Category Archives: The Little Screen (Television)

RIP John Ritter

Posted on September 11, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Jonathan Southworth “John” Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003)

John Ritter was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for having played Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms Three’s Company and 8 Simple Rules, respectively. He is also known for being the voice of the title character Clifford in the PBS television series Clifford the Big Red Dog. Don Knotts called him the “Greatest physical comedian on the planet”. Ritter died at the age of 54 from an aortic dissection.

From starring on The Waltons, to 8 Simple Rules, we enjoyed his smile, humor, and style. He even guest starred on M*A*S*H!

Wikipedia Article

Posted in Because I Can, Humor, The Little Screen (Television)

To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before…

Posted on September 8, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Enterprise

On September 8, 1966, “The Man Trap” was first released upon the world. This, the first episode of one of the most famous TV Shows in history, Star Trek.

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP “Crocodile Hunter” – It’s been 10 years

Posted on September 4, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Stephen Robert Irwin(February 22, 1962 – September 4, 2006)

“The Crocodile Hunter.”

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Gilligan

Posted on September 2, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Bob Denver

Robert Osbourne “Bob” Denver (January 9, 1935 – September 2, 2005) was an American comedic actor known for his roles as Gilligan on the television series Gilligan’s Island and the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.

Rumor had it that later in life he hated “Gilligan”, the character, and being called “Gilligan.” After all the great memories I have of the show, the laughter, I’d like to think that he wouldn’t mind me calling him “Gilligan” one more time…

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Gene Wilder (He found his golden ticket)

Posted on August 29, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Gene Wilder (June 11, 1933 – August 29, 2016)

Gene Wilder has died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83.

Willy Wonka has found his golden ticket.

Jerome Silberman, known professionally as Gene Wilder, was an American stage and screen comic actor, screenwriter, film director, and author.

Wilder began his career on stage, and made his screen debut in the TV-series Armstrong Circle Theatre in 1962. Although his first film role was portraying a hostage in the 1967 motion picture Bonnie and Clyde,^[1] Wilder’s first major role was as Leopold Bloom in the 1968 film The Producers for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was the first in a series of collaborations with writer/director Mel Brooks, including 1974’s Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein, which Wilder co-wrote, garnering the pair an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Wilder is known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) and for his four films with Richard Pryor: Silver Streak (1976), Stir Crazy (1980), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), and Another You (1991).^[1] Wilder directed and wrote several of his own films, including The Woman in Red (1984).

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka (1971)

Posted in News, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Merv Griffin

Posted on August 12, 2016 by James| Comments Off

The answer is Merv Griffin. The question could be just about anything.

Mervyn Edward “Merv” Griffin, Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American singer, talk-show host, composer, mogul, philanthropist and puzzle fan who created the long-running hit game shows of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Robin Williams (No more nanu nanu)

Posted on August 11, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Robin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014)

Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor, voice actor, and stand-up comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978-1982), Williams went on to establish a successful career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting. His film career included such acclaimed films as Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), as well as financial successes such as Popeye (1980), Hook (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Night at the Museum (2006), and Happy Feet (2006).

Wikipedia Article

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP James Garner

Posted on July 19, 2016 by James| Comments Off

James Garner as Bret Maverick

James Garner as Jim Rockford

James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American film and television actor. He starred in several television series over more than five decades, which included such popular roles as Bret Maverick in the 1950s western-comedy series Maverick and Jim Rockford in the 1970s detective drama The Rockford Files.

Garner starred in more than 50 films including The Great Escape (1963), Paddy Chayefsky’s The Americanization of Emily (1964), Grand Prix (1966), Blake Edwards’ Victor Victoria (1982), Murphy’s Romance (1985) for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and The Notebook (2004).

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Ernest Borgnine

Posted on July 8, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Ernest Borgnine (January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012)

Ernest Borgnine (born Ermes Effron Borgnino) was an American film and television actor whose career spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, winning an Oscar in 1955 for Marty. On television, he played Quinton McHale in the 1962–1966 series McHale’s Navy and co-starred in the mid-1980s action series Airwolf, in addition to a wide variety of other roles. Borgnine was also known for his role as Mermaid Man in the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants. Borgnine earned an Emmy Award nomination at age 92 for his work on the series ER.

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, Merv Griffin

Posted on July 6, 2016 by James| Comments Off

The answer is Merv Griffin. The question could be just about anything.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Andy Griffith

Posted on July 3, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Andrew Samuel “Andy” Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012)

Andy Griffith was an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan’s epic film, A Face in the Crowd (1957) before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead characters in the 1960–68 situation comedy, The Andy Griffith Show, and in the 1986–95 legal drama, Matlock. Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President George W. Bush on November 9, 2005. Griffith died on July 3, 2012 at the age of 86.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, On This Day, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Peter Falk (Farewell Detective Columbo)

Posted on June 23, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo. He appeared in numerous films and television guest roles and was nominated for an Academy Award twice (for 1960’s Murder, Inc. and 1961’s Pocketful of Miracles), and won the Emmy Award on five occasions (four for Columbo) and the Golden Globe award once.

Peter Michael Falk (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011)

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, Burle Ives

Posted on June 14, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an acclaimed American folk music singer, author and actor.

Possibly his most remembered role today is as narrator Sam the Snowman in the Rankin-Bass animated television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964).

Ives’ “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is a very popular tune during the Christmas season, as it’s frequently played on the radio and was featured in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special.

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995)

Posted in Music, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP David Carradine

Posted on June 3, 2016 by James| Comments Off

David Carradine in “Kung Fu”

David Carradine (December 8, 1936 – June 3, 2009), born John Arthur Carradine, was an American character actor, best known for his role as Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu and its 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues. He was a member of a productive acting family dynasty that began with his father, John Carradine. His acting career, which included major and minor roles on stage, television and cinema, spanned over four decades. A prolific “B” movie actor, he appeared in more than 100 feature films and was nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award. The last nomination was for his title role in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Jean Stapleton

Posted on May 31, 2016 by James| Comments Off

To quote Linda Carter’s Tweet upon her passing:

“Those Were The Days…Rest In Peace Jean Stapleton”

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013)

Jean Stapleton was an American character actress of stage, television and film.

She was best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O’Connor) and mother of Gloria Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Jim Henson

Posted on May 16, 2016 by James| Comments Off

James Maury Henson (September 24, 1936 – May 16, 1990) was the most widely known American puppeteer in modern American television history.

He was the creator of The Muppets and the leading force behind their long creative run. Henson brought an engaging cast of characters, innovative ideas, and a sense of timing and humor to millions of people. He is also widely acknowledged for the ongoing vision of faith, friendship, magic, and love which was infused in nearly all of his work.

Statue of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog, on display outside of Adele H. Stamp Student Union in College Park, Maryland.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

RIP Clarabell the Clown

Posted on May 14, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Lew Anderson, who captivated young baby boomers as the Howdy Doody Show‘s final Clarabell the Clown.

Lewis Burr Anderson (May 7, 1922—May 14, 2006) was an American actor and musician, most famous for being the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody between 1954 and 1960. He famously gave Clarabell’s one and only line on the program on the show’s final episode in 1960, with a tear visible in his eye, “Goodbye, kids”.

Posted in The Little Screen (Television)

Happy Birthday, George Lucas

Posted on May 14, 2016 by James| Comments Off

George Walton Lucas, Jr. (May 14, 1944 – )

George Lucas is an Academy Award-nominated American film producer, screenwriter, director and chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd. He is best known for being the creator of the epic Sci-Fi franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones.

Wikipedia Link

Posted in The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!

Posted on May 11, 2016 by James| Comments Off

Douglas Noël Adams (March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001)

Douglas Adams was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. He is best known as author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. Hitchhiker’s began on radio, and developed into a “trilogy” of five books (which sold more than fifteen million copies during his lifetime) as well as a television series, a towel, a live theater show, a drink, a comic book series, a computer game and a feature film that was completed after Adams’ death. He was known to some fans as Bop Ad (after his illegible signature), or by his initials “DNA”.

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish is the fourth book of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “trilogy”. Its title is the message left by the dolphins when they departed Planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass, as described in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The phrase has since been adopted by some science fiction fans as a humorous way to say “goodbye.”

Wikipedia Link

Posted in Because I Can, Literary, The Big Screen, The Little Screen (Television)