September 2013

DirecTV's new Dog Channel is fun viewing even if you're not 4-legged!

Rewatched 1946 Courage of Lassie that my grandfather Lionel Houser wrote the screenplay for, expertly revisited by Robert Osbourne on TCM and it's still great. The lengthy opening depicting Lassie helping various forest animals is devoid of dialogue but still tells a great story until 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor utters the film's first words. Lionel also wrote Christmas in Connecticut for Barbara Stanwyke. He was signed to RKO in 1935 and soon after wrote Girl From Mexico launching their profitable "Mexican Spitfire" series. He later worked for MGM(Lassie), Republic and Warner Brothers studios(Christmas). He was born two days before my own birthday on April 16th, 1908 and we lost him 11/12/49 at only 41. My grandmother Barbara also drafted screenplays but had to submit them under a male name(Bob) because those were different times and women just weren't in that many power positions.

Someone in a major position of power is former WCW/WWE wrestler and formerly "the next Mrs George Clooney" in leggy Stacy Kiebler. Stacy's new Lifetime reality show Supermarket Superstar is a ratings hit. It's about aspiring food entrepreneurs pitching ideas to food industry professionals hoping to move their products onto store shelves. They should get legendary sports announcer, Jim Ross and his tremendous BBQ product line on. Stacy told me by phone "this is a dream come true hosting something I love and support. Wait until you see some of the people we have on and their amazing stories!"

I say leggy because she was recently on E!s fun Fashion Police and told Joan Rivers that from hip to toe she measures four feet! And "those legs" are reportedly insured by Lloyds of London. To think she started her tv career as the on-air girlfriend of Ric Flair's wrestling son David. Now she's on every red carpet including the last two Academy Awards. Fox also rolled out the red carpet to it's new 24-hour FoxSports1 channel taking on ESPN in a battle for viewers. It offers tons of great UFC programming like Ultimate Fighter, Nascar, MLB games plus the "SportsCenter-like" FoxSportsLive show.

To answer reader Beth Jang, a Demo/Show Reel is the filmed equivalent of an actor's portfolio, submitted to hopefully land a role or job and usually shows their best work.

August 2013

Rewatched 1946 Courage of Lassie that my grandfather Lionel Houser wrote the screenplay for, expertly hosted by Robert Osbourne on TCM and it's still amazing. The lengthy opening depicting Lassie helping various forest animals is devoid of dialogue but still tells a great story until 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor utters the film's first words. Lionel also wrote Christmas in Connecticut for Barbara Stanwyke. He was signed to RKO in 1935 and soon after wrote The Girl From Mexico launching their profitable "Mexican Spitfire" series. He later worked for MGM(Lassie), Republic and Warner Brothers studios(Christmas). He was born two days before my own birthday on April 16th, 1908 and we lost him 11/12/49 at only 41. My grandmother Barbara also drafted screenplays but had to submit them under a male name(Bob) because those were different times and women just weren't in that many power positions.

Someone in a major position of power is former WCW/WWE wrestler and possibly "the next Mrs George Clooney" is leggy Stacy Kiebler. Stacy debuts her new Lifetime reality show Supermarket Superstar on July 22nd. It's about aspiring food entrepreneurs pitching ideas to food industry professionals in the hopes of getting their products onto store shelves. They should get legendary sports announcer, Jim Ross and his tremendous BBQ product line on. Stacy said "this is a dream come true hosting something I love and support. Wait until you see some of the people we have on and their amazing stories!"

I say leggy because she was recently on E!s fun Fashion Police and told legendary host Joan Rivers that from hip to toe she measures four feet! And yep, they're reportedly insured by Lloyds of London. <To think she started her tv career as the girlfriend of world champion Ric Flair's legitimate son David. Now she's on every red carpet including the past two Academy Awards. >

To answer reader Beth Jang, a Demo/Show Reel is the filmed equivalent of an actor's portfolio, submitted to hopefully land a role or job and shows their best work.
 

June 2013

It's time for more industry terms.

UPFRONT: the annual meeting hosted by tv network executives for the press and advertisers. Both get introduced to new and returning shows, and the latter buy tv ad time "up front" before the traditional September "season" begins. Commercial-less HBO, Showtime and other channels have radically rocked that old timed concept, with original programming all year long.

NATPE: is the annual tv syndicators convention where big deals are made for shows. In the 80's and 90's glory days, we had access to Oprah, Siskel and Ebert, Joan Rivers, Andrew Dice Clay, Regis and Kathy, and even the Seinfeld cast. I Interviewed Michael Richards and Larry David about their early tv days on ABC's Fridays show which was similar to SNL but edgier. Besides Andy Kaufman's wild antics, musical guest Wendy O. Williams and her band The Plasmatics set a car on fire and destroyed most of the set. Larry's recurring spoof skit("The Golden Boys") on cheating pro wrestlers was "one of my proudest tv moments before Seinfeld, " he told me in 1993.

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Now is the time to check out new network shows. America's Got Talent was first introduced as a summer test, and it quickly became a ratings monster. Lots of celeb judge-shifting and cast changes amongst the competition reality shows as they look to respark audience share.

Major European bands Daft Punk and Sigur Ros will be all over tv this month, besides promoting their intense new cd's. Punk's new hit song "Get Lucky" is said to be THE summer song of 2013 and is crossing over genre charts. The robotic duo collaborated with 70's legends Georgio Moroder and Paul Williams and hope you'll give a listen. Song and musician exposure is one reason variety shows should make a comeback; since Colbert Show, Ellen, GMA and The Today Show along with music award shows are basically today's primary venues. Also the always awesome Palladia and Audience Networks on DirecTV.

NBC saved Community for another season, but ABC nixed Happy Endings. If you loved HE, shout on public forums for your voice to be heard. TBS is reportedly interested. Possibly.

MAY 2013

TV insiders are still talking about NBC's alleged planned ouster of Jay Leno next year, replacing him with Late Night host Jimmy Fallon and moving The Tonight Show from L.A. back to New York where it began. One NBC former exec joked "in case things don't work out with Jimmy, they could pitch to Letterman just down the street from the new Tonight Show studio since Dave was Johnny Carson's succession choice in the first place!"

While Steve Allen was the first Tonight Show host, many forget the many times from 1956-on that Allen's rival, Ernie Kovacs also hosted the show. Ernie was indeed TV's original pioneering genius and he's in all media halls of fame with many documentaries made about his life. Historians say his show was far more creative than anything Allen or even Milton Berle did at the same time and that Allen admitted lifting many longtime Kovacs bits like "Man-On-The-Street"(now called "Jay-Walking" on Leno's version of the show). He brilliantly experimented with the media, treating tv like his art canvas and synchronizing all sorts of sounds with wild images. NBC, CBS, ABC and even Dumont Network Brass(Ernie worked for them all) never quite figured out how to market him properly before he died in a car crash in 1962. I first interviewed his legendary widow Edie Adams in 1988 and she said "in 1957, they gave him a hellish 27-minute slot opposite Sullivan besides a Jerry Lewis solo special. Critics applauded Ernie's "Silent Show" inventiveness and it surprisingly trounced everyone else ratings-wise while winning Emmys." Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope and Jack Benny had long put Ernie over as amazing and he was Jack Lemmon's best friend who often was Ernie's lead Tonight guest. Laugh-In and SNL have admitted Ernie's fifties skits and adlibbing inspired their own shows. Showtime is supposed to replay their 1982 documentary on him and it's must-watch. Ernie loved New York and especially being Steve Allen's summer hiatus replacement often drawing higher ratings. So he'd love Tonight's move back home.

ABC won't the only network beginning partnerships with long-standing Hispanic channels to present original U.S. programming in English and Spanish. Don't forget to check your DirecTV messages as they often point to new channels, quizzes and more! In that spirit, a special prize will go to the first to email me([email protected]) the correct answer to which legendary MLB Fox announcer recently retirement after 34 years.

April 2013

With Tax Day around the corner most stars and tv folks are doing the stress dance with their accountants. The same could be said for ABC censors.

Seven second delays were reportedly not in effect (initially) on Dancing With The Stars for wild and unpredictable contestant Andy Dick. World Wrestling Entertainment suplexed a page from DWTS in having a bad guy ("heel") alleged champion dancer character named "Fandango" debut when DWTS returned on ABC. Independent grappler Johnny Curtis plays the role and said he's "actually been a real dancer and this is an exaggeration of my real persona to make it more realistic." Longtime Vince McMahon Jr friend Donald Trump gets inducted into their "Hall of Fame" this month before WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden which has been the apex of major televised sports and events. That public announcement was perfectly timed, just days before Trump's Celebrity Apprentice returned to NBC garnering extra publicity. "It's a win/win for Vince and myself," Trump told me. Was on a teleconference call with him and LaToya Jackson and whether one loathes or likes his persona and views, he's pretty charming. Just don't ask him about HBO Real Time host Bill Maher.

Speaking of reality tv, it's quietly been taking a small ratings hit overall in favor of scripted programs. For example, surveyed viewers prefer DWTS newbies rather than last season's all-star returnees.Loved E!'s recurring spoof of The Bachelor (Burning Love) with some name stars like Kristen Bell portraying fake female contestants. Comedy Central's Jeff Ross vehicle, The Burn returns for a third great season, although at press time E! isn't sure about Whitney Cummings Love You, Mean It. Last time I interviewed her, she said "juggling three tv shows all at the same time is insane!" Kudos for her non-stop work ethic while saluting her mentor Chelsea Handler.

Former SNL star Andy Samberg gets busy this month filming his next comedy. He got engaged to folk singer/harpest Joanna Newsom recently. They've not done any musical-comedy together yet, but things look encouraging since her star turn on IFC's Portlandia.

Most everyone in entertainment remains sad about 108 year-old Hollywood Daily Variety magazine (the trade bible) ceasing publication, although the weekly version continues. My great uncles John and Merv Houser wrote for it in the forties and fifties.

March 2013

An update from last month: it's now just The Artie Lange Show, but he's beefed up the comics on the show, like with my pal, the hilarious Rev. Bob Levy. Both he and Artie were long-timers on The Howard Stern show.

Ultra-HD TV was one of the highlights at the recent Consumer Electronics Show. Some manufacturers claim their resolution will be four or more times clearer than current 1080p sets, especially for larger screen sizes like LG's 84", $20,000, Ultra-HD TV. As with most TV technology, prices will decrease quickly with time. The big question is whether people will adopt it widely or treat it similarly to the incredible 3D-TV movement which still needs a larger audience to be more than a novelty. Many say four to eight times resolution looks great at any distance and gives the effect of 3D anyway but without the glasses. With more than eight million pixels, these TVs really deliver amazing images of bodies of water, blades of grass, even individual snowflakes. As with 3D, unless you have DirecTV there's not enough content out there yet, but Ultra-HD sets can convert what you're already watching. By the way, some 50" 3D -TVs are now selling for less than $900, a third of their original price. And with free glasses that don't need to be charged! DirecTV 3D content I've viewed includes extreme snow sports, animals and basketball.

Amongst the other 19,999 products launched at CES are several voice-command-integrated TVs. Samsung's new F8000LED "understands" and responds to vocal search requests like "find a movie about the making of television". LG's 55" GA7900 Google TV may cost as little as $1500 USD.

Here's hoping MMA in 3D is next. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was upset that cameras cut his farewell-to-UFC speech after possibly his last fight for the organization (which has great programming on Fox, FX and Fuel Nets). Competitor Bellator is on Spike with the newest recruit in the colorful and talented King Mo who originally worked for Zuffa/UFC's Strikeforce. Mo will be doing double-duty also in wrestling rings for TNA Impact (Thursdays on Spike). Since Rampage grew up on Jerry "The King" Lawler and classic Memphis Wrestling (the number one show in that entire market for decades on Saturdays), maybe he'll join that other "king" there too!

Get well wishes to UFC boss Dana White after major surgery.

February 2013

My wife couldn't wait until Downton Abbey's third season returned January 6th. Academy Award winner Shirley MacLaine joined Julian Fellowes' all-star cast (topped by Maggie Smith, who has won nearly every award out there). Director Brian Percival said that "BBC TV was a bit of an adjustment and struggle for MacLaine. She worked super hard each evening memorizing her lines and fleshing out her character. She loved the show and got along great with everyone, which translates on-camera. When her character first came down and was greeted by everyone, it was hard to remember this was not the legend Shirley MacLaine, but the character she plays, Martha Levinson. I think our American audiences will really enjoy the new season in the New Year."

Recently interviewed Mad About You star Paul Reiser who remains proud of his long-time co-star Helen Hunt and her work in The Sessions, which might bring her an Academy Award. "I started doing stand-up again just because I enjoy doing it so much again after not having done it in years. I was asked to do a recent charity event and had so much fun, I called some clubs in California and Florida and got myself booked." Reiser took time off from TV to enjoy his family and ended up writing another great book about it, Familyhood.

Audience Network (239) has been airing the syndicated Nick & Artie Show Friday nights. First-class comics Nick DiPaolo (a regular on FX's Louie) and Artie Lange (MADtv, The Howard Stern Show and NY Times best-selling author) broadcast their wild national radio show, skewing sports and pop-culture news from arguably the greatest studio ever created by Man Cave and NFL star Tony Siragusa. Maxim girls and celeb pals round out this amazing wild ride. Parental discretion advised!

January 2013, Satellite Direct 1st Annual DeeTeeVee Awards

In no particular order:

Louie, Homeland, Later...with Jools Holland, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Modern Family, South Park, The Simpsons, Walking Dead, Extreme Couponers, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Bill Maher, RAW, Boardwalk Empire, Anderson Cooper 360, Joy Behar: Say Anything, 30 Rock, Rock Center, The Big C, Ricky Gervais' An Idiot Abroad and Life's Too Short; PBS' Nature, Ed Sullivan specials and Jacques Pépin shows; World Series coverage over on Fox, HBO and Showtime boxing, Ultimate Fighter, and the sadly cancelled Treme and Boss.

What else are we leaving out? Good Wife or Chelsea Lately anyone? Hallmark, Lifetime and Ion worked overtime in delivering tons of great holiday movies last month and get New Year's thanks. Sorry Weeds, not this year.

A long time outstanding favorite remains the classic CBS Sunday Morning, which has the best mix of vignettes, important stories and "Moments of Nature."

2012's best show of 2011: Curb Your Enthusiasm

December 2012

My grandfather, Lionel Houser, wrote the screenplay for one of the season's top movies, Christmas in Connecticut. Besides other films, he wrote Courage of Lassie and worked with most of the greats, including Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowall and Mickey Rooney.

Two late-night music legends (David Letterman band guitarist Will Lee and Conan O'Brien's band leader, Jimmy Vivino) have an amazing side project in the world's greatest Beatles tribute band, The Fab Faux. They tour with three other outstanding name musicians, and a full orchestra of horns and strings. FF precisely duplicate each Beatles masterpiece with all the sound effects and full experience. Because of their primary weeknight gigs, FF events are few, but always sold-out to rabid fans flying globally to hear their dedication to the craft.

"Playing these songs is a true labor of love," Will said on my radio show. "Their music's timeless." Will and Jimmy are amazing live and both play multiple instruments besides the 50+ guitars they transport to shows. Both are regarded as amongst the best guitarists in the world by peers, so it was a surprise when Jimmy told me keyboards were originally his primary instrument.

Jeff Blatnick, my good friend and an Olympic gold medalist, died recently. He was the pay-per-view voice of UFC since its earliest incarnation and a favorite of Sports Illustrated and ESPN for years. "The future of amateur wrestling is MMA," he told me in 1993, "amateurs don't know what to do or how to make money when the Games are over. UFC gives them work, security and a home." Jeff courageously fought cancer before winning his gold. We'll all miss this American hero.

November 2012

I've been a DTV subscriber since 1993 and now enjoy their live-streaming app on my iPad. My go-to DirecTV channels for major music events are Audience (which also has incredible first-run shows and sports), AXS and Palladia.

Palladia offers the world's greatest music show (Later... with Jools Holland). The former Squeeze bandmate's soundstage-in-the-round has a dozen connected stages where he jettisons from act-to-act in 360-degree fashion.

One show alone had Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Adele, R. Kelly, and Neil Diamond. It's a must-appear venue for serious artists. All live singing, no lip-stinking. Upcoming guests this month include the Beach Boys, Dionne Warwick and more. You have to see it to believe it.

AXS also has incredible Mixed Martial Arts programming. MMA Live's personable Bas Rutten is easily sports top announcer. He's a total MMA legend as well as a scene-stealing actor in Kevin James' new Here Comes the Boom. "I'm just thankful I got to meet Salma Hayek working on this film!" he said. And we're all thankful that WWE's Jerry "The King" Lawler is "back 100%" after his heart attack while commentating live on RAW.

I spoke to Olivia Newton-John recently at her charity and signing event in San Francisco. She continues to focus her energy on cancer awareness and women's health. "I beat breast cancer years ago and recently opened The Cancer and Wellness Center in my native Melbourne." She's worked hard fundraising for many causes via her new cookbook Livwise. "We ate really healthy as kids. And it's more important than ever to teach children the importance of eating properly to establish long-lasting habits." She next plays a bride's mom in Stephan Elliott's comedy A Few Best Men.

October 2012

Growing up in Westwood, California, I went to Junior High with some of the Jacksons and Osmonds, Larry "Bozo" Harmon's daughter Lori, Leonard Nimoy's son Adam and even Darby "Daniel Boone" Hinton. I was best friends with Richard Dawson's two sons and basically lived at their home in the seventies after Richard saved my life (more on that in a future column). Dawson, who passed away this summer, had achieved TV/movie fame in his native England while married to Diana Dors, the UK's Marilyn Monroe, before moving here. He appeared in "The Invisibles," a spooky Outer Limits classic, and besides legendary roles on Hogan's Heroes, Laugh-In and Match Game he of course hosted Family Feud.

Richard also tried resurrecting Masquerade Party, where celebs would have heavy Rick Bakeresque make-up applied and contestants attempted to guess their identities. A real shame it wasn't picked up, but it did quickly lead to his being selected to helm Family Feud. The great Lon Chaney Sr would've been proud and his own biopic, The Man of a Thousand Faces, is still a moving classic this or any time of year.

In Dawson's last film he co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the appropriately frightening Running Man. Based on Stephen King's post-apocalyptic novel, he memorably played heel TV game show host Damon Killian in a landscape where the convicted had to compete to survive. In our reality shows and celeb-obsessed era, I can think of only Network as a relevant double-feature film for October 31st. As SCTV's Count Floyd would howl, "that's scary stuff!"