Category: TV

RIP – James Arness

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I was sad to hear that James Arness died on Friday, June 5, 2011, at the age of 88 of natural causes.  Most fans know Mr. Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon from the long-running tv series Gunsmoke which aired from 1955 to 1975 and then returned in the form of five made-for-television movies.  If Matt Dillon was the only role that James Arness was known for, it’d still be enough reason to post about his passing.  I spent many hours watching Gunsmoke with my grandfather and those are memories I’ll always treasure.   [It was my grandfather who informed me that James Arness and Peter Graves [Mission Impossible] were brothers.  LOL.  The things that we remember.]

James Arness was also an important part of my childhood because he played roles in two of my favorite monster movies.  Mr. Arness was the thing in the classic The Thing from Another Planet.  He also played the romantic lead in another sci-fi classic, Them! You can also find James Arness in the John Wayne classic, Hondo!    One of my favorite James Arness‘ roles was as the mountain man Zeb McCahan [a role that he played in a made-for-tv movie and two mini-series].

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fans of James Arness.

The Expendables 2 Teaser But Synopsis Wrong

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FirstShowing scored a, uh, first look at The Expendables 2 teaser poster.  Several sites picked up on the image as well as the synopsis that  Nu Image posted the storyline for the sequel.  I just received a call from Sly’s office.  Sly wanted fans to know that the posted synopsis is not correct.  The real storyline will be forthcoming, but Sly wanted SZoners to know the truth first! – Craig

Wham-O Daredevils

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This 1966 commercial for the Wham-O Wheelie Bar really brings back a lot of memories.  I would have been 7 or 8 years old depending on when the commercial first appeared.  I had a sting ray bike.   I rode/loved that bike like a singing cowboy loved his horse.    I never had a Wham-O Wheelie Bar though.

Besides the nostalgia factor of the commercial, I also found it interesting that kids riding the bikes in the commercial were riding with no helmets, barefoot, and down the middle of the street.  They were also standing on the seat and doing tricks [things that we all did or at least tried back in the day] but that would never pass the safety standards of today.

[Via Neatorama]

Breaking Bad is So Good

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If you don’t watch Breaking Bad on AMC, you’re missing out on one of the best shows currently running.  Seriously.  I’m surprised I don’t hear more people talking Breaking Bad up.  It’s that good.  If you don’t know about it, don’t feel bad.  I only recently discovered Breaking Bad and now I’m hooked.   AMC is about to start running the series again from the start, so this would be a great time to jump on board or at least give it a try.

Saul Goodman [pictured above] is a sleazy lawyer on the show, but he’s  not the main character.  Saul is just one of the many great characters.  Saul’s card might make you think that Breaking Bad is a comedy, but it’s not.  Sure, there are some funny moments, but Breaking Bad ain’t no sitcom.  It is one of the best shows on currently on tv.

50 Greatest TV Characters

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Recently CBSNews.com posted their choices for the 50 Greatest TV Characters.  Using just the characters from their list here is my top ten and 10 more who should have made the list:

  1. Lucy Ricardo: No matter what Lucy did, it always backfired, and just like Ricky, we were always ready to forgive her and come back for more.
  2. Vic Mackey: The greatest good bad guy in television history.  How could we find ourselves pulling for a guy who killed a good cop in cold blood in the very first episode?
  3. The cast of “Seinfeld”: The best tv comedy ensemble ever.
  4. Spock / Capt. James T. Kirk: Through in “Bones” McCoy and you have the best tv trifecta ever.
  5. Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver: The “Beav” when he was younger was a lot of fun… unfortunately he outgrew his cuteness before the series ended.
  6. Frasier Crane / Niles Crane: Totally believable as brothers and unbelievable funny [and I mean that in a good way].
  7. The Huxtables: The family that brought comedies back into vogue.
  8. Rico Tubbs and Sonny Crockett: The first year set the standard for tv, movies, and music videos.  Miami Vice’s influence was everywhere.
  9. Tony Soprano: The tough mob boss who couldn’t control his own family.
  10. Bob Hartley: Totally under-rated series lead.

Why weren’t these folks on the list?  James West, Cheyenne Bodie, Vinnie Terranova, Raylan Givens, Jack Bauer, Barnabus Collins, Rod Serling, Fred Sanford, Rob & Laura Petrie and Ralph Kramden & Ed Norton?

Stephen King May Join The Walking Dead

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Here’s a match made in, uh, heaven… Stephen King has confirmed to EW.com that he is in talks to script an episode of AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead.  Man, I would love to see that happen.  King and The Walking Dead’s executive producer, Frank Darabont, have a history of working together to create top notch entertainment [The Shawshank Redemption and The Mist] so odds are this will all work out.  I, for one, couldn’t be happier.

Powers Coming to FX

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Powers, the comic series [by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming] about cops in a world with super heroes and villains, has been given the green light.  The pilot is set to be directed by Michael Dinner [Justified, Sons of Anarchy]; with a script from Charles “Chic” Eglee, [The Walking Dead,The Shield ].   [Via CBR.com]

Sly Stallone Scores a Headshot

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  • Way back in October of 2008, I posted about a French crime comic called “Headshot” that had been optioned by Warner Bros.  “Headshot” was about a hitman and cop who, when their partners are killed, form an uneasy alliance to get revenge on the powers that set them up.  At that time, I said that I’d love to see an American edition of the comic and that I’d keep an eye out on the progress of the movie.
  • Today I’m happy to report that “Headshot” is moving forward with Sylvester Stallone playing one of the hitmen and Wayne “Running Scared” Kramer set to direct.
  • Here’s how /Film describes “Headshot”… In the film, Stallone’s character “teams with a young NYPD detective in a high-stakes investigation that leads from the dingy back alleys of New Orleans all the way to the power corridors of Washington, D.C. The unlikely duo, brought together by two vicious murders, take on all who stand in their way, and are willing to sacrifice everything to exact revenge.”
  • IM Global [the company making “Headshot”] CEO Stuart Ford said… “Headshot is exactly the type of fast-paced, universally themed project that suits our business model. Sylvester Stallone is an international icon and we’re really excited to be in business with him.”
  • “Headshot” is set to being filming in May and I couldn’t be happier.