Steven Helmer Publications

People who know me know I'm really not that big on nostalgia. However, there are exceptions to that, including my tendency to re-watch some of my favorite shows from when I was a kid (and some from before I was a kid). This includes Night Court, which I've watched in re-runs more times than I can count, including as recent as this morning. One thing I've noticed as I once again rewatched the series that ran from 1984 until 1992 is, while the outstanding ensemble of main characters is obviously what people remember, the show also got a nice boost from what I like to refer to as part-time employees. These are characters that were only on the show for a short time, either for certain storylines as a fill in for when one of the main cast members was absent or left the series. They may not have been there long or received top billing, but they kept Night Court rolling. Here are my five favorites:  Court Clerk Mavis Tuttle (Alice Drummond) - I won't go into details about the...

As much time as I spend watching old movies and nearly as old television series, I probably shouldn't be surprised when I receive ads for hearing aids and retirement homes. However, while most of those movies and shows were before my time, I will be the first to argue many are better than what you can see at theaters and on TV today. In fact, Hollywood seems to agree with me, both because of the numerous movie remakes and films based on classic television series. While the latter is a bit hit or miss, with some of those movies being not-so-great, there are a few that do work. Here are four I personally enjoyed. Just a note: The Simpsons Movie would have made this list too, if the show wasn't still on the air. Sgt. Bilko (1996) I haven't seen more than a few episodes of The Phil Silvers Show but did see enough to get the gist of that series, which ran from 1955-1959, and while there are those who disagree, this movie version of Silvers ' military character, Sgt. Ernest...

Synopsis: After Louie's window is once again broken by a stray baseball, Slip Mahoney and Sach travel to Dr. David Gravesend's home to convince him to let the neighborhood kids use one of his Bowery commercial properties as a baseball diamond. When they arrive, they discover a home filled with eccentric relatives, an ape, a man-eating plant and vampires. They also discover Gravesend plans to use Slip's head for a robot he and his relative, Anton, are building. Who's in it? The movie stars Leo Gorcey , Huntz Hall , Bernard Gorcey , Lloyd Corrigan and John Dehner. Review: I hadn't planned on watching a movie this morning because it was foggy outside and I figured I should leave for the office a bit earlier as a result. However, when I came across The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters , I decided to give it a try. I am happy to report I still made it to the office safely. My opinion about the movie, however, was a bit mixed. I'll start by saying, even though it isn...

Synopsis: Seeking to earn a partnership in her father’s company, Sam agrees to oversee the demolition of a remote apartment building designed by a notorious the architect known for murdering people and entombing his victims within its walls. Shortly after learning more about the hotel’s history, Sam also learns her life is in danger. Who's in it?  The movie stars Mischa Barton , Deborah Kara Unger, Cameron Bright, Eugene Clark and Pascal Greggory. Review: I came across this movie earlier this week and, mostly because it had been a while since I last watched it, I decided to give it a try again while I had the house to myself. My opinion remains mixed. There were some good things about the movie. The nearly empty apartment building, for example, had a creepy vibe to it even before its history was revealed and the few people that still lived in it only helped to add to that creepiness. This included the Norman Bates-like Jimmy (Bright). He seemed friendly but it was also obvious th...

Synopsis: When 17 students from the same elementary school class walk out of their houses at 2:17 a.m. and disappear, their teacher, Justine Gandy, comes under suspicion from the angry parents. She, however, thinks the disappearances might have something to do with Alex, the only student in her class not to go missing. Who's in it? The movie stars Josh Brolin , Julia Garner , Benedict Wong, Cary Christopher and Alden Ehrenreich. Review: I didn't have a chance to see Weapons when it was at the theater but had several friends tell me it was the most terrifying film they had ever seen. I was intrigued so, when I saw I could watch it on HBO Max, my wife and I finally gave it a try. For the record, it is not the most terrifying movie I've ever seen, and I am starting to think I shouldn't trust my friends' judgment when it comes to horror movies. It was, however, a relatively enjoyable film. As far as the horror element goes, this movie was, at best, average. There we...

Synopsis: Years after dinosaurs repopulate the planet, the climate proves to be incompatible in most regions and they die out except for a few isolated regions near the equator that have been declared off limits to humans. Needing dinosaur DNA for a heart disease drug his pharmaceutical company wants to produce, executive Martin Krebs hires a covert extraction expert, Zora Bennett and paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis to lead a team to collect DNA from three giant dinosaur species. Their already difficult and highly illegal task becomes even more complicated when they rescue a family from their overturned boat and then end up shipwrecked themselves. Who's in it? The movie stars Scarlett Johannson , Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Luna Blaise. Review: While my wife and I are both fans of the Jurassic Park franchise, our disappointment over Jurassic World Dominion was a bit reason why we didn't pay to see Jurassic World Rebirth at the theater (I didn...