Columbo’s All-Time Best Episodes Ranked!
Chris Morgan at MSN decided to come up with The 25 best episodes of ‘Columbo’, ranked. Morgan’s list is a good one. Of course you can’t go wrong with any episode of Columbo.
Category: TV
“Untold” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster for Untold is okay, but the trailer makes me want to learn the rest of the stories. Deal me in.
From the creators of WILD WILD COUNTRY, comes a five-part sports docuseries event that brings fresh eyes to some of the greatest stories in sports. From tennis to boxing to basketball, these stories aren’t the ones you’ve heard before, even if you think you have.
J.J. Abrams’ “UFO” Documentary Series – The Poster and Trailer are Here! “Are You Ready?”
J.J. Abrams’ UFO documentary series looks interesting. If I had Showtime, I’d tune in. Oh, and I like the movie’s tagline: Are You Ready?
UFO is a four-part docu-series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Glen Zipper exploring our fascination with unidentified flying objects, and what clandestine influence the American government, lucrative private companies and the military may have in shielding the truth behind extraterrestrial phenomena to further their own agendas. Watch the premiere on Sunday, August 8 at 9/8c on SHOWTIME.
Sly Stallone’s Most Underrated Acting Scenes
Tom at TV Over Mind came up with a list of Five Underrated Acting Scenes from Sylvester Stallone. While the list or the presentation isn’t the best. (The used the photo above for heading <I added the text for my post> and it isn’t their number one choice. Also some of the example that they picked were not the best choices for Sly most underrated acting scenes. With that said, using just his top five, I’ll rank those same picks and then give you what I think are some much better choices.
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Tom at TVOM |
Craig |
5. Talking to Adonis in Creed II during the fight |
5. The final fight in Rocky V: Since this is more of a physical scene than an “acting” scene I rated it lower. |
4. The final fight in Rocky V |
4. The atrium scene in Oscar: Oscar is underrated. Sly’s performance is good but there are many scenes in other movies that should have made the grade. |
3. The atrium scene in Oscar |
3. Talking to Adonis in Creed II during the fight: Sly has better scenes in Creed II than this one. |
2. PTSD scene in Rambo: First Blood |
2. The Rocky Balboa speech: This is a good choice and it became so popular I can see why Tom listed it in his first spot. |
1. The Rocky Balboa speech |
1. PTSD scene in Rambo: First Blood: Sly gives a classic performance and shows that Rambo isn’t all blood and guts. |
Other scenes that should have made the cut:
Rocky: So many to choose, but since I am going to limit it to one from each additional film, I’ll go with the scene where Rocky tells Adrian if he is just standing when the final bell sounds…
FIST: Again many to choose from, but this time I’ll go with the scene where Sly is talking to the men about the trucker that was hurt and although the company won’t take care of him., their union will.
Rocky III: The scene on the beach with Talia Shire where she asks Rocky what he’s afraid of and he answers…
Cop Land: So many great scenes… For me it is a toss up between Sly’s scene with Annabella Sciorra or his scene with DeNiro.
Get Carter: Sly’s rooftop scene with Rachel Leigh Cook is one of his best.
Rocky Balboa: Any scene where he is talking about Adrian.
Creed: The scene in the locker room when Rocky explains to Creed why he isn’t going to get treatment for his cancer. One of Sly’s all-time best scenes.
Jordan Harper Talks Shop and Welcomes You to the Hammer Party!
Jordan Harper has worked as a journalist, rock critic and television writer. He was a writer on Gotham and the lead writer on The Mentalist. Harper also writes crime fiction.
His crime novel She Rides Shotgun won multiple awards including being named the 2018 Edgar Award Winner for Best Debut Novel. She Rides Shotgun gets my highest recommendation as well. If you like crime fiction, then you owe it to yourself to take a look.
Eli Cranor interviewed Jordan Harper and it is well worth a read. Hats off to Cranor for a fun, insightful interview.
Jordan Harper has a newsletter and occasionally posts on Twitter.
“What We Do in the Shadows” – The Season 3 Teaser is Here!
What We Do in the Shadows is one of my favorite current shows. If you don’t watch it, you should consider checking it out. If you do watch, you know how good it is. Below is the teaser for season 3 which premieres on September 2nd!
A look into the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of four vampires who have “lived” together for hundreds and hundreds of years in Staten Island.
Sly Stallone’s Most Underrated Movies!
Saeed Saeed, at The National News, posted his choices for Sly Stallone’s Most Underrated Movies. You know how I enjoy lists, so using just Saeed’s choices, here are how I’d rank them.
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Saeed |
Zablo |
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1. Nighthawks (1981) |
1. Nighthawks (1981): Ahead of it’s time and solid through and through. |
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2. Cobra (1986) |
2. Cop Land (1997): One of Sly’s finest performances and he’s in with heavy hitters. Sly more than holds his own. |
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3. Over the Top (1987) |
3. Over the Top (1987): Granted it’s a sentimental story that stretches credibility, but it is not as bad as many would believe. That’s the definition of underrated. |
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4. Demolition Man (1993) |
4. Demolition Man (1993): The opening had so much potential but ventures too far into silliness for me. Plus fans love Demolition Man. |
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5. Cop Land (1997) |
5. Cobra (1986): Had soooo much potential. Cool character, cool idea for a movie but needed to be fleshed out more. Still fans dig it. |
Saeed’s list is a good one. If I had created the list I would have put Sly’s Get Carter in the first spot. Not only does it contain scenes with some of Sly’s finest acting, but the cast is solid, the story is strong and the director shows great flourishes. Get Carter is not a perfect film (few are), but in my opinion it is Sly’s most underrated.
“Stairway to Gilligan’s Island”: Led Zeppelin & Classic TV Theme Mash-Up performed by Puddles!
How about a fun mash-up. Originally performed by Little Roger and the Goosebumps, our version is by Puddles aka The Sad Clown with the Golden Voice. If you ever get a chance to see Puddles perform live, you should take it. I did and would do it again! Yep, I’m a fan.
Get this single here: https://smarturl.it/s7pnpj
This mash up was created by Little Roger and the Goosebumps. I asked Roger Clark if he would be cool with me covering this and he said that was ok with him. He’s a swell fella. This video is from my Sequestered Summertime Streaming Show on VEEPS streaming platform. I’ll be continuing my streaming shows until I can get back on the road.
Get the original and more from Little Roger and the Goosebumps here: https://littleroger.bandcamp.com/albu…
Derek Ennis played guitars.
Tim DeLaney played bass, drums, keys, mixed and engineered.
Puddles sang it.
RIP: William Smith
William Smith died on Monday, July 5th at the age of 88. No cause of death was reported.
William Smith had an amazing life, and a career that spanned 78 years! His first role was an uncredited part in The Ghost of Frankenstein in 1942. William Smith was eight years old at the time. Mr. Smith continued to get small parts in films until he went into the US Air Force.
William Smith served as a pilot where he flew secret missions over Russia. His work earned him CIA and NSA clearance. While in the service, William Smith’s love of fitness and sports continued. He won arm wrestling and weight lifting championships. He compiled a 31-1 record as an amateur boxer. Around this same time, William Smith attracted the attention of MGM and was offered a contract.
In 1961, William Smith landed a starring role on the tv series, The Asphalt Jungle. When the series ended William Smith never hurt for roles. He would go on to work in both television and film throughout the rest of his career, amassing an astounding 274 acting credits.
William Smith starred in the following television series: Zero One; Laredo; Rich Man, Poor Man (Books I and II); Hawaii 5-0 (the last season) and Wildside.
When he wasn’t appearing on his own series, William Smith kept busy guest starring on others. This is just a taste of some apearances: Combat; Perry Mason; Alfred Hitchcock Hour; Batman; I Dream of Jeannie; The Guns of Will Sonnett; Lassie; Here Come the Brides; Daniel Boone; Dan August; The Mod Squad; Columbo; Mission Impossible; The Six Million Dollar Man; The Rockford Files and Gunsmoke.
William Smith was no stranger to feature films. He might be best known for Every Which Way But Loose with Clint Eastwood. Some of my favorite William Smith film appearances include: CC & Company; The Ultimate Warrior; Scorchy; Conan the Barbarian; Rumble Fish and Red Dawn.
When I was a kid I loved when William Smith showed up in a tv show or movie. I knew that the hero was in for a rough time or else he was lucky to meet the character Smith was playing. As I moved into my teen years I continued to enjoy William Smith’s appearances, but also started to wonder why he wasn’t get the big push as an action star. Perhaps he just stayed too busy and liked the variety of parts he was offered. If he enjoyed them half as much as we did, he was a very happy man.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to William Smith’s family, friends and fans.
“Kingdom: Ashin of the North” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Today we have the poster and trailer to Kingdom: Ashin of the North. Billed as a special episode, but at 92 minutes, I see it more as a spinoff movie.
I’ve enjoyed both seasons of Kingdom and Kingdom: Ashin of the North is written by Kim Eun-Hee. who wrote both seasons as well. I had no idea this was coming, so call me surprised and deal me in!
This summer, a 92 minute thirst for blood begins.
Kingdom: Ashin of the NorthA Kingdom Special Episode: Kingdom: Ashin of the North
Coming July 23, only on Netflix
“Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified” – The Trailer is Here!
I enjoy documentaries, movies and television shows about UFOs. I’m intrigued by the Roswell incident and other ufo/alien reports that feel like they could be true. It is interesting that the government has admitted that there are things out there that and they don’t know what they are.
Below is a trailer for Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified. Because it will be on Netflix, I’ll check it out. Based on the trailer it may not be worthy. I hate the poor cgi aliens and ufos in the trailer. And the guy that says, “Nobody’s seen it or knows where it’s at” doesn’t inspire confidence in the quality of the series. Still, you never know…
Original factual television series featuring the most recent information and proof exposing the most top-secret government projects that handled contacts with and cover-ups of, extraterrestrial presence on Earth.
RIP: Richard Donner
Richard Donner died today at the age of 91. This one hurts worse than most.
Richard Donner wanted a career as an actor. It was director Martin Ritt who encouraged Donner to consider directing instead. Ritt gave Donner a job as his assistant. Later Donner graduated to a staff position at Desilu Productions where he directed commercials.
In 1960, Mr. Donner began directing television episodes with the occasional feature film. For the next 15 years Richard Donner directed well over 100 episodes of the best television had to offer. Shows that I regularly watched that Mr. Donner directed episodes of include: The Rifleman; Combat; The Twilight Zone; The Man from UNCLE; Gilligan’s Island; Get Smart; The FBI; The Fugitive; It’s About Time; Jericho; The Wild, Wild West; The Banana Splits Adventure Hour / Danger Island; the Bearcats; Ironside and Cannon.
Richard Donner directed his first feature film in 1961. Titled X-15, it starred Charles Bronson and Mary Tyler Moore. In 1976, Mr. Donner directed one of the biggest box office hits of the year with The Omen. His next film was also a hit with fans and the box office: Superman. The success of Superman allowed Richard Donner to add producer to his resume. He would go on to produce 37 projects as he continued to direct feature films. Following Superman, some of my favorite Richard Donner directed features include: Inside Moves; Ladyhawke; Lethal Weapon 1 -4; Maverick and Assassins.
Had Richard Donner only directed the Twilight Zone episode: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, he would have warranted a post about his passing. Same could be said for Superman, the Lethal Weapon films and a personal favorite of mine, Assassins staring Sly Stallone. I didn’t realize until I was a young adult how many television shows I loved as a child were directed by Richard Donner. Any time you see Richard Donner in the credits, now you are in for a good time.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Donner’s family, friends and fans.
“The Walking Dead”: The Final Season, Part 1. – The Teaser Trailer is Here!
Today we have the teaser for The Walking Dead: The Final Season, Part 1. I look forward to seeing how this series ends. The Walking Dead is one of the tv series that I can say I was with from the start (and if all goes well) and saw every episode. It’s been a fun ride.
The Walking Dead returns for Season 11 on Sunday, August 22.
“9/11: One Day in America” – The Trailer is Here!
Below we have the trailer for 9/11: One Day in America. I plan to watch the mini-series.
9/11. If you’re old enough you know exactly where you were when you learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Seeing images brings back memories of that terrible day. Yet in the days that followed I never felt our country come together more. It is sad that it sometimes takes a tragedy to bring us together.
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the six-part limited series 9/11: One Day in America will premiere August 29 at 9/8c National Geographic
“The Many Saints of Newark”: The Sopranos Prequel Event – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Wow. I knew it would look good, but this poster and trailer for The Many Saints of Newark delivers!
The Many Saints Of Newark is the feature film prequel to David Chase’s groundbreaking award-winning HBO drama series “The Sopranos.” Follow young Anthony “Tony” Soprano as he grows up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark’s history, becoming a man just as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city.
Directed by Alan Taylor, “The Many Saints of Newark” stars Alessandro Nivola, Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Michael Gandolfini, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, with Emmy winner Ray Liotta and Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga. #TheManySaintsOfNewark
The Many Saints of Newark will be available on October 1 in theaters and on HBO Max, streaming only on the Ad-Free plan in the US for 31 days from its theatrical release.
