Lennie Weinrib Movies

Kurt Russell returns as Dexter Riley, the dedicated student of Medfield College who just can't stay out of trouble, in this follow-up to The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and Now You See Him, Now You Don't. In this story, Dexter is trying to devise a formula for a chemistry project that will increase human strength . By accident, he discovers that, when he mixes his concoction with another student's recipe for vitamin-fortified cereal, it gives people super-human strength, but only for a few minutes. Ignoring these drawbacks, Dean Higgins (Joe Flynn) makes a deal to sell the miracle cereal to a leading breakfast-food concern, unaware that it's Dexter's secret ingredient that makes the cereal work. Meanwhile, when word gets out about the new strength-boosting cereal, several competing companies decide that they need to wipe the new product off the market. Cesar Romero returns from the first film as A.J. Arno, with Phil Silvers, Eve Arden, and Richard Bakalyan highlighting the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Part of the prolific cartoon version of the Addams Family series, this episode finds Gomez taking on the New York Police Department when he decides he's the true heir to a little patch of New York City ground -- none other than Central Park. ~ All Movie Guide

Addams Family: Left in Lurch presents four issues from the animated version of the monster family TV series. Included here are: "Left in the Lurch," "The Mardi Gras Story," "The Voodoo Story" and "Aloha Hoolamagoola." ~ All Movie Guide

In these zany cartoon creations of the Addams bunch, we find the family traveling coast-to-coast in a retrofitted castle-camper. Who says these guy have to stay home? These animated episodes, titled "Ghost Town," "Addams Go West," "Follow that Loaf of Bread," and "The Fastest Creepy Camper in the West," feature some original cast-member voices (Ted Cassidy and Jackie Coogan) as well as a famous visitor's voice, Ms. Jodie Foster! ~ All Movie Guide

With the conspicuous exception of Roy Desoto (Kevin Tighe), The men of Squad 51 form a firehouse barbershop quartet to enter a musical competiton. This week's emergency caseload includes a woman who o.d.'s of sleeping tablets, and a corpulent fellow (Len Weinrib) who causes all sorts of accidents and sustains all manner of injuries while trying to reduce (his close encounter with an electric rowing machine is the "piece de resistance"). This is one of several Emergency! episodes directed by Hollywood veteran Joseph Pevney (Tammy and the Bachelor, Man of a Thousand Faces et. al.) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Incensed that Mike has written a stern and critical letter to President Nixon, super-patriotic Archie tries to set things right by penning his own missive to the Chief Executive. "Dear Mr. President...Your Honor...Sir..." -- and Archie even dons a clean shirt and tie for the occasion. Scripted by Paul Harrison, Lennie Weinrib, and Norman Lear from a story by Les Erwin and Fred Freiberger, "Writing the President" originally aired on January 19, 1971. Though withdrawn from CBS' daytime rerun package of All in the Family at the request of producer Lear (who felt that Archie's behavior was ridiculous even for him), the episode has since been restored to the series' syndicated package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lidsville, the third of Sid and Marty Krofft's Saturday-morning childrens' series, was arguably the wierdest and wildest, bursting to the seams with psychedelic zaniness -- and, it might be whispered, even more covert references to "controlled substances" than were found in the immortal H.R. Pufnstuf. Butch Patrick of "Eddie Munster" fame starred as the series' "human" hero Mark, who while attending a magic show at Six Flags Over Texas became consumed with curiosity over the conjuring act presented by Merlino the Magnificent. Sneaking backstage, Mark stared in amazement as Merlino's magic hat grew to a humongous size. Even more amazing was what happened after Mark fell into the hat, tumbling out of the "real" world and into the land of Lidsville, a garishly colored metropolis populated almost entirely by talking hats (played, of course, by small-sized actors wearing full-body Krofft costumes). Immediately befriending the "Good Hats" of Lidsville -- among them Colonel Poom, Admiral Scuttlebutt, Big Chief Sitting Duck, Rah-Rah the Football Helmet, Scorchy the Fireman's Hat, and Twirly the Beanie -- Mark vowed to protect them from the sinister machinations of green-skinned, red-goateed evil magician Horatio W. Hoo Doo (Charles Nelson Reilly) and his menagerie of "Bad Hats" and anthropomorphic magic props (among them the appropriately named Raunchy Rabbit). For his part, Hoo Doo devoted his every waking hour to capturing Mark so that he could retrieve his magic ring, and thus gain control of the marvelous Weenie the Genie (played in drag by Billie Hayes, the unforgettable "Witchiepoo" from H.R. Pufnstuf).

Throughout the series' 17 half-hour episodes, Mark enlisted the aid of his new hat friends in his efforts to escape Lidsville and return to his own world, forever keeping one step ahead of the indefatigable Hoo Doo, who could generally be found astride his flying "Hatamarand." Utilizing state-of-the-art special effects (for 1971 at least!) and boasting, broad, con brio performances from everyone in the cast, Lidsville was nothing if not exhilarating and eye-catching. The series originally aired on ABC from September 11, 1971, through September 1, 1973, then was rebroadcast by NBC from September 8, 1973 through August 31, 1974. ~ All Movie Guide

Pop singers Sonny and Cher are featured in this fluffy film that chronicles the popular duo's ideas for the film in which they are to make their cinematic debut. Much of the story centers around Sonny's movie fantasies as he tries to convince the studio head to use a more interesting script than the one he wants to present. Songs include: "I Got You Babe," "It's The Little Things," "Good Times," "Trust Me," "Don't Talk To Strangers," "I'm Gonna Love You" and "Just A Name." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this musical farce, a dim-witted fellow finally gets his chance to become a secret agent like his brother when the former receives an important phone call meant for the latter. He then begins looking into a conspiracy to sabotage an upcoming beach party. He learns of this plot from a concerned teen who over head a fellow who has been "driven mad by rock'n'roll" scheming with another. The film is filled with music from the day's popular stars including: "Malibu Run" (Jim Karstein, Leon Russell, Gary Lewis, T. Leslie, sung by Gary Lewis and the Playboys), "Out on the Floor" (Fred Darian, Al De Lory, sung by Dobie Gray), "She'll Come Back" (Nita Garfield, Howard Kaylan, sung by the Turtles), "Baby Please Don't Go" (Joe Williams, sung by the Astronauts), "It's Not Unusual" (Gordon Mills, Les Reed, sung by the Knickerbockers), "Funny over You" (Freddie Garrity, sung by Freddie and the Dreamers), "A Love Like You" (Quinn & Jones, sung by Freddie and the Dreamers), "What's Her Name," and "Hip City" (Darian, De Lory). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In one of the series' best-ever episodes, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) is the victim of a practical joke perpetrated by Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) and his prankster pal Phil Franklin (Lennie Weinrib). At first delighted by the notion of ribbing Rob, Buddy is suddenly seized with paranoia as he wonders what sort of revenge Rob has planned for him. With a sharkish smile, Rob insists that he isn't going to do a thing to get even -- but then, Buddy is visited by a suspicious-looking IRS agent with the unlikely name of William Handlebuck (Alvy Moore). For full enjoyment of this episode, you must put it in a paper bag, wave it around your head, and scream like a chicken! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Suffering from a toothache, Martin (Ray Walston) soon realizes that his malady is more detrimental to his eyes than his jaw. And when he experiments with a cure for the aching tooth, his vision is suddenly reversed! Clearly, a visit to the dentist is in order--but such a visit might result in the public revelation that Martin is "not of this world." This is the final episode of My Favorite Martian's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide