I have a question for LITB adepts :-)

[Lucky00me]

Hi!

I have a question only a real LITB specialist can answer I'm afraid. ;-)

So here it goes: Joaquin Phoenix (2006 Academy Award nominee for "Walk the Line") mentioned in a 1997 interview (please see excerpt below) that he had an appearance in a TV special regarding LITB. Do you have any idea which show he meant?
He is born in 1974 and was often credited as Leaf Phoenix as a child actor.

I searched the net but couldn't find anything. No credits or clips or hints of a show (Maybe "Still the Beaver" or "The new LITB"?) with a "boy in green spandex".

I'm sure that you've probably seen each and every episode and special there is. So I'll be more than happy if someone can recall a scene or could provide some information.

Thank you very much in advance. I'll appreciate any info.

Lucky00me


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The News-Times - April 1997

Five questions with Joaquin Phoenix: Out from the ashes
By MARK KENNEDY
Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - If there's a minor league in Hollywood, Joaquin Phoenix has surely earned his ticket up to the Big Time.

Blessed with brooding good looks, River Phoenix's younger brother has toiled mostly in the minor roles of angst-ridden adolescents. The 22-year-old actor recalls one ... TV special - a sort of "Leave It To Beaver'' in the future.

"I'm, like, Beaver's grandchild or something and I'm wearing this neon green spandex thing with my hair just all over,'' he shudders. "It was so kooky.''
......
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[Mark B.]

Lucky00me

I can answer your question probably with a little more detail than you need!

Joaquin was referring to an episode of "The New Leave it to Beaver" from the 1988-89 season (the last of the show's 4 seasons). If I recall correctly, the episode was called "Still The New Leave it to Beaver" (I could be wrong on the episode title). In this show, a dream sequence shows the Cleaver family about 30 years in the future. Joaquin (then called Leaf), as well as his sisters Rain and Summer, played the future kids of the (then) Cleaver kids on the show. Wally and Beaver were now the elderly grandparents of the family. Everybody wore futuristic clothing (hence the green spandex).

At the time of the shooting, series regular Kaleena Kiff (then 14) was said to be very excited to have the family of teen-hearthrob River Phoenix guest-starring on the show.

If you need clarification on the episode title, etc. let me know- I think I have the scripts somewhere (I interned on the show at the time).

[Lucky00me]

Wow Mark :) thank you so much for your comprehensive answer.
That is way more information that I ever expected to receive.
Can't thank you enough! I really appreciate it.

Lucky