- This is the third show to use that all famous "someone's taking over the show" theme! Now that's entertainment!
- I LOVE the Voster and Ivan characters--- they are much better in this episode than in the previous. I only used them twice more in the series (eps. #24 & #25). I can’t for the life of me figure out why I didn’t make them reoccurring characters throughout the series. Ah, if only I could do it all again.
- The show was improving, and it’s starting to show in this episode. LoT is taking on more of a “world-of-its-own” vibe. I was growing more confident with the editing equipment and had started adding background music and musical stings, which helped tremendously. Also, we all had just decided to embrace “the silly” and not look back. As I had a studio executive in Hollywood tell me once, “Your humor is silly, but not particularly funny”. That may or may not be true, but silly has served me well over the past two decades--- long live SILLY!
- Becky, Jenny’s “friend” in this episode, is the younger sister of Jennifer Hanson (Magnesia). Both Becky and Jennifer are featured in many episodes.
- The "Safety in Television Viewing Commission" skit was written specifically for my brother and one of his friends. But, as was typical with a lot of the people who said they wanted to be on the show, they failed to show up at the last minute--- it’s tough when you’re not paying anyone. So I called up Pat & Patti at the last minute and they picked up the ball for me. They were always great at coming in and helping out, and not afraid of looking silly.
- We had a minor problem with the Elvis costume that John wore on the show. John never knew from week to week what I'd have him doing on the show, so every Tuesday morning it was a new surprise to him. That day I had an Elvis costume waiting for him...well, you see, John didn't usually wear underwear and when he put the costume on it became very apparent that he was... um, going comando. We compensated for this by adding a long cape to his ensemble. If you notice, he keeps it strategically pulled over his lower hemisphere through a lot of the show.
- John did a commendable job of lip-syncing the Elvis songs, but he’s fumbling through a lot of it-- not his fault. As was the case with every episode of LoT there was NO rehearsal time. Everyone showed up, the script was on the teleprompter and we started shooting cold. We might do a second or third take if we had time, but generally we had to stick with what we got the first time--- and it shows! If I was deluding myself I’d say that it’s part of LoT’s charm... well, okay so I’m deluded. It is part of the show’s charm.
CREDITS
Costumes Provided By: Circa 21 & The Showbusiness
Producer - Thomas Hart
Directors - Greg Baldwin,Thomas Hart
Writer - Thomas Hart
PLAYERS
Don Bargmann Jr.
Pat Flaherty
Patti Flaherty
Becky “Beckers” Hanson
Jenny Hart
Thomas Hart
John Horvath
Brandon Lovested
Studio Camera Operators - Steve Elliott, Kori Skinner
Audio - Denise Hollmer
Prompter - Sue Passe
Soviet Night Fever produced by: Red Square Productions LTD
Soviet Space Craft Designed by: Frightening Real Model Makers Inc.
We thank the people of Texas for their help and understanding.
©Copyright 1987, 2006 Thomas Hart
OUT TAKE (First one)
RUSSIAN COSMONAUTS
VOSTER - “That’s a wrap.”
IVAN - “That’s it.”