Category Archives: Uncategorized

Last week, I gave special attention to Sony’s purchase of MGM and how I hoped they wouldn’t retire the iconic Lion banner which represents remembrances of Hollywood past. While concentrating on the history and importance of MGM, I didn’t mean to neglect its subsidiary studio which, by all accounts, seems destined to disappear, United Artists.Continue reading “THE LION ONCE SWALLOWED UA, BUT IT’S PEDIGREE NEVER WENT AWAY”

Back in July when the Emmy nominations were announced, I was annoyed, as usual, with the TV Academy’s refusal to actually honor the best in TV, instead throwing nominations at shows like Will & Grace (which simply isn’t funny at all anymore) or The West Wing (which had a subpar season) as well as perfectlyContinue reading “THE EMMYS: FOR ONE NIGHT, CYNICISM LOSES OUT … MOSTLY”

On this Erev Rosh Hashanah, I couldn’t think of a better way for my more-and-more secular Jewish self to recall that Jesus was 33 when he went up on the cross. What does one thing have to do with another? Well, it just so happens that my birthday is next Tuesday (9/21) and I willContinue reading “HAPPY NEW YEAR! AREN’T YOU FEELING EXTRA-GIVING RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY WITH BIRTHDAYS ON THE HORIZON?”

Mark Cuban seems to pride himself on being a “risk-taker,” and the majority of his risks have paid-off. He made his fortune by starting and then selling broadcast.com to Yahoo! He throws money at the Dallas Mavericks, and year-to-year they’ve become a better team. Along with partner Todd Wagner, he has sunk a ton ofContinue reading “THE WORST (WELL, MAYBE SECOND-WORST) REALITY SHOW EVER: IT’S JUST PLAIN STUPID”

It seems that the quote I posted yesterday from Variety’s print article indicating that the MGM brand would disappear was in fact removed from the website story due to its being inaccurate. In another Variety story today (sub. req’d) laying out some of the questions raised by the deal — such as the status ofContinue reading “I GUESS HE’LL JUST TAKE CATNAPS INSTEAD”

The big news in the entertainment this morning was obviously that Sony Corp. has agreed to put-up roughly $5-Billion to buy MGM. MGM had basically been on the block for a while, and as recently as a few weeks ago, Time Warner was thought to be the front-runner. I was looking forward to a TimeContinue reading “THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT — OR SOMETIME IN 2006”

Dodger Theatricals, one of the major New York commercial producing companies, just opened this large five-theater facility called “Dodger Stages” on what is basically the Off-Broadway Theater Row, far west 42nd Street 50th Street between 8th/9th Avenues. (My bad; thought it was somewhere else. Oops. ) The first two shows include Bare: A Pop OperaContinue reading “IT’S LIKE LASERIUM BUT UNDERWATER AND IN FRONT OF YOU INSTEAD OF ON THE CEILING”

A couple items caught my eye this afternoon and I thought I’d throw them up here: A while ago, I wrote about the horror of Jessica Simpson becoming Daisy Duke on the big screen. Today, there’s much better news from Hazzard County: two “jackasses” have been cast to play Bo and Luke Duke. I actuallyContinue reading “MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY – AGAIN: DUKES KICK SOME BASIC INSTINCT ASS WHILE MARTY HAS DINNER INSTEAD OF WATCHING MILLER WHO IGER WILL WANT FOR ABC WHEN HE SHOULD JUST PICK-UP SOME MUSICALS”

This is the time of year when film releases often take a bit of a break. Post-Labor Day doldrums, and all, mixed with the pending start of the traditional TV season. But with IFC needing to fill the Ultimate Film Fanatic slot, and with a new series moving into repertory at Film Forum, at leastContinue reading “MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANY: I’LL BET THESE FILM STUDENTS AREN’T STUDYING MURNAU”

I always loved the scene in The Jerk where Steve Martin goes crazy over the arrival of the new phonebook. I love the whole movie — for my money, it’s easily Carl Reiner’s best directing effort — but that scene in particular always sticks out. And every year, I usually have a similar moment ofContinue reading “THE FALL PREVIEW IS HERE! THE FALL PREVIEW IS HERE! BUT MAYBE JOEY SHOULD GO HOME”