Memorable Moments: Special Effects in Scarecrow & Mrs King

Once again, I am impressed by Scarecrow and Mrs. King. That show was far ahead of its time in many respects. One of the most impressive is the special effects. 

Many action shows from the 1980s and 1990s resolve with car chases or fist fights, fairly typical fare. And frankly, they can get a bit samey. 

What makes Scarecrow and Mrs. King so impressive is that the car chases and explosions, etc. are intelligently done and well-filmed and funny. In the episode "Charity Begins at Home," Lee's car falls off a cliff. Rather than immediately exploding--which Mythbusters proved is unlikely to occur--the car falls slowly and inexorably to the bottom. Then it explodes, but honestly, the hilarity of that slow descent and destruction has already made its point. It is very well-done and very funny. 

In one of my absolute favorites, "Burn Out," the nutty truck driver who rides to the rescue smashes through a shack without flinching. It is on par with Tim Taylor driving a tank through all kinds of military installations in Home Improvement. 

The truth is, a good special effect doesn't have to be over the top. Big can be fun. Clever can be better.