Oh my gosh! Will I ever have time to blog again... is the name of this blog post

Here I am, again, writing a post about why I can't write a post. It's a little annoying on this end. But only a little. I have a lot of really great stuff happening, and just wanted to update anyone who doesn't travel along my social medias, in case you are so inclined.

As many of you know, I have edited and contributed to a book coming out May 1st through Headpress titled Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium: 1964-1999. This has given me a little bit of street cred and I find I've been very busy on the promotion trail. Here's what's up:

I will be discussing TV horror movies at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies in London on April 20th at the Horse Hospital. My talk is titled Tele-terrors: The Real and Imagined Horrors Inside the Made for Television Movie, and it's inexpensive and should be fun! I'll be speaking with Kier-La Janisse and Jennifer Wallis, who are two amazing people. So do it for them, if not for me.

To promote this talk, I recently did a couple of podcast interviews and appearances:

You can listen to me on the Last Horror Podcast
website | iTunes

The Kolchak Tapes Episode 2 (interview with me about TV movies)
website | iTunes

The Kolchak Tapes Episode 3 (I discuss The Norliss Tapes)
website | iTunes

Supporting Characters (an interview with me about my writing career and my life in general!)
website | iTunes

Compañeros (discussion of 1990s horror film The Borrower)
website | iTunes

Just One More Thing (talking about the later entry Columbo episode No Time To Die)
website | iTunes


I'm very honored to be featured on all of these shows, as I adore each of them endlessly. Everyone has been so great about supporting my TV movie love! I want to hug the world! Big shout out to Bill Ackerman from Supporting Characters who informed me that I was quoted on Shout Factory's DVD double feature TV movie release of Are You in the House Alone and The Initiation of Sarah! I've owned this double disc since it was released... How did I not know this?

I also had a short academic piece featured on Georgia State University's In Media Res page. I spoke a bit about female agency in The Initiation of Sarah's 2006 remake.

I will also be in the upcoming book from Spectacular Optical titled Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television (check out Dread Central's article about it here). There's a lot of amazing people featured in the book and I'm beside myself with excitement! Check out Spectacular Optical's dedicated page on their website for more info!

And my good friend Lee Gambin recently announced that he's putting together a new film journal. TV movies will be included and I'll be in the first issue. Will give more deets as this project moves forward. He's also working on a book that I'm contributing too. Again, more info as I get it.

So, it's been quite busy. I suspect when I return from London it will quiet down a bit and I can get back to podcasting/blogging and the like. I've been watching tons of fun telefilms to prep for my talk, so I'm ready! But until then, come find me on facebook or twitter, or check out the blog's companion podcast if you haven't. Our latest double feature is a Tori Spelling Twofer featuring Death of Cheerleader (1994) and Co-ed Call Girl. It's currently on the website and iTunes! Hooray! 

Podcast Info... Again

Hope everyone is having a wonderful 2016, even though it's been a bit of a sad and weird start to the new year. If you are a fan of music, you know what I mean. But, we try to keep it upbeat here, and celebrate nostalgia and overlooked small screen treasures of the past. As you probably know, I have a new-ish podcast dedicated to made for TV movies, and I've taken this semi-nerve wracking but oh-so-awesome adventure with Dan Budnik and Nathan Johnson. You can find all of our episodes on the podcast's companion website, or via iTunes (I figured out how to upload things to iTunes! Mini technological victories are sah-weet!). Please visit, and feel free to leave feedback about either the TVMs we are discussing that episode, or anything else small screen related you'd like to discuss!

Basically, this is the look of shock and awe we've had from all the positive feedback! Thank you!

Our next episode is dedicated to two iconic monsters of the 1970s small screen: Gargoyles (1972) and The World Beyond (aka The Mud Monster, 1976). Here is our contact info.

And, if you enjoy the show (fingers crossed!), we'd love it if you left some feedback on our iTunes page. If you hate us, well, maybe just drop us a line through our email. ;) Seriously, feel free to suggest topics for discussions, changes or additions as you see fit. We might not end up doing it, but we are definitely open to anything. Thank you!

It's lonely out there! Drop us a line!

Catching up!

Ack! I've fallen behind... And I can't get up (I've got a million of 'em!).

But seriously, folks... Sad face (see Nestor for example). So, I wanted to do a quick housecleaning of the haps.

We have new info posted about the upcoming Made for TV Mayhem Show holiday podcasts, which we'll be recording next week. You can check it out here.

PS: I know I don't have an RSS feed here, and I also know my other page isn't really navigable yet. I'm hoping when this semester ends, I'll be able to create crosswalks, links, feeds, etc. Thank you everyone who keeps visiting this page. I'll also be updating it with more classic TV reviews soon. I miss it here. 

Speaking of which, The Classic TV Blog Association has teamed up yet again with MeTV for A Very Merry MeTV Blogathon, which is actually underway. I'll have two posts going up next week (Father Dowling Mysteries and Kojak, cuz who loves you during the holidays, baby?), and you can get the full schedule here!

Also, not TV related, but I have an essay featured in the new ebook The Movie that Changed My Life, which was edited by the amazing Staci Layne Wilson. I opted to write about Killer Party. This book is for charity and proceeds go to Reel Girls School which helps young women between the ages of 9 - 21 learn about film production. The ebook is only $2, so help a sister out, K? And please leave a review, we'd love to hear from you!

Made for TV Mayhem has a Podcast!

Made for TV Mayhem goes next level!

After a long summer of tinkering with this thing called technology (what's an audacity?), we were finally able to sit down and record our premiere episode. So please join me, Nathan Johnson of the Hysteria Continues podcast, and Dan Budnik, co-author of Bleeding Skull: A 1980s Trash-Horror Odyssey, and Some Polish-American Guy Reviews Things as we discuss our three favorite TV movies!

There were a few recording hiccups, and we aren't on iTunes just yet, but you can access the show here, and visit the podcast's website here. There is contact info if you'd like to let us know what your favorite made for television movies are (or you can always contact me at the email addy listed on the right hand sidebar).

The blog isn't going anywhere, but I wanted a separate space to share with my co-hosts, and we'll be adding a little bit of content to go with the shows.

And enjoy!

An Update! An Announcement! Links!

Dude, it’s like I’ve been away for, like, ever.

Who knew graduate school was so intense? Well, OK, everyone knew, but I went on believing I could handle it all. Then, some personal problems got in the way, and here I am, weeks after my last blog post. But I do promise, I have not been away from the world of TV movies, even if I haven’t been able to review them. Here’s what’s up:

The big news is that I am going to be hosting a podcast dedicated to retro television! We will be concentrating on the television movie genre, and have lots of fun in store for all you small screen fanatics! Look for our first podcast in August or September.

My co-host will be the groovy Dan R. Budnik, co-author of Bleeding Skull: A 1980s Horror-Trash Odyssey, and owner of the blog Some Polish American Guy Reviews Things. Dan is awesome, loves TV movies and is super excited to spend some time discussing our favorite titles.

Did you know Dan was on Twitter? Well, you do now.

He's also a Happy Days expert. True story.

A few other awesome people, who I hope can make every podcast, will join us. But we know life is crappy sometimes, so for now they are going to be credited as Special Guests. Aaron Spelling would be proud (and more on them as time draws near).

Elsewhere in Amandaland (hey, if Shonda Rhimes can have land, so can I): 

Did you know I have a fun facebook page that is updated almost daily? While my blog will always be my BFF, the fb page has been a good buddy while I am away. Please stop by and check out all of the TV Guide ads, discussions and links to my archived reviews. (I also have a Twitter that totally gets ignored).

Or, did you know that I helped out a little on Spectacular Optical’s first publication Kid Power? This awesome book looks at all kinds of children’s treats made for both the big and small screen. I offered some images and my proofing and fact checking skillz to the chapter on Afterschool Specials.

Afterschool Specials, you say?

Need I say more?

I thought so. 

I am also part of a fun horror movie roundtable for Podcastmania, and we have a facebook page. Stop by for a little blood and gore.

And, yes, I'm still hanging out with The Movies About Girls crew. We are not podfading!

And finally, I am working on another TVM-centric project, which is moving rather slowly (thank you, life), but I’ll have an update on that endeavor at a later date.

I know. I. know. The next few months are looking pretty cray-cray, but I will be getting a little time off in May, before my summer semester gets rolling. Egads! I’m already burnt out. But I’ll do my best to get some new content up. Seriously guys, for now, please visit the facebook page. There are a lot of great like-minded TV lovers over there waiting for your input!

One of us… 
One of us...

What I'm Watching Now: Perfect Match (1984 - 1989)

The Australian game show Perfect Match is a combination of a lot of things I love. For one, it’s Australian, and so was my mother! Secondly, it’s a cross between The Dating Game and Love Connection. It also aired in the 1980s, and that alone makes it awesome. And finally, it has an adorable robot named Dexter!

Seriously, did I just die and go to a neon-soaked heaven, where all the men and women have perms and say G’day?

Like, totally.

I was first turned on to Perfect Match via Alistair and Siobhan on their Movies About Girls spinoff podcast, The Down Under Variety Hour. They played clips from the show and without even being able to see all of the aqua-netted awesome, I still knew it was a totally tubular paradise. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, that podcast episode did not pan out and I was left alone with my pastel memories. Tragic, right? Well, my favorite Aussie couple decided to bring back clips and I could have jumped right out of my penny loafers!

Strangely enough, this is the same face I make right after I jump out of my penny loafers!

Perfect Match debuted in 1984 and ran for five glorious years, ending in 1989 and and it enjoyed a brief revival in 2002. Much like The Dating Game (well, exactly like The Dating Game), a contestant chooses an unseen mate by asking a series of questions which will hopefully provoke hilarious responses. It becomes like Love Connection because the winning couple goes on a trip together and then returns to the show to let everyone know if they’ve made a perfect match. Then it becomes like Big Brother when Dexter the Robot calculates each winning couples compatibility. That’s a lot of fuchsia colored leggings and oversized blazers to take in! And I loved it.

The Down Under Variety Hour brought back their Perfect Match segment in honor of Valentine's Day. You can listen to the podcast here. Enjoy! (Note: I was unable to play the podcast on Firefox, but it came up fine in Google Chrome. If you have problems, please try another server) (Note #2: The Perfect Match segment begins somewhere around the second hour, but there's lots of silliness beforehand, so kick up your feet and stay awhile!)

If you want to brush up on the visuals of the show, check out my gnarly and radical Perfect Match image gallery. It will make you squeal, “Like, oh my gawd!”

Here come our hosts: 

Here is someone looking to make a Love Connection, er, I mean find his Perfect Match: 

Here are the choices: 

This girl talked about wanting to spank boys and I loved her for saying so!

This one seemed to want to be on TV more than she wanted the date!

I have a feeling that this girl doesn't take crap from anyone. I love her.

 That's the host standing in a strangely heart shaped middle. It's got to be a perfect match! 

This is Dexter. I love him. 

 Here is the Love Connection segment: 

I bet you had no idea that the lead singer of A-ha was on Perfect Match!

This was not a perfect match, but the set up is so perfectly 80s: 

She said her date was very "excited."

He said his date was too "tragic."

This is Babe. She is looking for a Perfect Match and I hope she found it. 

Here are the hosts trying out what looks like a vaudeville act.

"It was this big! Ha! Get it... umm... this big...Hello? Is this thing on?"

Round Two: This time there are three dudes, and they are cute!

Purple bow ties need to make a serious comeback. Seriously.

I imagine that this guy would be killer fun at a Def Leopard show. Win!

There is not one single thing wrong with this guy at all. 80s Purr-fection!

This is the lucky girl living in 80s game show heaven (and she looks like Eve Plumb!)

Looks like a Perfect Match (and I love her dress)! 

Dexter says "G'day!"

Movies About Ghouls Spookatcular!

Hey everyone, I just took part in the Movies About Girls Halloween Spooktacular! Hosted by MAG regular, Kent Shelton, this offers good times galore! I throw in a couple of scary TV movie recommendations, and some of the other MAGcasters reminisce about Bit-o-Honey!

You can listen to the podcast here. Also, this is not for the faint of heart, expect cursing and other objectionable material. OK, probably just some cursing.

Oh, and enjoy!

Update Part Deux

Criminy, this semester has really taken me away from all the fun stuff! If I was the Incredible Hulk, I'd start turning green and throwing chairs. Alas, I'm just a undergrad student trying to finish up her last semester. Not as dramatic, but it's all I've got to work with, guys!

I've managed to keep the facebook page hopping. If you aren't over there yet, please stop by because we're doing a Halloween Countdown and looking back at the list I made in 2010. I'm also posting old Halloweeen-centric TV Guide ads when I come across them, TV spots and other retro-tastic small screen treats. I also might have one or two reviews popping up here soon, but for now the life of the party is on facebook.

Oh, and twitter. I'm still live-tweeting along with Me-TV Network's Friday Night Movie of the Week. A couple of people have even stopped by to say hi, making my party of one a bit more fun! Thank you!

You won't like me when I can't blog

But for now, it's really all about how other people are celebrating the small screen! There's lots of fun to be had, so let's get started.

TV Confidential has done a great job paying tribute to some of the best people who made the best television. They have a couple of podcasts I strongly suggest you check out:

I think you all know how much I adore and admire William Link, the co-creator behind Columbo and one of the greatest talents the entertainment world ever saw. I was so excited to see he did this interview and then followed it up with this one.

Rita Lakin is an amazing television writer who worked on everything from Peyton Place to The Rookies to Flamingo Road to Dynasty. She's also a novelist and an overall fascinating woman. Check out her website for more info.

The above podcasts cost 99 cents, and are worth every penny. You can also listen to a gaggle of TV Confidential's other podcasts for free as well. Sample, taste and indulge!

No, no, no. Not when Michael Douglas calls. Just Michael.

And, on October 12th, the Spectacle Theater in Brooklyn is screening When Michael Calls in 16mm. Holy cow, yes, yes and YES! If you can get there, tell 'em Amanda By Night sent ya! Read my review of Michael here. Thank you David from Cinema Duh for letting me in on this event!

And finally, I read that Remington Steele is getting a new life as a half-hour comedy on NBC. This series will be a sequel to the original hour long drama/comedy/romance series and it will revolve around Laura and Remmy's daughter! Craziness.

News, Links and Summer Fun!

It's been a long and strange summer (if I'm going to be honest about it) but as the season draws to a close and school looms just around the corner (egads!), a couple of cool things appeared along my horizon.

First up, I recently interviewed Cady McClain about her short film Flip Fantasia for the website Planet Etheria. Cady plays Dixie on All My Children (which, as you may know if you stop by here often enough, is available on Hulu, Hulu Plus, iTunes and now OWN). And as you also may know, I'm a bit of a soap nerd, so I was tickled pink that Cady took some out to answer a few of my questions. There is a link to the trailer at the end of the article. I suggest you all take a look, because it's quite good. Can't wait to see the final product!

Also, a couple of weeks ago I was mentioned on Day of the Woman as one of the Female Horror Journalists You Should be Reading (That Aren't Plagiarists)! BJ-C, who is the young lady behind Woman was not super familiar with me (not surprising since I sadly don't write all that much about horror these days), but a few people threw my name into the ring as someone worth checking out. This pleased me beyond words. I am honored to be thought about and I'm glad people enjoy what I do. Thank you BJ-C for the mention and a big shout out to all the people who suggested me for the list. You guys rock!

I also just did a podcast with the Movies About Girls crew for the TV movie Zuma Beach. I loved it (of course), but how did it fare with everyone else? Tune in, drop out and give us a listen! I was also of part of many of MAG's summer-themed podcasts, and you can listen to Hard Tick to Hawaii, Back to the Beach, Little Darlings and Gidget.

And last, but definitely not least, I am going to be doing a MAG spin-off podcast (think Joanie Loves Chachi) called MAG Monthly... for girls! It will feature Stacey Dawn, Cherry Bombed and myself discussing things like boys and making out with pillows and stuff like that... MAG Monthly has a new and gorgeous tumblr page, so please stop by for updates. Also, we'll all be writing recommendations for movies, fashion and whatnot so it should be your one stop shop for all things pink and frilly! Hope you enjoy! We're recording the pilot episode soon, and I'll post the link as soon as the podcast is made available.

TV Spot Tuesday: NBC Friday Night March 14th, 1980

Ad courtesy of the Here's Boomer website

I'm not saying that March 14th, 1980 was the best night for television in the history of the world, but you know, I'm not saying it wasn't either.

Check it: You start out your night with an adorable episode of Here's Boomer. He's America's new Benji... sorta. Anyway, he's adorable and looking to win your heart. Done. This was actually an airing of the first episode of the series, which lasted from 1980 - 1982. It was a spinoff of the popular TV movie, A Christmas for Boomer, and I remember watching the show, although I recall so little about it now. I have a feeling at that time in my young life I was trying to be Miz Cool and pretended that Boomer wasn't completely adorable. What a fool I was. In this episode, titled Molly, Boomer helps a little girl with some sort of mental disability. He does that cuz he's adorable. Did I mention he was adorable?

Ad courtesy of Vintage Toledo TV

Then, Blair gets into all kinds of hijinks on an episode of The Facts of Life titled Emily Dickinson. In the episode that aired on this night she steals a - you guessed it - Emily Dickinson poem, and of course, gets caught. I guess Mrs. Garrett needs to give our favorite Breck shampoo girl a good talking too. I really love the very early episodes of Facts of Life where all the girls were hanging out. I loved Molly's spunk and Tootie's skates.

Image courtesy of Vinnie Rattolle's Cult Oddities

The evening wraps up with Pink Lady and Jeff, which is the infamous short lived television series featuring stand up comedian Jeff Altman and the Japanese disco duo Pink Lady. It's disco galore and a lot of weirdness in between. I just guested on The Movies About Girls podcast this past weekend and Pink Lady and Jeff was the topic of the day! This episode featured Larry Hagman, which makes it totally amazing (even though I haven't seen it...yet).

What can I say, NBC you really had your stuff together in 1980! Here is the promo spot: