A glimpse at upcoming UK DVD and Blu-ray release dates until the end of 2024: here’s what’s coming to disc and when.
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note that all dates are for the UK.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change, of course…
Just released
First Time On UK Blu-ray: No Way Out (Film Stories Blu-ray #2)
First Time On UK Blu-ray: Bull Durham (Film Stories Blu-ray #3)
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note...
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note that all dates are for the UK.
Also: We’ve started adding affiliate links. If you click on those, we benefit, and can spend more money paying more people to write more things for this website. No pressure, just hugely obliged.
Obviously in the current climate everything is subject to change, of course…
Just released
First Time On UK Blu-ray: No Way Out (Film Stories Blu-ray #2)
First Time On UK Blu-ray: Bull Durham (Film Stories Blu-ray #3)
Here, then, are a few of the upcoming dates for new movies on DVD and Blu-ray that may not yet have been officially announced. Note...
- 6/8/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
After an illustrious 41-year run on Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak is set to turn a new chapter in his career. The beloved host will soon demonstrate his acting talents in a fresh rendition of Prescription: Murder. According to Variety, Sajak will star alongside Joe Moore in this anticipated production, which is scheduled to play from July 31 to August 10, 2025, at Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre. From TV Legend to Stage Actor The play was originally penned by William Link and Richard Levinson in 1962 and later served as the foundational episode for the hit TV series Columbo. In this...
- 6/7/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
It was all just a game at first to Pat Sajak, but then it became something much more meaningful. The longtime “Wheel of Fortune” host’s final episode heading the game show airs in just a few hours — and the production has released a first look preview ahead of the broadcast, in which Sajak expresses gratitude to his audience.
“I have a few thanks and acknowledgements before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching out there,” Sajak begins in the footage, addressing the camera on the “Wheel of Fortune” set. “It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, decade after decade. And I always felt that the privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues. No politics. Nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game. But gradually it became more than that.
“I have a few thanks and acknowledgements before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching out there,” Sajak begins in the footage, addressing the camera on the “Wheel of Fortune” set. “It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, decade after decade. And I always felt that the privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun. No social issues. No politics. Nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game. But gradually it became more than that.
- 6/7/2024
- by J. Kim Murphy
- Variety Film + TV
The Wheel of Fortune stops spinning for longtime host Pat Sajak tomorrow, when his final show airs. But retirement is not in the offing.
Sajak now plans to join friend and Khon-tv Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore for a stage production of Prescription: Murder that begins at the end of next month. The show is adapted from the pilot episode of TV’s Columbo, originally written by William Link and Richard Levinson. Rob Duval directs.
Sajak and Moore will co-star at downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre from July 31 to Aug. 10, 2025. Moore’s son, Bryce, along with Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan, and Aiko Chinen round out the cast.
Prescription: Murder is the ninth stage collaboration for Sajak and Moore. Past performances include Moore’s original play, Prophecy and Honor, a 2001 revival of The Odd Couple, a 2004 turn with The Honeymooners, 2010’s The Boys in Autumn, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway in 2014, Dial M...
Sajak now plans to join friend and Khon-tv Hawaii newscaster Joe Moore for a stage production of Prescription: Murder that begins at the end of next month. The show is adapted from the pilot episode of TV’s Columbo, originally written by William Link and Richard Levinson. Rob Duval directs.
Sajak and Moore will co-star at downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre from July 31 to Aug. 10, 2025. Moore’s son, Bryce, along with Therese Olival, Amy K. Sullivan, and Aiko Chinen round out the cast.
Prescription: Murder is the ninth stage collaboration for Sajak and Moore. Past performances include Moore’s original play, Prophecy and Honor, a 2001 revival of The Odd Couple, a 2004 turn with The Honeymooners, 2010’s The Boys in Autumn, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway in 2014, Dial M...
- 6/6/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Pat Sajak — whose final episode after 41 seasons as host of “Wheel of Fortune” airs this Friday — has already lined up his first post-game show gig. Sajak is set to reunite with longtime buddy Joe Moore, the Khon-tv Hawai’i newscaster and actor, back on stage in a new take on the play “Prescription: Murder.”
Sajak and Moore will star opposite each other in the play at downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre next summer, from July 31 to Aug. 10, 2025. The Hawaii Theatre is set to reveal the news on Friday, via a commercial that will run on Khon-tv during Sajak’s final “Wheel” episode.
The 1962 mystery-thriller “Prescription: Murder” was written by William Link and Richard Levinson, who turned the play into the TV series “Columbo.” The plot to “Prescription: Murder” was adapted for the “Columbo” first episode.
In the Hawaii Theatre version, Sajak will play “brilliant psychiatrist Roy Flemming, who hatches a...
Sajak and Moore will star opposite each other in the play at downtown Honolulu’s Hawaii Theatre next summer, from July 31 to Aug. 10, 2025. The Hawaii Theatre is set to reveal the news on Friday, via a commercial that will run on Khon-tv during Sajak’s final “Wheel” episode.
The 1962 mystery-thriller “Prescription: Murder” was written by William Link and Richard Levinson, who turned the play into the TV series “Columbo.” The plot to “Prescription: Murder” was adapted for the “Columbo” first episode.
In the Hawaii Theatre version, Sajak will play “brilliant psychiatrist Roy Flemming, who hatches a...
- 6/6/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
General Hospital (Gh) fans mourn the loss of another star. Actress Janis Paige passed away in her L.A. home at the age of 101. Gh’s Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) posted on X/Twitter about it, stating, “Rip to Janis Paige. Had the pleasure of working with her on a couple of soaps. She always had a story or two and I relished them!” He added a lovely photo of Paige in her younger years, to the tweet.
General Hospital Alum Janis Paige’s Acting Legacy
A veteran actress, who had an amazing career in Hollywood, Paige began in the 1940s with minor movie roles, and hit Broadway in 1954, starring in The Pajama Game. She did other Broadway shows after that, including Alone Together, Mame, and Here’s Love.
Her impact on primetime television was tremendous with a hit sitcom on CBS, called It’s Always Jan. which had a nice run with two seasons.
General Hospital Alum Janis Paige’s Acting Legacy
A veteran actress, who had an amazing career in Hollywood, Paige began in the 1940s with minor movie roles, and hit Broadway in 1954, starring in The Pajama Game. She did other Broadway shows after that, including Alone Together, Mame, and Here’s Love.
Her impact on primetime television was tremendous with a hit sitcom on CBS, called It’s Always Jan. which had a nice run with two seasons.
- 6/6/2024
- by Dorathy Gass
- Celebrating The Soaps
Janis Paige, who racked up more than 100 film, TV and stage credits over six decades including The Pajama Game, Silk Stockings and Santa Barbara, died June 2 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 101.
Her friend Stuart Lambert told The Associated Press about Paige’s death.
During her long career, Paige toured with Bob Hope and danced onscreen with Fred Astaire, along with originating the Babe Williams role in The Pajama Game on Broadway in 1954. That same year she headlined It’s Always Jan, a CBS sitcom about the problems of single-parenthood during which she usually sang a song. It lasted a single season.
Born Donna Mae Tjaden on September 16, 1922, in Tacoma, Wa, she began singing in talent shows at a tender age and moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school.
Paige made her Broadway debut in 1951 opposite Jackie Cooper in the mystery comedy Remains to Be Seen but...
Her friend Stuart Lambert told The Associated Press about Paige’s death.
During her long career, Paige toured with Bob Hope and danced onscreen with Fred Astaire, along with originating the Babe Williams role in The Pajama Game on Broadway in 1954. That same year she headlined It’s Always Jan, a CBS sitcom about the problems of single-parenthood during which she usually sang a song. It lasted a single season.
Born Donna Mae Tjaden on September 16, 1922, in Tacoma, Wa, she began singing in talent shows at a tender age and moved to Los Angeles after graduating high school.
Paige made her Broadway debut in 1951 opposite Jackie Cooper in the mystery comedy Remains to Be Seen but...
- 6/3/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
On May 23, the final episode of the first season of Elsbeth, a spin-off of The Good Wife about a lawyer who leaves her native Chicago for a solo adventure, was released. Elsbeth has a brilliant mind that allows her to look at things from an entirely different angle, and she clearly doesn't want to waste that on just being a lawyer. So she comes to New York at the invitation of the local mayor's office to help the police.
The main character is very similar to Peter Falk's character in the TV series Columbo: she can talk to suspects about abstract topics, quietly extract valuable information from them, and amaze them with non-trivial deductive powers that would make Sherlock Holmes jealous.
But if you've already seen such classics as Columbo, but still need a dose of a lighthearted, yet tense detective story, Peacock (and Prime Video) has the...
The main character is very similar to Peter Falk's character in the TV series Columbo: she can talk to suspects about abstract topics, quietly extract valuable information from them, and amaze them with non-trivial deductive powers that would make Sherlock Holmes jealous.
But if you've already seen such classics as Columbo, but still need a dose of a lighthearted, yet tense detective story, Peacock (and Prime Video) has the...
- 5/27/2024
- by zoe-wallace@startefacts.com (Zoe Wallace)
- STartefacts.com
Cinephiles romanticize the New Hollywood era of the late 1960s and most of the 1970s as a time of artistic rebellion during which a batch of young directors and experienced helmers saved Hollywood by connecting with Baby Boomer moviegoers bored with formula Westerns, backlot musicals, and all the other fusty stuff their parents dragged them to throughout their childhood. These artists toyed with genre conventions and film technique to reignite a jaded generation's excitement for the medium at a time when television was becoming an increasingly appealing entertainment option.
It was an incredibly exciting time for movies, but audiences of all ages still had an appetite for good ol' cinematic spectacle. They might've tired of sword-and-sandal epics and widescreen adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, but there was nothing wrong with studios spending loads of money to fill the big screen with eye-popping imagery.
And for most of the 1970s,...
It was an incredibly exciting time for movies, but audiences of all ages still had an appetite for good ol' cinematic spectacle. They might've tired of sword-and-sandal epics and widescreen adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, but there was nothing wrong with studios spending loads of money to fill the big screen with eye-popping imagery.
And for most of the 1970s,...
- 5/26/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Deidre Hall has played Dr. Marlena Evans on Dool for nearly 50 years. The actress is ready for a huge change. Is she planning on leaving the show for other pursuits?
Acting Wasn’t Her Original Career Path
Deidre Hall is perhaps most famous for her long-running portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on the soap Days of Our Lives. However, she appeared on many classic shows over the years, including Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Our House, and the lead role in the superhero series Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. But acting wasn’t her original career path.
She recently told People magazine that her career path was almost the same as Marlena’s. “In college I was studying psychology, ironically, and I had to make a living, and so I had done some modeling when I was in Florida,” she shared.
Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall as John Black and Marlena...
Acting Wasn’t Her Original Career Path
Deidre Hall is perhaps most famous for her long-running portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on the soap Days of Our Lives. However, she appeared on many classic shows over the years, including Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Our House, and the lead role in the superhero series Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. But acting wasn’t her original career path.
She recently told People magazine that her career path was almost the same as Marlena’s. “In college I was studying psychology, ironically, and I had to make a living, and so I had done some modeling when I was in Florida,” she shared.
Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall as John Black and Marlena...
- 5/25/2024
- by Jennifer Havener
- TV Shows Ace
"Knives Out" was an anomaly. The 2019 film was a mid-budget movie with a fantastic cast of recognizable names that nevertheless did not bank on one specific A-lister, became a huge hit with audiences and critics alike, and became a franchise organically rather than planning sequels before the first even debuted. Of course, it helps that the film had a compelling and simple premise, a great comedic tone, a director with a clear vision, and delightful characters, including the once-in-a-decade great Benoit Blanc.
Rian Johnson's murder mysteries take inspiration from Agatha Christie novels, "Columbo," and even underseen 1970s murder mysteries to deliver compelling stories that — much like Christie's work — use archetypal characters to comment on issues of today. After looking at Radiohead for inspiration for the first movie's title and The Beatles for inspiration for the title of "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," Johnson is rounding out this trilogy by looking at U2.
Rian Johnson's murder mysteries take inspiration from Agatha Christie novels, "Columbo," and even underseen 1970s murder mysteries to deliver compelling stories that — much like Christie's work — use archetypal characters to comment on issues of today. After looking at Radiohead for inspiration for the first movie's title and The Beatles for inspiration for the title of "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery," Johnson is rounding out this trilogy by looking at U2.
- 5/24/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Amateur sleuth shows used to be popular in the pre-csi era of television.
These series showcased detectives who were not police officers, were often quirky, and could best the cops at solving murders -- if they could get them to listen.
You're right if you think that sounds exactly like CBS' Elsbeth. Elsbeth has more in common with amateur sleuth series of the past than with the show it spun off from, The Good Wife.
Elsbeth is a modern take on classic shows like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, and Diagnosis Murder. Most shows it owes a debt to are no longer on television, but streaming services have given them new life.
Elsbeth Heralds the Return of Amateur Sleuth Shows
Amateur sleuth shows are part of the cozy mystery genre.
Nowadays, they've fallen out of favor -- these mysteries mostly air as movies on the Hallmark channel.
There was a time...
These series showcased detectives who were not police officers, were often quirky, and could best the cops at solving murders -- if they could get them to listen.
You're right if you think that sounds exactly like CBS' Elsbeth. Elsbeth has more in common with amateur sleuth series of the past than with the show it spun off from, The Good Wife.
Elsbeth is a modern take on classic shows like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, and Diagnosis Murder. Most shows it owes a debt to are no longer on television, but streaming services have given them new life.
Elsbeth Heralds the Return of Amateur Sleuth Shows
Amateur sleuth shows are part of the cozy mystery genre.
Nowadays, they've fallen out of favor -- these mysteries mostly air as movies on the Hallmark channel.
There was a time...
- 5/20/2024
- by Jack Ori
- TVfanatic
Legendary producer and director Roger Corman, who died recently at age 98, had an immeasurable impact on American cinema as we know it. The number of actors, writers, and directors who learned their craft on a Corman production is staggering, and he was known for giving people chances to prove themselves on the low-budget pictures he either produced or directed himself. Tons of notable names went through the so-called "Corman school," including James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, Jonathan Demme, Ron Howard, and Joe Dante, just to name a few.
Three-time Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson is another significant alumnus of the Corman school of filmmaking — in fact, his very first movie, "The Cry Baby Killer," was a Corman production, and it provided Nicholson the first of many starring roles across his incredible career. The film follows a young man who thinks he's committed murder outside of a local hang-out restaurant,...
Three-time Oscar-winning actor Jack Nicholson is another significant alumnus of the Corman school of filmmaking — in fact, his very first movie, "The Cry Baby Killer," was a Corman production, and it provided Nicholson the first of many starring roles across his incredible career. The film follows a young man who thinks he's committed murder outside of a local hang-out restaurant,...
- 5/19/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
While Deidre Hall is well know for her work on Days of Our Lives (Dool) playing the much-respected Dr. Marlena Evans for almost five decades now, she’s also done a ton of prime-time shows over the years, too, appearing on a number of series.
Now, Cozi-tv has plans to celebrate the actress with a “Day of Our Deidre”, coming this weekend. Details on this interesting tribute, down below.
Days Of Our Lives Spoilers – Cozi-tv Announced Plans On Social Media
Cozi-tv announced on their X social media handle that, “This Saturday starting at 8Am/7C Days of Our Lives Star Deidre Hall guest stars in Emergency!
“Show Biz” and “Saddled” followed by Columbo “Columbo Cries Wolf”. This Saturday it’s Day of Our Deidre on Cozi TV!”
The post tagged both Days of Our Lives’ X handle, and Diedre Hall’s.
Dool News – More About The Shows Airing
Over the years,...
Now, Cozi-tv has plans to celebrate the actress with a “Day of Our Deidre”, coming this weekend. Details on this interesting tribute, down below.
Days Of Our Lives Spoilers – Cozi-tv Announced Plans On Social Media
Cozi-tv announced on their X social media handle that, “This Saturday starting at 8Am/7C Days of Our Lives Star Deidre Hall guest stars in Emergency!
“Show Biz” and “Saddled” followed by Columbo “Columbo Cries Wolf”. This Saturday it’s Day of Our Deidre on Cozi TV!”
The post tagged both Days of Our Lives’ X handle, and Diedre Hall’s.
Dool News – More About The Shows Airing
Over the years,...
- 5/16/2024
- by Dorathy Gass
- Soap Opera Spy
Although she’s best known for her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of our Lives,” actress Deidre Hall has also played memorable roles in numerous other television shows, most notably “Emergency!” and “Columbo.”
In celebration of Hall’s time on both shows, Cozi TV will air a four-hour mini-marathon of episodes featuring Hall in the aforementioned series on Saturday, May 18, starting at 8:00 a.m. Et/7:00 a.m. Ct.
The marathon, titled “Day of our Deidre,” begins with two episodes from the second season of “Emergency!” (“Show Biz” and “Saddled”), where Hall portrayed Nurse Sally Lewis. It will be followed by a two-hour episode from the ninth season of “Columbo” (“Columbo Cries Wolf”) at 10:00 a.m. Et. In that episode, Hall appears as Dian Hunter.
“Before becoming a daytime TV icon, Deidre Hall honed her craft on some of TV’s most beloved series. Now, join...
In celebration of Hall’s time on both shows, Cozi TV will air a four-hour mini-marathon of episodes featuring Hall in the aforementioned series on Saturday, May 18, starting at 8:00 a.m. Et/7:00 a.m. Ct.
The marathon, titled “Day of our Deidre,” begins with two episodes from the second season of “Emergency!” (“Show Biz” and “Saddled”), where Hall portrayed Nurse Sally Lewis. It will be followed by a two-hour episode from the ninth season of “Columbo” (“Columbo Cries Wolf”) at 10:00 a.m. Et. In that episode, Hall appears as Dian Hunter.
“Before becoming a daytime TV icon, Deidre Hall honed her craft on some of TV’s most beloved series. Now, join...
- 5/14/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
For any fan of the detective genre, CBS' Elsbeth is truly a breath of fresh air. If you, like us, are tired of grumpy and sarcastic leading detectives, Ms. Tascioni is here to save you, just you wait when she's finished checking out all those lovely New York City sites!
A spinoff for The Good Wife, Elsbeth works as a solo show for Carrie Preston's character for many reasons. It's light-hearted, it's exciting, it's fun even, and many fans are already comparing it to Columbo — a 1971 detective show that also never bothered to keep its secrets and entertained people just by showing them the main detective finding his way to the truth.
However, one particular detail about Elsbeth season 1 is starting to drive fans crazy. Watch out for heavy spoilers ahead!
Elsbeth Season 1 Has a Major Problem It Needs to Fix
We start off by joining Elsbeth on her...
A spinoff for The Good Wife, Elsbeth works as a solo show for Carrie Preston's character for many reasons. It's light-hearted, it's exciting, it's fun even, and many fans are already comparing it to Columbo — a 1971 detective show that also never bothered to keep its secrets and entertained people just by showing them the main detective finding his way to the truth.
However, one particular detail about Elsbeth season 1 is starting to drive fans crazy. Watch out for heavy spoilers ahead!
Elsbeth Season 1 Has a Major Problem It Needs to Fix
We start off by joining Elsbeth on her...
- 4/24/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Álvaro Villanueva)
- STartefacts.com
One of the most popular genres on television is the crime drama. And there's no way you haven't seen one in your life.
They are catchy and exciting, but often end up being quite predictable. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them: if you think about it, it's even cool to imagine being a detective and trying to figure out what's going to happen next.
However, there are many subgenres within procedurals. For example, there are shows where the audience and the characters don't know who committed the crime, and there are shows where it's only a mystery to the characters who did it. And the main thing is the process of the main character's dedication to finding the man responsible.
One of the greatest shows of that premise was the legendary series called Columbo. The pilot premiered in 1968 on ABC and next appeared on screen in 1971 and stayed...
They are catchy and exciting, but often end up being quite predictable. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy them: if you think about it, it's even cool to imagine being a detective and trying to figure out what's going to happen next.
However, there are many subgenres within procedurals. For example, there are shows where the audience and the characters don't know who committed the crime, and there are shows where it's only a mystery to the characters who did it. And the main thing is the process of the main character's dedication to finding the man responsible.
One of the greatest shows of that premise was the legendary series called Columbo. The pilot premiered in 1968 on ABC and next appeared on screen in 1971 and stayed...
- 4/23/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Rachel Bailey)
- STartefacts.com
Streaming channels make headlines with mergers and syndication deals, but CBS has reached its level of network television success simply by maintaining a well-stocked lineup of scripted shows.
Boasting consistently high ratings, CBS proves there is indeed a large audience that tunes in for scripted television outside of streaming channels.
This is good news for viewers searching for network alternatives to reality shows.
The potentially bad news is that almost all of CBS's scripted shows are procedurals and reboots.
Is this narrow focus a conscious decision or just a response to upcoming structural changes at the network?
Two of their biggest comedies (Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola) are set to end in May. CBS's procedural landscape will also take a hit when Blue Bloods concludes its fourteen-season run this fall.
CBS has enjoyed impressive numbers over the years by coasting on Chuck Lorre's sitcoms and all of the "I" franchises: NCIS,...
Boasting consistently high ratings, CBS proves there is indeed a large audience that tunes in for scripted television outside of streaming channels.
This is good news for viewers searching for network alternatives to reality shows.
The potentially bad news is that almost all of CBS's scripted shows are procedurals and reboots.
Is this narrow focus a conscious decision or just a response to upcoming structural changes at the network?
Two of their biggest comedies (Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola) are set to end in May. CBS's procedural landscape will also take a hit when Blue Bloods concludes its fourteen-season run this fall.
CBS has enjoyed impressive numbers over the years by coasting on Chuck Lorre's sitcoms and all of the "I" franchises: NCIS,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Paullette Gaudet
- TVfanatic
Pictured: Elsbeth star Carrie Prestonon the Elsbeth and Tea Around Town bus event in New York City. Photo: Michele Crowe/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Fans of Elsbeth Tascioni, rejoice! The quirky and brilliant lawyer from The Good Wife and The Good Fight continues her adventures in her own detective series, Elsbeth. Creators Robert and Michelle King drew inspiration for the spin-off from an unlikely source: rewatching the classic detective show Columbo during the pandemic. Carrie Preston reprises her Emmy-winning role, infusing Elsbeth with the same lovable charm as she pivots from the courtroom to the crime scene. She assists the NYPD in murder investigations, bringing her unique skills and unconventional methods to the table. Preston was already on board with a potential Elsbeth-centric show even before the pitch, having noticed the Columbo comparisons herself. (click on the media bar below to hear Carrie Preston) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.
- 4/11/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Jean-Paul Vignon, the romantic French vocalist and actor who impressed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic during an eight-decade career, died March 22 of liver cancer in Beverly Hills, his family announced. He was 89.
Performing a repertoire of contemporary pop and American standards, Vignon debuted in the U.S. in 1963 at the famed New York supper club The Blue Angel, where he opened for stand-up comic Woody Allen.
Ed Sullivan would soon showcase him on his Sunday night CBS variety show in eight appearances — including one in which he sang a duet with young Liza Minnelli — and he became a regular guest on Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin’s programs.
Signed to Columbia Records, Vignon released his first U.S. album, Because I Love You, in 1964. Three years later, he had a supporting role opposite William Holden and Cliff Robertson in the World War II film The Devil’s Brigade.
In...
Performing a repertoire of contemporary pop and American standards, Vignon debuted in the U.S. in 1963 at the famed New York supper club The Blue Angel, where he opened for stand-up comic Woody Allen.
Ed Sullivan would soon showcase him on his Sunday night CBS variety show in eight appearances — including one in which he sang a duet with young Liza Minnelli — and he became a regular guest on Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin’s programs.
Signed to Columbia Records, Vignon released his first U.S. album, Because I Love You, in 1964. Three years later, he had a supporting role opposite William Holden and Cliff Robertson in the World War II film The Devil’s Brigade.
In...
- 4/3/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Barbara Baldivan, a former actress who appeared on Star Trek before moving to behind-the-scenes work in casting, died at the age of 85 on Sunday, March 31. Her son, Marc D’Agosta, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter. Her reported cause of death is heart failure. Baldivan’s former husband was Joseph D’Agosta, who was a casting director on Star Trek: The Original Series. She appeared in the show’s first season as Lieutenant Angela Martine, an officer in the Enterprise‘s crew whose wedding was upended by Romulans. In Season 3, she portrayed Lieutenant Lisa, a communications officer. Baldivan and D’Agosta also worked together on Wild Rovers. Baldivan’s television acting career spanned three decades, with her enjoying a bevy of guest roles in series like ABC’s The Fugitive and Fantasy Island, NBC’s Adam-12 and Columbo, CBS’s The F.B.I. and Barnaby Jones. She also had a starring role in Medical Center,...
- 4/2/2024
- TV Insider
The costs to stream live TV continue to climb upward year after year. The biggest culprit is the soaring costs for sports rights. But one live TV streaming service sidesteps sports to offer the best bargain: Philo.
Philo offers 18 of the top 35 cable channels. It’s the cheapest way to watch A&e, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, History, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TLC, Travel Channel, VH1, and We tv. There are more than 70 channels available.
The service comes with a free DVR to record all your favorite shows.
Philo works on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iPhone/iPad, Android Phone/Tablet, Mac, Windows, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, and Vizio Smart TV.
You can start watching today with a 7-day Free trial.
7-Day Free Trial $25+ / month philo.com Who Should Try Philo?
With that free trial,...
Philo offers 18 of the top 35 cable channels. It’s the cheapest way to watch A&e, AMC, BET, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, History, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Network, TLC, Travel Channel, VH1, and We tv. There are more than 70 channels available.
The service comes with a free DVR to record all your favorite shows.
Philo works on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TV, iPhone/iPad, Android Phone/Tablet, Mac, Windows, Samsung Smart TV, Sony Smart TV, and Vizio Smart TV.
You can start watching today with a 7-day Free trial.
7-Day Free Trial $25+ / month philo.com Who Should Try Philo?
With that free trial,...
- 3/29/2024
- by Ben Bowman
- The Streamable
The premise of the 1977 sitcom "Three's Company" -- adapted from the 1973 British series "Man About the House" -- would likely never fly in 2024. Roommates Janet (Joyce DeWitt) and Chrissy (Suzanne Somers) require a third roommate to pay rent in their expensive Santa Monica apartment. They stumble across Jack Tripper (John Ritter), an aspiring culinary student whom they get along with. It so happens, though, that the building's landlord, Mr. Roper (Normal Fell), is ultra-conservative and refuses to let unmarried men and women share his apartments. To get around this contrived contingency, Janet and Chrissy tell Mr. Roper that Jack is gay. This satisfies the landlord but opens Jack up to homophobic jibes.
Fell eventually left the series and was replaced by the high-strung Mr. Furley, played by Don Knotts. Mr. Furley, it seems, required the charade to continue. Somers also left the show in its last two seasons and was...
Fell eventually left the series and was replaced by the high-strung Mr. Furley, played by Don Knotts. Mr. Furley, it seems, required the charade to continue. Somers also left the show in its last two seasons and was...
- 3/16/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Elsbeth has premiered on CBS, and we're all in.
The show garnered 4.5 million views and improved its CBS time slot by 45% over last year.
Already fielding favorable comparisons to the classic Columbo and the more modern success Poker Face, Elsbeth combines a winning story formula with good timing to set the show up as an instant hit.
This spin-off of The Good Wife and The Good Fight was an odd choice. The show hinges on Elsbeth's new job observing the NYPD for signs of corruption.
Why would a lawyer from Chicago be called in for this job? What are her credentials?
As she states in the pilot episode, Elsbeth has never actually been to a crime scene -- she's only seen crime scene photos in the courtroom.
So how can someone with no experience in crime scene investigation even spot corruption?
Dropping an unlikely character into a detective procedural was a bold move,...
The show garnered 4.5 million views and improved its CBS time slot by 45% over last year.
Already fielding favorable comparisons to the classic Columbo and the more modern success Poker Face, Elsbeth combines a winning story formula with good timing to set the show up as an instant hit.
This spin-off of The Good Wife and The Good Fight was an odd choice. The show hinges on Elsbeth's new job observing the NYPD for signs of corruption.
Why would a lawyer from Chicago be called in for this job? What are her credentials?
As she states in the pilot episode, Elsbeth has never actually been to a crime scene -- she's only seen crime scene photos in the courtroom.
So how can someone with no experience in crime scene investigation even spot corruption?
Dropping an unlikely character into a detective procedural was a bold move,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Shela Ward
- TVfanatic
Elderly television viewers in the 1980s and '90s had an amazing Hollywood ally in Dean Hargrove.
The small-screen veteran got his start in the 1960s as a writer for "My Three Sons" and "The Bob Newhart Show" (the unsuccessful precursor to the wildly successful 1970s sitcom of the same name), and received credit for some of the best episodes of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." He wrote on arguably the greatest mystery series to ever air on network TV (we're not arguing if you read that passage and immediately thought "Columbo"), and kept Dennis Weaver employed as a producer on "McCloud."
But his most lasting impact on the medium was his 1985 - 2002 run as the producer of such old-people-go-a-sleuthin' shows as the "Perry Mason" television movies, "Jake and the Fatman," "The Father Dowling Mysteries," "Diagnosis: Murder" and the grandpappy of them all, "Matlock."
Hargrove's genius was turning America's favorite TV...
The small-screen veteran got his start in the 1960s as a writer for "My Three Sons" and "The Bob Newhart Show" (the unsuccessful precursor to the wildly successful 1970s sitcom of the same name), and received credit for some of the best episodes of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." He wrote on arguably the greatest mystery series to ever air on network TV (we're not arguing if you read that passage and immediately thought "Columbo"), and kept Dennis Weaver employed as a producer on "McCloud."
But his most lasting impact on the medium was his 1985 - 2002 run as the producer of such old-people-go-a-sleuthin' shows as the "Perry Mason" television movies, "Jake and the Fatman," "The Father Dowling Mysteries," "Diagnosis: Murder" and the grandpappy of them all, "Matlock."
Hargrove's genius was turning America's favorite TV...
- 2/6/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Until the neither disappointing nor remarkable "Frasier" reboot, the beloved sitcom on which it was based had been off the air for almost 20 years. Running from 1993 to 2004, "Frasier" came to represent the gold standard for '90s sitcoms, alongside contemporary hits such as "Friends" and "Seinfeld." A big part of the show's success was that star Kelsey Grammer seemed to have been born to play the titular doctor, portraying his egoism and fastidiousness with the perfect balance of humor and earnestness. But the show was also propelled by a truly stellar supporting cast.
David Hyde Pierce might have thought the script for the "Frasier" pilot was "terrible" at first, but he very quickly realized how well-written the show was and throughout the show's run delivered a consistently brilliant performance as Frasier's equally stuffy brother, Niles. Alongside Peri Gilpin as Frasier's radio producer, Roz, John Mahoney as Frasier and Niles' father,...
David Hyde Pierce might have thought the script for the "Frasier" pilot was "terrible" at first, but he very quickly realized how well-written the show was and throughout the show's run delivered a consistently brilliant performance as Frasier's equally stuffy brother, Niles. Alongside Peri Gilpin as Frasier's radio producer, Roz, John Mahoney as Frasier and Niles' father,...
- 2/2/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
For 12 seasons, "Murder, She Wrote" was the definitive cozy murder mystery show. Set in the small and charming yet dead-body-filled fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, the show wormed its way into the hearts of procedural fans everywhere with its familiar structure and unlikely hero -- middle-aged mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). While the actor behind the beloved amateur sleuth passed away in 2022, "Murder, She Wrote" lives on, both in the form of much-watched reruns and in an upcoming movie adaptation.
Little is known about the new version of "Murder, She Wrote" at this point, but screenwriters Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo have said that the story will relate back to Cabot Cove and Jessica in some capacity. When it comes to potential cameos from old cast members, the pool is unfortunately limited, as several of the series' lead actors have passed away in the decades since the show ended.
Little is known about the new version of "Murder, She Wrote" at this point, but screenwriters Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo have said that the story will relate back to Cabot Cove and Jessica in some capacity. When it comes to potential cameos from old cast members, the pool is unfortunately limited, as several of the series' lead actors have passed away in the decades since the show ended.
- 12/30/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
This year’s Best Drama Guest Actress category at the Emmys is a tightly-knit affair with only two shows — “Succession” and “The Last of Us,” both HBO projects — reaping nominations. “Succession” landed three bids for Harriet Walter, Hiam Abbass, and Cherry Jones, while “The Last of Us” produced nominations for Melanie Lynskey, Storm Reid, and Anna Torv.
SEEPeter Hoar (‘The Last of Us’ director) on aligning ‘with a story that really talks to you and speaks from the heart’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Torv, like her co-star Reid and “Succession” contender Abbass, is a first-time Emmy nominee after working in the industry for years. She features in three episodes of “The Last of Us” as Theresa “Tess” Servopoulos. Her nominated episode is “Infected,” which is the second episode of the series and features the character’s climactic death (Torv also appears in the third episode during flashbacks). As such, this is an emotional Emmy...
SEEPeter Hoar (‘The Last of Us’ director) on aligning ‘with a story that really talks to you and speaks from the heart’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Torv, like her co-star Reid and “Succession” contender Abbass, is a first-time Emmy nominee after working in the industry for years. She features in three episodes of “The Last of Us” as Theresa “Tess” Servopoulos. Her nominated episode is “Infected,” which is the second episode of the series and features the character’s climactic death (Torv also appears in the third episode during flashbacks). As such, this is an emotional Emmy...
- 12/24/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Earlier this year, NBC pulled out all the stops for it special “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love.” And on Dec. 21, CBS is throwing a birthday party for one of its biggest stars, Dick Van Dyke, who headlined the landmark 1961-66 sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show” as well as the lighthearted detective series “Diagnosis, Murder,” which ran from 1993-2000.
“Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic” is a two-hour valentine to the actor, who celebrated his birthday on Dec. 13, featuring special guests such as Jane Seymour, Rob Reiner, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen and testimonials from Carol Burnett, Mark Hamill and “Mary Poppins” herself, Julie Andrews. Song-and-dance also play an important part of the special. Van Dyke earned a Tony in 1961 for “Bye Bye Birdie” and reprised his role in the 1963 musical. He introduced the Oscar-winning tune “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from 1964’s “Mary Poppins” as well as the...
“Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic” is a two-hour valentine to the actor, who celebrated his birthday on Dec. 13, featuring special guests such as Jane Seymour, Rob Reiner, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen and testimonials from Carol Burnett, Mark Hamill and “Mary Poppins” herself, Julie Andrews. Song-and-dance also play an important part of the special. Van Dyke earned a Tony in 1961 for “Bye Bye Birdie” and reprised his role in the 1963 musical. He introduced the Oscar-winning tune “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from 1964’s “Mary Poppins” as well as the...
- 12/19/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The deceptively unassuming figure of Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk), with his rumpled raincoat, cheap cigars, and seeming absentmindedness, might not call to mind the sprawling existentialist novels of Fyodor Dostoevsky. But Columbo’s ancestry can be traced all the way back to Porfiry Petrovich, the pesky, psychologically attuned investigator in Crime and Punishment.
Like that literary classic, the show that shares Columbo’s name functions as an inverted detective story, not so much a whodunit as a howcatchem. In each episode, we spend time with the murderer, soak up their milieu, and witness the commission of the crime. Only then does Columbo make his entrance onto the scene. From there, it’s an escalating battle of nerves between the dogged detective and the initially arrogant murderer.
While Rodion Raskolnikov, the tortured protagonist of Crime and Punishment, is an impoverished student who kills out of economic necessity...
Like that literary classic, the show that shares Columbo’s name functions as an inverted detective story, not so much a whodunit as a howcatchem. In each episode, we spend time with the murderer, soak up their milieu, and witness the commission of the crime. Only then does Columbo make his entrance onto the scene. From there, it’s an escalating battle of nerves between the dogged detective and the initially arrogant murderer.
While Rodion Raskolnikov, the tortured protagonist of Crime and Punishment, is an impoverished student who kills out of economic necessity...
- 12/7/2023
- by Budd Wilkins
- Slant Magazine
Readying to share an excerpt from her first book, an author stands at the podium and warns the room she’s going to start with the ending. “I was told you’re not meant to do that at these readings,” she says, “but I’m going to do it anyway.” Ultimately, Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) omits a few key details of her favored passage — she’s there to sell books, after all, and has to hook an audience who initially showed up to hear from another writer — but the choice speaks volumes about who she is and what her true crime story is designed to do. It’s not about whoever’s waiting at the end of the investigation; it’s not about studying a killer, learning from his twisted psyche, or even catching him. Instead, Darby’s account invites readers to reconsider what’s right in front of them,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Robert Butler, a television director for the pilot shows for Star Trek, Batman, Hill Street Blues, and Moonlighting, has died. He was 95.
Butler’s family announced that the Emmy award-winning director died on Nov. 3 in Los Angeles.
Graduating from UCLA where he majored in English, Butler started his career in entertainment as an usher at CBS. His first credit as a director would come in 1959 when he directed an episode for the military comedy-drama Hennesey which starred Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton.
Over the years, Butler was sought out to direct pilots for shows like Hogan’s Heroes (1965), the original Star Trek (1966), Batman (1966), the first mini-series on television The Blue Knight (1973), Hill Street Blues (1978), Moonlighting (1985), Sisters (1991) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).
Butler won two Emmy Awards, the first one for The Blue Knight pilot in 1973 and the second one in 1981 for Hill Street Blues. In 2015 he was...
Butler’s family announced that the Emmy award-winning director died on Nov. 3 in Los Angeles.
Graduating from UCLA where he majored in English, Butler started his career in entertainment as an usher at CBS. His first credit as a director would come in 1959 when he directed an episode for the military comedy-drama Hennesey which starred Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton.
Over the years, Butler was sought out to direct pilots for shows like Hogan’s Heroes (1965), the original Star Trek (1966), Batman (1966), the first mini-series on television The Blue Knight (1973), Hill Street Blues (1978), Moonlighting (1985), Sisters (1991) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).
Butler won two Emmy Awards, the first one for The Blue Knight pilot in 1973 and the second one in 1981 for Hill Street Blues. In 2015 he was...
- 11/11/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert Butler, the Emmy-winning, go-to pilot director who helmed the first episodes of such acclaimed shows as Batman, Star Trek, Hill Street Blues and Moonlighting, died Nov. 3 in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 95.
Butler also co-created the Pierce Brosnan-starring Remington Steele (and helmed its pilot, of course), directed the first episode of Hogan’s Heroes in 1965, and called the first shots and set the tone for, Glenn Gordon Caron’s Moonlighting, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Sisters and The Division.
In 1973, he directed the William Holden-starring The Blue Knight — the first four-hour television miniseries — at NBC and then got the CBS series adaptation of the Joseph Wambaugh novel that starred George Kennedy off on the right foot.
Butler also helmed two episodes of The Twilight Zone (the fifth-season installments “Caesar and Me,” starring his old friend, Jackie Cooper, and “The Encounter”) and worked on The Dick Van Dyke Show,...
Butler also co-created the Pierce Brosnan-starring Remington Steele (and helmed its pilot, of course), directed the first episode of Hogan’s Heroes in 1965, and called the first shots and set the tone for, Glenn Gordon Caron’s Moonlighting, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Sisters and The Division.
In 1973, he directed the William Holden-starring The Blue Knight — the first four-hour television miniseries — at NBC and then got the CBS series adaptation of the Joseph Wambaugh novel that starred George Kennedy off on the right foot.
Butler also helmed two episodes of The Twilight Zone (the fifth-season installments “Caesar and Me,” starring his old friend, Jackie Cooper, and “The Encounter”) and worked on The Dick Van Dyke Show,...
- 11/11/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Peter S. Fischer, co-creator of “Murder, She Wrote,” died in a care facility in Pacific Grove, Calif. on Oct. 30. He was 88.
Fischer’s grandson Jake McElrath confirmed the news of his death.
Fischer was a writer, producer and novelist, known for penning over 40 scripts for “Murder, She Wrote.” He created the series alongside Richard Levinson and William Link. He also served as executive producer for several seasons. The hit murder-mystery crime show spanned 12 seasons, running from 1984-1992. Angela Lansbury starred as Jessica Fletcher, a widow who is both a mystery writer and amateur detective. She lives in the small coastal Maine town of Cabot Cove, where she frequently solves murders a step ahead of the police.
In a similar vein, Fischer also wrote 12 episodes of “Columbo,” the long-running crime drama about Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk), a homicide detective in Los Angeles. He additionally penned a season of “Ellery Queen,” another...
Fischer’s grandson Jake McElrath confirmed the news of his death.
Fischer was a writer, producer and novelist, known for penning over 40 scripts for “Murder, She Wrote.” He created the series alongside Richard Levinson and William Link. He also served as executive producer for several seasons. The hit murder-mystery crime show spanned 12 seasons, running from 1984-1992. Angela Lansbury starred as Jessica Fletcher, a widow who is both a mystery writer and amateur detective. She lives in the small coastal Maine town of Cabot Cove, where she frequently solves murders a step ahead of the police.
In a similar vein, Fischer also wrote 12 episodes of “Columbo,” the long-running crime drama about Lieutenant Columbo (Peter Falk), a homicide detective in Los Angeles. He additionally penned a season of “Ellery Queen,” another...
- 11/2/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
Peter S. Fischer, the prolific television writer behind “Murder, She Wrote” and “Columbo,” passed away on Monday, his grandson Jake McElrath told TheWrap. He was 88.
“We are very lucky to have so much of his work still accessible, like pieces of him left behind,” McElrath said in a statement to TheWrap. “He was an amazing presence to have in our lives, our Pa. We are all going to miss him.”
Fischer, who was nominated for three Emmy Awards across the duration of his career, is also known for his work on “Ellery Queen” and “The Eddie Capra Mysteries.” No further details about Fischer’s death are known at this time.
Born in 1935, Fischer’s longstanding career in Hollywood stretches back to writing 1971 TV movie “The Last Child,” before writing several TV episodes on “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” “Griff,” “Kojak” and “Baretta.”
The TV writer went...
“We are very lucky to have so much of his work still accessible, like pieces of him left behind,” McElrath said in a statement to TheWrap. “He was an amazing presence to have in our lives, our Pa. We are all going to miss him.”
Fischer, who was nominated for three Emmy Awards across the duration of his career, is also known for his work on “Ellery Queen” and “The Eddie Capra Mysteries.” No further details about Fischer’s death are known at this time.
Born in 1935, Fischer’s longstanding career in Hollywood stretches back to writing 1971 TV movie “The Last Child,” before writing several TV episodes on “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” “Griff,” “Kojak” and “Baretta.”
The TV writer went...
- 11/2/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Peter S. Fischer, the late-blooming TV writer and producer who co-created Murder, She Wrote after serving on such other crime-solving series as Columbo, Baretta and Ellery Queen, has died. He was 88.
Fischer died Monday at a care facility in Pacific Grove, California, his grandson Jake McElrath announced.
He became a prolific novelist after he exited Hollywood, writing murder mysteries, of course.
Fischer, who had worked with Columbo co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link on the iconic Peter Falk series as well as on the Jim Hutton-starring Ellery Queen, accompanied the pair to a meeting with CBS executives in 1984, he recalled in a 2011 interview.
“CBS wanted to do a murder mystery and they called Dick, who was our ringleader. He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring the boys,'” Fischer said. “We went over there and pitched a premise called Blacke’s Magic, about a retired magician who solves mysteries. It became...
Fischer died Monday at a care facility in Pacific Grove, California, his grandson Jake McElrath announced.
He became a prolific novelist after he exited Hollywood, writing murder mysteries, of course.
Fischer, who had worked with Columbo co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link on the iconic Peter Falk series as well as on the Jim Hutton-starring Ellery Queen, accompanied the pair to a meeting with CBS executives in 1984, he recalled in a 2011 interview.
“CBS wanted to do a murder mystery and they called Dick, who was our ringleader. He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring the boys,'” Fischer said. “We went over there and pitched a premise called Blacke’s Magic, about a retired magician who solves mysteries. It became...
- 11/2/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Burt Young, who played Paulie in six of the “Rocky” films starring Sylvester Stallone, drawing an Oscar nomination for supporting actor for his performance in the 1976 original, has died, his daughter Anne Morea Steingieser confirmed to the New York Times. He was 83.
Roger Ebert gave Young his props for his performance in the first “Rocky” film: “And Burt Young as (Adrian’s) brother — defeated and resentful, loyal and bitter, caring about people enough to hurt them just to draw attention to his grief.” The New York Times — in an absolutely scathing, completely dismissive review of the film — nevertheless said: “Burt Young is effective as Rocky’s best friend, a beer-guzzling mug.”
Young’s temperamental, jealous but nonetheless loyal and caring Paulie Pennino was Rocky’s best friend — he would defend the Italian Stallion if someone insulted him. But he was a problematic friend who shouts at Adrian during her pregnancy,...
Roger Ebert gave Young his props for his performance in the first “Rocky” film: “And Burt Young as (Adrian’s) brother — defeated and resentful, loyal and bitter, caring about people enough to hurt them just to draw attention to his grief.” The New York Times — in an absolutely scathing, completely dismissive review of the film — nevertheless said: “Burt Young is effective as Rocky’s best friend, a beer-guzzling mug.”
Young’s temperamental, jealous but nonetheless loyal and caring Paulie Pennino was Rocky’s best friend — he would defend the Italian Stallion if someone insulted him. But he was a problematic friend who shouts at Adrian during her pregnancy,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
Columbo was one of those shows that epitomized the 1970s — if you were young back then, you can still picture yourself watching it with your grandparents on their plastic-covered sofa with the volume too loud. You loved the sight of Peter Falk in his famous trenchcoat, And, of course, you were always impressed by the way he would catch the culprit at the end of the show. Fifty years later, the show is finding new audiences on streaming platforms — no doubt inspired by the Columbo comparisons mentioned in many reviews of the hit streaming series Poker Face. Falk, who won four Emmy Awards for playing the role, once talked to us about the qualities he loved most in the character. (Click on the media bar below to hear Peter Falk) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Peter_Falk_Columbo_.mp3 Columbo is currently streaming on Peacock and Amazon Freevee.
The...
The...
- 10/16/2023
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
We know that the broadcast networks have produced some of its best series as spinoffs from other shows – like “Cheers” spawning “Frasier” and “Happy Days” giving us “Laverne and Shirley.” What is discussed less often are the stinkers that are spun from successful shows much more often. For instance, “AfterMASH” probably seemed like a good idea in 1983 when it hit the CBS air the fall after “M*A*S*H” departed. But it never caught on. The same was true of the producers of “Friends” deciding to give Matt LeBlanc his own series as his Joey Tribbiani character in 2004. But it too proved to be a relatively short-lived flop.
TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...
TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...
- 10/9/2023
- by Ray Richmond and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
We know that the broadcast networks have produced some of its best series as spinoffs from other shows – like “Cheers” spawning “Frasier” and “Happy Days” giving us “Laverne and Shirley.” What is discussed less often are the stinkers that are spun from successful shows much more often. For instance, “AfterMASH” probably seemed like a good idea in 1983 when it hit the CBS air the fall after “M*A*S*H” departed. But it never caught on. The same was true of the producers of “Friends” deciding to give Matt LeBlanc his own series as his Joey Tribbiani character in 2004. But it too proved to be a relatively short-lived flop.
TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...
TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...
- 10/8/2023
- by Misty Holland, Ray Richmond and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Steven Spielberg worked his way up to directing features by making short films and episodes of TV shows like Columbo and Night Gallery. His earliest movies were also made for television – and the first feature-length TV movie he made that wasn’t part of a series was the classic 1971 thriller Duel (watch it Here). Forty-two years after Duel first aired, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is now set to give the film a 4K release on November 14th!
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay, Duel centers on a motorist terrorized by an evil truck. Dennis Weaver stars as the traveling salesman waging a desperate battle for survival after he is mysteriously singled out.
Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, and Gene Dynarski are also in the cast.
A press release on Blu-ray.com notes, “Praised for its deft use of relentlessly mounting psychological tension,...
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay, Duel centers on a motorist terrorized by an evil truck. Dennis Weaver stars as the traveling salesman waging a desperate battle for survival after he is mysteriously singled out.
Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, and Gene Dynarski are also in the cast.
A press release on Blu-ray.com notes, “Praised for its deft use of relentlessly mounting psychological tension,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Saturday marks 96 years since the great Peter Falk was born (9-16-27), which strikes us as a great reason to revisit a detective drama as timeless as it is entertaining. In the whole of television history, few actors have been as identified with a single character than was Falk with Lieutenant Columbo, the eccentric, rumpled, cigar-chomping, trench coat-clad, implausibly wily Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who always got his man. In the process, Falk and the producers revolutionized what a cop show could be. We’re wishing him a Happy Birthday, even though he left us on June 23, 2011.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys.
- 9/14/2023
- by Ray Richmond and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
In "A Haunting in Venice," Hercule Poirot (star and director Kenneth Branagh) is tired. He is tired of solving murders. He is tired of the entire concept of death and dying. He wonders if this should be the last time he tries to solve a case. And as a viewer, you can't help but agree with him - he should stop there.
"A Haunting in Venice" is billed as an adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Hallowe'en Party," but the movie has almost nothing to do with that story, changing most of the details of the characters and their relationships to each other. Branagh's film is set in the early days after World War II, and Poirot has retired from crime solving. Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) is holding a Halloween party for the city's orphans - a morbid reminder of the cost of war - and after the children are gone,...
"A Haunting in Venice" is billed as an adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Hallowe'en Party," but the movie has almost nothing to do with that story, changing most of the details of the characters and their relationships to each other. Branagh's film is set in the early days after World War II, and Poirot has retired from crime solving. Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly) is holding a Halloween party for the city's orphans - a morbid reminder of the cost of war - and after the children are gone,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
Saturday marks 96 years since the great Peter Falk was born (9-16-27), which strikes us as a great reason to revisit a detective drama as timeless as it is entertaining. In the whole of television history, few actors have been as identified with a single character than was Falk with Lieutenant Columbo, the eccentric, rumpled, cigar-chomping, trench coat-clad, implausibly wily Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective who always got his man. In the process, Falk and the producers revolutionized what a cop show could be.
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys..
SEE30 best TV detectives ranked
From the first official installment of “Columbo” – entitled “Murder by the Book...
It’s been more than a half-century since Falk began portraying the world’s favorite lieutenant as part of the rotating “NBC Mystery Movie” franchise on September 15, 1971. It would grow to become a global phenomenon originally across eight seasons (1971-78), then again sporadically from 1989 to 2003. The series itself would win 13 Emmys..
SEE30 best TV detectives ranked
From the first official installment of “Columbo” – entitled “Murder by the Book...
- 9/13/2023
- by Chris Beachum and Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
It seems you can’t throw a rock without hitting a free ad-supported TV (Fast) channel from NBCUniversal these days. The company has done an excellent job distributing its streaming channels across the Fast landscape, and this week Google TV and Android TV are getting in on the party.
A total of four new NBCU Fast channels are now available on Android TV and Google TV devices. Users will see the channels in the Live tab on Google TV as soon as they pull their device out of the box, with no downloads required. The additions have helped to bring the integrated Fast channel count on Google TV devices to over 100.
The new channels available now on Google TV and Android TV devices are:
“Murder, She Wrote”: The classic detective series starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, a mystery writer who is called upon to solve actual crimes in her small town.
A total of four new NBCU Fast channels are now available on Android TV and Google TV devices. Users will see the channels in the Live tab on Google TV as soon as they pull their device out of the box, with no downloads required. The additions have helped to bring the integrated Fast channel count on Google TV devices to over 100.
The new channels available now on Google TV and Android TV devices are:
“Murder, She Wrote”: The classic detective series starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher, a mystery writer who is called upon to solve actual crimes in her small town.
- 8/24/2023
- by David Satin
- The Streamable
This story about Natasha Lyonne and “Poker Face” first appeared in the Down to the Wire: Comedy issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine. All actor interviews in that issue were conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike began.
In each episode of “Poker Face,” the Peacock series created by Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, a former casino worker on the run from some very bad men, solves murder mysteries in the towns she travels through, aided by her ability to detect when someone is lying. Charlie is no saint, but she lives by a strong moral code.
But let’s let Lyonne explain it in the most Natasha Lyonne way imaginable. “Rian and I have this real shared love of crossword puzzles and puzzles in general — it’s how we pass time together on set between shots,” she said. “So we discovered that Charlie was going to have this...
In each episode of “Poker Face,” the Peacock series created by Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, a former casino worker on the run from some very bad men, solves murder mysteries in the towns she travels through, aided by her ability to detect when someone is lying. Charlie is no saint, but she lives by a strong moral code.
But let’s let Lyonne explain it in the most Natasha Lyonne way imaginable. “Rian and I have this real shared love of crossword puzzles and puzzles in general — it’s how we pass time together on set between shots,” she said. “So we discovered that Charlie was going to have this...
- 8/16/2023
- by Missy Schwartz
- The Wrap
Since the dawn of free ad-supported streaming TV (Fast), classic television has been the backbone of many services offering these types of channels, and now one of the largest ad-supported platforms is bringing more iconic series to its service. On Tuesday, The Roku Channel announced that it was launching channels centered on some of NBCUniversal’s most beloved shows.
Watch Now $0 / month roku.com
Available on the platform now are channels dedicated to “Murder, She Wrote” and “Little House on the Prairie,” with a new channel called Universal Crime which features episodes from series including “Columbo,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files,” and more. Other Fast channels hitting the streamer include “Saved by the Bell” and “Bad Girls Club,” and Tnbc (Teen NBC) which features episodes of beloved family series “Punky Brewster,” “Major Dad,” “Hang Time” amongst others. There will be more channels launching later this year.
Today, NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Roku...
Watch Now $0 / month roku.com
Available on the platform now are channels dedicated to “Murder, She Wrote” and “Little House on the Prairie,” with a new channel called Universal Crime which features episodes from series including “Columbo,” “Kojak,” “The Rockford Files,” and more. Other Fast channels hitting the streamer include “Saved by the Bell” and “Bad Girls Club,” and Tnbc (Teen NBC) which features episodes of beloved family series “Punky Brewster,” “Major Dad,” “Hang Time” amongst others. There will be more channels launching later this year.
Today, NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Roku...
- 8/15/2023
- by Matt Tamanini
- The Streamable
NBCUniversal has launched new free ad-supported streaming TV (Fast) channels on The Roku Channel for the series “Saved By The Bell,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Little House on the Prairie,” and “Bad Girls Club.”
The Roku Channel will also now offer a “Universal Crime” Fast channel, comprised of notable library series such as “Columbo, “Kojak” and “The Rockford Files,” as well as a “Teen NBC” (Tnbc) channel, which will feature “Punky Brewster,” “Major Dad” and “Hang Time.”
Other channels set to launch later this year include “Universal Action,” which will include “The A-Team,” the original “Magnum P.I.” and “Knight Rider” with David Hasselhoff. There will also be an “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” channel focused on the Emmy-winning anthology series that showcased iconic mysteries, hosted by the legendary filmmaker.
“As Fast continues to gain incredible popularity in the marketplace, we’re excited to bring such terrific content options – including a strong roster of very well-known,...
The Roku Channel will also now offer a “Universal Crime” Fast channel, comprised of notable library series such as “Columbo, “Kojak” and “The Rockford Files,” as well as a “Teen NBC” (Tnbc) channel, which will feature “Punky Brewster,” “Major Dad” and “Hang Time.”
Other channels set to launch later this year include “Universal Action,” which will include “The A-Team,” the original “Magnum P.I.” and “Knight Rider” with David Hasselhoff. There will also be an “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” channel focused on the Emmy-winning anthology series that showcased iconic mysteries, hosted by the legendary filmmaker.
“As Fast continues to gain incredible popularity in the marketplace, we’re excited to bring such terrific content options – including a strong roster of very well-known,...
- 8/15/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Once upon a time, in a world not so far away, if you wanted to make a phone call, you would have to find a claustrophobic box that housed the invention of Antonio Meucci, Elisha Gray and the one who actually owns the patent on the invention: Alexander Graham Bell: We’re talking of course about the Telephone. For many of you the idea that you couldn’t just reach into your pocket and grab your own personal device that allows you to communicate with anyone and everyone on this big blue planet is unfathomable, yet as recently as just twenty years ago, the sight of someone walking on a street talking to themselves was actually quite the peculiar spectacle. It is with that bit of knowledge that an idea thought up in the 60’s was given a modern day twist to focus on the last remaining telephone kiosk...
- 7/17/2023
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Thirty years ago, Cyndi Lauper made her television acting debut in the hit comedy show Mad About You. Now, the pop queen behind hit tunes like “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” is returning to acting in the new series The Horror of Dolores Roach, premiering July 7 on Prime Video.
Lauper plays Ruthie, a streetwise P.I. on the hunt for missing people — moonlighting as a Broadway usher — who crosses paths with Dolores Roach (Justina Machado), a Washington Heights woman so desperate, and so wronged by an unjust world,...
Lauper plays Ruthie, a streetwise P.I. on the hunt for missing people — moonlighting as a Broadway usher — who crosses paths with Dolores Roach (Justina Machado), a Washington Heights woman so desperate, and so wronged by an unjust world,...
- 7/7/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
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