Category: TV

Remembering Walter Cronkite

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Earlier this evening, Walter Cronkite died after a long illness. Mr. Cronkite was 92. From April 16, 1962 to March 6, 1981, Walter Cronkite was the anchor of the CBS Evening News.  Although it may be hard to imagine in this age of cable news where anchors are “entertainers” who consider their opinions to be more important than the facts, Walter Cronkite was, for most of America, the voice of reason.

Often called “The Most Trusted Man in America”, it was Walter Cronkite that we turned to when we needed the news.  During his tenure Mr. Cronkite covered the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luter King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, the Vietnam war, the triumphs and tragedies of our space program, Three Mile Island, elections of Presidents, Watergate and so much more.

The year that he retired, Mr. Cronkite received our contry’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The tributes to Mr. Cronkite are coming in from around the world.  The world!  Twentyeight years after he left the nightly broadcast booth, Walter Cronkite’s positive impact is still felt!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Cronkite’s family, freinds, and fans.

Alexis Arguello & Karl Malden – R.I.P.

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Alexis Arguello and Karl Malden passed on today.

Alexis Arguello, who was a champion in three weight divisions, died at the age of 57 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Arguello, was a charismatic champion who compiled an amazing 82 – 8 record before finally retiring in 1995.  Although Arguello never lost a fight 130 pounds he is best known for his first brutal and controversial war against Aaron Pryor in 1982.   Arguello moved up in weight with the hope of being the first champion in four weight divisions.  Pryor won the fight by knocking out Arguello in the 14th round of the epic fight which had seen both fighters taking and giving as good as they were getting.  Arguello seemed to be gaining the advantage, but in the respite before the 14th round, Pryor’s trainer, Panama Lewis, called for a specific water bottle — “the one I mixed” — the mysterious drink seemed to revive Pryor who went on to win.  The fight against Pryor was voted Fight of the Year and Fight of the Decade by Ring magazine.  Arguello fought for 13 more years and remained a popular figure after leaving the squared circle.  He appeared in commercials, carried his country’s flag in the Olympics and was currently the mayor of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

Karl Malden, 97, died today from natural causes.  An Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor in 1951 for his role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” which starred Marlon Brando.   Malden also appeared with Brando in “On the Waterfront” and “One-Eyed Jacks” as well as several dozen movies without him.  Malden had a five year run with Michael Douglas in the popular “Streets of San Francisco” tv series which ran from 1972 – 1977.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and fans of Alexis Arguello and Karl Malden.

Farrah Fawcett – R.I.P.

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Farrah Fawcett passed away today at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer.

Although best known as a 70’s sex symbol, Farrah actually started working in commercials and bit parts in television in the late 60’s.  Anyone besides me old enough to remember her 1973 commercial with Joe Namath?  Then in September of 1976, and the premiere of Charlie’s Angels, Farrah shot to superstardom.  The show was a hit and Farrah was the fan favorite angel.  Her poster sold millions of copies and became a 70’s icon.  Farrah stayed with the series for just one year before leaving to try her hand at movies.  Although her theatrical movies didn’t do well [I do remember liking “Saturn 3” with Kirk Douglas], she continued to be a fan favorite.

In 1984, Farrah earned an Emmy nomination for “The Burning Bed”.  She would earn two more before her career was over [“Small Sacrifices” and “The Guardian”].  In 1995, at the age of 48, Farrah posed nude for Playboy.  It became the best selling issue of the decade.

The last few years had been tough ones for Farrah as she struggled to beat the cancer that ultimately took her life.  Farrah has passed on, but her icon status will be outlive most of us.  Growing up in the late 60’s and 70’s, Farrah Fawcett was our Marilyn Monroe.

Our thoughts go out to her family, friends and fans.

Mills’ SpyFi Channel

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Hey, if you’ve got some time to kill [and you must or you wouldn’t be here], then you might want to check out Chris Mills‘ latest blog, which he calls the SpyFi Channel.  I don’t know which I like best, the name or the header that Chris created.

At the SpyFi Channel,  Chris will cover the world of spies — movies, books, tv — the whole enchalada.  Be advised that Chris won’t update regularly, but when he does, it will definitely be worth a view.  He’s started off with a look at Robert Conrad’s spy series [no, not The Wild, Wild West – one of my all-time favorite shows] A Man Called Sloane.

It’s cool that Chris has another blog going… as long as it doesn’t take away from getting the next Gravedigger story out.  And I still think a Gravedigger novel could really work! Until then, you’ll find me at the SpyFi Channel!

Clowns vs SWAT

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Do you have two minutes and 19 seconds to spare?  If so you can check out this really cool [and really short] film by Adam Berg.  One of the things that make it worth checking out is that NOTHING moves but the camera.

I guess in an effort to make full disclosure I should tell you that the film is also a commercial for the Phillips Carousel which is a new really widescreen tv [as in wider than other widescreen sets].  But don’t worry about the commercial — the set is never shown or mentioned and the movie really has a neat twist… if you’re paying attention!

Enjoy!

Thanks and a tip o’ the clown mask to Mark Evanier for posting the link.

Star Trek Me

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When I was a kid I loved the original Star Trek series.  [Who am I kidding?  I still enjoy it.]  When we’d play Star Trek I always wanted to be Spock.  I had the haircut and even asked my mom if I could get my ears fixed like his.  Thankfully she didn’t give in on that.

I’ve never watched any of the Star Trek spin-offs.  It was just the original series for me.  I am going to check out the Star Trek re-boot since it features the original characters.  Still, it will be strange seeing someone else playing Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew.  Although it won’t be as strange as the photo above with me as Spock, John Beatty as Kirk and Jim Ivey as a Romulan warrior.

20 All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture

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Entertainment Weekly.com listed their choices for the 20 All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture.  So I decided to play along.  Just using their list, I’ve listed my top ten:

10.  Spider-Man: Who wouldn’t want spider-senses, be able to swing through the city, and girlfriends like Mary Jane Parker and Gwen Stacy?  I’m talking the comic book versions of course.

09.  Superman: When I was a kid I loved tv series.  The first movie with Christopher Reeves also rocked.  Everything after that — not so cool.

08.  Mad Max: If it wasn’t for Beyond Thunderdome, Max might have rated higher!

07.  Dirty Harry:  Who doesn’t love Clint as Harry Callahan?

06.  John McCane: Yippe-kiaaaaaa!

05.  Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford’s signature role is nerdy cool!

04.  Batman: So many versions [Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Frank Miller, Adam West, Tim Burton’s, Christopher Nolan’s, etc.] and each one works.

03.  Jack Bauer: No matter how bad things get, Bauer stays cool.

02.  James Bond: Like Batman, so many versions, but Connery and Craig are the coolest Bonds.

01.  Captain James T. Kirk: Star Fleet Captain and ladies man.  Now THAT is cool.

Okay,  I played fair and used EW’s list… but what about John Rambo, Riddick, Marv from Sin City, and James West to name just a few who didn’t make the cut?

FX International – Join Beatty & Zablo for a Funny Photo

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That’s me and John Beatty back in 1991.  Although it looks like we’re either Siamese twins or getting ready to cut a WWE promo, we’re actually fooling around at a comic book show.   John and I have been attending comic book conventions since we were in high school [a few years before he became a professional funny book tracer] and we’re still doing it.  Guess [Hope] we’ll never grow up.

John will be a guest at FX International next month.  He’ll be there with a ton of other comic book artists, movie and tv celebs and thousands of fans.  If you happen to be one of the above and are going to the show, swing by and say, “Hi!”  Who knows, maybe you can join us for a funny photo.

ABC Kills “Life on Mars”

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I was disappointed to just read that ABC has cancelled Life on Mars. The good news is that the series starring Jason O’Mara, Gretchen Mol, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Jonathon Murphy and occasional guest star Lisa Bonet will be allowed to complete the season and resolve the mystery that propelled the series.  Namely why a modern day cop “suddenly, mysteriously finds himself transported back to the 1970s, where the rules are dramatically different.”

I really hate to see this series end.  I’d been with it since the premiere and enjoyed every episode.  At least “Life on Mars” will get to resolve the mystery that kept fans coming back for more.

Another Bad Day for Jack

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Although there’s a lot of discussion about Jack Bauer’s methods and use of torture, fans of the show have been given some relief.  24 is scheduled to begin filming it’s eighth season starting in May.  Bauer will be back [along with potential love interest Annie Werching].

Kyle Baker Stays Busy

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Kyle Baker is a busy man.  He’s currently producing, directing, and starring in an animated version of The Bakers for Fox.  He just completed the first Special Forces storyline,  He’s doing a biography of President Obama and is on tap to create two new comic series this year for Image. He also wants to do a new Bakers book to appear with the Fox release.

Whew!  Talk about a workload.  Everything Kyle Baker is involved in, is worth a look.  It shouldn’t be hard to find something he’s involved in.

American Scary

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Many ZONErs are horror movie fans.  And a good percentage of us are also Horror Host fans.  That’s why every so often you’ll see me post about Sammy Terry.  That’s also why today I’m linking to the first ten minutes of a documentary about Horror Hosts called “American Scary.” If it looks like something that you’d like then check out the American Scary site.

[Thanks and a raised coffin lid to Mark Evanier for the link.]