June 26, 2014

Around the dial

We shouldn't be surprised to find some interesting things out there once again.  A shorter list than usual, but it's made up for by quality.

It's the "film" side of Classic Film and TV this week, but a movie we're more likely to catch on TCM - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger's One of Our Aircraft Is Missing.  It's not a fantasy or sci-fi film, but what sounds like a very exciting World War II picture.  As is so often the case, half the fun of classic television is the thrill of finding something new and unseen.

Why do some series become beloved institutions, seen on television year after year, while others (many clearly superior) disappear without a trace?  That's the question Comfort TV asks with this piece on "The Disappearance of Murphy Brown."  Whether you liked Murphy Brown or not, David offers some very interesting insight into why the series never fell into the former category.

Another Danger Man piece at Cult TV Blog, this one with the wonderful title "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk."  Do I recommend this blog every week?  Seems like it, but as long as I keep reading about my favorite shows, I'll keep linking to it.

Not TV- or movie-related, but All Things Kevyn lists "The Ten Baddest Eye Patch Wearin' Moffos," and you can't really pass up a title like that.  Besides, can you resist a list that has both James Joyce and Nick Fury?

Always liked Columbo - always.  And I can't imagine anyone other than Peter Falk in it.  Here's a great piece at the AV Club with 10 episodes that show why Columbo is the most iconic TV detective of all time.  My only quibble is that the author doesn't share with us the name of the actor who played the murderous husband in the Columbo pilot Prescription: Murder - none other than our blog favorite Gene Barry.

I'd have more to list this week, but as the timestamp on this post shows, I'm running a bit behind.  Which leads me to a personal note here, for those of you whose blogs I've linked to today or in the past:  I do read all the blogs I link to, but I seldom have the time to comment on your sites.  Part of that is because I'm too damn busy and not well-enough organized, but it's also because I frequently feel I'd have little to add to what you've already written or your commentators have already offered.  This way, any comments I make on my blog won't cheapen the quality of yours.  I used to try and answer most of the comments on this site, and I really need to do a better job of that as well, but again, I do read and enjoy them all.

And speaking of links, I know that several of you have been kind enough to link to me in the past, and for that you have my thanks.  For some reason, though, this site has never shown trackbacks the way it should, and my trackers seldom tell me when someone's mentioned this blog, so I've you've had nice things to say, or questions you've asked, and you've never seen me acknowledge them, it's because I've missed it.  (By the way, if anyone knows how I can track things better, drop me an email.  You'd have my eternal gratitude - or, as Sally Brown once told her big brother Charlie Brown, at least until tomorrow.)

See you back here Saturday for another TV Guide, right? TV  

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Thanks for writing! Drive safely!