New York City
Wiseguy
February 27, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Wiseguy aired on CBS for four seasons, from 1987 to 1990.
Ken Wahl stars as Vinnie Terranova, a federal government agent in the Organized Crime Bureau who went deep undercover to capture criminals.
In the beginning of the show, he has just completed a year-and-a-half prison stint. It’s a set-up to give Vinnie a viable criminal background cover. To the outside world, he’s a wiseguy, a term applied to organized crime figures.
Jonathan Banks plays Frank McPike, Vinnie’s government handler who coordinates strategy with Vinnie. Banks appears in Beverly Hills Cop as one of the henchman of Victor Maitlin, the nemesis of Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley character.
Daniel Burroughs plays Jim Burroughs. Nickname: Lifeguard. Essentially, he is Vinnie’s communications link to McPike. His nickname is appropriate -- if Vinnie gets in danger, he calls Lifeguard with appropriate codes to send backup.
Wiseguy rarely contained self-contained episodes. Rather, it used story arcs comprised of multiple episodes.
The first story arc sees Vinnie become a trusted member of the crime family of mob boss Sonny Steelgrave, played by Ray Sharkey. Steelgrave electrocutes himself in front of Vinnie when he discovers Vinnie’s true identity.
The second story arc showcases Kevin Spacey as Mel Profitt, an international criminal with roots in arms dealing.
Other story arcs focus on white supremacy, the garment district in New York City, the record industry, a Japanese Yen counterfeiting conspiracy, mafia wars, a small town in the Pacific Northwest rooted in corruption, a Cuban-American crime lord, and the drug trade in the New York City school system.
ABC aired a reunion tv-movie in 1996. The canon is questionable.
In the fourth season of Wiseguy, Vinnie is killed.
The 1996 tv-movie stars Wahl as Vinnie. So either the fourth season story line did not occur in official Wiseguy canon or the events in the tv-movie occurred before his death.
david@davidkrell.com
Wiseguy aired on CBS for four seasons, from 1987 to 1990.
Ken Wahl stars as Vinnie Terranova, a federal government agent in the Organized Crime Bureau who went deep undercover to capture criminals.
In the beginning of the show, he has just completed a year-and-a-half prison stint. It’s a set-up to give Vinnie a viable criminal background cover. To the outside world, he’s a wiseguy, a term applied to organized crime figures.
Jonathan Banks plays Frank McPike, Vinnie’s government handler who coordinates strategy with Vinnie. Banks appears in Beverly Hills Cop as one of the henchman of Victor Maitlin, the nemesis of Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley character.
Daniel Burroughs plays Jim Burroughs. Nickname: Lifeguard. Essentially, he is Vinnie’s communications link to McPike. His nickname is appropriate -- if Vinnie gets in danger, he calls Lifeguard with appropriate codes to send backup.
Wiseguy rarely contained self-contained episodes. Rather, it used story arcs comprised of multiple episodes.
The first story arc sees Vinnie become a trusted member of the crime family of mob boss Sonny Steelgrave, played by Ray Sharkey. Steelgrave electrocutes himself in front of Vinnie when he discovers Vinnie’s true identity.
The second story arc showcases Kevin Spacey as Mel Profitt, an international criminal with roots in arms dealing.
Other story arcs focus on white supremacy, the garment district in New York City, the record industry, a Japanese Yen counterfeiting conspiracy, mafia wars, a small town in the Pacific Northwest rooted in corruption, a Cuban-American crime lord, and the drug trade in the New York City school system.
ABC aired a reunion tv-movie in 1996. The canon is questionable.
In the fourth season of Wiseguy, Vinnie is killed.
The 1996 tv-movie stars Wahl as Vinnie. So either the fourth season story line did not occur in official Wiseguy canon or the events in the tv-movie occurred before his death.
The Legacy of Soupy Sales
October 26, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
When Soupy Sales died last week on October 22nd, his obituaries focused on his hallmark -- throwing a pie in someone’s face on his television show.
But the legacy of Soupy Sales is not the elevation of pie throwing to a comedic art form.
The legacy of Soupy Sales can be summed up in one word -- work.
Although best remembered as the host of a baby boomer children’s television show bearing his name, Soupy Sales also enjoyed fixture status on the syndicated version of What’s My Line?
He appeared on other game shows in addition to guest starring on popular television shows -- The Beverly Hillbillies, Route 66, Love, American Style, Burke’s Law, The Love Boat, Wings.
He gave radio a shot in the 1980’s with a stint on WNBC-AM in New York City.
And he served as host of the mid-1970’s Saturday morning children’s game show Junior Almost Anything Goes -- a spinoff of the mid-1970’s prime time game show Almost Anything Goes.
Soupy Sales. More than just a pie in the face.
david@davidkrell.com
When Soupy Sales died last week on October 22nd, his obituaries focused on his hallmark -- throwing a pie in someone’s face on his television show.
But the legacy of Soupy Sales is not the elevation of pie throwing to a comedic art form.
The legacy of Soupy Sales can be summed up in one word -- work.
Although best remembered as the host of a baby boomer children’s television show bearing his name, Soupy Sales also enjoyed fixture status on the syndicated version of What’s My Line?
He appeared on other game shows in addition to guest starring on popular television shows -- The Beverly Hillbillies, Route 66, Love, American Style, Burke’s Law, The Love Boat, Wings.
He gave radio a shot in the 1980’s with a stint on WNBC-AM in New York City.
And he served as host of the mid-1970’s Saturday morning children’s game show Junior Almost Anything Goes -- a spinoff of the mid-1970’s prime time game show Almost Anything Goes.
Soupy Sales. More than just a pie in the face.
The Taking of Pelham 123
October 13, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
The remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 opened in theaters this past summer. The film stars three actors who got their big breaks on the small screen.
Denzel Washington.
In Pelham, Washington plays Walter Garber, a New York City civil servant who becomes the link of communication to hostage takers on a subway train.
Washington was part of the terrific ensemble cast of St. Elsewhere. In this 1980’s NBC drama set in a Boston hospital, Washington plays the Yale-educated Dr. Phillip Chandler.
His breakthrough movie was Glory, a 1989 film set during the Civil War. Washington earned on Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
John Travolta.
In Pelham, Travolta plays Ryder, the leader of the hostage takers.
Travolta exploded onto America’s consciousness as dim-witted, girl-crazy, and self-involved high school student Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter.
Kotter premiered in 1975. In the space of three years, Travolta’s career became hotter than a supernova. On the silver screen, he starred in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever and 1978’s Grease.
For the most part, notoriety subsided during the 1980’s. Travolta signaled his comeback in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction in 1994.
James Gandolfini.
In Pelham, Gandolfini plays the Mayor of New York City. If managed properly, the hostage crisis can be good for the politics business. Or very bad.
After highly significant roles on Broadway and supporting roles in films, Gandolfini got the role for which he will forever be identified.
Henry Winkler has Fonzie.
Alan Alda has Hawkeye.
And James Gandolfini has Tony Soprano, the main character in The Sopranos.
Gandolfini’s emotions as the New Jersey mafia don range from the tender to the explosive. He reveals a touching side when talking about or interacting with animals, like his racehorse, Pie-Oh-My.
There is a flip side. Disloyalty, betrayal, and disrespect trigger rage, violence, and an underlying fear of a weakened position in the Soprano mob family.
In 1973, Morton Freedgood wrote the novel The Taking of Pelham 123 under the pseudonym John Godey.
A year later, the story hit the big screen for the first time with Walter Matthau as Garber, Robert Shaw as Ryder, and Lee Wallace as the mayor.
The film accurately captures the aura of violence, fear, and despair surrounding New York City in the 1970’s. Riots. Crime. Financial turmoil. They all contributed to the pressure.
The feeling permeates the film. Walter Matthau’s Garber is in the middle -- a civil servant trying to do his job. On this particular day, it is an ordinary job under extraordinary circumstances. Matthau perfectly fits the role of the rumpled Garber.
The ending of this version of Pelham is an excellent example of a setup and payoff. Something occurs early in the story that recurs at the end.
Hector Elizondo and Earl Hindman play two of the hostage takers. Elizondo later starred in Chicago Hope and played supporting roles in a deep roster of films that include The Flamingo Kid, The Princess Diaries, and Pretty Woman.
Hindman’s face is not recognizable from his signature role -- Wilson, the neighbor on Home Improvement. The running gag on the show was the hiding of Wilson’s face behind the backyard fence and other objects.
Jerry Stiller plays a policeman working with Matthau. Maybe the hostage crisis was a source of sorts for Frank Costanza’s anger.
david@davidkrell.com
The remake of The Taking of Pelham 123 opened in theaters this past summer. The film stars three actors who got their big breaks on the small screen.
Denzel Washington.
In Pelham, Washington plays Walter Garber, a New York City civil servant who becomes the link of communication to hostage takers on a subway train.
Washington was part of the terrific ensemble cast of St. Elsewhere. In this 1980’s NBC drama set in a Boston hospital, Washington plays the Yale-educated Dr. Phillip Chandler.
His breakthrough movie was Glory, a 1989 film set during the Civil War. Washington earned on Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
John Travolta.
In Pelham, Travolta plays Ryder, the leader of the hostage takers.
Travolta exploded onto America’s consciousness as dim-witted, girl-crazy, and self-involved high school student Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter.
Kotter premiered in 1975. In the space of three years, Travolta’s career became hotter than a supernova. On the silver screen, he starred in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever and 1978’s Grease.
For the most part, notoriety subsided during the 1980’s. Travolta signaled his comeback in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction in 1994.
James Gandolfini.
In Pelham, Gandolfini plays the Mayor of New York City. If managed properly, the hostage crisis can be good for the politics business. Or very bad.
After highly significant roles on Broadway and supporting roles in films, Gandolfini got the role for which he will forever be identified.
Henry Winkler has Fonzie.
Alan Alda has Hawkeye.
And James Gandolfini has Tony Soprano, the main character in The Sopranos.
Gandolfini’s emotions as the New Jersey mafia don range from the tender to the explosive. He reveals a touching side when talking about or interacting with animals, like his racehorse, Pie-Oh-My.
There is a flip side. Disloyalty, betrayal, and disrespect trigger rage, violence, and an underlying fear of a weakened position in the Soprano mob family.
In 1973, Morton Freedgood wrote the novel The Taking of Pelham 123 under the pseudonym John Godey.
A year later, the story hit the big screen for the first time with Walter Matthau as Garber, Robert Shaw as Ryder, and Lee Wallace as the mayor.
The film accurately captures the aura of violence, fear, and despair surrounding New York City in the 1970’s. Riots. Crime. Financial turmoil. They all contributed to the pressure.
The feeling permeates the film. Walter Matthau’s Garber is in the middle -- a civil servant trying to do his job. On this particular day, it is an ordinary job under extraordinary circumstances. Matthau perfectly fits the role of the rumpled Garber.
The ending of this version of Pelham is an excellent example of a setup and payoff. Something occurs early in the story that recurs at the end.
Hector Elizondo and Earl Hindman play two of the hostage takers. Elizondo later starred in Chicago Hope and played supporting roles in a deep roster of films that include The Flamingo Kid, The Princess Diaries, and Pretty Woman.
Hindman’s face is not recognizable from his signature role -- Wilson, the neighbor on Home Improvement. The running gag on the show was the hiding of Wilson’s face behind the backyard fence and other objects.
Jerry Stiller plays a policeman working with Matthau. Maybe the hostage crisis was a source of sorts for Frank Costanza’s anger.
George Clooney
August 25, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
For the first time in fifteen years, ER will not be a part of the NBC Thursday night lineup.
When the show aired its last episode in April of 2009, it left a legacy of excellence that network television will be hard pressed to match.
When the show aired its first episode in September of 1994, it nicely filled the 10:00 pm cleanup hitter spot in Thursday night prime time with sheer dominance. ER steamrolled every program that competed.
And a familiar face found his breakout role.
Not yet a star, but on his way.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's, George Clooney's steady work makes his breakout role of pediatrician Doug Ross on ER seem inevitable in retrospect.
He had a nice run as Falconer, a cop and love interest of Sela Ward's character on Sisters -- Teddy.
He was part of the ensemble cast on the short-lived CBS detective show Bodies of Evidence with Lee Horsley of Matt Houston fame.
And in early episodes of Roseanne, he played Booker Brooks, the boss of Roseanne and Jackie.
When we first meet George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross in the pilot of ER, the setting is Saint Patrick's Day 1994 in Chicago.
And he is drunk with a shift starting in a few hours.
Dr. Mark Greene, Chief Resident and Doug's friend, treats Doug with an IV to sober him.
Beyond a drinking problem, Doug Ross is a womanizer.
He cheats on his girlfriend, Nurse Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Marguiles.
She attempts suicide in the pilot with a drug overdose. Unclear is the motive, though the fractured relationship with Doug could be a contender.
Also debuting on NBC in September of 1994, Friends immediately captured the hearts and minds of America.
Three commonalities exist between the two shows.
First, a cross-promotion of sorts took place that inaugural year with George Clooney and co-star Noah Wyle guest starring on an episode of Friends as New York City hospital doctors.
Second, besides airing on NBC, Friends and ER had another production factor in common. Warner Brothers produced both shows.
And third, both shows featured a character with similar names. Dr. Mark Greene's daughter was Rachel Greene. She was a recurring character on ER while Jennifer Aniston starred on Friends as Rachel Green.
In 1999, Doug Ross leaves County General in Chicago for Seattle, not knowing that Carol is pregnant by him with twin girls.
The real-life reason was George Clooney's pursuit of a full-time film career after starring in films including One Fine Day and Batman and Robin.
Carol later realizes that Doug is her soul mate and she leaves for Seattle to be with him.
In this pivotal episode, George Clooney makes a cameo at the end, welcoming Carol.
Warner Brothers kept the guest appearance a secret, so NBC was unable to promote it.
Clooney shot the cameo appearance on location in Massachusetts where he was shooting The Perfect Storm.
Clooney and Marguiles reprised their ER roles in an episode towards the end of the series. Still happily married, they were unwittingly involved in the donation of a kidney that went to a former colleague -- Dr. John Carter, played by Noah Wyle.
david@davidkrell.com
For the first time in fifteen years, ER will not be a part of the NBC Thursday night lineup.
When the show aired its last episode in April of 2009, it left a legacy of excellence that network television will be hard pressed to match.
When the show aired its first episode in September of 1994, it nicely filled the 10:00 pm cleanup hitter spot in Thursday night prime time with sheer dominance. ER steamrolled every program that competed.
And a familiar face found his breakout role.
Not yet a star, but on his way.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's, George Clooney's steady work makes his breakout role of pediatrician Doug Ross on ER seem inevitable in retrospect.
He had a nice run as Falconer, a cop and love interest of Sela Ward's character on Sisters -- Teddy.
He was part of the ensemble cast on the short-lived CBS detective show Bodies of Evidence with Lee Horsley of Matt Houston fame.
And in early episodes of Roseanne, he played Booker Brooks, the boss of Roseanne and Jackie.
When we first meet George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross in the pilot of ER, the setting is Saint Patrick's Day 1994 in Chicago.
And he is drunk with a shift starting in a few hours.
Dr. Mark Greene, Chief Resident and Doug's friend, treats Doug with an IV to sober him.
Beyond a drinking problem, Doug Ross is a womanizer.
He cheats on his girlfriend, Nurse Carol Hathaway, played by Julianna Marguiles.
She attempts suicide in the pilot with a drug overdose. Unclear is the motive, though the fractured relationship with Doug could be a contender.
Also debuting on NBC in September of 1994, Friends immediately captured the hearts and minds of America.
Three commonalities exist between the two shows.
First, a cross-promotion of sorts took place that inaugural year with George Clooney and co-star Noah Wyle guest starring on an episode of Friends as New York City hospital doctors.
Second, besides airing on NBC, Friends and ER had another production factor in common. Warner Brothers produced both shows.
And third, both shows featured a character with similar names. Dr. Mark Greene's daughter was Rachel Greene. She was a recurring character on ER while Jennifer Aniston starred on Friends as Rachel Green.
In 1999, Doug Ross leaves County General in Chicago for Seattle, not knowing that Carol is pregnant by him with twin girls.
The real-life reason was George Clooney's pursuit of a full-time film career after starring in films including One Fine Day and Batman and Robin.
Carol later realizes that Doug is her soul mate and she leaves for Seattle to be with him.
In this pivotal episode, George Clooney makes a cameo at the end, welcoming Carol.
Warner Brothers kept the guest appearance a secret, so NBC was unable to promote it.
Clooney shot the cameo appearance on location in Massachusetts where he was shooting The Perfect Storm.
Clooney and Marguiles reprised their ER roles in an episode towards the end of the series. Still happily married, they were unwittingly involved in the donation of a kidney that went to a former colleague -- Dr. John Carter, played by Noah Wyle.
Eddie Albert
July 14, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
In the 1960's television show Green Acres, Eddie Albert stars as Oliver Wendell Douglas. Oliver is a successful New York City attorney who gives up the lavish life of urban success for the rural challenges associated with owning and operating a farm.
Oliver was constantly frustrated by his lack of control concerning the ineffective, inefficient, and impractical ways of the citizens of his adopted hometown, Hooterville.
In the 1974 movie The Longest Yard, Eddie Albert stars as Rudolph Hazen. Hazen is a ruthless, power-hungry, and morally devoid prison warden who tries to secure his power base by fixing a football game of the prison guards against the prisoners.
Oliver Wendell Douglas directly contrasts Warden Rudolph Hazen.
Where Oliver has no control over the neighbors, protocols, and attitudes in Hooterville, Hazen has complete authoritarian control over the prisoners, rules, and way of life in his prison.
Where Oliver tries to change the status quo to improve Hooterville, Hazen seeks only a reinforcement of the status quo, thereby continually strengthening his power base.
Where Oliver likes being a part of his community, Hazen likes ruling his community.
Hazen's antagonist in The Longest Yard is former pro quarterback Paul Crewe, played by Burt Reynolds.
Crewe is in prison after pushing his girlfriend, taking a joyride in her car, and wreaking roadside havoc.
He also shaved points when he was a pro football quarterback.
Through a deal struck with Hazen, Crewe agrees to throw a football game where the prisoners will play against the guards.
From Hazen's point of view, the action is necessary to preserve his iron-fisted rule.
Albert's portrayal of Hazen was full of cunning, manipulation, and a single purpose -- to maintain his power.
He even went so far as to tell the captain of the guards' team to inflict as much pain as possible on the prisoners.
Oliver Wendell Douglas, on the other hand, continually sees life in Hooterville as an exercise in futility with a complete lack of common sense enjoyed by the people who call Hooterville their home.
Then again, he did his farming in a three-piece suit.
In both roles, Eddie Albert plays authoritative characters.
And even though Green Acres is a terrific example of the fish-out-of-water theme, the denizens of Hooterville accept Mr. Douglas and look kindly on his efforts to be a part of the community, even if they reject his ideas from time to time. But they never reject him as a person.
If Oliver Douglas seeks inclusion in the decision-making process, he does so only for the improvement of the Hooterville community.
Warden Hazen seeks power for power's sake.
One seeks change. One keeps change from happening.
In the hands of Eddie Albert, Oliver Wendell Douglas and Warden Rudolph Hazen are two characters firmly entrenched in popular culture.
david@davidkrell.com
In the 1960's television show Green Acres, Eddie Albert stars as Oliver Wendell Douglas. Oliver is a successful New York City attorney who gives up the lavish life of urban success for the rural challenges associated with owning and operating a farm.
Oliver was constantly frustrated by his lack of control concerning the ineffective, inefficient, and impractical ways of the citizens of his adopted hometown, Hooterville.
In the 1974 movie The Longest Yard, Eddie Albert stars as Rudolph Hazen. Hazen is a ruthless, power-hungry, and morally devoid prison warden who tries to secure his power base by fixing a football game of the prison guards against the prisoners.
Oliver Wendell Douglas directly contrasts Warden Rudolph Hazen.
Where Oliver has no control over the neighbors, protocols, and attitudes in Hooterville, Hazen has complete authoritarian control over the prisoners, rules, and way of life in his prison.
Where Oliver tries to change the status quo to improve Hooterville, Hazen seeks only a reinforcement of the status quo, thereby continually strengthening his power base.
Where Oliver likes being a part of his community, Hazen likes ruling his community.
Hazen's antagonist in The Longest Yard is former pro quarterback Paul Crewe, played by Burt Reynolds.
Crewe is in prison after pushing his girlfriend, taking a joyride in her car, and wreaking roadside havoc.
He also shaved points when he was a pro football quarterback.
Through a deal struck with Hazen, Crewe agrees to throw a football game where the prisoners will play against the guards.
From Hazen's point of view, the action is necessary to preserve his iron-fisted rule.
Albert's portrayal of Hazen was full of cunning, manipulation, and a single purpose -- to maintain his power.
He even went so far as to tell the captain of the guards' team to inflict as much pain as possible on the prisoners.
Oliver Wendell Douglas, on the other hand, continually sees life in Hooterville as an exercise in futility with a complete lack of common sense enjoyed by the people who call Hooterville their home.
Then again, he did his farming in a three-piece suit.
In both roles, Eddie Albert plays authoritative characters.
And even though Green Acres is a terrific example of the fish-out-of-water theme, the denizens of Hooterville accept Mr. Douglas and look kindly on his efforts to be a part of the community, even if they reject his ideas from time to time. But they never reject him as a person.
If Oliver Douglas seeks inclusion in the decision-making process, he does so only for the improvement of the Hooterville community.
Warden Hazen seeks power for power's sake.
One seeks change. One keeps change from happening.
In the hands of Eddie Albert, Oliver Wendell Douglas and Warden Rudolph Hazen are two characters firmly entrenched in popular culture.
Mid-Year Review
July 02, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
And so 2009 is officially half-finished.
What kind of half-year has it been?
A half-year of transition.
We saw a transition of power from a republican president to a democratic president -- the first-ever minority to be elected to the highest office in the land.
We saw a transition of power in the coveted Tonight Show host job from Jay Leno to Conan O'Brien.
O'Brien passed the torch at Late Night to Jimmy Fallon.
And we saw a transition of power in the technological sense from antenna television to digital television.
A half-year of controversy.
Controversy was in abundant supply during the first half of '09.
Because of a joke during a monologue about Sarah Palin's daughter getting pregnant by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez during the Palin's visit to New York City, David Letterman went from television star to hot-button topic.
Although he meant Bristol Palin, the daughter who got pregnant by her then boyfriend Levi Johnston last year, 14-year-old Willow Palin was the daughter accompanying her mom at the Yankee game.
The Palins took action and belittled Letterman.
A clarification of sorts took place a few days later with Letterman showing self-deprecation, humor, and a literal wink at the audience that the controversy was nonsense.
The Palins took action and again belittled Letterman.
But after a weekend of thought, deliberation, and analysis, David Letterman gave a sincere apology the following Monday night.
The Palins accepted Letterman's apology.
We saw Miss California lose her crown because of an honest answer to a politically-charged question.
A half-year of television shows that deserved a longer chance to find an audience.
In Life on Mars, the series finale revealed that Sam Tyler was actually an astronaut on the first manned to Mars. The events he experienced in 1973 were triggered by a meteor shower wreaking havoc with virtual reality program. He was supposed to be a New York City cop in 2008, but the meteor incident caused the virtual reality glitch that sent him to 1973.
We saw The Unusuals, another solid program with depth of characters, unique stories, and realistic relationships set in the fictional 2nd precinct of Manhattan. This show starring Adam Goldberg and Terry Kinney looks like it will not be renewed.
A half-year of veteran sitcoms and dramas setting up story lines that were months, sometimes years in the making.
We saw Michael Scott, inefficient manager extraordinaire, attempt to start a paper company with receptionist Pam and temp Ryan. He sought to compete with Dunder Mifflin, only to have Dunder Mifflin buy the company on The Office.
We saw Barney and Robin reveal their feelings for each other on How I Met Your Mother.
We saw Justin propose to Rebecca and we saw Rebecca say Yes on Brothers and Sisters.
And we saw Michael J. Fox in an Emmy-worthy guest role on Rescue Me as Dwight, the paraplegic, pill-popping boyfriend of Tommy Gavin figurative ex-wife Janet, played by Denis Leary and Andrea Roth respectively.
A half-year of goodbyes.
In the space of a few days, we lost three legends -- an angel, an icon, and a voice. Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Ed McMahon.
If the second half of '09 is anything like the first half, then fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
david@davidkrell.com
And so 2009 is officially half-finished.
What kind of half-year has it been?
A half-year of transition.
We saw a transition of power from a republican president to a democratic president -- the first-ever minority to be elected to the highest office in the land.
We saw a transition of power in the coveted Tonight Show host job from Jay Leno to Conan O'Brien.
O'Brien passed the torch at Late Night to Jimmy Fallon.
And we saw a transition of power in the technological sense from antenna television to digital television.
A half-year of controversy.
Controversy was in abundant supply during the first half of '09.
Because of a joke during a monologue about Sarah Palin's daughter getting pregnant by New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez during the Palin's visit to New York City, David Letterman went from television star to hot-button topic.
Although he meant Bristol Palin, the daughter who got pregnant by her then boyfriend Levi Johnston last year, 14-year-old Willow Palin was the daughter accompanying her mom at the Yankee game.
The Palins took action and belittled Letterman.
A clarification of sorts took place a few days later with Letterman showing self-deprecation, humor, and a literal wink at the audience that the controversy was nonsense.
The Palins took action and again belittled Letterman.
But after a weekend of thought, deliberation, and analysis, David Letterman gave a sincere apology the following Monday night.
The Palins accepted Letterman's apology.
We saw Miss California lose her crown because of an honest answer to a politically-charged question.
A half-year of television shows that deserved a longer chance to find an audience.
In Life on Mars, the series finale revealed that Sam Tyler was actually an astronaut on the first manned to Mars. The events he experienced in 1973 were triggered by a meteor shower wreaking havoc with virtual reality program. He was supposed to be a New York City cop in 2008, but the meteor incident caused the virtual reality glitch that sent him to 1973.
We saw The Unusuals, another solid program with depth of characters, unique stories, and realistic relationships set in the fictional 2nd precinct of Manhattan. This show starring Adam Goldberg and Terry Kinney looks like it will not be renewed.
A half-year of veteran sitcoms and dramas setting up story lines that were months, sometimes years in the making.
We saw Michael Scott, inefficient manager extraordinaire, attempt to start a paper company with receptionist Pam and temp Ryan. He sought to compete with Dunder Mifflin, only to have Dunder Mifflin buy the company on The Office.
We saw Barney and Robin reveal their feelings for each other on How I Met Your Mother.
We saw Justin propose to Rebecca and we saw Rebecca say Yes on Brothers and Sisters.
And we saw Michael J. Fox in an Emmy-worthy guest role on Rescue Me as Dwight, the paraplegic, pill-popping boyfriend of Tommy Gavin figurative ex-wife Janet, played by Denis Leary and Andrea Roth respectively.
A half-year of goodbyes.
In the space of a few days, we lost three legends -- an angel, an icon, and a voice. Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Ed McMahon.
If the second half of '09 is anything like the first half, then fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Private Parts
June 15, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
The 1997 movie Private Parts, based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same title, has fairly rich television connections.
The shock jock plays himself in Private Parts. His gang of Robin Quivers, Gary Dell'Abate, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling also play themselves.
But Private Parts does more than merely take Howard Stern's storybook rise to fame from the page to the silver screen.
The movie features future stars of the small screen.
Mary McCormack plays Alison Stern, the wife of the self-proclaimed King of All Media. She steadfastly supports her husband as he finds his unique broadcasting voice.
In the final years of The West Wing, McCormack played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper.
Currently, she stars in the USA drama In Plain Sight where she plays Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon. Shannon is responsible for shepherding federal witnesses through the Witness Protection Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Allison Janney also shares a West Wing - Private Parts connection.
In Private Parts, she plays Dee Dee, a radio executive.
In The West Wing, she plays Press Secretary extraordinaire C.J. Cregg who later gets promoted to President Bartlet's Chief of Staff.
Kelly Bishop plays Howard Stern's mother in Private Parts.
We also know her as the matriarch on the poignant, successful, and thoughtful mother-daughter drama Gilmore Girls. Bishop played Emily Gilmore -- mother of Lorelai, grandmother of Rory, and wife of Richard.
Film is a director's medium. Private Parts benefits from a television veteran who draws on her experience to create a definite realism in her productions.
Betty Thomas got her big break as Officer (later Sergeant) Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues, the highly acclaimed 1980's television drama. Thomas directed the HBO tv-movie The Late Shift based on the book of the same title by Bill Carter. The Late Shift recounts the controversy concerning who would ultimately succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Thomas has also directed other movies with roots in television -- I Spy, The Brady Bunch Movie.
And lastly, Paul Giamatti.
This fine character actor has starred in American Splendor, Sideways, and Cinderella Man.
In March - April 2008, Giamatti starred in the title role of the HBO miniseries John Adams based on the book of the same title by David McCullough. Giamatti won an Emmy for his portrayal of the unsung founding father.
In Private Parts, Giamatti plays Pig Vomit, Howard Stern's corporate nemesis during his days at WNBC-AM radio in New York City. Stern supplied the moniker.
david@davidkrell.com
The 1997 movie Private Parts, based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same title, has fairly rich television connections.
The shock jock plays himself in Private Parts. His gang of Robin Quivers, Gary Dell'Abate, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling also play themselves.
But Private Parts does more than merely take Howard Stern's storybook rise to fame from the page to the silver screen.
The movie features future stars of the small screen.
Mary McCormack plays Alison Stern, the wife of the self-proclaimed King of All Media. She steadfastly supports her husband as he finds his unique broadcasting voice.
In the final years of The West Wing, McCormack played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper.
Currently, she stars in the USA drama In Plain Sight where she plays Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon. Shannon is responsible for shepherding federal witnesses through the Witness Protection Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Allison Janney also shares a West Wing - Private Parts connection.
In Private Parts, she plays Dee Dee, a radio executive.
In The West Wing, she plays Press Secretary extraordinaire C.J. Cregg who later gets promoted to President Bartlet's Chief of Staff.
Kelly Bishop plays Howard Stern's mother in Private Parts.
We also know her as the matriarch on the poignant, successful, and thoughtful mother-daughter drama Gilmore Girls. Bishop played Emily Gilmore -- mother of Lorelai, grandmother of Rory, and wife of Richard.
Film is a director's medium. Private Parts benefits from a television veteran who draws on her experience to create a definite realism in her productions.
Betty Thomas got her big break as Officer (later Sergeant) Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues, the highly acclaimed 1980's television drama. Thomas directed the HBO tv-movie The Late Shift based on the book of the same title by Bill Carter. The Late Shift recounts the controversy concerning who would ultimately succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Thomas has also directed other movies with roots in television -- I Spy, The Brady Bunch Movie.
And lastly, Paul Giamatti.
This fine character actor has starred in American Splendor, Sideways, and Cinderella Man.
In March - April 2008, Giamatti starred in the title role of the HBO miniseries John Adams based on the book of the same title by David McCullough. Giamatti won an Emmy for his portrayal of the unsung founding father.
In Private Parts, Giamatti plays Pig Vomit, Howard Stern's corporate nemesis during his days at WNBC-AM radio in New York City. Stern supplied the moniker.
Herman the Rookie
June 02, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Baseball season prompts a look back at guest stars from the national pastime who give a little oomph to a favorite television program.
Don Drysdale on The Brady Bunch.
Henry Aaron on Happy Days.
Willie Mays on The Donna Reed Show.
In 1965, The Munsters used the baseball theme and player-turned-manager-turned-Los Angeles Dodgers executive Leo Durocher for that oomph.
The Dodgers welcomed Durocher back into the fold after he defected to the crosstown Giants when both teams played in New York City -- the Dodgers at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field and the Giants at Manhattan's Polo Grounds.
While talking with reporter Charlie Hodges, Leo the Lip gets knocked on the head by a baseball hit from several blocks away. He discovers that Herman Munster hit the ball.
Eager for a brand-new discovery, Durocher arranges a formal tryout with the Dodgers for Herman. Undoubtedly, Herman's physical strength is the tool that will propel the Dodgers to win the National League pennant and the World Series.
By literally crushing the ball out of the park, Herman could probably single-handedly win every game.
But every asset has a consequent cost or liability. In Herman's case, his asset of strength is the liability.
Wearing #37 for his tryout, Herman takes batting practice. The force of his swing causes a ground ball to literally go under ground and destroy the infield. A home run knocks over the scoreboard.
Durocher exclaims that he doesn't know whether to sign him to the Dodgers or send him to Vietnam!
Herman's dreams of big-league status will not be realized. The Dodgers won't sign him because of financial cost. Salary is not the issue. Walter O'Malley, then the Dodgers owner, would have to spend $75,000 after each game to repair Dodger Stadium.
Baseball fans will enjoy the episode because of the tryout scenes at a practice field.
The episode has a nice tag before the credits when former Los Angeles Rams player and current Rams executive Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch discovers a football kicked from several blocks away, much farther than the length of a football field.
Upon advice from Hodges, Hirsch forgets about identifying the kicker and signing him to the Rams.
Leo Durocher also made a guest appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies where he tried to learn more about Jethro Clampett's pitching prowess. What a combination! Jethro's ability to make the ball dance in the air from the pitching mound and Herman's ability to crush the ball over the fence.
Only in television land.
david@davidkrell.com
Baseball season prompts a look back at guest stars from the national pastime who give a little oomph to a favorite television program.
Don Drysdale on The Brady Bunch.
Henry Aaron on Happy Days.
Willie Mays on The Donna Reed Show.
In 1965, The Munsters used the baseball theme and player-turned-manager-turned-Los Angeles Dodgers executive Leo Durocher for that oomph.
The Dodgers welcomed Durocher back into the fold after he defected to the crosstown Giants when both teams played in New York City -- the Dodgers at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field and the Giants at Manhattan's Polo Grounds.
While talking with reporter Charlie Hodges, Leo the Lip gets knocked on the head by a baseball hit from several blocks away. He discovers that Herman Munster hit the ball.
Eager for a brand-new discovery, Durocher arranges a formal tryout with the Dodgers for Herman. Undoubtedly, Herman's physical strength is the tool that will propel the Dodgers to win the National League pennant and the World Series.
By literally crushing the ball out of the park, Herman could probably single-handedly win every game.
But every asset has a consequent cost or liability. In Herman's case, his asset of strength is the liability.
Wearing #37 for his tryout, Herman takes batting practice. The force of his swing causes a ground ball to literally go under ground and destroy the infield. A home run knocks over the scoreboard.
Durocher exclaims that he doesn't know whether to sign him to the Dodgers or send him to Vietnam!
Herman's dreams of big-league status will not be realized. The Dodgers won't sign him because of financial cost. Salary is not the issue. Walter O'Malley, then the Dodgers owner, would have to spend $75,000 after each game to repair Dodger Stadium.
Baseball fans will enjoy the episode because of the tryout scenes at a practice field.
The episode has a nice tag before the credits when former Los Angeles Rams player and current Rams executive Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch discovers a football kicked from several blocks away, much farther than the length of a football field.
Upon advice from Hodges, Hirsch forgets about identifying the kicker and signing him to the Rams.
Leo Durocher also made a guest appearance on The Beverly Hillbillies where he tried to learn more about Jethro Clampett's pitching prowess. What a combination! Jethro's ability to make the ball dance in the air from the pitching mound and Herman's ability to crush the ball over the fence.
Only in television land.
John Stamos
May 28, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
John Stamos has a deep television resume indicative of an actor destined for television icon status enjoyed by the likes of Robert Urich and Tony Danza.
Starting in daytime television, Stamos earned his heartthrob stripes in the early 1980's as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital.
In 1984, Stamos tackled prime time with Dreams, a short-lived CBS show about a rock and roll group trying to get its big break.
Later in the Reagan decade, Stamos partnered with veteran television actor Jack Klugman in You Again?, an NBC sitcom about a teenager who moves into his father's home after a long estrangement.
You Again? lasted one season.
The third prime time's a charm.
Stamos struck gold with Full House, an ABC sitcom that served as an anchor for the alphabet network's TGIF lineup.
The three father figures on Full House present distinct personalities. Bob Saget plays Danny Tanner, the actual father of the three daughters on the show.
Danny is the practical one.
Dave Coulier plays Joey Gladstone.
Joey is the childlike one.
Stamos plays Uncle Jesse.
Jesse is the creative one. Following his musical background, Stamos infused his character with a musical bent.
Full House lasted eight years, from 1987 to 1995.
Stamos' post-Full House television work includes the short-lived 2001 entry Thieves and Jake In Progress, a one hour drama with strong comedy elements that debuted in 2005.
Jake In Progress stars Stamos in the title role as a successful New York City publicist who reexamines his approach to women, that is to say, his womanizing.
Even a terrific supporting cast did not provide enough fuel to let Jake progress on his journey of finding his other half, his soulmate, his counterpart. Wendie Malick of Just Shoot Me and Dream On plays Stamos' boss.
After a guest spot on Friends in 2003, Stamos joined the cast of NBC's long-running drama ER as Tony Gates, Initially a recurring character, Gates became a fixture at Cook County General Hospital. Initially a paramedic, Gates became a doctor.
Stamos also appears in the 2007 HBO documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. He joins a roster of legendary interviewees, including the Smothers Brothers, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Martin Scorsese, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Debbie Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Carl Reiner.
Stamos talks kindly about Rickles' impact on younger entertainers. He expands his comments to include others of Rickles' generation.
In a separate interview, Stamos' Full House co-star Bob Saget also appears on the documentary. And the two separately square off with some choice comments about each other. In essence, Saget claims that Stamos simply kisses the ring of Rickles, to put the phrase euphemestically.
John Stamos has a resume that is synonymous with television. One major hit in the form of Full House has not made him a one-hit wonder. Although his characters don't always know how to go about doing the right thing, they always want to do the right thing. They try. Which is just about all you can ask for.
david@davidkrell.com
John Stamos has a deep television resume indicative of an actor destined for television icon status enjoyed by the likes of Robert Urich and Tony Danza.
Starting in daytime television, Stamos earned his heartthrob stripes in the early 1980's as Blackie Parrish on General Hospital.
In 1984, Stamos tackled prime time with Dreams, a short-lived CBS show about a rock and roll group trying to get its big break.
Later in the Reagan decade, Stamos partnered with veteran television actor Jack Klugman in You Again?, an NBC sitcom about a teenager who moves into his father's home after a long estrangement.
You Again? lasted one season.
The third prime time's a charm.
Stamos struck gold with Full House, an ABC sitcom that served as an anchor for the alphabet network's TGIF lineup.
The three father figures on Full House present distinct personalities. Bob Saget plays Danny Tanner, the actual father of the three daughters on the show.
Danny is the practical one.
Dave Coulier plays Joey Gladstone.
Joey is the childlike one.
Stamos plays Uncle Jesse.
Jesse is the creative one. Following his musical background, Stamos infused his character with a musical bent.
Full House lasted eight years, from 1987 to 1995.
Stamos' post-Full House television work includes the short-lived 2001 entry Thieves and Jake In Progress, a one hour drama with strong comedy elements that debuted in 2005.
Jake In Progress stars Stamos in the title role as a successful New York City publicist who reexamines his approach to women, that is to say, his womanizing.
Even a terrific supporting cast did not provide enough fuel to let Jake progress on his journey of finding his other half, his soulmate, his counterpart. Wendie Malick of Just Shoot Me and Dream On plays Stamos' boss.
After a guest spot on Friends in 2003, Stamos joined the cast of NBC's long-running drama ER as Tony Gates, Initially a recurring character, Gates became a fixture at Cook County General Hospital. Initially a paramedic, Gates became a doctor.
Stamos also appears in the 2007 HBO documentary Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project. He joins a roster of legendary interviewees, including the Smothers Brothers, Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Martin Scorsese, Regis Philbin, Jay Leno, Debbie Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Carl Reiner.
Stamos talks kindly about Rickles' impact on younger entertainers. He expands his comments to include others of Rickles' generation.
In a separate interview, Stamos' Full House co-star Bob Saget also appears on the documentary. And the two separately square off with some choice comments about each other. In essence, Saget claims that Stamos simply kisses the ring of Rickles, to put the phrase euphemestically.
John Stamos has a resume that is synonymous with television. One major hit in the form of Full House has not made him a one-hit wonder. Although his characters don't always know how to go about doing the right thing, they always want to do the right thing. They try. Which is just about all you can ask for.
New York City Cops
April 17, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
The New York City cop is a staple of television programming.
Naked City.
NYPD.
NYPD Blue.
Just three examples of the Big Apple’s representation on the television landscape.
While early visual evidence shows Hill Street Blues with a setting in Chicago, later dialogue used phrases to indicate a New York City locale. For example, upstate is a phrase frequently used by New Yorkers. An early episode uses the geographic phrase, East River.
Generally, though, the producers did not state a particular setting for Hill Street Blues.
Third Watch used cops and fireman as the major characters.
CSI: New York is the third version of CSI.
New York Undercover was a FOX offering in the 1990’s, geared to a younger audience with younger detectives answering to Patti D’Arbanville as the seasoned boss.
Law & Order debuted in 1990 and it’s still on the air with two other shows in the family: Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan, Elliot Stabler, Olivia Benson, Don Cragen, Ed Green, Anita Van Buren, Rey Curtis, and John Munch are some of the detectives in the Law & Order universe.
Richard Belzer originally played John Munch on Homicide and moved to SVU when Homicide ended.
NYPD Blue is another cop show with a long history. A breakthrough show in 1993, NYPD Blue launched David Caruso into the celebrity stratosphere. He landed with a thud when he left the show less than two years later. His comeback on CSI: Miami seems to make up for the prior lost opportunity.
Caruso’s departure opened the door for Jimmy Smits, Rick Schroeder, and Mark-Paul Gosselear to work alongside Dennis Franz, the actor who embodied perhaps the most dysfunctional cop in television history, Andy Sipowicz.
Frequently, the source of Andy’s strength was his relationship with his partners, allowing him to put self-destructive actions to rest: excessive drinking, sex with hookers, overtly acting defiant to his Lieutenant, Arthur Fancy because of racial attitudes.
Dennis Farina, the Chicago cop turned actor who made his big debut on Crime Story in the 1980’s, said that the most realistic depiction of police work was on Barney Miller.
Set in a Greenwich Village precinct, Barney Miller was a mixture of racial diversity, wry humor, and depth of characters -- detectives and perpetrators.
Barney Miller rarely went beyond the squad room during its run from 1974-1982.
In the last episode, Barney got his long-awaited and well-deserved promotion to Deputy Inspector.
The representation of New York’s Finest on television will surely continue in the 21st century.
But one thing remains the same, whether they use high-technology on CSI: NY or old-fashioned detective work on Law & Order, New York’s Finest have the tremendous task of catching the bad guys and making the streets safe.
david@davidkrell.com
The New York City cop is a staple of television programming.
Naked City.
NYPD.
NYPD Blue.
Just three examples of the Big Apple’s representation on the television landscape.
While early visual evidence shows Hill Street Blues with a setting in Chicago, later dialogue used phrases to indicate a New York City locale. For example, upstate is a phrase frequently used by New Yorkers. An early episode uses the geographic phrase, East River.
Generally, though, the producers did not state a particular setting for Hill Street Blues.
Third Watch used cops and fireman as the major characters.
CSI: New York is the third version of CSI.
New York Undercover was a FOX offering in the 1990’s, geared to a younger audience with younger detectives answering to Patti D’Arbanville as the seasoned boss.
Law & Order debuted in 1990 and it’s still on the air with two other shows in the family: Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Lennie Briscoe, Mike Logan, Elliot Stabler, Olivia Benson, Don Cragen, Ed Green, Anita Van Buren, Rey Curtis, and John Munch are some of the detectives in the Law & Order universe.
Richard Belzer originally played John Munch on Homicide and moved to SVU when Homicide ended.
NYPD Blue is another cop show with a long history. A breakthrough show in 1993, NYPD Blue launched David Caruso into the celebrity stratosphere. He landed with a thud when he left the show less than two years later. His comeback on CSI: Miami seems to make up for the prior lost opportunity.
Caruso’s departure opened the door for Jimmy Smits, Rick Schroeder, and Mark-Paul Gosselear to work alongside Dennis Franz, the actor who embodied perhaps the most dysfunctional cop in television history, Andy Sipowicz.
Frequently, the source of Andy’s strength was his relationship with his partners, allowing him to put self-destructive actions to rest: excessive drinking, sex with hookers, overtly acting defiant to his Lieutenant, Arthur Fancy because of racial attitudes.
Dennis Farina, the Chicago cop turned actor who made his big debut on Crime Story in the 1980’s, said that the most realistic depiction of police work was on Barney Miller.
Set in a Greenwich Village precinct, Barney Miller was a mixture of racial diversity, wry humor, and depth of characters -- detectives and perpetrators.
Barney Miller rarely went beyond the squad room during its run from 1974-1982.
In the last episode, Barney got his long-awaited and well-deserved promotion to Deputy Inspector.
The representation of New York’s Finest on television will surely continue in the 21st century.
But one thing remains the same, whether they use high-technology on CSI: NY or old-fashioned detective work on Law & Order, New York’s Finest have the tremendous task of catching the bad guys and making the streets safe.