R.I.P. James Gandolfini

Almost ashamed to admit that I've never seen an episode of THE SOPRANOS but I have seen Gandolfini in other things as well as in various interviews and he always seemed a nice guy and a good actor. Rest in Peace, sir.

Automan

Here's a dorky 1983 series that I kind of liked. The always personable Desi Arnaz Jr starred. Never a great actor but a fun presence. He creates the world's first "automatic man," a living computerized hologram programmed to be able to do just about anything and everything. AUTOMAN! Chuck Wagner with an odd accent played the title role with TRON spfx and was much like a human version of the car in KNIGHTRIDER.

Special Guest Villains

My Top Ten favorite Bat-Villains...in order!

 

Men of Steel

Over at Facebook, I've started a new group in tribute to ALLof the actors who have portrayed Superman over the years on television, radio, movies, cartoons, Broadway, etc. Thanks to Derek Tague for the idea. If you're a Facebooker, join us here: 

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/468095816607294/

RCA Color TV Ad with Jack Benny and Johnny Carson

We didn't get ours until the summer of '68 but the writing was on the wall in this 1966 ad. Color was IN!

Bill Cullen

He wasn't an actor, a singer or a dancer. He wasn't a witty writer or a stand-up comic. In fact, Bill Cullen's entire claim to TV fame was as a game show panelist and/or host. I first discovered him on I'VE GOT A SECRET in the early sixties but I followed him through The original THE PRICE IS RIGHT, EYE GUESS, TO TELL THE TRUTH and a dozen or more short-lived game shows up to his passing in 1990. And he did it all with a pronounced disability that made walking hard for him. But that was kept secret from the public. Always a favorite.

R.I.P. Jean Stapleton

She was so much more than just Edith Bunker but in the grand scheme of things, it was inevitable that Edith would be what we remember her for. TV's berated "dingbat" turned out to be the very heart of the controversial ALL IN THE FAMILY and one of the very best fictional TV characters ever created by an actress.