Travolta, Mr. Brady & Buzz

Coming next week to the monitor near you - it’s John Travolta starring as Tod Lubitch in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Created for TV in 1976, this Aaron Spelling production is kind of bizarre, sometimes quite funny, often really annoying and just the type of film our content editors refuse to let die an obscure death. So why you ask - is this film worth including in the LikeTelevision library? Well lots of reasons. Welcome Back Kotter had just come out and Travolta was beginning to make a name for himself as Vinnie Barbarino. He was just learning to polish his dance moves - yikes, watch this! - and next year, in 1977 - he would be starring in Saturday Night Fever. And you might recall the eyebrow raising relationship between the young Travolta and a woman 17 years older than him, not twice his age… but close enough for government work. Her name was Diana Hyland and she stars as Travolta’s mom in this movie, which i believe is where the two met. Diana Hyland also starred Dick Van Patton’s wife on Eight is Enough, but died tragically at the age of 41 of breast cancer. I remember reading that she died Mr. Travolta’s arms.

The film also features the great Robert Reed, best known as Mike Brady, father of the Brady Bunch. His over the top corny and sappy California PC papa performance is nothing short of hilarious. Too many great lines to mention. Another really fun game to play while watching this movie is - spot the movie gaffs when he could be contaminated by germs. You’ll be very busy. The fashion style of the 1970s is just too aweful and this film really brings that to light. The fashion police would just have a field day - why is Travolta wearing a reddish brown knit Tam O’Shanter, with one of those funky mesh football shirts and terry cloth gym shorts, that are so tight and small i personally embarassed for Travolta’s family 30 years later.