MovieChat Forums > Riptide (1984) Discussion > does anyone remember this

does anyone remember this

posted 17 years ago by yankeeeever2740
2 replies | jump to latest

with the current hollywood writers strike it made me remember a really cheap tactic used involving one of the episodes of this show. ironically it was one of the best episodes, where joe penny goes back to his high school reunuion. a few years after riptide ended, there was a writers strike and another cannell series, sonny spoon, about a black detective, used the exact same script even going as far as to use some of the same guest stars and the same ending where the character is walking down the football field in his letterman jacket while be true to your school(i think) plays.

[–] toonguyfry 17 years ago

While I don't remember the episode you refer to, I do recall stuff like that happening as a result of the writers' strike back then. Also, it doesn't surprise me that it happened on a Steven J. Cannell show, and especially Sonny Spoon. Cannell was a major recycler of plots and characters. Think about the show Sonny Spoon for a minute: Sonny is a private eye, not a tough guy so much as a likeable and clever one; more likely to try to scam his way out of trouble before throwing fists. Has a maybe-platonic, maybe-not girl friend who is a lawyer, and who was frequently bailing Sonny out of jail. He has a lot of friends who are kind of on the shady side of the law, and a father who disapproves of his job and his lifestyle, but who could still be counted on to help out in a pinch. Dude: THAT'S THE ROCKFORD FILES!!!!! Hell, Jim Rockford's dad even called Jim "Sonny"! Obviously it's not an exact copy (Sonny relied on goofy disguises way more than Rockford ever did), but in terms of the broad strokes, they're the same damn show. And Cannell did this sort of thing with his shows all the time. Check it out some time when you're in a re-runnish mood.

[–] 17 years ago

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