Funny and often touching

This is a fun little series, but there’s one scene that I think defines it - and made the hoaxers stop and take notice. Early on, I believe in the first episode (?), a woman brings Mr. Shatner and his crew a home-baked pie. That simple act seemed to set them back on their heels a bit. The Hollywood folks got a taste of the warmth and friendliness of midwestern values. It’s hard to hoax/punk/hoodwink someone, especially for an extended period, when you like them. The longer the hoaxing went on, and the more the actors got to know the locals, the more guilty and ashamed they felt for taking “advantage” of them. When you watch the final episode you’ll see that guilt and shame come pouring out. Those were real tears from the actors.

William Shatner’s Invasion Iowa is a fun show with a neat concept, but it’s interesting to watch the tables get turned. One final thought: the scene with the old man taking Mr. Shatner to the cemetery to show him his wife’s grave is one of the sweetest, purest moments ever in TV history.