Here's the Scoop...
I caught the first two episodes of the 'Roseanne' revival series and they were better than I expected. Sometimes these revivals are just about exploiting past successes to make them a contemporary success. I guess it is that in a sense, but the this one seems to be doing it the right way. The acting and writing are top-notch; especially the writing.
I seems like the characters have just been living without us seeing them or remembering the show was still one and BAM!, there they are! It's definitely one of the best revivals and I hope that future revivals will study it and try to understand why it's successful and how it got that way.
Speaking of 'Roseanne', veterans Johnny Galecki and Estelle Parsons are set to reprise their roles of David and Beverly on the April 17 episode of the revival.
"David unexpectedly shows up for Harris' birthday after being absent for years, forcing Darlene to re-examine their relationship and the rest of the family," a synopsis from ABC said. "Meanwhile, Bev temporarily moves into the Conner home after an incident at the nursing home prevents her from returning."
Roseanne stars Roseanne Barr as the titular matriarch of the working-class Conner family. John Goodman plays her husband Dan; Sara Gilbert, Lecy Gorenson and Michael Fishman are their kids Darlene, Becky and DJ; and Laurie Metcalf is Roseanne's sister Jackie.
Emma Kenney plays Harris, the daughter of former childhood sweethearts Darlene and David, and Beverly is the mother of Roseanne and Jackie.
ABC announced Friday it had renewed the family sitcom for an 11th season. Season 10 debuted March 27 -- more than two decades after its Season 9 finale -- and earned an average audience of about 22 million viewers.
I'm going to keep watching and enjoy a classic show that has improved with age.
Be Well,
Steve
Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve
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'Wonder Woman' Lynda Carter honored with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter was honored with the 2,632nd star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Tuesday.
Carter, 66, looked back on her five decades as an actress, singer and pageant queen as she paid homage to the comic-book character who helped skyrocket her career and put her hands on her hips and crossed her arms in her trademark poses.
"Wonder Woman gave birth to my career, and now we have come full circle and we have millions of new fans," Carter said. "It seems impossible, but I have been in the entertainment industry for more than 50 years -- do the math -- and I have loved it all."
Carter made her first television appearance at age 5, made her professional singing debut at 14 and became Miss World America in 1972.
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler said above all else Carter's portrayal of Wonder Woman "a character she infused with such depth and humor" helped make the character "most indelible characters in television history."
Carter also received praise from the women responsible for the most recent portrayal of the character as Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins spoke on her behalf at the ceremony.
"It was Lynda's portrayal of Wonder Woman that made me fall in love with her because her Wonder Woman made me believe that I could have whatever I wanted, and even more importantly, it made me unashamed to want it," Jenkins said. "She wasn't afraid to be soft while tough, she wasn't afraid to be as loving as she was strong, she wasn't afraid to love being a woman and celebrate her femininity, all while kicking ass and changing the world."
New Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot shared a congratulatory message to Carter on Twitter.
"Thank you for your loving kindness shared by the sisterhood of women of wonder," Gadot wrote.
Carter thanked her "wonderful fans" and expressed her "unending gratitude" to her family for making her career possible.
"Through the ups and downs and the good times and bad, you have enriched my life and you have always been there for me," she said.
Steven Bochco 'NYPD Blue,' 'L.A Law' creator dead at 74
Steven Bochco, the television writer and producer behind hit shows NYPD Blue, L.A. Law and Hill Street Blues, has died at the age of 74.
Bochco died Sunday after losing his battle to leukemia, said The Hollywood Reporter. Bochco had received a stem cell transplant from an anonymous 23-year-old in 2014.
"Steven fought cancer with strength, courage, grace and his unsurpassed sense of humor," family spokesman Phillip Arnold said in a statement. "He died peacefully in his sleep [at home] with his family close by."
Bochco was also the man behind Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder in the First and Murder One along with less successful programs such as Bay City Blues, Public Morals, Cop Rock and Paris. among others.
He is survived by his wife Dayna, children Jesse, Sean and Melissa, grandchildren Wes and Stevie Rae and sister Joanna Frank.
LOOSE LIPS:
"One of mama and I's first dates I climbed up a magnolia tree and I pulled her off a magnolia bloom and I gave it to her."
--Chip Gaines, telling his kids on the significance of the name magnolia, on Fixer Upper
??? Guess Who ???
Which 'House' star will co-star with George Clooney in 'Catch-22'?
Jenna Fischer has wardrobe malfunction, wears towel on 'Kimmel'
Office alum Jenna Fischer experienced a wardrobe malfunction before her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and decided to walk out onto the talk show wearing a towel with jeans.
The actress, who brought out the dress she planned to wear on a hanger, told Kimmel she improvised by wearing the towel after the zipper on her dress broke.
"You know, I am a Missouri girl, and the show must go on," Fischer said before describing how comfortable wearing the towel was.
"I am mentally a little freaking out that I'm on a talk show in a towel, but I'm physically very comfortable," she said.
Fischer posted a photo her last-minute outfit while sitting next to Kimmel on Twitter with the caption "Onstage!"
Fischer, who was on the talk show to promote her new ABC series, Splitting Up Together, also talked about how she walked past the Kardashian family while staying at a hotel in Kyoto, Japan.
The actress took a photo of a passing Kim and Kourtney Kardashian to send to her mother-in-law, who is a big fan of the reality television stars. Fischer then said she mimicked a photo Kourtney posted on Instagram of herself posing inside the hotel.
Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone start work on 'Creed II'
Production began Monday in Philadelphia on Creed II, with Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone reprising their roles of Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa.
Steven Caple Jr., who helmed 2016's The Land, is directing the latest installment in the Rocky boxing saga, which dates back to 1976. Stallone wrote the screenplay for the latest film, a collaboration between MGM and Warner Bros.
Director Ryan Coogler, who directed 2015's Creed, serves as an executive producer on Creed II, which is due to open in theaters Nov. 21. Returning for the follow-up are Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne, Wood Harris as Tony "Little Duke" Burton and Andre Ward as Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler.
"When I wrote and directed Creed, I wanted to tell a human story about a family from a new perspective, while also paying homage to the Rocky characters we've all grown up knowing and loving. I've known Steven was an amazing filmmaker since our days at USC film school together, so I can't wait to see what he, Sly, Mike and Tessa bring to this next chapter," Coogler said in a statement.
"It's an honor to be a part of the franchise and work with such a thoughtful team. I got involved because I've always been a Rocky fan and I enjoy stories with heart and substance. But when Ryan put his touch on Creed I felt another level of connection to the franchise. It started to feel personal for many different reasons. This next Creed is a tale beyond the boxing ring and dives deep into family, legacy, and fears. I'm excited to share my view and collaborate with the talented cast and crew," Caple Jr. added.
"Ryan and Steven are voices for their generation and their shared vision for Creed has brought the Rocky franchise to an entirely new audience. We know audiences will continue to embrace the legacy that Sly created so many years ago," said producer Irwin Winkler.
Creed II will also feature Florian "The Big Nasty" Munteanu as Viktor Drago and Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago, the villain he played in 1985's Rocky IV.
Stallone posted a video on Instagram from the film's set, showing off the fancy trailer where he hangs out between scenes.
"You know the old cliché that it seems like yesterday and but it does and it's a very exciting moment to be here getting ready to Watch Creed 2 to commence filming," Stallone wrote in a message accompanying the clip. "A very exciting day!!! The actors and production team has been waiting a long Time for this film to start, so ladies and gentlemen get ready to watch the fists startFLYING! #MGM #rockybalboa #CREED2."
??? Guess Who ???
Which 'House' star will co-star with George Clooney in 'Catch-22'?
House and The Night Manager actor Hugh Laurie signed on to play Major de Coverley in Catch-22, Hulu's limited series featuring George Clooney as Colonel Cathcart.
Clooney is directing and producing the six-part adaptation of Joseph Heller's novel with longtime creative partner Grant Heslov.
Christopher Abbott will play the central character Yossarian, "an incomparable, artful dodger" and "a U.S. Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him," a news release said.
"His real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he'll be in violation of Catch-22, a hilariously sinister bureaucratic rule which specifies that a concern for one's own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty."