On March 22, Warner Home Video released a DVD collection of the complete second season of the series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. If you’re under 30, you probably don’t remember the show, which teamed TRON’s Bruce Boxleitner with former Charlie’s Angels star Kate Jackson.
The easiest way to explain it to the younger generation might be that this was the 1980’s answer to Chuck, with Boxleitner’s Scarecrow as a much more masculine Sarah and housewife Amanda (Kate Jackson) filling in for nerdy Chuck. In Scarecrow, Amanda (that’s Mrs. King to you) is brought into this world of spies and intrigue, and even though a mother in the suburbs really is an unlikely choice to help save the world, somehow they kept this going on for four seasons. Having a single man and a single woman as leads means that tension is inevitable… I’m not going to say how it turns out but I will tell you that there are always hints.
The Second Season takes the show to all kinds of places around the world, and gets Lee (that’s Scarecrow’s “real name” – Lee Stetson – and his real name is the reason I immediately think of the show when I hear the name “Stetson” – no hats for me here) and Amanda in several crazy situations. I’m a little confused about where the series was filmed; at times, it looks like it is legitimately the Washington D.C. area, like Alexandria or something; but then other times, I notice blue street signs like we’d see here in California and “street sweeping” signs I never recall seeing on the East Coast. Either way, the locations – which become pretty global in this season – are often very convincing.
This show is very 80’s, but in a good way. If you grew up watching, especially, it’s fun; if you’re younger, you’ll see the fashions and situations and just not get it. Even moments like stopping at pay phones seem so dated in this day and age.
Beyond Lee and Amanda, Scarecrow counts the late Beverly Garland as part of its cast. Yes, the same Beverly Garland the hotel in Studio City is named for, and the same Beverly Garland who played Lois Lane’s mother on Lois & Clark, virtually playing the same character. I loved her as Ellen Lane so seeing her here as Dotty West is a treat. I also really love Billy Melrose, their spy boss; and Francine. As with any show in the 1980’s, part of the fun is also had in spotting recognizable guest stars who may have become more famous later, or who may have been famous at the time but are no longer in the public eye.
For whatever reason, I even enjoyed this set more than the First Season set, which was released last year. It really seemed to be coming into its groove by this point.
If you’re looking for a fun throwback and want to see how shows like this were done back in the day, I definitely recommend this 5-disc, 23-episode set… especially because I’d like for this to sell well so Seasons 3 and 4 can complete my set.
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UPDATED TO ADD: I can’t believe that I forgot one of my favorite parts of the series in this review – the theme music! Actually it’s also a bad thing because I get it stuck in my head after every viewing. This is right up there with Dallas among my favorite 80’s TV themes. Check it out… the video quality on the DVD is, of course, better:
1 Comment
Yes!! I love this series!! I didn’t know they had put the series on DVDs yet. You are right, it does have an awesome theme song.