Category: TV

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.

TV Shows We Miss

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Recently Bits and Pieces ran a piece listing tv shows that have ceased production but would be welcomed if they returned.  Here is the list with my comments in [ ].

  • 24 [I totally agree.  I never missed an episode and would rather see it return to tv as a series or mini-series than go to the big screen as a movie.]
  • Hill Street Blues [Although I never missed Hill Street Blues back in the day, I think it’s time has passed.]
  • Cheers [Was a great show when it first started but ran it’s course.]
  • The Shield [I never missed an episode and would be a faithful viewer if The Shield returned.  It’d be interesting to see where life has taken Vic Mackey.]
  • Sopranos [Since I didn’t have HBO, I came to The Sopranos late.  I’m not even sure I’ve seen every episode, but I’d love to see it return.]
  • All in the Family [I used to watch it every week in the early years of it’s run.  Then when the cast started to leave, I lost interest.  Plus, what would the show have to do in this era to be controversial?]
  • Everybody Loves Raymond [This is another show I didn’t watch in it’s prime time run.  I do enjoy the reruns though.  If they could get the cast back together — Peter Boyle would be missed — it could work.]
  • Seinfeld [My all time favorite comedy.  I didn’t start right watching right away — who did? — but once I did, I never missed an episode.  If they could get the original cast back along with the show’s writers, could they catch lighting in a bottle again?  I don’t know, but I’d tune in to find out.]
  • Six Feet Under [Never watched it.]
  • NYPD Blue [Never watched it.]
  • The West Wing [Never missed an episode.  I’d tune in if it was brought back — even with a new cast, if the writing was as good.]
  • E.R. [I used to watch every episode until it became more of a soap opera than stories about the ER.]
  • 3rd rock From The Sun [It was fun and I’d tune in from time to time, but nah, for me, it ran it’s course.]
  • Police Squad! [If they could get Leslie Nielsen back, I’d tune in.  Zombies are in!]

Going way back

  • The Monkees [Loved the show as a kid, but unless you have the original Monkees, it’s not the same… and who wants to watch 4 zany 6o plus year old musicians?  Hey, maybe we’re on to something!]
  • Superman [Loved the show as a kid.  I’d tune in to check it out… especially if they did it in black and white and tried to recapture the feel of the original.]
  • Wild Bill Hickok [[Don’t remember ever seeing it.]
  • Sky King [Watched it as a kid and remember liking it.  Saw a clip as an adult and thought “time for a nap.”]
  • Dragnet [Times have changed and I thought it was slow back in the 60’s.]
  • Roy Rogers [Loved it as a kid.  Would tune in to check it out.]
  • Tonight Show with Johnny Carson [That show was fun… and as history has shown the magic could not be recreated]
  • Red Skelton Show [Another fun show.]
  • Carol Burnett Show [Part of the Saturday line-up that made CBS the network to watch!]
  • Dick Van Dyke Show [The supporting characters were the best… I loved that series!]
  • The Fugitive [It uh, ran it’s course.  A remake might be fun… as a mini-series.]
  • Get Smart [It was okay… could it be re-invented?  Ah, let’s do Police Squad instead!]
  • Hawaii Five-O [The new series was more fun than the original and I’ve already lost interest in it.]
  • Leave It To Beaver [ A classic when the Beaver was younger… not so much when he aged.]
  • Ozzie and Harriet [Never watched it.]
  • People Are Funny [Might have seen an episode or two…]
  • Laugh-In [A product of it’s times… and times have changed.]

What about The Wild, Wild West?  Cheyenne?  UC Undercover?