[ACT] What shows have you been watching?

[Oedipussy Rex]

Follow-up review of the '90s Conan tv show after finishing the series (only one season): I'm glad I watched it. Despite all its flaws, or perhaps because of all its flaws, it had charm. The series told the story of how Conan came to a new land and became king, but really it was about family, friendship, loyalty, and honor. Four strangers come together because of a common enemy and because they they learned to trust each other, protected each other, helped each other, even at personal risk, they overcame all obstacles and triumphed. Schmaltzy, sure, but who doesn't like a little schmaltz every now and then.

That said, the last episode -- not the final episode, that was the episode before, but the last episode aired -- really pissed me off. Not only was it not in the right order (should have been episode four or five) but it was probably the best episode of the series. And it guest starred James Garner's Polaroid not-wife!

Mariete Hartley, for you kids out there. Mariette and James Garner made a bunch of very popular commercials for Polaroid. When Garner found out how little she was earning for those commercials (James was making a LOT of money for them), he refused to make any more until they paid her as much he was making, or put her under contract instead of daily wages. You can look it up online, I'm certain.

Fun fact, Hartley and Garner's on-screen chemistry was so good that people thought they were married in real-life. It got to the point that Mariette had t-shirts made that read, "I am not Mrs. James Garner," for herself, "I am not James Garner's child," for her infant, and "I am not James Garner," for her husband.

Anyway, Conan. Check it out on Tuvi or Freevee or some other commercial-funded streaming service.