10. Cheyenne (1955–1963)
Oh, Cheyenne! If we were to name every “first-ever” this TV show became back in the day, we’d sit here all day.
But it’s better to spend this time on the road with Cheyenne Bodie — the nomadic gunslinger who’s always on the road, looking for jobs that pay, villains that are asking for it, and women that are oh so charming.
9. The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)
Everyone and their grandmother loves spy shows. But how about espionage in the Wild Wild West? Enter James West and Artemus Gordon, two secret service agents working for the Old West government to foil many a villain’s plans to undermine that part of the US. There’s a lot of West in the previous sentence, but give it a west.
8. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
If your friends don’t believe that Westerns largely influenced sci-fi, show them Wagon Train. Following a notoriously...
Oh, Cheyenne! If we were to name every “first-ever” this TV show became back in the day, we’d sit here all day.
But it’s better to spend this time on the road with Cheyenne Bodie — the nomadic gunslinger who’s always on the road, looking for jobs that pay, villains that are asking for it, and women that are oh so charming.
9. The Wild Wild West (1965–1969)
Everyone and their grandmother loves spy shows. But how about espionage in the Wild Wild West? Enter James West and Artemus Gordon, two secret service agents working for the Old West government to foil many a villain’s plans to undermine that part of the US. There’s a lot of West in the previous sentence, but give it a west.
8. Wagon Train (1957–1965)
If your friends don’t believe that Westerns largely influenced sci-fi, show them Wagon Train. Following a notoriously...
- 5/2/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
Jack Hogan, who most famously played Pfc William G. Kirby on ABC’s WWII-set series Combat!, died in his sleep Wednesday, December 6, according to the curator of an online community dedicated to Combat! He was 94.
Hogan played Pfc Kirby on 111 episodes of the long-running drama opposite Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. Robert Altman directed many episodes of the show, which was on the air from 1962-1967. It was not unfamiliar terrain: Hogan had been a staff sergeant in Japan during the Korean War.
Combat! was far from Hogan’s only credit.
He made his debut in the 1956 Anthony Quinn-starrer Man From Del Rio, Hogan worked steadily. He had multiple-epsisode arcs on The Rough Riders, Have Gun – Will Travel, Sea Hunt, Lock Up, Bat Masterson, The Lawman and The Rifleman.
After Combat!, Hogan worked steadily for the better part of the next three decades. His credits during...
Hogan played Pfc Kirby on 111 episodes of the long-running drama opposite Rick Jason, Vic Morrow and Pierre Jalbert. Robert Altman directed many episodes of the show, which was on the air from 1962-1967. It was not unfamiliar terrain: Hogan had been a staff sergeant in Japan during the Korean War.
Combat! was far from Hogan’s only credit.
He made his debut in the 1956 Anthony Quinn-starrer Man From Del Rio, Hogan worked steadily. He had multiple-epsisode arcs on The Rough Riders, Have Gun – Will Travel, Sea Hunt, Lock Up, Bat Masterson, The Lawman and The Rifleman.
After Combat!, Hogan worked steadily for the better part of the next three decades. His credits during...
- 12/11/2023
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Update, with DGA statement: Elliot Silverstein, who directed Jane Fonda and, in an Oscar-winning performance, Lee Marvin in the 1965 comedy-Western Cat Ballou, died Nov. 24 in Los Angeles. He was 96.
His death was announced by family members.
Born August 3, 1927, in Boson, Silverstein launched his directing career during television’s 1950s on such programs as Omnibus and the Alfred Hitchcock-produced mystery series Suspicion, Silverstein stayed busy with episodic series throughout the 1960s. Among his credits from the era: Route 66, Have Gun – Will Travel, Naked City, Dr. Kildare, The Defenders and four episodes of The Twilight Zone, including the fan-favorite, Rod Serling-penned 1961 installment titled The Passersby, a mournful ghost story set at the end of the American Civil War.
Lee Marvin in ‘Cat Ballou’
Silverstein’s TV career would continue, sporadically, through the 1990s when he directed four episodes of Tales From The Crypt and an episode of Picket Fences,...
His death was announced by family members.
Born August 3, 1927, in Boson, Silverstein launched his directing career during television’s 1950s on such programs as Omnibus and the Alfred Hitchcock-produced mystery series Suspicion, Silverstein stayed busy with episodic series throughout the 1960s. Among his credits from the era: Route 66, Have Gun – Will Travel, Naked City, Dr. Kildare, The Defenders and four episodes of The Twilight Zone, including the fan-favorite, Rod Serling-penned 1961 installment titled The Passersby, a mournful ghost story set at the end of the American Civil War.
Lee Marvin in ‘Cat Ballou’
Silverstein’s TV career would continue, sporadically, through the 1990s when he directed four episodes of Tales From The Crypt and an episode of Picket Fences,...
- 11/27/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Who wouldn’t want to spend the holidays with some of their favorite TV characters? MeTV is making it easy this year with its “A Very Merry MeTV” programming lineup, which includes a selection of very special Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed episodes of classic shows such as The Waltons, The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith, and more.
The celebration begins on Sunday, Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 25. Check out some of the highlights below, as well as the full schedule.
‘The Waltons’ Thanksgiving episode airs Nov. 22 and 23 A Verry Merry MeTV | MeTV
Celebrate Thanksgiving with one of TV’s most famous fictional families. In 1973, The Waltons aired its only Thanksgiving special, a two-part episode titled “The Thanksgiving Story.” The season 2 episode focuses on John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), who suffers a life-threatening head injury that puts his plans for college at risk. Meanwhile, his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) auditions for the Thanksgiving play,...
The celebration begins on Sunday, Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 25. Check out some of the highlights below, as well as the full schedule.
‘The Waltons’ Thanksgiving episode airs Nov. 22 and 23 A Verry Merry MeTV | MeTV
Celebrate Thanksgiving with one of TV’s most famous fictional families. In 1973, The Waltons aired its only Thanksgiving special, a two-part episode titled “The Thanksgiving Story.” The season 2 episode focuses on John-Boy Walton (Richard Thomas), who suffers a life-threatening head injury that puts his plans for college at risk. Meanwhile, his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) auditions for the Thanksgiving play,...
- 11/19/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
History repeated itself last week when actors went on strike at the same time as writers, who have been picketing for more than two months. This is only the second time in the history of the industry that both guilds have halted work simultaneously, with advancements in technology at the root of their cause, and it’s been 63 year since that event shook Hollywood. Today, writers and performers are fighting for their fair share of residuals in a world that has now largely turned to streaming services, and to protect their work from being taken over by AI, whereas in 1960, they were fighting for residuals from reruns and theatrical films being shown on a relatively new medium — television. Let’s turn back time and flashback to life during that history-making time of the 1960 strikes.
The WGA began their strike on January 16, 1960, followed by the actors strike on March 7. Future United...
The WGA began their strike on January 16, 1960, followed by the actors strike on March 7. Future United...
- 7/18/2023
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
Finis Dean Smith, a stuntman regular in John Wayne Westerns who turned to Hollywood after becoming an Olympic gold medalist, died Saturday. He was 91.
Smith was born in Breckenridge, Texas and began his athletic career competing in track and field competitions, earning All-American status in the 100-meter dash in 1952.
He went on to win varying athletic championships, culminating in his inclusion on Team U.S.A. as a member of the 4×100-meter relay team at the Helsinki Olympics, where he would win the gold medal. Following his graduation from University of Texas at Austin, Smith would play for the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers for a few years ahead of his career in the entertainment industry.
Working as a stuntman, Smith was a part of several Oscar-winning Western films, including “True Grit” and “How the West Was Won,” in addition to “The Quick and the Dead,” “El Dorado” and “Rio Lobo.
Smith was born in Breckenridge, Texas and began his athletic career competing in track and field competitions, earning All-American status in the 100-meter dash in 1952.
He went on to win varying athletic championships, culminating in his inclusion on Team U.S.A. as a member of the 4×100-meter relay team at the Helsinki Olympics, where he would win the gold medal. Following his graduation from University of Texas at Austin, Smith would play for the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers for a few years ahead of his career in the entertainment industry.
Working as a stuntman, Smith was a part of several Oscar-winning Western films, including “True Grit” and “How the West Was Won,” in addition to “The Quick and the Dead,” “El Dorado” and “Rio Lobo.
- 6/25/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
Although “Schmigadoon!” is now campaigning for this year’s Emmys as a scripted variety series, its cast members can still be nominated as comedic actors. According to Gold Derby’s odds, the performer most likely to score a supporting bid for the Apple TV Plus program’s second season is Jane Krakowski, who plays the show-stopping role of singing lawyer Bobby Flanagan. With Best Comedy Supporting Actress notices for “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” already under her belt, she could now make Emmys history as the first actress to be nominated in the same category for regular performances on three different continuing series.
SEEApple TV+ musical-comedy hit ‘Schmigadoon!’ moves from comedy series to scripted variety series category
Krakowski, who earned her four “30 Rock” nominations between 2009 and 2013 and her sole “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” bid in 2015, could now become one of the 12 most-recognized actresses in her category. She is currently...
SEEApple TV+ musical-comedy hit ‘Schmigadoon!’ moves from comedy series to scripted variety series category
Krakowski, who earned her four “30 Rock” nominations between 2009 and 2013 and her sole “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” bid in 2015, could now become one of the 12 most-recognized actresses in her category. She is currently...
- 5/2/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
It was announced today that controversial actor Robert Blake has died at the age of 89. His niece, Noreen Austin, confirmed that he died at his Los Angeles home after a longtime battle with heart disease. Blake was best known for his roles in Richard Brooks’ adaptation of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, David Lynch’s Lost Highway, and for starring in the 1970s detective series Baretta.
Robert Blake got his start as a child actor, appearing as Mickey in forty installments of MGM’s Our Gang short films. He also played Little Beaver in twenty-three installments of the Red Ryder film series. He also appeared in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as a young Mexican boy who sells a lottery ticket to Humphrey Bogart. Although many child actors can’t transition to adult roles, Blake managed to pull it off. His biggest break came with In Cold Blood,...
Robert Blake got his start as a child actor, appearing as Mickey in forty installments of MGM’s Our Gang short films. He also played Little Beaver in twenty-three installments of the Red Ryder film series. He also appeared in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as a young Mexican boy who sells a lottery ticket to Humphrey Bogart. Although many child actors can’t transition to adult roles, Blake managed to pull it off. His biggest break came with In Cold Blood,...
- 3/10/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
Christmas is truly the gift that keeps on giving for the television business and for viewers.
Dating back to the 1940s, there have been nearly 2,500 TV episodes and specials with Christmas themes according to a list on Wikipedia. Sitcoms have provided the most content with 813 episodes dating back to 1952.
For the variety show treatment, Perry Como got things rolling with the first of his The Perry Como Chesterfield Supper Club — Christmas Special in 1948. Old Blue Eyes himself joined the party in 1950 with The Frank Sinatra Show: Christmas Show in 1950. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show’s Gracie’s Christmas dropped that same year.
Sitcoms and dramas followed soon thereafter. CBS crime drama Suspense (“Dancing Dan’s Christmas”) aired in 1950. NBC’s Dragnet (“The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas”) and CBS’ Racket Squad (“The Christmas Caper”) followed in 1952. Amos ‘n Andy (“The Christmas Story”) and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet...
Dating back to the 1940s, there have been nearly 2,500 TV episodes and specials with Christmas themes according to a list on Wikipedia. Sitcoms have provided the most content with 813 episodes dating back to 1952.
For the variety show treatment, Perry Como got things rolling with the first of his The Perry Como Chesterfield Supper Club — Christmas Special in 1948. Old Blue Eyes himself joined the party in 1950 with The Frank Sinatra Show: Christmas Show in 1950. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show’s Gracie’s Christmas dropped that same year.
Sitcoms and dramas followed soon thereafter. CBS crime drama Suspense (“Dancing Dan’s Christmas”) aired in 1950. NBC’s Dragnet (“The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas”) and CBS’ Racket Squad (“The Christmas Caper”) followed in 1952. Amos ‘n Andy (“The Christmas Story”) and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet...
- 10/31/2022
- by David Morgan
- Deadline Film + TV
Paramount Global, flexing its corporate synergy muscles, is pulling a massive batch of TV shows out of the CBS vault and putting them on its free, ad-supported Pluto TV service.
Popular CBS classic series coming to Pluto’s linear streaming service through the end of 2022 include “Frasier” and “Cheers” (in the Sitcom Legends channel); “Star Trek: The Original Series” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (Star Trek channel); “Have Gun – Will Travel” and “The Wild Wild West” (Westerns TV channel) and “Petticoat Junction” (Classic TV Comedy channel).
On the on-demand side, Pluto is adding more than 6,300 episodes — tripling the amount of CBS series currently available on-demand on the streamer — including crime dramas “Criminal Minds” and “Hawaii Five-o.”
Other titles on tap for Pluto TV’s on-demand include “Beverly Hills 90210,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Family Ties,” “Gunsmoke,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Love Boat,...
Popular CBS classic series coming to Pluto’s linear streaming service through the end of 2022 include “Frasier” and “Cheers” (in the Sitcom Legends channel); “Star Trek: The Original Series” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (Star Trek channel); “Have Gun – Will Travel” and “The Wild Wild West” (Westerns TV channel) and “Petticoat Junction” (Classic TV Comedy channel).
On the on-demand side, Pluto is adding more than 6,300 episodes — tripling the amount of CBS series currently available on-demand on the streamer — including crime dramas “Criminal Minds” and “Hawaii Five-o.”
Other titles on tap for Pluto TV’s on-demand include “Beverly Hills 90210,” “The Brady Bunch,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Family Ties,” “Gunsmoke,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Love Boat,...
- 10/31/2022
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Director Gary Nelson, whose credits include live-action Disney films like "The Black Hole" and the original "Freaky Friday," as well as numerous TV episodes, has died of natural causes at the age of 87. Nelson's son confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday that Nelson had passed away in his Las Vegas home several months ago, on May 25, 2022, though the news is only just now coming to light.
Nelson was born in Los Angeles on October 6, 1934, and he first came up in Hollywood as an assistant director. Among his earliest credits are the classic James Dean film "Rebel Without a Cause" and Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1955 film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls," both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. He followed this up with further Ad work on two more Oscar-nominated Westerns, "The Searchers" and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," before crossing over into television.
TV Work...
Nelson was born in Los Angeles on October 6, 1934, and he first came up in Hollywood as an assistant director. Among his earliest credits are the classic James Dean film "Rebel Without a Cause" and Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1955 film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls," both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. He followed this up with further Ad work on two more Oscar-nominated Westerns, "The Searchers" and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," before crossing over into television.
TV Work...
- 9/10/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Burt Metcalfe, the revered TV producer who worked on all 11 seasons of “Mash,” died July 27 in Los Angeles. He was 87.
Metcalfe was an actor turned director-producer who was recruited to work on “Mash” by director Gene Reynolds, who launched the series adaptation of Robert Altman’s 1970 black comedy released by 20th Century Fox. Metcalfe started out as an associate producer and rose to showrunner for the show’s final six seasons. He also directed 31 episodes of the series’ 251 installments.
Reynolds, who was with “Mash” through the 1976-77 season before moving on to the helm of CBS’ “Lou Grant,” died at age 96 in February 2020.
The CBS series adaptation defied low expectations for movie adaptations and became pop culture touchstone of the 1970s and early ’80s. Set during the Korean War, Alan Alda starred as Col. Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, a cynical surgeon with a heart of gold who helped run a mobile...
Metcalfe was an actor turned director-producer who was recruited to work on “Mash” by director Gene Reynolds, who launched the series adaptation of Robert Altman’s 1970 black comedy released by 20th Century Fox. Metcalfe started out as an associate producer and rose to showrunner for the show’s final six seasons. He also directed 31 episodes of the series’ 251 installments.
Reynolds, who was with “Mash” through the 1976-77 season before moving on to the helm of CBS’ “Lou Grant,” died at age 96 in February 2020.
The CBS series adaptation defied low expectations for movie adaptations and became pop culture touchstone of the 1970s and early ’80s. Set during the Korean War, Alan Alda starred as Col. Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, a cynical surgeon with a heart of gold who helped run a mobile...
- 8/1/2022
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Tommy Morgan, a harmonica soloist who contributed to hundreds of movie and TV shows including “Roots” and “Dances With Wolves,” died June 23. He was 89.
Morgan played on film soundtracks and record dates going back to the early 1950s. His estimated 7,000 recording sessions, according to statistics on his website, suggest that more people have heard his harmonica work than that of any other player of the instrument.
That’s Morgan’s harmonica on Quincy Jones’ “Sanford and Son” theme, Mike Post’s “Rockford Files” theme and the scores for numerous shows including “Maverick,” “The Waltons,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “China Beach,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Family Guy.”
He played on the Emmy-winning score for “Roots” and its sequel, “Roots: The Next Generations.” And his bass harmonica was the signature sound of Arnold Ziffel, the pig on “Green Acres.”
In addition, Morgan played on dozens of classic films including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,...
Morgan played on film soundtracks and record dates going back to the early 1950s. His estimated 7,000 recording sessions, according to statistics on his website, suggest that more people have heard his harmonica work than that of any other player of the instrument.
That’s Morgan’s harmonica on Quincy Jones’ “Sanford and Son” theme, Mike Post’s “Rockford Files” theme and the scores for numerous shows including “Maverick,” “The Waltons,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “China Beach,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Family Guy.”
He played on the Emmy-winning score for “Roots” and its sequel, “Roots: The Next Generations.” And his bass harmonica was the signature sound of Arnold Ziffel, the pig on “Green Acres.”
In addition, Morgan played on dozens of classic films including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,...
- 7/2/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Josh Brolin has spent his career pushing the narrative boundaries of the West.
Roles in resurgent Westerns such as “No Country for Old Men” and “True Grit” fortified the Oscar nominee’s place in the genre’s recent canon. His first major TV role was on ABC’s 1989 series “The Young Riders,” about the Pony Express.
The year prior to “Riders,” Brolin spent 24 hours believing he’d get his big break on CBS’ “Lonesome Dove” miniseries, having been cast as Newt, an orphan in the West, alongside his all-time favorite actor Robert Duvall. But the day after getting the role, the network pulled the offer, citing a contractual obligation to eventual star Rick Schroder.
“It was the greatest moment of my life,” Brolin recalls. “It is still the most elated I’ve ever felt about anything work-related and then it left as quickly as it came. I was absolutely freaking devastated.
Roles in resurgent Westerns such as “No Country for Old Men” and “True Grit” fortified the Oscar nominee’s place in the genre’s recent canon. His first major TV role was on ABC’s 1989 series “The Young Riders,” about the Pony Express.
The year prior to “Riders,” Brolin spent 24 hours believing he’d get his big break on CBS’ “Lonesome Dove” miniseries, having been cast as Newt, an orphan in the West, alongside his all-time favorite actor Robert Duvall. But the day after getting the role, the network pulled the offer, citing a contractual obligation to eventual star Rick Schroder.
“It was the greatest moment of my life,” Brolin recalls. “It is still the most elated I’ve ever felt about anything work-related and then it left as quickly as it came. I was absolutely freaking devastated.
- 6/21/2022
- by Hunter Ingram
- Variety Film + TV
Stuntman and Burt Reynolds director Hal Needham dead at 82: Received Honorary Oscar in November 2012 Veteran stuntman and stunt coordinator Hal Needham, whose stunt-work movie credits ranged from John Ford Westerns to Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, and who directed a handful of popular action comedies starring Burt Reynolds, died today, October 25, 2013, in Los Angeles. Needham, who had been suffering from cancer, was 82. (See also: "Stunt Worker Hal Needham: Honorary Oscar 2012".) Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 6, 1931, Hal Needham began his long Hollywood stuntman career in the mid-’50s. A former tree trimmer and paratrooper, and a motorcycle and car racer, Needham performed stunts in both big-screen and small-screen Westerns, such as John Ford’s 1962 classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, starring John Wayne and James Stewart; the all-star 1963 Best Picture Academy Award nominee How the West Was Won; and the television series Have Gun - Will Travel, doubling for star Richard Boone.
- 10/26/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Michael J. Fox had well-known TV parents during his "Family Ties" days. Now, he has a new pair.
The five-time Emmy winner returns to series work when NBC launches "The Michael J. Fox Show" Thursday, Sept. 26. Though they aren't in the debut, his new on-screen parents will turn up soon enough: Candice Bergen and Charles Grodin will guest-star as the parents of New York TV newscaster Mike Henry (Fox), with the potential for the characters to become recurring.
It won't be the first time the two actors have worked together, though it certainly has been a while. In the 1974 caper movie "11 Harrowhouse," they played a romantically involved couple entangled in a scheme to steal all the gems stored at England's Diamond Exchange -- check out the picture below for a blast from the past. Grodin and Bergen also have "Saturday Night Live" hosting gigs in common.
Of course, Bergen has...
The five-time Emmy winner returns to series work when NBC launches "The Michael J. Fox Show" Thursday, Sept. 26. Though they aren't in the debut, his new on-screen parents will turn up soon enough: Candice Bergen and Charles Grodin will guest-star as the parents of New York TV newscaster Mike Henry (Fox), with the potential for the characters to become recurring.
It won't be the first time the two actors have worked together, though it certainly has been a while. In the 1974 caper movie "11 Harrowhouse," they played a romantically involved couple entangled in a scheme to steal all the gems stored at England's Diamond Exchange -- check out the picture below for a blast from the past. Grodin and Bergen also have "Saturday Night Live" hosting gigs in common.
Of course, Bergen has...
- 9/7/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
CBS continues its old TV show DVD rollout with the final season of popular western show Have Gun - Will Travel (divided up into two separate volumes with 16 episodes a piece). Long before the days of Craigslist, the “knight without armor” Paladin (Richard Boone) is a hired gun eager to seek out justice on behalf of paying clients in the San Francisco area in the late 1800s. This popular series aired from 1957-1963 before spawning its own popular radio show and managing to rack up a couple Emmy nominations.
The series’ scope is solely focused on this white knight of the west. Each half-hour episode follows his chivalrous quests to right whichever wrongs his clients require.
Read more...
The series’ scope is solely focused on this white knight of the west. Each half-hour episode follows his chivalrous quests to right whichever wrongs his clients require.
Read more...
- 6/6/2013
- by John Keith
- JustPressPlay.net
Since CBS cancelled his series “The Unit” in 2009, David Mamet hasn’t had a lot brewing on the small or big screen -- his last feature-length film was the 2008 Mma drama “Redbelt.” But the acclaimed playwright has some new television work in the pipeline in the form of a reboot of the classic western series “Have Gun - Will Travel.” There’s been talk about a reboot of the 1957 CBS series before, with one of the stranger takes being an Eminem-starring film set in the modern day, but it looks like the network was impressed enough by Mamet's pitch that they’ve put the project into development, with Mamet to write it and possibly helm the pilot. The original series followed Paladin, a Civil War veteran and top-notch gunfighter who becomes a “gun for hire” and scours the west looking for situations that required his particular expertise. He “preferred to...
- 8/22/2012
- by Cain Rodriguez
- The Playlist
CBS is developing a reboot of its late 50's/early 60's western series "Have Gun - Will Travel" says Deadline. David Mamet will write and direct the potential pilot, and will executive produce the series with Elliott Webb.
Richard Boone starred in the original series as 'Paladin', a top-notch gunfighter who preferred to settle problems without violence but stood his ground when provoked.
The original series spawned a successful radio version and one of the main writers was Gene Roddenberry, the man who went on to create "Star Trek".
Mamet previously worked with CBS on his only TV series to date - the military drama "The Unit".
CBS tried to reboot another late 50's western, "The Rifleman", last year. That project however never made it to pilot.
Richard Boone starred in the original series as 'Paladin', a top-notch gunfighter who preferred to settle problems without violence but stood his ground when provoked.
The original series spawned a successful radio version and one of the main writers was Gene Roddenberry, the man who went on to create "Star Trek".
Mamet previously worked with CBS on his only TV series to date - the military drama "The Unit".
CBS tried to reboot another late 50's western, "The Rifleman", last year. That project however never made it to pilot.
- 8/22/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Hope you're hungry, because we have a heaping helping of TV Snacks today. Enjoy 'em while they're hot!
Dallas Roberts ("The Good Wife," "Rubicon") is joining "The Walking Dead" as Milton, who, unlike most of the characters inspired by Robert Kirkman's comics, is wholly original to the TV series. "Milton is the details guy," Kirkman tells EW, "[who] works with the Governor...He's not exactly a scientist, but he's a smart guy that is trying to find out how zombies behave. Watching him do his little experiments is going to be a lot of fun." [EW]
Our favorite serial killer reunites with his long-lost stepchildren -- Astor anyway -- in the second half of "Dexter's" Season 7. Christina Robinson, who plays Rita's angsty daughter, was photographed with Michael C. Hall filming a beach scene in Los Angeles. "Dexter" returns to Showtime Sept. 30. [The Insider]
Two more Brits have joined the ever-expanding Season 3 cast...
Dallas Roberts ("The Good Wife," "Rubicon") is joining "The Walking Dead" as Milton, who, unlike most of the characters inspired by Robert Kirkman's comics, is wholly original to the TV series. "Milton is the details guy," Kirkman tells EW, "[who] works with the Governor...He's not exactly a scientist, but he's a smart guy that is trying to find out how zombies behave. Watching him do his little experiments is going to be a lot of fun." [EW]
Our favorite serial killer reunites with his long-lost stepchildren -- Astor anyway -- in the second half of "Dexter's" Season 7. Christina Robinson, who plays Rita's angsty daughter, was photographed with Michael C. Hall filming a beach scene in Los Angeles. "Dexter" returns to Showtime Sept. 30. [The Insider]
Two more Brits have joined the ever-expanding Season 3 cast...
- 8/22/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
David Mamet is gunning for a hit with his next project. Mamet is heading up a reboot of the classic TV western "Have Gun - Will Travel," which is being developed by CBS via a script order. Mamet will write and executive-produce the project, with Elliott Webb also executive-producing. Also read: CBS and Chris Columbus to Reboot "The Rifleman" The original series, which ran on CBS from 1957 to 1963, starred Richard Boone as gentleman gunfighter Paladin. CBS has expressed interest in a number of gunslinger-themed projects of late. In addition to the 1960s-era...
- 8/21/2012
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Playwright, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, essayist and occasional angry person David Mamet has a new TV project in the works. According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS has made a script deal with Mamet for a reboot of the 1957-1963 Western "Have Gun - Will Travel." The original series was created by Sam Rolfe and Herb Meadow and starred Richard Boone as the San Francisco gunfighter Paladin, who had high-class taste but was still a total badass despite a slightly frou-frou taste for chess symbolism. "Have Gun - Will Travel" ran for 225 episodes, one of which was written by Sam Peckinpah, and 24 of which were written by "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry. A potential movie remake has been bouncing around in development for a while, first with John Travolta attached to star and later Eminem. Mamet will serve as writer and executive producer on the reboot, and he'll direct a pilot if one's ordered.
- 8/21/2012
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
CBS is looking to reboot Have Gun - Will Travel with two-time Oscar-nominated writer David Mamet at the helm. The network has made a script deal for the CBS TV Studios-produced Western, which originally aired on CBS from 1957-63. During its six-season run, the drama starring Richard Boone as Paladin not only delivered top-five ratings but also spawned a successful radio show. If ultimately ordered to series, Have Gun could join Vegas, an upcoming Western starring Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, on CBS' schedule. The genre generated heat last year at this time, with many of
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read more...
- 8/21/2012
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tuesday marked thirty years since the untimely passing of Warren Oates. The great, grizzled actor's work has fallen somewhat out of fashion these days -- few, bar perhaps Quentin Tarantino, name Sam Peckinpah or Monte Hellman, Oates' closest and most frequent collaborators, as influences. If you're familiar with him at all, it's likely from his parts as outlaw Lyle Gorch in "The Wild Bunch" or as Sgt. Hulka in Bill Murray comedy "Stripes." But for a time in the 1970s, Oates was Hollywood's go-to badass character actor, a man who everyone from Norman Jewison and William Friedkin to Steven Spielberg and Terrence Malick wanted to work with.
Born in Depoy, Kentucky in 1928, Oates discovered acting at the University of Louisville, and soon headed west to L.A. where he swiftly became a regular face in the golden era of TV westerns, including parts on "Rawhide," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Have Gun - Will Travel...
Born in Depoy, Kentucky in 1928, Oates discovered acting at the University of Louisville, and soon headed west to L.A. where he swiftly became a regular face in the golden era of TV westerns, including parts on "Rawhide," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Have Gun - Will Travel...
- 4/6/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Some of you may be too young to remember The Last Dinosaur. Others of you are old enough to remember seeing it when it first aired in 1977 or the million times it ran in syndication throughout the Eighties. Now everyone can get reacquainted with this cult favorite that has dwelled in obscurity for too long thanks to the Warner Archive.
A joint production between Rankin/Bass (the makers of such classic Christmas specials as "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and Tsuburaya Productions (the creators of "Ultraman"), The Last Dinosaur was originally scheduled to be a theatrical release but ended up premiering as an ABC TV movie in 1977. The subsequent repeat airings and limited VHS release have all been of the 90-minute TV cut. The Warner Archive just released 16x9 full frame print contains the never before seen in the Us 106-minute theatrical cut.
“It eats meat! Us!!” "It" is a Tyrannosaurus,...
A joint production between Rankin/Bass (the makers of such classic Christmas specials as "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer") and Tsuburaya Productions (the creators of "Ultraman"), The Last Dinosaur was originally scheduled to be a theatrical release but ended up premiering as an ABC TV movie in 1977. The subsequent repeat airings and limited VHS release have all been of the 90-minute TV cut. The Warner Archive just released 16x9 full frame print contains the never before seen in the Us 106-minute theatrical cut.
“It eats meat! Us!!” "It" is a Tyrannosaurus,...
- 3/25/2011
- by Foywonder
- DreadCentral.com
The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Fred Weekend Shopping Guide - your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…
(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)
While it’s not the equal of How To Train Your Dragon, I really did dig Dreamworks latest CG-animated flick, Mastermind (Dreamworks, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$49.99 Srp), which concerns itself with the titular supervillain in a world that’s forever been tilted in favor of his superheroic contemporary since their births on nearby dying worlds, Metroman. But then Mastermind succeeds in killing his rival, leaving him in control of Metro City…...
(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)
While it’s not the equal of How To Train Your Dragon, I really did dig Dreamworks latest CG-animated flick, Mastermind (Dreamworks, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$49.99 Srp), which concerns itself with the titular supervillain in a world that’s forever been tilted in favor of his superheroic contemporary since their births on nearby dying worlds, Metroman. But then Mastermind succeeds in killing his rival, leaving him in control of Metro City…...
- 2/25/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
American actor Bruce Gordon has passed away just days after the death of his The Untouchables co-star Paul Picerni.
The 94 year old, who lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, died last Thursday after a long illness, according to Santa Fe Funeral Options, a local funeral home.
The news comes just a week after his TV colleague Picerni suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Llano, California.
Gordon made his Broadway debut in 1937, playing several small roles in The Fireman's Flame. His other Broadway credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Medea, Richard II, The Lark and Nowhere to Go But Up.
His television career kicked off in the 1940s, with guest appearances on several U.S. series, including I Spy, Have Gun - Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Bonanza and Police Woman, among others.
In the late 1950s, he was the host of espionage docudrama Behind Closed Doors, and in the 1960s he enjoyed a recurring role on Peyton Place.
But Gordon will perhaps be best remembered for his role as mob boss Frank Nitti on classic 1960s U.S. TV series The Untouchables.
His feature film credits include Love Happy (1949), The Buccaneer (1958) and Tower of London (1962).
Information on Gordon's survivors was not made available as WENN went to press.
The 94 year old, who lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, died last Thursday after a long illness, according to Santa Fe Funeral Options, a local funeral home.
The news comes just a week after his TV colleague Picerni suffered a fatal heart attack at his home in Llano, California.
Gordon made his Broadway debut in 1937, playing several small roles in The Fireman's Flame. His other Broadway credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Medea, Richard II, The Lark and Nowhere to Go But Up.
His television career kicked off in the 1940s, with guest appearances on several U.S. series, including I Spy, Have Gun - Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Bonanza and Police Woman, among others.
In the late 1950s, he was the host of espionage docudrama Behind Closed Doors, and in the 1960s he enjoyed a recurring role on Peyton Place.
But Gordon will perhaps be best remembered for his role as mob boss Frank Nitti on classic 1960s U.S. TV series The Untouchables.
His feature film credits include Love Happy (1949), The Buccaneer (1958) and Tower of London (1962).
Information on Gordon's survivors was not made available as WENN went to press.
- 1/26/2011
- WENN
Oakland — Just in time for the holiday season, the Gravy has arrived.
Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie opens up in various theaters across America at the start of December. Wavy Gravy is an icon with an ever changing career. He’s gone from the legendary Merry Pranksters to the head of security at the original Woodstock to running a respected charity and finally achieving international greatness as a flavor of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. The many facets of his life are covered in the documentary directed by Michelle Esrick.
We had a chance to sit down for an extensive interview with Wavy Gravy and Michelle Esrick when the movie premiered at 2009’s Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
This first part has him discuss getting drunk with Jack Kerouac (On the Road) and dropping acid at the Electric Acid Kool-Aid Tests. Ahhh good times.
Now we get...
Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie opens up in various theaters across America at the start of December. Wavy Gravy is an icon with an ever changing career. He’s gone from the legendary Merry Pranksters to the head of security at the original Woodstock to running a respected charity and finally achieving international greatness as a flavor of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. The many facets of his life are covered in the documentary directed by Michelle Esrick.
We had a chance to sit down for an extensive interview with Wavy Gravy and Michelle Esrick when the movie premiered at 2009’s Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
This first part has him discuss getting drunk with Jack Kerouac (On the Road) and dropping acid at the Electric Acid Kool-Aid Tests. Ahhh good times.
Now we get...
- 12/3/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Emmy Award-winning television and film director Lamont Johnson has died after suffering heart failure. He was 88.
Johnson passed away at his home in Monterey, California on Sunday.
He won critical acclaim for his controversial U.S. television works, including 1970 series My Sweet Charlie, which explored interracial relationships, 1972's That Certain Summer, which took a look at homosexuality, and 1981 series Crisis at Central High, about America's civil rights movement.
He also directed episodes of Have Gun - Will Travel, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone, Naked City and The Defenders, in addition to helming films including 1973's The Last American Hero, starring Jeff Bridges.
Johnson, who received 11 Emmy nominations during his 40-plus years directing, won in 1986 for his work on Wallenberg: A Hero's Story, a miniseries about Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.
In 1989 he won another Emmy for Gore Vidal's Civil War drama Lincoln, starring Sam Waterston.
Johnson is survived by a son and daughter, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Johnson passed away at his home in Monterey, California on Sunday.
He won critical acclaim for his controversial U.S. television works, including 1970 series My Sweet Charlie, which explored interracial relationships, 1972's That Certain Summer, which took a look at homosexuality, and 1981 series Crisis at Central High, about America's civil rights movement.
He also directed episodes of Have Gun - Will Travel, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone, Naked City and The Defenders, in addition to helming films including 1973's The Last American Hero, starring Jeff Bridges.
Johnson, who received 11 Emmy nominations during his 40-plus years directing, won in 1986 for his work on Wallenberg: A Hero's Story, a miniseries about Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.
In 1989 he won another Emmy for Gore Vidal's Civil War drama Lincoln, starring Sam Waterston.
Johnson is survived by a son and daughter, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
- 10/27/2010
- WENN
Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th! I went and saw Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and I Loved it! Can't wait for it to come out on DVD. Anywho let's move on to this week's releases. Here are the highlights of the week.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and rebellious computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) team up to investigate the unsolved disappearance of wealthy Henrik Vanger's (Sven-Bertil Taube) teen niece (Ewa Fröling), only to uncover dark secrets about Vanger's powerful family. Niels Arden Oplev directs this Swedish thriller based on the first novel from Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy.
Starring: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
*You can play this in English as well*
From what I have heard this movie is amazing! I can't wait to watch it. I had it on my...
- 7/6/2010
- by Mars
- GeekTyrant
Gloucester - The night Sebastian Junger arrived in town, it was a rather mild and cloudless day. There would be need to use the phrase “The Perfect Storm” to hype the writer’s talk and signing at Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books. It was The Perfect Mild.
This appears to be a rarity in today’s journalism. Anything that happens now gets blamed on “A Perfect Storm” of calamities after Junger’s book about the doomed fishermen. Wall Street meltdown, Bp well disaster and McRib are all given The Perfect Storm treatment. Sadly enough, he does not get a nickel every time it’s said on TV.
This appearance didn’t include tales of the people who put seafood on your table or George Clooney’s pranks. Junger spoke of the men who fight for America in Afghanistan. The Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment of the...
This appears to be a rarity in today’s journalism. Anything that happens now gets blamed on “A Perfect Storm” of calamities after Junger’s book about the doomed fishermen. Wall Street meltdown, Bp well disaster and McRib are all given The Perfect Storm treatment. Sadly enough, he does not get a nickel every time it’s said on TV.
This appearance didn’t include tales of the people who put seafood on your table or George Clooney’s pranks. Junger spoke of the men who fight for America in Afghanistan. The Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment of the...
- 6/25/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
‘Justified’ slated for exciting second season on FX
By Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
“‘Justified’ is smartly written, superbly acted and solidly entertaining.”
– StayFamous.Net
When FX announced their hit show “Justified” would be coming back for a second season, few television critics were surprised. With its all-star cast, including Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy and Timothy Olyphant, “Justified” is bringing its own version of southern charm to the small screen.
In a recent interview, Graham Yost, creator of the series, told me how the title for the show came about. After suggesting the idea of holding a contest and offering $1,000 to the person who came up with the winning title, Yost explained that he’s not sure who came up with the final idea. The show’s original title might have been “Lawman,” however after the A&E reality show “Steven Segal: Lawman” went into production, creators of...
By Michael Aaron Gallagher of StayFamous.Net
“‘Justified’ is smartly written, superbly acted and solidly entertaining.”
– StayFamous.Net
When FX announced their hit show “Justified” would be coming back for a second season, few television critics were surprised. With its all-star cast, including Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy and Timothy Olyphant, “Justified” is bringing its own version of southern charm to the small screen.
In a recent interview, Graham Yost, creator of the series, told me how the title for the show came about. After suggesting the idea of holding a contest and offering $1,000 to the person who came up with the winning title, Yost explained that he’s not sure who came up with the final idea. The show’s original title might have been “Lawman,” however after the A&E reality show “Steven Segal: Lawman” went into production, creators of...
- 5/14/2010
- by Michael Aaron Gallagher
- StayFamous.net
The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Fred Weekend Shopping Guide - your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…
(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)
Any time we can get fully remastered editions of the Studio Ghibli films, color me delighted - and that’s just we’ve got with new 2-disc special editions of Castle In The Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, & My Neighbor Totoro (Walt Disney, Rated PG/G/G, DVD-$29.99 Srp each). Each release features a behind-the-scenes exploration of the film, an introduction by John Lasseter, and a storyboard presentation of the film.
(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)
Any time we can get fully remastered editions of the Studio Ghibli films, color me delighted - and that’s just we’ve got with new 2-disc special editions of Castle In The Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, & My Neighbor Totoro (Walt Disney, Rated PG/G/G, DVD-$29.99 Srp each). Each release features a behind-the-scenes exploration of the film, an introduction by John Lasseter, and a storyboard presentation of the film.
- 3/5/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
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