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Rick4404
Reviews
Fall from Grace (1990)
"Fall From Grace" typical Hollywood hype
"Fall From Grace" only aired on NBC twice way back in 1990-91 sometime. Then the film was shelved, and as far as I know it hasn't re-aired anyplace else.
Kevin Spacey (playing Jim Bakker) and Bernadette Peters (playing the now-former Tammy Faye Bakker; who since remarried and became Tammy Faye Messner) both turned in stellar performances. Bernadette's singing left a lot to be desired, versus the real Tammy's fantastic singing voice.
However, this movie was typical "Hollywood hype" if you ask me. It really was not an accurate portrayal of either the Bakkers nor the Christian empire that was known as Heritage USA and the PTL Club.
It seemed that most of the movie was shot on a Hollywood sound stage. It would have helped to at least shoot some of the scenes on location there in South Carolina on the former Heritage USA property.
Benson (1979)
Benson episodes on TV Land
I have been watching re-runs of "Benson" on TV Land. I love this story of Benson going from butler to bureaucrat to lieutenant governor.
The final episode of the series was a stroke of genius. Governor Gatling finds out that through a loophole in the state constitution, he may run for a third term although everyone simply assumed he was term limited at two terms.
When Gatling announces to Benson and everyone that he's going to run for an unprecedented third term; the relationship between Gatling and Benson chills. Until a television debate where the governor suddenly realizes that what Benson has said is not personal.
The cliffhanger comes when the two meet in the kitchen of the Governor's Mansion and the two sit at the table to reminisce. They both agree that they could both be out of a job if the third candidate in the race wins.
Then Governor Gatling and Benson's attention is drawn to the small TV set where the announcer says "Cap-TV is now prepared to make a projection in the governor's race." Both wish each other good luck and shake hands. Fade to black. The classic of all cliffhangers.