Over the weekend I posted on social media that I have always loved "The Four Seasons" and had been forced to buy the DVD as it's currently nowhere to be found streaming. I was tickled to see how many others so fondly remember Alan Alda 1981 film -- I was essentially a middle-age woman when I was 14, so kind of assumed it was just me! -- with so many reciting lines off the top of their heads the way I do with "What's Up, Doc?," "Desperately Seeking Susan" and dozens of Woody Allen films. (Speaking of Allen: I'd always remembered "The Four Seasons" as a bit of a Woody knockoff, so was surprised to realize "Hannah and Her Sisters" had in fact borrowed noticeably from Alda five years later.)
Back in 1981, my best friend from Detroit (Mark) was in Phoenix for the summer when we went to see "The Four Seasons" at the AMC Lakes Theater. (Anything with Carol Burnett was and is a must-see.) I'm not sure how -- perhaps we arrived at the wrong time -- but somehow we got confused and thought the previous showing was still in progress so didn't enter until we had missed the entire first season. (We've been calling the movie "The Three Seasons" for over 40 years!)
As Damian watched it for the first time on Friday night, he immediately realized how confusing that would have made the whole thing -- but fortunately it aired 100 times a day on HBO throughout the '80s so we eventually got it all straight. (A few people mentioned the remake Tina Fey is making.)
Inspired by purchase, I just today went ahead and ordered "Angie" on DVD, which I have been dying to watch lately. Why this short-lived gem that starred Donna Pescow, Robert Hays, Doris Roberts and the late-great Debralee Scott isn't available somewhere is just another one of streaming's great mysteries. But rather than wait around for it to be solved, I'm doing what I did in recent years to be able to rewatch "Square Pegs," "Rhoda," "James at 15" and "Phyllis" at my leisure -- because God knows we need all the distractions we can get.
Fun fact: The theme song from "Angie" -- "Different Worlds" (1979) by Maureen McGovern -- reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart.
2 comments:
Loved 4 Seasons, but now realize how awful it was the couples sided with the lecherous man (Len Cariou) who had an affair with a younger woman other than the kooky woman (Sandy Dennis) who he abandoned. 81 was a different time... misogyny at its worst. lol
I love TV themes. "Angie" was a favorite - - along with "Making It," "It's a Living" and "Rhoda" (la-la-la-la.... version)
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