Tread Perilously

Tread Perilously's TV Movie month continues with Michael J. Fox, Nancy McKeon, and Robert Klein in Poison Ivy. When Dennis Baxter takes a job at Camp Pinewood in Maine, he expects his summer will be filled by taking care of his charges and maybe romancing some of the counselors at the girls' camp across the lake. This changes when assistant nurse Rhonda Malone arrives on the scene. Will he find true love while the kids in his cabin learn the true meaning of friendship? Or will everything fall apart when the camp director declares a color war and splits the camp in two? Paul Pakler joins Erik and Justin in another gab session focused on Fox and McKeon. They also try to figure out if Klein is actually funny. Jason Bateman, despite not appearing in the film, haunts the proceedings. Director Larry Elikan's ABC AfterSchool Specials connection leads to a very particular aside. Paul coins "lead poisoning movies" to explain Poison Ivy and second-screen viewing. With a copy sourced from Chicago's NBC station, the tri

Tread Perilously's TV Movie month continues with Deadly Intentions ... Again? After serving time for the attempted murder of his first wife, Dr. Charles Raynor returns to the loving embrace of his second wife, Sally. She has a plan to get him back into the workforce and see his medical license restored. Raynor has other plans -- finishing off his first wife and the federal prosecutor  who put him behind bars. Will he be able to do so without the second Mrs. Raynor finding out? Also, what of his own adoptive mother, who hates Sally for baffling class reasons? Will Sally come to her senses and see Raynor has deadly intentions ... again? Erik and Justin try to figure out what happened to Fairuza Balk's character. They also try to glean the plot of the original Deadly Intentions. The cast -- which includes Harry Hamlin, Joanna Kerns, Conchata Ferrell, and Balk -- prove to be great even if the script lets them down. Erik tries to determine how much of the film is truly based on actual events. A current year apprai

  Tread Perilously returns to the land of made-for-TV movies with 1982's Mysterious Two. When two people known as He and She convince their followers to invade a town in the Southwest because "it is time," a local sheriff, a magazine reporter, and a young man looking for his missing girlfriend converge on the site. There, He and She promise to uplift "the People of Tomorrow" if they sell all their earthly possessions and buy enough sustenance for the journey to come. The young man, a flautist, is not convinced, but will the other become converts to this suspiciously familiar pair of cult leaders? Erik and Justin get lost in the Heaven's Gate of it all as the movie is based on the early activities of Marshall Applewhite and his partner at the time. The evidence of the film's 1979 production is also very apparent. Erik defies Justin's expectation about his knowledge of the movie's existence. An X-Files discussion breaks out. Erik appreciates the presence of Dynasty star John Forsythe, Alice's Vic Tayback, and a

Tread Perilously returns to the Ballad of John D. Cort for its antepenultimate stanza: an episode of Baywatch called "Baja Run." When Cort -- still suffering from a degenerative eye condition -- makes his way back to Baywatch HQ, it's to convince Mitch to join him on the Baja Run. The Mexican dune buggy race is something both men have always wanted to win. While Mitch begrudgingly agrees, C.J. realizes it might finally be time to cut Cort loose. And with Matt's relationship with Caroline disintegrating, C.J. may even have a rebound in mind. Will Cort care or do his concerns center on something he buried in Mexico? Erik and Justin can't get over the fact Cort lives in a cave! Justin immediately notes how much the show finally feels like the Baywatch of the popular imagination. The presence of Yasmine Bleeth has a lot to do with it. Pamela Anderson, meanwhile, seems poised for her exit. Erik spots Baywatch's hatred of Australians as new character Logan proves to be the scummiest Aussie in '90s syndicated TV. Co

Tread Perilously's winter request month concludes with an episode of Merlin called "Beauty and the Beast." When a troll sets her sights on the riches of Camelot, she takes a potion to assume the identity of a conventionally beautiful noble in the hopes of securing Uther Pendragon's heart. Gaius suspects her immediately as he treated the aristocrat before for an incurable bone disease. Uther, however, is almost immediately smitten. But his devotion to the long-passed Igraine gives him some pause the troll must counter with more magic. Can Merlin summon up enough of his own to reveal the troll before she and Uther marry? Troll 2 almost immediately makes its way into the conversation. Erik and Justin attempt to separate their own familiarity with Arthurian legend from the one depicted in Merlin. Although barely appearing in this episode, they also highlight Katie McGrath. A Tolkien discussion breaks out, naturally enough. Erik has a difficult time accepting an Uther who genuinely loved Igraine. Justin questions

Tread Perilously listener request month continues with an episode of Twisted Metal called "T3STDRV." Still on their way to the tournament, John ends up riding shotgun in his sister Dollface's car. Unable to conjure up memories for her amnesiac brother, she takes a detour to an abandoned drive-in theater. Instead of sparking any recollections, the pair encounter the character known as Axel. Quiet, meanwhile, discovers Mayhem hid in the trunk of her car hoping to enter the tournament herself. Will Quiet be able to teach her to drive? And what of the seeming reaper known as Mr. Grimm? Is he the ghost rider or is he not in his right mind? Justin tries to recall his own dim memories of playing a Twisted Metal video game. He and Erik also consider the problem of genre TV shows in comparison to Twisted Metal's episode runtimes -- 30 minutes be praised! Erik learns the truth about Marvel's Cyclops. Anthony Mackie's star power is discussed. Erik is reminded of "Surf Dracula." Patsy and Edina become the new gods of the

Tread Perilously's Winter Patreon Request Month continues with a Growing Pains episode called "Home Malone". When Maggie and the rest of the Seavers make their way to Boston to clean up her parents' home, the ghost of her father appears, but cannot communicate with the living. He's also confused why he's been sent back to Earth. Meanwhile, Maggie and her mother deal with some unresolved issues, Jason gets progressively more injured, Mike's scheme to get out of work backfires, and the rest of the family makes too many jokes at Carol's expense. We promise, though, this is a sitcom. Justin and Erik discuss the reasons why it took a listener request to finally cover Growing Pains. Guest star Gordon Jump's history with that infamous Diff'Rent Strokes episode is, naturally, discussed. Joanna Kerns proves to be the MVP. Justin fails to remember most of the character names. The show's white-hot hatred of Carol is examined. The pair also tries to determine the character traits of the younger two Seaver kids. Erik also

Winter Total Request Live 2026 begins as Tread Perilously watches an episode of Stargate SG-1 called "Thor's Chariot." When the SG-1 team receives a distress signal from Cimmeria, they return to the planet finding a Goa'uld invasion and few Cimmerians left to fight. While O'Neil and Teal'c scout out the enemy encampment, Daniel and Sam learn the secret of Thor's might. Will it be enough to defeat the Goa'uld known as Heru'ur? Will anyone be able to pronounce their new adversary's name? And will Thor prove to be as real as Ra or his son? Erik and Justin discuss their histories with Stargate and SG-1. Erik makes a surprising proclamation about the work of director Roland Emmerich. Stan Lee proves to be more formidable than any Gou'ald. Pronunciations of Stargate names come into question, as does the choice to name the planet "Cimmeria". The SG-1 cast -- which includes Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, and Don S. Davis -- gets their flowers even if Erik has a small problem with Richard Dean Ande

Tread Perilously's final 2025 episode is, oddly enough, a Tread Merrily. But that also means Special Review Unit Captain Charlie Wright is joining Erik and Justin for an episode of the 1980s Beauty and the Beast called "God Bless The Child." When Catherine volunteers at a crisis hotline, she encounters a young woman who is both pregnant and on her last rope. Catherine suggests to Father and Vincent that the woman might be a good addition to the World Below. After passing Father's test, though, she becomes fixated on Vincent and makes the Yuletide both stranger and sleepier than it should be. Erik learns Charlie has seen the show before. Justin tries to piece together its premise, forgetting that Vincent and Catherine have a bond "beyond friendship or love." Erik finally gets to use his Roy Dotrice impression and attempts one of Vincent to wavering success. Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman prove to be MVPs. The trio discovers the New York district of Los Angeles. The World Below is a provocative  enough concept

Tread Merrily heads to San Francisco for an episode of Trapper John M.D. called "'Tis The Season." Although Trapper is trying his best to get to Aspen for a Christmas ski holiday with his kids, the hospital is overrun with problems. Dr, Gates is taking care of a boy who needs his spleen removed, but there's not enough AB- blood in the county to make the procedure safe. Dr. Riverside is driving everyone crazy with his custom-made Santa suit. Trapper, meanwhile, is driven to distraction by an old man working as s corner Santa who won't give his name, but needs a serious life-saving procedure. Will the chance meeting between "Santa" and the boy change all their lives? Justin is struck by just how generic Trapper John turns out to be. And yet, the episode does not play by the rules of a medical drama Christmas episode. Guest star Ray Walston turns out to be the MVP while Erik tries to figure out why E/R's Lynne Moody gets the "special guest star credit." Justin reveals a subtle Stranger Things mistake. He also do

Tread Merrily continues with a return to Boston for a Spenser: For Hire episode called "The Hopes And Fears." A chance encounter with Rita near a department store leads Spenser to treat the assistant district attorney to a "Spenserian" Christmas. Matters are complicated when a gang of hockey-masked hoodlums begin a rash of break-in robberies -- they even steal from Hawk! -- a young witness to one of their crimes goes missing, and another is threatened by a member of the crew. Will Spenser be able to solve all of the mysteries and protect his community before they resort to mob justice? Also, will he pull off the perfect Christmas for Rita? Erik and Justin immediately start talking Star Trek and Avery Brooks. Additionally, Erik cannot refer to Carolyn McCormick, who plays Rita, as anything but "Minuet" -- her character from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Guest stars Seth Green and Nancy Travis prove to be welcome additions to the ensemble. Justin finally recognizes co-star Ron McLarty from Cop R

Tread Merrily 2025 begins with the annual tradition -- a Festive episode of Doctor Who. This one is called "The Time of The Doctor." When a signal broadcasts across all of time and space, The Doctor soon finds himself in orbit around a mysterious planet. But he is not alone with Daleks, Sontarans, Cyberman, and more also investigating the signal. Meanwhile, it's Christmas dinner at Clara's and she needs him to be her boyfriend. Are these two threads connected? Is the planet really Gallifrey? It's almost time for the clock to strike 12 and The Doctor is out of regenerations. Is this the final end? Justin determines Steven Moffat's third worst trait as a writer. The discussion centers on Moffat using his greatest hits throughout this story, leading to Tread Perilously's own greatest hits -- including Erik's belief about the real end of A Song of Ice and Fire, Twilight hot takes, and a determination about who has seen the light of the Two Trees. Erik tries to figure out why Paul McGann was seen recently shooting

Tread Perilously's month of backdoor pilots concludes with an episode of MacGyver called "The Coltons." After a mission with both Frank and Jesse Colton leaves MacGyver wanting an escape to the mountains, the Coltons get a new job via the local assistant district attorney. They must find a young woman who witnessed the hit on a Chinatown Godfather. But with a rival gang also trying to find her, the Coltons may have to rely on their mama and younger brother Billy to finish the task. But is there more to the case than it seems? Erik and Justin ask "Where's James Hong?" after seeing his name in the credits. The answer leads to an IMDb error. Erik can't get past the general "sleepy-time" quality of MacGyver, even in this backdoor pilot for a different show. The cast -- which includes Cleavon Little, Richard Lawson, Della Reese, and Cuba Gooding Jr. -- turn out to be a fine ensemble. Justin comes up with an alternate take on Killer Moth. He also realizes Lawson is in a favorite film. Gooding's talents are assessed

Tread Perilously's backdoor pilot month continues with a visit to Stars Hollow and Venice, CA in the Gilmore Girls episode known as "Here Comes The Son." While Rory tries to tackle her final weeks in high school, Lorelei faces the reality that she may not be able to pay for Yale. Will she give in and ask her parents after finally paying them back for Rory's high school tuition? Meanwhile, Jess makes his way to Venice, CA to meet with his father. But once there, he's introduced to his dad's new girlfriend and a number of other local color characters. Is the beginning of a Gilmore Guys show? Erik and Justin are surprised to see a backdoor pilot for a Gilmore Girls spinoff is still about Rory and Lorelei. Erik has a theory as to why. The Sugarbaker Woman Scale makes another appearance. Justin thinks he understands why people enjoy Gilmore Girls. He also names the two good Orange County bands from the 1990s. Erik works out why the repetition humor doesn't work for him. The pair also determine they do not actually

Tread Perilously's month of backdoor pilots turns the spotlight on, arguably, the most successful backdoor pilot ever made: an episode of Diff'rent Strokes called "The Girls School." When the dorm mother at Eastlake quits over an argument with the headmaster, Mrs. Garrett volunteers to help Kimberly make costumes for the upcoming play. Once at the school, Mrs. Garrett meets some of Kimberly's classmates who live at the dorm, including Blair Warner, Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey, Nancy Olson, and Molly Parker. If this sounds like an episode of The Facts of Life, that's because it is. The first episode, to be precise, even if it's not quite right. Paul Pakler joins Erik and Justin for another Facts of Life discussion. The trio marvel at the choice to spin Mrs. Garrett off after just 20 episodes of Diff'rent Strokes. Justin and Paul also break down just how uncomfortable the premise of Diff'rent Strokes really is ... and that's before Erik reiterates that they will never talk about that one two-parter. The off-screen

Beginning a month of backdoor pilots, Tread Perilously finally watches an episode of "CHiPs" -- but it's really a pilot for another show called "Force Seven". When John and Ponch pull over a seemingly drunk scientist, his confidential papers suggest he may be involved with a recently stolen missile system. Enter Force Seven: a tactical unit pilot program within the LAPD to create a squad of ninjas. Yes, really. Their leader inducts a new member just as the Chief of Police puts them on the missile case. Will the new recruit's bad boy ways prove to be an asset or will his fighting technique prove to be poor? Erik is delighted to see Hunter's Fred Dryer leading a potential series. Nevertheless, the ninja aspect proves troublesome. Justin is thrilled to see "the genre of the '80s" on display. The pair also dive into the problems of Force Seven's "comic relief" puppet and its place on the hate crime spectrum. References to Samurai Cop, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, and Gymkata abound. The full seven forces

Tread Perilously's annual horror month wraps up with this year's episode of Supernatural: "The Benders." When Sam and Dean look into a rash of disappearances in a small Minnesota town, Dean begins to suspect there is nothing supernatural about the case. Sam, meanwhile, disappears. Soon, Dean must team up with a local sheriff's deputy to find Sam and figure out the true nature of the abductions. Is it just people? And will Dean's female partner for the week survive the experience unscathed? Also: will Tread Perilously ever watch an episode about Castiel? Erik and Justin face another season 1 episode of Supernatural. They also announce correct opinions about donuts in Southern California. Erik renames the episode "The Vancouver 'Most Dangerous Game' Massacre." An actor gets dubbed "Canadian Frank Grillo" and becomes surprisingly important. Dean's reference to a Godzilla remake leads to a discussion about "realistic" genre pictures and Tony Scott. Erik learns about new cryptids and urban legends. J.J. Abrams is

Tread Perilously's month of slasher TV leads to Bates Motel for an episode called "Underwater." After dealing with dope-smoking young people staying at the motel, Norma is ready to pull up stakes and move to Hawaii. Norman, meanwhile, is getting positive reinforcement at school and is not happy about the possibility of starting life over again. Meanwhile, Dylan agrees to help Bradley recover some of her father's belongings from his office. Emma enjoys a cupcake (not a euphemism). And, elsewhere, a largely unseen Ben Abernathy menaces Norma from afar. But did he send her the roses that really set her off? Erik lays into Russell T. Davies for seemingly no reason. Carlton Cuse also gets examined. Both note his shows tend to disappear into the ether. Justin reveals Bates Motel was his first exposure to Olivia Cooke. The rest of the cast, which includes Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, also get high marks. Erik appreciates the way the episode deploys Jere Burns while Justin enjoys the presence of Nestor Carbonel

Tread Perilously's horror month continues with a look at the anthology series The Hitchhiker via its slasher-esque episode called "The Killer." Despite Meg's protests, her family plans to leave her behind while going on a vacation. Well, her brother, Jonathan, may also be staying to do some shooting. But when most of the clan is killed via shotgun blasts, Meg must fend for herself as the killer is somewhere in the palatial home. Is Jonathan behind the deaths? And can Meg use her wheelchair to devise clever ways to avoid him? Erik discovers The Hitchhiker is not a ripoff of The Hitcher. Justin finds room to champion Mute Witness. Guest star Jenny Seagrove's CableACE Award win for the episode leads to a discussion of cable TV quality in the 1980s. Erik reveals where Justin has seen fellow guest star Lisa Foster before. The pair also discuss the qualities of a good twist. They even invent "The Beach That Makes You Old" Scale. Justin defends Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Hot Dog ... The Movie suddenly becomes impor

Tread Perilously's tour of slashers on television continues with an episode The Alfred Hitchcock Hour called "An Unlocked Window." When a slasher targets nurses in an unidentified town, Stella and Betty find themselves tending to a sick professor at his remote home in the countryside. Also helping out are a groundskeeper, Sam, and there's Maude, the housekeeper. But when Betty discovers the oxygen tank is low, Sam leaves for the city and the three women are terrorized by the news that the killer is within two miles of the house. Did forgetful Stella lock all the windows and all the doors? Is the killer already inside? Erik and Justin discuss Hitchcock as a problematic fave. Erik is shocked to learn the story is not inspired by Richard Speck. The pair also inspect the reliance on twists in thrillers. They also rank the Predator movies. Justin admits he watched Halloween Kills more than once. More DCU casting wishes occur. The longer runtime of 1960s television proves to be a problem once again. Justin's knowle