Category Archives: YouTube

Sha Na Na S1 E3, E4, E5

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Grease for Peace!

I am back with the next three episodes of season one of Sha Na Na. This was one of my favorite shows as a kid and I always looked forward to seeing the next episode.

I just have to say, some of the negatives stand out more for me now than it did when I was a kid. The comedy is downright bad. Very few of these bits were funny at all. The only ones that seemed okay were the ones in the car with one of the members of the band and Ginger. The can laughter made it all the more obvious that it wasn’t funny.

The exception was the bits during episode 5 with Milton Berle. He brought in members of Sha Na Na and would makes jokes with them. These bits felt fairly improv-like and you can see the members of Sha Na Na trying to keep from laughing. Some did better than others. Johnny was working that gum over hard during his moment with Berle.

You do have to respect how they passed around singing responsibilities on the show. In these three episodes, only Santini did not have a lead vocal or a duet. Duke of Earl and Silhouette was performed by Denny. Party Doll and Itsy Bitsy teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini was done by Chico. Whole Lotta Shakin’ was led by Screamin’ Scott. Screamin’ Scott and Jocko combined for Poison Ivy. Bower sang with Ethel Merman with Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better. Lenny sang Too Chubby to Boogie. Dirty Dan sang Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow. Johnny sang the last song of episode five, though I did not recognize the title. The whole group had a part in The Name Game.

Admittedly, some of the background dancing gets too hectic at times and it gives the audience too many things to try and focus on. However, episode five gave us something different as this was the first time that we got to see shots of the live audience and their responses to the stage songs. I liked that variation on what they had done prior.

The dancing was okay during Carol Lawrence’s dance of The One, from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. The whole group of Sha Na Na provided chorus line dancing.

Episode five was my favorite of these episodes as it felt like they did some different things and the Milton Berle comedy worked so much more than some of the other episode comedy bits.

Sha Na Na S2 E0, E1, E2

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I was on Twitter/X a few days ago and I came across a Tweet by Jon “Bowzer” Bausman stating that the full episodes of the Sha Na Na TV series was going to be available on YouTube soon. I was excited to hear this as this was a big part of my childhood. I loved Sha Na Na and they turned out to be my first ever concert at Five Flags Center in Dubuque.

I have spent years watching musical clips from the show on YouTube and the news about the full episodes was great. I figured I could make this one of my rewatches here at EYG.

I went to YouTube and searched for Sha Na Na series and I found a playlist from pattyoc01, who had been one of the prolific posters of the Sha Na Na clips over the years. The playlist had all of the episodes on it.

I have a feeling this may not have been what Jon Bausman meant when he posted his tweet. I have a suspicion that a more clean and professional version may be coming in the future. However, I was excited to start the rewatch so I dove into the pilot (listed as episode 0) and the first two episodes of the series.

Sha Na Na consisted of the following group members on the show: Bowzer, Johnny, Screamin’ Scott, Santini, Denny, Lennie, Donny, Dirty Dan, Chico, and Jocko.

The musical numbers are far and away the best part of these first three episodes. The comedy on the show was, at best, iffy. Some of it was groan-inducing. I saw another tweet from Bausman stating that he knew the humor of the first season was not the beat, but he felt the following seasons got more clever.

I was always focused on whether they were lip synching the music. I know that they had done, at least for the stage songs, live singing with the instrumental and the back up singing being pre-taped. You could usually tell from the powerhouse vocals of Johnny Contardo. Some of the street songs or comedy sketch bits (such as the Monster Mash bit in the pilot) were clearly being lip synched. It was obvious that Bernadette Peters was not singing live in episode two either. It was not a major issue, but I am more impressed when they let their vocals come through.

A great example of this was in the third episode where five of the group’s best singers, Johnny, Bowzer, Donny, Lennie and Santini sang an a cappella doo wop version of “I Wonder Why.” This was an amazing performance with these five really blending their voices into a fantastic harmony.

Other songs performed in this first three episodes included Blue Moon, Teenager in Love, Yakkety Yak, Tell Laura I Love Her, Rama Lama Ding Dong, Personality, Little Darlin’, and Runaway.

Along with Bernadette Peters in episode two, Rita Moreno and Frank Gorshin guest starred in the other two episodes however whatever Gorshin did seemed to be cut from the episode on YouTube. This is another reason why I think this may not be the collection that Bausman was referring to in his tweet.

I have to say that this is a bizarre series as the show constantly tells you as an audience member that Sha Na Na is terrible. The show puts down their music, their intelligence and everything else. You would think that they shouldn’t be downgrading their stars, even if it is nothing more than a running joke. It is clear that these ten men are remarkably talented (although they may not have been the greatest dancers ever to grace the screen).

Seeing this show once again gives me a huge feeling of nostalgia. I forgot this show when compiling my Top 100 TV Shows list that I am currently counting down with the Daily Countdown on EYG. This should have probably had a spot on that list.

For the first three episodes… Goodnight sweetheart, well it’s time to go…

Bonus Action Vol. 2 E9

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Spoilers

“The Paths Converge”

The penultimate episode of Bonus Action brought one of the greatest moments of the entire series run, where Josh (and clearly hints from Amanda) outsmarted David the DM. Josh’s character Todd was charmed and was being compelled to kill his friend Marlon. However, Todd, who was a barbarian, could not be charmed when in a rage. This is somewhere around the 1 hour nine minute mark. It is one of the most enjoyable moments that I can remember.

It is an awesome episode as well, but that Todd moment is a highlight.

Bonus Action Vol. 2 E8

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Spoilers

“The Roads Diverge”

The saga of the Fey Wild continues with the group of heroes still split apart trying to find their way to the ruins, encountering conflict along the path.

Marlon got to the ruins first, and was forced into hiding in a tree shadow because of an exhaustion. In truth, Ja-Ron Young, the player whose character is Marlon, had real life interfere this week and had to leave early. I actually blurted out when the shadow engulfed the player and he disappeared in a cool editing trick.

A honest exchange between Bric and Victor was also a highlight of the week, as Bric spoke to Victor about his own guilt over being the reason that dragons have returned. Victor continues to be the conscience of the group and spoke, as only Victor could, to Bric.

This was not the most successful the group has been, most likely because they were split apart. DM David said that next week’s episode is the penultimate episode of the season, so things will pick up significantly moving forward. However, I have really enjoyed the character bits over the last few episodes as much as the combat.

Bonus Action Vol. 2 E7

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Spoilers

“Welcome …to Fey Country”

A gigantic episode of Bonus Action this week… over 2 hours and 18 minutes worth of action. David the DM immediately split the six people of the group apart.

They spent most of the time one one one with David, playing all sorts of weird characters including a human faced bird, a disappointed marionette, and a not quite killed Minotaur.

David also left the group on several cliffhangers including Bar’B’s father about to reveal his deal.

So entertaining and exciting, these are some wonderful D&D players who understand that the key to the story are the characters, not just the power you can have.

Bonus Action Vol. 2 E6

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“Battle in the Big Top”

More exciting battles with our D&D party. What is cool is that it seems as if every week another member of our party is doing something awesome.

This week it is Bric, who killed three of the giant villains with a single fireball. It was a huge swing in the combat and you could see how excited Jay was when it happened.

Lots of fun once again as this group has unbelievable chemistry together and are extremely funny.