Category: TV

Oleg Zatler’s Amazing Movie and Television Art!

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Oleg Zatler has created art for both for movies and television.  You’ve probably seen his art on posters for theatrical blockbusters like Batman, Hunger Games, District 9, Rambo, The Expendables and Star Trek.  On television Zatler has created art for the Star Trek franchise, AEW, Longmire and Sons of Anarchy to name just a few.

Mr. Zatler has a website where you can see more of his art.  He also has three sections for his posters (used and rejected) for The Expendables, The Expendables 2 and The Expendables 3.  It’s interesting to see how far out some of the designs were as well as those that weren’t used but should have been!

“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.

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.

RIP: Dean Stockwell

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Dean Stockwell, the actor best known for his role on Quantum Leap, died yesterday at the age of 85.

With over 200 acting roles on his resume, Stockwell successfully transitioned from child, teenager, young adult, adult to mature actor. He performed on Broadway, television and in feature films. Mr. Stockwell’s first role came in 1945 and he was put under contract with MGM. As a child actor he stayed busy and worked with everyone from Abbott & Costello to Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Gregory Peck.

Interestingly enough from 1951 to 1956, Dean Stockwell took a break from acting. When he returned Mr. Stockwell alternated between television and feature films. In 1957, he also had an acclaimed run on Broadway as Judd Steiner in Compulsion. He later reprised the role for the 1959 feature film and it earned him and his Compulsion co-stars Orson Welles and Bradford Dillman the Cannes Best Actor Award. .

Dean Stockwell took another break from acting taking no roles in 1966 – 1967. When he returned in 1968, Mr. Stockwell took role in both television and feature films. His signature role as Admiral Al Calavicci on the Quantum Leap series ran from 1989 – 1993. Dean Stockwell continued to act until his retirement in 2015.

I always enjoyed seeing Dean Stockwell show up in the credits of any television show or movie. My favorite Dean Stockwell performance is as Judd Steiner in Compulsion. He shares the screen with Orson Welles and more than holds his own.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dean Stockwell’s family, friends and fans.

“Cowboy Bebop” – The Trailer is Here!

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I’m surprised at how much I am looking forward to Cowboy Bebop.  This is going to be a fun ride.

COWBOY BEBOP is an action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, aka “cowboys,” all trying to outrun the past. As different as they are deadly, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals — for the right price. But they can only kick and quip their way out of so many scuffles before their pasts finally catch up with them.

Based on the beloved anime series, COWBOY BEBOP is executive produced by André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg of Midnight Radio, Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, Makoto Asanuma, Shin Sasaki and Masayuki Ozaki of Sunrise Inc., Tim Coddington, Tetsu Fujimura, Michael Katleman, Matthew Weinberg, and Christopher Yost. Nemec serves as showrunner. Original anime series director Shinichirō Watanabe is a consultant on the series, and original composer Yoko Kanno returns for the live-action adaptation. The series also stars Alex Hassell and Elena Satine.

Watch Cowboy Bebop, a live-action series, only on Netflix Nov. 19.

“Cowboy Bebop: The Lost Session” – The Teaser is Here!

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Cowboy Bebop: The Lost Session – the teaser is here! (And I like it!)

COWBOY BEBOP is an action-packed space Western about three bounty hunters, aka “cowboys,” all trying to outrun the past. As different as they are deadly, Spike Spiegel (John Cho), Jet Black (Mustafa Shakir), and Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda) form a scrappy, snarky crew ready to hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals — for the right price. But they can only kick and quip their way out of so many scuffles before their pasts finally catch up with them.

RIP: Betty Lynn

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Betty Lynn, the actress best known as Barney Fife’s girlfriend on The Andy Griffith Show, died yesterday at the age of 95.

Many folks are surprised and the number of movies and television shows Ms. Lynn appeared in (probably because her role of Thelma Lou is so ingrained in our memories).  When Mark Evanier was a child, Betty Lynn was his next door neighbor.  They developed a life-long friendship and Evanier has written on his blog about Betty Lynn many times over the years. If you click over you’ll find his initial post about her passing and all about Ms. Lynn’s amazing life.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Betty Lynn’s family, friends and fans.

“The Beatles: Get Back” Docuseries Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I’m all-in for The Beatles: Get Back docuseries!

The official trailer for #TheBeatlesGetBack is here! The Disney+ original docuseries, directed by Peter Jackson, will be arriving on Disney+ just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Made entirely from never-before-seen, restored footage, it provides the most intimate and honest glimpse into the creative process and relationship between John, Paul, George, and Ringo ever filmed. Be sure to check them both out, and don’t forget to watch “The Beatles: Get Back” when it rolls out over three days, November 25, 26, and 27, 2021, exclusively on Disney+.

Directed by three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “They Shall Not Grow Old”), “The Beatles: Get Back” takes audiences back in time to the band’s January 1969 recording sessions, which became a pivotal moment in music history. The docuseries showcases The Beatles’ creative process as they attempt to write 14 new songs in preparation for their first live concert in over two years. Faced with a nearly impossible deadline, the strong bonds of friendship shared by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are put to the test. The docuseries is compiled from nearly 60 hours of unseen footage shot over 21 days, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg in 1969, and from more than 150 hours of unheard audio, most of which has been locked in a vault for over half a century. Jackson is the only person in 50 years to have been given access to this Beatles treasure trove, all of which has now been brilliantly restored. What emerges is an unbelievably intimate portrait of The Beatles, showing how, with their backs against the wall, they could still rely on their friendship, good humor, and creative genius. While plans derail and relationships are put to the test, some of the world’s most iconic songs are composed and performed. The docuseries features – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles’ last live performance as a group, the unforgettable rooftop concert on London’s Savile Row, as well as other songs and classic compositions featured on the band’s final two albums, Abbey Road and Let It Be.

An exciting new collaboration between The Beatles and Jackson presented by The Walt Disney Studios in association with Apple Corps Ltd. and WingNut Films Productions Ltd., “The Beatles: Get Back” is directed by Peter Jackson, produced by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon, Olivia Harrison, Peter Jackson, Clare Olssen (“They Shall Not Grow Old”) and Jonathan Clyde (“Eight Days a Week”), with Apple Corps’ Jeff Jones (“Eight Days a Week”) and Ken Kamins (“The Hobbit” trilogy) serving as executive producers. Jabez Olssen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) serves as the film’s editor, the music supervisor is Giles Martin (“Rocketman”), Michael Hedges (“The Adventures of Tintin”) and Brent Burge (“The Hobbit” trilogy) serve as the series re-recording mixers, and the music is mixed by Giles Martin and Sam Okell (“Yesterday”).

The Addams Family by Eduardo Francisco!

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Once a week Joblo.com has a feature called Awesome Art We’ve Found Around the Net.  As you can imagine, they post awesome art that they, well, you get the idea.

I always enjoy seeing what JoBlo has found because with each post they list the artist’s name and a link to more of his/her art.  If you check it out you’ll discover amazing artists like Eduardo Francisco who did the very cool Addams Family piece above.

James Bond: Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About 007!

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Mathew Jackson at Mental Floss came up with 45 Fascinating Facts About James Bond.  Here are three that I didn’t know and my thoughts for each…

MANY ACTORS WERE ALMOST JAMES BOND.  (Jackson lists: Cary Grant, Richard Burton, Michael Gambon, Burt Reynolds, James Brolin, Sam Neill, and Ewan McGregor as actors who almost played 007.  Cary Grant would have worked as a Roger Moore type Bond.  I can’t see Richard Burton Sam Neill or Ewan McGregor as 007.  I’m not familiar with Michael Gambon.  Burt Reynolds would have been an interesting choice.  How would they have played Reynolds’ Bond?  Ladies man, yes.  More comedy?  I’d hope not.  James Brolin would have made a great looking Bond, but I’ve never heard him do an English accent. ; ) – Craig)

GEORGE LAZENBY SNUCK HIS WAY INTO PLAYING JAMES BOND.  (Lazenby was known as more of a model than actor at the time.  I love how he went after the part.  Lazenby got the 007 clothes and accessories and then snuck into the producers’ office.  The only thing to make the story better was if instead of saying, “I heard you’re looking for James Bond,”  he had said, “I heard you were looking for me.” – Craig)

IAN FLEMING DIDN’T WANT SEAN CONNERY AS BOND.  (Connery was perfect the role and I wonder if they had went with someone else, if the franchise would have taken off.  – Craig)

“Ragdoll” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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I like the poster and trailer for Ragdoll.  This one looks like a winner.

RAGDOLL Official Trailer

PLOT: Upcoming internationally co-produced thriller series based upon the novel of the same name by Daniel Cole. The series follows the murder of six people who have been dismembered and sewn into the shape of a grotesque body, “The Ragdoll”. As detectives begin to investigate, the killer begins to taunt them.

CAST: Lucy Hale, Ali Cook, Lee Byford

RIP: Jay Sandrich

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Jay Sandrich has died at the age of 89.  Mr. Sandrich was an award-winning director (5 Emmy Awards, 3 Director’s Guild Awards) best known for his work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Cosby Show.

Jay Sandrich began his career as an Assistant Director working on I Love Lucy, The Red Skelton Show, The Untouchables, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Dick Van Dyke Show and many others.  Once Mr. Sandrich moved into the director’s chair he stayed busy working on The Danny Thomas Show, That Girl, Get Smart, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Here’s Lucy, The Odd Couple, and The Bob Newhart Show just to name a few.   Often Mr. Sandrich would be hired to direct multiple episodes.

In 1970, Mr. Sandrich directed the pilot of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  He would go on to direct 119 of the show’s 168 episodes!  Jay Sandrich also directed episodes of the MTMS spin-offs: Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant. After the MTMS ended Mr. Sandrich continued to direct some of the most popular shows on television including: Welcome Back Kotter, WKRP in Cincinnati, Benson and Soap.

In 1980, Jay Sandrich directed the feature film Seems Like Old Times starring Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Charles Grodin.  Mr. Sandrich then returned to directing television shows including Night Court and The Golden Girls. Mr. Sandrich was then chosen as director for The Cosby Show.  He not only directed the pilot but went on to direct 100 of the 197 episodes made! 

Jay Sandrich continued to direct television projects that interested him, even adding episodes of The Office and Two and a Half Men to his resume.  Jay Sandrich was named to the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2020.

It’s hard to imagine just how many hours I’ve enjoyed of programs directed by Jay Sandrich.  He directed some of the funniest episodes of several classic series.  That doesn’t happen by accident.  If you haven’t seen his lone feature film: Seems Like Old Times.  You should consider giving it a go.  I remember seeing Seems Like Old Times when it was first released and really enjoying it.  Jay Sandrich knew how to bring out the best in the performers he worked with.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jay Sandrich’s family, friends and fans.

  

“Invasion” – The 2nd Trailer is Here!

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Invasion looks like it could be a fun ride.

We are not alone. Extraterrestrial beings have made their way to Earth from across the universe. Civilization could collapse. And survival is up to you. Feel what it’s like to live through an alien invasion starting October 22 on Apple TV+ https://apple.co/_Invasion

Invasion follows a global cast – including Sam Neil, Golshifteh Farahani, Shamier Anderson, Billy Barrett, and Shioli Kutsuna – as they try to navigate a terrifying new reality infested by lethal aliens.

Song: “This Bitter Earth (Heavy Duty Remix)” by The Seshen