October the 31st (The Fall Guy episode)
Encyclopedia
October the 31st is an episode of the American television series The Fall Guy
, which starred Lee Majors
. This episode first appeared on October 31, 1984. There were two guest stars in this episode, veteran horror movie actor, John Carradine
and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
. It also featured Keith
, Robert
, and David Carradine
in cameo parts in a scene with their father.
) is preparing to guest star in a Halloween
special with stunt man Colt Seavers (Lee Majors). The cast and crew of the special become aware that the producers have arranged to film the project in a mansion that is supposedly haunted. The crew arrive at the mansion and beginning setting up their equipment, when it becomes apparent that the owner of the mansion, Preston Deauville (John Carradine) is outraged that his wife, Katherine (Signe Hasso
) arranged for them to film there without his knowledge. It is further realized that Deauville is opposed the arrangement. His is so vexed that he fires his staff which include a chef (Keith Carradine), a gardner (Robert Carradine) and a caretaker (David Carradine). The staff plead with the old man to reconsider and at one point David's character blurts out "You're insane!" The elder Carradine's character responds, "And with a little diligence the same can be said of you!"
As the episode progresses, Preston Deauville dies of an apparent heart attack and is buried in the backyard. However, Deauville remains present in the house menacing the actors and crew who are trying to film their show. It is eventually discovered that Deauville was murdered by his evil twin brother (also played by John Carradine) in a plot with his wife.
and she appeared on The Tonight Show
. John Carradine also appeared on her special that evening.
The episode was built around the Elvira chracter. The actress said she was very pleased with The Fall Guy script. "You know, when I was on CHiPs
, they toned my character down for network TV. That's why I was so happy with the script for The Fall Guy, where they not only wrote the whole story around me, but they kept my risque humor. I think it came out really cute." While filming the episode on location at a convent
, Elvira was actually "mobbed" by a group of nuns clamoring for her autograph.
After his death, the Associated Press
listed David Carradine's guest-shot in this episode as one of the more notable of his television appearances.
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
, which starred Lee Majors
Lee Majors
Lee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
. This episode first appeared on October 31, 1984. There were two guest stars in this episode, veteran horror movie actor, John Carradine
John Carradine
John Carradine was an American actor, best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theater. A member of Cecil B DeMille's stock company and later John Ford's company, he was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history...
and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation...
. It also featured Keith
Keith Carradine
Keith Ian Carradine is an American actor who has had success on stage, film and television. In addition, he is a Golden Globe and Oscar winning songwriter. As a member of the Carradine family, he is part of an acting "dynasty" that began with his father, John Carradine.-Early life:Keith...
, Robert
Robert Carradine
Robert Reed Carradine is an American actor. The youngest of the Carradine family of actors, he made his first appearances on television western series such as Bonanza and his older brother David's Kung Fu. Carradine's first film role was in the 1972 film The Cowboys opposite Roscoe Lee Browne and...
, and David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
in cameo parts in a scene with their father.
Synopisis
In this episode, Elvira (Cassandra PetersonCassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson is an American actress best known for her on-screen horror hostess character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown as host of Movie Macabre, a weekly horror movie presentation...
) is preparing to guest star in a Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
special with stunt man Colt Seavers (Lee Majors). The cast and crew of the special become aware that the producers have arranged to film the project in a mansion that is supposedly haunted. The crew arrive at the mansion and beginning setting up their equipment, when it becomes apparent that the owner of the mansion, Preston Deauville (John Carradine) is outraged that his wife, Katherine (Signe Hasso
Signe Hasso
Signe Hasso was a Swedish-born American actress, writer and composer.-Background:Signe Eleonora Cecilia Larsson was born in the Kungsholmen parish of Stockholm, Sweden in 1915...
) arranged for them to film there without his knowledge. It is further realized that Deauville is opposed the arrangement. His is so vexed that he fires his staff which include a chef (Keith Carradine), a gardner (Robert Carradine) and a caretaker (David Carradine). The staff plead with the old man to reconsider and at one point David's character blurts out "You're insane!" The elder Carradine's character responds, "And with a little diligence the same can be said of you!"
As the episode progresses, Preston Deauville dies of an apparent heart attack and is buried in the backyard. However, Deauville remains present in the house menacing the actors and crew who are trying to film their show. It is eventually discovered that Deauville was murdered by his evil twin brother (also played by John Carradine) in a plot with his wife.
Reaction
The episode aired the same night that Elvira's six-hour Halloween special aired on MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and she appeared on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
. John Carradine also appeared on her special that evening.
The episode was built around the Elvira chracter. The actress said she was very pleased with The Fall Guy script. "You know, when I was on CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, they toned my character down for network TV. That's why I was so happy with the script for The Fall Guy, where they not only wrote the whole story around me, but they kept my risque humor. I think it came out really cute." While filming the episode on location at a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, Elvira was actually "mobbed" by a group of nuns clamoring for her autograph.
After his death, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
listed David Carradine's guest-shot in this episode as one of the more notable of his television appearances.