Episode 63 - The Steves, the Daves and TT Flowers

Two parter!

This is a fairly political one.  That said, it's a bit, and by a bit, I mean a lot, one the nose

I am not sure this had to be a two parter.

I liked Rocky in this one.  Steve too.  I mean I liked Rocky, I also like Steve...

Some good guest stars as well.

'You're Rocky's Boy!'

THEY'RE SELLING FREEDOM!

Just generally, lots more animal behaviour and cognition in this episode than you'd expect.

He's got chronic brain syndrome!

What's the deal with TT?  He doesn't pay his taxes, for example.  I'm not entirely sure I like TT.  That said, I think that is what the writers were going for.

TO BE CONTINUED. 

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Episode 62 - Dave and Steve Won't Break Your Bones

Took me a bit of time to get the title here.

Oh man what a group of guest stars!

General Moore?  

Sherriff Bart?

Quite a few characters are introduced here, indeed the character of 'Odette' plays a big role in the season 4 finale (along with Vern St. Cloud).  These recurring characters really give you a sense that Jimbo lives in a real place.

I'm not sure if 'Yves St. Lawrence' or 'Sir Guinevere' is better.

There's some really great subtext in this episode about the beginning of Reaganism. 

Oakland is a lot of fun here.  He is so different than his general Moore character on that other show we do a podcast about.

Big corporations crushing the little guy is an increasing theme on the show.

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Episode 61 - There's a Dave and a Steve in Every Port

The obvious funny title here is 'There's a Dave in Every Steve' but I made an editorial decision.

Scamming the scammers is always fun.

JOAN VAN ARK again!

STEVE LANDESBERG!

JACK RILEY!

(Admiral Nimitz from Black Sheep).

The whole dual registry thing is a thing.  At least it was a thing.

It all hinges on Angel.  And it works!

Jimmy, Jimmy, is that you Jimmy?

It's like a room full of 70s tv people or something.

The somewhat subtle dig at the US medical system is nice.

The poker game being hit is totally a Sopranos scene twenty five years later.

Angel's accent is the best.  It's the worst, but it's somehow believable.

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Episode 60 - The Trouble With Steve and Dave

Which is way better than the Trouble With Tracy.

This one plays with stereotypes of geeks.  Warren is a chess and flute geek, and while that doesn't seem like the kind of thing I'd be into, it's no better than being into the LA Rams or fishing.

This one came out on Christmas Eve 1976, so we have something a little special to play at the end.

Some pretty great work by James Luisi as Chapman in this episode.  Especially when he runs into 'Jim Taggart'.

That said, Jimbo's improvisation skills are on full display.

Look, I'll say it, a convoluted plot in this one.  I don't care, I still loved it!

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Episode 59 - Dave and Steve Do a Little Piece Work

Yes yes, lame title.

This one just drips 1970s.

Hey, Michael Lerner again!  He's always great.  He plays straight up weasels so well.  Also, the whole thing about the clothes and how he dresses well is funny.  I mean look, in 1976 that was pretty fashionable I suppose.  (What I'm saying here is I have pictures of my parents in this era, and this is not far off).

Jim goes to the gym.

We've got Lt. Chapman, so it's a good one even with the flaws.

Flaws?  Too much padding, and sometimes the story is a bit convoluted.

Dennis got a promotion!

Still, it's Rockford, and it's got a Michael Lerner guest appearance, we're good.

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Episode 58 - Steve and Dave Return to the 38th Parallel

Easy title this week.

Hey, another Korean War reference.  Garner deserved those, could make as many as he wanted as far as I'm concerned.

Wait, Ned Beatty again?!  YES!

We see perhaps the worst car ever, the AMC Pacer, in this episode.

This one has, in essence, a train chase.

Also Dennis is in this one.

Oh yeah, Rocky too!

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Episode 57 - Dave and Steve Weren't Even Born in 63

I went in a bit of a different direction for today's title.

Last episode was super intense, and serious.  This one, well, it's got Angel running a scam.  A perfect palette cleanser after 'So Help Me God'.

This episode has a rather complicated plot.  It works, but it is complicated. 

Wait, it's an Angel episode!

It's got Angel getting married!

It's got Beth!

Rocky!

Dennis!

Goons, but not hired goons, this time it's related goons.

OK, fine it's a good one.  It's not serious so much, but pretty great.

I don't think those outside LA get the pervasiveness of the Armenian diaspora in LA.

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