EPISODE LAUNCHES MONDAY MORNING: At brioux.tv, most podcasts deal with the people who make television memories. What about, however, people who collect TV memorabilia? We’re talking toys and games, trading cards, comic books, autographs and puzzles? Meet Canada keeper of every boomer’s childhood memories: Bruce Button (above). For close to 50 years, Button has been
This Wednesday, November 22nd marks the 60th anniversary of the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy. Sixty is a big number, moving the motorcade murder well beyond the first-hand memory range of most people on earth. I was just six at the time, but I sure remember it. I can still see the teacher
Is it not an odd coincidence that a series about an alien who can go back and forth in time premiered on one of the most notorious dates of the 20th century? Doctor Who launched on November 22, 1963. That same day in Dallas, Texas, U.S. president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Starting with Lyndon
Emmy and Golden Globe award winning executive producer Andrew Barnsley has his Schitt’s Creek trophies on display at his other office. That is where he presides as president of the Toronto Film School. The trophies serve as inspiration for the young TV and film students looking for a leg up in an industry that keeps booming
CBS announced Thursday that they will be saluting TV legend Dick Van Dyke with a special marking the occasion of his 98th birthday. The Mary Poppins star will be celebrated Thursday, Dec. 21, on “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic” (CBS; Paramount+). The two-hour special will take viewers back to the set of The
I was watching Monday Night Football off the U.S. ESPN/ABC feed when I happened upon this seasonal ad from Amazon. Amid all the hype for the new Beatles’ single, “Now and Then,” comes a commercial with an unmistakable, yet subtle, John Lennon melody from 58 years ago. Notes from “In My Life” are gently played
After six months of tough negotiations, the writers’ and actors’ strikes are over. How will these new labor agreements affect the future of television? Who better to ask than Mister John Doyle?It has been a full year since the distinguished Globe and Mail TV columnist retired. I spoke to him about six months ago for
I was asked on my first of several interviews upon hearing the news of Matthew Perry’s passing if there were any signs he would leave us so young. There were, of course, nothing but signs. There have been actors I’ve spoken with in the past who have died even younger, such as Cory Monteith from
Richard Moll, one of TV’s tallest series regulars ever, stood out for nine seasons on NBC’s “Must See” Thursday night sitcom Night Court (1984-1992). The 6-foot-8 actor passed away October 26 in California at age 80. Moll played bailiff “Bull” Shannon opposite Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Selma Diamond, Charles Robinson and surviving cast members Marsha
Does this house look familiar? It should if you grew up in the ’60s. It was the home of Samantha and Darren Stevens on Bewitched, a series that ended in 1972 — 51 years ago. Earlier this month, on a Friday the 13th, that house and several other beloved TV exterior sets seen on shows
Have you been looking for that annual Halloween perennial on TV, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? Forget searching for it on CBS, ABC or even PBS, all former homes. The Peanuts specials are all now available exclusively via streaming service AppleTV+. The good news is that they are all beautifully restored. The Halloween special
A few years back I spotted my postman Victor coming to the door so I went out to meet him. As he handed me my mail, he asked if I had anything to do with writing about television (probably guessed it from all the network mailers). I asked him what he was watching in this
I was showing a 16mm print of ABC’s 1978 Fall Preview reel to an audience in Hamilton, Ont., Saturday and there she was, Suzanne Somers, in all her Three’s Company glory. “I’ve only got one thing left to sell,” said Somers’ blonde bimbo character Chrissy in the clip, “and I was hoping to hold onto