Friday Flashback: Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theater

Shelley Duvall hosts this star-studded series that ran from 1982-1986. Just look at some of the names that appear in the series:
Mich Jagger, Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, Vincent Price, Liza Minelli, Anjelica Houston, Billy Crystal, James Earl Jones... and many others.

This series is the epitome of the 80's: synthesized music, terrible effects, and dated clothing. In other words, it's everything I love.

The entire collection includes five seasons of hour long fairy tales. My favorites include Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and the Frog Prince. Even though these gems aren't on television anymore, you can watch them for freeeeee online! SCORE.

Good:

• An infinite source of inside jokes. ("You steal my rose... the one I love the most." -Beauty and the Beast)
• Everything that was good in the 80's is now extremely hilarious. When Shelley Duvall gives her hostess speech before each show, her outfits are truly remarkable... bless her heart. The special effects are also wonderfully dated.

Bad:

• Some episodes (The Nightengale in particular--should be renamed The Nightmare) are too slow-paced and boring. Make that extreeeeeeemely boring.

Rating:
3.5 stars (although a select few episodes are indeed 5's... and others 1's)