So, in addition to the Reelz Channel documentary on FOL, there are three new Reelz Channel documentaries on DS: a "Celebrity Autopsy" on Dana Plato, a similar one for Gary Coleman, and a third on the trainwreck that was the child cast.

Did anyone else see these? I just viewed the Dana and DS episodes last night. Here were my impressions.

The "Celebrity Autopsy" on Dana is sooooo bad. The recreations were horrible (they didn't get anyone who looked like the real actors, and to make up for it, they kept using blurry angles, night shots, tight shots, and putting obstacles in the way, but it just didn't work). Then they showed the celebrity doctor looking through a microscope, turning on a Bunsen burner, and examining scientific specimens, but it was very clear that all he actually did was read the old autopsy report, and base his findings on that. At no point did he actually examine any other evidence. He read the report. :lol:

The only redeeming thing about this documentary were the interviews with Dana's friends and Todd Bridges, as well as the audio excerpt from the Howard Stern Show, Dana's last interview.


A significant improvement is the documentary covering all three DS kids. The recreations were decent, the cast and crew interviews were good, and both the girls they got to play Dana were realistic. The younger girl was good, and the older girl was a spot-on double for Dana, just without the freckles. The actor portraying Todd was decent; the one for Gary... well, not so much.

The interviews with Dana's agent and godmother, Gary's friend, and Todd, were nice as well. This was the best of the three documentaries, and I learned a lot. Perhaps the most interesting fact is they said that Allison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson on LHOTP) was said to have specifically been told NOT to hang around the DS kids.


I didn't watch much of the "Celebrity Autopsy" on Gary Coleman. It was already shaping up to be similar to the Dana "Autopsy". I.e., bad.

A significant improvement is the documentary covering all three DS kids. The recreations were decent, the cast and crew interviews were good, and both the girls they got to play Dana were realistic. The younger girl was good, and the older girl was a spot-on double for Dana, just without the freckles. The actor portraying Todd was decent; the one for Gary... well, not so much.

The interviews with Dana's agent and godmother, Gary's friend, and Todd, were nice as well. This was the best of the three documentaries, and I learned a lot. Perhaps the most interesting fact is they said that Allison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson on LHOTP) was said to have specifically been told NOT to hang around the DS kids.


I would love to see this one! I don't get Reelz, so hopefully it will turn up online somewhere.

I would love to see this one! I don't get Reelz, so hopefully it will turn up online somewhere.

If it doesn't show up somewhere, I'll upload a clip sometime.

If it doesn't show up somewhere, I'll upload a clip sometime.

Thank you, sir! I'd appreciate that!

So, in addition to the Reelz Channel documentary on FOL, there are three new Reelz Channel documentaries on DS: a "Celebrity Autopsy" on Dana Plato, a similar one for Gary Coleman, and a third on the trainwreck that was the child cast.

Did anyone else see these? I just viewed the Dana and DS episodes last night. Here were my impressions.

The "Celebrity Autopsy" on Dana is sooooo bad. The recreations were horrible (they didn't get anyone who looked like the real actors, and to make up for it, they kept using blurry angles, night shots, tight shots, and putting obstacles in the way, but it just didn't work). Then they showed the celebrity doctor looking through a microscope, turning on a Bunsen burner, and examining scientific specimens, but it was very clear that all he actually did was read the old autopsy report, and base his findings on that. At no point did he actually examine any other evidence. He read the report. :lol:

The only redeeming thing about this documentary were the interviews with Dana's friends and Todd Bridges, as well as the audio excerpt from the Howard Stern Show, Dana's last interview.


A significant improvement is the documentary covering all three DS kids. The recreations were decent, the cast and crew interviews were good, and both the girls they got to play Dana were realistic. The younger girl was good, and the older girl was a spot-on double for Dana, just without the freckles. The actor portraying Todd was decent; the one for Gary... well, not so much.

The interviews with Dana's agent and godmother, Gary's friend, and Todd, were nice as well. This was the best of the three documentaries, and I learned a lot. Perhaps the most interesting fact is they said that Allison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson on LHOTP) was said to have specifically been told NOT to hang around the DS kids.


I didn't watch much of the "Celebrity Autopsy" on Gary Coleman. It was already shaping up to be similar to the Dana "Autopsy". I.e., bad.

I kind of get why they would use as you suggest blurry angles and what not to try to disguise the notion that this is a relatively low budget show (the Autopsy program originated in the UK and I believe is now technically a UK/ITV co-production with Reelz). The big thing that I took with the Dana Plato episode is that the doctor (Dr. Michael Hunter) came to the conclusion that Dana simply accidentally overdosed and she didn't intentionally try to take her life.

I will commend that the show will often interview people who actually knew the subjects personally like Todd Bridges in Dana Plato's case. Therefore, there's little chances that we'll see some gossip mongering talking head speaking on hearsay or second hand information.

I kind of get why they would use as you suggest blurry angles and what not to try to disguise the notion that this is a relatively low budget show (the Autopsy program originated in the UK and I believe is now technically a UK/ITV co-production with Reelz). The big thing that I took with the Dana Plato episode is that the doctor (Dr. Michael Hunter) came to the conclusion that Dana simply accidentally overdosed and she didn't intentionally try to take her life.

But all he did was interview some of her friends and look at the original report. He's shown using a Bunsen burner, examining specimens under the microscope, and doing science-looking things, but it turns out all of that was fake. He didn't examine any physical items, there was no autopsy, so why the scenes of him examining things under a microscope and firing up the Bunsen burner?

It's like a coroner conducting an "examination" with no body. They don't allow that in the medical profession.

Just wanted too pop in with a short message to re-introduce myself... I have not been on here for a few years, but I was a good friend of Dana Plato from Diff'rent Strokes... I just changed my avator to a shot of her and I from about 40 years ago!

I do not get the channel and did not see the Autopsy Story on Dana.... but I sure would like to see it sometime... Dana was a really close friend and I miss her alot...

Just wanted too pop in with a short message to re-introduce myself... I have not been on here for a few years, but I was a good friend of Dana Plato from Diff'rent Strokes... I just changed my avator to a shot of her and I from about 40 years ago!

I do not get the channel and did not see the Autopsy Story on Dana.... but I sure would like to see it sometime... Dana was a really close friend and I miss her alot...

Welcome back!

I am a big fan of Dana's so hopefully something this will surface somewhere. I was a member of the adjoining Dana Plato Yahoo site, which is no longer running unfortunately.

I am a big fan of Dana's so hopefully something this will surface somewhere. I was a member of the adjoining Dana Plato Yahoo site, which is no longer running unfortunately.

I see that you live in the United Kingdom. Was "Different Strokes" ever syndicated there?

Hi, I have only seen it once on air, 38 years ago.
The only region 2 DVD is series 1.
although I love watching Dana and different strokes, I also find it very sad too.

Hi,

Has anyone managed to see the Reelz documentary yet? Could someone uplift it?

Thanks

Hi,

Has anyone managed to see the Reelz documentary yet? Could someone uplift it?

Thanks

I did end up seeing it. I liked it.