YouTube playlist: The Last Ninja paves the way for...the next ninjas

The ninja craze hit all aspects of pop culture in the 1980s, as we mention on this week's podcast looking at The Master. One thing we did not discuss is the 1983 TV movie The Last Ninja. It was far from the last, and maybe closer to the first on high-profile network TV!

IMDB says simply: A story of an art dealer who leads a double life as a ninja.

The lead is Michael Beck because of course in 1983, the networks would go with an American dude as a titular ninja.  He plays Kenjiro Sakura. Why not?  Beck also stars in The Warriors, Xanadu, and one of my personal faves: Megaforce!

Giving the movie "Eastern cred" are the likes of accomplished performers Nancy Kwan and Mako. And go further down the cast, and you find John Laroquette and Irene Tedrow!

The Paramount-produced movie premiered July 7, 1983 on ABC against repeats (Magnum, Simon & Simon, Fame, Gimme a Break) but finished third in the 9:00 hour and barely edged the Fame rerun for second in the 8:00 hour. 

This cool article explains the "occidental master" trope and notes that the movie was produced by one of the original Kung Fu's creators. The author says it's thought this was a pilot for a series but NBC's Master beat it to air. In fact, this article is such a thorough review that I am not going to read all of it. I think I want to see this one myself first!

The Master video playlist is now live!

After listening to this week's podcast, continue exploring the ways of The Master with our video playlist! Just click below to see commercials (Lee Van Cleef did a lot more than I realized!), network promos, fights, and more! And you better believe there will be ninjas! All this and another glimpse or two of the OG (Original Genius) himself, Robert Pine!

And remember, you can visit our official YouTube channel anytime to hear all of our previous episodes and dedicated playlists for each one!

Show Notes: Episode 9-7: The Master

*Special thanks again to Ryan for suggesting this show topic!

*One ninja show we didn't mention is 1983 TV movie The Last Ninja, which premiered July 7, 1983, on ABC.

*If anyone laments the fact that we didn't cover the dirtbike episode of the series, may we suggest you click here to get your fix?

*The Master aired 13 episodes, January 1984 to August 1984.

*'Fat Tuesday" is the sixth episode of the series, premiering March 9, 1984. As we mention on the podcast, it aired Friday nights on NBC.

*On this particular night, NBC followed it with Legmen and The New Show. ABC had Benson, Webster, Blue Thunder, and Matt Houston. CBS had a repeat of The Dukes of Hazzard, then new episodes of Dallas and Falcon Crest.

*Lee Van Cleef (1925-1989) had a pacemaker installed in the early 1980s and already had lingering effects from a severe car accident in the late Fifties. The Master was his last TV role, but he was in several feature films after the show.

*Timothy Van Patten is still around and is a prolific television director!

*Will we take this opportunity to put the Robert Pine commercial in the video playlist this week? You bet your steak and Lowenbrau we will!

*Remember what Austin Beaumont says: "The proximity of success!"

Yeah, we still don't get what he was going for there.

*Apparently you can drive during MardiGras, at least according to this site.

The key to driving during Mardi Gras is patience. When parking, make sure you pay attention to posted signs. What’s more, do not block hydrants, driveways, sidewalks, or fire lanes, and do not park on a neutral ground (median) or within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or stop sign. 

*The other "Legman" with Bruce Greenwood was John Terlesky, who was a regular on several other series before becoming a productive director--like TVP!

*Show creator Michael Sloan's book is available here in softcover. Sloan is married to actress Melissa Sue Anderson. This is from the official Bear Manor Media (we love Bear manor here!) description:

In “One More Thing, Sir”, Michael Sloan brings his extensive knowledge of the television business to this charming, personable memoir of his years of bringing such iconic TV shows to life as McCloud, Columbo, The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman, B.J. and the Bear, The Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E., Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries, Call of the Wild and The Equalizer.  

Notice what series is not mentioned?

Tomorrow on Battle of the Network Shows...