"Matt Houston," that underrated early-'80s action show, is finally coming to DVD! Hold onto your (stetson) hats, folks...this Aaron Spelling-produced small-screen gem will put a Texas-sized grin on your face! The first season in particular is pure entertainment: traditional whodunnits are the main course, served with heaping side courses of guest stars you NEVER expected to see together in one place. A handful of episodes are action-adventure rather than whodunnits (including the last show of the season), and the show would remain action-adventure for the rest of "Matt Houston"'s three-season run. Some fun stuff to watch for in the first season: 1) The disappearance of Matt's down-home Texas buddies, 2) The disappearance of C.J.'s narration, and 3) The disappearance of C.J.'s Texas (well, sorta) accent.
The early word from reviewers who have already received their DVDs is that the show's pilot, "X-22," shows some signs of wear - but the other episodes look fabulous. Great news!
Want to know which episodes will be on the DVD? Here's an episode guide for "Matt Houston"'s first season:
X-22 (originally shown in a two-hour slot when MH premiered, and as a two-parter in syndication.) No synopsis is currently available for the pilot, but guest stars include Barbara Carrera and Jill St. John.
STOP THE PRESSES - Somebody is trying to kill evil tabloid publisher Murray "Jaws" Hamilton - but who? There are way too many suspects, since the guy's bread and butter is publishing outlandish gossip about famous folks. Early TV appearances by Heather Locklear (meditating in a glass pyramid) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner of "The Cosby Show."
DEADLY FASHION - I LOVE this one! Snide Mr. Blackwell basically plays himself (though the character's name is "Valentine St. Clair") - a b*tchy fashion critic who alienates everyone he comes in contact with. He dies (in truly spectacular fashion!) in front of the audience at a fashion show. Whodunnit? Was it Cristina "maybe my husband smuggles a little coke, but it's nothing to do with me" Ferrare? Vic Tayback (did he poison Mr. Blackwell with a bowl of his famous chili)? Or perhaps it was slumming Broadway diva Carol Lawrence? Watch the show to find out!
KILLING ISN'T EVERYTHING - Another whodunnit, this one in the world of football. That Aaron Spelling really knew how to appeal to everyone, didn't he? Fashion for the ladies last week, football for the guys this week. Anyhoo, this episode features Phyllis "Vegas" Davis and Forrest "F Troop" Tucker, for further guy-appeal.
WHO WOULD KILL RAMONA? - Janet "Psycho" Leigh stars as faded film star Ramona, who suspects someone is trying to kill her when somebody imbibes a drink meant for her - and promptly keels over dead! Also featuring Cesar Romero and Hollywood staple Army Archerd as himself.
RECIPE FOR MURDER - Another over-the-top fabulous episode. James Coco is a sneering food critic who receives a nasty surprise served up to him in a gelatin mold. I wouldn't dream of revealing any more; suffice to say, you NEED to see this episode. Also featuring David "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" Hedison, Misty "Hee-Haw" Rowe, and "Sid Caesar as Prince Sergei Polansky."
SHARK BAIT - A series of fatal shark attacks just couldn't have anything to do with murder - could it? The guest star quotient is low in this one. Probably the most familiar face belongs to future Full Houser Lori Loughlin.
THE KIDNAPPING - Weren't there at least two "Dynasty" episodes with this title? Anyway, a young Arab prince is kidnapped for ransom - but he must have access to his medication or die! Matt Houston's enlisted to rescue him. Featuring Cesare Danova (you'll recognize him - he was all over '70s and '80s TV), Hugh "Wyatt Earp" O'Brian, and Tina "Gilligan's Island" Louise.
JOEY'S HERE - Inexplicably, Joey the Robot predated yet didn't experience the phenomenal popularity of Johnny-5, the robot of "Short Circuit." Maybe because this adorably child-voiced robot kicks off the episode by murdering someone. Featuring David "I Think I Love You" Cassidy, Monte "The Second Hundred Years" Markham, Norman "Mr. Roper" Fell, Jessica "Play Misty For Me" Walters, and Troy "A Summer Place" Donahue.
THE GOOD DOCTOR - Matt's a down-home country boy (despite his fabulous wealth), but never let it be said he doesn't hobnob with intellectuals. In fact, Matt's having a party for a famous research scientist when the poor guy gets whacked. Guess who will bring the killer to justice? Featuring Beverly "It Conquered the World" Garland, William "My World and Welcome To It" Windom, Jeanette "Every Old Time Radio Show Ever" Nolan, and Gary "2001" Lockwood.
THE ROCK AND THE HARD PLACE - Another blatant attempt to increase the show's guy-appeal, this episode centers on possibly-rigged boxing matches. And, of course...murder. Featuring George "Star Trek" Takei and Oscar nominee Richard "The Dirty Dozen" Jaeckel.
THE PURR-FECT CRIME - This just may be it, folks. The ultimate Matt Houston episode, the absolute zenith of the show's appeal. We start things off with a bang when Colonel Klink of "Hogan's Heroes" dies in a SPECTACULARLY grisly and outlandish fashion - before the opening credits are over! Then there's the title itself - which ties into the specific method that the murderer used to do away with the evil Colonel Klink. Then there are the guest stars - surely the most magnificent collection of talent ever gathered in one place. Are you ready? Here we go: Barbi Benton. Zsa-Zsa Gabor. Sonny Bono. And of course, the aforementioned Werener "Klink" Klemperer. Are you already clicking on that "buy now" button? I thought so.
THE YACHT CLUB MURDERS - An old flame of Houston's asks his help in keeping those pesky murderers away from her yacht club party. Featuring Jean "I Dream of Jeannie hairstyle" Kasem, Jimmy "Soap" Baio, Mary Ann "Fake Mrs. Drummond" Mobley, Dick "Fake Darren" Sargent, Shelley "My comedy records are quite funny; shame about the TV appearances" Berman, and Alan "Skipper" Hale "as The Commodore."
WHOSE PARTY IS IT, ANYWAY? - Despite the title, don't expect Richard Dreyfuss to show up here. Instead, it's the requisite "Ten Little Indians" episode every mystery show has to do: Five people are summoned to Houston's magnificent penthouse so that they can be killed, one by one. Featuring Stella "Poseidon Adventure" Stevens, Edward "Knight Rider" Mulhare, and Barbara "Flamingo Road" Rush.
GET HOUSTON - Chuck "The Rifleman" Connors is a lunatic who enlists some murderous friends to help him "Get Houston." Featuring Ed "Peyton Place" Nelson and...well, nobody else, really.
THE VISITORS - What the-? It's still the first season, and they're already resorting to a "possible alien encounter" episode? Well, at least the guest star list is first rate: Dawn "Gilligan's Island" Wells (that's THREE Gilligan stars in the first season!), David "Rhoda's husband, wait, I mean ex-husband" Groh, Robert "no, I'm NOT Alan's father...he's MY son!" Alda, and Shelley "Johnny Angel...you're an angel to me-e-e" Fabares.
HERE'S ANOTHER FINE MESS - Houston's sexy-yet-platonic partner C.J. Parsons (Pamela Hensley, aka Princess Ardala of "Buck Rogers") is having her life threatened - by Laurel and Hardy. Okay, lookalikes in full costume. But still. Featuring Chuck "Hi, Guy!" McCann and Ernest "Whaddya wanna do tonight?" Borgnine.
THE BEVERLY HILLS SOCIAL CLUB - Think of it as The Heidi Fleiss story...with less sex and more killin'. Are you ready for this guest star roster? Ron "Horshack" Palillo, Natalie "Lovey Howell" Schafer (FOUR Gilligan stars, and counting!), Ben "Alias: Smith and Jones" Murphy, Bo "lots of people confuse me with James Dean...no, really" Hopkins, Jayne "no, I'm not the one from The Honeymooners...I'm the one who married Steve Allen" Meadows, and Don "Thorny Thornberry" DeFore as "The Mayor."
THE SHOWGIRL MURDERS - There's something to do with murder in here, but mainly it's about looking at chicks in their spangled undies. Featuring Fred "Gopher" Grandy and Robert Goulet.
FEAR FOR TOMORROW - Something to do with predictions of mass death and destruction, a codebook, and a cryptic message. Featuring a VERY early TV appearance by a pre-nose job, pre-boob job, pre-90210 Tori Spelling (if memory serves, she is credited as Victoria Spelling, and looks about 12. They dress her way too young for 12, as is so often the case on TV. I'm thinking they had her in a too-short dress complete with pinafore).
A DEADLY PARLAY - Murder at the racetrack, with a twist: Matt is charged with the murder of a jockey! Featuring Lynn Holly "Ice Castles" Johnson and Ron "Tarzan" Ely.
A NOVEL WAY TO DIE - A novelist is murdered at a mystery writers convention. Featuring Markie "Night Court" Post, Denny "Tarzan" Miller (hmmmm...is there a pattern developing?), and Richard "Oscar Goldman" Anderson.
THE HUNTED - C.J. is held hostage by a terrorist - only Matt can save her! Featuring Oscar winner Martin "hunted...despised...living like an animal!" Landau and...nobody else, really.
Did you actually make it all the way through this? Then stop reading and buy this baby. We want them to release season two, don't we?
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