What to Watch on TV this Weekend: Jenn's Guide

June 3 - 9, 2016

As we pack up the SUV for our first beach trip of the year, I am reminded of the best family vacation movie of all time: National Lampoon’s Vacation. It was the year 1983, and Chevy Chase became – to me as an 11-year-old – the funniest person on the planet. His ridiculous faces and crude behavior were priceless.

While looking back at this iconic travel piece, I ran upon a few “little known facts” about the movie. Among them:

• Anthony Michael Hall is filmed at different heights throughout the movie, because he grew three inches during production, thanks to puberty.
• Vacation was shot on an actual road trip spanning more than 15 locations in four states. Five Wagon Queen Family Trucksters were used and abused to account for the beating the car endures in the film.
• Chevy Chase’s favorite part of the film: Clark Griswold helps his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), to clean the dishes by merely wiping them off with a dishrag and placing them back into the cabinets, uncleaned. Chase thought few viewers really noticed.
• Stunt coordinator Dick Ziker won a bet against other crew members that he would be able to jump the Family Truckster more than 50 feet.
• That beer that Clark and Rusty shared in the desert? It was just air in an empty beer can. But the looks of fear and nausea on the faces of the cast after repeatedly riding the roller coasters to obtain perfect footage? Real.
• Background shots of Walley World actually were matte paintings. The scenes inside the park were shot at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.

Timeless comedy is just like any other respectable type of art. Whether it’s John Hughes or Vincent Van Gogh: The impact lasts, for most of us, a lifetime.

Here are a few suggestions for the upcoming week of June 3 – 9.

Masters of Illusion

Friday, June 3 – KTLA – 8 p.m.

Masters of Illusion began as a magic show from the early-2000s that was performed at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Hosted by Dean Cain, the CW ran new episodes in 2014 with a different group of performers. This episode features magicians Les Arnold and Dazzle, Chris Randall, Jason Bishop, Johnny Ace Palmer, Sittah and Greg Frewin. These are not amateur, small-time magicians. Even the most skeptical view will be convinced that magic is real – or is it?

Carol Burnett’s Favorite Sketches

Friday, June 3 – KOCE – 9 p.m.

Holy cow; this is going to be fantastic! The Carol Burnett Show had viewers of all ages rolling with laughter, and Carol Burnett will host and review her favorite sketches from the first five years. The show ran from 1967 to 1978, and the comedy and characters transcend time. My favorite scene of all time: Carol Burnett plays Scarlett O’Hara by wearing drapes as an antebellum dress – with the curtain rod still attached. Expect to see sketches that included Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, Steve Martin and Betty White. Earlobe tugs for everyone!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Friday, June 3 – ABCF – 8:15 p.m.

For many of us, Willy Wonka was our first introduction to funnyman Gene Wilder and his wild hair. This classic movie is perfect for the kiddos as summertime rolls in. It’s the child’s wildest dream: winning a tour through a chocolate factory. It just proves that good ideas are timeless as this 1971 movie was adapted from a 1964 novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. A chocolate river, mushrooms as snacks, and chewing gum that blows its partakers up into puffy, round, floating balls: What could be better? Supplies need: Skittles, M&Ms, Hershey Kisses.

Roots: A New Vision

Saturday, June 4 – HIST – 10 p.m.

The year 1977 marked the beginning of an eye-opening moment for many Americans of all races, when the epic miniseries, Roots, was released. This Memorial Day, a remake of Roots was shown across the History Channel’s entire network of sister platforms. For millions of Roots enthusiasts who value the project and its actors, this behind-the-scenes peek reveals how the quest for authentic locations, sets, costumes and historical details was met. Cast members and producers are interviewed to lend new-to-us details. The piece is executive produced by Kunta Kinte actor himself: LeVar Burton. This is one for the history books.

Good Witch

Sunday, June 5 – HALL – 9 p.m.

Catherine Bell has that girl-next-door appeal that makes her perfect for the role of Cassie Nightingale in Good Witch. Based on the TV movie The Good Witch, Cassie shares her witchy prowess with her teenage daughter, Grace. Cue the divorced dad with son who moves in next door, and wanderlust ensues in the charming little town of Middleton. It’s a sweet and slightly spooky experience.

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