Best Supporting Actor 1951: Kevin McCarthy in Death of a Salesman

Kevin McCarthy received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman.Kevin McCarthy portrays the son of the titular salesman Willy Loman (Fredric March). I will admit there is plenty against McCarthy here. The film is directed is an excessively dreary fashion, and is lead by a preposterous performance by March, and McCarthy himself shares...

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My favorite comic book movie

I just saw THE AVENGERS. I figured, why go the first night? Like everyone else it seems, I found it rollicking good fun. Joss Whedon knows how to hold an audience, choreograph mayhem, and even more impressive – get good laughs along the way. Robert Downey Jr. was a hoot! Gwyneth Paltrow turned in a lovely cameo (thus giving her plenty of time for her colon cleanses). Samuel L....

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Best Supporting Actor 1951: Karl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire

Karl Malden won his Oscar from his first nomination for portraying Harold "Mitch" Mitchum in A Streetcar Named Desire.Karl Malden portrays one of Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando)'s Poker buddies who attempts to court Stanley seriously troubled sister in-law Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh). Mitch is different than Stanley and his friends in that he dresses and acts...

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Gary Burghoff explains Radar

I love when I can sometimes go to the source.  Reader Michael Rafferty submitted a Friday question.  Here's the question and the answer from the man himself, Gary Burghoff.  My EXTREME thanks to Gary for his time and very illuminating response.  On MASH, first season, Gary Burghoff played Radar pretty much the same as he did in the movie version. But,over time, Radar was softened and bec...

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Best Supporting Actor 1951: Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis

Peter Ustinov received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Roman Emperor Nero in Quo Vadis.Peter Ustinov portrays the mad Emperor Nero, and this is not a moment in his performance where he tries to underplay the role for a moment. This approach certainly makes sense for the deranged Nero, but also because it is best to avoid the blandness of much of the rest of the film....

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MY BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE!

The Kindle version of my new book, The Me Generation.. By Me (Growing Up in the '60s), is now ready to download. Only $6.99. You can order yours here. The paperback should be out in a couple of weeks. They’re still cutting down trees.Longtime readers of this blog know I’ve been working feverishly on this for the past three years. I’ve posted rough draft excerpts from time to time. Well,...

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Best Supporting Actor 1951: Leo Genn in Quo Vadis

Leo Genn received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Petronius in Quo Vadis.Quo Vadis is an overly long biblical epic about the persecution of Christians in Rome.Leo Genn portrays one of the advisers of the depraved Roman Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov). Although he always stays by Nero he is very critical of him, but rather than outright show it he only...

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Memorial Day then staff work begins!

Happy Memorial Day. This is the time of the year when writing staffs go back to work. If you’re an aspiring TV scribe, I hope someday that’ll be you. Here’s what you can sort of expect…at least on the comedy side.The first week will just be sharing vacation stories, home remodeling nightmares, debating the Dan Harmon firing,  trashing WHITNEY. You’ll go out for long lunches, bitch about ...

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Best Supporting Actor 1951

And the Nominees Were:Gig Young in Come Fill the Cup Kevin McCarthy in Death of a SalesmanKarl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire Peter Ustinov in Quo VadisLeo Genn in Quo Va...

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Okay, I gotta weigh in on the Burger Debate

On Friday I mentioned that I thought Five Guys is giving In N Out Burgers a run for their money. This sparked many great comments from various animal fat aficionados. Personally, when it comes to love of burgers, I fall just behind Wimpy. So here on this lovely holiday weekend when no one wants to really tackle any weighty issues ( I for one am Dan Harmon’ed out) I thought I’d share m...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: Results

5. John Lithgow in Terms of Endearment- Lithgow although hindered by the fact he has few scenes and the film doesn't really care about him gives a good performance showing the simple love expressed by his character well.4. Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment- This is probably a bit of a surprise, but I did actually prefer the two above. Nicholson is inconsistent and some...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: Charles Durning in To Be Or Not To Be

Charles Durning received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Colonel Erhardt in To Be Or Not To Be.To Be Or Not To Be is the Mel Brooks remake of the comedy about a group of actors who try to foil a Nazi plot in Warsaw Poland.Charles Durning I must say must have been a popular, or very well liked guy during 82 and 83, since both times he was nominated...

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What the puck is this?

The Los Angeles Kings are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Long-suffering fan are ecstatic, and this town (now that the Lakers have been eliminated in the NBA) has really gotten swept up in Kings fever.   Me too.  Go Kings!   But I must admit -- I know nothing about hockey.  But being ignorant has never stopped me before.   Here is a re-post from November 14, 2006 about my night out watching...

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Visual aids

Earlier this week I posted the travelogue from my recent trip to Seattle, New York, Boston, Cleveland, and Denver.  With my trusty iPhone 4s I also took pictures.  Here are some.  I stay in a luxury hotel when in Seattle.My view from the booth at Yankee Stadium.Yes, that's a rat.  Waiting for the D train and bitching 'cause it's late.Me and my terrific broadcast partner -- Rick Riz...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: Sam Shepard in The Right Stuff

Sam Shepard received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff.The Right Stuff tells of test pilots who later become astronauts due to the space race. The Right Stuff is an ensemble film but at the very beginning of the film Sam Shepard is the lead of the film as test pilot Chuck Yeager who is the first pilot to break the sound barrier....

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Friday Questions

Getting you ready for the long Memorial Day Weekend, here are some Friday Questions. Two things – one important and one inconsequential. Drive carefully this weekend and leave your questions in the comments section. Guess which is the important one.71dude is first up.Were you and David invited to work on the "MASH" finale? No. But at the time we were co-producing CHEERS and they...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: Rip Torn in Cross Creek

Rip Torn received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Marsh Turner in Cross Creek.Cross Creek tells the true story Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Mary Steenburgen) attempting to find inspiration to right by moving to a backwoods Florida town.Rip Torn portrays one of the residents of the town Marsh Turner, and something interesting about Torn's nomination is that...

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More thoughts on your Dan Harmon thoughts

Thanks to everyone for all your comments on my Dan Harmon posting. Thanks to Dan for linking to the piece. In between the folks agreeing with my position and the ones saying I’m old, out of touch, and should just be sent to the glue factory, a number of you brought up an interesting speculation – namely that networks are becoming obsolete and that the future of creative content will lie...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment

Jack Nicholson won his second Oscar from his seventh nomination for portraying Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment.Jack Nicholson is an actor who I think highly of, as he had one of the greatest strings of performances of any actor during the 70's. Nicholson though is an actor whose qualities did downturn a bit from the 80's on though. This mostly seemed...

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By the time I get to Boston, Cleveland, and Denver

This is part two of my five-city travelogue broadcasting for the Seattle Mariners.  Part one (Seattle and New York) was yesterday.   Went to Boston by train. Our ace pitcher, Felix Hernandez sounded the horn. He was very excited. They don’t let him do that on planes. This was more of a commuter train. I thought I saw Don Draper get on at New Haven. But it was fun to look out the window and...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983: John Lithgow in Terms of Endearment

John Lithgow received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Sam Burns in Terms of Endearment.Terms of Endearment is about the complex relationship between the strong willed Aurora Greenway (Shirley Maclaine) and her daughter Emma (Debra Winger).Lithgow's nomination here might be a bit of a head scratch due to his very limited screen time, and the...

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Around the country in 14 days

Back from a whirlwind two weeks of calling Mariners baseball that took me to five cities, four time zones, two leagues, and eight different start times. But no cyclones!Just an earthquake.Fortunately, it was only a 1.7, occurring a mere five minutes after I arrived in Seattle. But the sun was actually shining so as long as the Space Needle didn’t go down, folks in the Emerald City di...

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Dan Harmon's firing: My take

A lot of you have asked my take on the NBC firing of Dan Harmon from COMMUNITY – a show that he not only was running but created as well. First I should mention that I don’t know Dan Harmon, nor have I personally had any involvement with the show. So it’s like when there’s a big news emergency and networks bring on so-called “experts” like earthquake psychics or terrorist cell consultants...

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Best Supporting Actor 1983

And the Nominees Were:Sam Shepard in The Right StuffJohn Lithgow in Terms of EndearmentJack Nicholson in Terms of EndearmentCharles Durning in To Be or Not To BeRip Torn in Cross Creek...

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Here it is -- My new book cover

Here it is. The cover of my new book, coming out within weeks or sooner. Also, I have a new website dedicated to the book. Feel free to check it out. And to answer your question: the girl on the left is Ann Jillian; the one on the right -- you'll to have to read the bo...

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Me & Marvin Gaye

It's finally coming out!  My book about growing up in the '60s will be released within weeks on Amazon!  To get you in the mood, here's another installment.   And check back later today.  I will reveal for the first time -- the title and the cover!  1964, Woodland HillsMust viewing: THE LLOYD THAXTON SHOW. Each afternoon from 5-6 Lloyd Thaxton hosted a live dance party show on the cheapest...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: Results

5. Nick Adams in Twilight of Honor- Adams is effective enough at being pathetic and confused in the trial scenes, but they don't come together all that well with his scenes of being a potentially violent loner.4. John Huston in The Cardinal- Even though his part is barely anything Huston does everything he can with and more given some weight to a picture, as well...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: Nick Adams in Twilight of Honor

Nick Adams received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Ben Brown in Twilight of Honor.Twilight of Honor is about a young defense attorney (Richard Chamberlain) defending a man accused of murdering a man considered to be a great man.Twilight of Honor is a not so cheap rip off of Anatomy of a Murder. It is about the defense of a murderer, that really is not trying...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: Hugh Griffith in Tom Jones

Hugh Griffith received his second and final Oscar nomination for portraying Squire Western in Tom Jones.Hugh Griffith portrays Squire Western the father of Tom Jones's (Albert Finney) love interest Sophie Western (Susannah York). Although he is a Squire is a very uncouth man. He stands as a jovial fellow who likes Tom Jones, but refuses Jones as a proper...

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In defense of Multi-Camera shows

Practically every great sitcom for the last 60 years has used some version of the multi-camera format. Yes, there are exceptions like MASH and WESTWARD HA! But for the most part, series that we all (younger, desirable viewers included) watch and relish are all multi-camera.Single-camera sitcoms are more in vogue.   Networks claim we’re tired of the multi-camera form. We’re tired of ...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: John Huston in The Cardinal

John Huston received his only acting Oscar nomination for portraying Cardinal Glennon in The Cardinal.The Cardinal tells of the rise as well as the troubles of a catholic priest Stephen (Tom Tryon) through his many years in the church.John Huston joins others directors Vittorio De Sica, John Cassavetes, Eric Von Stroheim, as also an actor nominated for Best Supporting...

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WINGS deserved more recognition

Howdy from Denver. Here are some Friday Questions from the Mile High City. Michael gets us started:I always felt "Wings", while not quite at the same level as "Cheers" and "Frasier", was overlooked in terms of critical acclaim. Do you agree and, if so, why do think that was so?I totally agree. WINGS never got the recognition it deserved.  And the truth is it was a damn funny show...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: Melvyn Douglas in Hud

Melvyn Douglas won his first Oscar for portraying Homer Bannon in Hud.Melvyn Douglas after portraying dashing and suave early in his career had a successful second coming, particularly in terms of Oscar success, in his portrayal of wise old men. Melvyn Douglas portrays Homer Bannon an old Fashioned cattle rancher faced with possibly losing his entire head of cattle...

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What you can and can't say on television

A few weeks ago I spoke at a comedy symposium at U.C. Santa Barbara (along with other panelists the students had actually heard of).  There was a good crowd, several hundred at least -- all the more impressive because the surf was really up that day.  During one of the panels (not mine), they showed a clip from an ALL IN THE FAMILY episode from the early '70s.  It's the famous scene where...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963: Bobby Darin in Captain Newman M.D.

Bobby Darin received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Corporal Jim Tompkins in Captain Newman, M.D.Captain Newman M.D. tells various stories of a soldiers psychiatric ward head by Captain Newman (Gregory Peck).Bobby Darin best known as a singer apparently tried to pull a Frank Sinatra by attempting to break into dramatic acting through a supporting...

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I hate PowerPoint

Imagine you had to give a presentation to a fairly large group. The topic is something you know something about. The quarterly report. The latest advances in merkins. Whatever.  And while you're delivering this presentation you also have to put on rock climbing gear. Bulky jacket,boots, lacing up the heavy boots, attaching one or two harnesses, stocking up on flares and picks. All this...

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Best Supporting Actor 1963

And The Nominees Were:Bobby Darin Captain Newman, M.D.John Huston in The CardinalMelvyn Douglas in HudHugh Griffith in Tom JonesNick Adams in Twilight of Honor...

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Now that the networks have announced their schedules, some random thoughts...

Unlike NBC, CBS opted to pick up comedies by proven showrunners. Max Mutchnick & David Kohan got a show along with Alan Kirschenbaum. And both show are multi-camera. Meanwhile, NBC continues to assign showrunners to new series created by inexperienced writers. Now you’d think they’d try to match the perfect writer with the perfect project? No. They’re assigning showrunners that...

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Best Supporting Actor 2006: Results

5. Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond- Hounsou is only ever really loud or really quiet, which is acceptable for much of his performance, but when his limits are noticeable they are very noticeable.4. Mark Wahlberg in The Departed- Wahlberg is enjoyable enough as the loud abrasive police officer, it is not a complex performance but it serves its purpose.3. Eddie Murphy...

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Best Supporting Actor 2006: Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children

Jackie Earle Haley received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Ronald "Ronnie" James McGorvey.Little Children is another film about the various stories of troubled suburbanites.Jackie Earle Haley was originally a child actor in film like Breaking Away and Bad News Bears and his sequels. He like so many child actors though soon disappeared after growing...

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