Columbo Actor Peter Falk Dead at 83 - Just One More Thing...

I grew up watching Lieutenant Columbo.

I remember getting frustrated at how long it would take him to actually bust the bad guy even though he knew who it was from the very beginning.

With his dirty old raincoat, beat up old car, floppy eared dog, and wife that we never got to meet - Lt. Columbo always knew how to outsmart the crooks.

And here is a little bit of trivia – during the entire Columbo series the viewer was never told what his first name was, and it remains a mystery to this day.

His Shtick was to ask very basic, and sometimes annoying questions, and just as he was walking toward the door to leave he would stop, turn, and say, “Just one more thing…”

And it was always THAT question that got the criminal busted.

But it was entertaining, and little did I know that Peter Falk and Columbo would become an American Icon.



Falk died yesterday at the age of 83 from complications from dementia at his home in Beverly Hills.

Friends say Falk was involved in a bad car accident in 2008 and suffered a bad head injury and was never the same man.

But Falk did much much more than just play Lt. Columbo.

His career started back in 1957 and by the time he retired had been in over 100 movies and TV shows.

Some of the greats included Murder, Inc., The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, Murder by Death, The Cheap Detective, The Princess Bride, and others.

Peter Falk was one of the greats - and I expect to see his dirty old raincoat in the Smithsonian’s American History Museum next time I’m in Washington D.C.

Hey, don’t laugh – they have the same “Fonzie” lunchbox there that I had when I was in school.

Feel old yet?

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Elijah Wood to Star in “Tron: Uprising” Television Series

We all know Elijah Wood from the Lord of the Rings movies.

This summer he is also filming the “Hobbit” spin offs reprising his role as Frodo Baggins.

But now it has been announced that Elijah will play the role of Beck in the upcoming “Tron Uprising” animated TV series due to premier in 2012 on Disney XD.

The series will star Bruce Boxleitner as the voice of Tron and Many Moore will provide the voice for Mara.

The television series will follow the plot of the successful Tron movie franchise where a master control program (MCP) sucks people inside a computer game.



As for a third Tron movie, insiders say a lot of that has to do with the success of the television spinoff,

“If there is sufficient interest in the TV series we may use that to launch a third Tron movie. It all depends on what kind of following we can get for the series. If Disney puts its muscle behind it then the legacy will most likely continue – but kids are more familiar with today’s high impact interactive games and high graphic role playing. Motorcycles that ride a beam of light are just not as exciting to kids as they were 20 years ago.”

But even if Tron doesn’t do well on the small screen, Elijah Wood won’t have to worry because he is busy with other projects.

In addition to “The Hobbit” films, Wood will be appearing in “Happy Feet 2 in 3D” later this year.

Reprising his voice role as Mumble, Elijah will return to the Happy Feet franchise along with veterans Elizabeth Daily, Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and Hank Azaria.

Happy Feet 2 in 3D will pick up where the last one ended, and Elijah’s character, Mumble the penguin, has a problem.



His son Erik, who is reluctant to dance, encounters The Mighty Sven, a penguin who can fly! Things get worse for Mumble when the world is shaken by powerful forces, causing him to bring together the penguin nations and their allies to set things right.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood Career is Over – Three Projects Cancelled

Things just keep getting worse for Arnold.

First, he announced his 25 year marriage with Maria Shriver was over.

Next he admitted to an affair with an ex-housekeeper and fathering a love child that is now 13-years-old.

And now Hollywood is putting the brakes on his future movie career.

Arnold’s damage control firm released a statement yesterday saying,

“At the request of Arnold Schwarzenegger we asked Creative Artists Agency to inform all his motion picture projects currently underway or being negotiated to stop planning until further notice. Mr. Schwarzenegger is focusing on personal matters and is not willing to commit to any production schedules or timelines. We will resume discussions when Governor Schwarzenegger decides.”

From what we hear it was not as much a matter of Arnold bowing out, but rather the studios pulling the plug on the actor because of his current “personal matters”.

In fact, Arnold had several big deals in the works including a return to his role in a “Terminator” sequel. It was a sure thing and studios were lining up to make it happen. Not anymore.

Arnold had also entered into a deal with comic book legend Stan Lee to produce a television series called “The Governator” lending his voice talents to the lead crime fighting character. Unfortunately, the series was to show Arnold fighting crime with the help of his wife Maria and their four children. Awkward.

A rep says,

"In light of recent events, A Squared Entertainment, POW, Stan Lee Comics, and Archie Comics, have chosen to not go forward with the Governator project."

Another project that has now been taken off the table is “Cry Macho”, about a retired horse trainer who gets caught up in an international kidnapping scheme.

The film was written by Richard Nash, and was to be directed by Brad Furman, and produced by Bill Block and Albert Ruddy - but not anymore.

The other movie deal in the works was “The Last Stand”, where Arnold would have played a sheriff chasing a drug cartel leader who busts out of a courthouse and runs for the Mexico border.

This film was written by Andrew Knauer and scheduled to be directed by Jee-woon Kim.

Both movie projects were in pre-production with filming to start in 2011-2012 with a release date of late 2012 or early 2013.

Nobody is saying for sure that these projects will NEVER happen, just that they have been taken off the table “until sometime in the future”.

If things blow over for Arnold I suspect we could see him wiggle back in to the movie biz, but if the public (and Hollywood) turn on him then it’s over.

Hasta la vista, baby

Arnold explains the real reason he split from Maria Shriver.


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‘Two and a Half Men’ has 50/50 Chance of Returning Says CBS - Decision Soon.

CBS Network brass is still contemplating what to do with “Two and a Half Men”.

With television sweeps starting next month (May), and up-fronts looming, CBS has to make a decision on what to do with season 9 of the once golden sitcom – and fast.

Ever since Charlie Sheen was fired from the show there has been speculation it might return for another season – with or without Uncle Charlie Harper.

Since his firing, Sheen has been on the road with his “Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour and has been telling his audiences that he desperately wants back on the show.

Not so fast says the show’s production staff.

One insider says that there is a 50/50 chance the show will return for another season. And if it does return – there will be changes.

Here is what we know for sure:

- Charlie Sheen is not welcome back on the show.
- Executive producer Chuck Lorre has a plot workaround to either replace Sheen or write him out of the series.
- No official offers have been made to any new actors.
- A decision has to be made before May 18, 2011.
- CBS really does want to try and salvage the show

Chuck Lorre has been telling the media that he has several ideas on how to continue the show – one that increases Jon Cryer’s role, and another puts Ryan Stile’s “Herb Melnick” character in a lead role.

We have also heard a couple unofficial “plot” ideas, sans Charlie Sheen, that all include using the existing actors, sets, writers, and facilities. Seems like a smart idea to us.

Our favorite has Rose downsizing and buying Charlie’s house after he gets thrown in jail in Bangkok. She then allows recently thrown to the curb Herb Melnick to move in with her, Allen, and Jake. Even Berta likes the idea and agrees to stay on.

One insider told reporters,

“The idea would be Rose buys the house and lets Alan, Herb, and Jake live there. We call it ‘Two and a Half Men – and Rose’. There have been lots of variations but it always comes back to the same fundamental movement of actors and their roles. It would be easy – and funny.”

It does sound like a nice clean, and believable, transition that could actually propel the sitcom into a whole new direction – both retaining the old fans and creating new ones.

We say bring us “Two and a Half Men & Rose”

China Tells Television and Film Producers – ‘Don’t Go Back In Time Please’

In case you were every wondering why the United States is the greatest nation on earth – here is one reason.

While the U.S. has laws that regulate certain “words” or “situations” of broadcast television, we don’t generally try to censor the plot.

China, on the other hand, has in no uncertain terms just laid down the law for film and TV producers in their country. And when the “State” owns all the networks and newspapers, well – whatever they say goes.

New guidelines issued last month discourage plot lines that contain elements of fantasy, time-travel, random compilations of mythical stories, bizarre plots, absurd techniques, even propagating feudal superstitions, fatalism and reincarnation, ambiguous moral lessons, and a lack of positive thinking.

The government thinks the media shouldn’t have characters that travel back in time and rewrite history. They say this goes against Chinese heritage, they also say that myth, superstitions and reincarnation are all questionable.

Yea, like this is the biggest problem they have in China.

Oh well, guess I won’t be able to watch “Star Trek” reruns during my next visit. That's okay - I couldn't understand then anyway.

World’s Greatest Movie Extra – Jesse Heiman – Do You Recognize Him? You Should - Video

Ever heard of Jesse Heiman? I bet you don’t know his name but have seen him in a movie.

Heiman, 33, has made a career out appearing in movies and television shows as an extra, and so far has appeared in over fifty productions.

He was born in Boston and moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to follow his dream of being in showbiz. And what a strange road it has been.

Jesse is a card carrying member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and continually adds his name to the list of actors interested in being an extra. A lot of producers know him by name and he even has a YouTube video that has gone viral.

Just look at some of the big budget productions this guy has been in:

American Pie, American Pie 2, Van Wilder, Spider Man, Catch Me If You Can, The Rules of Attraction, Old School, The Battle of Shaker Heights, Grounded For Life, The O.C., Reno 911, NCIS, Entourage, My Name is Earl, Bones, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Heroes, 17 Again, Chuck, The Social Network, The Jay Leno Show, and Transformers - Dark of the Moon.

As an extra, Jesse may only appear on screen for one or two seconds, but has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Zac Efron, Jack Black, Leonardo DeCaprio, Tobey McGuire, and Shia LaBeouf.

He makes about $150 per day, every day that he is on the set, and says some shots have taken a week to shoot. He spends most of his time waiting to be called to perform and eating from the Crafts Food Service table.

The really amazing part of this story, besides a guy making a living from being a movie extra, is that some guy in Sweden made a YouTube video with every one of his momentary screen appearances.

Heiman has told reporters that he had no idea who this person was and had never met him before in his life. Jesse only got to know him after the video went viral and received almost 2 million hits.

This is a great video. Enjoy!

Watch Jesse Heiman Movie Extra Viral Video

Ohio Man Gets $16 Million Cable Bill from Time Warner

Everybody these days is trying to trim their budgets and live within their means.

But for one Beavercreek Ohio man, his expenses took a turn for the worse when he received a cable bill for $16 million dollars.

Daniel DeVirgilio, an engineer, told his local newspaper,

“All I want to do is watch March Madness…had I known this I would have bought Showtime.”

DeVirgilio calculated he would have to order almost half a million pay-per-view movies in a thirty day period to even come close to racking up the charges that appeared on his bill. His normal bill usually runs about $80 per month and all he wanted to do is add a NCAA package.

His cable provider, Time Warner, admitted there was a “glitch” in their billing software, combined with a little human error, which incorrectly charged Daniel the high fee.

Time Warner says they are working to correct the problem and will even waive any late fees.

Betty White to Host New Hidden Camera 'Prank' Show for NBC

Move over Ashton Kutcher. Our favorite comedic senior citizen has just signed on to a new comedy reality show gig!

NBC announced Thursday that they have ordered twelve episodes of the new “Betty White Off Their Rockers” show starring, of course, Betty.

The hidden camera prankster reality show will follow seven other senior citizens, led by 89-year-old White, as they play hidden camera pranks on the “unsuspecting youth and younger generation”.

White said,

“People have been telling me that I’m ‘off my rocker’ for years — now I can prove it.”

Betty has had a resurgence of popularity since hosting a Saturday Night Live episode last year, and her hit sitcom “Hot in Cleveland” has just been picked up for its third year on NBC, and she has a book coming out in May.

Boy, this gal really makes me feel old – and lazy.

“Off Their Rockers” is being licensed to the U.S. markets by a Belgian company where the show first originated with huge success.

No air date has been released.

Parenthood Renewed For Second Season

Good news for "Parenthood" fans! The hit television series has been renewed for a second season.

In addition to the first seasons twenty-two episode deal, the show will now be seen through the 2010-2011 season.

And the fans have spoken. They love the show and are falling in love with the Braverman family.

Parenthood follows the joys and challenges of the Braverman family from Northern California. The huge cast includes Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Mae Whitman, Miles Heizer, Erika Christensen, Sam Jaeger, Dax Shepard, Joy Bryant, Monica Potter, Sarah Ramos, and Max Burkholder.

Expect young Drew, played by Miles Heizer, to have more face time next season as the teen faces more mature life challenges and issues while trying to integrate into his new surroundings.

Congrats on a hit show!
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"Swingtown" TV Series Close To Being Cancelled

It's looking less and less likely that CBS will renew the series "Swingtown" for another season. The beleaguered 1970's based show has been ratings disaster for the network, and in the end may all come down to simple numbers.

News reports are surfacing that the network is shopping the series around to cable networks. This is a bad sign for "Swingtown", as a last ditch effort to get a show picked up on cable is usually a sign the show is getting ready for a permanent hiatus.

CBS moved the show to Friday nights, the death slot for any show, where it's ratings dropped even more. This shows CBS might not have had high hopes for the show about two generations of friends and neighbors in a Chicago suburb who explore new sexual freedoms and seek connections with each other in the middle of the social and sexual revolution.

Swingtown may have been too risky and provocative for the normally conservative network. The show contains content dealing with sex, adultery, drugs, adultery, orgies and wife swapping. This is not normal fair for CBS, and the show may well be better suited for cable.

Watch "Swingtown" Criticism and Review



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