THE FALL GUY was the third hit series for Lee Majors, following a supporting role on THE BIG VALLEY during the 60s and the lead as THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN during the 70s, lasting five seasons opposite costars Heather Thomas, Markie Post, and Douglas Barr. It was a reunion with MILLION DOLLAR producer Glen A. Larson, who was able to pitch to ABC a show about anonymous stunt people who moonlight on the side catching crooks and performing good deeds. This fourth season episode, "October the 31st," is as expected a special Halloween presentation, and Larson's third time out for veteran horror actor John Carradine, previously seen in the title role of Dennis Weaver's "McCloud Meets Dracula" in 1977 and B. J. AND THE BEAR's "A Coffin with a View" from 1979, here boasting the stunt casting of his three sons David, Keith, and Robert for one regrettably brief sequence early on. Also making a rare network appearance is Cassandra Peterson in her beloved guise as 'Elvira, Mistress of the Dark,' gratified to see her persona faithfully captured with the customary quips and double entendres, although rather jarringly falling for Majors' Colt Seavers at first glance, then using her charms to earn a more positive response the rest of the episode. The main storyline is a common theme, Carradine's Preston Deauville in desperate financial straits to save his mansion and estate from creditors, yet refusing to allow a film crew for five days shooting on the premises. His wife Katherine (Signe Hasso) has already signed the contract, but her husband refuses to yield to the inevitable and places a curse on the company when they arrive. Before the night is over he receives an unexpected fright and tumbles to his death down a treacherous flight of stairs, but it seems his ghost is determined to conduct a haunting on the intruders before Elvira's impromptu seance uncovers the truth. Orson Bean's Jason Klemer is the director, Doug McClure's Anthony Martin the conceited leading man who doesn't think he needs a stunt man, Elvira his leading lady who obviously can't stand the sight of him. The short bit with all four Carradines is amusing but oh so brief, Robert as the gardener, Keith as the chef, David the caretaker, all sparring with their illustrious father - John: "I will not be in need of your services" Robert: "but what about the roses, who's going to water the roses, who will talk to them?" John: "the ghosts of Deauville!" Robert: "they'll die without my help" John: "good, I hate roses!" Keith: "if I go who will prepare the Eggs Florentine?" John: "it'll do me good to get away from your lethal sauces!" Keith: "but you'll starve without my hearty Cioppino Royale or my luminous Linguine Alfresco, not to mention my awesome Ossobuco" John: "if you could learn to cook as well as you can talk I'd double your salary, you never understood all I ever wanted was a decent ham sandwich!" David: "you won't see me complaining, I could use a little vacation" John: "unfortunately, it will be a permanent one" David: "you're firing me?" John: "I prefer to think of it as an act of mercy! Look at you, you have the soul of a poet and the mind of a genius, and you're nothing but a caretaker" David: "you're completely insane" John: "exactly, and with a little diligence the same could be true for you!" All four had only appeared together before on talk shows, and only Robert had one more opportunity to play opposite John in an upcoming episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, "Still Life." The elder Carradine had previously worked with Lee Majors on THE BIG VALLEY in 1969's oddity "Town of No Exit," while Elvira's 'exposure' this evening extended to a six hour hosting gig for ELVIRA'S MTV HALLOWEEN PARTY (again with John Carradine) and an appearance on THE TONIGHT SHOW.
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