Category: TV

Bruce Lee Trivia!

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Jay Serafino at Mental Floss presents 10 Amazing Facts About Bruce Lee.  Here are my thoughts about three of the best…

BRUCE LEE REFUSED TO LOSE A FIGHT TO ROBIN.
(It’s pretty impressive that Lee took this stand since Batman was one of the most popular shows on tv, and Lee wasn’t the star of Batman or The Green Hornet. – Craig)

ROMAN POLANSKI MAY HAVE (BRIEFLY) THOUGHT BRUCE LEE MURDERED SHARON TATE.
(I was surprised when I first learned of this fact.  What are the odds Lee would lose his glasses around the same time of the murder and that a pair would be found at the scene of the crime?  Coincidences do happen and can get people locked up or worse. – Craig)

BRUCE LEE WAS DEEMED PHYSICALLY UNFIT FOR THE U.S. ARMY.
(This is probably the most surprising fact.  Who’d have guessed that Bruce Lee would be deemed unfit for anything? – Craig)

For more on Bruce Lee please consider checking out…

Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: The Art of Darkness Book is Coming!

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Fans of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery television series are going to be happy to hear about Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: The Art of Darkness by Scott Skelton and Jim Benson.  Every week Rod Serling would introduce each Night Gallery story by talking about a painting representing the tale to be presented.  The book will be a treasure trove for fans…

The nearly 300-page book is brimming with hundreds of rare, behind-the-scenes photos and artwork. It documents each of the paintings, and traces the complicated (and often twisted) tale of how these iconic masterpieces slowly disappeared from view — only to find their way back, lovingly displayed in two gallery exhibits for appreciative connoisseurs 50 years later.

For more details please check out Night Gallery Paintings Will Soon Be Showcased in a Special “Art Gallery” Book at the Shadows & Substance website.

Sly Stallone to Host “Rocky” Livestream for Charity!

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Sylvester Stallone will be the first celebrity host for a new live Facebook series called Screening Room With The Stars.  Each week a livestream of a movie will be hosted by someone from the film with fans having the opportunity to interact with the star. The series will benefit organizations / communities impacted by the coronavirus.  The series starts tomorrow at 4pm on MGM Studios’ Facebook page.

For full details check out CAA Launches ‘Screening Room With The Stars’ Series For COVID-19 Charities; Sly Stallone & ‘Rocky’ Go First by Patrick Hipes at Deadline.

“Suzi Q” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Today we have the poster and trailer to Suzi Q.  I wonder how many folks here know who Suzi Quatro is?

I’m the right age to know, but all I really remember is that Suzi Quatro had a hit song (Stumblin’ In) in 1978 and appeared on Happy Days (as Leather Tuscadero), I think after it had “jumped the shark”.   From the looks of the trailer, there’s a lot I have to learn.

RIP: Jerry Stiller

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Jerry Stiller died today from natural causes.  He was 92.  Most folks know Jerry Stiller as the father of either Ben Stiller, George Costanza .  Ben is, of course, Mr. Stiller’s real-life son and George was his son on Seinfeld.  Others may recognize Jerry Stiller as Arthur Spooner, Carrie Heffernan’s dad on The King of Queens.

I first knew Jerry Stiller as one half of the comedy team Stiller and Meara.  You’ve probably figured out that he made up the Stiller half of the duo, but did you know his wife, Ann Meara, made up the other 50%?  I can’t tell you how many times I saw them turn up on The Ed Sullivan Show and other variety series.  I enjoyed their humorous routines. It was (and still is) unusual to see a husband and wife comedy team.  Especially one that lasts over 60 years.

Mr. Stiller’s resume contains 115 acting credits but it was his roles on Seinfeld and The King of Queens that I’ll remember best.  Often Jerry Stiller got the biggest laughs and considering the talent involved that’s saying a lot.  From all accounts Jerry Stiller was a humble, giving man and one that made everything he appeared in better.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.

Z-View: “Into the Night”

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Into the Night (2020)

Director: Inti Calfat andDirk Verheye

Screenplay: Jason George (based on the book by Jacek Dukaj)

Stars:  Pauline Etienne, Laurent Capelluto, Stefano Cassetti  and Mehmet Kurtulus.

The Pitch: “Let’s turn Jacek Dukaj’s  novel into a movie!”

No Tagline:  The Darkest Hour is Just Before the Dawn

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

In the early morning hours just before dawn, passengers have just started to board an airplane when a wild-eyed, armed man fights his way into the cockpit.  He forces the pilot to take off and then shares his story with the few passengers. The sun’s rays have somehow changed and are causing death.  Of course no one believes him until they begin to hear reports from around the globe of the mass extinction that comes with the new day.

Their only hope for survival is to fly into the night… but then what?  Fuel will only take them so far.  Getting into shade won’t save them.  The different personalities and ideas for survival make Into the Night a fun ride.  Like all good apocalyptic movies, a group of strangers are thrust into a situation where in order to survive they must work together and make the right choices.

Into the Night has an interesting cast of characters and because there are no big name stars, any of them are likely to not survive.  There are plenty of twists as each of the six first season episodes takes us further into the mystery and hope for survival.  My wife and I binged the six forty minute episodes in one sitting.  I look forward to season 2.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars.

The Poster and Trailer for “The Last Narc” are Here!

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Here’s the poster and trailer for The Last Narc.  This looks good.

In the Amazon Original The Last Narc, former cartel insiders divulge the bone-chilling details behind the notorious murder and kidnapping of DEA Agent “Kiki” Camarena. Through never before seen interviews, this four-part docuseries will unravel the story of Camarena, the drug cartel he infiltrated, and the narc who risked everything to discover the truth.

Jackie “The Great One” Gleason Trivia!

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When I was a little kid for most of the country The Jackie Gleason Show was must-see tv.  As I got a little older I discovered, in reruns, The Honeymooners.  Then in high school Jackie hit big again with his classic role as Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit.

Gleason was also great dramatic actor (see The Hustler and Requiem for a Heavyweight if you don’t believe me) but comedy was where Gleason spent the majority of his career.  Gleason was a true talent making it big on stage, television, radio and movies.

If you don’t know much about the man known as The Great One, check out 18 Fascinating Facts about Jackie Gleason presented by the fine folks at MeTV.  Here are three of my favorite facts and my thoughts on each…

When you see him pat his stomach on The Honeymooners, it’s because he forgot a line.  Well, perhaps it wasn’t 100% photographic. The sitcom was filmed live, so there were no do-overs.

(If you’ve never seen The Honeymooners you owe it to yourself to check it out. Classic comedy! – Craig)

His debut album still holds the record for most consecutive weeks in the Billboard top ten — a whopping 153.  Gleason was a massive music star. In a way, he was a forerunner of ambient pioneer Brian Eno, in that he wished to craft records of what he called “musical wallpaper.” His easy listening instruments, especially Lonesome Echo, remain cult favorites. His first album, 1952’s Music for Lovers Only, spent a mind-boggling three years near the top ten. To put that in perspective, Thriller only managed 78.

(Who’d a thunk it? – Craig)

He believed in aliens.  Gleason studied the paranormal and UFOs. It is rumored that President Nixon shared secret information about UFOs with the Hollywood star.

(Gleason told people that then President Nixon actually showed him a captured alien ship and alien corpse! – Craig)

“Hogan’s Heroes” Trivia

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To this day it’s hard for me to believe that anyone would greenlight a TV comedy about a World War II prisoner of war camp.  But that’s exactly what happened.  Hogan’s Heroes ran for 168 episodes, premiering in September 1965 and airing the last original episode in April 1971.  Hogan’s Heroes is the longest running American TV series inspired by World War II.  Who would’ve thunk it?

MeTV recently posted 12 Incredibly True Facts about Hogan’s Heroes.  Here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

The actors playing the four main German roles were Jewish. Klemperer (Klink), Banner (Schultz), Leon Askin (Burkhalter) and Howard Caine (Hochstetter) were Jewish, and all but the latter had fled the Nazis during WWII. Additionally, Robert Clary, who played the cooking French corporal, LeBeau, had been interned at a concentration camp. Klemperer stated at the time, “I am an actor. If I can play Richard III, I can play a Nazi.” The actor insisted that Hogan always won out over his captors.

(I remember at the time there was a bit of controversy from World War II vets, and some who had been in POW camps, as well as those who felt nothing about WW2 was funny. – Craig)

The set was blown up during the making of Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS. What an ignominious fate. Hogan’s Heroes was filmed on Desilu Productions’ RKO Forty Acres backlot. In the making of the trashy 1974 exploitation film Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS, the set was destroyed for the final scene. Hogan’s producers were okay with it, as it saved the cost of having the set demolished.

(What a way to go! – Craig)

The show used the tagline If you liked World War II, you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes!  The tagline was sarcastically suggested by comedian and author Stan Freberg in an interview with Bob Crane in The Sunday Times, on September 15, 1965. “Shall we say, ‘If you liked World War II…you’ll love Hogan’s Heroes?'” Freberg dryly asks. “No, let’s not say that, no,” Crane responds. Nevertheless, it became the tagline.

(I wonder if in this age of political correctness, would Hogan’s Heroes ever make it to production? – Craig)

Real-Life Tough Guy: Ward Bond

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That’s John Wayne, John Ford and Ward Bond.  They’re considered three real-life tough guys.

Most folks know a bunch about John Wayne and to a lesser extent, director John Ford.  If you’re like me, you know that Ward Bond appeared in dozens (and dozens) of movies and starred in the TV series Wagon Train. But that’s about it… until I read  13 fascinating facts about Ward Bond and “Wagon Train” at MeTV. Sadly the post is now longer available but here are three of my favorite facts and my thoughts…

Bond appears in more films on the American Film Institute’s 100 Greatest American Movies than any other actor.  Bond has perhaps the most enviable filmography of any actor, past or present. Just look at his credits. He acted in seven of the 100 Greatest American Films according to the AFI — It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Searchers (1956).

(Wow!  I had no idea Bond appeared in more of the 100 Greatest American Films than any other actor!  THAT is an amazing fact and a testament to his abilities as an actor. – Craig)

John Wayne accidentally shot Ward Bond on a hunting trip. Even a gun wound could not break up the best friends. Ward left the shotgun to Wayne in his will.

(That’s how tough Ward Bond was – not even John Wayne shooting him could put him down! – Craig)

Bond appeared on ‘Wagon Train’ in crutches after injuring his leg.  At the end of “The Clara Beauchamp Story,” Bond stands in a row of military men on a pair of crutches. It was no prop. The actor had suffered an injury in a car accident. The poor (but certainly tough) guy was also hit by a car on his way to John Wayne’s wedding, but he performed his best man duties on crutches.

(Ward Bond was one tough son of a buck!  That dude was Marv from Sin City come to life. – Craig)

RIP – Mort Drucker

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Mort Drucker, perhaps the world’s best and best known caricaturist has died at the age of 91.  Odds are even if you don’t know Mr. Drucker’s name, you know his art.  Starting in 1956 and for over fifty years after that Drucker’s art appeared in Mad Magazine’s wildly popular movie and tv satires.

Mr. Drucker’s work also appeared in comic books, movie posters and advertising.  His distinctive style made his art recognizable often before you saw his signature.  In 2014, Mort Drucker received the National Society of Cartoonists’ Medal of Honor for lifetime achievement.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mort Drucker’s family, friends and fans.

James Arness Trivia!

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MeTV posted 8 Out-of-this-World Facts about James Arness.  Here are three of my favorite facts and my comments on each…

He appeared in two classic sci-fi movies.  Though he is synonymous with Marshal Matt Dillon, Arness appeared in two classic science fiction films early on in his career: The Thing From Another World (1951) and Them! (1954). In The Thing, the 6′ 7″ actor was a perfect fit for the titular “thing,” a murderous alien that wreaks havoc on a North Pole scientific outpost. Of course, Arness is heavily made-up and unrecognizable as the honest do-gooder he would soon become.

(The Thing from Another World and Them! are two of the best horror / scifi movies ever made! – Craig)

He was good friends with John Wayne.  The screen tough guys were good friends in real life and Arness co-starred with Wayne in Big Jim McLain (1952), Hondo (1953), Island in the Sky (1953) and The Sea Chase (1955). John Wayne even recommended that Arness star in Gunsmoke and introduces his friend in a prologue to the first episode of the series.

(John Wayne was the first choice to play Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke.  The fact that Wayne recommended Arness and then did a special introduction to the first episode says a lot about their friendship. – Craig)

His character Zeb Macahan reached cult status in Europe.  While American audiences will forever know Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, the actor reached cult status in Europe as Zeb Macahan in How the West Was Won. The late-’70s Western television series found its audience in Europe and was rebroadcast many times on networks in France, Germany, Italy and Sweden.

(I prefer his Zeb Macahan character to Matt Dillon!  – Craig)

TCM Presents – The TCM Classic Film Festival: Special Home Edition!  

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This year TCM is presenting the TCM Classic Film Festival: Special Home Edition!

As a part of the Special Home Edition, TCM is proud to showcase films that have been a part of the TCM Classic Film Festival, both from years past and slated for this year’s event.

To provide additional context and insight, details are below that share when these films were screened at the Festival along with the special guests that attended these screenings. This special edition of the Fest begins April 16 at 8pm continuing until April 19 on TCM and will include TCM hosts, special guests and events to follow on-air and online.

Here’s what I am looking forward to seeing:

THURSDAY, APRIL 16

  • 11:00 PM Metropolis (1927)
    Closing Night Film at the 2010 TCM CFF, this was the North American premiere of a restored version of the film with footage found in 2008 in Argentina, with live score by the Alloy Orchestra.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

  • 8:30 AM She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
    Introduced by Keith Carradine, at the 2016 TCM CFF.
  • 12:30 PM A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
    This world premiere restoration was introduced by Alec Baldwin and Don Was at the 2014 TCM CFF.
  • 3:15 PM North by Northwest (1959)
    Presented at the 2010 TCM CFF with Eva Marie Saint and Martin Landau in attendance.
  • 10:00 PM Deliverance (1972)
    A cast reunion was presented at the 2013 TCM CFF, with Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Jon Voight and director John Boorman in attendance.
  • 12:00 AM The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
    Presented in 3D at the 2018 TCM CFF, this was introduced by Dennis Miller.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

  • 6:00 AM The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
    Presented at the 2011 TCM CFF with Nancy and Tina Sinatra and Vicki Preminger in attendance.
  • 8:00 PM Casablanca (1942)
    A perennial favorite, this film has been presented three times at the TCM CFF, including a screening introduced by Peter Bogdanovich and Monika Henreid in 2010. Peter Bogdanovich will return to co-host this on-air screening.
  • 2:30 AM The Lady Vanishes (1938)
    Presented at the TCM CFF in 2013 with Norman Lloyd in attendance to talk about his friend, Alfred Hitchcock.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

  • 7:45 AM The Set-Up (1949) )
    Introduced at the 2018 TCM CFF introduced by Noir Alley host Eddie Muller and actor/filmmaker Malcom Mays, who did a live reading of the poem the film is based on.
  • 10:00 AM Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
    Screened as part of a tribute to Anne V. Coates, ACE, at the 2015 TCM CFF, with the Oscar-winning editor in attendance.

There are many other movies and interviews worth checking out, but these are my must-see events.  Check out the full schedule to find yours.