Review of Open All Night

Open All Night (1981–1982)
8/10
Understated and Bizarre
21 May 2006
This was one of those 'summer filler' shows that networks used to use when it really wanted to dump a series by eliminating reruns.

It was stupid. It was stupid in a funny way. It was not slapstick, it was not sight gags, it was not skit/ensemble comedy.

The Feesters lived in the flat above their "364 Store", which is essentially a 7-11. The son, Terry, was from his wife Susan's first marriage, and the father, Gordon, was stuck with him. Terry was every 'failed to launch' post-college hanger-on you've ever known, who refused to leave the nest, with a mother who would kill to keep him tied to her apron strings.

Gordon just wanted to make a living. He and his sole employee, Robin, were the only sane people in the store, and Gordon wasn't too sure about him...

Scenes to remember: The son being released from the freezer unit, describing how he survived the imprisonment by digesting a frozen 10-pound roast...whole.

The orange chutney episode...and the consequences.

The lawsuit, one with a closing argument consisting of a saxophone solo.

The snakes...and just where _were_ they?

The show would never change the world, cure cancer or cause the planets to align into the Answer Of The Secrets of the Universe...

But it is simply entertainment, and probably would have lasted a full two seasons were it not for network executive stupidity.

I doubt it will ever make it to DVD, and my VHS tape of all episodes was lost in a nasty break-up...but as much as my memories playing in my head may seem a lot more funny than if you watched it, I think you will find out that this is not a "funny" that fits the mainstream definition.

It was a good summer, and one with fond and funny memories from a show that didn't fit into some studio exec's idea of "sitcom".

If you know anyone with a set or copies, catch at least two episodes, and if you can catch what I mean about it not being a 'normal' comedy program.
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