The Best Little Special in Texas

You know how you spend years looking for something you think you'll never find, and then when you finally do find it, it's a complete and utter disappointment? Well, that's exactly how I feel about "The Best Little Special in Texas." This snoozefest chronicles the Austin, Texas two-day celebration of the premiere of the film "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."

There's thoroughly unrelated musical performances by Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, The Statler Brothers and star Dolly Parton (who, in a total WTF moment, sings "Rocky Top Tennessee"); an interesting but tediously overlong glimpse of the parade leading up to the film's premiere; and a post-show banquet emceed by Burt Reynolds. The director and numerous supporting stars are nowhere to be found (not even Marvin Zindler -- aka THE REAL Melvin P. Thorpe). There's no history of The Chicken Ranch nor of the stage musical. No deleted scenes or behind the scenes glimpses, save for a set of bloopers (a few of which didn't make it to the DVD). Despite appearances by a handful of stars there's no interviews or notable anecdotes about the making of the movie. There were a ton of great making-of specials that aired on TV in the '80s but this certainly isn't one of them. It's simply a video-chronicle of the film's Austin premiere. If you're interested in the guests, by all means, seek out a copy of the special. If you're a fan of the movie, there's not a lot here that's worth your time.

Just as a P.S., it's worth noting that this special has ties to another of my grand obsessions: Sid & Marty Krofft. This special was directed by Jack Regas, who directed many episodes of The Lost Saucer, Dr. Shrinker, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Wonderbug, The Brady Bunch Hour, and The Bay City Rollers Show. Interesting how many of my obsessions intersect.

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