Hello again, my friend, and thanks for the heads up for what sounds to be a very special episode.
To be honest, I can't remember ever seeing this one. I know when the series was first shown here, it was on a channel which had several different regions. So, depending on where you lived, you either saw all five seasons or maybe just one or two. Or maybe I was just on holiday when it was shown.
From your description, though, this sounds like a really good episode for delivering a warm and positive message without becoming too cloying. Downs Syndrome can be a difficult subject to deal with, since there is so much prejudice and ignorance which surrounds it. I'm sure, though, that Lee, Doug and the rest of the TFG team, did a great job.
Reading what you say, too, about Howie showing his good guy side reminds me very much of what I've said earlier in this thread - about how good it was to see his character develop through the series.
Just for fun, and a bit of research, I watched the pilot the other day, and it reminded me of just how much Howie has changed. As much as I adore the character, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wanted to join Colt in haymaking his obnoxious kid cousin clear out of his trailer. Yes, it made for some nice comedy, but at the same time, the character, at this point, was not very likeable at all.
I wonder if maybe, after this pilot aired and the series was picked up for a full series, whether Lee and Doug had a quiet word with Glen Larson and suggested that this trait in Howie's character was maybe toned down a bit ? Yes, they certainly kept his over zealous nature, wanting to impress people, but I think they let Doug show that in a more subtle way which, let's face it, tended to land the poor kid in all kinds of trouble.
The thing is, though, the audience could like him more that way. If you watch the pilot and then, say, watch The Torch, where he's trying to talk Mrs Jackson out of torching the refinery, it really shows how much he's changed. I'd just still love to know, though, what he meant by that "I know how hard it is to lose someone..." line.
So yes, he can be brash and insensitive at times, but for all that, he's still a genuinely likeable character, and it's that which I think the shows fans loved him for. I mean, the series ran for five seasons, so he and Lee, Heather and Markie must have been doing something right !
Oh, and Howie gets his once seriously trashed truck back ?!? Aw, bless him - does it still have those adorable smiley faces on the roof-rail ?!? I loved those, they were just so - well, Howie-ish !
And his first racy phone call, too ?!? Oh, priceless !! I hope you realise, my friend, my sick little imagination is having a field day !
;o)
Annie
reply
share
filmsRreel
17 years ago
Yup, Howie got his Red and Black GMC truck back all repaired with the smiley faces intact on the roof roll bar! There were a few episodes where he drove that cool truck. I also liked Jody's white Pontiac firebird that she drove in several episodes. She drove a sky blue Chevy Blazer(early SUV) at first in season two, and then along came that pretty white sportscar with the Fall Guy Stuntman Association decal/logo right on the hood! In "Trauma", Colt drives Jody's Firebird into and out of a burning building and he sadly DESTROYS the poor car in season four's "Rockabye Baby", along with Howie's prized truck AND Terri's auto!
Another very minor but funny moment was in "Silent Partner" from the first season when Howie stole the picture of Tippet & Mathews right out of the frame and off of the wall of the Palamino club...he's looking around WAY too conspicously! I don't know why, but his behavior and body language crack me up in that bit. Turns out that he uncovered a major clue that helped solve that case, so he is starting to prove that he's got brains and is a valuable part of Colt's team.
How about how foolish Munson looked in the first Roy Rogers special episode "Happy Trails" from year two when he shot Trigger? To make matters worse, those slick car thieves take Howie for a sucker and slime him out of thousands of Colt's money...and he thinks that he got a great deal whistling and singing to himself as he drives the stolen Porche to the set("~We're in the money...we're in the money...when Colt hears of this deal so great, he'll cheer and celebrate!~").
It's silly to analyze this action show since as Heather Thomas once said it's "not Shakespeare", but it makes for good chat on a day off of work!
Doug Barr was GREAT in "The Fall Guy" and I wish that he'd do an on camera interview in between his directing jobs.
Oh, and when Howie said "I know what it feels like to lose someone" in "The Human Torch" to Mrs. Jackson, perhaps he was referring to his dad Bronc who was constantly on the rodeo circuit away from home as if he were deceased? Perhaps the character had a brother or a sister that he lost in the past? Good observation, Annie!
Don't forget the rivalry that Howie had with Colt's football running back cousin Jimmy Joe Seavers in "Win One for the Gipper" from season two! I feel sorry for Howie since he feels threatened by Jimmy Joe for Colt's approval. It gets so bad that Munson calls his rival "Jimmy Schmoe" and challenges him to an arm wrestling contest! The old boyhood games never end for those two in that episode and it was funny. Hell, I could go on and on, but who could forget how useful(and funny) Howie was to the team in the early third season show "Pleasure Isle?" The "kid" uses his knowledge of modern art to his advantage and he cracks the password to Robert Vessman's bank account and saves the day! The humourous aspects of that episode naturally were his scenes with that young cute girl Courtney whom he is romancing on the set of the movie he is working on. Some Polynesian babe drops her top while Howie is talking to Courtney on the phone on that island which causes him to freak out like a pre-teen LOL! In that same episode, note Munson's reaction to Jody's sexy dance at the Luau once again showing his attraction to her that he is fighting! Doug Barr was really good at portraying Howie's attempts to think of Jody as a sister at times where she is looking her best("The Ives Have It") through the use of his eyes and with body language! Then, in the epilogue of "Pleasure Isle", Howie reveals his "brilliant" paintings that he made for Courtney that were awful!
I forget which episode it was in, but there was a first season show where someone makes a crack at Howie to the effect of "one day you'll become a stuntman" and he exclaims loudly and confidently "I AM a stuntman!" Also, there was an episode where Doug reads the line "I don't know...this IS California" and he makes a funny hand gesture. Call me crazy, but these little things that Barr did really tickled me. The one Scott Baio guest starred in titled "Femme Fatale" from the 5th year contained good comedy by Doug when that old man confused a disguised Howie for a female and keeps hitting on him! Yeah, it's been done before and is juvenille, but screw it IT'S FUNNY thanks to Barr's performance!
Yeah, I like watching Douglas Barr's acting in this classic series. The time that Munson tried to rollerskate with the Rollerderby chicks in "Hell on Wheels" was fun too!
To sum it all up, I suppose that what I like best about the character of Howard Munson is his positive attitude and "always try harder" spirit. Sure the guy screwed up from time to time, but he always managed to make up for his goofs tenfold! The youthful eagerness of this kid is contagious and is most likeable. It was a crime that there wasn't a photo of Mr. Barr on the cover of "The Fall Guy" season one DVD packaging. Doug added much to the series along with Lee and Heather's appeal. I'm not going to cry about it, but it is extremely unfair that Mr. Barr is basically omitted from the season one DVD cover and disc featurette. If Doug didn't wish to be interviewed, then that's his right, but Glen A. Larson or SOMEONE should have mentioned him favorably. I seem to recall Heather Thomas talking about Doug's contributions to the show recently, but I may be mistaken. I've only seen the DVD featurette once. Well, even if I never see an interview with Douglas Barr where he discusses his memories of working on "The Fall Guy", good or bad, at least I can enjoy his performances over a cold beer. I am pleased to have most of the episodes of "The Fall Guy" captured forever on film. Actors have a very unique aspect to their work that is super special...in addition to the money and fame, television and screen actors have immortality in a sense since they are preserved forever young frozen in time on celluloid for future generations to enjoy. I cannot think of any other profession besides TV and screen acting where one's memory basically can live on forever via the art form of film and digital recordings.
reply
share
annie-laurie
17 years ago
Aw, so Howie's got his beloved truck back, complete with smiley faces - that's great !
Then Colt trashes it, again ?!? And Jody's car ? And Terri's ? Oh dear - not so great. I don't suppose our favourite stuntman was too popular after that ! What's the betting that he ended up walking home ?!? ;o)
Seriously, it's great to talk about the series like this, especially the many priceless scenes which develops Howie into such a likeable character.
Yes, that scene in The Silent Partner cracks me up too - talk about sticking out like a sore thumb ! As you say, though, he's starting to show that he's got a bit of brainpower after all. His face as he tries to explain it all to Colt, too, is a picture.
And all those college courses do come in handy at times as well. I don't know if this was an in-joke to reflect Doug's love of antiques, and the store he helps his sister run back in their hometown, but that scene at the end, where Howie realises how Jill's inheritance has been invested through all those antiques, is great fun to watch. There's poor Colt trying to use them as weapons to fight off the baddies, and Howie keeps grabbing them out of his hands ! Great fun.
I wonder if the same in-joke was used for Pleasure Isle, since Doug paints too. By all accounts, too, he's rather good !
One of my favourite "silent Howie" moments comes from Three For The Road, where Kay has hijacked Colt's beloved truck, and Colt and Howie are chasing her in her car.
Colt threatens to crash it through a wall if Kay damages his pride and joy - cue one silently freaked out cousin, reaching over his shoulder to fasten his seatbelt.
I've watched that scene countless times, and it never fails to make me giggle.
Thanks for the suggestions over that scene in The Human Torch. Maybe as the series goes on, it'll come up again and be explained. Oh, and the observation thing ?!? Well, my friend, that must be the job talking - see what happens when you spend all your time in a police station ?!? :o)
Hm, there's a thought - next time I've got a bail jumper on one of my cases, I'll have to ask if anyone's got a big shiny brown truck, and see what kind of response I get. Hm, a night in the cellls, probably !
Oh dear, I'm blethering on here - see what happens when you try posting on a message board before you've had any breakfast ?!?
Before I go, though, I just have to agree with you - this series is a complete joy to watch, it's brought back so many wonderful memories. Yes, Doug created, and beautifully developed, a character who had his faults. But he made those faults forgiveable, just because he always tried, so hard, to do the right thing.
Let's really hope that Doug is included in some way for the second season DVD release - when it finally comes ! For now, though, I can just enjoy these re-showings on TV, and happily enjoy a true TV classic.
Oh dear, I'm getting all nostalgic and philosophical again - I'm going now, to get some brekkie.
Back soon !!
:o)
Annie
reply
share