From Mary Tyler Moore’s black capri pants to the waist-cinching corsets on Bridgerton, the costumes on television’s hottest shows over the past 70-plus years have influenced what we wear more than viewers may realize. That’s the premise of Hal Rubenstein’s just-released book, which is sure to spawn an escapist deep dive by even the most casual TV fan.
Dressing the Part: Television’s Most Stylish Shows (Harper, $36) explores the costume design of 50 high-profile TV series, from I Love Lucy and The Donna Reed Show in the 1950s, to Downton Abbey, Sex and the City, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and others. But it was Bridgerton that inspired the idea for the book. “Harper wanted to do a book on Bridgerton’s costume design, and my feeling was that it was a period costume show that [didn’t relate yet],” Rubenstein told The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought we would see the ramifications...
Dressing the Part: Television’s Most Stylish Shows (Harper, $36) explores the costume design of 50 high-profile TV series, from I Love Lucy and The Donna Reed Show in the 1950s, to Downton Abbey, Sex and the City, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and others. But it was Bridgerton that inspired the idea for the book. “Harper wanted to do a book on Bridgerton’s costume design, and my feeling was that it was a period costume show that [didn’t relate yet],” Rubenstein told The Hollywood Reporter. “I thought we would see the ramifications...
- 11/10/2023
- by Laurie Brookins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Coslough Johnson, the Emmy-winning writer who worked with his late older brother, Arte Johnson, on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and wrote for two variety shows toplined by Sonny and Cher, has died. He was 91.
Johnson died March 23 of prostate cancer at a nursing facility in the Thousand Oaks area, his wife, Mary Jane, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also worked on sitcoms including The Monkees, Bewitched, That Girl, The Partridge Family, Good Times, Flo, Operation Petticoat and Cpo Sharkey and on cartoons featuring Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, The Flintstones, Voltron and He-Man.
He wrote on the first three seasons (1968-70) of NBC’s Laugh-In, the final three seasons (1971-74) of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and the lone season (1976-77) of The Sonny and Cher Show, those last two for CBS.
Other variety shows on his résumé included The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show...
Johnson died March 23 of prostate cancer at a nursing facility in the Thousand Oaks area, his wife, Mary Jane, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also worked on sitcoms including The Monkees, Bewitched, That Girl, The Partridge Family, Good Times, Flo, Operation Petticoat and Cpo Sharkey and on cartoons featuring Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, The Flintstones, Voltron and He-Man.
He wrote on the first three seasons (1968-70) of NBC’s Laugh-In, the final three seasons (1971-74) of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and the lone season (1976-77) of The Sonny and Cher Show, those last two for CBS.
Other variety shows on his résumé included The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show...
- 4/1/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Emmy voters demonstrated a clear love for Hulu’s new comedy “Only Murders in the Building” by bestowing the series with 17 nominations. Steve Martin felt plenty of that affection as he is on the ballot for three of those bids: as a producer for Best Comedy Series, as a writer (alongside John Hoffman) for the episode “True Crime,” and for his performance in the Best Comedy Actor race. If Martin wins his acting bid it will be the first time the entertainer snatches an acting trophy at the Emmys. But the win would break an even more mind-boggling stat for the industry veteran: it would be his first Emmy win in 53 years.
See When funny men compete at the Emmys: Steve Martin vs. Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
Martin has been nominated at the Emmys 13 times, including his three bids this year for “Only Murders.” He was first...
See When funny men compete at the Emmys: Steve Martin vs. Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
Martin has been nominated at the Emmys 13 times, including his three bids this year for “Only Murders.” He was first...
- 8/23/2022
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Bill Pitman, a guitarist and bassist in the legendary Wrecking Crew of Los Angeles session musicians, has died at the age of 102.
The New York Times confirmed Pitman died Thursday at his home in La Quinta, California. While no cause of death was revealed, the musician recently fractured his spine in a fall, and spent the last month of his life recovering from that accident.
As a member of the elite Wrecking Crew, Pitman was deployed on albums by artists like Sam Cooke, Nancy Sinatra, the Monkees, James Brown, and the Beach Boys.
The New York Times confirmed Pitman died Thursday at his home in La Quinta, California. While no cause of death was revealed, the musician recently fractured his spine in a fall, and spent the last month of his life recovering from that accident.
As a member of the elite Wrecking Crew, Pitman was deployed on albums by artists like Sam Cooke, Nancy Sinatra, the Monkees, James Brown, and the Beach Boys.
- 8/12/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Apple Original Films has landed a new documentary from A24 and Tremolo Productions featuring Steve Martin. The untitled two-part documentary film featuring the legendary writer, producer, director, actor, and comedian will explore his life and career. It will be directed and produced by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville. Martin currently stars in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, which he created with John Hoffman and also serves as writer and executive producer for. (It has been renewed for a third season.) His on-screen TV credits also include appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Martin Short Show, The Tracey Ullman Show, and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Martin won an Emmy in 1969 for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He has been nominated for 12 more Emmys, including for Only Murders in the Building and his 30 Rock guest spot. The new...
- 8/10/2022
- TV Insider
Click here to read the full article.
For a man who spent the bulk of the 1970s standing on stages all by himself, Steve Martin has a remarkable track record with collaboration in Hollywood. From his first TV writing gig to his Grammy-winning musical pair-ups, here’s a look at some of Martin’s most fruitful creative partnerships. (Read THR’s cover story on Steve Martin here.)
Bob Einstein From left: Martin with Einstein
The late comic and writer (right), who’d go on to create the Super Dave Osborne persona, shared a windowless office with Martin while the two wrote for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968. Sharing an Emmy win for writing on the show, they would work together again on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
Carl Reiner From left: Martin and Reiner
One of Martin’s mentors, the Hollywood legend helped the comic make the transition from stand-up to leading man.
For a man who spent the bulk of the 1970s standing on stages all by himself, Steve Martin has a remarkable track record with collaboration in Hollywood. From his first TV writing gig to his Grammy-winning musical pair-ups, here’s a look at some of Martin’s most fruitful creative partnerships. (Read THR’s cover story on Steve Martin here.)
Bob Einstein From left: Martin with Einstein
The late comic and writer (right), who’d go on to create the Super Dave Osborne persona, shared a windowless office with Martin while the two wrote for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968. Sharing an Emmy win for writing on the show, they would work together again on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
Carl Reiner From left: Martin and Reiner
One of Martin’s mentors, the Hollywood legend helped the comic make the transition from stand-up to leading man.
- 8/10/2022
- by Mikey O'Connell
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Television Critics Association (TCA) has announced the winners of the organization’s 38th Annual TCA Awards, recognizing the best television offerings from the 2021-2022 season.
ABC’s first-year public school sitcom Abbott Elementary made the grade as the night’s top winner with four victories. The series took home some of the TCA’s highest honors, including Individual Achievement In Comedy for series creator, producer, writer, and star, Quinta Brunson; as well as Outstanding Achievement In Comedy, Outstanding New Program, and the Program Of The Year Award.
Other winners include This Is Us star Mandy Moore, who earned the award for Individual Achievement In Drama after being snubbed by the Emmys; acclaimed Disney+ rock doc The Beatles: Get Back, which won the Outstanding Achievement In News And Information Award; CBS’ globe-hopping The Amazing Race, which shared Outstanding Achievement In Reality Programming with HBO Max’s glam Legendary; the surreal...
ABC’s first-year public school sitcom Abbott Elementary made the grade as the night’s top winner with four victories. The series took home some of the TCA’s highest honors, including Individual Achievement In Comedy for series creator, producer, writer, and star, Quinta Brunson; as well as Outstanding Achievement In Comedy, Outstanding New Program, and the Program Of The Year Award.
Other winners include This Is Us star Mandy Moore, who earned the award for Individual Achievement In Drama after being snubbed by the Emmys; acclaimed Disney+ rock doc The Beatles: Get Back, which won the Outstanding Achievement In News And Information Award; CBS’ globe-hopping The Amazing Race, which shared Outstanding Achievement In Reality Programming with HBO Max’s glam Legendary; the surreal...
- 8/6/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Cher’s lawsuit claiming Sonny Bono’s widow, Mary Bono, owes her $1 million in unpaid royalties for Sonny & Cher songs — including hits like “I Got You Babe” — had its first major court hearing Monday, April 25, with a federal judge asking a telling hypothetical.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt heard arguments on a pending motion to dismiss the suit and challenged Mary Bono’s position that the federal Copyright Act allows her to terminate the 50% right to royalties that Sonny Bono agreed to fork over to Cher when the...
U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt heard arguments on a pending motion to dismiss the suit and challenged Mary Bono’s position that the federal Copyright Act allows her to terminate the 50% right to royalties that Sonny Bono agreed to fork over to Cher when the...
- 4/25/2022
- by Nancy Dillon
- Rollingstone.com
“We should do our own podcast,” Oliver (Martin Short) suggests to Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez). “I’m sure that every true-crime podcaster wishes he was on the case from the start.”
The central characters of Hulu’s wonderful new comedy Only Murders in the Building, these three would know all about that. They are neighbors in an expensive Manhattan apartment complex who’ve never had much to say to one another until discovering two things in rapid succession: One, that they are all hooked on the same...
The central characters of Hulu’s wonderful new comedy Only Murders in the Building, these three would know all about that. They are neighbors in an expensive Manhattan apartment complex who’ve never had much to say to one another until discovering two things in rapid succession: One, that they are all hooked on the same...
- 8/23/2021
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Bob Einstein, best known for his recurring role on Curb Your Enthusiasm and for creating the stuntman character Super Dave Osborne, died Wednesday after a battle with cancer, our sister site Deadline reports. He was 76.
Einstein began his Hollywood career as a writer for several variety series, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and the short-lived Van Dyke and Company. His behind-the-scenes work earned him two Emmy Awards (in 1969 and 1977), as well as four more Emmy nominations.
In front of the camera, Einstein became known for his satirical character Super Dave Osborne, an optimistic...
Einstein began his Hollywood career as a writer for several variety series, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and the short-lived Van Dyke and Company. His behind-the-scenes work earned him two Emmy Awards (in 1969 and 1977), as well as four more Emmy nominations.
In front of the camera, Einstein became known for his satirical character Super Dave Osborne, an optimistic...
- 1/2/2019
- TVLine.com
4:15 Pm -- HBO tells us they had scheduled Bob to part of season 10 of 'Curb,' but his health prevented it. Larry David says, “Never have I seen an actor enjoy a role the way Bob did playing 'Marty Funkhouser' on 'Curb.' It was an amazing, unforgettable experience knowing and working with him. There was no one like him, as he told us again and again. We’re all in a state of shock.
- 1/2/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Bob Einstein, a two-time Emmy winner who has recurred on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm since its launch and created the wacky Super Dave Osborne character, died today in Indian Wells, CA. He was 76 and recently had been diagnosed with cancer.
Best known to today’s viewers for playing the serious, often surly but always hilarious Marty Funkhouser on Curb, Einstein was a foil for its creator-star Larry David. He appeared in nearly two dozen episodes of the series dating from 2004 to the most recent season.
Einstein’s younger brother, actor-director Albert Brooks, tweeted today, “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever.”
A comedian’s comedian, Einstein first made his name as a writer. His career dates to the 1960s, when he won his first Emmy as part of the writing team for The...
Best known to today’s viewers for playing the serious, often surly but always hilarious Marty Funkhouser on Curb, Einstein was a foil for its creator-star Larry David. He appeared in nearly two dozen episodes of the series dating from 2004 to the most recent season.
Einstein’s younger brother, actor-director Albert Brooks, tweeted today, “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever.”
A comedian’s comedian, Einstein first made his name as a writer. His career dates to the 1960s, when he won his first Emmy as part of the writing team for The...
- 1/2/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
“Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again” could bring Cher her lucky seventh Golden Globe nomination. The well-reviewed film has raked in more than $350 million to date. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association loves to recognize box office hits almost as much as it loves a good comeback story. Cher hadn’t made a move in almost 10 years and makes quite the return to the screen in “Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again.” Her entrance is via helicopter and she looks smashing in a white suit and wig.
She plays Ruby Sheridan, the mother of Meryl Streep‘s character Donna who travels to the idyllic Greek isle to to support her granddaughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried‘) who is pregnant. Ruby has a dramatic reunion with her ex-lover, Fernando, played by Andy Garcia. That scene, in which they sing, er, “Fernando,” is one of the highlights of the movie.
See ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again...
She plays Ruby Sheridan, the mother of Meryl Streep‘s character Donna who travels to the idyllic Greek isle to to support her granddaughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried‘) who is pregnant. Ruby has a dramatic reunion with her ex-lover, Fernando, played by Andy Garcia. That scene, in which they sing, er, “Fernando,” is one of the highlights of the movie.
See ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again...
- 8/29/2018
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
Cher is turning back time on her career and legacy — one that she thought she wouldn’t be around to see anymore.
The legendary songstress, who turns 70 on Saturday, sat down for a revealing chat in Billboard‘s May 27 issue, touching on the ups and downs of her six-decades in the spotlight.
The interview comes days before the “Believe” singer receives the Billboard Music Awards‘ prestigious Icon Award — in honor of her 100 million albums sold worldwide and 22 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. (She’s also the first artist to have a no. 1 single on a Billboard chart in each decade...
The legendary songstress, who turns 70 on Saturday, sat down for a revealing chat in Billboard‘s May 27 issue, touching on the ups and downs of her six-decades in the spotlight.
The interview comes days before the “Believe” singer receives the Billboard Music Awards‘ prestigious Icon Award — in honor of her 100 million albums sold worldwide and 22 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. (She’s also the first artist to have a no. 1 single on a Billboard chart in each decade...
- 5/18/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
When Neil Patrick Harris returns to TV next week, he won't be cracking jokes in another sitcom. Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris (debuting on September 15th on NBC) marks the return — overdue or not — of the variety show, that long-dormant format in which kooky skits, musical guests, and frenzied production numbers are jammed into an hour of family-friendly entertainment. "When you think of the variety shows we all grew upon — Sonny and Cher and Donny and Marie — those [programs] all said, 'Sit on the couch, be entertained with a little song,...
- 9/10/2015
- Rollingstone.com
I’ll speak for myself. I am not ready to hear the words “Cher” and “dead” in one sentence.If we could turn back time, it would be to the groovy days of the early 70’s when “I got you babe” was the close to one of our favorite TV shows, “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” It was hard enough when Sonny died. Then little Chastity grew up and became Chaz, and through all of this tumult, Cher has Still been rocking some serious vintage Bob Mackie gowns and headdresses while belting out those hits.I can’t have Cher on death’s door. […]...
- 11/5/2014
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Steve Martin has been named recipient of the highly prestigious AFI Life Achievement Award to be presented June 4th and aired on TNT and later on sister network TCM. After generally reserving this coveted prize to actors and directors who made their mark in dramatic films this is second time in the past three years that the American Film Institute has decided to lighten things up by giving their award to a person who made their mark in comedy. And it has paid off. Mel Brooks got the honor in 2013 and it resulted not only in a hilarious and memorable evening, it got higher ratings and brought the AFI special its first Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special in August. But Martin is the first recipient who actually started and made their reputation as a stand up comic. And his films beginning with The Jerk and continuing with such modern comedy...
- 10/3/2014
- by Pete Hammond
- Deadline
There's an old joke that states the only thing left alive after nuclear war will be cockroaches and Cher, and we believe that. Cher can't be... won't be stopped. She's currently providing mentoring for Blake Shelton's team on "The Voice," and she's also been in the news recently for dissing Miley Cyrus and her tongue. Oh, and big shock, she has a new album out and she's going on tour.
All of these things make us extremely happy. More Cher on TV is a good thing. Always and forever, more Cher. Say what you will about this woman, she's a survivor. She's been in show business for almost 50 years. Five-zero. We love her. And you should too. Here are the reasons why.
1. Cher is 67 years old.
Yes, Cherilyn Sarkisian is 67. She's a baby boomer. Sure, you can say "she's had a ton of work done" and she admits to having work done,...
All of these things make us extremely happy. More Cher on TV is a good thing. Always and forever, more Cher. Say what you will about this woman, she's a survivor. She's been in show business for almost 50 years. Five-zero. We love her. And you should too. Here are the reasons why.
1. Cher is 67 years old.
Yes, Cherilyn Sarkisian is 67. She's a baby boomer. Sure, you can say "she's had a ton of work done" and she admits to having work done,...
- 10/23/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The Wasteland:
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Innovative animator whose credits include Lady and the Tramp, Petroushka and Grease
The pioneering animator John David Wilson, who has died aged 93, launched his studio, Fine Arts Films, in 1955 and found success with his first short subject, an adaptation of a Japanese folk tale, Tara the Stonecutter, which was screened in America with Teinosuke Kinugasa's Oscar-winning samurai drama Jigokumon (Gate of Hell, 1953). Next came Petroushka (1956), for which Igor Stravinsky (despite negative feelings towards animation following Disney's Fantasia) was persuaded by Wilson to prepare a shortened score for the film and conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the soundtrack. Petroushka won several festival awards and was the first animated film to be accepted by the Venice film festival.
Wilson's diverse productions ranged from innovative TV commercials for Instant Butter-Nut Coffee, made with the actor and humorist Stan Freberg, to a groundbreaking 15-minute film, Journey to the Stars, for the United...
The pioneering animator John David Wilson, who has died aged 93, launched his studio, Fine Arts Films, in 1955 and found success with his first short subject, an adaptation of a Japanese folk tale, Tara the Stonecutter, which was screened in America with Teinosuke Kinugasa's Oscar-winning samurai drama Jigokumon (Gate of Hell, 1953). Next came Petroushka (1956), for which Igor Stravinsky (despite negative feelings towards animation following Disney's Fantasia) was persuaded by Wilson to prepare a shortened score for the film and conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the soundtrack. Petroushka won several festival awards and was the first animated film to be accepted by the Venice film festival.
Wilson's diverse productions ranged from innovative TV commercials for Instant Butter-Nut Coffee, made with the actor and humorist Stan Freberg, to a groundbreaking 15-minute film, Journey to the Stars, for the United...
- 7/2/2013
- by Brian Sibley
- The Guardian - Film News
Last night’s Watch What Happens: Live featured Andy Cohen interviewing one of his idols, Cher. This late-night show is definitely geared towards a certain audience — if you have an aversion to trivia games played by reality stars living in Bravoland and constant mentions of drinking, then this isn’t the show for you.
Yet there’s a certain charm to it, mostly due to Andy’s sheer excitement over everything in the world. Even when he’s mentioning things like the “Jackhole of the Day,” he says it nearly bouncing out of his seat and with such a smile...
Yet there’s a certain charm to it, mostly due to Andy’s sheer excitement over everything in the world. Even when he’s mentioning things like the “Jackhole of the Day,” he says it nearly bouncing out of his seat and with such a smile...
- 6/28/2013
- by Sheridan Watson
- EW.com - PopWatch
Emmy-nominated comedy writer-producer George Burditt passed away on Tuesday (June 27). He was 89 years old.
Deadline reports the death of Burditt, who wrote dozens of episodes of "Three's Company," which he also serves as executive producer of from 1981-84. Burditt passed away in Burbank, CA.
Burditt earned four Emmy nominations as a writer in the 1970s; two each for variety shows "The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour" and "Van Dyke And Company." He also wrote episodes for "All In The Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons," "The Ropers," "Doc" and "Three's A Crowd." His productions credits include "Silver Spoons," "227" and "Three's A Crowd."
Born in Boston, Burditt worked for American Greetings in Cleveland before moving to Los Angeles to begin his work in TV. His son Jack Burditt is an Emmy-winning writer and producer from such comedies as "30 Rock" and "Frasier." He's also the creator of "Last Man Standing."
Burditt is...
Deadline reports the death of Burditt, who wrote dozens of episodes of "Three's Company," which he also serves as executive producer of from 1981-84. Burditt passed away in Burbank, CA.
Burditt earned four Emmy nominations as a writer in the 1970s; two each for variety shows "The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour" and "Van Dyke And Company." He also wrote episodes for "All In The Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons," "The Ropers," "Doc" and "Three's A Crowd." His productions credits include "Silver Spoons," "227" and "Three's A Crowd."
Born in Boston, Burditt worked for American Greetings in Cleveland before moving to Los Angeles to begin his work in TV. His son Jack Burditt is an Emmy-winning writer and producer from such comedies as "30 Rock" and "Frasier." He's also the creator of "Last Man Standing."
Burditt is...
- 6/27/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The Emmy-nominated comedy writer-producer died Tuesday in Burbank. He was 89. George Burditt wrote dozens of episodes of the hit sitcom Three’s Company and served as its executive producer from 1981-84. He earned four Emmy noms as a writer during the 1970s — two each for variety shows The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour and Van Dyke And Company — and also penned episodes of All In The Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, The Ropers, Doc and Three’s A Crowd. His producing credits include the sitcoms Silver Spoons, 227 and Three’s A Crowd. Born in Boston, Burditt served in the Marines in the Pacific during World War II. He worked for American Greetings in Cleveland before moving to La to become a TV writer. His son Jack Burditt is an Emmy-winning writer-producer on such comedies as 30 Rock and Frasier and creator of Last Man Standing. Along with son Jack, George Burditt...
- 6/27/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Cher is heading back to the small screen.
The music legend, who last starred on "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour"40 years ago, is working on a TV pilot. The gay icon is in development with Logo, an Lgbt-centric cable channel, on a period drama, set in 1960s Hollywood.
Cher is working with veteran TV writer Ron Zimmerman on the show and while she is currently attached as writer, she may also co-star.
Logo's Senior Vice President of Original Programming Brent Zacky made the announcement about Cher's potential show at the 2013 Television Critics Association Press Tour on Saturday.
"We read some of the stuff that Cher and Ron had written and it was really terrific," Zacky told The Hollwyood Reporter. "The deal is brand-new and we're just getting started on the project ... We're very carefully and hopefully diligently taking a few shots in this arena and we'll see how it pans out.
The music legend, who last starred on "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour"40 years ago, is working on a TV pilot. The gay icon is in development with Logo, an Lgbt-centric cable channel, on a period drama, set in 1960s Hollywood.
Cher is working with veteran TV writer Ron Zimmerman on the show and while she is currently attached as writer, she may also co-star.
Logo's Senior Vice President of Original Programming Brent Zacky made the announcement about Cher's potential show at the 2013 Television Critics Association Press Tour on Saturday.
"We read some of the stuff that Cher and Ron had written and it was really terrific," Zacky told The Hollwyood Reporter. "The deal is brand-new and we're just getting started on the project ... We're very carefully and hopefully diligently taking a few shots in this arena and we'll see how it pans out.
- 1/6/2013
- by Jaimie Etkin
- Huffington Post
Cher could be headed back to TV. More than 40 years after The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premiered, Logo took the opportunity of Saturday's presentation at the Television Critics Association press tour to announce that the iconic singer, actress, writer and producer has signed a development deal with the Lgbt-skewing network. Terms of the deal were being kept under wraps until a later date. There were few details at the time of the announcement, but network senior vp original programming Brent Zacky said that she's collaborating with comedian Ron Zimmerman for a pilot script set in early 1960s
read more...
read more...
- 1/6/2013
- by Michael O'Connell, Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chaz Bono, born Chastity Bono in March 1969 as the only offspring of entertainers Sonny and Cher, has gone through a lot in the past two decades. Chaz came out as a lesbian and gay rights activist in the 1990s, he buried his father in 1996 and now he has written a book about his transformation from Chastity to Chaz titled "Transition: The Story of How I Become a Man."
Chaz tells Time magazine about his new transgendered life in an interview in the magazine and online now. He is pictured above, right, in 1973 on the set of "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour," middle, in 1998 with Cher and left, in April 2011 at the GLAAD Media Awards.
This is kind of a second coming out for you. You came out early as a lesbian, although not to the public.
"I came out around 25 publicly."
And privately?
"Early teens. It was a mistake.
Chaz tells Time magazine about his new transgendered life in an interview in the magazine and online now. He is pictured above, right, in 1973 on the set of "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour," middle, in 1998 with Cher and left, in April 2011 at the GLAAD Media Awards.
This is kind of a second coming out for you. You came out early as a lesbian, although not to the public.
"I came out around 25 publicly."
And privately?
"Early teens. It was a mistake.
- 5/9/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Hector Ramirez, the most nominated individual in Emmy history, didn't have time to dwell on earning five more noms Thursday to bring his total to 60. He was rushing off to start work on yet another series, NBC's "America's Got Talent."
The veteran cameraman, who has won 15 times, is constantly in demand -- doing the Academy Awards, the Grammys, "American Idol" and dozens of others series and specials -- all without an agent or manager.
"You provide a service to the directors," Ramirez said, "and they keep calling. In this business, everything is word-of-mouth. You build up a reputation that carries you through day after day, year after year."
He got his first Primetime Emmy nom in 1978 and his first trophy, for a Neil Diamond special, in 1986.
Once on a show, Ramirez tends to stick. He has been on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" since it began, earning Emmy noms five...
The veteran cameraman, who has won 15 times, is constantly in demand -- doing the Academy Awards, the Grammys, "American Idol" and dozens of others series and specials -- all without an agent or manager.
"You provide a service to the directors," Ramirez said, "and they keep calling. In this business, everything is word-of-mouth. You build up a reputation that carries you through day after day, year after year."
He got his first Primetime Emmy nom in 1978 and his first trophy, for a Neil Diamond special, in 1986.
Once on a show, Ramirez tends to stick. He has been on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" since it began, earning Emmy noms five...
- 7/8/2010
- by By Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Pop veteran Cher is auctioning off 700 personal items - including costumes, jewelry and even her own bed - in a bid to raise more than $1 million for charity. The 60-year-old star will kick off the glitzy sale on October 3 with the help of auction giant Sotheby's and Julien's Auctions. Cher insists she is ready to let many of her treasures go, as she is desperate to revamp her plush Malibu, California, home. The Cher Charitable Foundation will benefit from the proceeds. She says, "I'm truly excited about it, having had this stuff for so many years. I'm only keeping about five items from everything I have. When I got off the road, something happened and I said, 'You know, I think it's time to do something different. But my house is so full that there's no way to do something different unless I totally change it." Items from the statuesque star's collection include neo-Gothic art and furniture and a 16th-century terra-cotta figurine of Jesus Christ, as well as outfits featured on The Sonny And Cher Comedy Hour in the 1960s.
- 8/1/2006
- WENN
Married pop stars Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson came through for ABC on Sunday, leading the network to a rare nightly victory in the adults 18-49 demographic with their 9 p.m. Nick and Jessica Variety Hour special. The hourlong Nick and Jessica, an experiment with a throwback to the Sonny and Cher era of hip musical comedy-variety, easily won its hour with an average of 11.4 million viewers and 4.7 rating/11 share in adults 18-49 demo, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research. And that was enough to persuade ABC to move forward Monday with plans for a Christmas special hosted by Lachey and Simpson and to eye other talent for old-fashioned network "event" specials, ABC executives said.
- 4/13/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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