Fat Actress The Complete First Season (2005) (Showtime-2005) “She’s not the same chick from Cheers, is it?” a cop asks in awesome wonder when spotting Kirstie Alley outside her lavish California home. Not too long after that, a parking valet asks her, “When is the baby due?” A black NBC executive observes, “she has an LA face … Continue reading
Dragnet 1967 Season 1 (1967-1968) (Universal-2005) It’s easy to be hard on Dragnet 1967, with its obvious squareness, its sexlessness, its lack of (intentional) humor and its blatant modesty. However, the only real weak link in its chain is its obsessive need to deliver an easy, uninspiring payoff. Each cop-n-criminal tale is a success story – no cold … Continue reading
Quincy M.E. Seasons 1 & 2 (1976-1978) (Universal-2005) During the opening credits of Quincy, M.E., Jack Klugman is giving a demonstration of his job to a bunch of uniformed LA cops. With the theme music swinging in the background, he somberly intones, “Gentlemen, you are about to enter the fascinating sphere of police work: the world of … Continue reading
TOM WOPAT STATE OF BLISS By Ronald Sklar Tom Wopat had the nerve to forge a solid show business career that boldly defied the odds. Born and raised among seven other siblings on a dairy farm in rural Wisconsin, he is now – you’ll never guess — a veteran Broadway actor and singer who has played … Continue reading
LINDA ELLERBEE HER WORLD By Ronald Sklar We’re always better off when we see the world through Linda Ellerbee’s eyes, and now we’re even more fortunate to get a taste of life with the help of her mouth. That infamous mouth – the one with the trademarked smirk that would wryly remind us “and so it … Continue reading
Entourage The Complete First Season 2004 (HBO Video-2005) Entourage moves like an entourage – messy, aimlessly, shark-like, looking for trouble and always finding it. The next great HBO series screeches up next to you and dares you to jump in the ride. According to this savvy show, it seems that The New Hollywood is nothing … Continue reading
Miracles The Complete Series (2003) (Shout! Factory-2005) The X-Files is responsible for some major changes in television. The moody, morose visuals and the supernatural scares of the show have set a template for many series that came in its wake. Thanks to it, the audience can see things that would have been impossible previously. (In the … Continue reading
STOOGES: THE MEN BEHIND THE MAYHEM (1994) Featuring Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard, Joe Besser, Edward Bernds, Lyla Budnick, Joe DeRita, Paul “Mousie” Garner, Ted Healy, Emil Sitka, Adam West and Billy West. Written by Paul E. Gierucki. Directed by Paul E. Gierucki. Distributed by Mackinac Media. 64 minutes. Not Rated. All … Continue reading
LISA MARIE PRESLEY NOW WHAT…? By Ken Sharp Throw out all your pre-conceptions and dispose of the unyielding weight of those unfair comparisons to her father, Lisa Marie Presley is the real deal. Her new CD, Now What is a strong collection of immaculately crafted, emotionally charged songs that showcase Lisa’s distinctive smoky voice and display her uncompromising … Continue reading
ALEXANDER PAYNE STAYING STRAIGHT WHILE MAKING SIDEWAYS by Brad Balfour With Sideways, Alexander Payne really proves he’s a true contender, not just the creator of smart, snarky idiosyncratic comedies but solid filmmaker who tackled humanity with aplomb. In this humorous on-the-road buddy flick, leads Paul Giamatti (failed writer Miles Raymond) and Thomas Haden Church (former hot actor Jack) grapple with Jack’s … Continue reading
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