Loved watching this show as a kid in the 80's on WPHL Channel 17 at 10pm every weeknight here in Philadelphia. I always thought that the perfect series finale would be Matt & CJ finally getting married.
Great montage. This pretty much encapsulates the reason I watched the show. The plots were silly at times, but the chemistry of the main characters was phenomenally dynamic.
Pamela is spectacular in everything I've seen her in. I loved her in Buck Rogers and really liked her role in Rollerball, although it was just a small part.
That is an excellent episode. Let's be honest....I personally think that the episodes in which C.J. has the featured storyline or lots of lines are the best episodes overall, because frankly, she was the better actor of the two with much more range. Here's Another Fine Mess, The Hunted, China Doll, The Monster, Secret Admirer, Eyewitness, Death Trap, and even Caged are better episodes than most because they feature her acting skills. I like season 1 the best for her comedic performances.
I remember watching Matt Houston when I was a teenager and hoping CJ and Matt would end up together:) I hate how the writers ended the TV series, but I love this compilation you put together!
Definitely, beautiful couple I can’t believe they didn’t pair them the chemistry is awesome to watch these two actors made it so real , so love this plus I have the series on dvd so even though they never paired them romantically it’s fun to watch them
I remember an episode in season 3 where CJ had a boyfriend that she was about to engage to and when Matt exposed him for the fraud that he was it really hurt CJ and she said Matt was jealous as if she knew that Matt may have been attracted to her beyond being a great friend. Matt truly never got in the way of any romances CJ had and CJ never got in the way of any romances that Matt has had and that's what I loved about their friendship. Sometimes the best love relationships are supported to great friendships and I think if the show had more time CJ and Matt would've been a couple and a strong one at that they really cared for each other.
I would argue, Jan, that Secret Admirer is the best of the entire series if I had to pick one, because it allowed Pamela Hensley to show her acting chops. The show hampered her quite a bit, even though she had 15 years more experience in TV and movies than Lee Horsley. There were a lot of romantic scenes like the ones you listed that I lived for every week when I was a kid. I'm still outraged at how that show ended without giving us what we wanted (and what they were teasing us with).
Pamela and Lee-Matt & CJ could have been a match made in Heaven- Especially if it had Not been for the introduction of that "ELIZABETH WOMAN"!! The one he wound up Not Marrying!😢😢😢 💔 💔 💔!!! LONG LIVE CJ & MATT 💕 💕!!! JKM 🐢
Loved this show. Fell in love with Pamela when she first played Princess Ardala in Buck Rogers. Then again on this show. The good looking Lee Horsley didn't hurt much either! :)
I never understood why the TV powers that be never allowed CJ and Matt to be romantically involved. They shared the same values, the same passion for helping others, they had a strong foundation rooted in friendship, mutual trust, respect and admiration for each other. I believe that's what people label as "equally yolked". And yet despite checking every single box, the writers and producers of the show, never took the relationship to that next level. Bummer. Oh well, I guess those of us who are fans of the show can still rely on fanfiction to make the reality come true.
I agree, Marzy....more fighting was needed and definitely a smack or two. I honestly think that since all this 80s stuff is in vogue now, a feature length film based on the first season's comedy and sexual tension is in order - unless you're a purist. Which I'm not. I too, would like to see LH and PH interviewed together in some context. That would be really nice to see.
I agree. They should be interviewed, I don't think they know what a fan following they have and I think they should although I respect their wanting their privacy
I agree-with the incredible chemistry between Lee Horsley and Pamela Hensley, Matt and CJ really should have gotten together. No excuse. Love the song-I had never heard it before I stumbled across this video.
Sorry jan kg....I didn't see that you posted a question for me. Season 1 Best Comedic: “The Yacht Club Murders” Best Dramatic: “Get Houston” Worst: Tie between “Joey’s Here” and “The Visitors” (but they are delightfully bad, to be fair. Season 2 Best: “The Secret Admirer” Worst: “Death Match” Season 3 Best: Tie between “Caged” and “Death Watch” Worst: Tie between “Company Secrets” and “Final Vows” .
PH seemed majorly burned out on acting by then. Not surprised she disappeared with all the series she did back to back and the brutal schedules involved. She was about 35 and Hollywood back then, brutal to women after about 30. I think she was smart about it. LH? Probably had deja vu when Paradise made the exact same mistakes as MH did infusing unnecessary testosterone for the young male viewers its last season and if I could rewrite that third season...Well I think I'll do it.
She was so amazing! It makes me sad that she did disappear. No plays. No voice work (And she TOTALLY could have gotten voice work). I was hoping we'd see her again after a break, but it's been a looooong break. :(
Thanks so much, I remember now, the pic had CJ in it and he realized last minute or something that CJ was the next victim, then I remember he saved her and held her, man I wish that was on dvd :(
Continued....Runners-up: (S. 1) Deadly Fashion, The Good Doctor, Whose Party is it Anyway?, Here's Another Fine Mess, Fear for Tomorrow, A Deadly Parlay, The Hunted (S. 2) Love You to Death, The Centerfold Murders, China Doll, The Monster, Houston is Dead, Blood Ties, On the Run (S. 3) Vanished, Eyewitness, Apostle of Death, and Breakpoint.
While different companies and creators would've been involved, it would've been interesting to see a Hart to Hart crossover with Matt Houston and in the end of that show, Matt and CJ finally get out of denial and marry,
Roy: Hate focus groups. Personally liked BE True gentleman. Don't make them like that anymore PH always seemed the pro. Dating the boss, you also have to avoid perceptions. Met DV once and found him pretty dynamic. What bothered me about Caged was the campiness of it like ripping off the Caged Heat type films. In real life, I deal with abusive law enforcement individuals and agencies including this type of thing so I guess it's more of a personal peeve. but then that's what FF is for. ;-)
Season 2 was my second favorite season. It has some gems, but my problem with it is that she became less of an equal partner to her during that season. She became more of a helper instead of a partner. They had a great dynamic during the first season even though it was campier. In a way, I think it would have worked better if the show had remained part-comedy like it was in the beginning.
I remember an episode and need to know if its from this show, A man was stalking the main character--Matt? and called him to tell him that there was a bomb in his car and to say goodbye to his lady friend who just left...the man ran outside and stopped her from turning the car on or something like that, sound like Matt Houston?
Don't get me started. Who's idea was it to have him fall in love with a woman in a DREAM - a dream we had never heard of up to that point? An unstable woman with a psycho brother and a helpless persona? So much a better alternative than your stable BFF. Not!
...& Buddy Ebsen was a terrible addition to the show. Not that I didn't like him as Barnaby Jones. I actually loved that show and that set of characters' dynamic. But adding him to a show that was finally building momentum at the end of season two was way more like adding a sleeping pill than making any characters "meatier." Pamela Hensley and Lincoln Kilpatrick were the gems of all the seasons they were in. They should have taken the show from the I LOVE YOU part to its logical conclusion.
I always wondered too, she was my favorite actress. It wasn't until years later I found out she married E. Duke Vincent and walked away from Hollywood. You'd think being the EP he would have let her have a bigger role!
season 3: I have a confession. I didn't like most of the season. I would like to pretend Final Vows and the whole Elizabeth mess never happened. I did love Eyewitness a lot. Apostle of Death...would have rather seen him get shot and she rescue him. If he's not going to profess his undying love for her, what's the point of getting her shot, lol. Caged...liked her larger role but the eppy bothered me it led to my firs FF story, "A Glimmer of Twilight". Death Trap..liked in part b/c of A.R.
Just and FYI for anyone interested. I had read last month that VEI was going to release the entire Matt Houston series on DVD soon. I emailed them yesterday and they did confirm an upcoming release of the entire series in a a box set, but did not list a release date. They said to keep checking their website for dates.
smmed lrg the screen in the credits where Matt's carrying a semi-conscious CJ up a roadside where the station wagon is on fire below is called 'Another Fine Mess'. It had Laurel and Hardy impersonators who were trying to kill off CJ and all of her sorority sisters.
One could certainly read that into it, but I don't think the writers had almost any intent at all except to try to make a show about a macho guy and his girl friday. I think what the actors tried to do despite the writing is what you may be picking up on. She certainly tried to salvage the poor writing and create changes in her character over time.
Let's not forget that she rescued him almost as much. ; ) jan kg, how long did your videos take to get to the states from the U.K.? I'm waiting on my with bated breath. : )
Jan's right and that's one of two episodes, where CJ was targeted the 2nd being S2's China Doll where she's shot, and at the end Houston just wails on the bad guy. In A Fine Mess the killer acts smug as the cops are about to take him away and Novailli tells Houston he's not worth it, Houston say, Yeah maybe you're right," a pause and a smug smile from Andrew Robinson, then Houston says "Then again," and dukes the sonuvabitch. lol A John Wayne moment if there was one. lol
Now throw in the times he was knocked on the noggin'. All those blows to the head had to explain why the dumb*** couldn't see that C.J. was in love with him. And conversely, that he was in love with her. Zero self-awareness, that one. ; )
And when she said, "Houston, I love you." and he said NOTHING! NUH-THING!!! Not even a "Love ya', too." or "Back attcha" "Ditto"... He chose to say - NOTHING!! Let's just say that it's been 30+ years and I'm still ticked off about it!
Can you recall if you bought it from "mjn60" on IOffer? The site looks a little dubious and if you ordered from that person and got the discs without problem, I'd like to know that in advance before I order. Have you had good luck with that site?
Yeah didn't care for the writers. Only James L. Conway. Directors, Kim Manners and Corey Allen were really good. But you're right, very few women doing anything in either category. I liked Eyewitness though. I would have liked to see more fighting...so many times she should have just told him off or parked him on his keister. lol.
jan kg - LOL : "frizzy-head interferers." I don't think I'll ever get over this unrequited love. It may be the thing that made me hate those stories when I grew up. grrrr.
Marzy, I thought PH's talent ran the gamut. She was hilarious in Season 1, pulled out some excellent drama in Season 2, and was very professional in Season 3 despite the writers' obvious disdain for her character. I, too, would rather imagine that Season 3 not existed - that Roy thing was a debacle and totally pointless. What bothered you about Caged? I agree that he should have confessed his undying love in Apostle of Death - what a waste.
Since you have all the DVDs, do you know which episode contains the scene in the opening in which he appears to be carrying C.J. through a fire (in the woods)? I recall that scene from the opening intro but not which episode it was in. Thanks for all the info.
Season 2 Best comedy: Not much this season but Love You to Death unintentionally probably. Best: “The Secret Admirer/China Doll. Maybe I'm in the minority but I liked China Doll a lot until she got shot as she took a larger role. Also liked Monster and Butterfly and Heritage.
OH, jan kg. I misunderstood. Can you post a link to the picture here? BTW - if you ever make another video, you should make a montage of the myriad of times they rescued each other. :)
Taste and perception are interesting things. I liked it when it was more comedic. She did drama and comedy well. He was better at comedy and romantic lead stuff but not drama. That's my personal taste. As far as the perception goes - I don't know about meatier characters and she certainly performed her role with gusto in the end and did as much as she could with incredibly bad writing, but I still contend that third season was the worst because her role was diminished overall....
I'm of two minds about that. The little girl in me still desperately wants them to get together, but now that I've watched season 3 with adult eyes again, the writers wrote it so it looked like he was treating her like crap from the midway point to the end. Very depressing to watch. She seemed disengaged and their chemistry was all but gone. Why did they ruin that chemistry from season 1 that was even still there in season 2? sigh.
Try watching the series, with the idea that CJ is a lesbian. I suspect that was the original intentions of the show's creators. The relationship between Matt and CJ makes a lot more sense with that in mind.
I have a theory that the episodes in Season 3 were filmed in a different order than they aired. I think Death Trap or Death Watch were the original season finale and the Elizabeth episodes were closer to the middle and earlier in the season. Season 3 doesn't have the cohesion of Season 2. There are some really weird fashion and hairstyle jumps and the Elizabeth stuff doesn't make any sense where it is. Death Watch has a different out-tro that seems to indicate a season finale. I think it's also possible Caged was the finale. Thoughts?
