. I just think that her level of writing is not up to par with some of the others on the show. However, she does beat out some of those one episode scripts from Season 2. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 5, 2006 15:47:48 GMT -5
I think SJC writes some good stuff, but SATURDAY ON SUNSET BOULEVARD is one of my least favorite of his that he writes for GAH. I understand the points he is trying to make with the kids and I like some of the character development, but I don't think it was as entertaining or character-driven as great ones like THE HIT CAR and HOG WILD.
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Post by The J-Man on Jul 5, 2006 20:35:07 GMT -5
I think Juanita Bartlett was pretty weak compared to SJC and the other guys, and I think "Saturday on Sunset Boulevard" is one of the finest episodes of the series.
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 5, 2006 20:45:40 GMT -5
That is only because you like the part where Ralph is talking to Tony...you even have a poster of it, I know. I understand why it is a good episode, I just like some of his other ones better. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 6, 2006 7:47:20 GMT -5
I have to say that Juanita is pretty weak too. I like HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID about as much as I like RESEDA ROSE. Not very strong episodes, although there are shining moments of character interaction. I do like the scene in RESEDA ROSE where Ralph has Alicia at his house, Kevin and Pam, Bill, and Rhonda all wanting something different. It has that realistic touch to the normal chaotic lifestyle. I have been rethinking my SATURDAY ON SUNSET BOULEVARD position. I like the vulnerability of Maxwell and the partnerships that start to develop with Ralph and his students and the trio of crimefighters. However, I think out of the two MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COWBOYS exemplifies the vulnerabilities better and that is why it is a better series episode than SATURDAY. Thought I would clarify my position. I like this thread...I guess I should put my ideas on best script writer in the best script writer thread, but I am not 100% sure who that is yet, so I will continue here until I decide. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 6, 2006 21:15:56 GMT -5
I thought Juanita was pretty weak too....UNTIL I reviewed THE BEST DESK SCENARIO. She co-wrote it with SJC. The two work well together because this is a great episode overall...don't you think?
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 7, 2006 10:39:24 GMT -5
Have to say though that Lupo is great at what he does. While a lot of people may not like his GAH work...he DID give us OPERATION: SPOILSPORT. Hard to top that one. Almost makes you wonder if that loopy Bill scene is an homage to Culp's script from the first season. Gotta love the continuous use of EVE OF DESTRUCTION by Lupo too...great work in the SOUND OF THUNDER for the A-TEAM with that song too. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 10, 2006 16:44:32 GMT -5
In the first half of the second season, Lupo gives us great scripts of OPERATION: SPOILSPORT and CLASSICAL GAS. Of course, the first one is much better than the latter, but the latter had great elements to it as well.
Juanita gave us THE BEAST IN THE BLACK and THE LOST DIABLO. Personally, I see the latter as better here because it does not have the loose ends or wild fantasy to that writing. DIABLO at least has some backstory to support the episode.
If we had to choose between these four episodes to determine the second best writer to SJC, I would have to choose Lupo. Anyone think Juanita was the better writer?
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 12, 2006 11:04:37 GMT -5
Rudolph has come back into the game with a vengeance. His first episode for GAH was "Plague" and that was a great episode by GAH standards...I may have to rethink this debate between Lupo, Hasburgh, and Juanita. Rudolph is now a contender. So far on a solo act...I think Rudolph beats both Juanita and Hasburgh...not sure on Lupo. PLAGUE and THE GOOD SAMARITAN were great character episodes...and that is ideal. I don't remember if he teams up ever, but if we count those, then he would be last...but not in the creativity department. |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 14, 2006 15:18:26 GMT -5
Hasburgh is not one of my favorites, especially over Lupo. However, he did team up nicely with both SJC and Lupo to write a very good episode called THE HAND-PAINTED THAI. Okay, so he plays well with others, but is Hasburgh really as good solo as the J-Man states? |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Jul 18, 2006 10:43:32 GMT -5
While Hasburgh is not a favorite, I do like that he has Pam involved a lot more than some of the other writers. And she usually gets to do something more involved than being kidnapped. Aside from that, I am still waiting to see a great episode that he wrote for GAH.
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Post by Ms Boku on Jul 18, 2006 19:43:45 GMT -5
The kids and I watched Devil in the deep blue sea today. We had a good laugh. We were also reminiscing about Plague and how funny it was.
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