“Friday the 13th: the series” – (Canada 1987-1990)
Those familiar with this series know it has bugger-all to do with the movie franchise. Nada. No Jason Vorhees here, eh?
In this series from Canada, made when cars were in their cubist period and hair was BIG, an old dude by the name of Lewis Vendredi (meaning Friday in French, geddit?) has second thoughts on the deal he made with Satan and gets his soul repossessed as a result. [Insert current political jokes here]
Watch ole’ Lewis (R.G. Armstrong) buying the farm:
His antiques shop is then inherited by his nephews Micki Foster (Louise Robey) and Ryan Dallion (John D. LeMay). Soon after they take possession of the shop and try to decide what to do with it, they meet Jack Marshak (Chris Wiggins), a man who used to do business with the dear departed uncle. Or is that deported to hell?!?
Can they trust this old dude (he’s well above 30 and into the occult)?
Can Micki keep her fiancé panting whilst deciding which conditioner is best?
Can Ryan decide whether channeling Andrew McCarthy is a good career move?
The trio figures out that Vendredi used to sell cursed antiques in exchange for wealth and other benefits [insert corporate soul-raping practices here], and those articles in turn would reap the Prince of Darkness many fresh souls in return.
And thus, each episode sends the amigos in search of a cursed object they must retrieve and lock-up in the basement vault of their shop. Meanwhile, they eek out a living selling regular antiques and knick-knacks, and generally having a good time, ribbing each other in cheerful, vapid 80’s TV fashion.
Watch one of the show’s promos:
Look. Back then, people used to think wearing pastels was cool. With leisure suits and all. Hell, I used to have one! Of course we now know the Kardashians are the epitome of cool for-all-time.
Uh-huh. Anyway, they do get around in a cool car, a Mercedes-Benz 600, Ryan wears Ray-Bans and rolls up the sleeves of his coats, Micki’s got big hair and big…. Shirts, and Jack’s there to give a modicum of gravitas (Wiggins is a British actor with extensive TV credits)….
“Friday the 13th: the series” was broadcast in the late evening in the U.S., a perfect programming slot. Many people growing up in the ‘80s have fond memories of staying up late to watch this show. So for old times’ sake, we’ll have us a bit of a revival this month…
One Reply to “No Jason? Wot’s it all aboot?!?”