Peter Falk...Memories of a kind-hearted actor! Oh, just one more thing!

I, along with many others in the industry, was saddened by the news that well-respected actor - Peter Falk - passed to spirit over the weekend.

Mr. Falk was best-known for his delightful characterization of "Detective Columbo" which he fleshed out with distinctive style on the long-running highly-rated drama series.

However, Falk was also blessed with a remarkable multi-faceted career which spanned several decades.

In one of his early television appearances (a just-blossoming medium) Falk drew rave notices (and snapped up his 1st Emmy Award) for an off-beat portrayal of a truck driver on the ever-popular "Dick Powell Show".

The compassionate actor, born in New York City in 1927, was quite adept on the boards also.

On the heels of being cast as a bartender in "The Iceman Cometh" - talent scouts took notice - and there was no looking back for the humble thespian.

Shortly thereafter - two plum roles in the medium of film landed him Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor - "Murder, Inc." and "A Pocketful of Miracles" respectively.

But, "Columbo" was the character that made the reluctant star a household name around the country.

While the weekly mystery series was in production, I was cast in a cameo role for one episode which featured a plot line that focused on the fascinating realm of the paranormal and a charlatan who used smoke-and-mirrors to commit a murder.

On the set one day, I half-turned, and found myself face-to-face with the rumpled "persona" of Detective Columbo.

I tell 'ya, that was quite a memorable experience, for a fledgling actor to experience.

Mr. Falk possessed a magnetic "aura" which spoke volumes.

Falk fondly relayed his feelings about the Columbo character recently in a heartfelt interview.

"I love him. He's eccentric, oblivious to the impression he makes on people. His obsessiveness is hidden by his graciousness. He has a sly sense of humor, is by nature polite and totally devoid of pretension."

The last two years of his life, Falk suffered from Alzheimer's disease and dementia, which triggered a couple of legal skirmishes in the courts with family members in the inner circle.

In 2009, the court granted a request by his wife to maintain control of his personal care and professional affairs.

According to public records, Mr. Falk was 83 years old when he left this mortal coil.

When God created Falk, he broke the mould.

The talented performer will be missed!

Peace Perfect Peace.

http://www.thetattler.biz

38th Annual Daytime Emmys...Ho Hum telecast! Bold & Beautiful Best Soap! Ellen gets talk-show nod!

 

Fans of daytime TV coughed up $525.00 a ticket to mix-and-mingle with celebrated guests, B-list actors beamed on the red carpet, and Network Brass nervously stood on the sidelines waiting for the winners to be announced.

Although the 38th Annual Emmy Awards Show was tossed in an exotic locale in the desert oasis at the tony Hilton Hotel, they didn't really take advantage of it.

In sum, the broadcast was pretty pedestrian with few jolts or surprises.

No wonder!

After all, the daytime bill-of-fare on the old boob tube - endless talk, soap operas, and a multitude of mindless game shows - represent the "industry" side of the business.

A posse of workers routinley rise at the crack-of-dawn., head to the studio around six or seven as the sun is rising in the east, then - turn-out a few taped shows like clock-work - before they head home for dinner during the family hour.

Notwithstanding, a current transformation in the entertainment business has resulted in the cancellation of a handful of shows (long-running once-popular soaps, Oprah Winfrey, you name it), which has forced the suits to re-evaluate the tastes (and habits) of the American viewing audience.

Ronn Moss (an actor who plays "Ridge" on the Bold & Beautiful) theorized that one day the sizzling daytime pot-boilers (with plot lines that move along at a snail's pace) will be broadcast on the Internet.

Something tells me that sophisticated web-surfers (who populate the blogosphere) may not be interested in the fluff that the major networks are inclined to offer up though.

By the way, the "Bold & Beautiful" got the nod for the "Best Soap".

Grrrrr!

Years ago, when the serial first started up, I appeared on the show in a cameo role.

Of all the soaps I ever worked on (General Hospital, Young & Restless, Days of Our Lives) the cast of B &

Mr. Moss had a big ego (and acted like he owned the show) while Susan Flannery had the tendency to throw her weight around which was (and still is!) considerable.

By the way, the industry was inclined to sing the praises of Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek (two game-show hosts who have survived the axe over the years) and honor both with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Deserving!

Of course, there was a loving tribute to Big "O" (Oprah Winfrey) on the heels of her departure from daytime Network TV.

In fact, the organizers of the event conjured up a spanking-new award-category to specially honor her.

The presenters gushed - so much so - that it ended up being way over-the-top.

Gladys Knight's parting song to Oprah was a disaster, too.

I didn't think it was possible for the legendary DIVA to bomb, but she did last night.

On occasion, Knight warbled off-key, gasped for breath, and strained to hit the high notes (which she missed more-often-than-not).

In contrast, Celine Dion sang one of Oprah's favorite hits beautifully.

At one point, when Susan Lucci sauntered up onto the stage, the host was inclined to take pokes at her character Erika Kane.

"You know, Erika was actually married eleven times, not eight," he joked.

"In fact, she played both sides of the fence," he quipped - at which point - a clip of Erika Kane marching down the aisle with Ellen DeGeneres sprang to life on the screen.

The audience roared.

By the way, the Ellen DeGeneres show won in the best talk show category this year.

Congrats, Ellen!

Unfortunately, Wayne Brady (a game-show host locally) failed to make the grade in his capacity as Master of Ceremonies.

Well, I'll put it this way.

Brady is no Neil Patrick Harris!

'Til next year!

http://www.thetattler.biz





Posse of Soap Hunks attended Emmy Awards in glitzy Vegas!




 

62nd Annual Emmy Awards...Jimmy Fallon hosts tonight! NBC extravaganza!

If you watch Television even a smidgen, then it hasn't escaped your attention that the Emmy's are being broadcast tonight from the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.

After all, the zany promotional blurbs for one of Hollywood's biggest nights, have been screaming out from the little black box all week.

The 62nd Annual Emmy Awards will be hosted by fun-loving irascible night-time talk-show host Jimmy Fallon.

Showtime: 5 p.m.

To determine the winners of the coveted statuette each year (one of the most beautifully-crafted awards in the industry) members from at least two dozen-or-so prestigious Entertainment groups in current paid-up status (Unions, for example)  vote on candidates in their field of expertise.

In the aftermath of an initial nomination - the Emmy has the potential to beget work, elevate a performer's stature in the industry, boost a salary demand - you name it.

This year, the cast of "Glee" and "Modern Family" are basking in the glow, for instance, in view of a slew of nods eachreceived for a dynamic year of thought-provoking and/or comedic programming which resonated with audiences.

Actor George Clooney (who takes on the role of director and/or producer on occasion) is being honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award this year.

Congrats, George!

http://www.julian1st.wordpress.com

62nd Annual Emmy Awards...Glee nabs 19 nominations! Jimmy Fallon to host...

Am I pretty enough?

Officials in charge of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards announced bright-and-early today that quirky "Glee" earned 19 Emmy nominations - then - moved on to toss the spotlight on a roster of shows that also rustled up deserving nods for excellence in the Television medium.

"The Pacific" - an  HBO miniseries about Marines in World War II's Pacific theater - topped all candidates in-the-running with 24 nominations.

"The Good Wife" - starring Julianna Margulies - nabbed kudos for best drama and best actress in a drama series.

"Modern Family" (best comedy series) snapped up 14 nominations.

To no one's surprise - "Friday Night Lights" cast (Kyle Chandler & Connie Britton) earned acting nods for their work on the much-touted series.

A perennial favorite - "Saturday Night Live" (in its 35th season) - earned 12 nods.

The hilarious late-night bill-of-fare still has strong legs, eh?

NBC must have been kicking themselves when it was announced that Conan O'Brien's "Tonight Show" was nominated for best variety, music or comedy series.

Curiously, Jay Leno and David Letterman were shut out of the category.

Dirty show-biz politics behind-the-scenes playing a role here?

"Lost" - though cancelled - managed to still earn a nom for best drama series and best actor in a drama (Matthew Fox).

Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson got supporting-lead nods.

 "Breaking Bad," "Dexter," "Mad Men" and "True Blood" won approval in the best drama category.

 In total - "Mad Men" - racked up a stunning 17 nominations.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Nurse Jackie," "The Office" and "30 Rock",  "Glee" and "Modern Family" were named best comedy series nominees.

"Monk"  picked up a comedy series best actor nomination for star Tony Shalhoub.

"The Amazing Race" - which has won the best reality competition Emmy since the category was first introduced years ago - was lumped in with other nominees once again alongside "American Idol," "Dancing With the Stars," "Project Runway" and "Top Chef".

Two Made-for-TV movies - "Temple Grandin" and "You Don't Know Jack" - ended up in the spotlight as well.

Claire Danes got a notice for her role in "Temple Grandin".

Al Pacino was lauded for his portrayal of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
 (You Don't Know Jack)

HBO led the network pack with 101 nominations.

ABC nudged in the lead with 63 nods in the broadcast TV arena.

Emmy fans are looking forward to a high-profile celebration with Jimmy Fallon at the helm on August 29th (NBC) which will be telecast live from the Nokia center in downtown Los Angeles.

See 'ya there!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Ryan Seacrest...wins "me" award!

Last night in Tinseltown, Ryan Seacrest nabbed the prestigious, honorary "It's all about me" award at the annual Emmy blow-out in Hollywood.

It was a close call for Seacrest.

Originally, it didn't look like he'd land the ubiquitous gig, as he trotted nose to nose alongside another dark horse to the finishing line for the honors.

Seacrest eventually pulled through, then promptly ordered up a top-of-the-line penguin suit, to adorn his precious bod at the Industry's glitzy tribute to excellence in Television.

The American Idol (in his own mind, anyway) kibitzed with the best of 'em on a plush, red-carpet - in a teaser-style pre-show - for nigh on four hours!

Yeah, he commingled, and gabbed - canoodled, too - the whole nine yards.

So much so, that when the curtain was raised for the prime time event, the quirky TV Celeb had a problem ejaculating - er - delivering the goods he'd been hired for!

A guest in the wings overheard Seacrest utter, "Je suis fatigue", as he flopped into an over-sized, stuffed armchair backstage.

Of course, as french linguists know, this translates to, "I'm tired".

Yeah, that was the general consensus.

There's an old Hollywood saying, "if they're staring at your feet, instead of your exquisite face, you're in trouble."

As if to beg the question, Seacrest embarked on a surreal kind of foot fetish - yes, he had the audacity to fawn over Eva Longoria's designer shoes!

Ho, hum!

Network Execs at Fox would be wise to slip Seacrest a pair of spanking-new ruby-red-slippers, then banish him to Kansas, huh Dorothy?

A banter with "Boston Legal’s" William Shatner didn't fare much better; as one caustic industry-insider noted - "not comedy gold" - either.

Mr. Seacrest, you've got a great face for radio! (hint hint)

The "It's all about me" statuette is awarded to the Host most dedicated to shameless self-promotion, who is quite generally devoid of any self-awareness, and more profoundly, lacking in any innate ability to shut the old pie hole when called for.

And of course, there must be an over-riding gift for mindless gab - usually wrapped fastidiously in 8-10 glossies of themselves.

Heh, contrats Ryan!

Very deserving...

Sally Field...awards jinx

Years ago when Sally Field rushed up to the podium to accept an OSCAR for her award-winning performance in "Norma Rae", an unadulterated moment of joy overcame her and she blurted out to the jaded Tinseltown power-players in the plush auditorium,

"You like me! You really like me!"

How could they not love a flying Nun, for heaven's sake?

Notwithstanding, that brief misstep has gone down in Showbiz annals as one of the most embarrassing moments in Oscar History.

Of course, many others run a close second.

For example, when winning for best supporting actress in "Julia", Vanessa Redgrave thanked Hollywood for having,

"...refused to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums...whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world and to their great and heroic record of struggle against fascism and oppression."

Um, I thought this was an Oscar celebration, not a political segment on Sixty Minutes, Ms. Redgrave.

Then there was the outrageous, zesty moment when Cuba Gooding Jr., best supporting actor for "Jerry Maguire", bellowed out to the startled masses viewing from their idiot boxes at home,

"I love you Tom Cruise! I love you, brother! I love you, man! Everybody, I love you. I love you all. Cameron Crowe! James L. Brooks! James L. Brooks, I love you. Everybody who's involved with this, I love you. I love you. Everybody involved."

And who could forget the stunning moment when Sacheen Littlefeather sashayed on stage in Marlon Brando's stead when he won for best actor for "The Godfather"?

On his behalf, she mumbled to an astonished crowd,

"...awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is drastically altered. If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let us not be his executioner."

Say what?

Then, there was James Cameron's ego-inspired,

"I am King of the World".

So, last night everyone held their collective breath as Ms. Field stepped lively to the stage to accept her EMMY Award for best performance in the Television Drama "Brothers & Sisters".

As she began to ramble, the audience started to mutter, "...there she goes again".

When the producers pulled the plug on the talented actress near the end of her speech, some thought it was due to her unfortunate political remarks about the War.

However, Fox issued a terse statement noting that the action was taken due to the fact Field spoke the words "God" and "Damn" in unison; for this reason alone, they asserted, the cameras zoomed elsewhere - leaving her in a lurch.

Oh yes, on occasions such as these, it is difficult to remember that Fox is actually a family network, with an ongoing mandate to provide wholesome, family entertainment to the American people.

Notwithstanding, it is difficult to fathom sometimes how it is that an actor - oftentimes paid millions of dollars to emote on camera, or on the celebrated boards in The Big Apple - more-often-than-not - has to struggle to make sense of a two-minute acceptance speech without p**ing their pants!

On this occasion, Ms. Field was unwittingly humbled by the elusive award ceremony "jinx" - known to unexpectedly descend without warning or sympathy - when an actor boldly stumbles up on stage with the bright idea to seize the auspicious moment to promote a social or political cause.

Most assuredly, as demonstrated over time immemorial, the ominous spirit of the jinx intervenes at that fateful moment, if only to ensure that said performer puts foot squarely in mouth.

It happens to the best of 'em, Ms. Field!

A piece of advice?

Next time, take a cue from Elizabeth Taylor.

When she approached the podium to accept an Oscar for her performance in "Butterfield 8" a number of years ago, she clutched her Golden Statuette graciously, then eloquently uttered two simple words: Thank you!

Now, that's class...