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The premise of Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" is succinctly laid out in its indelible theme song, written by Schwartz and George Wyle. The S.S. Minnow, helmed by Captain G. Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale) and his first officer Gilligan (Bob Denver) took on five passengers for a three-hour boat tour of Hawai'i. The ship hit some bad weather, got lost at sea, and washed up on an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific. Now the two sailors, along with a millionaire (Jim Backus), his wife (Natalie Schafer), a movie star (Tina Louise), a professor (Russel Johnson), and a lottery-winning tourist (Dawn Wells), have to learn to survive, all to comedic effect.

"Gilligan's Island" has no themes of actual survival, instead rolling with its slapstick elements; the series clearly takes place in a cartoon reality. As such, the characters play as broad archetypes, mugging and screaming in an unrealistic fashion.

Jackie Loughery, who parlayed a victory in the first Miss USA pageant into an acting career that included a prominent role opposite future husband Jack Webb in the 1957 military drama The D.I., has died. She was 93.

Loughery died Friday in Los Angeles, Webb biographer Dan Moyer told The Hollywood Reporter. “She was like a mother to me and called me her kid,” he said.

The Brooklyn native also served as Johnny Carson’s assistant on a game show and appeared in the Western comedy Pardners (1956), starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; the melodrama Eighteen and Anxious (1957), starring William Campbell; and the political drama A Public Affair (1962), starring Edward Binns.

And for television, Loughery portrayed the niece of the title character (Edgar Buchanan) on the 1955-56 syndicated Western series Judge Roy Bean.

Loughery played a cautious shop owner named Annie who is romanced by a tough U.S. Marine drill sergeant...

F Troop was a Western-comedy that only lasted two seasons despite being a fan favorite. The show featured physical comedy and a talented cast but was likely canceled due to production costs. F Troop's unique take on Westerns and endearing characters deserved more than just two seasons.

For some, there is no worse feeling regarding media than having your favorite TV Show canceled. This is particularly true when it comes as a surprise, whether with the show still succeeding or ending mid-story. Sadly, many TV shows end too soon, which has been the case since the dawn of TV. Not everything will live on in longevity, even when it is, by most measures, a success. One such show that only lasted two seasons and got canceled while still being a fan favorite is the western-comedy F Troop.

We will reflect on the short-lived TV show, what made it stand out,...

Director Gary Nelson, whose credits include live-action Disney films like "The Black Hole" and the original "Freaky Friday," as well as numerous TV episodes, has died of natural causes at the age of 87. Nelson's son confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday that Nelson had passed away in his Las Vegas home several months ago, on May 25, 2022, though the news is only just now coming to light.

Nelson was born in Los Angeles on October 6, 1934, and he first came up in Hollywood as an assistant director. Among his earliest credits are the classic James Dean film "Rebel Without a Cause" and Joseph L. Mankiewicz's 1955 film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls," both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. He followed this up with further Ad work on two more Oscar-nominated Westerns, "The Searchers" and "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," before crossing over into television.

TV Work...

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Gary Nelson, who directed the Disney films Freaky Friday and The Black Hole, served as the in-house helmer on the first two seasons of Get Smart and called the shots for scores of other shows, has died. He was 87.

Nelson died May 25 in Las Vegas of natural causes, his son Garrett Nelson told The Hollywood Reporter.

His father was Sam Nelson, who served as an assistant director on such landmark films as The Lady From Shanghai (1947), All the King’s Men (1949), Some Like It Hot (1959) and Experiment in Terror (1962) and was a co-founder, along with King Vidor and others, of what would become the DGA.

Gary Nelson started out as an A.D., too, working on films including Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause (1955), John Ford’s The Searchers (1956) and John Sturges’ Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), before he got a big break thanks to his future wife,...

Larry Storch, who was best known for playing Corporal Randolph Agarn in the two seasons of 1960s sitcom F Troop, has died at the age of 99. A statement announcing his passing was posted on his Facebook page on July 8, reading, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight. We are shocked and at a loss for words at the moment. Please remember he loved each and every one of you and wouldn’t want you to cry over his passing. He is reunited with his wife Norma and his beloved F Troop cast and so many friends and family.” For his work on F Troop, Storch was nominated for an Emmy in 1967 for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series. With nearly 250 credits to his name, his TV...

Larry Storch, the comedic character actor who also did voiceover work and impressions and was best known for his role as Corporal Randolph Agarn on “F Troop,” has died. He was 99.

His family released a statement on his Facebook page, saying, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight. We are shocked and at a loss for words at the moment. Please remember he loved each and every one of you and wouldn’t want you to cry over his passing. He is reunited with his wife Norma and his beloved F Troop cast and so many friends and family.”

Storch was a familiar face on TV shows throughout the 1960s and ’70s — he starred in the 1970s children’s show “The Ghost Busters” and appeared on “The Love Boat” and “Car 54, Where Are You?” On “Married…...

Veteran comedic actor Larry Storch, an Emmy nominee best known for his leading performance as Corporal Randolph Agarn on ABC’s 1965 sitcom “F Troop,” has died at age 99.

Storch’s more than 200 screen credits spanned 1950-2010. Per a post on the actor’s official Facebook page, he died peacefully in his sleep early Friday morning.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight,” the post reads. “We are shocked and at a loss for words at the moment. Please remember he loved each and every one of you and wouldn’t want you to cry over his passing. He is reunited with his wife Norma and his beloved ‘F Troop’ cast and so many friends and family.”

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Born Jan. 8, 1923, and raised in the Bronx, New York, Storch...

Larry Storch, the stand-up comic turned ubiquitous television actor who made an indelible impression as the bumbling Corporal Randolph Agarn on the 1960s sitcom F Troop, has died. He was 99.

His death was announced on his Facebook page. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight. We are shocked and at a loss for words at the moment. Please remember he loved each and every one of you and wouldn’t want you to cry over his passing. He is reunited with his wife Norma and his beloved F Troop cast and so many friends and family.”

Born in New York City – his Bronx accent would be used to enduring effect in his comic portrayals – Storch began his show business career as a stand-up comic and parlayed his popularity to a prolific and long-lasting television career,...

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Larry Storch, the manic comic actor who starred as the bumbling sidekick Corporal Randolph Agarn on the 1960s ABC sitcom F Troop, has died. He was 99.

Storch, who got his start as a stand-up comic, did impressions and voiced the all-knowing Phineas J. Whoopee on the classic cartoon Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales, died early Friday morning of natural causes in his apartment on the Upper West Side of New York, his personal manager, Matt Beckoff, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“If I told you how nice he was, you wouldn’t believe it,” Beckoff said.

Storch was great friends with Tony Curtis — a fellow New Yorker whom he met when they served aboard a submarine tender in the U.S. Navy — and they appeared together in The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951), Who Was That Lady? (1960), 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Sex...

Larry Storch, who memorably played Corporal Randolph Agarn on the mid-1960s ABC sitcom F Troop, died on July 8, six months shy of his 100th birthday.

The actor’s passing was announced by his official Facebook page.

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“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the news our beloved Larry passed away in his sleep overnight,” the message reads. “We are shocked and at...

Peter Robbins, who was the first person to voice Charlie Brown in several “Peanuts” TV specials in the 1960s, has died. He was 65.

His family told Fox 5 San Diego on Tuesday that he died by suicide last week.

At 9 years old, Robbins first voiced Charlie Brown in “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” which was a television documentary about “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz released in 1963. He followed that up with the holiday classics “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965 and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in 1966.

Throughout the ’60s, Robbins provided his voice for “Charlie Brown’s All Stars,” “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown,” “It’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown,” “It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown” and the 1969 feature film “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” The film was directed by veteran animator Bill Melendez, who also provided the voices of Snoopy and Woodstock in dozens of TV specials,...

Actor Peter Robbins, who in his youth provided the original voice of Charlie Brown in various Peanuts cartoons, has died. He was 65.

Robbins’ family confirmed to Fox 5 San Diego that the actor died by suicide earlier this month.

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Throughout the 1960s, Robbins lent his voice to Charlie Brown in several Peanuts specials, including the beloved holiday staples A Charlie Brown Christmas (in 1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin,...

Peter Robbins, who voiced Charlie Brown in the 1960s Peanuts cartoons, and Kathryn Kates, a veteran actress known for her roles in Seinfeld and Orange Is The New Black, have died. According to Robbins’ family, the former child actor, who suffered from bipolar disorder, committed suicide last week, as first reported by San Diego’s Fox 5. He was 65. Best known for voicing Charlie Brown in holiday classics such as A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), Robbins voiced the iconic Charles M. Schulz-created character for four years. Outside of his work on the Peanuts cartoons, Robbins guest-starred on TV series such as The Munsters, Rawhide, Get Smart, The Donna Reed Show, F Troop, My Three Sons, and he had a recurring role in the 1968 sitcom Blondie. He later worked as a DJ. Robbins returned to the spotlight in 2015 when he was arrested and sentenced...

Peter Robbins, who voiced Charlie Brown in the classic 1960s Peanuts cartoons, has died. The former actor died by suicide last week, his family told San Diego’s Fox 5. He was 65.

Robbins (real name Louis G. Nanasi) was born in 1956 in Los Angeles. He began acting in 1963 and was the first to play the Charles M. Schulz-created character of Charlie Brown, including in such perennial holiday animated classics as A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966).

In addition to voicing Charlie Brown for four years, Robbins recurred on the 1968 comedy Blondie and guest starred on such TV series as Rawhide, The Munsters, The Donna Reed Show, F Troop, Get Smart and My Three Sons. Robbins quit acting in 1972. For awhile, he worked as a DJ in Palm Springs.

Robbins, who suffered from bipolar disorder, made headlines in 2015 when he was sentenced to five...

Irma Kalish, the pioneering sitcom writer and producer who teamed with her late husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, on hundreds of television episodes, including emotional installments of All in the Family and Maude, has died. She was 96.

Kalish died Friday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her family announced.

The couple had written for such shows as My Favorite Martian, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun and F Troop but achieved a breakthrough in 1965 when they were hired by producer Ed Hartmann to write for My Three Sons and then for another CBS comedy, Family Affair, for which ...

Irma Kalish, the pioneering sitcom writer and producer who teamed with her late husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, on hundreds of television episodes, including emotional installments of All in the Family and Maude, has died. She was 96.

Kalish died Friday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, her family announced.

The couple had written for such shows as My Favorite Martian, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun and F Troop but achieved a breakthrough in 1965 when they were hired by producer Ed Hartmann to write for My Three Sons and then for another CBS comedy, Family Affair, for which ...

Actor James Hampton died Wednesday due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 84 years old. Hampton was best known for his roles in F Troop and Teen Wolf. He also earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work in The Longest Yard. Hampton thrived in the entertainment business for about 50 years as an […]

The post James Hampton, Star Of ‘F Troop’ & ‘Teen Wolf,’ Dies At 84 appeared first on uInterview.

James Hampton, best known for his roles in “F Troop,” “Teen Wolf” and “The Longest Yard,” for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination, died Wednesday due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, his agent confirmed to Variety. He was 84.

An award-winning actor, director, writer and producer, Hampton enjoyed a career in entertainment that spanned half a century before retiring to his native Texas.

Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Dallas, he served in the Army after attending North Texas State College. Shortly after, he landed a role in the hit television series, “Gunsmoke.”

On “Gunsmoke,” he met and developed a close relationship with Burt Reynolds. The pair worked together on “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing,” “The Longest Yard,” “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” and “Hustle.” Hampton also wrote and directed several episodes of Reynolds’ CBS sitcom, “Evening Shade.”

Throughout his career, Hampton played supporting roles in films like “The China Syndrome,...

James Hampton, an actor perhaps best recognized from roles in “F Troop,” “The Longest Yard” and “Teen Wolf,” has died from complications of Parkinson’s disease, his spokesperson told TheWrap. He was 84.

Hampton, who passed away on Wednesday at his home in Texas, is survived by his wife, Mary, along with his children, James, Andrea and Frank, and his grandchildren.

Hampton was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as “Caretaker” in the original “Longest Yard.” Also from that film came a longtime friendship with co-star Burt Reynolds, which led to multiple new career opportunities, including writing, directing and producing duties on Reynolds’ “Evening Shade.” Hampton would go on to direct episodes of “Sister, Sister” and “Grace Under Fire.”

Hampton was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Dallas. He attended North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas), where he majored in speech and drama and...

James Hampton, a veteran character actor best known as bumbling bugler Hannibal Shirley Dobbs on ’60s sitcom F Troop, died Wednesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, from Parkinson’s disease complications. He was 84 and his death was confirmed by TV biographer Randy West.

A character actor whose amiable appearance made him the quintessential sidekick, Hampton had a long career in film and television before retiring to his native Texas.

Beyond F Troop, he is best remembered for many key film roles, including appearances as “Caretaker” the manager of the prison football team in the Burt Reynolds prison film, The Longest Yard.

He also had supporting roles in the 1979 thriller The China Syndrome, the 1981 superhero comedy Condorman, the 1985 comedy, and Teen Wolf,. playing Harold Howard, father to Michael J. Fox’s title character. Hampton reprised the part in the 1987 follow-up with Jason Bateman, Teen Wolf Too, and the animated series spinoff.

James Hampton, who played the bumbling bugler Hannibal Dobbs on F Troop, the prison inmate Caretaker in the original The Longest Yard and Michael J. Fox’s furry father in Teen Wolf, has died. He was 84.

Hampton died Wednesday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, of complications from Parkinson’s disease, a family spokesperson said.

Hampton was great pals with Burt Reynolds — the two first met on a 1963 episode of Gunsmoke — and they were castmates in The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (1973), The Longest Yard (1974), W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975) and Hustle (1975). Plus, he wrote and/or directed several episodes of Reynolds’ CBS sitcom, Evening Shade.

The likable ...

Gene Reynolds, a former child actor who went on to co-create M*A*S*H and Lou Grant and direct and/or produced multiple other series and was a two-term DGA president, died Monday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. He was 96.

Reynolds won six Emmys — from more than two dozen nominations — three DGA Awards and a WGA Award during a six-decade showbiz career that began as a preteen actor. He would continue with onscreen roles through the 1950s before segueing to producing and directing.

He got his start behind the camera writing the 1958-61 NBC Western Tales of Wells Fargo and soon began directing episodes of such enduring TV series as Leave It to Beaver, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Andy Griffith Show — co-starring a young Ron Howard — Father of the Bride, The Munsters and more than 70- half-hours of the long-running Fred MacMurray sitcom My Three Sons.

11:53 Am Pt -- Ken's ex-wife, Jackie, tells us he had been battling heart issues for several months, and had stint surgery in October. But she adds, his heart illness continued to worsen in recent weeks, and he'd been in and out of the hospital. Jackie says their daughter, Jennifer, Ken's partner Susie and herself were all by his side until the end. She adds, Susie had been with Ken for 26 years and encouraged him through his ailment.

Tony Sokol Dec 2, 2018

F Troop's Commander of Fort Courage Ken Berry was given his first assignment by Mr. Spock when he was a lowly sergeant.

Ken Berry, best known for his role as Captain Wilton Parmenter on the TV comedy series F Troop, died Saturday at age 85, according to Variety.

“Dear friends. We are sad to let you know our beloved Captain, Mr Ken Berry passed away tonight,” Larry Storch, who played F Troop's Corporal Agarn, wrote to Facebook. “We just spoke with Jackie Joseph who confirmed the devastating news. We are at a true loss for words. Ken, we hope you know how much you were loved. Goodnight Captain. We miss you already.”

Berry could deliver lines, but his forte was physical comedy. Trained as a dancer since he joined the Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program traveling performance ensemble at age 15, Berry was often assigned long, seemingly impossible takes...

Ken Berry, best known to TV audiences for his work on F Troop, Mayberry R.F.D. and Mama’s Family, has died at the age of 85. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Berry’s death was first announced by his former wife, actress Jackie Joseph, in a Facebook post on Saturday. She later acknowledged the outpouring of “love and gratitude” expressed by friends and admirers of the late actor, and shared a photo of Berry and his partner of the last 26 years, Susie Walsh:

In addition to Joseph, Berry’s former F Troop costar, Larry Storch (Cpl.

Ken Berry, who is best known for his roles in the classic TV shows Mama’s Family and F-Troop, died Saturday. He was 85.

Berry’s ex-wife Jackie Joseph-Lawrence announced the news of his death on Facebook saying, “With very deep sorrow, I must inform friends of Ken Berry that he died a short time ago.” No further details about his death were given.

Born in Illinois November 3, 1933, Berry showed an interest in singing and dancing at a young age. When he was 15 years old, he toured with a tap dancing ensemble. After high school, he went on to join the army where he served under pre-Star Trek Sergeant Leonard Nimoy. He would continue to perform in talent contests and a competition to appear on Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town where he placed third and appeared on television.

Berry is known for role as Vinton in classic TV...

Ken Berry, the amiable and musically-talented TV actor of the 1960s and ’70s who starred in “F Troop,” “Mama’s Family” and “Mayberry R.F.D.,” died Saturday.

His former wife, actress Jackie Joseph-Lawrence posted the news on Facebook. “F Troop” co-star Larry Storch wrote on Facebook, “We hope you know how much you were loved. Goodnight Captain.”

Berry played Captain Parmenter on Western sitcom “F Troop” for two years in the mid-1960s.

On “Mama’s Family,” he played Vinton Harper on the “Carol Burnett Show” spinoff, which starred Vicki Lawrence, Rue McClanahan and Betty White. The sitcom ran two seasons on NBC in 1983 and 1984, and two years later was revived in syndication, where it was a hit and ran until 1990.

Berry appeared as widowed farmer Sam Jones on “The Andy Griffith Show” and transitioned into the lead as the show spun off as “Mayberry R.F.D.”

“Mayberry R.F.D.” ran from 1968 to...

William Phipps, the voice of Prince Charming in the animated Disney film Cinderella and a prolific actor who appeared in more than 200 film and television productions, has died. Phipps passed Friday at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica at age 96 from lung cancer complications, according to his friend, author Tom Weaver.

Phipps had an interesting career in film, debuting in the Oscar-nominated Crossfire, which was a Best Picture candidate that year. But he was best known for his many roles in 1950s science fiction films, where he was one of the genre’s main players.

Among his appearances were the films Five, The War of the Worlds, Invaders From Mars, Cat Women of the Moon, and The Snow Creature.

Phipps voice-over gig as Prince Charming was a direct hire by Walt Disney himself. It brought Phipps a whopping $100 for an afternoon’s work. He later made a live appearance as...

Louie Nicholas Elias Jr., a stuntman on the 1960 gladiator classic Spartacus and later on the TV comedy series F Troop, has died. He was 84 and died on December 13 in Ventura County of undisclosed causes. Elias was born on November 21, 1933, and raised in Burbank. He attended UCLA and played for the Bruins in the Rose Bowl under coach Red Sanders. He later played professional football in the early days of that sport, his career ending because of knee injuries. He…...

Louie Nicholas Elias Jr., a stuntman on the 1960 gladiator classic Spartacus and later on the TV comedy series F Troop, has died. He was 84 and died on December 13 in Ventura County of undisclosed causes. Elias was born on November 21, 1933, and raised in Burbank. He attended UCLA and played for the Bruins in the Rose Bowl under coach Red Sanders. He later played professional football in the early days of that sport, his career ending because of knee injuries. He…...

Louie Elias, a veteran Hollywood stuntman who is seen leaping from a blown-up guard tower during the opening credits of the 1960s ABC comedy F Troop, has died. He was 84.

Elias, the older brother of the late actor James Stacy and Emmy-nominated hairstylist Carolyn Elias, died Dec. 13, his family announced.

Elias doubled for Charles McGraw in Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus, getting pushed into a giant vat by Kirk Douglas in a stunt that left a scar on his chin for life. He also served as Rod Taylor's double throughout the Australian actor's career.

On television, Elias stepped...

Do you like my choice of leading image?  'We're the Glory Guys! Eee-Yow!' What is surely the most generic cavalry western of all time is actually from a screenplay by Sam Peckinpah. Twilight Time's extras have a lot to say about that, and so does Savant. The Glory Guys Blu-ray Twilight Time 1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 113 min. / Street Date September 6, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95 Starring Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, James Caan, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens, Peter Breck, Jeanne Cooper, Michael Anderson Jr., Adam Williams, Wayne Rogers, Michael Forest, Paul Birch, Stephen Chase, Claudio Brook. Cinematography James Wong Howe Cinematography Ernst R. (Tom) Rolf, Melvin Shapiro Original Music Riz Ortolani Written by Sam Peckinpah from the novel by Hoffman Birney Produced by Arthur Gardner, Arnold Laven, Jules V. Levy Directed by Arnold Laven

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

The Glory Guys is as generic and standard-issue...

A complete set of The Brady Kids animated TV show is finally being released on DVD. The Brady Kids is an animated spin-off of The Brady Bunch. The cartoon ran for 22 episodes over the course of two seasons, before being cancelled in 1973. Talk about a long wait! The ever-useful website, TV Shows on DVD reports the three-disk set will be available February 16, 2016.

The Brady Kids was part of ABC's Saturday morning cartoon block. In the first season of The Brady Kids, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, Eve Plumb, and Barry Williams all voiced the roles they played on the live-action series. Williams, Knight, and McCormick left The Brady Kids at the end of season one, and the Greg, Peter, and Marcia voice-roles were recast. F Troop star, Larry Storch, voiced Greg's classmates Chuck White and Fleetwood, as...

Melody Patterson, who played “Wrangler Jane” Angelica Thrift on the Old West comedy F Troop, died on Friday at age 66.

Patterson’s passing was reported by the official Facebook page for F Troop costar Larry Storch.

Running for two seasons on ABC (from 1965-67), F Troop followed the post-American Civil War antics at the remote Army outpost Fort Courage. Patterson’s Wrangler Jane was the tomboyish, shopkeeper and sharpshooter girlfriend of Captain Wilton Parmenter (played by Ken Berry).

The actress’ TV credits also included appearances on The Monkees, Green Acres, Adam-12 and the original Hawaii Five-0.

Here, an atypically dressy...

Melody Patterson, who played the sharpshooting Wrangler Jane on the screwball ABC comedy F Troop, has died, her co-star Larry Storch said on Facebook. She was 66. “It’s with a heavy heart that we can let you know our beloved Wrangler Jane, Melody Patterson passed away. Our hearts are sad today. Rip Sweet Melody. We love you,” Storch, 92, who played Corporal Randolph Agarn on the show, wrote. No details of her death were immediately available. Another friend said on Facebook that Patterson had been in poor health after breaking her back a few years ago. Patterson was married to Hawaii

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Film ‘Jupiter Ascending’ rises to absurd and hilarious heights

That sound you’re hearing is a massive sigh of relief from David Lynch. He no longer holds the dubious distinction of producing the most expensive B-movie in the history of Hollywood. That honor now belongs to The Wachowskis, whose Jupiter Ascending has officially displacedDune at the top (or bottom) of the heap. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however. Jupiter Ascending not only looks spectacular, it’s a laugh riot. Ridiculous dialogue, hammy performances, and enough mythology to baffle Zeus make this disaster a must-see for all lovers of cheese… read the full article.

The Conversation: Drew Morton and Landon Palmer Discuss ‘The Killing’

Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956) is not my favorite work by the visionary director. In fact, the film probably wouldn’t even make it onto a list of my top five Kubrick films. Yet, with...

Between finales, pilots, and premieres, there’s plenty of TV to talk about this week on the podcast. First we look at the week in comedy, including Key & Peele’s Superbowl special and a contentious Man Seeking Woman. Then Kate looks at some genre before Simon joins her to discuss The 100, and we round out our week with the dramas, including the series finale of Parenthood, the pilot of Fortitude, and the long-awaited season premiere of The Americans. Afterward, Emmy Award winner (and current writer for The Simpsons) Michael Price returns to join Kate at the DVD Shelf to discuss multi-cam comedy and two classics of the genre, The Phil Silvers Show (aka Sgt. Bilko) and F Troop.

Our Week in Comedy (13:42-43:33): Parks and Rec, Key & Peele Superbowl Special, Archer, Man Seeking Woman, Broad City, Adventure Time, Jane the Virgin

Our Week in Genre (44:28-...

From a suburban werewolf to a farmer who plants people, Scream Factory will continue to deliver cult horror films to viewers’ doorsteps throughout this Summer of Fear. Those attending Sdcc next week will get a taste of their terror treats firsthand at booth #4248, where a number of Blu-rays will be available, as well a limited edition t-shirt, posters, and an “inside look” panel that will include special announcements and sneak peeks of upcoming Blu-ray releases.

The panel, titled An Inside Look at Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids and Scream Factory, will take place on Friday, July 25th, 2014 at 7pm in Room 23Abc. In addition to exclusive panel announcements, a Comic-Con exclusive blood-red Scream Factory t-shirt will be available at their booth, as well as a free 2014 button pack, collectible keychains, screen wipes, and more. Also available at booth #4248 will be the following batch of Scream Factory Blu-rays, each one coming with...

The guiding principle behind “Fire in the Hole” seems to be that if the show can cover enough physical ground and extend its reach over a great enough span of time, that will make up for a set of relationships that have ceased to evolve and a plot that’s freezing up. There’s a lot of inert dialogue scenes where people try to work out their thoughts and feelings, including one in which Violet expresses her disappointment in her “warrior” Jason for even having thoughts and feelings. (Remembering the day they met, she says that she could tell right away that “you were a man like they used to make them, who lived by a code of honor and dignity, and with an iron-forged c**k!” Stick that on your next Father’s Day card.) These philosophical debates don’t do much for the audience, but hey—there are flashbacks!

“It preys on human fear. It feeds on human flesh.” Scream Factory has officially announced their August 5th release of Without Warning to Blu-ray & DVD. The cover art and special features on this first-ever home media release of Without Warning should excite fans of the 1980 sci-fi thriller.

“The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest), Christopher S. Nelson (Roller Boogie), Cameron Mitchell (Blood and Black Lace), Neville Brand...

Released in 1980, the low-budget sci-fi horror flick Without Warning has faded into relative obscurity over the course of the last several years, never managing to find itself on any home video format. That all changes this summer, when Scream Factory breathes new life into a lost and undiscovered gem. Read on for full release details!

From the Press Release

The hunting season has begun. Earth is the new hunting ground for an alien life form that preys on human fear and feeds on human flesh. Beyond any known terror, mankind is about to become the next endangered species in the 1980 sci-fi horror cult classic Without Warning, also known as It Came Without Warning, from celebrated exploitation filmmaker Greydon Clark (Joysticks, Satan’s Cheerleaders). A non-stop ride into extra-terror-strial mayhem, this highly sought-after sci-fi creature thriller stars Oscar® winners Jack Palance (Batman) and Martin Landau (Ed Wood), Tarah Nutter (Bitter Harvest...

Sneak Peek footage, images and synopsis, from the new 'Old West' comedy series "Quick Draw", starring writer, actor John Lehr as 'John Henry Hoyle', a new sheriff in the 1875 Kansas town of 'Great Bend', premiering August 5, 2013 on Hulu.

Not since TV's "F Troop" and Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" has there been an attempt at a film parody of the 'cowboy' genre, as Lehr satirizes "Deadwood" with the forensic procedures of "CSI":

"...a 'Harvard' graduate who studied forensic science, as well as being a remarkably good shot, 'Sheriff Hoyle' (Lehr) is also kind of a dummy, in a hilarious way. 

"Joined by a cast of characters that includes 'Deputy Eli Brocias' (Nicholas Brown), a madam/saloon-owner named 'Honey Shaw' (Allison Dunbar), and a hodgepodge of colorful locals, outlaws, and ladies of the night, Sheriff Hoyle is tasked with bringing law and order to 'Great Bend'...

"...earning the respect of the townspeople,...

Chicago – One of the most unique happenings in Chicago every year is “The Hollywood Show.” This annual event presents celebrities from TV and film, both from the nostalgic past and the current scene. In September of 2012, the show included Loni Anderson (“Wkrp in Cincinnati”), Oscar Winner Martin Landau and the reunited cast of “Lost in Space,” all meeting fans and signing autographs.

HollywoodChicago.com covered the event, and photographer Joe Arce put the show’s participants in front of the lens. “The Hollywood Show” will be back in Chicago in September, 2013. Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All images © Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com.

HOLSHOW1: Loni Anderson of ‘Wkrp in Cincinnati.’ HOLSHOW2: Another view of Loni Anderson. HOLSHOW3: Oscar winner Martin Landau of ‘Ed Wood’ and ‘The Majestic.’ HOLSHOW4:...

Chicago – In the 1960s, network television became the ‘cool fire’ that families gathered around, and the array of trends and shows in that era had an odd but flavorful variety. Lee Meriwether (Catwoman from the 1966 ‘Batman movie), Kathy Garver (Cissy in the sitcom ‘Family Affair’) and Robert Colbert (ensemble player on the TV drama ‘The Time Tunnel’) represented those shows.

They appeared last March at ‘The Hollywood Show,’ a twice-a-year event in which fans can mingle, take photographs and get autographs from the celebrities – like the 1960s TV and film actors – who appear there. There is also a great opportunity to purchase memorabilia from a host of showbiz vendors, all in one room. The fall session of The Hollywood Show will take place at the Hilton Rosemont Hotel on River Road in Rosemont, Ill, on September 7th, 8th and 9th, 2012. For complete details click here.

HollywoodChicago.com was at the...

For no reasons that are indefensible intellectually, I went to see Rock of Ages the other day. I like Alec Baldwin, okay? It’s loud and it’s fun, and while hair metal was never my genre, I kind of like the power ballads that dominate the soundtrack.

The main plot is almost identical to Get Crazy, one of the greatest movies ever made. A sincere rock club on the Sunset Strip (in this case, The Bourbon Room), run by Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand, is in the rapacious site of greedy real estate developers. Our heroes must put on a show that will sell enough tickets to raise money and thwart the evil plans. Meanwhile, a sweet young girl (Julianne Hough) from the heartland comes to Los Angeles with dreams of rock stardom, and falls in love with a boy with similar dreams (Diego Benota).

Mixed up in all...

It may seem surprising but as a film journo, one of the more difficult elements of interviewing cast and crew, perhaps the most difficult, is getting the interviewee to give an original answer.

Even if you come up with a question they’ve never heard before, they’ll still more likely than not give you something fairly dull, and well-practiced, as before you get anywhere near them, they’ve been quizzed about the film by studio executives, coached by publicists and harassed by journalists visiting the set.

Even on the day of your interview, they will probably have been by at least fifteen people before you, each with their own variation on the same question. And that’s assuming you’re at the first junket for the film – a more likely scenario is that they’ve already done press for it around the world before they come anywhere near you.

The networks announced their 2012/13 seasons this week. Many years ago, this was a big event. It isn't anymore. But the media still trots out a few column inches on the new shows we can expect to see cancelled next fall. And I always look, hoping to find some vestige of brief, glorious part of America's cultural past.

Most current sitcoms can be traced to one of several family trees. You can still see the spawn of Lucy and Ricky in Mike and Molly, just as you can scratch The Middle hard enough and find Father Knows Best. The Seinfeld/Friends juggernaut is visible in the Fox hit The New Girl, among others. And workplace comedies that sprang from The Dick Van Dyke Show make up most of NBC's current line-up.

The networks' new shows mostly fall into these generic categories. Chances are, one or two will strike a chord, most will flounder.

Depp claims Native American heritage, but I don't care whether he can prove it or not. His cred is his talent as an actor

When I first saw the picture of Depp playing Tonto which producer Jerry Bruckheimer sneak-tweeted last week, I was, of course, giddy as always to see Depp, because I have been a fan for most of my life. I am one of those women who feels like they "discovered" him because they have been following his career since the original 21 Jump Street. And now, as Tonto: the make-up was fierce and the head-dress a bit odd – I mean, it is a bird – but it was still "my" Johnny Depp.

I knew when that picture, with a head-dress by a costume designer and face-paint by a make-up artist, surfaced, that there was going to be a stir – an uprising, perhaps – among the American Indian community's social networks.

ABC’s The River has garnered about as much positive buzz as any midseason show, which is to say it’s been received about ten times better than 90 percent of fall’s offerings. That’s promising. More promising? The show’s executive producers Zack Estrin and Michael Green have a collective knowledge and appreciation for so-called genre television that has well-prepared them for the impending trek down The River. And they want you to feel ready for the journey, too.

So here’s their advice and a (spoiler-free!) preview of what’s to come as you gear up for the ride:

1. You Will Get Scared…...