Wow, what a tough week in Hollywood and for all those who grew up watching and listening to them: three icons gone before you could blink. And how sad is it that all three were going through some of the toughest times in their lives when they passed?

First Ed McMahon, he of the TONIGHT SHOW 2nd chair, STAR SEARCH and TV’s PRACTICAL JOKES AND BLOOPERS, passed at the age of 86.  It appears that the bone cancer he had been suffering, among other health problems, may have contributed to his death.  (No doubt the added stress of being in financial trouble and on the verge of losing his home didn’t help…  Too bad he couldn’t have been enjoying his golden years instead of having to hawk Cash for Gold to make ends meet!)

Then, just when we were getting used to his being gone, Farrah Fawcett loses her battle with cancer at 62.  (How weird is it that all of the original Angels ended up with cancer? I’d seriously want to check out where they were filming for nuclear waste products!!) 

While I actually liked Jacklyn Smith the best of the three original Charlie’s Angels, the chemistry of the three leads together made for a fun show. Unfortunately, like many actors who leave successful shows before the storyline is really ready to let them go, Farrah’s career never really ever took off again. She ended up being known more for the men in her life and the best-selling (cheesecake) poster of all time and now for dying of a really embarrasing form of lower body cancer.  How sad is that?

Then, before we all stop reeling, the biggest shock of the week happens.  Ed McMahon was getting up there in years and Farrah had been battling cancer for a while, but Michael Jackson always seemed to go on and on no matter what bumps and bruises tossed his life.  Then, he gets accidentally done in at only 50 by the doctor that’s supposed to be watching his fragile health? (That’s just one of the many rumors running rampant right now…  Among the thousands that no doubt will spring up and grow and take on a life of their own as the days, weeks and months go by.)

I’m sorry to say I don’t really miss this Michael much.  I miss the Michael of the earlier years, the one who hadn’t gotten twisted so much by either his father or all the money or just finally being unable to cope with all the fame and pressure. I miss the originality of his early music, the magic he seemed to have lost as he lost his own way, personally and financially, not quite seeming to live in the real world anymore.  It’s too bad that it looked all downhill for him, no matter what he did.

RIP to all three. May they now have the peace and tranquility they seemed to have lost so late in their lives…

What a week…

Technorati Tags: Charlie's Angels, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, MUSIC, Obituary, Thriller, Tonight Show, TV

How annoying is it to start watching a show, only to realize it’s already been cancelled?  SCI FI Channel is one of my favorites, but they’re also one of the most frustrating in that they seem to pick up shows I never saw when they were first out, didn’t realize how great they were, only to find out that the 13 eps are all that there are and most likely ever will be.

Case in point: MOONLIGHT.  I vaguely remember promos for it when it first came out, but I never saw it during its original run.  I only managed to just now catch it when SCI FI picked it up, and I really found I enjoyed it.  (I’ve even managed to DVR all 13 eps so I can enjoy them at my leisure – that is until I run out of space…!)

I always had liked Sophia Myles from when she did DOCTOR WHO, but Alex O’Loughlin was a major surprise.  Gorgeous (with or without all the tats covered up), talented, funny and a decent actor given the source material, he definitely makes me want more…!  (The writing varies, ep to ep, which may be why the show didn’t get the audience it needed the first time around.)

Unfortunately, just like with THE PRETENDER, no amount of fan campaigns seem to be able to revive this vampire saga, even for a movie to ease our withdrawal pains.  Luckily, though, Alex O’Loughlin appears to be getting a 2nd chance on American TV with the new series, THREE RIVERS.  This time around, instead of playing a character who feeds off other’s blood, he plays a transplant doctor who gives others new life.  (Nice turnaround, eh?)

I’ve only seen a couple previews, but it looks good.  Especially with ER going off, it was about time for a new "doctor drama" to fill its shoes.  We’ll see, though.  With my luck, this will be another show that lasts anywhere from 2-13 eps before the Powers That Be pull it…  <sigh>  Better go make sure I have room on the DVR so I can grab ‘em while I can!!

Technorati Tags: alex o'loughlin, doctors, Drama, moonlight, Sci Fi Channel, sophia myles, three rivers, vampires

Previews for the Broadway play IMPRESSIONISM, starring Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Michael T. Weiss, Marsha Mason and Aaron Lazar among others, start this Saturday, Feb 28th.  The play will have an 18-week limited run (due to other obligations for Jeremy Irons, who will go on to another project right after.)

As part of promoting the play, the actors did a Meet and Greet for the press, some of which you can see below: 

BroadwaySpace Feature: Meet the Cast of Impressionism

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: MICHAEL T. WEISS

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: JEREMY IRONS

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: JOAN ALLEN

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: MARGARITA LEVIEVA

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: ANDRE DE SHIELDS

Meet the Cast of Broadway’s Impressionism: AARON LAZAR

The play is being performed at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater on Broadway at 236 W 45th Street, New York.  Ticket information is available at Telecharge.com or by calling 800-432-7250.

The official website for the play is ImpressionismThePlay.com.

Technorati Tags: Aaron Lazar, Add new tag, IMPRESSIONISM, Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Marsha Mason, Michael T Weiss

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
PAUL GIAMATTI              John Adams                         "JOHN ADAMS"                  HBO

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURA LINNEY               Abigail Adams                      "JOHN ADAMS"                  HBO

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
HUGH LAURIE               Gregory House                      "HOUSE"                           FOX

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
SALLY FIELD                 Nora Walker                          "BROTHERS & SISTERS"     ABC

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN             Jack Donaghy                       "30 ROCK"                         NBC

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
TINA FEY                      Liz Lemon                            "30 ROCK"                         NBC

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
"30 ROCK"                 NBC

SCOTT ADSIT               Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN            Jack Donaghy
KATRINA BOWDEN       Cerie
TINA FEY                     Liz Lemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER   Frank Rossitano
JANE KRAKOWSKI        Jenna Maroney
JACK McBRAYER          Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN          Tracy Jordan
MAULIK PANCHOLY      Jonathan
KEITH POWELL            Toofer

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
"MAD MEN"                              AMC

BRYAN BATT                              Salvatore Romano
ALISON BRIE                             Trudy Campbell
MICHAEL GLADIS                       Paul Kinsey
JON HAMM                                Don Draper
AARON HART                             Bobby Draper
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS             Joan Holloway
JANUARY JONES                        Betty Draper
VINCENT KARTHEISER               Pete Campbell
ROBERT MORSE                         Bertram Cooper
MARK MOSES                            Herman “Duck” Phillips
ELISABETH MOSS                      Peggy Olson
KIERNAN SHIPKA                       Sally Draper
JOHN SLATTERY                         Roger Sterling
RICH SOMMER                           Harry Crane
AARON STATON                         Ken Cosgrove
 

(Amazing – some of my favorites/picks actually won something!  Hooray for Hugh Laurie, Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, Kate Winslet , Heath Ledger, Robert Morse, and Vincent Kartheiser, just to name a few…)

Technorati Tags: Awards, Heath Ledger, Hugh Laurie, SAG, Screen Actors Guild

Alyson Hannigan (Willow on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) and her husband, Alexis Denisof (Wesley on ANGEL), are expecting their first child this spring.

They originally met on the set of BUFFY during the 1999-2000.  Hannigan also did some crossover guest appearances on ANGEL.  She later went on to do big screen roles, most notably as band geek Michelle opposite Jason Biggs in the American Pie trilogy, but then went back to do series TV with HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.

Denisof originally appeared on BtVS guest-starring as Wesley Wyndham-Price, a role that was spun off as a main character on ANGEL when BtVS went off the air.  Most recently he has been guest-starring on such shows as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and PRIVATE PRACTICE.

Hannigan and Denisof were married October 11, 2003 in Palm Springs, CA.  She’s 34 and he’s 42, and it’s the first child for both.

(Hmmm…. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: THE NEXT GENERATION?)

Technorati Tags: Alexis Denisof, Alyson Hannigan, Angel, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Wesley, Willow

Bob May, the actor who most likely will be forever known as Robot from LOST IN SPACE, has passed away at the age of 69 from congestive heart failure. 

He began his career in Hollywood at the age of 2, when his grandfather, vaudevillian Chic Johnson, had him appear in his comedy show HELLZAPOPPIN.  After trying his own hand at vaudeville for awhile, May decided to go after television roles.

He acted in such TV series as THE TIME TUNNEL, McHALE’S NAVY and THE RED SKELTON SHOW. He also worked as a stuntman on CHEYENNE, SURFSIDE 6, HAWAIIAN EYE, THE ROARING 20S and STAGECOACH in the ’50s and ’60s.
But it wasn’t until 1965, when he was chosen to play Robot in LOST IN SPACE (because he could fit in the suit according to legend) that he became a long-standing cult favorite – unseen, but forever recognizable whenever it uttered the legendary, "Danger, Will Robinson."  (What usually only die-hard fans realize, though, is that  May didn’t provide the robot’s distinctive voice–that was done by announcer Dick Tufeld.)

He enjoyed his role as Robot, once telling people he had come to consider the suit a “home away from home.” 

Technorati Tags: Bob May, Lost in Space, Robot, Will Robinson

The BBC has done an about face in its search and picked an almost virtual unknown to be the 11th Doctor for DOCTOR WHO (Series 5): 

Matt Smith (PARTY ANIMALS, THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH) will take over the reins of the longest running sci fi character on TV  from David Tennant who will be leaving the series after the 2009 season.  Smith, age 26, will be the youngest actor to ever play The Doctor to date. (Peter Davison previously held the record – he was 29 at the time he played the part.) 

Some fans are worried that the new Doctor will be too young and seem too inexperienced while other fans are waiting to see how he fares before passing judgment.

Check out the interview Matt Smith did with BBC ONE after learning he had won the part: 

Technorati Tags: 11th Doctor, David Tennant, Doctor Who, Matt Smith

After 5 years and quite a few cast changes, the Sci Fi Channel’s STARGATE ATLANTIS will be coming to an end January 2009. 

Originally a spin-off of STARGATE SG-1, ATLANTIS took a few characters we originally met on SG-1 (Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Dr. Rodney McKay), tossed in some new characters (John Sheppard, Dr. Carson Beckett, Lt. Aiden Ford, Teyla Emmagan, and Ronon Dex) and made their home base the lost city of Atlantis, which turned out to be in another galaxy.  They then looked for a new threat to keep us interested each week as the Go’auld and the Ori pretty much had had their butts kicked back in the home galaxy, but bad guys can be found everywhere, can’t they…? 

Hence, the Wraith, a group of aliens who feed on humans became the villains of the piece.  Not content to have just one set of bad guys for us to boo, the show also brought in the Replicators, originally battled by the SGC on STARGATE SG-1, and who began as just nano-technology-based ‘bugs’ who then grew and evolved into a race of people determined to take over the galaxies by using any and all resources to "replicate" themselves until only they exist.  And in between fights with the super villains, smaller battles occured with other races not quite as happy to see the Atlantis team as they might have been.

To add additional interest, characters like Samantha Carter, Richard Woolsey and Jack O’Neil made crossover appearances from SG-1 with some of the ATLANTIS characters popping up on SG-1 while it was still on the air.

Never quite getting the ratings that STARGATE SG-1 enjoyed, ATLANTIS was still one of the few high-quality sci fi shows still on the air at this point.  It will be missed.  However, like SG-1, it appears that there may be some ATLANTIS movies in the offing to keep the show and characters alive.  And as for the STARGATE franchise, like STAR TREK, it will just be taking on a new face–STARGATE UNIVERSE will take us just that bit farther out (a la LOST IN SPACE or STAR TREK VOYAGER):

The previously unknown purpose of the "Ninth Chevron" will be revealed, and it will end up taking a team to an Ancient ship "Destiny", a ship built millions of years ago by the Ancients, used to seed Distant galaxies with Stargates. This team, led by Colonel Everett Young, must now continue the Ancient’s work, and  it will encounter new races, new technology and new enemies, as this crazy runaway ship takes them to the far ends of the Universe!

Casting for the new show hasn’t been finalized, but it is expected to air sometime in 2009. 

Technorati Tags: Sci Fi Channel, STARGATE, Stargate Atlantis, STARGATE UNIVERSE

Ever since David Tennant has said he’ll be passing the reins of The Doctor on to another actor after 2009, speculation has been rife as to who the next Doctor might be. In the wake of Barack Obama’s election to the highest office in America, will it now be time to have a black actor take over one of the most beloved sci fi roles in Britain (and the world)?

British actor Colin Salmon (DIE ANOTHER DAY, TOMORROW NEVER DIES), known for his bold deep voice, striking good looks and tall stature (6′4") has been added to some fans’ short list of who should succeed David Tennant. (He’s already done a recent guest part on the show as Dr. Moon in the two-parter "Forest of the Dead" & "Silence in the Library".) What do you think?  Will the Doctor’s regenerative powers include adding a bit more of a "tan" and losing all or most of his hair at the same time?   (Wouldn’t that be quite a change from Tennant’s magnificent mop, while heading back towards Christopher Eccleston’s more close cut look?) Only time, and the BBC will tell.

Technorati Tags: Colin Salmon, David Tennant, Doctor Who, Eleventh Doctor

According to Variety, the catchphrase from the first season of HEROES was “save the cheerleader.” This season, it could be “save the scripts.”

Tim Kring, the series creator and executive producer has axed his co-exec producers and writing team, Jesse Alexander and Jeph Loeb, in an effort to prove to the network that he will be taking a more personal hands-on approach to the upcoming season.  NBC has been hinting that he’d delegated too much of the story development to the two and that the series had gone from a fan-favorite good-vs.-evil virtual live comic book to an overly convoluted, overly plotted confusing mess.   Given the $4M an episode price tag, NBC is definitely interested in getting the show back to its old numbers.  (Viewership dropped almost 21% from season 2 in the main demographics.)

The firing, however, may now prove a little awkward: On Nov. 15, Kring is supposed to appear at the Screenwriting Expo at the L.A. Convention Center, with Alexander and Loeb.  (Oops.)  However, it looks like it may be great for us fans if we can get back to the characters we all love to hate and hate to love…

Technorati Tags: Heroes, NBC, Tim Kring