Back in 1995, during my days writing for TV Guide Canada, I had a memorable encounter with Faye Dunaway. At the time, the Academy Award-winning actress had a reputation for being difficult; certainly on a set during a production but also in exchanges with reporters. “Good luck,” I was warned after landing the assignment. My
The death of comedy legend Bob Newhart July 18 had me scrambling for this “From the Vault” conversation with Bill Daily. This was recorded in May of 2014 with the interview arranged to cover the release of The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Series in a DVD box set from Shout! Factory. I also interviewed
Bob Newhart made me laugh so many times over the years, especially on his first hit TV sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78). I’ll never forget, therefore, the one time I made him laugh. It was at a Television Critics Association Awards presentation, at least a dozen years ago. I believe our group were bestowing
Looking for something you can really sink your teeth into on TV this summer? You need to plate up Barbecue Showdown on Netflix. It is the most delicious food porn, a sizzling cooking competiton for lean times. Vegans, avert your eyes. Things are about to get real. Have to admit I missed Season’s 1 and
Judas Priest. Not Lieutenant Hunter as well? The rash of former TV stars who have passed away in the last few days is alarming, especially considering another former reality show star came within a half inch or so of joining them. Passing away Friday, July 13 was James B. Sikking, part of the large and
What to make of Richard Simmons? Born in New Orleans in 1948, he was an overweight teen who shed pounds through diet and exercise. This led to his own weight loss clinic in Beverly Hills, Slimmons. The successful business was profiled on the TV show Real People and Simmons himself became something of a national
Welcome to a faster, higher, stronger podcast episode This week’s guest, Scott Russell, has medalled for years in Olympic Games coverage. He’s off to France for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, which runs July 26 through August 11. Russell will host the afternoon show, Bell Paris Prime, and he will remain host for CBC’s coverage
As a viewer, my first encounter with Shannen Doherty was on a gentle little NBC drama called Our House. The series aired 1986 to 1988 and starred Wilford Brimley, who specialized in playing grumpy old coots. In this series he played a grandfather who, after his son dies, takes the rest of his son’s family