Charlene Tilton will appear at Motor City Comic Con

Yowza! Do our eyes deceive us? Charlene Tilton on the comic-convention circuit? Of course, the Motor City Comic Con, in the lovely Detroit suburb of Novi, isn't just your average everyday comic con. BRBTV has attended many a time and has been delighted by the nice array of pop-culture stars and the overall growth of the show over the years. But to learn that our own little Lucy Ewing of "Dallas" will be making the trip north for the May 19-21 event ... we're delighted more than we're usually delighted! Add to that John Saxon, who played Rashid Ahmed on "Dynasty," and you've got a BRBTV double-shot!

No further details yet on what days and times the Motor City Comic Con will feature Tilton or Saxon, but we'll let ya know as soon as we can. Meanwhile, you can learn more about the con at www.motorcitycomiccon.com. The show runs 1:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Adult one-day tickets are $20.

Maxwell Caulfield is "Living the Quake"

Maxwell Caulfield, the hunky and hot-tempered Miles Colby of "Dynasty" and "The Colbys," will take a mayoral turn in "Living the Quake," a TV movie about the great San Francisco Earthquake. Caulfield plays Mayor Schmitz in the docudrama. Scheduled for release this year, reportedly to mark the 100th anniversary of the April 18, 1906 urban disaster, "Living the Quake" is written and directed by Philip Smith. The film will air on the National Geographic Channel and will use a combination of CGI technology, live action and firsthand testimony from survivors, according to the C21Media website (http://www.c21media.net).

Tom Wopat: Now THAT's down-home!

Our own Luke Duke, Mr. Tom Wopat, will be making a trip back home this weekend for the alumni basketball game at his alma mater, Lodi High School. The game is tomorrow, February 25 at 3:30 p.m. That just goes to show ya that a country boy (raised on a dairy farm, in this case), can make it in Hollywood and on Broadway and still have a fondness for his roots back home. And hey, if you're in the area or you're planning to be, you can call the high school's athletic department at (608) 592-3853, ext. 4412. Thanks to the www.wopat.com webgal, Sheri, for passing this along!

TVLand ballot includes (of course) "Dallas"

Wowzers ... Walk, don't run, over to TVLand.com to show your love of "Dallas" in the TVLand Viewer's Choice Awards! The "Dallas" Dream Season is nominated for "favorite dream sequence," and Barbara Bel Geddes gets a nod for the "most irreplaceable replacement."

(And holy cow -- Miss Beadle on "Little House" even got a nomination! "The Bionic Woman" and "Wonder Woman" have a presence ... And good grief, I thought I was the only one who remembered Dee on "What's Happening!" ... BRBTV doesn't necessarily do endorsements, but this channel rocks!!!)

Anyhow ... TVLand will air its awards show on Wednesday, March 22 at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

BRBTV birthdays this week ...

- Two "Santa Barbara" stars shared a birthday this past Monday, February 20: Marj Dusay (second Pamela Capwell), who turned 70 and Peter Love (Ric Castillo), who turned 43.
- Jack Coleman, the second Steven Carrington on "Dynasty," turned 48 on Tuesday, February 21.
- Two "Dynasty" stars share a birthday this Friday, February 24: James Farentino (Dr. Nick Toscanni) turns 68 and Susan Scannell (Nicole Simpson DeVilbus) turns 48.
- Leann Hunley, Dana Waring on "Dynasty," turns 51 on Saturday, February 25.
- Bert Remsen, a double BRBTV star as Dandy Dandridge on "Dallas" and Jack Crager on "Dynasty," was born on February 25, 1925 and died on April 22, 1999.
- Margarita Cordova, who was Rosa Andrade on "SB," turns 67 on Sunday, February 26.

Happy birthday to all ...

Rock on! Season 6 of "Dukes" on its way

Mark May 30 on your calendar, "Dukes" fans. That's the scheduled release date of Season 6 of "The Dukes of Hazzard," TVShowsonDVD.com reports. With a $39.98 list price, the set will include 22 action-packed thrill-rides with our Duke cousins.

And a BRBTV side note: One of the bonus features in this set will feature Ben "Cooter" Jones and Sonny "Enos" Shroyer, and it was filmed in historic downtown Covington, used in the original five episodes (which were all filmed in Georgia). Just a few weeks ago, in December, Jones and Shroyer popped in unexpectedly for a visit to Harold and Dianne Duren's A Touch of Country store in Covington, which houses a fabbo "Dukes" museum. Dukes historian and longtime "keeper of the shrine" Jo McLaney had the pleasure to chat with them, she told BRBTV. And that lovely downtown historic Covington, by the way, will be featured in the Hazzard County Car Club (www.dukesofhazzard01.com) "Roads Back to Hazzard" tour of the original Georgia filming sites in less than two weeks! Hope you're gonna be there! Click on that link to learn more! It's kinda like a new mini-DukesFest right here in Georgia!

Meanwhile ... we eagerly await the next-to-the-last season on DVD!

"Dallas" movie filming in ... Florida?

The buzz about a new movie based on the TV show "Dallas" has been around for a few years, as speculation has raised names such as John Travolta in regards to the project, though the project has yet to happen. The most recent news is that the movie might begin filming this summer, but it, ironically, won't be filmed in the famous town of its name. The Star-Telegram in Fort Worth, Texas, reports that Florida, Louisiana and even Canada are being considered for shooting the antics of a modernly recast J.R. and the rest of the Ewing clan.

"The studio (20th Century Fox) has been asking us to consider a number of states," the Star-Telegram quotes Michael Costigan as saying. Costigan is producing the film, along with David Jacobs, the original show's creator. "Honestly, Dallas was never high on the list, because it didn't seem like a feasible, economic place to do the movie."

Politics, politics. Evidently the City of Dallas doesn't quite have the incentive of other popular filming sites such as Vancouver, British Columbia, or Toronto. The film's shooting could bring an estimated $30 million to the economy of the hosting city.

The movie, which has been kicking around officially since 2002, will film from a screenplay by playwright Robert Harling and Sacha Gervasi; Robert Luketic is attached to direct. A green light for the film, as well as final casting details, is expected in the next few weeks.

Tom Wopat says "Let's Fall in Love"

Thanks to Sheri at Tom Wopat's official website for passing this along ... Tom Wopat of "The Dukes of Hazzard" joins Faith Prince for "Let's Fall in Love" at the nightclub Feinstein's at the Regency in New York. The show runs now until February 25 at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, with 11 p.m. shows added on Friday and Saturday.

The "Feinstein" in the nightclub's name is Michael Feinstein (whom "Santa Barbara" fans might remember performing on the show to celebrate the love of C.C. and Sophia Capwell), and the club's aim is to showcase great cabaret acts. Prince is a veteran of Broadway and of TV shows such as ABC's "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and "Spin City."

For tickets or other info, visit http://www.feinsteinsattheregency.com.

Photo courtesy of TomWopat.com.

Jane Sibbett voices role in "Charlotte's Web"

The childhood favorite "Charlotte's Web" is getting a new screen take in 2006 (the original film was in 1973), and this new take will feature one of our "Santa Barbara" alums, Jane Sibbett, who once played the lovely Jane Wilson -- and the more-vivacious Roxanne.

The lively tale, about a pig named Wilbur and his efforts to avoid becoming dinner-table fare, has an amazingly all-star cast that includes Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Robert Redford and many more. Sibbett voices Joy in the movie. It's directed by Gary Winick from a screenplay by Susannah Grant and Karey Kirkpatrick.

Sibbett lives on a farm these days and has tried her own hand at screenwriting.

Billy Dee Williams stars in Snoop Dogg film

Billy Dee Williams will be hitting the screen with rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg in 2006. "Hood of Horror" is classified as "a hip-hop horror anthology," according to the IMDb. Williams, our own Brady Lloyd of "Dynasty," plays Pastor Charlie in the film, directed by Stacy Title. The Snoopster serves as executive producer of the movie, which also stars "Seinfeld" alum Jason Alexander.

Williams has, in recent years, co-authored a science-fiction novel, "PSI/Net," and, when BRB interviewed him back in 1999, he had just been working with a website, Art in the Dark, to showcase his paintings. Looks like the site no longer exists, though you can still find the book on Amazon.

Another interesting little tidbit, by the way, from the IMDb: Williams and his "Dynasty" costar, Diahann Carroll, attended the New York City High School for the Performing Arts together.


Photo of Williams signing autographs at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Mich., in May 1999 by Billie Rae Bates.

BRBTV birthdays this week

This week's BRBTV birthdays ...

- Richard Eden, who was Brick Wallace on "Santa Barbara," turned 47 yesterday, February 13.
- George Kennedy, so fun as Carter McKay on "Dallas," turns 81 on February 18.
- Michael Nader, the hottie Dex Dexter on "Dynasty," turns 61 on February 19.
- Kathleen Beller, who was Kirby Aynders on "Dynasty," turns the big 5-0 on February 19.

Happy birthday to all!

Ali MacGraw to make Broadway debut

The Associated Press reports that Ali MacGraw -- the Lady Ashley Mitchell who chased Blake around on "Dynasy" -- will make her Broadway debut in "Festen." The London play also stars Larry Bryggman, Michael Hayden and Julianna Margulies.

The production, which is David Eldridge's stage adaptation of an acclaimed 1998 Danish film, is the story of a family in turmoil, with Bryggman playing the patriarch, MacGraw as his wife and Hayden and Margulies as their children.

"Festen," originally seen in London in 2004, will open April 9 at the Music Box Theatre. Preview performances begin March 23.

Rufus Norris, who directed the London production of "Festen," will also direct in New York.

A Martinez, Patrick Duffy ride into "Desolation Canyon"

Meow! It's a BRBTV double-hitter! The Hallmark Channel will set our tongues a-waggin' this July with its brand-new movie "Desolation Canyon," which will star not only the hotter-than-hot A Martinez shown here (Cruz Castillo on "SB") but also the ever-handsome Patrick Duffy, shown below (Bobby Ewing of "Dallas")!

Hallmark provided BRBTV with these details on the film, which will air on Saturday, July 1:

"Two longtime friends, a retired lawman and an ex-gunman, have their friendship tested when they join forces to hunt down the gunman’s son, a bank-robber who has kidnapped his own son from his mother in 'Desolation Canyon.'

"Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach stars as Samuel Kendrick, a retired gunfighter living in an isolated cabin in Desolation Canyon with his common law wife. Patrick Duffy stars as Sheriff Tomas “Swede” Lundstrom, an old friend who fought with Sam on the Union side in the Civil War where Sam first earned his reputation as a deadeye shot. Following the war, both wild young men rode with an outlaw gang, but have subsequently reformed with Swede switching to the right side of the law. The two men are reunited on a mission to track down Sam’s estranged outlaw son, Johnny Kendrick, in an effort to save him from deeper trouble and possibly a violent death.

"The skillful old gunman leads the hunt for his son, hoping to keep him alive. Danger looms as the men become trapped by the outlaw gang that Johnny is riding with."

Martinez stars as a Mexican Army captain named Arturo Zetta, who tracks the outlaw gang. Kenneth Johnson, Kelly Overton and Courtney Gains also star in the gritty drama.

“Desolation Canyon” is produced by Robert Halmi, Jr. and Larry Levinson, directed by David S. Cass Sr. and written by Dan Fitzsimons.


Photos: Vern Evans/Hallmark Channel
©2005 Crown Media United States, LLC
(BRBTV has permission to run them; copy at your own risk.)

Christopher Cazenove in "Alexander the Great"

"Alexander the Great From Macedonia" is the next project up for Christopher Cazenove, the cunning brother Ben to Blake Carrington in "Dynasty." Cazenove has the formidable role of Aristotle in the film, directed by Jalal Merhi and scheduled for 2006 release. The plotline from the IMDb: "Freely inspired by the life and times of Alexander the Great, the film centers around the coming of age of young Alexander, future world conqueror, from his boyhood in Greece to his assumption of Regent of the Land, after proving his worth to his father, the demanding King Phillip."

You can view the film's trailer, along with a nice shot of Cazenove, at the Ilya Salkind Co. website:
www.ilyasalkindcompany.com

Congratulations, "SB" stars for Emmy nominations

If you caught the slate of official Daytime Emmy nominees on today's edition of ABC's talk show, "The View," you saw a couple shades of "Santa Barbara." Among those getting nods, in anticipation of the 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards:

- Kim Zimmer, once Jodie Walker on "SB" and now Reva Lewis on CBS' "Guiding Light," also nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.
- Robert Newman, one of the Kirk Cranstons on "SB" and now Zimmer's co-star as Josh Lewis on "Guiding Light," nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

Congratulations to all nominees! White Cherry Entertainment will produce the Daytime Emmy Awards, to air live on the ABC Television Network from Hollywood's Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards®, on Friday, April 28. This will mark the first time the Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast from Hollywood in the 33-year history of the ceremonies.

Jack Coleman has "Cow Belles"

Jack Coleman, the second Steven Carrington of "Dynasty," will star in the TV movie "Cow Belles," airing on the Disney Channel on March 24. Coleman will portray a character named Reed Callum in the movie, directed by Francine McDougall. The plotline for the movie from the IMDb: "In order to learn how to be responsible, two wealthy teen sisters are forced to work in the family business by their exasperated father. When company funds goes missing, it's up to the girls to save the day." That family business is a dairy business, as you might well imagine.

BRBTV Birthdays: February 1-12

BRBTV has some rockin' birthdays to share with you for this first part of February ...

- Kim Zimmer, who shone as Jodie Walker on "Santa Barbara," turned 51 on Groundhog's Day, February 2.
- Bo Hopkins, hotter than hot (in our opinion!) as Matthew Blaisdel on "Dynasty," turned 64 on February 2.
- Morgan Fairchild, one of the Jenna Wades on "Dallas" and so many other things in our soap-opera lexicon, turned 56 on February 3.
- Dame Judith Anderson, the grand gal who originated the Minx Lockridge role on "SB," was born on February 10, 1897, and died on January 3, 1992.
- Tina Louise, the unforgettable Julie Grey on "Dallas," and an unforgettable redhead anyway (!), turned 72 on Saturday, February 11.

Happy birthday to all ...

Al Corley, executive producer of "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon"

He isn't doing a whole lot of acting these days, but he can still be found behind the scenes. Al Corley, the original (and hottest!) Steven Carrington of "Dynasty," serves as executive producer of "Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon," a horror film directed by Scott Glosserman. It's been in post-production for more than a year, according to the IMDb. The plotline: "The next great psycho horror slasher has given a documentary crew exclusive access to his life as he plans his reign of terror over the sleepy town of Glen Echo, all the while deconstructing the conventions and archetypes of the horror genre for them." The movie stars Robert Englund of "Nightmare on Elm Street" fame.

James Best, making appearances ...

Attention James Best fans! BRBTV just couldn't get enough of Flash on "The Dukes of Hazzard," and Flash's owner, Rosco P. Coltrane -- well, he was pretty cool, too. So if you're a James Best fan, too, you might wanna circle these dates on your calendar:

- On Saturday, February 25, Best will appear at the Show Cars Inc. event at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. He'll be there from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
- Then, on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26, he'll visit the Calvacade of Wheels Auto Show at Notre Dame University's Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. On Saturday, he'll be there 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For more info on that one, visit http://www.cavalcadeofwheels.com/.

Marc Singer stars in new "V" miniseries

Sources say it's been stalled by the network and is not coming out until 2007, but you never know, with these things ... The newest installment in the "V" alien saga, "V: The Second Generation," is going to star Marc Singer, our own Matt Cantrell of "Dallas" (and a star of many, many other productions over the years). Directed and written by Kenneth Johnson, the miniseries is designed as a sequel to the popular 1983-84 sci-fi miniseries. The plotline from the IMDb: "Twenty years after their arrival on Earth, the Visitors have deeply entrenched themselves on the planet, enslaving the human race, turning them into followers. The Resistance is losing the war with their alien masters until they gain a powerful and mysterious new ally." Singer reprises the role of Mike Donovan and is joined by former "V" castmates Jane Badler and Faye Grant.

(In-between his stints in the "Beastmaster" films and other stuff, BRBTV very much enjoyed Singer as the voice of Man-Bat / Kirk Langstrom in the groundbreaking "Batman: The Animated Series.")

Gordon Thomson in "Poseidon" remake

Gordon Thomson, who once shared "Dynasty" scenes as a sibling with Pamela Sue Martin, will be starring in the remake of one of her most famous films, 1972's "The Poseidon Adventure." The remake, titled simply, "Poseidon," is now finishing up production and scheduled for a May 12, 2006 release. Though Martin says on her official website that she was not asked to do a cameo in the 2006 remake, she does do a special featurette for the new deluxe DVD release of the original, which will coincide with the remake's release (got all that? whew!).

Thomson, meanwhile (stunning, as well, playing the third and final Mason Capwell on our beloved "Santa Barbara"), will play the character Jay in the "Poseidon" remake, about an ocean-liner full of people who must fight their way out when the ship capsizes. The film is directed by Wolfgang Petersen (who did "The Perfect Storm" and "Outbreak") from a script by Paul Attanasio and Akiva Goldsman, adapted from a novel by Paul Gallico. The film also stars Kurt Russell, Josh Lucas and Richard Dreyfuss.

You can view the trailer of the remake on the IMDb's page for the film:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409182/

Constance Marie has an "Easier, Softer Way"

If you've been enjoying the "SB" Pebble Creek Reunion Series at BarbarianTV.com (thanks Elena, Kimmah, FrenchBubbly and the crew for bring us these great "SB" videos!), you've been seeing the spicy, smitten Nikki Alvarez pursuing the hot Cruz Castillo. Next up for the busy Constance Marie, who currently stars as Angie Lopez in the "George Lopez" sitcom on ABC, is the film "Easier, Softer Way," scheduled for 2006 release. (The film is directed by Mekhi Phifer, whom BRBTV thinks just rocked in the Detroit-based "8 Mile." Phifer also stars in this one.) Marie plays a character named Montana. The movie's logline from the IMDb: "Tired of being on the wagon, two stoners get voluntarily mixed up in the plot to rip off a shady figure known as Mr. Big."

In other "SB" news: The lovely Robin Wright Penn was up for a Screen Actors Guild Award last night for her role in "Empire Falls," but -- alas -- did not win. Rats!

Ouch! John Schneider, what next?

*SPOILER WARNING* if you haven't seen last night's episode of a certain popular WB show!

Yikes -- BRBTV is draped in black this morning (OK, OK, this blog always has a black background!) for the loss of Jonathan Kent on one of our very favorite shows in the whole wide world, the WB's "Smallville." Fans of "The Dukes of Hazzard," though, will just want to know what John Schneider has going on next. Schneider's publicist tells BRBTV that there's "nothing on the horizon yet," and we'll keep ya posted, if that changes ...

Anyone who saw Schneider in last night's episode experienced a major "psyche"! The previews for the show seemed to steer everything in the direction of a fatal car crash for Lana. And yes, she did indeed die in the episode's first half, but then the writers took a twisty-turny-thingy to have Clark appeal to Jor-El at the Fortress and actually turn back time! (No, not by flying around the globe like Christopher Reeve did in the Superman movies, but we wondered if that was coming! The episode did feature that whole turning-coal-into-a-diamond thing, after all!) So Clark was able to save Lana -- unwittingly at the cost of his own father! And we have to admit, Pa Kent did become a bit of a liability when he actually won the senatorial race early on in the episode, because we just don't remember that from the comics! Of course, "Smallville" certainly doesn't follow the continuum of the comics and movies, exactly. But it now follows a particular aspect of the Superman lore, in the fact that Pa Kent is no longer with us. (ABC's 1990s "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," for instance, left Pa Kent alive during Clark's Daily Planet years.)

We moan and groan and mourn the absence of a brilliant actor (whom our viewing companion last night, by the way, said really did a great death scene). And we hope this talent -- a talent we saw so young and fresh as a teen in the General Lee back in 1979 -- will have another project coming up soon.

Take the "Roads Back to Hazzard"!

If you're not already in Georgia, then you better make plans to be! The Hazzard County Car Club (www.dukesofhazzard01.com) invites you to take those dusty old "Roads Back to Hazzard" with a tour of the original Georgia filming sites of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

It'll be about 50 sites over 87 miles of country, event organizer Jon Holland tells BRBTV. It'll include fun stuff like the original Boar's Nest (now a church! holy cow!) and the town square in Covington, used as the downtown setting for Hazzard in those first five episodes that filmed in Georgia. The big day is Saturday, March 4, with a special trip to where the show's original mechanics hang out on Sunday, March 4 (you know they had to have some good mechanics, to keep all those '69 Dodge Chargers runnin'). The registration and check-in are at the Holiday Inn Conyers, 8 a.m. on Saturday, then we'll all meet back there at 7 p.m. BRB will be there to sign copies of the brand-spankin'-new print version of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" book! We'll also watch the first two "Dukes of Hazzard" episodes, on a 1979 tape (with commercials), for old time's sake, and there'll be raffles and auctions of great stuff like authentic General Lee and sheriff's car doors.

A cool $35 entry fee will help out the Rainbow Ministries Charity, which Jon tells us helps out many needy people in the community.

Who knows -- if lots of y'all show up, maybe this will become yearly, like a second DukesFest! We're sure Ben Jones won't mind!

Emma Samms returns to "GH"!!!

Holy guacamole, it's a grand-ole heyday reunion for ABC's "General Hospital," when Luke Spencer, Robert Scorpio and Holly Sutton Scorpio share the screen once again! Our own (second) Fallon of "Dynasty," the lovely, oh-so English, buxom Emma Samms, will reprise her role as Holly on the daytime soap on February 20. Tristan Rogers' character Robert will be returning tomorrow, and the captivating quick-as-a-whip Tony Geary as Luke ... well, he's just been there, 'bless him!

Those of us who watched "GH" in its late-'70s/early-'80s glory days, the days of Luke and Laura and the Ice Princess and Mikos Cassadine and cameos by Liz (sorry, that's Elizabeth) Taylor (and the young'uns Demi Moore and Janine Turner as Jackie and Laura Templeton -- oh, but we do digress!), remember well the delicate young flower of Holly Sutton, before Samms went to Denver to play a kinder, gentler Fallon back from the dead. This new stint in Port Chuck has Holly back in town just in time for a big health epidemic.

Samms reprised her "GH" role in the early '90s, as well. Samms will return in the 11,000th episode of "GH." You can check out the full official word from ABC here:
http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=011906_05