The tagline on the poster for Mel Brooks' celebrated 1974 comedy film "Blazing Saddles" was, "Never give a saga an even break." Not only is that a clever pun, but it reveals the central philosophy of modern pop satire. Anything that takes itself seriously enough the deem itself a "saga" is most assuredly ripe for ribald parody. Brooks would continue to deny even breaks to Alfred Hitchcock ("High Anxiety"), historical epics ("History of the World Part I"), and "Star Wars" ("Spaceballs"). In 1993, Brooks -- reacting to the massive, massive popularity of Kevin Reynolds' 1991 actioner "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" -- elected to make "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," a raunchy, slapstick farce that skewered all things Sherwood.
Many of Brooks' gags in "Men in Tights" were shamelessly recycled from his unsuccessful 1975 sitcom "When Things Were Rotten," starring Dick Gautier as Robin Hood, but he at least did have the good sense to very occasionally skew modern.
Many of Brooks' gags in "Men in Tights" were shamelessly recycled from his unsuccessful 1975 sitcom "When Things Were Rotten," starring Dick Gautier as Robin Hood, but he at least did have the good sense to very occasionally skew modern.
- 12/30/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In 1974, I was 16 and curious to see ABC try once again with super-heroes. One fine Tuesday night, I sat at and watched Wonder Woman, horrified at the liberties taken in the backdoor pilot. Cathy Lee Crosby didn’t have the looks or the costume and the most interesting thing about this was Ricardo Montalban as the heavy.
The network somehow still saw the potential in the character and commissioned a more faithful pilot, this time with a comics-accurate costume and perfect casting in Lynda Carter. In the hands of former Batman scribe Stanley Ralph Ross, the show felt right. ABC agreed and a series of Wonder Woman shows were filmed, set in World War II.
This was the beginning of the jiggle era of television, as prime time was filled with busty, often braless actors and they pandered to the women’s movement with female-led shows that didn’t fulfill their promise.
The network somehow still saw the potential in the character and commissioned a more faithful pilot, this time with a comics-accurate costume and perfect casting in Lynda Carter. In the hands of former Batman scribe Stanley Ralph Ross, the show felt right. ABC agreed and a series of Wonder Woman shows were filmed, set in World War II.
This was the beginning of the jiggle era of television, as prime time was filled with busty, often braless actors and they pandered to the women’s movement with female-led shows that didn’t fulfill their promise.
- 7/27/2020
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Wonder Woman, the beloved 1970s live-action television series starring Lynda Carter, has been remastered and is coming to Blu-ray! Wonder Woman: The Complete Collection arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on July 28, 2020.
Save the world? That’s a man’s job. Then along comes star-spangled Wonder Woman with her bullet-deflecting bracelets and golden lariat to set everyone straight. With Lynda Carter staring as the title character, Season One features adventures in Wonder Woman’s original World War II era, while Seasons Two and Three whoosh forward to the disco-loving ‘70s. Times change. The need to smash evil, calamity and injustice does not.
The Wonder Woman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray box set comes complete with all 59 episodes, plus the treasured pilot movie, across 10 discs. Bonus features include:
Audio commentary of the pilot movie by Lynda Carter & executive producer Douglas S. Cramer Audio commentary by Lynda Carter on the episode, “My Teenage Idol is Missing” Featurette – Beauty,...
Save the world? That’s a man’s job. Then along comes star-spangled Wonder Woman with her bullet-deflecting bracelets and golden lariat to set everyone straight. With Lynda Carter staring as the title character, Season One features adventures in Wonder Woman’s original World War II era, while Seasons Two and Three whoosh forward to the disco-loving ‘70s. Times change. The need to smash evil, calamity and injustice does not.
The Wonder Woman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray box set comes complete with all 59 episodes, plus the treasured pilot movie, across 10 discs. Bonus features include:
Audio commentary of the pilot movie by Lynda Carter & executive producer Douglas S. Cramer Audio commentary by Lynda Carter on the episode, “My Teenage Idol is Missing” Featurette – Beauty,...
- 7/17/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
The taglines for the 1966 overstuffed turkey “The Oscar give viewers a preview of the machinations of this camp delight- “The Dreams and the Schemers… the Hustlers and the Hopefuls…All Fight for the Highest Award!”
And you thought there was a lot of campaigning now for the Academy Award!
Kino Lorber has unleashed “The Oscar” just in time for the Academy Awards Sunday on Blu-ray with a brand new 4K restoration and two audio commentaries- one with film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson and a much more funny and caustic one with comic/actor Patton Oswalt, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (“A History of Violence”) and producer/writer/director Erik Nelson.
“The Oscar” was penned by Harlan Ellison, yes Harlan Ellison of “A Boy and His Dog,” “The Outer Limits” and “The Twilight Zone” fame and the team of Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene, who penned the 1949 classic noir “D.O.A.,...
And you thought there was a lot of campaigning now for the Academy Award!
Kino Lorber has unleashed “The Oscar” just in time for the Academy Awards Sunday on Blu-ray with a brand new 4K restoration and two audio commentaries- one with film historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson and a much more funny and caustic one with comic/actor Patton Oswalt, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (“A History of Violence”) and producer/writer/director Erik Nelson.
“The Oscar” was penned by Harlan Ellison, yes Harlan Ellison of “A Boy and His Dog,” “The Outer Limits” and “The Twilight Zone” fame and the team of Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene, who penned the 1949 classic noir “D.O.A.,...
- 2/6/2020
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Burbank, CA – Batman: The Animated Series, the most acclaimed animated super hero television series in history, arrives this fall in an all-encompassing package befitting its revered place in the annals of fan-favorite entertainment. Remastered for the first time since its broadcast airing from 1992-1995, Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition will be available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital and in a stunning Blu-ray box set ($112.99 Srp) on October 16, 2018.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the Emmy Award-winning series captured the imaginations of generations, setting the standard for super hero storytelling for the past quarter-century with its innovative designs, near-perfect voice cast and landmark approach to DC’s iconic characters and stories. Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition box set includes all 109 thrilling episodes, plus two bonus disks containing the recently-remastered, fan favorite animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.
The...
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the Emmy Award-winning series captured the imaginations of generations, setting the standard for super hero storytelling for the past quarter-century with its innovative designs, near-perfect voice cast and landmark approach to DC’s iconic characters and stories. Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition box set includes all 109 thrilling episodes, plus two bonus disks containing the recently-remastered, fan favorite animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.
The...
- 7/24/2018
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
TheWrap looks back at all of this year’s notable deaths from those in music, movies, TV and media. Miguel Ferrer Miguel Ferrer, the “NCIS: Los Angeles” star who played the role of Owen Granger died Jan. 19 from cancer at the age of 61. Dick Gautier who starred in the original Broadway production of “Bye Bye Birdie” and played the role of Hymie the Robot on “Get Smart” died on Jan. 13 at the age of 85. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka WWE legend Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka died from stomach cancer on Jan. 15 at the age of 73. He was inducted into the WWF (now WWE...
- 12/27/2017
- by Rasha Ali and Brian Welk
- The Wrap
TheWrap looks back at all of this year’s notable deaths from those in music, movies, TV and media. Miguel Ferrer Miguel Ferrer, the “NCIS: Los Angeles” star who played the role of Owen Granger died Jan. 19 from cancer at the age of 61. Dick Gautier who starred in the original Broadway production of “Bye Bye Birdie” and played the role of Hymie the Robot on “Get Smart” died on Jan. 13 at the age of 85. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka WWE legend Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka died from stomach cancer on Jan. 15 at the age of 73. He was inducted into the WWF (now WWE...
- 5/27/2017
- by Rasha Ali
- The Wrap
Tony-nominated actor Dick Gautier, known for his role in Bye, Bye Birdie and the hit TV sitcom Get Smart, has reportedly died. He was 85.
Gautier’s daughter Denise told The Hollywood Reporter that her father died Friday night at an assisted living facility in Arcadia, California, after suffering from a longtime illness.
Gautier started his career working as a stand-up comic and he went on to star as Conrad Birdie in the hit 1960 musical Bye, Bye Birdie. His Elvis-inspired role scored him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Another beloved role of Gautier’s was his...
Gautier’s daughter Denise told The Hollywood Reporter that her father died Friday night at an assisted living facility in Arcadia, California, after suffering from a longtime illness.
Gautier started his career working as a stand-up comic and he went on to star as Conrad Birdie in the hit 1960 musical Bye, Bye Birdie. His Elvis-inspired role scored him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Another beloved role of Gautier’s was his...
- 1/14/2017
- by Blake Bakkila
- PEOPLE.com
As a swivel-hipped rock and roller, Conrad Birdie had a lot of living to do, the unknown actor Dick Gautier sang in the 1960 Broadway smash Bye Bye Birdie. At first a reluctant leading man, Gautier played many roles, including cabaret singer, stand-up comic, character actor and caricaturist. He was best known to TV audiences as Hymie The Robot on six episodes of the Mel Brooks/Buck Henry-created spy spoof Get Smart, culminating in Hymie’s role as best man at the wedding…...
- 1/14/2017
- Deadline TV
Dick Gautier, who starred in the original Broadway production of “Bye, Bye Birdie” and then played Hymie the Robot on the sitcom “Get Smart,” has died, according to media reports. He was 85. After a long illness, Gautier died Friday night at an assisted living facility in Arcadia, California. Gautier, who started his career as a stand-up comic, played Conrad Birdie, the character based on Elvis Presley, in the original 1960 Broadway production of “Bye, Bye Birdie,” starring Dick Van Dyke. Gautier went on to receive a Tony nomination for the role. Also Read: 'SNL,' 'Sctv' Alum Tony Rosato...
- 1/14/2017
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Dick Gautier, who starred on Broadway in the original production of Bye, Bye Birdie and then famously played Hymie the Robot on the sitcom Get Smart, has died. He was 85.
Gautier died Friday night at an assisted living facility in Arcadia, Calif., after a long illness, his daughter Denise told The Hollywood Reporter.
Gautier, who started his career as a stand-up comic, received a Tony nomination for playing Conrad Birdie, the character based on Elvis Presley, in the memorable, original 1960 production of Bye, Bye Birdie, starring Dick Van Dyke.
The handsome actor appeared as Hymie on just six...
Gautier died Friday night at an assisted living facility in Arcadia, Calif., after a long illness, his daughter Denise told The Hollywood Reporter.
Gautier, who started his career as a stand-up comic, received a Tony nomination for playing Conrad Birdie, the character based on Elvis Presley, in the memorable, original 1960 production of Bye, Bye Birdie, starring Dick Van Dyke.
The handsome actor appeared as Hymie on just six...
- 1/14/2017
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Debbie Reynolds ca. early 1950s. Debbie Reynolds movies: Oscar nominee for 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown,' sweetness and light in phony 'The Singing Nun' Debbie Reynolds is Turner Classic Movies' “Summer Under the Stars” star today, Aug. 23, '15. An MGM contract player from 1950 to 1959, Reynolds' movies can be seen just about every week on TCM. The only premiere on Debbie Reynolds Day is Jerry Paris' lively marital comedy How Sweet It Is (1968), costarring James Garner. This evening, TCM is showing Divorce American Style, The Catered Affair, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and The Singing Nun. 'Divorce American Style,' 'The Catered Affair' Directed by the recently deceased Bud Yorkin, Divorce American Style (1967) is notable for its cast – Reynolds, Dick Van Dyke, Jean Simmons, Jason Robards, Van Johnson, Lee Grant – and for the fact that it earned Norman Lear (screenplay) and Robert Kaufman (story) a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award nomination.
- 8/24/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Cue those patriotic trumpets! CBS is developing an update of Love, American Style, the anthology series that originally aired as part of ABC’s Friday night lineup in the ’70s.
Deadline reports that the project will veer away from the show’s original format, which worked from 1969 to 1974. Instead, the new script from Jana Sinyor (Being Erica) and Aaron Martin (The Best Years) will follow four different couples who are connected through their complicated relationships. This is only a script deal; the network still has to order it to pilot before even considering it for its fall 2014 lineup.There have...
Deadline reports that the project will veer away from the show’s original format, which worked from 1969 to 1974. Instead, the new script from Jana Sinyor (Being Erica) and Aaron Martin (The Best Years) will follow four different couples who are connected through their complicated relationships. This is only a script deal; the network still has to order it to pilot before even considering it for its fall 2014 lineup.There have...
- 8/26/2013
- by Lynette Rice
- EW - Inside TV
Update, 12:45 Pm: The Screen Actors Guild issued a response saying, in part: “We believe that this suit is completely without merit and we will vigorously defend all claims in court. We are confident that our actions are appropriate and consistent with the law and our own rules of procedure.” Full statement posted below. Breaking… Exclusive 11 Am: (Click here for .pdf of lawsuit) A number of Screen Actors Guild members filed a lawsuit today asking the court for a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop SAG from calling for a vote on the proposed SAG-aftra merger. The suit claims that the SAG Board has breached its fiduciary duties to conduct an actuarial impact study detailing the effects of the proposed merger on SAG membership pension and health benefits. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. The members filing suit are: Martin Sheen, Edward Asner,...
- 2/22/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline TV
Update, 12:45 Pm: The Screen Actors Guild issued a response saying, in part: “We believe that this suit is completely without merit and we will vigorously defend all claims in court. We are confident that our actions are appropriate and consistent with the law and our own rules of procedure.” Full statement posted below. Breaking… Exclusive 11 Am: (Click here for .pdf of lawsuit) A number of Screen Actors Guild members filed a lawsuit today asking the court for a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop SAG from calling for a vote on the proposed SAG-aftra merger. The suit claims that the SAG Board has breached its fiduciary duties to conduct an actuarial impact study detailing the effects of the proposed merger on SAG membership pension and health benefits. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of California. The members filing suit are: Martin Sheen, Edward Asner,...
- 2/22/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Happy first birthday to Nelson (l) and Eddy Angélil! Céline Dion‘s fraternal twin sons celebrated the milestone with a visit from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on Oct. 23 at their home on Jupiter Island, Fla.
Accompanied by the singer, dad René Angélil and big brother René-Charles, 10½, the boys each enjoyed their own cakes in the shape of the mouse. Dion, 43, returns to her Las Vegas show in December.
Richard Gauthier
Related: Céline Dion’s Successful Shows Are a Family Affair...
Accompanied by the singer, dad René Angélil and big brother René-Charles, 10½, the boys each enjoyed their own cakes in the shape of the mouse. Dion, 43, returns to her Las Vegas show in December.
Richard Gauthier
Related: Céline Dion’s Successful Shows Are a Family Affair...
- 11/8/2011
- by Sarah
- People - CelebrityBabies
Join Jason Alexander, Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, Valarie Pettiford, Carol Lawrence, Dick Gautier, Mitzi Gaynor, Susan Watson and host Dick Van Dyke (along with his musical group The Vantastix) as the The Actors Fund honors Chita Rivera at their 13th Annual Tony Awards® Party with the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement. The gala features the only live feed in Los Angeles of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York. Marc Cherry, creator/producer of "Desperate Housewives" and David Rambo, producer/writer is "CSI" will produce and write this event.
- 6/3/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie will begin performances in the fall of 2009. After 48 years, Bye Bye Birdie returns to Broadway in a new production at Roundabout Theatre Company. The good news of 'Birdie's' return has brought up the usual discussions of casting Conrad Birdie himself, Newsday reached out to the original Broadway 'Birdie', Dick Gautier, who was a 1961 Tony nominee for his hip-swiveling to see what his thoughts on the subject were.
- 2/2/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Unless you've been locked in a telephone booth somewhere, you're well aware that the new Get Smart movie is being released in theaters this week. It's a remake of the classic spy-spoof television series that stars Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, and Edward Platt.
The new movie stars Steve Carell as Agent 86, Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, and Alan Arkin as the Chief. Others in the film include Dwayne Johnson, Terence Stamp, David Koechner, Terry Crews, Masi Oka, Nate Torrence, Ken Davitian, Dalip Singh, Bill Murray, and Patrick Warburton.
As we discussed several months ago, most of the castmates from the original series have passed away while others were either not invited to participate or opted not to.
Dick Gautier, who played Hymie the Robot, was initially going to play the President of the United States but that fell through when James Caan became available. Gautier was offer a smaller role and...
The new movie stars Steve Carell as Agent 86, Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, and Alan Arkin as the Chief. Others in the film include Dwayne Johnson, Terence Stamp, David Koechner, Terry Crews, Masi Oka, Nate Torrence, Ken Davitian, Dalip Singh, Bill Murray, and Patrick Warburton.
As we discussed several months ago, most of the castmates from the original series have passed away while others were either not invited to participate or opted not to.
Dick Gautier, who played Hymie the Robot, was initially going to play the President of the United States but that fell through when James Caan became available. Gautier was offer a smaller role and...
- 6/17/2008
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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