Eric Close on tap for a new fall TV show

Now that's what we love to see -- the stars of our beloved BRBTV shows popping up during pilot season. Yahoo TV has the full rundown of this year's plans and offerings, and among them is "Nashville," a soap from ABC starring Eric Close, our former Sawyer Walker of "Santa Barbara" who's had quite a successful career since then. Close joins "Heroes" alum Hayden Panettiere, as well as Powers Boothe, the voice of Gorilla Grodd in "Justice League" (the subject of an upcoming BRBTV Report!). Read a little more at the Hollywood Reporter. Close is looking good!

Clancy Brown, the voice of Lex Luthor in "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League," is part of the cast for "The Frontier," NBC's Western set in the 1840s. Shaun Cassidy is producing that one. Read more at the Hollywood Reporter.

We're also glad to spot some of our other faves slated for pilots: Julia Stiles (NBC's "Midnight Sun"), Zachary Levi (Fox's "Let it Go"), John Stamos (Fox's "Little Brother"), Robert Knepper (CW's "Cult"), Tyler Labine (NBC's "Animal Kingdom") -- he's such a cute kid!, Brandon Routh (CBS' "Partners") -- whom we had the pleasure of interviewing a year or two back, Jami Gertz (ABC's untitled Dan Fogelman project) -- wow, how long it's been since "Square Pegs"!

And we're certainly looking forward to the reboot of "Scruples," especially given the fact that it will be set in the '70s. And we probably couldn't resist the Roseanne Barr / John Goodman re-pairing of "Downwardly Mobile" -- for the latter more than the former.

Steel City Con presents a nice assortment of stars of classic TV

As we mentioned on Monday, we visited the Steel City Con in Pittsburgh for the first time this past weekend. We got to sink our teeth into a wonderful assortment of toys -- emphasis on the action figures, certainly. Whenever BRBTV visits a con, we love the shopping, and it's the toy booths we love best! So to see a whole show full of them was a treat. (We still didn't nab that elusive Volcana figure for our buddy Will, though -- rats! She's so rare!)

Beyond that, though, we beheld a nice collection of actors from the TV shows we love ... Christopher ("Peter") Knight and Susan ("Cindy") Olsen of "The Brady Bunch." Butch ("Eddie Munster") Patrick of "The Munsters," whom we got to chat with a bit about his recent Detroit appearance, complete with the Dragula (see our October 29, 2011 post). Billy Dee Williams, whom the rest of the world knows as Lando Calrissian, but whom we "Dynasty" fans will always remember as the suavo Brady Lloyd. He was there with his son, Corey Dee Williams, who has also done some "Star Wars" work. Ian Ziering of "Beverly Hills 90210" and more recently "Dancing with the Stars." Johnny Whitaker from "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters" and "Family Affair."

 

But there were a couple other stars we were really looking forward to meeting and chatting with: Wesley Eure and Kathleen Coleman from "The Land of the Lost." Man, did we love that show! We especially loved that trend of live-action Saturday morning kids' shows back then, in the '70s, such as the Krofft shows but also "Shazam!" and "The Secrets of Isis." BRBTV got to chat on camera with these two "Land of the Lost" stars, so look for that video on our YouTube channel early next week. Our buddy James also talked with Gena Lee Nolin of "Baywatch" and "Sheena" for a minute -- you'll see that, too. Fun, fun, fun.

They've already got Dean Cain signed on for the next show in July. Meow! Thanks so much to the folks at the Steel City Con for presenting a nice show!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

We love a little "Dallas" with our toy shows

Ahhhh, it was great fun this past Saturday tripping through the Steel City Con in Pittsburgh. Not only was it a delicious mecca for shoppers and seekers of toys both vintage and modern, but there were some cool TV stars there, as well. (More on that latter later, when BRBTV gets a chance to upload our new video interviews with three of those stars!)

We were armed with a list of stuff to find (classic Incredible Hulk figure for him, Volcana and the last wave of World's Greatest Super Heroes repro figures for him, a little of this and that for us ...) but we were absolutely delighted when we saw packs of "Dallas" trading cards for only a buck each at one booth. Fab.

These guys were made by Donruss Co. back in the day. Each pack has seven color photos from our beloved show, plus one very petrified piece of gum. On the reverse side of each is part of an image that you have to collect all the cards to put together.

THEN ... as if a sign ... there was J.R. Ewing himself -- in the form of Larry Hagman, of course! -- smiling down on us during our lunch at the TGI Friday's across the street from the convention center. Sweet!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Read Joan Collins' latest interview in Glamour, and vote for her fashion sense at TV Guide!

"I only regret a couple of my marriages." Hmmm ... that's a mighty intriguing headline Glamour magazine slapped on its interview with our delightful "Dynasty" dame Joan Collins for its April 2012 issue, reportedly on sale now. Catch that dishy thing at the Joan Collins Archive blog if you can't get to the newsstand. Thanks, Glamour, for appreciating one of our beautiful classic-TV stars.

And speaking of appreciation, whoever at TV Guide remembered Alexis Colby's fashion sense needs a kudos, too -- in these days of reality TV overrunning any of the good TV we remember, it's nice to know our faves still haven't faded into obscurity. Hop on over to TV Guide's Facebook page (scroll down -- it's a busy page) to vote for Alexis / Joan as "Who is the most fashionable TV character of all time?". Now, we do like Carrie Bradshaw; we certainly do (her shoes more than her clothing, actually), but pleezzzzz ... this is a no-brainer. C'mon, Alexis, you can do it!!!!

Hazzard comes to Galax, for the second year, even

Billed as "a very laid-back, relaxed and personal event," the Hazzard Comes to Galax show is set for this June in Virginia, and it's chock-full of cast from our beloved "The Dukes of Hazzard." So far, John ("Bo Duke") Schneider, Sonny ("Enos Strate") Shroyer, James ("Rosco P. Coltrane") Best and Rick ("Cletus Hogg") Hurst are all signed on. Tickets are only $10 for adults and available at the gate.

The event is founded by Greg and Miranda Richardson of Greg's Core Supply in Woodlawn, Virginia, who both grew up watching "The Dukes of Hazzard" during the early 1980s. (Two "Dukes" fans marrying each other -- we love it when that happens.)

Learn more about the event at its website, HazzardComesToGalax.com, and keep up on Facebook, too.

By the way, have you seen our sweet little Daisy in her new role on CBS' daytime soap "The Young and the Restless"? Ahhh ... we remember watching "Y&R" back in the '90s ... with Victor and Victoria and Nikki and Nicholas ... Bach just started as Chelsea Lawson's (Melissa Claire Egan) mother, Anita. And like all wise TV networks these days, CBS has loaded whole episodes onto its website. So click on over to CBS' "Young and the Restless" page and check it out! You can also get the lowdown (or the up-high) at Yahoo or via this interview with "ET."

Memorial service set for "Dukes" stunt driver Al Wyatt Jr.

In the wake of the passing of Al Wyatt Jr., a well-loved member of the stunt team of "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Dukes" cast members such as John Schneider have spoken out with their words of remembrance. A special memorial service is planned to honor Wyatt, and both Schneider and James ("Rosco P. Coltrane") Best have issued this invite through their email communications to fans:

Ben Jones speaks out on NASCAR decision, issues statement

Ben ("Cooter Davenport") Jones of "The Dukes of Hazzard" sent this statement to fans early this morning. He asks them to read the related ESPN story first: ESPN Story.

Former Georgia Congressman Ben Jones, who starred as ace mechanic “Cooter” Davenport on the hit television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” has condemned the decision by NASCAR to prevent the use of the popular “General Lee” 1969 Dodge Charger at the Phoenix Sprint Cup race in March. In a statement Friday, NASCAR said, "The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should plan an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive.” The General Lee has a Confederate Battle Flag on its roof.

Jones said in response: “At a time when tens of millions of Americans are honoring their Union and Confederate ancestors during this Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, NASCAR has chosen to dishonor those Southerners who fought and died in that terrible conflict by caving to 'political correctness' and the uninformed concerns of corporate sponsors."

He continues, "This is also an extraordinary insult to rural Southerners, who are NASCAR’s oldest and most fervent fan base, and it sends a message against inclusion and against the need for diversity. Many of us who are descended from ancestors who fought for the South see this as a crude dishonoring of our kinfolks and our heritage. Our ancestors were proud Americans who had fought for our nation before the Civil War and have served honorably in every conflict since then."

Jones says, "The Confederate Battle Flag is on display at many National Battlefields and is displayed by countless historical and heritage groups who are descendants of those who fought in that crucible of the American experience."

“'The Dukes of Hazzard' remains a beloved classic television show which is watched by Americans of all races and regions and is watched internationally as an upbeat reflection of the American spirit. It is also watched by our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world.

"While it is true that the Confederate Battle Flag has been desecrated by bigots and racists, these groups also misuse the American flag and the Christian cross in their shameless rituals. The vast majority of the display of the St. Andrews Cross Flag is in a benign spirit of remembrance and reverence.

"I am a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, a Life Member of the NAACP, and a proud member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. As a cast member of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and the owner of several 'General Lees,' I can attest that the car and our show reflect the very best of American values, and that Hazzard County was a place where racism was not tolerated.

"This action by NASCAR is a provocative and unnecessary over-reaction to a problem that doesn’t exist. It is a disgraceful and gratuitous insult to a lot of very decent people. It is prejudicial toward those good-hearted folks who, like Uncle Jesse Duke, are in fact 'never meanin’ no harm.'"

Jones closes this message to fans with: 

Please read this and contact NASCAR at fanfeedback@NASCAR.COM with your feelings. Please be respectful in your comments.

Thanks, Ben aka "Cooter"

BRB discusses the smartest comic book characters on TV's "Fantastic Forum"

Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV is loving her time on the "Fantastic Forum" TV show, a truly fab weekly series that is Washington, D.C.-based but oh-so global. In episode 33, she participates in a panel discussion about who in the comics world has the brains (and yes, she did say Oracle -- don't hate, now!). Check it out ...

Watch the latest "Fantastic Forum" episodes at the NCC1727 channel on YouTube.

John Schneider launches new blog

Dubbing himself "The Performer," our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," Mr. John Schneider, has started up a new blog. He says, "I am here to offer points of view on most any subject related to entertainment, performing, movies, television, writing, magic, music or juggling. Been in the business of all that for over four decades and may surprise you." And these posts so far are pretty real.

Check it out:
http://iconicobservations.blogspot.com

Catch BRB's new Chic Geek blog column

She's geekin' out, that's for sure. And actually, she's always been quite the chic geek -- and proud of it! (Remember that one entry in the yearly My Mother's Clothing project?) One of the great new 2012 activities for Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV is the Chic Geek column on the Ooh Lifestyle blog. It's a look at how technology enhances our lives.

Check out the first post at http://oohlifestyle.com/2012/02/meet-the-chic-geek/. BRB will be posting twice a month -- the regular Chic Geek column on the second Wednesday and a "Top Rated" gadget profile on the second Tuesday. So geek out in a very chic way along with her!

If things seem a little quiet around here ...

... well, they're supposed to be that way.

The BRBTV News Blog is running a little lighter these days by design. Sort of a readjustment-of-priorities thing, if you will.

Don't worry, though -- all of the current content will stay right where it is, right where you can find it, because it's been a great ride over the past five years since this blog was created. Launched in January 2006, the BRBTV News Blog featured daily posts for its first few years -- that's a whole lot more posting than many blogs. It's added up to more than 1,000 posts! In that time, we've accumulated some great original content from attending shows and various events and yakking with the stars of these classic TV shows. So we want to leave that content up and available for y'all.

We can't guarantee we'll stay away from posting for long, because frankly, we love this thing. We just wish there were a few more hours in the day!

Latest episode of "Fantastic Forum" explores the rogues galleries of superheroes

In the December 2 post of this blog we told you all about "Fantastic Forum," an award-winning TV show based in Washington, D.C., for which Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV has done a tad interviewing and other on-camera stuff. The comic book, sci fi and fantasy-themed show, which is a delightful mix of discussion forum, interviews of comics industry pros, and other fun features, just won the the 2011 Monty Award for Best Arts and Humanities Program, and Ulysses Campbell won as best program host.

Well, check out the latest episode of this long-running program, which airs on several different stations around D.C., at various (great!) timeslots. It's linked from YouTube below, and this ep includes BRB as a panelist in a discussion about the various rogues gallery villains that heroes like Superman and Batman are so vexed to contend with ...

Announcing the BRBTV Reports of interviews from the "Batman" and "Superman" animated series

Fresh on the heels of the BRBTV Report on "Superman: The Animated Series" (see our post just a few inches down!) comes two new additions to the series, "Superman: The Animated Series, The BRBTV Interviews" and "Batman: The Animated Series, The BRBTV Interviews."

Both of these great 1990s kids' TV shows (for kids of all ages, you understand!) reflected the work of a whole lot of writers, artists, directors, producers and voice actors. Beyond the core names that so many people recognize, such as Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami, Jean MacCurdy, Paul Dini, Kevin Conroy and Tim Daly, there were many others who contributed to the groundbreaking animated series’ massive success at creating a unique take on DC Comics’ beloved heroes Batman and Superman.

So now BRBTV brings you two sets of original interviews with several folks whose talent has touched the series:

• Joe R. Lansdale, the “Mojo storyteller” who loved the Dark Knight as a kid.
• Randy Rogel, an Emmy-Award-winning writer who is no stranger to ‘toons.
• Scott Beatty, author of “Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight,” who addresses the influence of the series on the overall Bat-realm.
• Ty Templeton, artist of the popular comic books accompanying the series.
• Robert N. Skir, a writer who has taken on several other small-screen favorites, too.
• Michael Horse, the “Twin Peaks” veteran who voiced Ubu.
• Dorian Harewood, the actor with a heart for music who did a variety of voices here.
• Corey Burton, a voice artist with a diverse resume, including several of these interesting characters. 
• Mark Evanier, a writer with a varied resume who tackled the Darkseid storylines.

As a special bonus, in the "Superman" interview report, author Will Rodgers gives you a peek at his collection of action figures associated with the show. As with the other volumes in this BRBTV Reports series, it's all in a convenient, portable, Kindle format with photos appearing in color where available. And the price for these is our lowest -- $1.50 -- so you can read the thoughts of these cool guys for such a minor investment.

Stay tuned: We've got more BRBTV Reports coming up in 2012, as well as a rather intriguing new installment in the BRBTV (print!) fact book series ...

Happy holidays to all!!!!

With his latest Broadway show now over, Tom Wopat heads back to the screen -- big and small

Tom Wopat offers a special message to his fans in his latest email newsletter ...

"It's been awhile since I've written you personally – I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Over the past few months, I have been keeping busy! After the daily commitment of 'Catch Me If You Can' ended in September, it's been really great to get back into some film and tv roles, plus focus more on live singing appearances.

"In the film and TV world, you may have seen my recent appearance on the CBS show 'A Gifted Man,' but if not, the whole episode is streaming online here. I also filmed a musical for ABC called 'Elixir,' with an incredibly talented cast including Jane Seymour, Chelsea Kane, Sara Paxton, Drew Seeley and more. 'Elixir' will be out in early 2012; we will be posting a lot more information about that. And today, as you read this, I am on the set of the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film 'DJANGO UNCHAINED,' which will be in theaters in December 2012.

"As you know, I have booked a lot more live shows over the next year, and am really looking forward to seeing many of you there. If you don't see your city on the list yet, stay tuned as we will be adding more!

"I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.

- Tom"

John Wesley Shipp takes another fatherly turn, this time on "Teen Wolf"

John Wesley Shipp is announcing it from his own Facebook page, and you can get the story at ZAP2it: Shipp will appear in the second season of the series "Teen Wolf."

Our former Martin Ellis of "Santa Barbara" will portray Isaac's "not-so-nice dad -- and the owner of Beacon Hills Cemetery," ZAP2it says. "He sees a whole new side of his son after Derek brings Isaac into the wolf pack, and a few 'mysterious incidents' plague him in particular. Shipp is headed to Atlanta to begin shooting the intense role next week. MTV confirms that we can expect to see him in two episodes."

Shipp says he's heading over to the set on Tuesday.

In other JWS news (!), the actor will return to "One Life to Live" during its finale week. This former dad from "Dawson's Creek" played a rather interesting dad on this soap. Read about it at Michael Fairman's soaps site.

It's a "Fantastic Forum" -- and a fantastic thing for comics fans!

Since 2007, fans of the comic book and sci-fi / fantasy genres in the Washington, D.C., area have enjoyed a special treat -- the weekly "Fantastic Forum" TV show created and produced by Ulysses Campbell. The show, which airs on several different outlets in D.C., even recently won the 2011 Monty Award for Best Arts and Humanities Program, and Ulysses won as best program host!

But the show isn't just local -- it's global, with episodes posted on YouTube and Vimeo, and at the show's official site, as well, so that fans everywhere can enjoy the topics Ulysses and his crew explore: Everything from profiles of characters like Batman to an examination of the treatment of female characters in comics, to the "Superpower of Love," to discussions of crossovers and the portrayal of politics in comics. Besides the panel segments featuring a variety of guests, over the years the show has also featured original interviews with a ton of folks in the comics industry: Neal Adams, Jim Shooter, Matt Wagner, Frank Cho, Jo Chen, Howard Chaykin and more.

We've told you on this blog before about the video correspondent and hosting work of Billie Rae Bates on the Comics Continuum website and accompanying TV show based in Metro Detroit. Well, now BRB is honored to have been asked by Ulysses to help out with some interviews, panel discussion and hosting duties for "Fantastic Forum."

It's a testament to Ulysses that he doesn't do this all by himself -- he has an army of people helping him out, both behind and in front of the camera (just check out the credits on the episode guide page of the show's site!). Besides the recent Monty Awards, "Fantastic Forum" also won a 2010 Accolade Competition Award of Merit and a 2010 DCTV Viewer’s Choice Award for Best Program in the News and Public Affairs category.

BRB is thrilled to be able to participate in the show! Catch her interview with "Walking Dead" artist Charlie Adlard in Episode 31 below, shot at this year's Baltimore Comic Con, and watch future episodes to see her as a panelist and host.

Announcing the BRBTV Report on "Superman: The Animated Series"

A couple weeks ago, we introduced you to the voice prowess of our buddy Will Rodgers, who's known among his friends as "The Voice Man." We've seen him demonstrate his talent for voice impersonation at various events over the years, so we put him on tape for you to enjoy, too!

Now, while Will can do a great verbal take on many of the characters of our beloved "Dallas," "The Dukes of Hazzard" and more,  he has a talent for capturing these characters in the printed word, as well! He's the creator of the site, "Will's Ultimate Guide Super Friends Episode Guide!" for one thing, and it's really a comprehensive look at a beloved classic superhero show. As a writer, Will  has a keen grasp of detail, and he has a love for the same shows BRB loves. Thus, a reference guide collaboration was born!

The first one out of the gate from this collaboration is a tribute to the late-'90s show "Superman: The Animated Series." BRBTV is delighted to announce this new addition to our Reports series, focusing on what was basically a spinoff of the wildly popular "Batman: The Animated Series" of the earlier '90s by Bruce Timm and Co. of Warner Bros. Animation.

“Superman: TAS” proved faithful to the famous Superman mythos originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and so well-explored in many pop culture media over the decades, from other animated series to live-action TV series and theatrical movies, to newspaper and radio and of course, the printed comic-book page. This new series took Superman / Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Lex Luthor, Perry White and many, many more of the well-known characters and gave them a fresh look and fresh appeal, all keeping to the style of “B:TAS.” The half-hour animated series encompassed three seasons on the Kids WB! from 1996 to 2000, contributing a few of its own unique elements to the enduring Superman mythos along the way.

Like the others in the series, this BRBTV Report delivers up a magazine-length feature story examining the history and impact of this TV show. In addition to the feature story, you’ll see Will's own fun, original episode synopses, along with a cast list for the show. It's all in a convenient, portable, Kindle format with photos appearing in color where available.

It's the meatiest BRBTV Report so far -- the equivalent of 87 letter-sized pages (the episode synopses Will writes are much heftier and more robust than BRB's, actually)! AND ... like the rest of the BRBTV Reports, the price is low: this time a cool $2.99. Less than a comic book, less than a magazine, and yours to keep fo-ever and ever ...

We hope you enjoy this latest Report. And stay tuned to this channel, we've got two more Reports coming close on the heels of this one ...

Get ready to bid: General Lee 13, one of Alexis' gowns, Wonder Woman's lasso and more!

Boy, is it a good time to have some money to throw around, some space in the den, and a love for classic TV. Profiles in History’s “Icons of Hollywood” movie and television prop auction is coming up fast. And among the offerings for your bidding pleasure are nice splashes of "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Dynasty" and "Wonder Woman."

The “Icons of Hollywood” auction is being held December 15-16 at The Paley Center for Media, 465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California. The auction consists of 1,209 lots with original props, costumes, artwork, photography, and more from Hollywood’s history.

PDF catalogs are now available for download at Profiles in History site, so you can see all the goodies available, but here are some highlights that will whet your appetite:

• A vibrant purple gown from "Dynasty": a three-button jacket with fur sleeves and long skirt, of deep plum velvet, worn by Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington Colby in the Season 5 episode “The Heiress.” And, the catalog notes, "It features Velcro closure to allow Michael Nader 'Dex Dexter' to rip it open and ravish Collins on her bed in one of the sexiest moments in TV history." Wowzers.
• Lasso, first-season bracelets and $2 bill from "Wonder Woman": The lasso was for throwing  (not one of the ones attached to her outfit), and the $2 bill was the one kissed by the actress, Lynda Carter, during the first-season episode "Last of the Two-Dollar Bills."
• Jail sign from "The Dukes of Hazzard": Aluminum sign measures 16 by 24 inches and is painted in black letters, “Hazzard County Jail Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.”
• Screen General Lee #13 (SGL 13) from "The Dukes of Hazzard": OK, now we're getting to a big ticket item. See page 134 of the first PDF catalog. We've gotta email one of our "Dukes" buddies and see just who's car this is ... there are certainly a few interesting clues in the description ...

Spotted: John Beck and Sorrell Booke

OK, so, we were all settled in, on our nice un-comfy couch, with a fresh DVD from our bud Tracy all queued up ... and what name do we see on the screen as the opening credits roll for this classic film?

Sorrell Booke????

Really? Sorrell Booke????

OK, John Beck didn't surprise us. Our former Mark Graison of "Dallas" and David Raymond of "Santa Barbara" had a prolific career through the '70s and '80s, and the two aforementioned favorites weren't his only forays on the soapy side, for sure. But Sorrell Booke? Our beloved J.D. Hogg of "The Dukes of Hazzard"?

Yes, indeed. With a bare (hairy) back in a sex scene, no less. (Seriously.) What's the movie, you're now dying to know? Sidney Sheldon's "The Other Side of Midnight," 1977.

Booke is Lanchon, a French businessman with a stern accent who cuts a deal in Marseilles to wed the lead character, Marie-France Pisier's Noelle Page. She's none too happy about the arrangement, and she quickly escapes him, only to fall into the arms of someone far more treacherous, Beck's Larry Douglas.

Beck is a scoundrel in this film, but he's such a straight-up scoundrel that you really have to wonder if he at all realizes he's doing anything wrong as he loves 'em and leaves 'em and generally deceives his way through the storyline as a military pilot in this World War II setting. He delivers his treachery with the ever-honest look and stance (and charm, of course) of a Mark Graison or a David Raymond. Reprehensible? Yes. Delusional? We're thinkin' so.

Though the movie was considered a flop at the box office, it gave Beck a great, meaty, leading role. And Booke? Well, we knew the guy was multitalented. This one definitely shows another one of Boss Hogg's many facets as an actor.

Robin Wright: "Rampart," "Dragon Tattoo" and more

It's a regular Robin Wright roundup here on the BRBTV News Blog. Our lovely original Kelly Capwell of "Santa Barbara" has lots of movie stuff goin' awn ...

"Rampart," in which she stars with Woody Harrelson, Ice Cube and Sigourney Weaver, has release dates of November 23, 2011 in New York and Los Angeles, and January 27, 2012 elsewhere in the U.S. The movie "explores the dark soul and romantic misadventures of a never-changing LAPD cop (Harrelson) whose past is finally catching up with him in the wake of a department-wide corruption scandal," according to promotional materials.

Along the way, he is forced to confront his disgruntled daughters (Brie Larson, Sammy Boyarsky), his two ex-wives (Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon), a tenacious deputy DA (Weaver), an investigator on his trail (Ice Cube), a homeless witness to his crimes (Ben Foster), his aging mentor (Ned Beatty) and a mysterious new lover who may or may not be on his side (Robin Wright), as he fights for his own sanity and survival. Wow, what a cast.

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" comes out next month and has Wright sharing the screen with the blond Bond, Daniel Craig. See the official website for ... well, a photo, at least!

Wright also visited the Congo recently for the Enough Project, as this YouTube video attests. Wow, does she look great!



Wright is also reported to be starring in "The Grandmothers." See the Facebook  note about that.

A fan page for Wright on Facebook has all this news and more, such as photos of Wright in these roles.

He's got "Dallas" and "The Dukes" covered for sure: BRBTV presents a sampling of the voice talent of Will Rodgers

We knew he had talent when we saw his site, "Will's Ultimate Guide Super Friends Episode Guide!" And he's got such a wonderful, geeky-keen grasp of detail, a love for classic TV shows, and a skill at writing that we asked him to collaborate on some upcoming BRBTV projects. But the real talent of Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers of Tennessee is his voicework. It's only fitting that part of the BRBTV video series on YouTube includes a sprinkling of his impersonations of classic TV characters. Enjoy ...

Jackson Bostwick tells us more about his work on "Shazam!"

So just how closely did the "Shazam!" Saturday-morning TV series of the 1970s follow the well-known comic-book character? Where in California was the show filmed, and what was the deal with those "Elders"? Where was Shazam the Wizard, anyway? Jackson Bostwick, the original star of Filmation's live-action half-hour series weighed in on those questions and more as BRBTV chatted with him at this year's Geek Media Expo in Nashville, Tennessee.

The latest in the BRBTV video series puts you there at Bostwick's table at the event as he talks with Will and BRB about his work on the series. We hope you enjoy it. Consider it a follow-up to our email interview with Bostwick a few months back on this very blog ...

Jeannie Epper had the inside track on those "Dynasty" catfights

For our recently released BRBTV Report on the '70s TV show "Wonder Woman," we got the chance to talk via phone to esteemed Hollywood stuntwoman Jeannie Epper, who was the primary double for Lynda Carter in that series and who was even one of the two subjects of the 2004 documentary flick "Double Dare" for that same "WW" work.

Epper comes from a big family of Hollywood actors and stunt doubles spanning four generations, and her resume certainly extends far beyond "Wonder Woman." Take "Charlie's Angels," for instance, or "The Bionic Woman," "Logan's Run," "The Rockford Files," "Beverly Hills Cop III," "Con Air," "Blade," and a ton more. And this gal, just turning 70 this year, shows no signs of slowing down. On the day we talked to her this past July, she had just done an explosion scene for CBS' "Criminal Minds." But what we talked about with  her this day was the aforementioned "Wonder Woman" ... as well as another little show that we happen to like ...

Those popular "Dynasty" catfights featuring Linda Evans as Krystle Carrington and Joan Collins as Alexis Colby were a tad more dangerous than they might have looked, you see. And Epper just happens to be the one who stepped in and spared Evans from injury. Epper tells us she got that "Dynasty" gig from having doubled for Evans on "Big Valley." Evans then asked for her in her "Dynasty" days.

Epper was with the show from the beginning and says that she handled not only the catfights but a few other things along the way.

"I did the horseback riding. Remember Rock Hudson, before they knew he had AIDS? He looked like a really old man. We were doing that horse chase. My brother Andy stunt-doubled him in the horse chase, and I was doubling her (Evans). And she rolls down the hill,and he comes down and scoops her up and kisses her. And …” Epper pauses.

“I shouldn’t really say it because it’s not my story to tell, but yes, I was there that day. She was a little worried.”

The concern was downplayed, of course, for fear of a hysteria in this just-discovered disease. “That was before they knew about saliva," Epper says. "They didn’t know so much as they know now about that disease.”

She continues, "I also did stair falls for her. You remember the episode where she fell down the stairs? I did that. But the catfights were the best. You know of all the episodes, I have in its entirety the one where Linda was fighting herself in the attic.” (Catfight No. 4, in “The Vigil,” January 22, 1986)

“That was a rough fight. That was a really really rough fight. The pond one was fun.”

So in the attic scene with the real Krystle and fake Krystle fighting, we had to ask, who was the other stuntwoman? “Donna Evans was able to come in and be the twin," Epper says. "She dated my son way, way back, in the ‘80s. She’s married now and has a family. She doubles for Anne Hathaway. We worked on ‘Princess Diaries’ together, and I doubled Julie Andrews, and she doubled Anne. She used to double Sharon Stone and lots of others. Back then, there were a lot of big actresses who were doing action stuff. Her sister Debbie does all the car work for Angelina Jolie.”

Did Epper do all of the “Dynasty” catfights involving Krystle? “I didn’t do the pillow fight." (the studio fight) "My sister did. I was on another show. I wasn’t under contract to them yet. They’d bring me in and use me when they needed me. Later they put me under contract, because they wanted the same people to double the same actresses. But in the pillow fight, it was her and a girl named Regina Parton.”

What was Linda Evans like to work with? “Just great," Epper says. "We’ve known each other since we were 19 years old because of ‘Big Valley.’ I rode horses for her on that.”

What about Joan Collins?

“I loved working with her," Epper says. "I loved to watch her because she was so amazingly old Hollywood, and to get to see that, to see that she was old Hollywood, was great. She was demanding. Linda would always calm her down. But a lot of times she was right about things too.”

She says, “There was a certain thing that went on in that period. Joan wasn’t that old. She liked me because I understood her as a woman. Things would get rough and they’d make you do what you didn’t want to do,and I didn’t do that with her. She’d be like, ‘Oh thank God, it’s Jeannie.’”

What was the biggest challenge Epper faced on “Dynasty”?

“We did a lot of fire stuff. Do you remember the one where they didn’t know which one got burned to death? He carried both of us out.”  (“The Cabin” season-ending cliffhanger, April 20, 1983) “Thank God my brother was the one doubling whoever the guy was.” (Mark Jennings) “You always have to trust people in a situation like that. Anytime you do fire, other people are there to take care of you. I never got burnt, either. ... I like to critique my own work, and I’ll sometimes think, could I have done it better. I think we did a really good job on that episode. They were trying to get it in one take. By the time it was over with, we were like, ‘Please say print!’ Then they would kinda punch in and get some little pieces. That was probably the hardest one.”

And the attic catfight, we add. Which was when George Hamilton was on the show. “Yes," she says. "He and I had to go through a plate glass window. I loved him. He was the brownest man I ever saw, and he was the nicest man. He’s just one of the old toughies, you know. But he kept his looks. Some of them, they change. They don’t look like themselves when they were younger.”

And the clothes? What about those fabulous clothes?

"All of the clothes were made by Nolan Miller. He made my clothes and her clothes, and we weren’t allowed to take them. There was one outfit where I said, ‘Can I just wear this out Saturday night,’ because I knew they were going to rip it off me the next week. And it was a no. … But boy, could he fit clothes to your body. Because they fitted me just like they fitted Linda. For somebody like me who could never afford to have someone make them outfits like that, it was something. All those clothes fitted to me. You wonder where they ended up. Probably auctioned off somewhere.”

Indeed.

You can read the full text of our interview with Jeannie Epper in the upcoming Kindle edition of the BRBTV reference guide, "Dynasty High."

John Wesley Shipp talks "Flash" and more at GMX panel

Years before the success of sites like eBay, his costar Mark Hamill seemed to know the value of a piece of a superhero costume, as John Wesley Shipp of TV's "The Flash" explains in his panel discussion at this year's Geek Media Expo. And if you missed hearing Shipp tell this and other "Flash" stories live and in person at the Nashville event a week or two back, BRBTV will put you in the audience with the latest videos on our YouTube channel.

Just how enthused was "Star Wars" alum Hamill about his role as the Trickster on "The Flash"? And how did the role influence his voicework a year later on "Batman: The Animated Series"? What was that Flash costume really like, and why does its display at a Hard Rock Cafe make Shipp a little uneasy? And what about a key (motherly) casting connection between "The Flash" and our beloved "Dallas"? Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers of BRBTV points it out from the audience as part of this Q and A session. Shipp, who portrayed Martin Ellis on "Santa Barbara" a few years before he donned the scarlet suit, also talks about his work on daytime TV.





We hope you enjoy the videos. And look out -- we've got another superhero coming up in our video series -- Jackson Bostwick of "Shazam!"

Eddie Munster and the Dragula are a big hit at Detroit's Redford Theatre

If you didn't make it out to last weekend's special event at the Redford Theatre in Detroit, we've got the scoop for ya. Mr. Butch Patrick, who starred as Eddie Munster on "The Munsters," made an appearance for the showing of the flick "Munster, Go Home," on Friday and Saturday  night. And making its big debut with Patrick was the fabulous custom-built Dragula!

Mike of Motor City Reel Rides, shown with Patrick below as he signs the car, hand-built this golden beauty to exactly match the vehicle featured in the "Munsters" TV show. With a carefully chosen coffin trucked up from another state and lots of materials and processes we're sure are rather proprietary (!), Mike crafted it all down to the last detail -- and on a very tight deadline for this event with Patrick.

The event was a huge success. For just the Friday night showing, more than 700 people came out, Mike tells BRBTV.

Mike, by the way, has also hand-crafted an Ecto car from "Ghostbusters," and his Motor City Reel Rides brings these and other star cars such as KITT from "Knight Rider," the General Lee from "The Dukes of Hazzard," and the fabulous Monkeemobile (featured in previous posts on this very blog) to special events. Email 'em to learn more from Motor City Reel Rides.

 

You'll find more photos from this event at the Redford Theatre's site.

 

Photos courtesy of Motor City Reel Rides; please do not copy without permission.