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Since the success of old-school sitcoms like I Love Lucy and All In the Family, comedy has proven one of TV's most successful genres, with some shows running for over a decade. As impressive as the genre's longevity is, some audiences prefer shorter series that they can enjoy across a single day. A shorter show gives the audience something easy to digest, and some series surpass the quality of long sitcoms in a mere six episodes.

Comedy shows come in a range of formats, tones and styles, from dark comedy to witty satire and everything in between. While the classic weekly sitcom formula is still king, sometimes more can be said with less, and these shorter shows allow more focus on character building. Long shows always risk falling into a repetitive cycle of unoriginal stories, while compressing more into less forces the best out of writers.

Police Squad! Spawned the...

For the bulk of his career, Leslie Nielsen was best known for his stern, dramatic roles. His tall stature and low voice had casting directors offering him parts as commanders, leaders, and even heavies. Many might recall Nielsen's stone-faced turn in 1956's "Forbidden Planet" as the captain in "The Poseidon Adventure," or playing a cop in the 1972 cop drama "The Bold Ones: The Protectors." In 1977's "Day of the Animals" he plays a manly outdoorsman who loses his mind and, quite darkly, declares insane dominion over animals and women. Some might recall that he can hold his breath a long time, as he declared in "Creepshow." Many will be shocked to witness Nielsen beat and assault Barbra Streisand in the 1987 drama "Nuts." 

However, Nielsen did appear in a handful of comedies, most notably, playing Dr. Rumack in the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker farce "Airplane!" The parody proved that he had a talent for deadpan comedy,...

Archie and Hawkeye and Mary and Bob and Carol are being reunited for a hot Saturday-night date on the Catchy Comedy broadcast television network.

TVLine has learned exclusively that starting Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, Catchy Comedy (fka Decades) will recreate what is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV line-ups ever — Saturday night circa 1973-74 — by leading off with All in the Family at 8/7c, followed by M*A*S*H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: From Blood and Ash TV Series, Kelly Clarkson Renewed and MoreThe White Lotus Season 3 Sets Winter 2025 Release Date - Plus,...

This article first appeared into the September 2018 issue of Empire.

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Thirty years after unleashing defective detective Frank Drebin onto the streets of LA, the men behind The Naked Gun talk us through its most iconic moments.

“I’ve finally found someone I can love. A good clean love, without utensils.”

So spoke Lieutenant Frank Drebin in the closing moments of The Naked Gun, romancing his girlfriend mere seconds after his would-be assassin is trampled to death by a marching band. It’s been 30 years since Leslie Nielsen’s Drebin crashed into cinemas, getting everything wrong yet somehow still solving the case. Today, Drebin’s co-creators David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (aka Zaz), brought together by Empire for an anniversary chinwag, are in fine fettle — there’s no mistaking Drebin’s heritage. “Tell me if I’m wrong,” says Empire, about to pose a question. “You’re wrong!

Jim Abrahams, one of the creative minds behind such comedies as Airplane!, three Naked Gun movies, and the TV series Police Squad!, died November 26, 2024, at his Santa Monica, California home, Deadline reports. He was 80 years old.

Abrahams was born May 10, 1944, in Shorewood, Wi. He grew up with the brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and the trio often referred to as "Zaz" got their start in Hollywood with The Kentucky Fried Movie. Written by Zaz and directed by John Landis, the film consists of a series of crude, sometimes offensive vignettes something which, by modern standards, could never be made today. Abrahams and the Zucker brothers appeared in the movie alongside James Bond actor George Lazenby, Donald Sutherland, and The Incredible Hulk star Bill Bixby, among others.

The trio got their big break in 1980 with Airplane!, a send-up of '70s disaster flicks like Airport and The Poseidon Adventure. Starring Leslie Nielsen,...

Jim Abrahams, one of the writers and directors behind some of the greatest and most quotable spoof and slapstick comedies of the 20th century — including Airplane!, The Naked Gun, and Hot Shots! — died Tuesday, Nov. 26, Variety reports. He was 80.

Abrahams’ son, Joseph, confirmed his death. No cause of death was given.

Abrahams spent the bulk of his career working alongside his two childhood friends, brothers David and Jerry Zucker. Jerry Zucker, in a statement shared with Rolling Stone, called Abrahams “our third brother.”

He continued: “He had a rebellious streak that drove him.

Filmmaker Jim Abrahams, whose work includes co-directing the iconic comedy movie Airplane!, has passed away.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Jim Abrahams died on Tuesday at his home in Santa Monica, California. According to his son, Joseph, the filmmaker's passing was due to natural causes. He was 80 years old.

Abrahams has long been known for his work on several popular slapstick comedy movies. He frequently collaborated with filmmaking brothers Jerry and David Zucker, and the trio co-wrote John Landis' 1977 comedy Kentucky Fried Movie. They followed this up by co-writing and co-directing Airplane!, the 1980 spoof of disaster movies starring Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Robert Stack.

With a budget of less than $4 million, the comedy earned over $171 million at the box office. The film also won a WGA Award for Best Adapted Comedy. It is still remembered fondly as one of the best slapstick comedies ever made, often quoted by...

Jim Abrahams, part of the writing-directing-producing team behind such comedy touchstones as Airplane!, the Naked Gun films, and Police Squad!, died Tuesday at his Santa Monica home. He was 80.

His son, Joseph Abrahams, confirmed the news to our sister site The Hollywood Reporter.

Along with brothers David and Jerry Zucker, Abrahams also was behind laugh-inducing — and often intentionally groan-inducing — comedy films including Top Secret! and the Top Gun spoofs Hot Shots! and Hot Shots! Part Deux. Students of the Mel Brooks School of Anything for a Laugh, the trio paired absurd situations with deadpan lines and fueled Leslie Nielsen’s unlikely rise to leading man after 30 years in the business.

The trio got their big-screen start writing The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), a series of decidedly un-pc vignettes directed by John Landis that ranged from silly to uproarious to “what the hell?!” and back. Sample: A TV news anchor deadpans from...

Jim Abrahams, a film director and writer behind hit slapstick comedies like “Airplane!,” “Hot Shots!,” the “Naked Gun” series and more, died Tuesday, his son Joseph confirmed to Variety. He was 80.

With his childhood friends Jerry and David Zucker, Abrahams formed the filmmaking trio, called Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, and popularized the spoof genre of the 1980s.

“Jim Abrahams redefined the boundaries of humor through groundbreaking works like ‘Airplane!’ and ‘The Naked Gun’ series. Together with Jerry and David Zucker, he transformed satire into an art form, inspiring generations of comedians and filmmakers and leaving an indelible mark on the world of comedy,” said the National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson in a statement.

With the Zucker brothers, Abrahams founded the The Kentucky Fried Theater while they all attended college together at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971. That led to them making their film debut with the indie sketch...

Jim Abrahams, writer-director of “Airplane!,” “Police Squad!” and the third leg of the Zucker Brothers trio that brought zany/deadpan comedy to screens and infinite dialogue quotes among the millions of friends who saw them, has died. He was 80.

Abrahams died Tuesday at his Santa Monica home of natural causes, THR reported Tuesday, according to his son Joseph.

With the brothers Jerry and David Zucker, his childhood friends from Wisconsin, Abrahams wrote the sketch-comedy “Kentucky Fried Movie” in 1977, directed by John Landis. The cult hit was also a modest box-office success with over $7 million, and the three were off to the races.

With Landis off to direct “Animal House,” Abrahams and the Zuckers, or Zaz, took director duties on “Airplane!,” which – despite, but also because of, its relentlessly silly and juvenile gags – still stands among the most revered comedic films of any era.

The most quotable comedy of all time...

Jim Abrahams, the writer-director who with brothers Jerry and David Zucker turned the comedy genre on its ear with such zany efforts as Airplane!, Police Squad! and The Naked Gun films, died Tuesday. He was 80.

Abrahams died of natural causes at his home in Santa Monica, his son Joseph told The Hollywood Reporter.

The trio made their first mainstream impression by writing the sketch-filled Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), directed by John Landis in his prelude to Animal House, and they also combined for Top Secret! (1984), starring a young Val Kilmer, and Ruthless People (1986), featuring Bette Midler and Danny DeVito.

Without his childhood buddies from Wisconsin, Abrahams directed Big Business (1988), starring Midler and Lily Tomlin, and co-wrote and helmed Hot Shots! (1991) and its 1993 sequel, both starring Charlie Sheen.

Joke-filled and laden with sight gags and puns, the humor of Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker, or Zaz as they came to be known, was fast,...

On a cop show, no one is supposed to be more compelling than the cops themselves. One rung below them is the crime victim, whose backstory has to be interesting enough for us to care that our heroes are trying to bring them justice, even posthumously. Still lower on the ladder are all the bit players, whose contributions to the cops’ investigation might seem insignificant, but collectively fill out the picture: the retail clerk who digs out a receipt that helps to establish a timeline; the barmaid who remembers the victim was harassed by a regular; the neighbor who heard upsetting sounds through the wall.

Comfortable though we may be with the rhythms of a detective procedural — which, after all, conform to an endlessly repeatable format — Interior Chinatown has questions. Which crime victims’ stories are selected to be told, and why? Who should tell them? And what happens when one...

Next August, Taken star Liam Neeson will put aside his gritty, aged action hero persona and pick up something far funnier (though likely just as gritty) in the reboot of comedy gem The Naked Gun. Now, Neeson has given us a brief insight into what we can expect from the comedy outing, delivering a menacing warning when asked about the project by JoBlo. Leaning forward and delivering the following quote in his familiar growl, Neeson stated that...

Its going to be very funny.

While short, the way Neeson promises big laughs as if its a threat is no doubt a tease of whats to come when The Naked Gun reboot puts the action stars persona in the parody spotlight. Breaking character, Neeson reportedly went on to praise his co-stars, which includes Pamela Anderson, Danny Huston, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, Cch Pounder, and Busta Rhymes.

While...

Liam Neeson doesn’t know who we are or what we want, but if we’re looking for a proper replacement for Leslie Nielsen, he’s not sure he can help out.

Let’s be completely honest with ourselves for a second. Nobody in the Naked Gun fandom has been calling for a franchise reboot 30 years after what should have been the final film in the series in Naked Gun 33 1⁄3: The Final Insult, especially one that was made without any involvement from David Zucker or the late, great Nielsen. Well, nobody except Seth MacFarlane and The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer, apparently — the pair teamed up to convince Paramount Pictures to revive the series with a reboot film, simply titled The Naked Gun, which is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1, 2025.

With MacFarlane in charge of the story and Schaffer directing, the film series based on Zucker’s...

Quick Links The Naked Gun Reboot Latest News The Naked Gun Reboot Release Date The Naked Gun Reboot Cast The Naked Gun Reboot Story The Naked Gun Reboot: Further News & Info

The classic comedy franchise The Naked Gun is getting the modern reboot treatment, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about the new film. Originally released in 1988 and based on the TV show Police Squad!, The Naked Gun follows bumbling detective Frank Drebin and his pals on the force as they try to foil a plot to assassinate the Queen of England. Created by the legendary Zucker brothers, The Naked Gun's humor was a mix of slapstick antics and screwball weirdness, and it was largely anchored by franchise star Leslie Nielsen's brilliant delivery.

Besides the first film in 1988, The Naked Gun would continue in two sequels throughout the 1990s, though its critical standing would slip with each successive release.

Actor John Ashton, best known for the action-comedy Beverly Hills Cop franchise, has passed away. Ashton’s rep has issued a statement confirming his passing. He was 76 at the time of his death.

Ashton’s Family Has Asked For Donations In His Honor

In a statement with TMZ, Ashton’s rep Alan Somers confirmed he had passed away this past Thursday in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He was battling cancer at the time of his death.

According to the publication, Somers issued the following statement, “John leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service. His memory will forever be treasured by his wife, children, grandchildren, as well as his brother, sisters, his extended family and all who loved him. John’s impact on the world will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”

John Ashton – YouTube

The publication noted that Ashton’s family any donations made be used for Pathways Hospice Care.

John Ashton, known for his role as John Taggart in the “Beverly Hills Cop” films, died Thursday in Fort Collins, Colo., his manager Alan Somers confirmed to Variety. He was 76.

Ashton played Detective Sergeant John Taggart in the first two installments of the “Beverly Hills Cop” series, released in 1984 and 1987, alongside Eddie Murphy and Judge Reinhold. He reprised his role in 2024’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” in which his character is now a police chief.

Ashton’s acting career spanned more than 50 years. His early film credits include “An Eye for an Eye” (1973), “So Evil, My Sister” (1974), “Cat Murkil and the Silks” (1976), “Breaking Away” (1979), “Borderline” (1980) and “Honky Tonk Freeway” (1981). He also guest starred on several television series during the ’70s, including “Emergency!,” “Columbo,” “Police Story,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Police Woman,” “Mash,” “Starsky and Hutch” and “Dallas.”

Ashton portrayed Cliff Nelson, father of Eric Stoltz’s Keith Nelson, in the 1987 teen rom-com “Some Kind of Wonderful,...

One of the best shows on Peacock is about to disappear -- so viewers need to check out Code 404 while they still can. The streaming service has quietly announced that the cop comedy, starring Daniel Mays and Stephen Graham as a pair of hard-boiled detectives, will be removed in two weeks. And when it goes, Peacock will lose one of its funniest and most unique shows.

Code 404 is one of several British TV series that Peacock acquired and debuted in the U.S. as Peacock originals. It wound up becoming one of the best Peacock shows, because of its recognizable cast and their total commitment to an off-the-wall world. Anyone who hasn't seen this wild parody of policing has just two weeks to fall over laughing while enjoying some great performances. Between its spot-on parody of crime dramas and its cast going for broke, this is a series...

We’re obviously completely self-aware that we’re publishing this list the Monday after Deadpool & Wolverine made $205 million at the box office. That’s the whole point of being meta, right? Or if you want to get Merriam-Webster involved, something that “shows or suggests an explicit awareness of itself or oneself as a member of its category: cleverly self-referential.”

That said, when it comes to movies, this kind of self-awareness can cover a wide range of narrative devices. A character quietly acknowledging the audience can be meta. Other times, meta scenes can intentionally break apart a film’s reality. Meta doesn’t even necessarily need to be done for the sake of humor either, as plenty of movies — from Frederico Fellini’s 8½ to the horror thriller Funny Games — get meta without much humorous intention.

But for the purposes of this list, which Cracked writers Tim Grierson and Matt Solomon and...

Actor Spencer Milligan, who portrayed Ranger Rick Marshall on Land of the Lost, has passed away at 86. Milligan left the show due to a pay dispute and continued acting in various TV roles. Milligan's co-stars Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman paid tribute to him, remembering him as a "true father to us all."

Actor Spencer Milligan, best known for playing Ranger Rick Marshall on the classic NBC series Land of the Lost, has died at the age of 86. His passing was announced by his family and by the co-stars who played his children, who called him a "true father to us all."

Milligan died at his home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on April 18, but his death was not announced until now. A cause of death of not announced. Land of the Lost stars Wesley Eure, who played Will Marshall, and Kathy Coleman, who played Holly Marshall, appeared together in a...

Spencer Milligan, who starred for Sid and Marty Krofft as the park ranger and widowed father Rick Marshall on the iconic Saturday morning kids show Land of the Lost, has died. He was 86.

Milligan died April 18 at his home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, his family announced.

Milligan played the heroic father of youngsters Will Marshall (Wesley Eure) and Holly Marshall (Kathy Coleman) on the first two seasons of NBC’s Land of the Lost, which featured a mix of live-action and stop-motion animated dinosaurs. On the sci-fi show, the family is caught in an earthquake while on a rafting trip and propelled into an alternative universe.

“Sid and Marty Krofft didn’t just cast our TV family, they created, for the cast, a lifelong loving family in real life,” Eure said Wednesday in a statement. “Today I have been overwhelmed by thousands of fans, reaching out to tell me how...

Terrence Beasor, a veteran character and voice-over actor best known for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Gods Must Be Crazy and recurring roles on The Middle and Raising Hope, has died. He was 89.

A rep said Beasor died May 28 at his home in Santa Monica with his wife of 55-plus years, actress Muriel Minot, by his side.

Beasor appeared on dozens of TV shows during his 40-year career, including The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Hunter, Knot’s Landing, Simon & Simon, Police Squad!, Chicago Hope, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Angie Tribeca, The Grinder, Hot In Cleveland, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, The District, Suddenly Susan, Days of Our Lives and Murder, She Wrote.

He also did voice work on several Star Trek series and video games and offscreen announcing on movies and TV shows including Jaws: The Revenge,...

The Naked Gun reboot stars Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. in a slapstick comedy sequel to the original films. New cast members include Liza Koshy, Cody Rhodes, Cch Pounder, and Busta Rhymes, with Kevin Durand playing the villain. Liam Neeson expresses nervousness about the comedic role but believes in director Akiva Schaffer's ability to bring humor to the film.

Production on The Naked Gun starring Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Danny Huston is underway, and weve now learned the identity of the final few cast members that will be included in the reboot. Neeson will take on the part made famous by Leslie Nielsen in the 1980s, first on television in Police Squad!, and then on the big screen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad, and its two sequels. While Nielsen portrayed Lt. Frank Drebin, Neeson is set to portray...

Exclusive: Paramount has rounded out the cast for its untitled Naked Gun reboot with four additions: Liza Koshy (Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts), current WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, Cch Pounder (Rustin) and Busta Rhymes.

No word on the roles they’re playing, but we’re told Rhodes will only be making a cameo. As previously announced, Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand and Danny Huston will also star. Neeson plays Detective Frank Drebin, with Hauser as his partner Ed. Roles for Anderson and Huston haven’t yet emerged, though it’s understood that Durand will be playing the film’s villain.

Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.

Known...

The cast for Paramount's Naked Gun reboot continues to grow. Danny Huston, perhaps best known for his villainous role in Yellowstone, is the latest actor to board the highly-anticipated comedy film.

According to Deadline, Huston has signed on to star alongside Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kevin Durand in the untitled Naked Gun reboot. At this time, Huston's role remains under wraps. So far, Paramount has only revealed who Neeson and Hauser will be playing, with Neeson stepping into the role of Detective Frank Drebin and Hauser cast as his partner Ed. However, it is understood that Durand who can be seen this summer as Proximus Caesar in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will be taking on one of the movie's villain roles.

Related Original Naked Gun Director 'Not Excited' for Liam Neeson's Reboot, Jokes About Oj The Naked Gun helmer David Zucker explains...

Exclusive: Danny Huston (The Dead Don’t Hurt) has signed on to star alongside Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser and Kevin Durand in the untitled Naked Gun reboot from Paramount Pictures.

Details as to the film’s plot, as well as Huston’s role in it, are under wraps. But Neeson will play Detective Frank Drebin, as previously announced, with Hauser as his partner Ed. It’s not yet clear who Anderson will be playing, though it’s understood that Durand will be taking on one of the film’s villain roles.

Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.

Known for their absurd scenarios and slapstick humor, past Naked Gun films centered on the misadventures of Drebin,...

After donning ape fur for his upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Kevin Durand is now getting Naked.

The actor, who is also currently on screens with horror movie Abigail, has joined Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Pamela Anderson and Paul Walter Hauser are also on the call sheet for the feature that will begin shooting later this month.

Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that...

It's a busy old time for Paul Walter Hauser – with good reason, since he's been putting in excellent, memorable and award-winning performances in a variety of films and shows. He's now attached to another big title, joining Liam Neeson in the cast of Paramount's new spin on The Naked Gun.

The 1988 original saw David Zucker, brother Jerry, Jim Abrahams and co-writer Pat Proft turn their short-lived comedy series Police Squad! into a movie. It was an instant comedy hit, Leslie Nielsen's iconic central performance cementing his transformation from dramatic actor to comedy legend as Detective Frank Drebin.

Two sequels followed to diminishing returns (though there are still good gags to be enjoyed in both), but we started to hear rumours of a remake in development years ago. That went through a few versions — Ed Helms was attached to star for while — and more recently, Seth MacFarlane has been involved,...

Paul Walter Hauser is ready to fight crime alongside Liam Neeson in the reboot of the Naked Gun franchise.

Hauser is set to play Captain Ed in director Akiva Schaffer’s untitled new Naked Gun film that Paramount Pictures plans to release July 18, 2025. George Kennedy previously played the role in the original film trilogy that kicked off with the 1988 comedy The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

Dan Gregor and Doug Mand penned the new movie’s script with Schaffer. The two scribes previously wrote the director’s Emmy-winning Disney+ feature Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door produce the project that is based on the Naked Gun film franchise and the television series Police Squad! from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker. Daniel M. Stillman serves as executive producer.

Hauser joins the cast that includes Neeson and Pamela Anderson. While plot details are under wraps,...

Exclusive: Paul Walter Hauser’s hot streak continues. After seeing New Line lock up rights to the authorized Chris Farley biopic in which he’ll star for director Josh Gad, the actor has signed on to the untitled Naked Gun reboot from Paramount Pictures.

Hauser joins an ensemble that also includes Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson, as previously announced. He’ll take on the role of Ed, Frank Drebin’s partner, which was inhabited in prior Naked Gun films by George Kennedy, and in the preceding series Police Squad! by Alan North.

Akiva Schaffer is directing and exec producing the comedy, slated for release in theaters on July 18, 2025. Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer, with whom they partnered on the Emmy-winning film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via Fuzzy Door, with Daniel M. Stillman also serving as EP.

When 1980’s Airplane! proved to be a massive hit, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year – up there with The Empire Strikes Back and Best Picture winner Kramer vs. Kramer – it was inevitable that it would get a sequel. But how often are comedy sequels good anyway? When have they ever really recaptured the magic and the laughter of the original? Well, Airplane II: The Sequel gave it a go…by basically being the same movie. Except this time around, Zaz wisely opted out, leaving the production without the strong leaders who reinvented the spoof genre. Instead, they got the guy who wrote Grease 2, one of the most notoriously awful sequels ever! So, strap in – no, not to an airplane but a space shuttle – as we find out: Wtf Happened to This Movie?!…The Sequel!

1980’s Airplane! did incredibly well upon release, making just under $85 million on a $3.5 million budget,...

Liam Neeson will be joined by a popular Baywatch star for the reimagining of The Naked Gun. While Neeson will portray a new version of Leslie Nielsen's character from the original, he'll be co-starring with Pamela Anderson.

Per Deadline, Pamela Anderson has boarded the cast of the untitled Naked Gun reboot, which is due to hit theaters on July 2025. It's been known that the film will star Neeson as Frank Drebin, though Anderson's role hasn't yet been revealed. Akiva Shaffer is directing the movie after co-writing the script with Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, the screenwriting duo behind the Disney+ movie Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing while Daniel M. Stillman is executive producing.

Related Naked Gun Creators Are 'Not Happy' About Liam Neeson's Upcoming Reboot Director David Zucker and co-writer Pat Proft share their frustrations with Paramount's Naked Gun reboot,...

Pamela Anderson is dressing up for Naked Gun.

The actor has signed on to star opposite Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled remake of Naked Gun, based on the crime spoof comedies that were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Akiva Schaffer is directing the comedy, which has a script by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand and Schaffer. The trio were behind the popular and Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.

The original movie, written and directed by Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams and David Zucker and based on their television series Police Squad! that lasted only six episodes, spoofed the tropes of police shows and films that had ingrained themselves into audience’s minds over the decades. It centered on an inept and clueless detective named Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen, who still somehow managed to solve the crime and save the day.

Plot details are...

Exclusive: Leslie Nielsen’s Lt. Frank Drebin was wrong: Cops and women do mix, and with that we have Pamela Anderson joining Liam Neeson in Paramount Pictures’ untitled Naked Gun reboot, which Akiva Schaffer is directing and executive producing for a July 18, 2025 theatrical release.

The Baywatch actress of 110 episodes has the comedy chops; she’s starred in such big-screen titles as Scary Movie 3 and Superhero Movie, both satirical movies ala the spirit of Naked Gun. Anderson also reprised her TV role of C.J. Parker in Paramount’s big-screen 2017 redux of Baywatch that starred Dwayne Johnson, Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario.

Dan Gregor and Doug Mand wrote the draft script along with Schaffer for Naked Gun. Gregor and Mand also wrote the Emmy-winning Disney+ movie Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing Naked via their company Fuzzy Door. Daniel M. Stillman is EP.

The movie...

Paramount wasn’t messing around during their CinemaCon panel today, giving attendees previews of movies like Smile 2, Gladiator II, A Quiet Place: Day One, Transformers One, and If, revealing The Running Man casting news, and announcing several movies, including a live-action comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Scary Movie 6, a Transformers / G.I. Joe crossover, and a live-action, R-rated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. They also unveiled several titles on their 2024 – 2026 slate, and we can’t possibly cover them all… so we have gone ahead and dropped the full list into this article. Scroll down to see what Paramount has in store for us over the next couple years.

If

Release Date: May 17, 2024

Written and Directed by: John Krasinski

Producers: Allyson Seeger, p.g.a., John Krasinski, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Ryan Reynolds

Executive Producers: John J. Kelly, George Dewey, Kimberly Nelson LoCascio

Cast: Cailey Fleming,...

Liam Neeson is (emotionally) baring all ahead of leading the “Naked Gun” reboot.

The actor told ComingSoon.com that he feels “slightly nervous” about leading a sequel to the iconic comedy films. Neeson says he knows his comedy chops have “to be proven.”

“It has to be proven,” Neeson said of said chops. “So I’m slightly nervous of it. A little Stephen Colbert sketch or Ricky Gervais, I’m Ok because it’s short. But a whole film, we’ll see. We’ll see.”

The original “Naked Gun” films starred Leslie Nielsen as hapless detective Frank Drebin whose cases always become a comedy of errors. The films were a spinoff from short-lived ’80s TV series “Police Squad!” In the new movie, due out next year, Neeson will play the son of Nielsen’s character in a sequel directed by “SNL” and Lonely Island alum Akiva Schaffer, with Seth MacFarlane producing.

Airplane! is one of the great Hollywood comedies, a film packed with sight gags and jokes in every scene. Its success paved the way for Police Squad!, a spoof of police procedurals that aired — briefly (and criminally so) — on television. Police Squad! then begat The Naked Gun movies, which, like Airplane!, was riddled with gags, jokes, and puns in virtually every single second of the three films that comprise the franchise (and the upcoming reboot starring Liam Neeson). These comedies, from the minds of Zucker/Abrahams/Zucker (Zaz), are unique among their kin, and there has never really been anything like them for gag-a-second laughs — at least until 2016, when Angie Tribeca premiered on TBS. The series treads the same path as The Naked Gun before it, and if you are a fan of those films, you're going to love Angie Tribeca.

Liam Neeson is admittedly "a little bit nervous" about his upcoming reboot of The Naked Gun. Neeson plans to put his own spin on the character of Frank Drebin, who was originally portrayed by the late Leslie Nielsen. Neeson is a fan of the original Naked Gun trilogy, which was adapted from the short-lived television show Police Squad! (1982), which also starred Nielsen as Lt. Drebin.

Sure, Liam Neeson's version of the lovable and dimwitted Frank Drebin might not have George Kennedy backing him up, but the famous police lieutenant is headed back to the big screen — and Neeson is actually "nervous." While promoting his film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners, the actor spoke to MovieWeb about taking on the comedic role of Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. — originally played by the late Leslie Nielsen — in the upcoming reboot of The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988). Neeson...

The Naked Gun, also known as Police Squad!, is an American crime spoof-comedy franchise. Having started in 1982 with the TV series Police Squad! aired on the ABC Network, the franchise includes one TV series and three movies, adapted from an original story written by the comedy filmmaking trio Jim Abrahams, and brothers David and Jerry Zucker.

The lead role of Detective Sergeant Franklin ‘Frank’ Drebin in The Naked Gun is played by the late actor Leslie Nielsen. Several other characters appear in the films. One of them is Detective Fred Nordberg, who is portrayed by O. J. Simpson. Recently, creator David Zucker revealed why he had Simpson play the role of Nordberg.

A still from The Naked Gun (1988)

David Zucker on Why O. J. Simpson Was Cast in the Role of Detective Nordberg

O. J. Simpson is a former football running back who played in the NFL for 11 seasons. He...

Liam Neeson is going to try out a different particular set of skills. The “Taken” star will take a pratfall into slapstick comedy in an upcoming reboot of “The Naked Gun,” the supremely silly parody franchise about cops. On Wednesday, Paramount set a July 18, 2025 release date for the movie, Variety reports.

The film, which is currently untitled, will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, Emmy-winning director of “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and member of the musical comedy group The Lonely Island. Schaffer wrote the script with “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers” writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”) and Erica Huggins (“Ted”) are producing through their company Fuzzy Door.

“The Naked Gun” franchise was created by the comedy team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker with the 1982 TV series “Police Squad!”, which starred Leslie Nielsen as a dimwitted detective named Frank Drebin.

Paramount Pictures has set a release date for its much-delayed The Naked Gun reboot, which will now land in theaters on July 15th, 2025, per Variety.

Starring Liam Neeson, the currently untitled remake will be directed and executive produced by The Lonely Island’s Avika Schaffer, who co-wrote the script with the writing duo of Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing the film through their company Fuzzy Door. Not much else is known about the project at this time.

“It’ll either finish my career or bring it in another direction,” Neeson previously joked to People (The TV Show) about the role. “I honestly don’t know.”

Born out of the short-lived 1982 crime spoof series Police Squad!, The Naked Gun franchise originally centered around the late Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling police sergeant Frank Drebin. It began in 1988 with the first film, From the Files of Police Squad!

The Naked Gun reboot, long delayed, finally has a release date of July 18, 2025. Liam Neeson will star as Detective Frank Drebin Jr. in the new film. Seth MacFarlane will produce the movie, adding to the anticipation.

The Naked Gun movie remake receives a long-awaited update after being in development hell for over a decade. The classic crime spoof series spun out of ABC's 1980's Police Squad! series, and starred Leslie Nielsen as the good-hearted but often dim-witted police officer Frank Drebin, with his adventures seeing him defend royalty, prevent nuclear bombings, and escape an assassination. Announced in 2009 and having undertaken many incarnations, the currently planned movie is set to star Liam Neeson as Frank Drebin Jr, with Seth MacFarlane serving as a producer.

Variety provides a long-awaited update on the The Naked Gun reboot. With MacFarlane and Neeson's involvement reaffirmed in the Akiva Schaffer-directed feature, a tentative release date was confirmed.

The Naked Gun reboot is about to make 2025 a good year.

Paramount Pictures announced release dates Wednesday for a number of upcoming films. This includes director Akiva Schaffer’s new untitled installment in the Naked Gun comedy franchise hitting theaters July 18, 2025. The movie, first announced back in 2022, stars Liam Neeson and includes Seth MacFarlane as a producer.

The studio also announced that Paw Patrol 3 will launch July 31, 2026, as a follow-up to the studio’s September sequel Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie that topped $200 million globally. The new film hails from Spin Master Entertainment in association with Nickelodeon Movies. Another animation feature — director Jeff Rowe’s Tmnt 2 — is set for Oct. 9, 2026, as a follow-up to the filmmaker’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which came out last August and collected $180 million worldwide.

Among other titles landing on the studio’s calendar is Novocaine starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder,...

A long-gestating reboot of the “Naked Gun” franchise with Liam Neeson is finally moving forward at Paramount, landing a release date of July 18, 2025.

The currently untitled project will be directed and executive produced by Akiva Schaffer, who co-wrote the draft script alongside Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, reprising their partnership from the Emmy-winning film “Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are producing via their company Fuzzy Door. The new movie is based off the widely popular “Naked Gun” franchise and television series “Police Squad!” by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.

Meanwhile, two successful animated franchises’ next films have also been added to Paramount’s release schedule. “Paw Patrol 3,” a Spin Master Entertainment production in association with Nickelodeon Movies, is slated for July 31, 2026 with distribution from Paramount Pictures. The follow-up to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” from director Jeff Rowe and produced by Point Grey Pictures...

There are many reasons why a show is canceled. It bombs right out of the gate like the CW's Aquaman television show, it's getting long in the tooth, or the cast simply wants to move on from the show. It would be rare, if not downright strange, for a show to be canceled because viewers had to pay attention. Strange as it may be, that did happen in 1982, and it happened to one of the funniest TV series of all time: Police Squad!. For those that it rings a bell to, this is the namesake being referenced in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, and it's just as zany, perhaps even more so, than the Naked Gun trilogy it spawned.

The Naked Gun reboot is still in development and is being worked on by writer Akiva Schaffer and his team. Liam Neeson, who will lead the project, is excited to try something different and compares the reboot to the comedic style of Airplane. Despite his involvement in The Naked Gun, Neeson has no plans to slow down in the action/thriller genre and has several other projects in the pipeline.

Seth MacFarlane has finally shared his own update on the upcoming reboot of The Naked Gun. Previously, Taken star Liam Neeson revealed he is looking forward to fumbling around with a gun rather than expertly taking down bad guys in the new reboot/sequel, and suggested that filming will get underway this year. In an extensive interview with The Wrap, MacFarlane gave his short response to a question about the status of the movie. He revealed:

It’s being worked on as we speak.

Created by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, the TV series Police Squad! only ran for six episodes back in 1982, but it spawned a popular film franchise that so far consists of three films: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The Naked Gun 21⁄2: The Smell of Fear, and Naked Gun 331⁄3: The Final Insult, all three of which had Pat Proft on board as a screenwriter. When it was announced that a straight-to-video sequel called The Naked Gun 4: Rhythm of Evil was moving ahead in 2009 with none of the original creative team involved, that original creative team didn’t react well. That movie didn’t make it into production, but now that a reboot of The Naked Gun is moving forward at Paramount with Akiva Schaffer set to direct the film from a screenplay by Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, Mark Hentemann, Alec Sulkin, and producer Seth MacFarlane,...

Turning a short-lived parody TV series into a feature film was always going to involve taking a chance, but as the team behind the Naked Gun franchise learned, it wasn’t quite on the level of sticking your face in a fan.

Following the breakout success of the 1980 smash hit Airplane!, that film’s writer-director team — David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker — found themselves grounded when ABC promptly canceled their police-spoofing show Police Squad! in 1982. But the series’ co-creators refused to let the concept die and went on to adapt it for The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which Paramount Pictures released theatrically on Dec. 2, 1988. The movie, featuring Leslie Nielsen reprising his Police Squad! lead role as accident-prone police lieutenant Frank Drebin, also starred Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalbán, George Kennedy and O. J. Simpson.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Naked Gun film that...

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is receiving a 35th anniversary steelbook release, honoring the comedy masterpiece. Fans can preorder the two-disc set now. The steelbook includes a 4K Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray, and a digital code, but bonus features are not disclosed.

“Hey, it’s Enrico Pallazzo!” Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) — the Rodney Dangerfield of all law enforcers — finally gets the respect he deserves. The lovable but bumbling Drebin is receiving the 4K treatment this fall when the character's first big-screen adaptation celebrates its 35th anniversary in style. 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is being honored with its very own steelbook.

On November 28, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 35th Anniversary Steelbook 4K Uhd drops. But fans of the Zucker brothers and Jim Abrahams’ comedy masterpiece can preorder the two-disc set now for around $25.

The 35th...

Graphic: Paramount Pictures Even if you’ve never seen a single film by the writing and directing team of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz), surely you’re familiar with the ubiquitous references to their work in popular culture. And if you just read that...