Category: Celebs

“I Love Lucy” Trivia

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Blake Hawkins at CBR.com came up with what he calls I Love Lucy: 7 Shocking Facts About the Classic Sitcom.  While I wouldn’t call them shocking, Hawkins did come up with interesting trivia for one of America’s most beloved and groundbreaking sitcoms.  Before you click over, here are my favorites from Hawkins’ list and some additional thoughts…

I Love Lucy Made Reruns Possible.  (This fact alone should make I Love Lucy famous.  Despite the additional cost using 35mm film allowed the episodes to be replayed making re-runs possible! – Craig)

Fred And Ethel Couldn’t Stand Each Other Offscreen.  (I learned this years ago and was shocked.  You’d never know this from just watching the show.  I guess that’s why they call it acting. – Craig)

William Frawley Skipped Two Episodes For His Yankees.  (This is new to me.  It’s funny sometimes the things actors put into their contracts.  It payed off for Frawley though. – Craig)

Desi-Lu Productions (Lucy and Desi’s company) were responsible for I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible and Star Trek!

My favorite I Love Lucy episode involves Lucy getting stuck on an upper story ledge in the rain dressed as tv’s Superman for Little Ricky’s birthday.  George Reeves guest stars.

RIP: Michael Nesmith

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Michael Nesmith died today from heart failure at the age of 78. Nesmith was a singer, song writer, actor, producer and novelist!  He was best known for his role as a member of The Monkees.

The Monkees [Mike, as he was called then, along with Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork] took the world by storm in 1966.  The group was hand-picked by Screen Gems in an effort to create a tv show about a group of young musicians.  Lightning struck and the group not only had a hit tv series but became one of the biggest selling bands of the 60’s.  In 1967, The Monkees sold more albums than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined.  The Monkees even appeared in a feature film called Head that was co-written by Jack Nicholson!

I was a huge Monkees fan like many kids my age [7].  I collected their albums, trading cards, comic books and magazines.  I had a model of The Monkeemobile.  I even followed The Monkees after Peter, then later Mike, quit the band.  Sadly, I never got to see them perform live when they reunited for several reunion tours.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Nesmith’s family, friends and fans.

“War Hunt” Starring Robert Knepper & Mickey Rourke – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have the poster and trailer for War Hunt starring Robert Knepper, Jackson Rathbone with Mickey Rourke.  Man, oh man, War Hunt would definitely be a second feature at our local drive-in back in the day.

The poster would have been better if they used the title and everything below for the entire image.  The trailer looks okay for what it is.  What does it say about the movie when Rourke’s eyepatch switches eyes in the trailer!

With all that said, I’d probably give it a try on streaming.

The Crazy (and Sad) Lives of Silent Movie Stars!

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Adrian Sharp at Listverse came up with 10 Crazy Stories about Silent Film Stars.  It’s a good read that includes video to back up the chosen tales.  Before you click over…

I’m a silent movie fan.  When I watch a silent film, I look up information about the people who created it.  I’ve often been surprised at the lives they lead and how many ended with tragic or even mysterious deaths.  Sharp brings us the stories of ten silent film stars.  Here are my three favorite from his picks and my thoughts on each…

Stunt Pilot Ormer Locklear.  This is the one star I wasn’t aware of.  When you click over check out the video of Locklear’s stunts – wing walking, hanging by a knee, doing flips, climbing above and below the wings of a plane flying hundreds, if not thousands, of feet in the air… and WITHOUT A PARACHUTE.  Fearless or crazy – you decide.  Sadly, Locklear died performing an airplane stunt for a film.

Jean Harlow in “Kill and Be Killed”.  Jean Harlow was discovered by Howard Hughes who cast her in Hell’s Angels, Harlow would go on to work with Chaplin, Gable, Cagney to name just of a few of her leading men.  Fay Wray said that Harlow was the original choice for King Kong.  She was a close friend of gangster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.  She married MGM executive Paul Bern, who two months into their marriage was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head.  His death was ruled a suicide, but some believe Bern was murdered due to some unusual circumstances and the fact that the police were called AFTER Louis B, Mayer had a chance to get to the crime scene.  Harlow died at the young age of 26 under what some consider mysterious circumstances as well.

Thelma Todd’s Impossible Suicide.  Todd ruled the silver screen making over 100 shorts and feature films, appearing with Buster Keaton, The Marx Brothers and Laurel & Hardy.  Todd was found dead inside her car that was in the garage of her lover’s ex-wife.  There were conflicting reports of injuries to her body, she left no suicide note and had appeared to be in good spirits in the time preceding her death.  Although her death was considered a murder by many, it was ruled a suicide by a grand jury.

Although not on Sharp’s list, the story of Louise Brooks is another sad tale of a silent era star.  Brooks quickly rose from being an uncredited extra to getting contract offers from both MGM and Paramount.  At the start of her career she worked with top directors and stars and by the end she left Hollywood and worked as a high priced call girl.  

“Ocean’s Eleven” Trivia!

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Jon O’Brien at Mental Floss came up with 20 Fun Facts About Ocean’s Eleven.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

OCEAN’S ELEVEN NEARLY STARRED THE WILSON BROTHERS. (I don’t think Ocean’s Eleven starring the Wilson brothers would have had the same impact. – Craig)

THERE ARE CAMEOS FROM TWO OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIE’S CAST MEMBERS.  (Henry Silva and Angie Dickinson were in the original and had cameos in the remake.  It’s always a good idea to find cameos for stars from the original film as a sign of respect for the film that came first. – Craig)

EVERY ACTOR TOOK A SIGNIFICANT PAY CUT TO APPEAR IN THE MOVIE.  (Interesting that a Vegas movie involved actors who took “significant” pay cuts and gambled on back-end profits — which paid off! – Craig)

The Commando Starring Michael Jai White & Mickey Rourke – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster is pretty boring but the trailer for The Commando shows promise.  If you’re looking for a drive-in movie, then The Commando will fit the bill.  I’d watch.

ComingSoon is debuting the exclusive trailer, key art, and new photos for the upcoming action crime thriller The Commando. Starring Michael Jai White (Spawn, The Dark Knight, Black Dynamite) and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler, Sin City, Iron Man 2) Saban Films will release the film in theaters, on Digital, and On Demand on January 7, 2022.

“In this edge-of-your-seat crime thriller, an elite DEA agent (White) returns home after a failed mission when his family makes an unexpected discovery in their house – a stash of money worth $3 million,” reads the official synopsis. “They soon face the danger and threat of a newly released criminal (Rourke) and his crew who will do whatever it takes to retrieve the money – including kidnap the agent’s daughters. Stakes are high and lives are at risk in this head-to-head battle as the agent stops at nothing to protect his family against the money-hungry criminals.”

“Mr. Saturday Night” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I don’t think the poster or the trailer for Mr. Saturday Night are all that great, but Saturday Night Fever and that era hits a sweet spot for me.  If you’re old enough to remember how the film and soundtrack exploded you’ll understand.  Saturday Night Fever quickly began to influence everything from the way we dressed to clubs we hung out in.  I’ll tune in to Mr. Saturday Night just to get a taste of that bygone time and if the documentary is good that will be a bonus.

#MrSaturdayNightHBO, an HBO original documentary and #MusicBoxHBO film about Robert Stigwood’s gamble that turned Saturday Night Fever into a cultural touchstone, premieres December 9 on HBO Max.

“Cowboy Bebop” Original Title Track & Steve Aoki Remix! Let’s Jam!

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Even though I’ve never seen a single episode of the Cowboy Bebop anime (which I am going to rectify soon), I know and like the theme song.  The original artists recently reunited to perform it again!

Yoko Kanno + Seatbelts reunite to perform Tank! — the phenomenal title sequence and theme song of Cowboy Bebop for the live action series. Intros don’t get much better than this. OK. 3, 2, 1… Let’s jam!

From Netflix Geeked, COWBOY BEBOP: UNLOCKED is fans’ one-stop spoiler-filled destination digging into the story secrets, adaptation process and making of Cowboy Bebop.

Featuring fan-favorite Cowboy Bebop characters Jet Black, Spike Spiegel, Faye Valentine, Ein, Vicious and even Radical Ed, live action Cowboy Bebop Netflix release date is available to stream now!

I have seen every episode (and become a huge fan) of the new live-action Cowboy Bebop.  Steve Aoki created a remix of the title track.  Let’s jam!

Now, more than ever, 3, 2, 1… LET’S JAM to Steve Aoki’s remix of Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts’ iconic jazz piece TANK! Watch Cowboy Bebop, now streaming on Netflix.

Oliver Stone’s “JFK: Destiny Denied” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I believe that Lee Harvey Oswald killed President Kennedy, but I have an open mind and am interested in learning more about the case.  I’ve read the Warren Commission Report.  I’ve watched documentaries and read many different theories.  The “magic bullet” can be explained and really didn’t make the turns and twists some have speculated.  With all that said, I’m interested in seeing Oliver Stone’s JFK: Destiny Denied.

JFK: DESTINY BETRAYED is #OliverStone’s four-part “deep dive” into the infamous Kennedy assassination. Over a period of months, Stone spoke to a diverse array of authors, historians, witnesses, and experts in forensics, ballistics, and medicine. Subjects covered in the mini-series include the early formation of President Kennedy’s foreign policy worldview, his travels to Vietnam as a senator (where he saw first-hand the French losing their colonial war), his support of fledgling democracies in Africa, and his anti-colonial convictions which put him in opposition to the Eisenhower administration, the CIA, and the Pentagon. Viewers are also given a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the post-assassination actions and initial suspicions of Kennedy’s brother, Robert, as well as his views on the official Warren Commission investigation. Additionally, assassination forensic and ballistic evidence is explored here in great detail. #JFK #JohnFKennedy #CIA

With narration by Whoopi Goldberg and Donald Sutherland.

The All-Time Best Action Stars!

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Liam Gaughan, at /Film, came up with his list of The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked.  His list is a pretty good one, but I do question his rankings.  Harrison Ford at #1?  Arnold in the 8th spot and Sly in the 10th?  No Dwayne Johnson?  No Vin Diesel?

Well, lists are there to get us thinking and talking.  Liam has his reasons for his choices. Only 1 of my top 3 made his top three.  So before you click over, here are my top three…

  1. Sylvester Stallone
  2. Arnold Schwarzenegger
  3. Tom Cruise

Is your list closer to Gaughan’s, mine or totally different?

“Shattered” Starring C. Monaghan, F. Grillo & J. Malkovich – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The Shattered poster is generic but the trailer has twists and a cast that makes me interested in seeing it.

In the tradition of Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct comes this dazzling action thriller starring Academy Award Nominee John Malkovich (RED) and Frank Grillo (Avengers: Endgame). As lonely tech millionaire Chris (Cameron Monaghan, “Shameless”) encounters charming, sexy Sky (Lilly Krug), passion grows between them. And when he’s injured, she quickly steps in as his nurse. But Sky’s odd behavior makes Chris suspect that she has more sinister intentions, especially when Sky’s roommate is found dead from mysterious causes.

RIP: Art LaFleur

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On November 17th, Art LaFleur, the actor best known for his role as Babe Ruth in the movie The Sandlot, died after a decade long battle with Parkinson’s disease.  Mr. LaFleur was 78.

Art LaFleur served as a sports broadcaster for both CBS and ESPN, but it was his nearly 170 acting roles that made him famous.  He alternated between movie and television in a career that lasted nearly 40 years!

I always enjoyed whenever Art LaFleur showed up on screen.  He appeared twice in Sly Stallone films (Cobra and Oscar).  He also worked with Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte, James Garner, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr. and others making their movies even better.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Art LaFleur’s family, friends and fans.

“Mother/Android” Starring Chloe Grace Moretz – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for Mother/Android are here.  The poster is okay, but I like the looks of the trailer.  I’ll give Mother/Android a shot.

A young woman and her boyfriend go on a treacherous journey of escape as their country is caught in an unexpected war with artificial intelligence. Days away from the arrival of their first child, they must cross a stronghold of the android uprising, in hopes of reaching safety before giving birth. Stream starting December 17, only on Hulu.