The Week reports that the boom in scripted TV shows - there are more than 500 now, including nearly 100 on streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix - has resulted in an unexpected byproduct: increased opportunities for bad actors. "Thanks to our unflagging thirst for new shows, more shows, better shows, any shows, the so-called golden age of TV is dissolving into a new golden age of bad acting."
"The Dummy," from season three of The Twilight Zone, has a shock ending that even after all these years packs a punch. Jordan takes a closer inspection at The Twilight Zone Vortex, along with a fascinating look at the history of ventriloquismas as a plot device. Very interesting.
With temperatures in the 20s here in lovely Minneapolis, I can't help but get into the Christmas spirit, and at Christmas TV History Joanna lets you know where you can find her detailed discussions on Christmas entertainment. She's unquestionably one of the very best sources of information on how television covers this magical season.
When it comes to continuing the classic television tradition, one of the challenges us classic TV fans face as we age is how to introduce this most pleasing hobby to others. As David points out at Comfort TV, there's definately a right way and wrong way to do this, so take his advice and find out how to spread the joy around.
I'm always delighted when Jack pops up with another of his Hitchcock Project pieces at bare-bones e-zine, and this week he continues his look at the scripts of Francis and Marian Cockrell with the season one story "You Got to Have Luck." I've seen most of the first four seasons of Hitchcock, and it's always fun to read about an episode you saw a long time ago, and wait for the bell to ring.
The Land of Whatever reviews the 1979 Nero Wolfe telefilm, made by Burke's Law honcho Frank Gilroy, with Thayer David as Wolfe. I confess no familiarity with this movie, but as much of an admirer as I am of the rotund detective, this told me everything I needed to know about the movie: "David effected a serviceable mimic of Sydney Greenstreet, who starred as Wolfe on radio, but Gilroy's preference to make Wolfe more like [Amos] Burke, or any other romantic sleuth, wasn't the brightest of ideas." No kidding!
Television Obscurities introduces us to another of TV's nearly-forgotten shows, Eye Witness, which aired on New York's WNBT between 1947 and 1948. You can even see an episode of the program - and isn't it remarkable to think of a television show being 70 years old? Or does that just show how old I am?
And at Those Were the Days, don't miss a terrific photo featuring some of television's most famous cowboys, circa 1957: Clint Walker as Cheyenne Bodie, James Arness as Matt Dillon, Richard Boone as Palladin, Robert Horton as Flint McCullough, James Garner as Bret Maverick and John Payne as Vint Bonner. Wow!
That should whet your appetite until tomorrow, and you won't want to miss the TV Guide I've got in store for you. TV
Thanks, Mitchell!
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