“We didn’t create the wave; we’re just surfing the wave.” So says FX Networks Chairman John Landgraf, the guy who coined the phrase “Peak TV” five or so years ago. He doesn’t always sound like John From Cincinnati, or the creator of that series, David Milch. It is just that Landgraf is a thoughtful fellow
Many of the TV icons I grew up with are dropping like flies. Poor Tony Dow, for example. The Leave it to Beaver brother clings to life after already being declared dead in many premature on-line reports. It’s wonderful, then, to celebrate the impressive and productive longevity of Norman Lear. The producers of such shows
Dusty Saunders, who passed away early this week at 90, started working as a copy boy at the Rocky Mountain News 1953. He worked for the Denver newspaper, which doesn’t exist anymore, for 56 years. Almost all of that time he wrote about television. He started before that was really a beat; he had to
When it comes to ratings and putting today’s television landscape in context, I always call on the Programming Insider himself, Marc Berman. The New York native has been a friend and colleague since he began attending the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual network press tours in 1999. Back then, Marc was reporting for Mediaweek; before that,
Come on down Canada, says Phil Keoghan. The New Zealand-born host of The Amazing Race is throwing the doors open to any Canadian who wants to prove themselves on his other show, Tough as Nails. Canadian citizens 21 or older can now apply to be on the CBS series, which will be retuning next season
Is the world ready for a kinder, gentler Amy Schumer? The 40-year-old comedienne broke big a dozen or so years ago, dishing fearlessly on her own sex life in ballsy comedy specials such as “Inside Amy Schumer” and Comedy Central roasts. By the time she wrote and starred in “Trainwreck” in 2015 she was a
When film fans think of Sally Kellerman, the first image that comes to mind is generally of her screaming out of the shower in Robert Altman’s movie version of “M*A*S*H” (1970). While that part earned her an Academy Award nomination, she stood out in many other roles, big and small, over a six decade career
Court will be back in session when Law & Order returns Feb. 24 on NBC. The series upon which executive producer Dick Wolf built an empire is returning after a 20 year run and then being “paused” since 2010. NBC ended their Television Critics Association virtual press session Friday with a Law & Order panel.