One of my favourite interviews ever was with Hugh Wilson. The Florida native just sounded like fun on the phone, and generously shared his memories of creating and working on a show I adored in my college days, WKRP in Cincinnati. Sad to report, that Wilson passed away last Sunday at his home in Charlottesville, Va. He was 74.
Now and then, a bit of what matters most — business-wise — is dropped off in the mail box. Today this unexpected package arrived: Carl Reiner’s latest book, “Too Busy to Die.” The title came to Reiner after he complained to his pal Mel Brooks that he was at loose ends after finishing his latest project.
The 2018 winter TCA press tour is coming to a sleepy end this week. PBS shuts things down with a panel featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy on Wednesday. The usual “death march with cocktails” was more “with Sominex” this January as overall energy levels seemed down among participants not starring in a re-boot of Roseanne.
PASADENA, Ca. — Dark dramas and morally ambiguous characters have been pushing the envelope on television since The Sopranos and The Shield. Comedies, too, have never been darker, including a few being promoted here at the winter TCA press tour. Former Saturday Night Live player Bill Hader, for example, sat before critics Thursday to help showcase Barry,
PASADENA, Ca. — Are music talent based reality shows still something to sing about? It’s a topic being kicked around in the US and Canada this week. During the current winter TCA press tour, there was a press conference Monday promoting ABC’s revival of American Idol (featuring returning host Ryan Seacrest along with new judges Katy
PASADENA, Ca. — Monday was that point in press tour when somebody almost had to toss a hand grenade to wake up the room. Enter Roseanne Barr. The comedienne — now 65 with six grandchildren — was at TCA to promote the re-boot of her classic sitcom of the late-’80s and ’90s, Roseanne. She and co-stars
Who didn’t like Jerry Van Dyke? Dick’s banjo-playing younger brother never failed to warm up any TV show or movie. He passed away Friday at his ranch in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was 86. I was fortunate to interview Van Dyke on a few occasions, once on the phone. At the end of that conversation, he kindly volunteered
Rose Marie died over a week ago on Dec. 28, and I’ve been searching for my cassette tape of our interview ever since. The interview, over the phone, occurred probably 14 years ago at the time The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited — Carl Reiner’s coda to his classic ’60s sitcom — aired on CBS. I remember