riesen2b's blog-o-rama

MI 4: Ghost Protocol Trailer. Watch It Here.

2011-06-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I finally watched Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in "Knight and Day" on HBO since they were having a free preview. I thought that the movie was better than most critics gave it credit for. But, the one thing it left me desiring most was watching Cruise in a new Mission Impossible movie. Well, lo and behold the first trailer for the newest film of the IMF has just been released and this one looks like their toughest mission yet.

It seems that Ghost Protocol are code words where the government disavows any knowledge of the entire Impossible Mission Force and that they are then labeled as rogue terrorists. Without giving too much more info away, I'll just tell you to watch the video to see what is going to happen. A really well done trailer.

Along with Cruise, MI-4 also stars Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Paula Patton. Expect to see it in theaters during the Yuletide season on December 16, 2011. Here's hoping that it does well after the last one was a box office disappointment for Paramount, resulting in Cruise's relationship with the studio going south.

If you are interested in watching the original television series which starred Peter Graves, Martin Landau, and even Leonard Nimoy, you can order the complete series at Amazon.com by clicking on the below link:

Oh, You Gotta' Cut Loose! Watch The Trailer For Footloose!

2011-06-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

Coming in October is the remake of the film that made Kevin Bacon a star. Released in 1984 the original also starred Lori Singer. Of course I'm talking about Footloose, the story of a city that bans dancing.

This latest remake stars Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough. Hough was a former dancer on Dancing With The Stars, and Wormald has appeared in such films as Clerks II and You Got Served.

If you haven't seen the original, here's a quick plot primer: Kenny's character Ren moves from Boston to Bomont—a small Southern town where boogieing has been banned after a post-dance car crash claimed the lives of five local teens. But as Britney Spears says, you gotta keep dancing till the world ends. So Ren, with the help of love interest Ariel (played by Julianne), decides to fight the rule—taking on Ariel's preacher father in the process.

The trailer has been released at MTV, but you can watch it here.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Watch The Newest Trailer

2011-06-03T20:18:00.000-07:00

This prequel to Planet of the Apes shows how apes evolved to take over the planet. The monkey effects look excellent.

This description of the movie is provided by TrailerAddict.com:

A single act of both compassion and arrogance leads to a war unlike any other -- and to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The Oscar-winning visual effects team that brought to life the worlds of Avatar and Lord of the Rings is breaking new ground, creating a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence, and epic battles on which rest the upended destinies of man and primate.

Opening on August 15, 2011, the film stars James Franco and Freida Pinto.

A Look At CBS's Fall Programs For 2011

2011-05-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaCBS is for the most part maintaining status quo for their fall schedule next year, but there are a few possible gems in their fall lineup. Here is a look at some of them.

2 Broke Girls, Unforgettable, Person of Interest, How To Be A Gentleman, and The Gifted Man all have previews on the following video. I like that for the most part all the upcoming shows have something different to offer.

Other interesting notes about the CBS fall schedule is the move of CSI from it's long time Thursday night slot to Wednesday after Criminal Minds as well as the shift of The Good Wife to Sunday nights. Personally, I have never watched The Good Wife and quit watching CSI when Gil Grissom (William Peterson) left. Also, either CBS is either trying to rebuild Saturday night viewership by placing Rules of Engagement there, along with something they call Comedy Time, or they are tossing the show on there long enough to get enough episodes made so that the show will sell into syndication before killing it.

One last note, if you go to the CBS web page that is promoting these previews, you will be able to watch them, share with your friends, and enter a contest to win a 50" big screen HDTV. Go there by clicking on this link http://www.cbs.com/primetime/fall_preview_2011/previews/

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews

2011-05-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews Read Roger's review of the latest installment of the Johnny Depp pirate franchise. Don't have time to read the full review. I can summarize it here. This pirate ship has sunk.

Do You Have A Horrible Boss? Watch The Trailer For 'Horrible Bosses' To See What Not To Do!

2011-05-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

If you are like me there have been some bosses in your past that you absolutely hated. Luckily for me, for the past twelve years that hasn't been the case. But believe me, I have had some real lulu's, so much so that I can now say with shame that from time to time I wished them dead. Well, in this new comedy, Horrible Bosses, the characters in the movie not only wish them dead, they decide they are going to make them dead.

The film stars Kevin Kline, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Anniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, and Donald Sutherland. It's scheduled to open on July 8, 2011. The trailer looks hilarious. Watch it and see.

For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers...permanently. There's only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.

Trailer For Zookeeper Starring Kevin James.

2011-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

Kevin James stars in 'Zookeeper'. The animals at one particular zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman. The film also stars Rosario Dawson and Leslie Bibb with appearances by Adam Sandler and Sylvestor Stallone. It opens in theaters on July 8.

A Look At ABC's New Fall Programs For 2011.

2011-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

ABC is adding 11 new shows to it's fall lineup. Here are some sneak previews of those shows, starting with 'Charlie's Angels'.

Charlie's Angels stars Minka Kelly, Rachael Taylor and Annie Ilonzeh as the new Angels in the reboot of the 1970s series. It is scheduled for Thursday nights at 8 P.M.

Pan Am stars Christina Ricci, Kellie Garner and Margot Robbie as stewardesses in 1960s New York who navigate the skies and at the same time work as spies. This show will debut on Sundays after Desperate Housewives.

Work It, launching midseason, stars Amaury Nolasco and Ben Koldyke as two alpha males who pass themselves off as women in order to land jobs as pharmaceutical salesmen. Wasn't cross-dressing men done before with Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies. Don't hold your breath on this one.

Last Man Standing stars Tim Allen as a guy fighting for his manhood in a world increasingly run by women. If this isn't a hit I will be really surprised.

Once Upon a Time stars Jennifer Morrison as a woman whose son she gave up for adoption returns to bring her home to a town in which fairy tales are real. It will air on Sundays at 8 P.M.

These appear to me to be the most interesting of the group. If you want to see the rest of the previews you can click here to go to The Hollywood Reporter.

Seth MacFarlane Prepping 'The Flintstones' for Fox - The Hollywood Reporter

2011-05-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

Seth MacFarlane Prepping 'The Flintstones' for Fox - The Hollywood Reporter

B-Movie Actress Yvette Vickers' Body Discovered in L.A. Home After Several Months - The Hollywood Reporter

2011-05-02T23:45:00.000-07:00

B-Movie Actress Yvette Vickers' Body Discovered in L.A. Home After Several Months - The Hollywood Reporter

Based on the mummified state of her body, police believe that she could have been dead for nearly a year, the Los Angeles Times reported. Police don't suspect foul play, but the Los Angeles county coroner's office will determine the official cause of death. Read the full story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Michael Shannon to Play Villain General Zod in 'Superman: Man of Steel' - Hollywood Reporter

2011-04-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

Michael Shannon to Play Villain General Zod in 'Superman: Man of Steel' - Hollywood Reporter: "Michael Shannon as General Zod will face off against Henry Cavill’s Superman in director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel.

Warners Bros. announced Sunday that Shannon, who received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor for Revolutionary Road for his performance as a mentally-troubled man and who has also been seen as a stern federal agent in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, has been cast as Superman’s nemesis."

World's Largest Dinosaur Park Coming to King's Island In Ohio.

2011-04-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

The following information comes from the official King's Island website. King's Island is a theme park located just north of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Visitors to Kings Island will have an opportunity to step back in time to periods between 245 million to 65 million years ago when the world's largest animatronic dinosaur park debuts May 26, 2011. More than 60 life-sized dinosaurs will be on display in Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island, including 56 animatronic models, in a spectacular outdoor Jurassic forest setting.

The multi-sensory and interactive dinosaur park brings inspiration, science and technology together at Kings Island where guests will also hear the sounds and see the movements of 60-plus full-sized animatronic creations made to replicate nearly every feature of the dinosaurs. Each of the animatronic dinosaurs is hand-carved and covered with skin-like materials.

The highlight of Dinosaurs Alive! is the world's largest animatronic dinosaur, the Ruyang Yellow River dinosaur, which measures an incredible 72 feet long, 12 feet wide and 30 feet high! Other animatronic dinosaurs include the vicious looking Irratator and its cousins, the Baryonyx and the Spinosaurus, the lizard-like Stegosaurus, the meat-eating Tyrannosaurs Rex, three-horned Triceratops and the flying Pteranodon.

Sound interesting? Then watch this video:

AMERICAN ICON JOHN WAYNE'S COSTUMES, AWARDS AND DOCUMENTS IN FIRST EVER PUBLIC AUCTION THIS OCTOBER

2011-04-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

If you are a regular visitor to the blog-o-rama you already know that I am a huge John Wayne fan. Make that HUGE! When I saw this news release on his Facebook page I just had to post it for those who love The Duke and haven't heard about it.

Memorabilia from John Wayne's Personal and Professional Archives now being Cataloged by Heritage Auctions for Los Angeles Public Auction, Exhibitions in Dallas and New York

(The following news release came from the official John Wayne Facebook page.)

(Dallas, TX) April 5, 2011 -- The family of legendary actor John Wayne will be offering an expansive collection of never-before-released personal and professional memorabilia from the movie star's personal archives for public auction this fall. Among the items in the collection are one of the iconic black eye-patches worn by John Wayne in his 1969 Academy Award® winning role in True Grit, the cowboy hat he wore in the film's 1975 sequel, Rooster Cogburn, and more than 400 other costumes, scripts, personal documents and awards that will be available to fans for the first time.

John Wayne Enterprises (www.JohnWayne.com) has appointed Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com), the world's third largest auction house, to conduct the first ever single-owner auction from John Wayne's personal archive. Public exhibitions of the John Wayne collection will be held in Dallas, Texas, September 16 - 18, 2011, and in New York City, September 23 - 25, 2011. The auction will take place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and online, October 3 - 6, 2011.

"My father's fans were very important to him. He was open and accessible to them, and making these items accessible to the public is something that feels right," said Ethan Wayne, President of John Wayne Enterprises. "Museums have large collections of my father's personal property, and our family has had a chance to select and keep items sentimental to us. There is no need to keep this memorabilia locked away when it can be enjoyed by his fans."

"The John Wayne collection is a time capsule of classic Hollywood and U.S. history that has remained carefully preserved by his family since John Wayne died 32 years ago in 1979," added Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "We anticipate attracting a wide range of people to the auction, from serious collectors and loyal fans to movie fans and the simply curious."

Among the additional items in the auction are John Wayne's Golden Globe award for Best Actor for his role in True Grit; costumes from such movies as Sands of Iwo Jima and The Green Berets; and more than 50 movie scripts from such celebrated John Wayne films as True Grit, The Green Berets, Stagecoach, Rio Lobo, Hellfighters and The Sons of Katie Elder. Many of the scripts are annotated with John Wayne's handwritten notes.

Personal items include John Wayne's cowboy boots and cowboy hats; saddle and stand; personal correspondence with U.S. Presidents and Hollywood's biggest stars of the era; correspondence and awards related to his affiliation with the University of Southern California; John Wayne's driver's license, passport and American Express card.

Pre-sale estimates range from $100 to $50,000 each depending on the item. Items offered in the auction will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Wayne family and Heritage Auctions.

One of the eye-patches John Wayne wore in his award-winning role as "Rooster Cogburn" in the 1969 film, True Grit, is among the costumes, documents, awards and other memorabilia his family will offer to fans in a public auction to be conducted by Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) in Los Angeles and online, October 3 - 6, 2011.
Photo credit: Heritage Auctions.

One of the hats John Wayne wore in the 1975 film, Rooster Cogburn, is among the costumes, documents, awards and other memorabilia his family will offer to fans in a public auction to be conducted by Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) in Los Angeles and online, October 3 - 6, 2011.
Photo credit: Heritage Auctions.

The Golden Globe award John Wayne won for his role in the memorable 1969 film, True Grit; is among the awards, costumes, documents and other memorabilia his family will offer to fans in a public auction to be conducted by Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) in Los Angeles and online, October 3 - 6, 2011. Photo Credit: Heritage Auctions

If you are a big fan of John Wayne and want to take a look back at his life and career, as well as well as keep up with information like this article, go to Facebook and like his page at http://facebook.com/johnwayne

'Trouble Along The Way' starring John Wayne and Donna Reed (1953)

2011-03-21T22:23:00.000-07:00

I have watched a lot of John Wayne movies in my life. I have over 150 Wayne titles in my DVD collection. This is one that slipped past me as I had never even heard of it. I recorded this last week when it appeared on TCM and finally got around to watching it tonight. I found it to be an almost forgotten gem of a movie.

John Wayne is hired as a football coach to save a struggling college.

Besides John Wayne and Donna Reed, the film also stars Charles Coburn as the head of the college and Sherry Jackson as Wayne's eleven year old daughter. Jackson was also the precocious daughter on Make Room For Daddy.

Sherry Jackson would later go on to portray bombshells on shows such as Batman and Star Trek.

Struggling to retain custody of his daughter following his divorce, football coach Steve Williams finds himself embroiled in a recruiting scandal at the tiny Catholic college he is trying to bring back to football respectability.

This is certainly not your typical Wayne movie, but the roll is still typical John Wayne. Also appearing in the film is Chuck Connors and James Dean appears as an uncredited extra in the film, during a scene in the college chapel.

If you have never seen it you can watch for it to show up at another time on TCM or you can get the DVD at Amazon. You can also watch it instantly on Amazon for only 5 bucks It's a movie I'm sure you will enjoy. Also, if you buy it right now you get a copy of it on Amazon on Demand for free!

Supermoon! March 19, 2011 9:50 p.m. PDT

2011-03-19T22:54:00.000-07:00

Image by big-ashb via Flickr
Taken from my backyard in Las Vegas, NV, this is the supermoon that some wackos were predicting would cause an increase in massive natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The only disaster I've noticed so far is that my wallet is empty.

Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman Revealed! (Pic) - Hollywood Reporter

2011-03-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman Revealed! (Pic) - Hollywood Reporter

So, what do you think?

Super 8 Trailer - Will This Be The Summer's Blockbuster?

2011-03-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

Produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by J.J. Abrams, 'Super 8', which opens on June 10 has the potential to be the opening salvo of this summers blockbusters. Judging by this full-length trailer, it has a pretty good chance of being just that.

In case you're wondering what 'Super 8' is about, TrailerAddict.Com provides this description:

In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

Watch the trailer below and decide for yourself if this is on your must see list of summer movies.

Thor Feature Trailer - Trailer Addict

2011-02-17T19:48:00.000-08:00

Thor Feature Trailer - Trailer Addict: "The powerful but arrogant warrior Thor is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard and sent to live amongst humans on Earth, where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders."

This film looks to me like a winner. Thor stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman. It was directed by Kenneth Branagh. Get ready for THOR to invade your theaters on May 6. Watch the trailer below and then watch more trailers at TrailerAddict.com.

TCM Staff Members to Join Robert Osborne for TCM Employee Guest Programmers Showcase in March

2011-02-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

TCM Staff Members to Join Robert Osborne for TCM Employee Guest Programmers Showcase in March

Continuing a tradition of giving film fans the chance to celebrate their favorites, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is putting its own staff members in front of the camera for the TCM Employee Guest Programmers showcase in March 2011. More than 30 behind-the-scenes TCM employees will participate. Each employee will choose a film and join TCM host Robert Osborne to introduce it on-air.

Click on the link to read the entire story and to see the schedule.

'Star Wars'-Like 3D Holograms Coming to Smartphones, Tablets - The Hollywood Reporter

2011-02-10T21:04:00.000-08:00

'Star Wars'-Like 3D Holograms Coming to Smartphones, Tablets - The Hollywood Reporter: "Remember that scene in Star Wars where Chewbacca and R2-D2 play holographic chess? That technology is no longer in a galaxy far, far away."

You can read the full story at the Hollywood Reporter by clicking on the link. Isn't technology amazing?

Super Bowl Movie Trailers

2011-02-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaThe Super Bowl provided oodles of new TV spots for upcoming movies and we have them here. Watch all of them below:

KUNG FU PANDA 2

RIO

LIMITLESS

RANGO

DRIVE ANGRY 3D

COWBOYS & ALIENS

JUST GO WITH IT

PRIEST

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES

FAST FIVE

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON

THOR

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

SUPER 8

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

Hulu - American Grindhouse - Watch the full feature film now.

2011-02-06T22:06:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaHulu - American Grindhouse - Watch the full feature film now.
American Grindhouse is a 2010 documentary directed and produced by Elijah Drenner. The film made its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 13, 2010. The documentary chronicles the history of the American exploitation film from the days of Thomas Edison to contemporary films of the 21st century. The film features exclusive interviews with John Landis, Joe Dante, Jack Hill, Don Edmonds, Fred Williamson, Allison Anders, James Gordon White, Larry Cohen, William Lustig, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Judy Brown, Jeremy Kasten, Jonathan Kaplan, Bob Minor, Lewis Teague, David Hess and Fred Olen Ray. The documentary also features film historians Eddie Muller, Kim Morgan and Eric Schaefer. The narration is by actor Robert Forster. -source: Wikipedia

This is a terrific documentary. But be warned. Because of the very topic discussed here, there is a lot of violence and nudity in this film.

This documentary explores the hidden history of the American Exploitation Film. The movie digs deep into this often overlooked category of U.S. cinema and unearths the shameless and occasionally shocking origins of this popular entertainment.

Church Lady Dana Carvey Returns To Saturday Night Live

2011-02-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeDana Carvey returned as guest host to SNL last night and in one segment played one of his key characters, the Church Lady. Check it out below.

The show also had an appearance by teen heartthrob Justin Bieber. Below is a look at him.

Last night was also the return of Wayne's World with Mike Meyers returning to SNL for a skit with his former castmate.

'Cake Boss' Baker Sal Dies At 63

2011-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaSal Picinich, a baker on the popular 'Cake Boss' on TLC passed away Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 63.

Sal, born in Croatia, worked at Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey for 45 years before falling ill in 2009.

Buddy Valastro, the show's namesake "Cake Boss," referred to Picinich as a "second father," said Carlo's Bakery publicist Adam Bourcier.

A funeral will be held in New Jersey on February 4.

Oscar Spending: Win for Natalie Portman Could Mean $150 Million for Fox Searchlight - The Race

2011-01-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Oscar Spending: Win for Natalie Portman Could Mean $150 Million for Fox Searchlight - The Race

Read the article at The Hollywood Reporter. The costs of bringing a film to Oscar glory however, can cost dearly. The article is written by Stephen Galloway.

Full Moon And Howling Winds

2011-01-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

Thought I would take a picture of the moon and see how close I could zoom in. Well, the wind was blowing me around so hard that the video has a bad case of the jitters. Next time, I'll use a tripod.

Funniest Movie Trailer So Far This Year - No Strings Attached.

2011-01-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaTalk about a hilarious trailer. No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman fresh off of Black Swan, and Ashton Kutcher, fresh off of, well, Demi Moore, star in this movie which opens on January 21, about two friends who see if they can remain friends after stepping over the line.

As TrailerAddict.Com puts it,

In this comedy, Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) are life-long friends who almost ruin everything by having sex one morning. In order to protect their friendship, they make a pact to keep their relationship strictly "no strings attached." "No strings" means no jealousy, no expectations, no fighting, no flowers, no baby voices. It means they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, in whatever public place they want, as long as they don't fall in love. The question becomes- who's going to fall first? And can their friendship survive?

Watch the redband trailer:

In Memoriam: Hollywood 2010

2010-12-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaTurner Classic Movies brilliant tribute to the stars, directors, producers, and all those behind the scene that make Hollywood Magic, who have left us in 2010. I couldn't present it any better, so just sit back and watch what they have created.

Raising Hope - Toy Story

2010-12-21T02:16:00.000-08:00

A Blog-o-rama Christmas!

Cast From Raising Hope, Tuesdays on Fox

Raising Hope is the funniest new show of the year. It airs on Fox on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. This is another current show that I decided is just too good not to post.

The basic premise of the show is about a 23-year-old who must raise his infant daughter, conceived by a one-night stand, with the help of his flawed family after the baby's mother (who has killed multiple boyfriends) is given a death sentence and executed when the baby is only six months old.

The show stars Lucas Neff, Martha Plimpton, Garret Dillahunt, and Cloris Leachman.

The comedy is outrageous but at the same time the show is grounded in sentimentality and truth. If you have never watched this show, now is the time to give it a try.

In this Christmas episode, Burt and Jimmy decide to sell toys for holiday cash. Enjoy!

The Donna Reed Show - A Very Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

In the same vein as Father Knows Best, Make Room For Daddy, and all of the other late 50's and early 60's sitcoms, one show stood above the crowd simply by the star of the show, Donna Reed. Reed, for those who aren't aware, played the wife of Jimmy Stewart in "It's A Wonderful Life."

This terrific Christmas episode from the show's first season finds Donna fed up with how no one has true Christmas spirit. It first aired on December 24, 1958, at a time when there were 38 weeks of episodes in a TV season, which equated into fewer reruns. Another interesting fact is that back then half hour shows averaged about 26 minutes in length. These days you're are lucky to get 21 minutes of show in a half hour. More shows, less commercials. Wouldn't it be great if TV was still like that!
You can order the first season of The Donna Reed Show with this episode at Amazon.Com by clicking on the link to the left. They also have seasons 2-4 available as well.

Paul - Finally, A Movie About Me.

2010-12-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it really isn't about me. But it does have my first name so that is kind of like a badge of honor. That is, until you see who the character Paul actually is.

This is a sci-fi comedy that stars Simon Pegg, Sigourney Weaver, Seth Rogan, Nick Frost, and Jason Bateman. Two British comicbook geeks traveling across the U.S. encounter an alien outside Area 51. Paul, by the way, is the alien. This trailer is extremely funny and totally crude.

The film opens on Valentines Day 2011.

The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Alan Brady Show Presents

2010-12-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!
The Alan Brady Show Presents

The Dick Van Dyke Show is always a classic, and none could be more so than this Christmas episode.

The entire Alan Brady staff presents a Christmas show instead of the script turned in by the shows writers.

This episode first aired on Wednesday, December 18, 1963.

You can enjoy the entire series of The Dick Van Dyke Show by clicking the link on the left and ordering it a Amazon.com

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To You

2010-12-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

If this doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, I don't think anything will. Mariah Carey performs in her first Christmas special and it's a doozy.

Not only does she look gorgeous, but the choice of songs is fantastic. You could listen to this as well as watch it. Mariah, by the way is pregnant with twins. It seems her husband, Nick Cannon (Drumline, America's Got Talent) let the cat out of the bag.

Sit back, relax and enjoy this old-fashioned Christmas special that was originally shown on ABC and is now provided to the internet by Hulu.com.

It's not too late to get her new Christmas CD from Amazon. Just click the link on the left.

How Can You Help Make A Dream Come True?

2010-12-16T22:04:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaI must admit that I am not any where close to being at the top of the heap when it comes to volunteerism, being a good samaritan, donating to charities, or even helping an old lady across the street. Yes, when I was young I was a very bad boy scout.

However, on rare occasions, when the opportunity comes, I find myself willing to do whatever I can in the name of making life better for someone in need. And, this being the season of giving, I decided to do a post about someone that by all accounts seems to be very deserving of a very special wish that she has.

There is a page on Facebook entitled 'Get Cory Monteith to sing to Pamela Campbell Love on her birthday'. I found the page when one of my friends sent a request asking that I like this page. They are hoping that if there are enough likes on the page it will get noticed by the powers that be, whether Cory Monteith himself, Fox executives, or even someone from the cast and crew at Glee.

Cory is one of the cast members on the TV show 'Glee' and she is absolutely crazy about him. I think having him sing to her on his birthday is a pretty simple request.

From what I understand Pam has spent the last two years facing hard times after a robbery at work that left her hospitalized and surgery that she still hasn't recovered from. Financially, she has been on a terribly rocky road.

Yet, all she asks for is a song from Cory Monteith. Let's see if we can give it to her.

For most of you, all you would have to do is go to the Facebook page and click like. Of course there is always a long shot that someone from Fox or Glee or someone of national recognition could possibly read this post and do something more. You can get to the fan page by clicking on this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Cory-Monteith-to-sing-to-Pamela-Campbell-Love-on-her-birthday/167213623315217

Whatever, it is, let's try and get the number of likes up to an astronomical level and give Ms. Love the dream she deserves.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Amends

2010-12-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

Amends

With vampires being all the rage as of late, it would seem inappropriate to not include them in our celebration of Christmas. And what better way to do that than to post an episode of the all time best vampire series - Buffy!

So, what goes on in this offbeat holiday episode? As the Christmas holiday approaches, Angel is tormented by visions of his past victims, including Jenny Calendar, who wanted him to kill Buffy.

Watch this Christmas episode and fall in love with the series as I have.

And when you're finished, hurry and buy the entire series just in time for Christmas at Amazon.com

Thor - Enjoy This First Trailer.

2010-12-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Image by Big C Harvey via Flickr

It looks like the hokiness that I thought would be a Thor movie has failed to present itself, judging by this first trailer. It plays it straight with in your face action.

Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, Thor, which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant

warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It's while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol - Watch It Here!

2010-12-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Cover of Mr. Magoo's Christmas CarolA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

Before 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer', 'A Charlie Brown Christmas', 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas', and all of the hundreds of other animated Christmas specials that you can think of, one name stands alone as the first prime time animated Christmas special. That, my friends, would be good 'ole loveable, crotchety, near-sighted Mr. Magoo, voiced perfectly by irascible Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island).

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol is a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous short story A Christmas Carol. It was the first animated holiday special ever produced specifically for television, originally airing in December 1962, and the only one until Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was first shown in December 1964.

Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol was produced by Henry G. Saperstein, the UPA animation studio in its declining days. Commissioned and sponsored by Timex, it first aired on NBC on December 18, 1962.

Audiences and critics consider this program to be a holiday classic, due in part to the original songs of the Broadway team of Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), who collaborated on the musical Funny Girl soon after their work on the special. As recently as December 25, 2006, many listeners told the National Public Radio program Talk of the Nation that Mister Magoo was their favorite Ebenezer Scrooge.

The story is the familiar Dickens tale with Mr. Magoo (voiced by Jim Backus) cast as Scrooge, and Gerald McBoing-Boing (in a rare speaking role) as Tiny Tim. The cartoon is written as a Broadway theatre play, divided into acts with an actual stage curtain. In the often-cut opening and closing, the near-sighted Mr. Magoo arrives at the theatre, takes his bows with the other actors, and accidentally demolishes the stage scenery at the end. The 19th century English characters Ebeneezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, etc., are thus not seen directly, but instead are portrayed by fictional American actors playing their parts. They generally have no British accents. The comic song "We're Despicable" is set at the grimmest part of the drama, and self-consciously breaks into the story. -Source: Wikipedia

Besides Jim Backus as Magoo/Scrooge, the show also had a celebrated cast of voice actors including Morey Amsterdam as James Brady, Jack Cassidy as Bob Cratchit, and Paul Frees as several voices including Fezziwig. Frees, in case you weren't aware was a distinguished voice actor in roles too numerous to mention. Perhaps his most memorable is as the voice of the narrator in Disneyland's and Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion.

Count me in as one of those who consider this the best of all Christmas specials. I remember actually seeing this when I was growing up at a local movie theater in a special Christmas afternoon triple feature for kids.

Amazingly for me, it is now on Hulu in it's complete, unedited version. And yes, here it is for you on the Blog-o-rama. So, if you haven't seen it scheduled this year on TV (I haven't) or don't already have the DVD, take the time to enjoy this treasure now.
Merry Christmas.

Glee - A Very Glee Christmas

2010-12-08T21:51:00.000-08:00

Image by Sweet One via FlickrA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

A Very Glee Christmas

I don't normally post Christmas shows from current shows when I do this every year. I enjoyed this episode of Glee last night so much that I decided to make an exception. This is what Christmas episodes are all about.

I won't give too much away except to say that sweet Brittany seriously believes in Santa Claus and it's up to Arte and the rest of the Glee Club to preserve that belief for her. Things get skewed when Brittany asks a shopping mall Santa to make it possible for Arte to walk.

Meanwhile Sue turns out to be a real life Grinch in a plot that can only be described as outrageous and hilarious. Her story plays out like the Grinch story.

Needless to say, this being the holiday season, the episode ends with nothing but happy endings.

If you have never seen Glee, it doesn't matter as this episode stands on it's own. If you do watch Glee and missed this one, you're in for a treat.

By the way, their Christmas song choices are great, with not only some traditional choices but some that we all love but are only heard on their respective shows, such as "The Island of Misfit Toys" from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" from of course, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy A Very Glee Christmas.

One drawback to posting episodes of new shows is that usually they are removed about five weeks after the show originally airs. So, if you came here after the holidays and the video is no longer available, well, there's always next year.

The Facts Of Life - Its A Wonderful Christmas.

2010-12-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

It's A Wonderful Christmas takeoff of It's A Wonderful Life in this Christmas episode of The Facts of Life, a 1980's TV show starring Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Garrett, a role that she originated on Different Strokes.

This episode is from 1987 and by that time Charlotte Rae had left, replaced by Chloris Leachman. The show itself however, was about four girls, each with their own different backgrounds and personalities, becoming inseparable friends when they are brought together at the prestigious Eastland School for Girls. Under the gentle guidance of housemother Mrs. Garrett, the girls face the trials and tribulations of adolescence as they hurry their way towards young adulthood.

In this episode, Santa plays Beverly's guardian angel in this "deadly" retelling of the Jimmy Stewart movie classic.

Unfortunately, Sony released this episode on the web as a minisode, in other words a fast five minute condensed version of the show. At least you get the gist of the episode and can enjoy a few laughs along the way. Enjoy!

So far, only the first five seasons of The Facts of Life are on DVD. You can begin your collection with seasons 1 and 2 in one collection for only 17 dollars by clicking on the link below.

Beyond Tomorrow - A Terrific Holiday Movie

2010-12-06T03:29:00.000-08:00

Cover via AmazonA Blog-o-rama Christmas!
I posted this film a couple of years ago during Christmas, but I enjoy it so much that I think it is worth another post.
I remember seeing Beyond Tomorrow (if you look for it on DVD you will sometimes find it retitled as Beyond Christmas) for the first time very late at night during one holiday season several years ago. Having never seen it or even heard of it, I didn't expect to watch it for long. But, within the first five minutes I was fascinated by it and stayed up extremely late, unable to turn off the set. Since then I've often wondered why this never became as big a hit as say, Miracle on 34th Street and It's A Wonderful Life. It's definitely a much more themed movie than Life. It kind of reminds me of another Christmas film, Holiday Affair, which starred a very young, gorgeous Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum. That film came out in the fifties and is another one you seldom hear of. But my guess would be that even fewer of you have heard of this film which was a 1940 American fantasy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland.

As described by Fancast.Com:

Harry Carey Sr., C. Aubrey Smith and Charles Winninger play three wealthy bachelors who have spent their lives wrapped up in themselves. Left all alone on Christmas eve, the elderly trio invite a couple of strangers to dinner: misplaced cowpoke Richard Carlson and pretty, but aimless, Jean Parker. Hoping that they've accomplished a bit of matchmaking, the three old duffers board a plane and head off to an important business meeting. The plane crashes, killing all three men. They return to their mansion as ghosts, only to discover that Carlson is making the same mistake they made: he's allowing his drive for success to override his affection for Parker. Feeling as though they won't be welcome in Heaven until they rectify this situation, Carey, Smith, and Winninger stick around to set things right.

Hope you enjoy watching this wonderful film. I would sure love to know your thoughts on it. Please take the time to leave a comment. You can get a colorized copy of this film as well as the original restored black and white version at Amazon.Com by clicking on the below link.

Time To Catch Up On The Movie Trailers

2010-12-05T01:37:00.000-08:00

I have to say that lately I have been derelict in my duty to post the newest movie trailers. It wasn't a matter of being lazy. It was the fact that all of the trailers that I watched failed to pique my interest. But in the interest of giving many of my readers what they want, I'm going to post a few of the newest trailers.

Starting with:

Hop
From Universal Studios, and the creators of Despicable Me comes Hop, the comic tale of Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker who accidentally injures the Easter Bunny (Russell Brand) and must take him in as he recovers. It will open in theaters on April 1, 2011. Besides Marsden and Brand, Hop also stars Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory (Penny).

Up next, and opening in theaters on January 7, 2011, is Season of the Witch, starring Nicholas Cage and Ron Perlman. When I first heard this title, I thought it was a remake of Halloween 3, which had that title as it's subtitle. Turns out I was wrong.

In Season of the Witch, Oscar winner Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman star in a supernatural action adventure about a heroic Crusader and his closest friend who return home after decades of fierce fighting, only to find their world destroyed by the Plague. The church elders, convinced that a girl accused of being a witch is responsible for the devastation, command the two to transport the strange girl to a remote monastery where monks will perform an ancient ritual to rid the land of her curse. They embark on a harrowing, action-filled journey that will test their strength and courage as they discover the girl's dark secret and find themselves battling a terrifyingly powerful force that will determine the fate of the world.

For the third year in a row Disney will be releasing a nature film on Earth Day which is on April 22, 2011. The latest film is "African Cats". And if you go see it during opening week Disney will make a donation to help protect the savannah where the cats are protected. Or something like that.

An epic true story set against the backdrop of one of the wildest places on Earth, African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother's strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion. Disneynature brings "The Lion King" to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill. An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild.

Looking for some sci-fi action? Arriving on March 11, 2011 is Battle: Los Angeles. This looks more like what we were expecting from the movie Skyline than what was actually delivered. I am posting two trailers here. The first one is the main trailer and the second is a shorter, follow-up trailer that actually gives more detail about the movie.

For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world – Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world's great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It's up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they've ever encountered before.

You would think that with a title like Black Swan you would be going to see an artsy-fartsy ballet movie. That is what I thought when I read about this film and it's Oscar worthy performance by Natalie Portman. After watching this next trailer, I have to put that thought on hold. This turns out to be an intriguing psychological thriller with a heavy dose of sexiness as well. Add Mila Kunis to the cast as the antagonist and you have all the makings of a great movie. Now watch this...

A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis).

And finally, for this post at least, we have a film that may or may not be a blockbuster. Opening in January which is generally the time for studios to dump their substandard movies on a weary public, this film just may break the mold. At least this trailer looks pretty fair. I'm talking of course about The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen. The Green Hornet has been around for decades, in comic books, radio, movie serials, and of course the beloved but short-lived TV series which tried to ride on the coattails of the campy Adam West version of Batman. It has achieved cult status by having had Bruce Lee co-star in the show as Kato.
This movie version looks like a blend of comedy and action with some pretty nifty high-tech gear and a great looking car.

Britt Reid (Seth Rogen) is the son of LA's most prominent and respected media magnate and perfectly happy to maintain a directionless existence on the party scene – until his father (Tom Wilkinson) mysteriously dies, leaving Britt his vast media empire. Striking an unlikely friendship with one of his father's more industrious and inventive employees, Kato (Jay Chou), they see their chance to do something meaningful for the first time in their lives: fight crime. But in order to do this, they decide to become criminals themselves – protecting the law by breaking it, Britt becomes the vigilante The Green Hornet as he and Kato hit the streets.

Using all his ingenuity and skill, Kato builds the ultimate in advanced retro weaponry, The Black Beauty, an indestructible car equal parts firepower and horsepower. Rolling in a mobile fortress on wheels and striking the bad guys with Kato's clever gadgets, The Green Hornet and Kato quickly start making a name for themselves, and with the help of Britt's new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), they begin hunting down the man who controls LA's gritty underworld: Benjamin Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz). But Chudnofsky has plans of his own: to swat down The Green Hornet once and for all.

You can see all of the latest movie trailers at TrailerAddict.Com That is where these trailers came from as well as the movie descriptions.

Babes In Toyland - Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves

2010-12-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

Babes In Toyland. There have been so many incarnations of this movie. The two that stick out most in my mind are the ones by Disney and another one that had Laurel and Hardy in it. This isn't one of those. This is the 1986 television film that starred Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves. I can't say that I had even heard of this one until I found it at Fancast.com.

Barrymore plays Lisa Piper, an eleven year old who takes care of her siblings and cooks for the family. As a result, she never has time to be a child and play with toys (no, this is not a Michael Jackson biography).

During a winter storm on Christmas Eve, the young girl is transported to toyland and things begin to happen. Just what are those things? You'll have to watch the movie to find out.

This film was directed by Clive Donner, director of What's New Pussycat? among others. He also directed the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol. The music is by Leslie Briscusse who also wrote the music (along with Anthony Newley) for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Having lived in Cincinnati and having relatives from their, I got a laugh at the first song in the movie which is about Cincinnati.
Hope you enjoy this holiday delight!

Arrested Development - Afternoon Delight

2010-12-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

A Blog-o-rama Christmas!

Arrested Development must have been an acquired taste because although it was very funny and most critics loved it, it never seemed to find an audience, even though Fox gave it three years to catch on. I admit that I was never one to watch it during it's original run, but have now found the joy of how entertaining it is, thanks to reruns and Fancast.Com. You can also watch it on Hulu.Com.

This is of course, their Christmas episode and was the sixth episode of season two.

At the Bluth Company Christmas Party, Gob gets upset and fires all the employees, forcing Michael to invite them all to a second party at the banana stand so he can rehire them.

Incidentally, Ron Howard (Happy Days, The Andy Griffith Show) was the executive producer on the show as well as the uncredited narrator of the show. Whether you are a big fan of the show, hated it, or have never seen it, you will certainly enjoy this episode.

You can also buy season 2 at Amazon.Com by clicking on the link below.

Chicago Hope - Christmas Truce

2010-11-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-O-Rama Christmas!
I used to really love watching Chicago Hope when it originally aired. This is their Christmas episode from December 11, 1995.

As Christmas approaches...Nyland and Hancock aid a wounded man trapped in a neighborhood under siege by gang members.

The show starred Mandy Patinkin as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger, a hot-shot surgeon with emotional issues stemming from the psychiatric condition of his wife (played by Kim Greist), who drowned their infant son. Adam Arkin plays Patinkin's colleague and best friend. Peter MacNicol and Hector Elizondo feature as the hospital's in-house attorney and director of medicine, respectively. Christine Lahti joined in the second season as a talented cardiac surgeon with a feminist chip on her shoulder, vying with Geiger for the chief of surgery position.

The show has never been released on DVD, but you can order an excellent soundtrack at Amazon.Com by clicking on the link below. You can't beat it for less than 2 bucks.

Green Acres - An Old Fashioned Christmas

2010-11-29T21:57:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaA Blog-o-rama Christmas!

In the last three years, I have never posted an episode of "Green Acres," as I didn't want to inflict pain on anyone. However, since I was able to find their Christmas episode, I decided to post it because whether you liked the show or not, this one was very funny. A description of this episode is below the video. This is episode 13 of season 2

Oliver is determined to have an old-fashioned Christmas, which includes decorating his own tree.

You can get that season very cheap at Amazon.Com by clicking on the link below.

A Jolly J-Team Christmas

2010-11-29T21:18:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

A Blog-o-rama Christmas Special!

Yes folks, here is another Christmas special for you to enjoy.

This one is from the animated show "Jackie Chan Adventures." It aired from 2000-2005.

This Christmas episode is entitled

"A Jolly J-Team Christmas."

Daolon Wong captures Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, and an Elf comes to ask for help. Tohru, Jade and Paco make Santa's deliveries for him, while Jackie battles Daolon and his evil snowmen.

Hope you enjoyed it! Keep watching for more

A Blog-o-rama Christmas

2010-11-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaChristmas In Wonderland
When two kids doing their family's Christmas shopping at the mall find a pile of hidden money, they go on a shopping spree and must run from a crook.

Director: James Orr
Writers: Wanda Birdsong Shope, James Orr
Stars: Matthew Knight, Chris Kattan and Cameron Bright

George Clooney As The New Napoleon Solo?

2010-11-17T23:15:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaIt appears that since Steven Soderbergh has signed on to direct the movie version of the sixties spy show The Man From U.N.C.L.E., George Clooney is now eyeing a roll in the film. Clooney and Soderbergh have worked together on Ocean's Eleven and it's two sequels.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the two have already met and talked with each other about the possibility of him playing Napoleon Solo, portrayed in the television series by Robert Vaughn. According to Playlist, the film will retain the 1960s setting of the original series.
The project is only in the early days of development and both Clooney and Soderbergh are presently busy with other projects. Soderbergh is shooting Contagion, a thriller starring Matt Damon, Jude Law and Marion Cotillard, and is planning on shooting a Liberace biopic. CAA-repped Clooney, meanwhile, is prepping The Ides of March, which he is directing and starring in alongside Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti and Marisa Tomei. That film has a December 2011 release date.
Interestingly, the show was popular enough that eight movies were made of the T.V. show. Their titles are:
"To Trap a Spy"
"The Spy with My Face"
"One Spy Too Many"
"One of Our Spies is Missing"
"The Spy in the Green Hat"
"The Karate Killers"
"The Helicopter Spies"
"How to Steal the World"
Occasionally you can catch some of these films on TCM (Turner Classic Movies).
Here is the trailer for "The Karate Killers":

Personally, I think Clooney would make a good choice. I'm curious as to who would be considered for Solo's sidekick, Ilya Kuryakin, originally played by David McCallum (Ducky on NCIS).
Care to see the original? You can see the entire series or a made-for-tv movie by clicking the links below and going to Amazon. It really was a great series.

Barnabas Collins Coming To The Big Screen In The Form Of Johnny Depp.

2010-11-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaAn April 2011 start date has been announced for the filming of "Dark Shadows," directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as the legendary TV soap character Barnabas Collins. Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971.

The show had humdrum ratings until the second year when Barnabas Collins was introduced as a vampire. Dark shadows was unique in daytime soaps with it's introduction of not only vampires, but also werewolves, ghosts, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel (both into the past and into the future), and a parallel universe. Although considered campy by most who see it now, it still has a huge following among fans.

Depp will portray Barnabas Collins, a vampire living in a Maine manor who is searching for his lost love. Supposedly, Depp was obsessed with the show when he was growing up. Admittedly, so was I. Director Tim Burton as well as Madonna were also huge fans of the show. Wonder if she will be announced as one of the stars in the near future?

James MacArthur Of Original Hawaii Five-O Dies At 72

2010-10-28T21:19:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaThis is a bad month for classic TV stars. Besides Tom Bosley (Happy Days) and Barbara Billingsley (Leave It To Beaver), now we learn that James MacArthur of the original Hawaii Five-O has died. For 11 seasons MacArthur portrayed Det. Danny Williams on the CBS hit, which has been remade into a new series this year.
The phrase "Book 'em Danno!" has become one of the most popular lines in TV history and is even used as a tribute in the new series.
MacArthur, incidentally, was the son of actress Helen Hayes, considered the Queen of the Broadway theater and most memorable as the old lady in the movie "Airport."
For a more detailed obituary and details on MacArthur's long stage and screen career, go to The Hollywood Reporter.
You can also watch episodes of the original Hawaii Five-O at the CBS website by clicking here.

First Look At The Sound Of Music's Von Trapp Family Reunion

2010-10-27T22:53:00.001-07:00

First Look At The Sound Of Music's Von Trapp Family Reunion

Having Your Child Become A Star Could Put You And Them In The Poor House

2010-10-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ciara Bravo a star of Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush

If you have ever thought that your child was talented enough to make it as an actor on TV or in films, be careful what you wish for. If you see great big dollar signs in your eyes if your child was to land a gig on say Nickelodeon or Disney, think again. In Hollywood terms, you may as well call it slave labor.
The Hollywood Reporter has a great article on their site called, 'Why the Business of Child Actors Isn't Child's Play.'
On the subject of money they state:

A child booking a handful of movie roles and TV spots every year, along with a voice-over spot every month, might make $50,000-$60,000 a year.
Kids who are regulars on a Disney Channel or Nickelodeon series don't fare much better, typically making $5,000-$7,000 a week on a 22-week series. On top of that, Disney and Nickelodeon usually have clauses that block kids from working outside the series.

Worse than that would be if you look at what you could essentially say is their net pay. The Hollywood Reporter goes on to say:

Then there are the expenses. Lacking the classic adult deductions for home ownership and dependents, kids often lose as much as 40% of their pay upfront to taxes, on top of the 10% that goes to their agent along with 15% to their manager and 5% to their attorney, if they have them. Then there's all the money spent on union dues, head shots, acting classes, gas for driving to auditions and, for those from out of town, rent for a hotel room or an apartment.

The article has much more info. You can read it by going to The Hollywood Reporter. And if you are still insistent on making your child a star, order the book at left from Amazon.Com.

Piranha 3D Sequel Gets Title - Piranha 3DD (Double D)

2010-10-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Image from Piranha 3D

Probably as a homage to the numerous exposed breasts in this summers horror remake, Piranha part two, which was greenlighted just days after being released (even though it had a less than spectacular box office opening) is being called "Piranha 3DD." Whether that occurred because of it's 75 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes or the fact that it easily recouped it's 24 million dollar budget Dimension Films is rushing the sequel into production.

SDM | Piranha 3D Video of Piranha 3D posted on Dailymotion.
Video is not safe for work and is rated R.

The studio has hired Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan - the writers behind "Saw 3D" - to handle the script and John Gulager to direct. All three worked on the horror film "Feast" which was the winner of one season of "Project Greenlight." The film may be ready to open in theaters next summer.
I didn't have the chance to see this but my brother and his son both thought it was a very good movie. My brother, incidentally has a movie review blog titled "Clyde's Movie Palace." You can visit his site by clicking here. Until Piranha 3D is released on video in January, you can watch the original by clicking on the link to your left.

Halloween Horror Theater 2010 - "Brain of Blood"

2010-10-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Brain of Blood (1972), also known as The Creature's Revenge, The Oozing Skull, and The Undying Brain, is an American horror film directed by Al Adamson and starring Grant Williams, Kent Taylor, and Reed Hadley. The film was shot in one go and is the only of Hemisphere Productio's films to be filmed in the United States. It was also Hadley's last film appearance before his death in 1972.
Amir, the benevolent ruler of Kalid, is dying, but there is hope. Freshly deceased, he is flown to the United States where Dr. Trenton transplants his brain into the body of a simpleton in a classic "assistant got the wrong kind of body" plot line. Dr. Trenton has a few nefarious plot twists of his own in mind, and then there's the thing with the dwarf and the women chained in the basement. It's up to Amir's friend Bob and wife Tracey to try and salvage this tale.

Human brain transplants and blood-soaked operations highlight this saga filled with blood, shock, and sheer fright, featuring mad doctor antics, an evil dwarf ("Freaks'" Angelo Rossitto), and a pure gold drive-in cast including Kent Taylor (The Mighty Gorga), Grant Williams (The Incredible Shrinking Man), Regina Carrol (Dracula vs. Frankenstein), and Vicki Volante (Horror of the Blood Monsters). Inspired by the wildly popular success of the "Blood Island" series, this follow up (shot in Hollywood) follows the tradition of those Philippine favorites with cult filmmakers Al Adamson and Sam Sherman bringing you an unforgettable whirlpool of horror featuring a deformed and lumbering monster, a basement filled with chained women, and an entire country trapped in this horrific struggle!
As Halloween approaches, enjoy another fine schlocky horror movie, this time courtesy of Hulu.Com and the blog-o-rama.

"Happy Days" Father Tom Bosley Dies At 83 - Second TV Family Martriarch In A Week

2010-10-19T17:26:00.001-07:00

Image via WikipediaA few days ago Barbara Billingsley passed away. She was the mother that everyone growing up in the late fifties and early sixties wished they had, portaying June Cleaver, the mother of Wally and Beaver in "Leave It To Beaver." I didn't do a post on it because, as a general rule, I don't post obits since so many other news outlets and blogs already do and I don't feel I have anything new to offer. But today, we learned that another TV matriarch, embedded in the psychic of the viewing public has passed away as well.
I'm speaking of course of Tom Bosley, father to Richie (Ron Howard) and Joanie (Erin Moran) Cunningham, and respectfully referred to as "Mr. C." by Fonzie (Henry Winkler) on the long running ABC hit "Happy Days."
Being of the age when I grew up with both shows, (although for Beaver it would be mostly as daytime reruns) this almost feels like losing a close relative in the family, especially since when a loved one dies you are left with only memories of them. Losing TV icons that you grew up with is the same when you think about it because when you regularly watch a show you like it is as if they have become a part of your life. And once again, even though you didn't know a performer in real life, you feel that through the shows they appeared in, they were actually a part of your life.
And that is why I decided to post this article on Tom Bosley. My memory of his portrayal of Howard Cunningham is that of a father almost everyone wished for.

Thomas Edward "Tom" Bosley was born on October 1, 1927 in Chicago. Besides "Happy Days", he had roles as the sheriff on "Murder She Wrote" with Angela Lansbury and as the title character on "Father Dowling Mysteries" as well as the title role in the Pulitzer Prize winning "Fiorello!"
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the family said that Bosley died of heart failure. His agent, Sheryl Abrams, said Bosley also was battling lung cancer. Services for the actor will be private. The family also asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society on his behalf.
"Happy Days", incidentally ran for more than 250 episodes, airing on Tuesday nights from 1974-84. It catapulted Henry Winkler to fame as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarella, and was number one in the ratings from 1976-77. TV Guide ranked Howard Cunningham at No. 9 on its list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" in 2004. Several hit series were spun off of "Happy Days," including "Laverne & Shirley", "Mork & Mindy", and "Joanie Loves Chachi." Okay, so the last show wasn't exactly a hit, but it has lasted in the lore that is television. One last tidbit. The phrase "Jumping The Shark" was coined over a "Happy Days" episode in which Fonzie skis over a shark tank in response to a challenge. Read all about what the meaning of it has become since by clicking here.

New Images For "True Grit"

2010-10-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaParamount has released some new pictures for their blockbuster film "True Grit", directed by the Coen Brothers and starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. Opening on Christmas Day, this film will closely follow the Charles Portis novel of a young girl who hires U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn to track down the man who murdered her father. The story was originally filmed in 1969 starring John Wayne as Cogburn in a role that finally landed him an Academy Award for best actor.
Most critics at the time said that he received the award more as a recognition of his body of work rather than for the role he played. I have always disagreed with that opinion and truly think that this was an Oscar-worthy performance. I'm wondering if Oscar gold can strike twice for the same movie as Bridges seems to present a compelling portrayal of the same character Wayne played. Judging by the trailers that have been released so far, that thought holds promise.
Here are the new images:

If you haven't yet seen the trailer, here it is again:

USA Today has an article in today's paper and on the web that takes a first look at the movie. Read it by clicking here. There is also an article on newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. You can read that article here. Both stories are pretty interesting. Interesting enough, even though no one has seen her before, you can already vote for her for one of the People's Choice Awards. Talking about jumping the gun. If you do want to vote for your favorite movies and shows and stars though, you can do it by going here.

TCM To Premiere Moguls And Movie Stars

2010-10-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaBeginning on November 1, TCM will air the first of a seven part documentary series called "Moguls And Movie Stars. It will be narrated by Christopher Plummer and will air on successive Mondays at 8 P.M.

Each episode will tell the story of the people, power and periods that formed the dynasty of Hollywood. The shows will span a period of Hollywood from 1889 to 1970 with each program focusing on a different era of American movie history.

The films that are shown later each evening will be ones that cover the points made in that night's documentary.

Here is a schedule for the first nights films on November 1:

8:00 PM Moguls and Movies Stars, A History of Hollywood:

Episode One – Peepshow Pioneers (’10)

9:00 PM The Films of Thomas Edison

Blacksmithing Scene (1893)

The Barbershop (1893)

Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze (1894)

Sandow (1894)

Boxing Cats (1894)

Annabelle Butterfly Dance (1894)

Sioux Ghost Dance (1984)

Annie Oakley (1894)

Roberta and Doretto - Chinese Laundry (1894)

Fire Rescue Scene (1894)

Dickson Experimental Sound Film (1895)

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)

The John C. Rice - May Irwin Kiss (1896)

Shooting the Chutes (1896)

Fatima, Muscle Dancer (1896)

Fifth Avenue, New York (1897)

Mr. Edison at Work in His Chemical Laboratory (1897)

What Happened on 23rd, NYC Pan American Exposition by Night (1901)

Life of an American Fireman (1903)

What Happened in the tunnel (1903)

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

The Kleptomaniac (1905)

The Little Train Robbery (1905)

The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend (1906)

Three American Beauties (1906)

Films of the San Francisco Earthquake (1906)

The “Teddy” Bears (1907)

The Rivals (1907)

Rescued from an Eagle’s Nest (1908)

The Lone Game (1915)

11:00 PM Moguls and Movie Stars, A History of Hollywood:

Episode One – Peepshow Pioneers (’10)

You can find out more about this series and get the full schedule by going here.

Halloween Horror Theater 2010 - "Killer Condom"

2010-10-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

Last year I did an almost daily post on my blog during October of Halloween movies in what I called the Blog-o-rama Spookyfest. While I don't plan on posting movies everyday, I will post a few this month of films that I find to be hidden or forgotten gems.
The Killer Condom aka Kondom des Grauens was made in Germany and was released in 1996. It was written by noted comic book writer Ralph Konig and directed by Martin Walz. The film is in German with English subtitles.
The plot takes place in New York, and in the present. In a Hotel called "Quicky" a professor blackmails a student of his into having sex with him. But when the professor puts on a condom, the carnivorous condom bites off his penis and disappears. Detective Mackaroni who gets the case thinks that the college girl just bit off her teacher's penis! Mackaroni goes to the motel himself to check out the crime scene, in the lobby he finds a gigolo named Bill and he asks him to follow him to crime room, there the two men attempt to have sex when they are suddenly interrupted by the attack of a killer condom. -source: IMDB.com.

Don't let the subtitles put you off. This is a delicious horror-comedy well worth watching.

riesen2b's blog-o-rama

MI 4: Ghost Protocol Trailer. Watch It Here.

Oh, You Gotta' Cut Loose! Watch The Trailer For Footloose!

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Watch The Newest Trailer

A Look At CBS's Fall Programs For 2011

Related articles

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews

Do You Have A Horrible Boss? Watch The Trailer For 'Horrible Bosses' To See What Not To Do!

Related articles

Trailer For Zookeeper Starring Kevin James.

A Look At ABC's New Fall Programs For 2011.

Seth MacFarlane Prepping 'The Flintstones' for Fox - The Hollywood Reporter

B-Movie Actress Yvette Vickers' Body Discovered in L.A. Home After Several Months - The Hollywood Reporter

Michael Shannon to Play Villain General Zod in 'Superman: Man of Steel' - Hollywood Reporter

World's Largest Dinosaur Park Coming to King's Island In Ohio.

AMERICAN ICON JOHN WAYNE'S COSTUMES, AWARDS AND DOCUMENTS IN FIRST EVER PUBLIC AUCTION THIS OCTOBER

'Trouble Along The Way' starring John Wayne and Donna Reed (1953)

Related articles

Supermoon! March 19, 2011 9:50 p.m. PDT

Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman Revealed! (Pic) - Hollywood Reporter

Super 8 Trailer - Will This Be The Summer's Blockbuster?

Related articles

Thor Feature Trailer - Trailer Addict

Related articles

TCM Staff Members to Join Robert Osborne for TCM Employee Guest Programmers Showcase in March

'Star Wars'-Like 3D Holograms Coming to Smartphones, Tablets - The Hollywood Reporter

Super Bowl Movie Trailers

Hulu - American Grindhouse - Watch the full feature film now.

Church Lady Dana Carvey Returns To Saturday Night Live

Related articles

'Cake Boss' Baker Sal Dies At 63

Oscar Spending: Win for Natalie Portman Could Mean $150 Million for Fox Searchlight - The Race

Full Moon And Howling Winds

Funniest Movie Trailer So Far This Year - No Strings Attached.

Related articles

In Memoriam: Hollywood 2010

Related articles

Raising Hope - Toy Story

Related articles

The Donna Reed Show - A Very Merry Christmas

Related articles

Paul - Finally, A Movie About Me.

Related articles

The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Alan Brady Show Presents

Related articles

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To You

Related articles

How Can You Help Make A Dream Come True?

Related articles

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Amends

Related articles

Thor - Enjoy This First Trailer.

Related articles

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol - Watch It Here!

Related articles

Glee - A Very Glee Christmas

Related articles

The Facts Of Life - Its A Wonderful Christmas.

Related articles

Beyond Tomorrow - A Terrific Holiday Movie

Related articles

Time To Catch Up On The Movie Trailers

Related articles

Babes In Toyland - Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves

Related articles

Arrested Development - Afternoon Delight

Chicago Hope - Christmas Truce

Related articles

Green Acres - An Old Fashioned Christmas

Related articles

A Jolly J-Team Christmas

Related articles

A Blog-o-rama Christmas

Related articles

George Clooney As The New Napoleon Solo?

Related articles

Barnabas Collins Coming To The Big Screen In The Form Of Johnny Depp.

Related articles

James MacArthur Of Original Hawaii Five-O Dies At 72

Related articles