Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Beyond Witch Mountain‘s “Pilot”

Tread Perilously‘s pilot season wraps up with Beyond Witch Mountain, an attempt to extend the Witch Mountain film duology into a weekly series.

When extraterrestrials Tia and Tony leave their community atop Witch Mountain in search of their Uncle Bené, they learn his missing son has been located. But when Bené passes in a very Jedi-like way, they take on the rescue mission themselves and recruit the aid of helpful curmudgeon Jason O’Day — the man who drove them to Witch Mountain in the first place. And, as it turns out, rich industrialist Aristotle Bolt is not over losing them before and continues his search for the kids. Will he finally abduct O’Day and use him as leverage? 

Erik and Justin get lost talking about Disney in the 1970s and renegade animator Ralph Bakshi. Eddie Albert makes his Tread Perilously debut as O’Day while Erik reveals where Justin might recognize Witch Mountain film stars Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann. Justin puts the pilot to the Cinema Test. He also fails to recognize the voice of the opening sequence’s narrator. Geography Corner gets a workout as the Southern California mountains and Highland Park seem to play the Pacific Northwest. Tracy Gold makes an earlier appearance replacing Richards as Tia. Justin disagrees with the naming of Uncle Bené and Erik recalls the Long Distance Rate Wars of the 1980s.

Be sure to subscribe to Tread Perilously on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@TreadPerilously)!