Monthly Archives: January 2019

Kaye Ballard, Larger-Than-Life Stage & Screen Star, Dies @ 93

Kaye Ballard, Larger-Than-Life Stage & Screen Star, Dies @ 93
Kaye Ballard, the wisecracking, broad-comedienne perhaps best remembered for a two-year stint on TV's The Mothers-in-Law, has died. She was 93. Kaye Ballard: November 20, 1925-January 21, 2019 (Image by Frances McLaughlin-Gill) According to an extensive and warm obit in The Desert Sun, Ballard had suffered from a heart malady, and slipped away Monday evening…
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What Happened Was: 30 Docs Snubbed by Oscar

What Happened Was: 30 Docs Snubbed by Oscar
The Best Documentary Feature category at the Oscars has a terrible track record — so often, it has completely snubbed docs that were transcendant, that were among the best films (let alone docs) of their year, and that had mainstream commercial success to boot. Paris was burning, but the Best Doc voters yawned. (Image via…
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Past & Curious: Madonna Flashback, Betty’s B’day & More!

Past & Curious: Madonna Flashback, Betty’s B’day & More!
Links from the past with relevance today ... Madonna in 1994; unreleased look from her "Secret" video (Image via WB) BBC SOUNDS: A long-lost '94 interview with Madonna ahead of the release of her Bedtime Stories launch. Madonna on fashion, "BUY? I don't go to BUY the clothes." Also noteworthy: The very sweet and intelligent…
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15 Classic Carol Channing Appearances!

15 Classic Carol Channing Appearances!
As we say goodbye to Broadway icon Carol Channing (1921-2019) — who died today at 97 — let's revisit some of her classic TV appearances. Thankfully, that medium captured her far better than the movies, and is available more widely than her primary home, the theater: https://youtu.be/vMHs6Afdjf0 1953 The Buick Berle Show: Channing tore it…
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Carol Channing, Broadway Icon, Dies @ 97

Carol Channing, Broadway Icon, Dies @ 97
Carol Channing, synonymous with the role of Dolly Levi in the Broadway staple Hello, Dolly!, died early today at her Rancho Mirage, California, home, Broadway World reports. She was two weeks shy of her 98th birthday. "Raspberries!" (Image via Universal) Her publicist Harlan Boll released the following statement confirming her passing: It is with extreme…
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Past & Curious: Sophia Poppins, Dreamy Tony Dow & More!

Past & Curious: Sophia Poppins, Dreamy Tony Dow & More!
Links to the past with relevance today: Color me impressed. (Image via Vintag.es) VINTAG.ES: Amazing color pics of the 1964 New York World's Fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9DfSCk-6Ko YOUTUBE: VHS covers of the past were pretty stunning, as is this highly designed video memorializing them. Gorgeous work. Their union lasted longer than almost any in show biz. (Image…
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‘The Nanny’ 2019?!

‘The Nanny’ 2019?!
Don't get too excited — or too afraid — because that bizarre The Nanny 2019 video making the rounds is just a clever mash-up of existing footage of the original cast. Still fun to watch and contemplate, and that Golden Girls music is inspired: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpduBFVw8XY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0QRfvqybcmK3E1C2fTsUtz4uIHQdnr6eLjWiWgum4HIq2MFvvR9qVs-a0
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‘Laverne & Shirley’ Marathon!

‘Laverne & Shirley’ Marathon!
The Garry Marshall Theatre (4252 W. Riverside Dr., Burbank, Calif.) is hosting what sounds like a superfun event: a free Laverne & Shirley marathon featuring Cindy Williams, 71, in person! Penny Marshall Obit Here The marathon is Sunday, January 27, from 10 a.m - 10 p.m. — get tickets now. The went together like milk…
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Verna Bloom, ‘Animal House’ Cougar, Dies @ 80

Verna Bloom, ‘Animal House’ Cougar, Dies @ 80
Verna Bloom, perhaps most widely known as the libidinous wife of Dean Wormer (John Vernon, 1932-2005) in Animal House (1978), died Wednesday, January 9, in Bar Harbor, Maine, of complications of dementia, THR reports. She was 80. Verna Bloom: August 7, 1938-January 9, 2019 (Image via Universal) The actress made her Broadway debut in 1967's…
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