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From: kelvin@ut-sally.UUCP (Kelvin Thompson)
Newsgroups: net.tv
Subject: Re: Meta-humor on TZ Feb 14 [and TZ in general]
Message-ID: <4330@ut-sally.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 28-Feb-86 15:33:20 EST
Article-I.D.: ut-sally.4330
Posted: Fri Feb 28 15:33:20 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 23:44:29 EST
References: <120@factron.uucp>
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 30

In article <120@factron.uucp>, bruce@factron.uucp (Bruce Barnett) writes:
> 
> A Great episode of TZ on Feb 14.
> 
> Title:		Personal Demons
> Synopsis:
> 		Opens up with the camera panning over the cover sheet of
> 	some old TV scripts. Shows like _The Mod Squad: "Fink on Ice"_
> 	etc. Camera pans to writer typing. Friend comes in and chats.
> 

Acutally, this story starts out a *lot* like a story by Harlan Ellison
(sorry, can't remember the title or collection).  In Ellison's story
a TV and SF writer afflicted by terrible writer's block is approached 
by demons that give him a lot of trouble, but ultimately help him.  In
Ellison's story, the demons tell the writer parts of the history of
their parallel universe and he sells it as fantastic fiction.  Also
had some funny twist at the end that I can't remember.

About TZ in general:  Is it my imagination, or has the show gone
downhill since Christmas?  I was quite excited when I heard about
the show's return last fall, and I *loved* the shows at the beginning 
of the season.  But I've been pretty unimpressed by most of the shows 
aired since Christmas.  Too many of the shows don't seem to have
anything to say, and too many are repeats of old themes (how many
outwitting-the-Devil and three-wishes-that-don't-turn-out-quite-
right shows have there been this season?).  Hmmm -- I wonder if
anything happened behind the scenes around midseason.

-- Kelvin Thompson