On 2010-03-13 Julian A. Schulz, Boston, MA wrote: A head-on collision of mid-70´s comedic cheese and rock ´n roll, Paul Lynde´s Halloween Special is a sort of time capsule into another realm, where television writing subscribed to a ´so bad, it´s brilliant´ mentality.
Margaret Hamilton reprises her ´Wicked Witch of the West´ schtick, mixing camp with a disconcerting undercurrent of genuine creepiness (It is Halloween, afterall).
´Destroyer´ era KISS performs three songs, something many of their followers consider the crown jewel of television performances, and a real highlight of their lengthy career.
Speaking of KISS, and this performance in particular, Matt Kozlowski noted a great parallel between band & Paul Lynde´s featured guests:
´Gene Simmons wagged his tongue and Paul Stanley puckered his lips, both not unlike rejected characters from H.R PufnStuf.
The only thing missing from this spectacle, was a guy named Sigmund, in a sea-monster costume, playing drums to ´King of the night time world.´
The real cherry tomato on the salad, was the fact that KISS, like fellow entertainer, Billy Barty, were in on the joke.
Regardless of whether your three feet tall, or seven feet tall in dragon boots, it´s all about showbiz (or is it showbizzz?)
Not since Alice Cooper crooned to Miss Piggy on the Muppet Show, has this been more apparent.´
Kozlowski hit the proverbial nail on the head.
Great television isn´t measured on the same scale as great art.
Great television is simply calculated by how well the viewer was entertained.
In this case, Paul Lynde´s Halloween special succeeds , as it flails away uncomfortably, under the weight of it´s own excess.. And summed up by saying That 70´s show.... Currently Paul Lynde Halloween Special has an overall rating of 6 over 10.
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S´more Entertainment claimed The Paul Lynde Halloween Special aired only once (on October 29, 1976) and featured a ´Who´s Who´ of mid-´70s TV and film stars; Paul held everything together as the ringmaster of a circus that featured Margaret Hamilton (her only prime time TV appearance wearing the full outfit from The Wizard of Oz), Witchie Poo from H.R. Pufnstuf, Donnie and Marie (who had Paul as a regular on their series), Tim Conway, Billy Barty and in their first prime time TV appearance, KISS. They perform three songs but the on-stage conversation with KISS, Paul and Margaret Hamilton is priceless. Special Features: Extensive photo scrapbook containing images from The Hollywood Squares, at home, family shots, young Paul. This includes large quantities of photos provided by his family and heirs Three stage interactive trivia game based on questions asked on The Hollywood Squares with a bonus feature when consumer answers all 30- 60 questions correctly Extensive quotes from Paul Lynde about family, entertainment, food and mental health Liner notes by producer and writer, Bob Booker
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