This Week: James Garner -- Women in Film -- Romance -- Doctor Who -- Arrow Casting -- Yahoo Saves the Day -- Smile of the Day
James Garner: 1928 - 2014
This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message. I'll get back to you.
I woke up this morning to the very sad news that James Garner passed away last night. Occasionally, the death of celebrity will catch me off guard and I will feel as though I lost someone I actually knew. That is how I feel right now.
The Rockford Files was one of the first shows I watched as I became old enough to choose shows for myself. I loved it at the time and Jim Rockford was one of my earliest crushes. I re-watched some of the old episodes a couple of years ago and loved them just as much as I had when I was an adolescent.
It was at the movies, however, that Garner really shone. He starred in greater than fifty films, some of which are simply wonderful. My favorite film of his is Maverick with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster. Mel Gibson plays the role Garner played on television while Garner plays his father. All three of these characters are great fun to watch and the snark level is off the chart. Check it out and honor one of the greats.
Women in Film
Kyle Buchanan, a man, wrote a fascinating op-ed piece for Vulture this week about the paltry amount of work for women in Hollywood. The dearth of work for women actors and directors is nothing new. What is upsetting is how this problem does not seem to be resolved. Buchanan is basing his argument only on summer blockbusters, which is where the real money is.
As I thought about the article, it occurred to me that, perhaps, one of the reasons actors like Halle Berry are migrating to television is that it is on the smaller screen that the better roles for women now live. Take a look at the Featured Shows listed to the right of your screen. Many of them have strong women as the lead, or as one of them.
It is no secret that women are underrepresented in movies. Perhaps, just perhaps, they can make it up on television.
Romance
Speaking of making it on television (yes, that was an intentional pun), Margaret Lyons, another Vulture writer I admire, wrote a piece about bringing back romance or rom-coms to television. In yesterday's New Shows post, I reviewed two that FX are trying out this summer.
While Married is really, really bad, there is something about You're The Worst that has stuck with me. I have found myself thinking about it and smiling about it. The writers and producers have taken the romance trope and turned it on its ear. I will follow this story for the time being.
I agree with Lyons that there is room on our screens for a full blown romance, one that is not secondary to another story. I'm not sure it will happen as there is still a great deal of fear around the end of the courtship and, therefore, the end of the story.
But, the Moonlighting curse seems to be a thing of the past. Bones and Castle are two examples of shows that have had the leads come together without sacrificing too much story. Watching people stay together can be as much fun as watching people fall in love.
Doctor Who
For those of you eagerly anticipating Peter Capaldi’s Doctor, the BBC has released the first trailer. This is not a show I watch, but this trailer is exciting.
Arrow Casts Brandon Routh
From Samantha M. Quinn: In Arrow news, Brandon Routh (Superman) has just landed a 14 episode long arc as Ray Palmer aka Atom. He will be taking over Queen Consolidated as the new CEO and will also be a potential new love interest for Felicity. I've always thought he was one of the best Superman actors, and I'm glad he's part of the DC universe again. For those of you who don't remember him as Superman, he also had a long arc on the spy comedy Chuck.
Yahoo May Save The Day — Again
In a recent post, Josie talked about Community moving to Yahoo Screen. This “streaming service none of us knew existed” is now in talks to save Enlisted. An interesting choice, Enlisted garnered a fair amount of fans in its very short run. Could Yahoo Screen become the platform that saves that which should be saved?
Smile of the Day
Weird Al has been doing his thing for decades. Although his parodies are hit and miss, when they hit, they are fantastic. This parody of Pharrell’s “Happy,” one of my favorite songs of the past five years, made me laugh out loud. Enjoy.
ChrisB is a freelance writer who spends more time than she ought in front of a television screen or with a book in her hand.
James Garner. I was never into Rockford but I remember laughing like a loon during the movie Support Your Local Sheriff. How sad that he's gone.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about James Garner. I too was a big Rockford fan.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to Weird Al - I didn't know he was still making his parodies...I remember laying in bed late at night listening to some radio show (wish I could remember the name of it) just to hear his songs. That was a LONG time ago!!!
I always loved the movie Maverick too. I was so sad when I heard. :(
ReplyDeleteSooze, I think the radio show you are remembering is Dr. Demento. That's where a very young Al got his start - by sending in a cassette of his parody songs.
ReplyDeleteI echo the sentiments about James Garner. I thank you for the Dr. Who trailer which made my day.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad about James Garner, my dad was a big fan of Rockford Files and I watched it too. He'll be missed. I have fond memories of the Maverick movie as well.
ReplyDelete