Okay, admit it. I know I couldn't have been the only one sucked in to Balance of Power starring your friend and mine, Billy Blanks. It aired last night (9/4/99) around 10-10:30pm on the cable channel FX.

It was difficult to watch. Billy has a little problem with acting. He can't. Which shouldn't be a suprise to anyone who does his tapes. His on camera persona is a joy, though.

I had fun yelling, "Don't let them take you down, Billy!" "Be a conqueror!" "Billy, reach up and grab your higher power!"

Don't tell me I was the only one sitting around on Saturday night watching this. Please don't tell me I was the only one.

I didn't see the end, so someone reassure me that Billy kicked the bad guy's ass out of commission!

-- Anonymous, September 05, 1999

Answers

If we had FX with my cable provider, I would have watched it. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that Billy B. vehicle, but I have seen Tough and Deadly. Well, actually just parts of it. It was really hard to sit through, what with the fact that even the fight scenes were pretty bad- and that's what Billy's supposed to be good at.

I really think it would be a good idea, though, to have a Billy Blanks film festival showcasing some of his works. Everybody could wear workout clothes and we'd drink liquor out of water bottles.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 1999

I like the way you think, Andy.

Billy's fight scenes were just awful. But the acting. That was much, much worse. You could tell he was enjoying himself, though, and that made it worth it. My favorite scene? When he's going through this trial to see if he's fit to be a death match fighter. He's in a steam room and the bad guy turns up the heat to kill him"No man can withstand that Heat!" and then Billy, he goes nuts and starts punching and punching and all you see is his sinewy, sweaty body wearing only a SPEEDO! It's fantastic! "What? How is he doing that?" the bad guys say, but you know Billy, he's greata conqueror! Whoo hoo!

-- Anonymous, September 08, 1999