By Sylvia Gurinsky
Joseph Wershba was a brave man.
One of the reporters and producers who worked with Edward R. Murrow, Wershba was part of the team responsible for the discrediting of U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy's campaign to weed out Communists during the 1950s.
That campaign started with Wershba's own reporting in 1953 on Murrow's program, "See It Now," about United States Air Force Lt. Milo Radulovich, who was discharged as a security risk because family members were suspected of having Communist sympathies. That was the first in a series of reports that ultimately led to a direct confrontation between Murrow and McCarthy, who went on an episode of "See It Now" and basically did himself in with his words.
Years later, Wershba would produce documentaries - including "Gideon's Trumpet: The Poor Man and the Law," the saga of Clarence Earl Gideon, a poor man in Florida jailed for a felony without legal representation and eventually acquitted. The real story would later be turned into the acclaimed 1980 CBS television movie "Gideon's Trumpet," which starred Henry Fonda.
Wershba was one of the original producers in what has become a CBS institution, "60 Minutes." He stayed there until 1988, working quite a bit with correspondent Morley Safer. Twice, the team won Emmys: In 1971 for a look at the Gulf of Tonkin incident that triggered the Vietnam War, and in 1978 for a profile of Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek.
Here's a link to a tribute by Safer:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20063653-10391709.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
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Katie Couric has given up her anchor chair at CBS, probably for an immediate future as a talk-show host, possibly with ABC.
Whatever her future, her past included time in Miami, at what was then known as WTVJ-Channel 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbpHgMvM918
*************************************************************************************
Meanwhile, Mary Hart is leaving "Entertainment Tonight" after 29 years of enthusiastic coverage of celebrities.
Here's a clip from 1983 - back when there were actually celebrities worth covering:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avOBNaU0fQY&feature=related
************************************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Week of 5/13: Remembering Cooper and Wynter; Royal Weddings Past
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Jackie Cooper, who died last week, had two show business careers: The films he did as a child and the television and theater he did as an adult.
The latter undoubtedly satisfied him more; he had a chance to prove himself as an actor and director, and won accolades for both.
During the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, he was a mainstay on televised live drama programs such as Kraft Theatre and Studio One in Hollywood. During the late 1950s, he had his own situation comedy, "The People's Choice," on NBC for three years, and from 1959-62 was in the dramedy "Hennesey" on CBS.
From the 1960s through the 80s, Cooper made numerous guest-starring appearances on various shows, including "Hawaii Five-O," "The Rockford Files" and "Murder, She Wrote."
Doing his own series, Cooper got behind-the-camera experience as a director and would put it to good use for three decades. He directed numerous "M*A*S*H," episodes during the show's first two seasons - including "Carry On, Hawkeye," for which he won an Emmy. He won a second Emmy for directing the pilot episode of "The White Shadow" and also directed episodes of "Magnum, P.I.," "The Rockford Files" and "Cagney & Lacey," among others.
Alas, we wait for the live drama presentations to be released on DVD, but many of his guest-starring roles and directed episodes are available.
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Dana Wynter, who died earlier this week, also had a long and steady career guest-starring in live dramas and television series. A few of those, including roles in "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum, P.I.," are available on DVD.
One that could get a release, given royal wedding interest, is "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana," shown on CBS in 1982. Wynter played Queen Elizabeth long before Helen Mirren did.
*************************************************************************************
One final note for those who enjoyed watching the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge): ABC News not only has the highlights, but also has past royal weddings, going back to Princess Anne's first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.
The site also includes highlights of Prince Charles becoming Prince of Wales in 1969:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Royal_Wedding
***********************************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Jackie Cooper, who died last week, had two show business careers: The films he did as a child and the television and theater he did as an adult.
The latter undoubtedly satisfied him more; he had a chance to prove himself as an actor and director, and won accolades for both.
During the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, he was a mainstay on televised live drama programs such as Kraft Theatre and Studio One in Hollywood. During the late 1950s, he had his own situation comedy, "The People's Choice," on NBC for three years, and from 1959-62 was in the dramedy "Hennesey" on CBS.
From the 1960s through the 80s, Cooper made numerous guest-starring appearances on various shows, including "Hawaii Five-O," "The Rockford Files" and "Murder, She Wrote."
Doing his own series, Cooper got behind-the-camera experience as a director and would put it to good use for three decades. He directed numerous "M*A*S*H," episodes during the show's first two seasons - including "Carry On, Hawkeye," for which he won an Emmy. He won a second Emmy for directing the pilot episode of "The White Shadow" and also directed episodes of "Magnum, P.I.," "The Rockford Files" and "Cagney & Lacey," among others.
Alas, we wait for the live drama presentations to be released on DVD, but many of his guest-starring roles and directed episodes are available.
************************************************************************************
Dana Wynter, who died earlier this week, also had a long and steady career guest-starring in live dramas and television series. A few of those, including roles in "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum, P.I.," are available on DVD.
One that could get a release, given royal wedding interest, is "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana," shown on CBS in 1982. Wynter played Queen Elizabeth long before Helen Mirren did.
*************************************************************************************
One final note for those who enjoyed watching the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge): ABC News not only has the highlights, but also has past royal weddings, going back to Princess Anne's first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.
The site also includes highlights of Prince Charles becoming Prince of Wales in 1969:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/Royal_Wedding
***********************************************************************************
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 17: Top 10 "Masterpiece"
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of "Masterpiece" with a Top 10:
10. The Duchess of Duke Street: Created by John Hawkesworth, the episodes starred Gemma Jones as Louisa Trotter, who rose from the bottom to the top.
9. Downton Abbey: This magnetic series, a recent PBS sensation, stars Hugh Bonneville as the patriarch of a family of daughters in changing times during the second decade of the 20th century, with events in Series 1 framed by the sinking of the Titanic and the beginning of World War I. Series 2 will be shown on "Masterpiece" next year.
8. Edward and Mrs. Simpson: Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris played the title characters, whose romance upended a monarchy and changed England's future.
7. Bramwell: Jemma Redgrave starred as Dr. Eleanor Bramwell, who was a medical pioneer at a time when female doctors in England were almost unheard of. No "Dr. Quinn," this series was scandalous at times.
6. The Six Wives of Henry VIII: One of the early "Masterpiece" presentations, this had six episodes - each one devoted to one of King Henry's wives.
5. Reckless: The love triangle of a fortysomething woman (Francesca Annis), her unfaithful husband (Michael Kitchen) and a thirtysomething doctor (Robson Green) got pulses racing. Probably the best of the modern "Masterpiece" presentations, aside from the "House of Cards" trilogy (See below).
4. House of Cards trilogy: Sir Ian Richardson was memorable as the cold and calculating Sir Francis Urquhart in a trio of presentations: "House of Cards," "To Play the King" and "The Final Cut." This was Shakespearean tragedy (written by Andrew Davies) at its most modern.
3. I, Claudius: Long before Derek Jacobi went back to the future (12th century!) as Cadfael, he was Claudius, narrating the rise and fall of ancient Rome.
2. The Jewel In the Crown: A look at India in the last days of British rule, during the early 1940s. Tim Pigott-Smith starred as Captain Ronald Merrick, who had a few secrets influencing his actions.
1. Upstairs, Downstairs: 165 Eaton Place became one of television's classic addresses because of the 1970s show, which took a look at a family and their servants through the first three decades of the 20th century. "Upstairs, Downstairs," winner of numerous Emmys, was among the first programs shown on American television to be produced by women. One of those producers, Jean Marsh, is back for the continuation currently being shown on "Masterpiece."
*************************************************************************************
Note: YesterTube will be on hiatus until mid-May.
Until then, Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Spring and Happy Viewing!
Continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of "Masterpiece" with a Top 10:
10. The Duchess of Duke Street: Created by John Hawkesworth, the episodes starred Gemma Jones as Louisa Trotter, who rose from the bottom to the top.
9. Downton Abbey: This magnetic series, a recent PBS sensation, stars Hugh Bonneville as the patriarch of a family of daughters in changing times during the second decade of the 20th century, with events in Series 1 framed by the sinking of the Titanic and the beginning of World War I. Series 2 will be shown on "Masterpiece" next year.
8. Edward and Mrs. Simpson: Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris played the title characters, whose romance upended a monarchy and changed England's future.
7. Bramwell: Jemma Redgrave starred as Dr. Eleanor Bramwell, who was a medical pioneer at a time when female doctors in England were almost unheard of. No "Dr. Quinn," this series was scandalous at times.
6. The Six Wives of Henry VIII: One of the early "Masterpiece" presentations, this had six episodes - each one devoted to one of King Henry's wives.
5. Reckless: The love triangle of a fortysomething woman (Francesca Annis), her unfaithful husband (Michael Kitchen) and a thirtysomething doctor (Robson Green) got pulses racing. Probably the best of the modern "Masterpiece" presentations, aside from the "House of Cards" trilogy (See below).
4. House of Cards trilogy: Sir Ian Richardson was memorable as the cold and calculating Sir Francis Urquhart in a trio of presentations: "House of Cards," "To Play the King" and "The Final Cut." This was Shakespearean tragedy (written by Andrew Davies) at its most modern.
3. I, Claudius: Long before Derek Jacobi went back to the future (12th century!) as Cadfael, he was Claudius, narrating the rise and fall of ancient Rome.
2. The Jewel In the Crown: A look at India in the last days of British rule, during the early 1940s. Tim Pigott-Smith starred as Captain Ronald Merrick, who had a few secrets influencing his actions.
1. Upstairs, Downstairs: 165 Eaton Place became one of television's classic addresses because of the 1970s show, which took a look at a family and their servants through the first three decades of the 20th century. "Upstairs, Downstairs," winner of numerous Emmys, was among the first programs shown on American television to be produced by women. One of those producers, Jean Marsh, is back for the continuation currently being shown on "Masterpiece."
*************************************************************************************
Note: YesterTube will be on hiatus until mid-May.
Until then, Happy Passover, Happy Easter, Happy Spring and Happy Viewing!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Week of April 15: Best of "Mystery!"
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Happy 40th birthday, Masterpiece Theater, and Happy 30th, Mystery!
OK, actually 31st for "Mystery," which went on the air in February, 1980. And the "Theater" is no longer attached to "Masterpiece," whose subheadings now include "Masterpiece Classic" and "Masterpiece Contemporary."
No matter. Both have set standards for television and for the quality of PBS. Mostly British programs, the offerings have been extremely popular.
Here's a Top 10 list for "Mystery." The one for "Masterpiece" will follow in a second blog to run Sunday.
Mystery Top 10
10. Dalgleish: Roy Mardsen played the cerebral detective from the P.D. James series of books.
9. Cadfael: How far back can crime-solving go? Try the 12th century, with Derek Jacobi playing the sleuthing monk.
8. Reilly, Ace of Spies: Sam Neill played Jewish spy Sidney Reilly in this 1983 series of episodes, which won a host of awards.
7. Rumpole of the Bailey: Leo McKern was the crusty lawyer in the series that was part of most of "Mystery's" first 15 seasons, including the first one. A courtroom drama among the detectives.
6. Miss Marple: Agatha Christie's most famous detective keeps going and going, though she didn't make her first "Mystery" appearance until 1985, with Joan Hickson playing the immortal role. Since then, viewers have also seen Geraldine McEwan ("Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves") and now Julia McKenzie in the role.
5. Poirot: The incomparable David Suchet took Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian detective and made the role his own, first playing it on "Mystery" in 1989 and continuing to the current day, although the new episodes no longer have his faithful assistant Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) or that wonderful opening theme by Christopher Gunning.
4. Inspector Morse: There was always a sense of melancholy, possibly taken from his own life, about the way John Thaw played Morse; few teams have been better than Morse and Sergeant Lewis ( Kevin Whately) in the sedate setting of Oxford, where murder seems to lurk at every turn. Viewers mourned Morse's death - and Thaw's soon after. Whately has continued in the fine "Inspector Lewis" with Laurence Fox as Sergeant Hathaway.
3. Foyle's War: Investigating murder during the horrors of World War II? Yes, for Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (the magnificent Michael Kitchen), who longs to serve the war effort but must stay in Hastings and do his bit for the police along Britain's South Coast. Fortunately, he has two capable assistants in Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) and plucky driver Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks). Foyle worries for his son, Andrew (Julian Ovenden), a Royal Air Force pilot. Really a drama about the war with mystery elements.
2. Sherlock Holmes: Jeremy Brett brought the world's greatest detective to life in a way no one else has. Channelling all of the quirks that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put into Holmes, he gave the character humanity and grace. David Burke played a perfect Dr. Watson, but Edward Hardwicke was pretty good, too. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown signs that history and quality will repeat itself (even with the annoying text message graphics) in the new "Sherlock," set in the modern day.
1. Prime Suspect: How can NBC even think of putting its own version on the air when the original was indelible? Before Dame Helen Mirren was an Oscar winner as Queen Elizabeth, she was alcoholic, frequently burned-out detective ("Don't call me Ma'am; I'm not the bloody Queen") Jane Tennison. Both Mirren and the series won Emmys and many other awards.
Happy 40th birthday, Masterpiece Theater, and Happy 30th, Mystery!
OK, actually 31st for "Mystery," which went on the air in February, 1980. And the "Theater" is no longer attached to "Masterpiece," whose subheadings now include "Masterpiece Classic" and "Masterpiece Contemporary."
No matter. Both have set standards for television and for the quality of PBS. Mostly British programs, the offerings have been extremely popular.
Here's a Top 10 list for "Mystery." The one for "Masterpiece" will follow in a second blog to run Sunday.
Mystery Top 10
10. Dalgleish: Roy Mardsen played the cerebral detective from the P.D. James series of books.
9. Cadfael: How far back can crime-solving go? Try the 12th century, with Derek Jacobi playing the sleuthing monk.
8. Reilly, Ace of Spies: Sam Neill played Jewish spy Sidney Reilly in this 1983 series of episodes, which won a host of awards.
7. Rumpole of the Bailey: Leo McKern was the crusty lawyer in the series that was part of most of "Mystery's" first 15 seasons, including the first one. A courtroom drama among the detectives.
6. Miss Marple: Agatha Christie's most famous detective keeps going and going, though she didn't make her first "Mystery" appearance until 1985, with Joan Hickson playing the immortal role. Since then, viewers have also seen Geraldine McEwan ("Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves") and now Julia McKenzie in the role.
5. Poirot: The incomparable David Suchet took Agatha Christie's fastidious Belgian detective and made the role his own, first playing it on "Mystery" in 1989 and continuing to the current day, although the new episodes no longer have his faithful assistant Captain Hastings (Hugh Fraser) or that wonderful opening theme by Christopher Gunning.
4. Inspector Morse: There was always a sense of melancholy, possibly taken from his own life, about the way John Thaw played Morse; few teams have been better than Morse and Sergeant Lewis ( Kevin Whately) in the sedate setting of Oxford, where murder seems to lurk at every turn. Viewers mourned Morse's death - and Thaw's soon after. Whately has continued in the fine "Inspector Lewis" with Laurence Fox as Sergeant Hathaway.
3. Foyle's War: Investigating murder during the horrors of World War II? Yes, for Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (the magnificent Michael Kitchen), who longs to serve the war effort but must stay in Hastings and do his bit for the police along Britain's South Coast. Fortunately, he has two capable assistants in Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) and plucky driver Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks). Foyle worries for his son, Andrew (Julian Ovenden), a Royal Air Force pilot. Really a drama about the war with mystery elements.
2. Sherlock Holmes: Jeremy Brett brought the world's greatest detective to life in a way no one else has. Channelling all of the quirks that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put into Holmes, he gave the character humanity and grace. David Burke played a perfect Dr. Watson, but Edward Hardwicke was pretty good, too. Benedict Cumberbatch has shown signs that history and quality will repeat itself (even with the annoying text message graphics) in the new "Sherlock," set in the modern day.
1. Prime Suspect: How can NBC even think of putting its own version on the air when the original was indelible? Before Dame Helen Mirren was an Oscar winner as Queen Elizabeth, she was alcoholic, frequently burned-out detective ("Don't call me Ma'am; I'm not the bloody Queen") Jane Tennison. Both Mirren and the series won Emmys and many other awards.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Special Post: "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" Cancelled
By Sylvia Gurinsky
As many soap opera fans have heard by now, ABC has decided to cancel "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" in coming months. I talked about "AMC's" problems, which might be the same for "OLTL" - changing schedules, declining quality in plots and acting - but their replacements - cooking and lifestyle shows apparently in the style of "The View" - don't make the heart beat faster.
Starting next month, I'll chronicle the greatest moments in the history of the two soap operas - including moments featuring Susan Lucci, who has played Erica Kane through "AMC's" run, and Erika Slezak, who has played Victoria Lord on "OLTL" since 1970.
ABC called the decision "bittersweet."
No way. Damn sad is more like it.
As many soap opera fans have heard by now, ABC has decided to cancel "All My Children" and "One Life To Live" in coming months. I talked about "AMC's" problems, which might be the same for "OLTL" - changing schedules, declining quality in plots and acting - but their replacements - cooking and lifestyle shows apparently in the style of "The View" - don't make the heart beat faster.
Starting next month, I'll chronicle the greatest moments in the history of the two soap operas - including moments featuring Susan Lucci, who has played Erica Kane through "AMC's" run, and Erika Slezak, who has played Victoria Lord on "OLTL" since 1970.
ABC called the decision "bittersweet."
No way. Damn sad is more like it.
Monday, April 11, 2011
YesterTube Special: Saluting Sidney Lumet
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Director Sidney Lumet, who died late last week at age 86, is being justifiably saluted for his film work - including "Network," a 1976 satire (and sadly, preview) of television written by Paddy Chayefsky.
He's also been commended for his television work during the 1950s and 60s, when he was cutting his teeth on live television dramas on programs such as "Playhouse 90," "You Are There" with Walter Cronkite and "Studio One."
Alas, as was mentioned recently in another context, little of this work is available for public sale so far. Fortunately, Lumet was interviewed by the Archive of American Television and described much of his TV work. Here's the link:
http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/sidney-lumet
So long to one of the greats.
Director Sidney Lumet, who died late last week at age 86, is being justifiably saluted for his film work - including "Network," a 1976 satire (and sadly, preview) of television written by Paddy Chayefsky.
He's also been commended for his television work during the 1950s and 60s, when he was cutting his teeth on live television dramas on programs such as "Playhouse 90," "You Are There" with Walter Cronkite and "Studio One."
Alas, as was mentioned recently in another context, little of this work is available for public sale so far. Fortunately, Lumet was interviewed by the Archive of American Television and described much of his TV work. Here's the link:
http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/sidney-lumet
So long to one of the greats.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Week of April 8: Watch Any Good Books Lately?
By Sylvia Gurinsky
I started reading "Rum & Razors," part of the series of books based on the classic program "Murder, She Wrote," "by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain."
Jessica Fletcher, of course, was the character played so wonderfully on the CBS series by Angela Lansbury from 1984-96. Bain is the real writer of the "Murder, She Wrote" series and author of the book "Coffee, Tea or Me?"
Through the 1990s, successful series frequently triggered successful books. Comedies such as "The Partridge Family" and "That Girl" and dramas such as the original "Hawaii Five-O" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." came complete with a series of adventurous, not-too-long readers that would frequently go to places the shows didn't - especially the comedies. "That Girl's" Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) terrorized by people living a real-life "Wuthering Heights?" Never happened in the series, but it did in a book penned by Paul W. Fairman.
Series for teens and science fiction fans, of course, have been principal sources for book writers. "Star Trek," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Full House" have plenty of selections.
eBay is a primary source for finding such books. Even stories from more obscure series, such as 1970s "Nancy" about a president's daughter, are available in paperback.
The eBay search starts in the 1950s with such shows as "Gunsmoke" and "77 Sunset Strip." Just about every scripted television genre one can think of is covered.
So Happy Reading! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
I started reading "Rum & Razors," part of the series of books based on the classic program "Murder, She Wrote," "by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain."
Jessica Fletcher, of course, was the character played so wonderfully on the CBS series by Angela Lansbury from 1984-96. Bain is the real writer of the "Murder, She Wrote" series and author of the book "Coffee, Tea or Me?"
Through the 1990s, successful series frequently triggered successful books. Comedies such as "The Partridge Family" and "That Girl" and dramas such as the original "Hawaii Five-O" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." came complete with a series of adventurous, not-too-long readers that would frequently go to places the shows didn't - especially the comedies. "That Girl's" Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) terrorized by people living a real-life "Wuthering Heights?" Never happened in the series, but it did in a book penned by Paul W. Fairman.
Series for teens and science fiction fans, of course, have been principal sources for book writers. "Star Trek," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Full House" have plenty of selections.
eBay is a primary source for finding such books. Even stories from more obscure series, such as 1970s "Nancy" about a president's daughter, are available in paperback.
The eBay search starts in the 1950s with such shows as "Gunsmoke" and "77 Sunset Strip." Just about every scripted television genre one can think of is covered.
So Happy Reading! And until next week, Happy Viewing!
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