Lee Majors Profile (TV Guide, Feb. 19, 1966)

This interesting article about Lee Majors—with no writer’s byline attached—appeared in the Feb. 19, 1966, issue of TV Guide. At the time, Majors was starring in ABC’s hit western, The Big Valley (1965 – 1969). My first real viewing experience with Majors was the silly but enjoyable The Fall Guy, which also aired on ABC, from 1981 to 1986. In this profile, Majors doesn’t lack confidence and while he had an admirable run on television, his hopes for an Academy Award have probably fallen away.

Stefanie Powers Profile (TV Guide, June 21, 1980)

This terrific article, by Sheila Benson, about Stefanie Powers appeared in the June 21, 1980, issue of TV Guide. At the time, Powers was starring, along with Robert Wagner, in Hart to Hart on ABC. A lighthearted mystery, Hart to Hart, found business magnate Jonathon Hart (Wagner) and his lovely wife, Jennifer (Powers)—also a high-flying writer—solving everything from murder and blackmail to jewelry theft and financial frauds. But it’s not the storylines that made Hart to Hart memorable. It was Stefanie Powers and her on-screen sparks with Robert Wagner. I watched Hart to Hart as a kid because my older sisters watched it. But it took adulthood for me to appreciate the coolness of the show and the allure of Stefanie Powers. [click the images for a larger view]

Syndicated Action Shows from the 1990s

Back in the ’90s cheesy syndicated action television series were everywhere. And man, I was a fan. One of my favorite channels of the era was Salt Lake City-based KJZZ, Channel 14. Its Saturday night lineup was Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Renegade, and the uber ridiculous but entertaining game show, American Gladiators. So when I saw this advertisement from an old issue of the Salt Lake Tribune (Nov. 7, 1993), I had to share. My favorites from the ad were Renegade, Time Trax—filmed in Australia with the cool premise of a cop from the future tracking down time fugitives in the USA of the 1990s—Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, and Cobra. I’ve always thought Baywatch was a turd and Acapulco H.E.A.T. is even worse. Maybe this Saturday night I’ll make a replay of those Saturdays evenings I gleefully watched away so long ago.

 

"Simon & Simon: Loser Turns Up Winner"

“Simon & Simon: Loser Turns Up Winner,” by Jerry Buck appeared in the May 8, 1983, issue of the Sunday Magazine in the Salt Lake Tribune. Essentially an interview with Simon & Simon (1981 – 89) creator, Philip DeGuere, Jr., it chronicles the series’ early years. My favorite part? Learning it started out life as Pirates Key—set on a mythical island in the Florida Keys.

 

TV Guide Interview with Tom Selleck: "I Don't Want to Look Macho" (1980)

 

“I Don’t Want to Look Macho,” by Arnold Hano, appeared in the Dec. 27, 1980, issue of TV Guide. The series premiered on Dec. 11, 1980 on CBS and so this interview hit print shortly after the Magnum, P.I. pilot aired. It’s an entertaining read, that discusses the changes Selleck wanted in the original script with a hint about Glen A. Larson’s exit and Donald P. Bellisario’s entry. But why should I tell you—read it below. [Click on the images for a bigger view]

"Noah Beery: More than an Actor" — The Rockford Files, 1979

 

This profile of Noah Beery Jr., which appeared in the June 24, 1979 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune, is a pleasure to read. I love that Beery and his family lived in an old motel and gas station at their 1,800 acre ranch and in Malibu while he was plying his acting trade. [Click the image for a larger view]

"I Was Meant to be Heavy" — Bill Conrad of Cannon, 1973

 

Did you say, Cannon? Yeah, I did, and this sweet write-up about William Conrad appeared in the December 16, 1973, issue of TV Week, included in the Salt Lake Tribune. While it’s not exactly an endorsement for the show, Cannon had its moments. Cannon aired for five seasons (1971 – 1976) on CBS. If you’ve never seen Conrad throw a clothes-line, you need to remedy it.   [Click the image for a larger view.]

"Janssen Tries Again": Harry O's Second Pilot

 

This morning I realized I needed some Harry O love. I found this marvelous little article published in the January 20, 1974, issue of TV Week, included in the Salt Lake Tribune. While Harry O was—and still is—a critically acclaimed private eye series it made it a scant two seasons. It was broadcast on ABC. [Click the image for a larger view]

Sometimes I Need to Know... NBC Line-Up, 1974

 

Sometimes I need to know what was on television during the week of September 9, 1974. This is from the Logan Herald Journal, (Utah) Sep. 9, 1974. KUTV Channel 2 was—at least in 1974—the Salt Lake City affiliate of NBC.

Masters of Horror: "Sounds Like"

I ran out of time over the weekend and was unable to get anything written for the blog, but I found this review I wrote and posted December 2007. I have a love-hate relationship with the Showtime series Masters of Horror. It is a rocky and uneven series--or was, since I think it is gone now. A few of the episodes are terrific while others are nearly unwatchable.

"Sounds Like" is one of the good episodes. I've watched it again since I wrote this review and it was just as entertaining and fun as it was the first time. The quiet scenes are the most interesting. They remind me how loud we are as a species. We drown our thoughts with racket and noise--music, television and our own voices--to keep a certain amount of sanity against our vast and uncontrollable environment. It is a great piece of television, and Brad Anderson has added another terrific film to his body of work: Transsiberian.

I watched an episode of Masters of Horror—a Showtime anthology series—a few weeks ago that has stayed with me. The title: “Sounds Like.” It was directed and written by Brad Anderson—he also directed the 2001 horror film Session 9; a film that really scared me, and absolutely terrified my girlfriend. His work since has mostly consisted of television episodes; he directed an episode of The Shield, Surface, and two episodes of HBO’s overrated series The Wire.

“Sounds Like” is a quiet film—it tells the story of Larry Pierce, a manager at a customer service call center who, at the death of his son, develops hypersensitive hearing. He can hear whispered conversations across crowded rooms; small sounds that we all ignore—dripping water facets, the clinking of glassware, nervous fingers playing on cloth and tables. He can literally hear everything, and at first it doesn’t bother him, but as the film progresses Larry becomes more and more isolated from the world. He is more an observer of his surroundings than a participant, and the crushing noise of humanity quickly threatens his sanity.

“Sounds Like” is a terrific film that drips with melancholy, isolation, rage, and a forbidding loneliness that exists in us all. Chris Bauer, who plays Larry, is perfect for the role. He exudes tired desperation. The sadness of the character seemingly haunts the screen, and as the film moves toward its climax the audience can’t help but feel a mixture of empathy and horror at what the man becomes.

Brad Anderson has created an atmospheric film that not only tells a great story, but also says something about society, loss, and the human condition. "Sounds Like" is the best episode of the very uneven Masters of Horror series, and very much worth the price of rental.

Breaking Bad

My wife and I finished the first season of the television series Breaking Bad last night; all seven episodes. Not nearly enough. Breaking Bad is the best episodic program I've seen on television in the last few years. It is the story of Walt White, a father, husband, and public school science teacher. In the opening episode he is diagnosed with lung cancer and the rest of the story--the season--chronicles Walt's attempts to leave his family something.

Walt's wife is pregnant and his son is handicapped. He left a successful career as a research scientist to teach and he doesn't have much except a crummy old Pontiac Aztec and an unfulfilling job. He doesn't have money, respect, or any other damn thing. He doesn't care what happens to him, but he is terrified at what will happen to his family after he dies.

Breaking Bad is a wonderful mix of comedy and drama. Walt is perfectly portrayed as the aggrieved protagonist by Bryan Cranston. He unveils a character who is much more than a victim. He is a man who has played by the rules his entire life and now, when the unfairness of everything crashes down, he chooses to do something about it.

What really makes Walt and the show work is that Walt discovers he likes taking control of his destiny. He finds it empowering and very fulfilling, which creates an interesting tension between law and order and survival. A tension that tightens with each act and episode.

The journey is painful, embarrassing and voyeuristic. The audience is part of the family and the often uncomfortable scenes of a family dealing with death are chilling and dry, but the death and depression are accompanied by a desperate and dark humor that soften the edges just enough. Breaking Bad is simply awesome, and it very nearly makes me want to order cable.

Cannon

I discovered a new television series yesterday. It isn’t currently in production, but it is new to me. It stars William Conrad—the guy I clearly remember from Jake and the Fatman (he was the Fatman)—and it was produced from 1971 to 1976; according to IMDB there were 120 episodes. The title: Cannon.

Frank Cannon is a former cop turned private eye who is esteemed as one of the best and most expensive in Southern California. He loves food, and amazingly does his own leg work, most of it in a gigantic Lincoln Continental. He talks to the witnesses, scouts the locations and gets thumped once or twice an episode doing one or the other. The storylines, of the few episodes I’ve watched so far, are top-notch. The mystery is intriguing, the action solid, and it is cemented together with a good deal of humor.

The amazing thing—besides Cannon being a terrific show—is that each episode runs about 50 minutes; a little better than the 38 to 43 minute shams the networks are producing today. The shows that demand TiVO to watch without cursing the advertisers and producers, no matter how good it is. Was that a rant?

The Outer Limits -- Main Theme

I’m probably going to get grief from this, but I’m a fan of The Outer Limits television series from the mid-1990s—I would probably be a fan of the original series, but I haven’t seen more than an episode or two.

The new series ran for seven seasons—from 1995 to 2002, according to IMDB. It, like Twilight Zone, was an anthology-type science fiction television series that had a good share of terrific episodes, and a smattering of forgettable episodes. It ranged from its science fiction roots to horror, and maybe what could be called urban fantasy. It featured recognizable actors like Robert Patrick, Amanda Plummer, Frank Whaley, Ryan Reynolds, William B. Davis—from the X-Files—and so many more that I could fill a book with them.

The point? I found the opening credits on YouTube today and thought it was cool all over again. Enjoy.

Veronica Mars -- Main Theme

Veronica Mars was one of the better P.I. shows on television over the past few years. It has been described as an updated and modern Nancy Drew, but the character and the show is so much more. It is admittedly a teenage show, but the storylines, direction, and writing holds up well enough so that anyone can and should enjoy it. Unfortunately Veronica Mars was canceled after its third season—the season that ended last spring, and so now all we have are the DVDs. Here is the introduction for season one. Enjoy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- Main Theme

I don't know if I should admit this, but I'm big a fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series; the first three seasons were terrific. The characters were well drawn, fun, and very likable. The plotlines ran from the usual--classical horror and science fiction fare--to something more original, and then there is Buffy. Who could ask for a better protagonist? She was tough, vulnerable, and super cool.

Here is the opening credit sequence from the second season.

Nowhere Man -- Main Theme

It's the first day of my last semester, and to cheer me up--I also just looked at the syllabus for my Corporate Income Tax class and so I really need cheering up--I took a cruise through YouTube, and of course found something pretty darn cool.

In the mid-1990s the fledgling network UPN green lighted a series called Nowhere Man. It starred Bruce Greenwood, and it was one of the coolest shows on television. I watched every episode when they originally aired, and then waited patiently (I only threw two or three tantrums) for its release on DVD. Unfortunately it only made it one season, and the conspiracy theory I started about the lost season two being released is nothing more than a vicious hoax.

This clip includes the introduction as well as the end credits. Enjoy.

Painted Lady

I generally don’t review much film, but every so often I see something that feels a little special, and obscure—most movies and television get so much publicity that I don’t know how, or what, to add to the conversation. This past weekend I watched an older—it was originally aired in April and May of 1998—Masterpiece Theatre mini-series titled Painted Lady. It stars Helen Mirren—who captured my imagination in her role as DCI Jane Tennison in the Prime Suspect series—and Iain Glen. It was written by Allan Cubitt, and directed by Julian Jarrold.

Helen Mirren plays aging blues singer Maggie Sheridan—Sheridan was one of the most popular blues singers in the 1960s, but she has faded away with a long trail of drug abuse, hard living, and depression. Maggie is penniless and living off the goodwill of Sir Charles Stafford. Sir Charles and his son Sabastian took Maggie in after a failed suicide attempt, and she now lives in the guesthouse on the Stafford estate. She is relatively happy, and even recording again when one night a robbery in the main house goes wrong. The robbers want the artwork hanging on the walls, but Sir Charles interrupts them, and they gun him down.

It doesn’t take long for Maggie to realize that nothing adds up in Sir Charles’ murder, and she doesn’t trust the police with her suspicions. Maggie's suspicions lead her the long process of uncovering what really happened that night. In the course of her investigation she goes undercover as an art dealer, faces brutal criminals, finds heart-breaking betrayal, and finally discovers the truth she is seeking, and it is much more than she had ever anticipated.

Painted Lady has the feel of a novel. Its running time is more than three hours, and the plot moves along swiftly while each character—specifically Maggie and Sabastian—are developed into full and likable people. The mystery has the feel of something you would read in a Dick Francis novel. We get a view into the art world—something I know very little about—as well as the world of professional musicians. The mystery is also strong: the early whodunit of Sir Charles Stafford unravels to reveal much darker and more sinister plots. It kept me guessing until the end, and when it was done I actually wished there was another episode.

I don’t know how much the DVD of Painted Lady costs—I checked it out from my local library—but I do know it is, at a minimum, worth the rental fee, or better yet looking for in your local library. I enjoyed it very much, and it reminded me just how good some of the mysteries on PBS are.

The X-Files -- Main Theme

I loved the first several seasons of the The X-Files. It was new, interesting, and it hovered on the edges of several terrific genres--including two of my favorites, horror and science fiction. It seems like it was the show just a few years ago, but as I watched its introduction I couldn't help but think it looked dated. Although it still got me excited. I may have to break my season one DVD set out and watch an episode tonight.




When I was doing a random search for the The X-Files on YouTube I ran into a teaser for the upcoming film. I was dubious at first, but I did a quick search on IMDB, and sure enough. According to IMDB it is scheduled for a 2009 release, but this teaser says it's scheduled for release in 2008. Which is right? Beats me. Enjoy.

The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. -- Main Theme

I've been thinking about westerns more than usual recently—check out the discussion going on in the Dwindling Supply of Westerns post from last week, and join in if you are so inclined. And, I have been watching The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. on DVD. Brisco is a guilty pleasure. It is part western, part science fiction and all goofy fun. The intro is terrific. The music never fails to get me excited, and here it is. Enjoy!

Time Trax -- Main Theme

Time Trax was a syndicated television program in the early-1990s. It aired, at least in my market, on Saturday evening for two seasons--44 episodes. It was a fun little science fiction program similar in atmosphere and content to Quantum Leap. It was about a cop from the future who is sent back in time--the early-Nineties--to catch and send back criminals who had fled prosecution in their own time. It could be a little cheesy, but I liked it.