CONQUERING THRUSH
When I moved to Baltimore in 1982 I was so happy to see that a local station was running episodes of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." on Sunday afternoons. Each week I would throw a tape in the VCR and ended up with quite a few episodes. Well, it's time to throw those tapes away because next month the entire series will FINALLY be released on DVD. Though the show has been available on various fan sites this will be the first official release of all 105 episodes as well as the "U.N.C.L.E." film from the 1960s. Also included will be new interviews with Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, commentaries and behind the scenes footage.
PAY UP
This week New York Knicks' coach Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden were found guitly of sexually harrassing a former employee. Total damages: almost $11 million. Thomas, who was quoted as having often refered to the woman in conversations as "bitch" or "ho" says the jury of three women and four men obviously didn't look at the evidence. "Those crazy bitches lost their minds," Thomas told reporters. OK, not really. But anyone who once said people only considered Larry Bird a good player because he was white deserves to be branded an idiot.
PASSING ON
Character actor George Grizzard, probably best remembered as Tom Hank's future father in law in "Bachelor Party," died this week from lung cancer. He was 76. Grizzard won a Supporting Actor Emmy in 1980 for his role in "The Oldest Living Graduate" and a 1996 Tony Award for his work in Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance." He was also featured in several episodes of "Law and Order" and had most recently appeared in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers."
GEE WALLY
With all the Sputnik talk we may have lost sight of another great idea that turned 50 this week, the debut of "Leave It To Beaver." Who can't help but be shocked by the image of June Cleaver vacumning in pearls while a knowing Ward smiled quietly, knowing that soon he would have the opportunity to "be a little rough on the Beaver!"
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...? CHAPTER 29: DANIEL J. TRAVANTI
WHERE YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM: "Hill Street Blues," "Adam"
AWARDS: 1981 and 1982 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his work on "Hill Street Blues." Also nominated in this category in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
1982 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama for "Hill Street Blues." Also nominated in this category from 1983-1986.
I was very surprised to learn that Daniel J. Travanti has been acting for more then 40 years, having first discovered him as Captain Frank Furillo in "Hill Street Blues." Early television appearances in such shows as "The Defenders," "The Patty Duke Show" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." caught enough casting director's eyes that he soon found himself appearing in almost every popular show on television, from "Here Comes the Bride" to "Lost in Space." After another decade he finally got a regular gig as Spence Andrews on the daytime soap "General Hospital." It was while on "GH" that Travanti auditioned for an upcoming police drama entitled "Hill Street Blues." The multiple Emmy winning series opened the door to Travanti and made him a star on the small screen. It was while on the show that he earned praise for his portrayal of two very real people: newsman Edward R. Murrow in the Emmy nominated tele-film "Murrow" and John Walsh, currently the host of "America's Most Wanted," in "Adam." After "Hill Street Blues" ended it's run he continued to work periodically in both film and television. He most recently appeared as the President on the Fox series "Prison Break."
Well, that's all for now. Have a great week. See ya!
"Mike's Rant" is ©2007 by Michael A. Smith. Webpage design and all graphics herein are creations of Nolan B. Canova. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.
