I have a lot of time for Troy Reeb. Last month, when the opportunity arose to speak with the top programming executive at Corus Entertainment about Global Television’s 50th anniversary, I quickly jumped at the chance. Mr. Reeb is generally readily accessable to reporters and, as a former on-air correspondent for Global News, is articulate,
My Television Critics Association pal Alan Sepinwall is the main voice behind the latest list of the Best TV shows of all-time as compiled by Rolling Stone magazine. Before he became Rolling Stone’s TV critic, Alan used to work for the New Jersey Star-Ledger. That’s the same newspaper that was always thrown at the bottom
Estelle Harris, who passed away April 2nd at 93, will always be remembered for her role as George’s mouthy and haranguing mother Estelle Costanza on Seinfeld. For many viewers, Estelle Costanza became a morbid object of fascination. People had to know: how did George Costanza turn out the way he did? Her impact was so
NOTE: The following looks at mom’s from TV’s golden age. For a more contemporary (and diverse) look at TV mom’s, follow this link to a feature I wrote for Rogers Ignite. When we think of mom’s, we think of apple pie and picnics, lunches made before being shipped off to school – basically everything it
This festive Larry Fritz illustration graced the cover of TV Guide for the week of December 24, 1955–65 years ago this week. That was back when signals were pulled in from all over on rooftop antennas–for free. Back when there were TV listings magazines–which sold for 15 cents. Back when binging only took place at the
It’s sad nowadays when you wake up and see a favourite actor or comedian trending — and you can guess why. Jerry Stiller died Sunday at 92. (Read his obit in The New York Times.) The father of Ben Stiller, he was a Second City Chicago pioneer and, together with his wife Anne Meara, the
Podcaster Mike Boon, a.k.a. “Toronto Mike,” invited me back on his show Monday to “kick out the jams.” Mike, a fellow Michael Power grad, who, as he liked to point out, graduated from that high school many years after I did, invites all manner of media types over to his basement studio and quizzes us
There should be a rule against re-booting sitcoms that already lasted seven years after they stopped being funny. Murphy Brown ran for 10 seasons on CBS. The 1988 – 98 sitcom had a talented cast, led by Candice Bergen, and featuring strong supporting players, including Faith Ford, Charles Kimbrough, Robert Pastorelli, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud. Buffalo,