Faerie Tale Theatre Grimm Party (1982–1987) Online

After several years of rumors on the internet, many fans wondered if this episode actually existed. It does, but after viewing it, you can understand why it is so easily forgotten.

Shelley Duvall (who created, produced, and starred in several episodes) is throwing a costume party for all of the actors who appeared in Faerie Tale Theatre. Her friend Teri Garr is helping her pick an outfit. The party gets underway and people like Dana Hill, Brock Peters, Jean Stapleton, and Paul Reubens are having a grand old time.

There are actors from the shows that have aired, as well as future episodes. Some of the actors wear costumes from their roles, others chose different fairy tale outfits (Bridgette Anderson was dressed as Alice in Wonderland, Dana Hill was a pink rabbit). Several of them are interviewed, and it does provide a little bit of insight to the creation of a brilliant show. Pam Dawber discusses how she got the role of the Little Mermaid, Paul Reubens (still in the height of his Pee-Wee Herman phase) discusses his interpretation of Pinocchio. Unfortunately, there are several actors who do not appear - Klaus Kinski, Mick Jagger, and Liza Minnelli being the three that jump to mind.

There is a tiny bit of a plot here: Shelley hits her head and dreams she is put on trial by the Brothers Grimm for doing justice to their stories. She has to defend herself,and does it by showing clips from several episodes. Really it's just an excuse to film the reunion party.

For those of us who are crazy FTT fans, this is one that you can't skip. It's just so unusual. But if you are only recently discovering the series, this is really just a fluffy addition to the new DVD set. It's okay, but not necessary to enjoy the rest of the show. Stick to the actual fairy tale adaptations, which were all fabulous.

When I was a kid, I recorded the episode of The Grimm Party on VHS tape. We recorded over it, and now, I dearly wish we hadn't. I've read that this episode of the ever-popular cable series is considered to be "lost". Is this true? Apparently, Starmaker, who released the series on DVD, tried to have The Grimm Party released with the collection, and could not. Realley?!! How sad. Who remembers it?... Shelley Duvall has a huge party to celebrate 3 years of FTT. She invites all actors involved in the series, and many of them ware their costumes from their episode. Shelley, however, doesn't have one. Her friend Teri Garr tells her she should hurry and find one, and says she'll be at the punch bowl. Shelley trips and hits her head and... well... suddenly she's in a courtroom, with the Brother's Grimm as her judges, and they are accusing her of tampering with classic literature, because of the changes she made to their beloved stories. She defends herself, by highlighting each tale, and proving that though they are embellished and enhanced, they are still the same stories.

There is a lot to like about the 'Faerie Tale Theatre' series. Many of their adaptations of various well-known and well-loved fairy tales are charming, clever and sometimes funny, a few even emotionally moving. 'Faerie Tale Theatre' puts its own magical spin (whether playing for laughs or straight) on the best of the episodes while still capturing the essence of the stories, while also giving further enjoyments in seeing talented performers in early roles or in roles that are departures from their usual roles.

"Grimm Party" (or "Greatest Moments") is somewhat of the odd episode out of 'Faerie Tale Theatre', being more of an embellished reunion episode rather than an adaptation of a famous story. It is still a very interesting, entertaining and affectionate episode, would have liked many more greatest moments and more guests taking part myself but there is nothing grim at all.

Really enjoyed Shelley Duvall's little sub-plot, that was very clever and entertaining and a good way of bringing a little plot to the proceedings, even though it perhaps took up a little too much time when we could have had a few more interviews and archive footage. Ed Begley Jnr and Richard Libertini do nice jobs as the Grimm Brothers and Duvall proves herself again like she did in the episodes she starred in that she can be a capable actress when her material allowed it. Teri Garr is fun too.

Interviews are interesting from the likes of Pam Dawber ("The Little Mermaid"), Paul Reubens ("Pinocchio", wasn't crazy about his performance in that episode but hearing Reubens talk about it and see him at the height of his Pee Wee Herman days made for engaging viewing) and a few more like Herve Villechaize and Howie Mandel. Likewise with the archive footage, a notable example being Jean Stapleton as the giantess in "Jack and the Beanstalk" and the Fairy Godmother in "Cinderella".

Would have loved to have seen more guests, how fun it would have been to hear the likes of Klaus Kinski, Malcolm McDowell, Liza Minnelli, Lee Remick, Jeff Goldblum, Susan Sarandon, Eric Idle and Mick Jagger talk about their roles. May have been for availability reasons why they weren't there, while also being perhaps that Kinski generally was notoriously difficult to work with in his career and not invited or something.

Production values while not beautiful are decent enough, the episode is nicely scored and the mix of Duvall's sub-plot, the archive footage, interviews and skits were mostly balanced well.

Overall, entertaining reunion episode and serves as a nice behind the scenes. 8/10 Bethany Cox