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| This is a
collection of old news and obituaries from the Morty's TV
News page. Dates, where shown, represent the date the
story was originally posted on the web site. Because
these are old stories, links within the stories may no
longer be active. For current news and schedules, click
here. |
You Can Browse Old
News By Month...
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A Salute to the
Cars of Classic TV |
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128 pages of text and photos
of Barris Kustom Kars, including forgotten favorites like "The Bugaloos"
dune buggy.
Click Here for more details. |
[February 28, 2004]
In the 1960's some of the most recognizable TV stars were the cars. Think
about it: Would "Route 66" have been the same if Tod and Buzz drove a Rambler?
Was "The Munsters" better than "The Addams Family," or did they just have a
better car? How cool would Maxwell Smart have been if he drove a station wagon?
This week, The Chicago Sun Times ran an article (TV's
Greatest Cars) by Phil Rosenthal where he picks the top 20 TV
Cars. Among his selections are The Batmobile, the Partridge Family bus,
and the General Lee from "Dukes of Hazzard."
 Many of our favorite TV cars were created by George Barris of Barris Kustom
Kars. Hollywood started coming to Barris for cars in 1957, where he and
his brother supplied
street rods for movies like "High School Confidential." During the
60's Barris created cars for "The Munsters," "The Monkees,"
"The Green Hornet,"
and "Batman."
 If you think the Barris era of Kustom Kars was over in the 1960's, you'd be
wrong. Barris designed the cars for "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie,"
"Back to the Future," "Ghost Busters," and "Knight Rider."
On Sunday, March 7th, George Barris, now 75, will make a rare TV
appearance on ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" ("The Mendoza Family"
at 8:00PM). Although ABC won't say what his role will be, I'll be tuned
in and hoping it takes place in the garage.
So what would it cost to own a Barris Kustom Kar?
The prices start at about $5, as long as you're willing to think small.
Small die cast models of the cars are extremely popular and collectible,
and although the price may start at $5, some older originals sell upwards of
$1000.00. If you're interested in owning a Munster's Koach car of your own,
the best place to start is eBay. Toy Diecast
TV Cars on eBay .
For more information on toy cars and collecting, vist:
TVToys.com or
Breithaupts.com. Plan on being in Tennessee? Visit the
Gatlinburg Museum of "Star Cars." Reminisce about your favorite cars
on
TVacres.com. For more books by George Barris,
click here. For more links to TV and Movie cars, visit:
Automotive-Links.com. And best of all, visit the official
George
Barris Website, and while at his site, in addition to a gallery of photos,
click on his "Store" link for more great behind the scenes photos. |
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Character Actor John Randolph Dies |
 [February 27, 2004] John
Randolph, an actor has died, he was 88. Randolph, a Tony-winning character
actor who played Roseanne's father in "Roseanne" and Tom Hanks'
grandfather in "You've Got Mail," died Tuesday at his home in
Hollywood, his family said.
He played a police chief in 1973's "Serpico,"
appeared in the 1974 TV movie "The Missiles of October" and was
Roseanne's father in several episodes of "Roseanne." His grandfather role
in the 1998 "You've Got Mail" was one of his last.
In 1987, Randolph won a Tony Award for his role as a grandfather in Neil Simon's
play "Broadway Bound." Randolph continued to appear in
local plays until four years ago.
Born in New York City, Randolph described himself as an "old radical" and became
politically active in the 1930s. He rallied for convicted spies Julius and Ethel
Rosenberg and later marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Though his film career was hobbled in the 1950s because of the blacklist, he
chalked up dozens of roles in later decades. He refused to answer
questions when called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1955
and was blacklisted from Hollywood for years, during which time he performed in
plays in and around New York.
He is survived by two children, a granddaughter and a brother. |
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Changes on Nick
and TV Land |
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[February 27, 2004] As noted above, "Three's
Company" is not presently airing on Nick @ Nite and has been replaced
by
"Cheers." I've received a lot of emails asking whether
"Three's Company" will return. As of yet, there is no official answer
to this. It appears that Nick was using up all their licensed airings and
backed off so they wouldn't go over the allotment. Although not official,
it's expected that "Three's Company" will return in April on either Nick
or TV Land. Effective, Monday, March 1, 2004:
Weekdays at noon, "Maverick" (replaces "The Love Boat")
Weekends at 2:00PM "Maverick" will replace "MacGyver"
Episodes in the "Starsky and Hutch" event have been changed and are
listed on the the TV
Land schedule. |
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Yabba Dabba Doo &
Scooby Too |
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BURBANK, CA (February 19, 2004) - Yabba Dabba Doo!
Everyone's favorite modern stone-age family The
Flintstones and animated mystery sleuths Scooby-Doo,
Where Are You? Are making their highly-anticipated debut on DVD. Collectible
box sets of the first seasons of two of television's classic and most historic
animated series, will be available from Warner Home Video on March 16, 2004 . The two separate "Hanna-Barbera Golden
Collection" sets mark the first time ever every
episode from the two Hanna-Barbera series' first
seasons will be available on DVD.
Both The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
Are considered to be two of the most successful
animated television series in history. The two
programs were created by television legends William
Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who, under their pioneering
production company Hanna-Barbera, created some of
television's most enduring series, including The
Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
In addition to all 28 half-hour episodes of its entire
first season, exclusive special features included with
The Flintstones four disc DVD set will be:
"All About The Flintstones," a close look at the
history of the series
"The Flagstones: The Lost Pilot"
"Wacky Inventions" featurette chronicling the many
pre-historic amenities afforded to Bedrock
Early network television advertisements and
promotional spots
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Special features
supplementing the program's re-mastered 25 half-hour
episodes of seasons one and two include:
"Scooby-Doo's Ultimate Fans" featurette
"Funky Fashions" featurette
"Scooby-Doo Street Smarts," detailing fans' favorite
cases
"Take the Scooby Challenge" trivia
"Get The Picture: How to Draw Scooby-Doo and the Gang"
"America Loves Scooby-Doo" music video
Special packaging for the "Hanna-Barbera Golden
Collection" sets of The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo,
Where Are You? Will be presented in limited edition
4-disc box sets featuring transparent slipcases
designed to resemble a vintage animation cel from each
series, adding additional value to the products.
Further, the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? DVD set will
include a "Movie Cash" promotional certificate good
for a ticket to see Warner Bros.' Feature film
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, scheduled to
premiere in theaters March 26, 2004.
 The Flintstones made television history as the first
ever animated program to air in primetime. The
colorful sitcom targeted to adults and children alike,
documented the lives of The Flintstones, a working
class family headed by father Fred, wife Wilma and pet
dog Dino, all of whom found themselves in humorous
situations with neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble.
Legendary voice artist Mel Blanc gave life to Barney
Rubble and Dino throughout the program's run.
 Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Instantly secured a strong
and loyal audience. The program follows the travels of
loyal friends Daphne, Fred, Shaggy, Velma and their
dog Scooby-Doo, who travel in their van "The Mystery
Machine" solving cases. The hit program, which
features broadcast legend Casey Kasem as Shaggy, went
on to become one of the most successful animated
television programs in history, spawning spin-off
series, specials, consumer products and live action
feature films. Warner Bros. released Scooby-Doo,
starring Freddie Prinze, Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar,
Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini, in theaters
worldwide 2002. In March, Warner Bros. will release
the film's sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.
That same month, on March 9, WHV will release What's
New, Scooby-Doo? Volume 2: Safari, So Goodi!, on DVD
and VHS. The title is the second release of episodes
from the contemporary version of What's New,
Scooby-Doo?, which airs each Saturday morning on KIDS
WB!
"The Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones franchises are two
of the most valuable properties in the Warner Home
Video library. Previous home entertainment releases
built around these famous programs have performed
exceedingly well and we anticipate an even greater
success for these exciting titles making their long
anticipated debuts on DVD," said Christine Martinez, WHV Vice-President Non-theatrical Franchise Marketing.
"The original series of The Flintstones and What's
New, Scooby-Doo? Have entertained and pleased the
hearts of generations, and now people will be able to
enjoy this classic series in the comfort of their own
homes whenever they wish." |
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Jan Miner, star of Palmolive 'Madge' TV
Ads, Dies at 86 |
 [February 18, 2004] Jan Miner, a New York stage actress who gained fame as Madge, the manicurist in Palmolive television ads, died Sunday. She was 86.Janice Miner was born on October 15, 1917, in Boston, the daughter of a dentist and a painter. She studied at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston and trained for the stage with Lee Strasberg, among others. From the 1940s to the 1980s, Miner appeared on and off Broadway and in productions in St. Louis, New Haven and Stratford. She also appeared in radio programs, including
the leading role of Mary Wesley in "Boston Blackie" a series in the late
1940s. She appeared in repertory productions at the American Shakespeare
Festival in Stratford for six seasons and in films (Mother Superior in 1990's
"Mermaids") and television plays (two dozen guest roles on "Robert
Montgomery Presents") and series. Miner won her most widespread attention
in Palmolive commercials as Madge, praising the gentleness of its dish detergent
to a customer surprised to find her hands soaking in it. She played the
character for 27 years. |
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New Mister Ed
Update |
 [February 17, 2004] Sherman Hemsley ("The Jeffersons," "Amen") is set as
the voice of the talking horse in FOX's re-imaging of
the 1961-66 CBS comedy. Hemsley joins the previously
cast David Alan Basche and Sherilyn Fenn as the Posts.
20th Century Fox Television-based Original Television
is the studio behind the project, which is being
developed by Jack Handey ("Saturday Night Live"). |
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Patty Duke Show,
F-Troop and More Coming on DVD |
 [February 17, 2004] USA Today has some great news for
TV fans, but some titles may be up to five years away. Also mentioned was
an omission from my February release list,
"I Married Joan: Collection 1."[By Thomas K.
Arnold, Special for USA TODAY] Bob Denver finally broke down and bought a
DVD player two years ago, when complete-season sets of Friends— his wife's
favorite TV show — were released.
But the full weight of the DVD phenomenon didn't hit him
until Warner Home Video announced it was coming out with the complete first
season of the 1964 sitcom Gilligan's Island, which starred Denver, now 69, as
the bumbling lead character.
 Full Details. |
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TV DVD Releases
For March |
|
[February 14, 2004] Here's the TV shows on DVD
releases for March. Highlighting the sitcom genre is the fifth series of
"Absolutely
Fabulous," season two of
"Will and Grace," the fourth season of
"Sanford and Son," and the second season of
"Married... With Children." In the category of classic TV,
there's
"The Abbott and Costello Show," and
"The Flintstones."
Coming in April: "Charlie's Angels" The Complete 2nd Season,
"Freaks and Geeks" The Complete Series, "Friends" The Complete 7th Season
"In Living Color," "Babylon 5" The Complete 5th Season, "Highlander: The Series,"
"The
King of Queens," The 2nd Season "The Office" The Complete 2nd Series,
"ER" The Complete 2nd Season, "Saved by the Bell" Seasons 3 & 4,
and more! |
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More Schedule
Notes |
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[February 14, 2004]
Thursday, March 4 8:00PM to 1:00AM TV Land will air a
"Starsky and Hutch Movie Stunt" hosted by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.
See the TV Land Schedule for episode
information. On Friday, March 5, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson star
as Dave Starsky and Ken Hutchinson in the theatrical
release of "Starsky and Hutch."
Effective, Monday, February 23rd, Lifetime will make some minor changes:
1:00PM Unsolved Mysteries (replaces MOVIE)
2:00PM MOVIE (replaces 3 p.m. Any Day Now)
4:00PM Any Day Now (replaces The Division)
5:00PM. Strong Medicine
6:00PM The Nanny (replaces Unsolved Mysteries)
6:30PM Designing Women (replaces Unsolved Mysteries
cont.)
Everything else is the same, so yes, "Golden Girls" will
REMAIN at 7 and 7:30PM. and its other timeslots. This will NOT affect the
schedule changes that will happen March 8, they will still happen, and these
These changes have already been noted on the
Lifetime Grid. Sci-Fi will remove "Knight Rider" from its 5:00PM
slot starting March 29, "Hercules" will remain. I
do not know if it will return in April. Changes for Spike TV include the
addition of "MacGyver" and the departure of "Cheers."
These changes took effect Monday, February 9 (Changes listed ONLY):
11:00AM MacGyver (replaces two episodes of Real TV)
12:00PM MacGyver (replaces Seven Days)
1:00PM Seven Days (replaces Star Trek: TNG)
2:00PM Star Trek: TNG (replaces Highlander)
4:00PM Highlander (replaces two episodes of Real TV)
6:00PM Real TV (replaces Cheers)
6:30PM Real TV (replaces Cheers)
1:00AM Real TV (replaces Highlander)
1:30AM Real TV (replaces Highlander cont.)
2:00AM Highlander (replaces two episodes of Cheers) Starting
Monday, March 29:
Weekdays at 10:00AM Baywatch (replaces Miami Vice) Star Trek:
Deep Space 9 will be coming to Spike TV on Monday, April 5, 2004, airing
weekdays at 7:00PM. and Saturdays at 4:00PM. Also, an all-day marathon has
been scheduled on Friday, April 9 from 9:00AM -11:00PM What better day to
air a marathon on the ninth day of a month!
Effective Monday, April 5, 2004:
12:00PM Seven Days (replaces 2nd airing of MacGyver)
1:00PM Star Trek: TNG (replaces Seven Days)
7:00PM Star Trek: DS9 (replaces Star Trek: TNG) |
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Pavan's Schedule
Notes |
[February 3, 2004]
There are bunch of schedule notes that Pavan sent me. The most notable is
a complete shake-up on the TV Land grid. Although a lot of shows have
changed their time-slots, only one addition, "The Munsters" have
returned. You can see the new grid on the
TV Land Schedule
page under the current grid, which runs thru February 6th. These changes
follow the cancellation of boxed sets that aired on Sundays.
UPDATE: Starting February 22, TV Land will be removing Sunday
Night in TV Land. It will still air on 2/8 and 2/15
to meet the Black History programming. Whatever airs
Mon-Sat from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. will air on Sunday
nights starting 2/22.
Lifetime TV's spin-off network, Lifetime: Real Women,
will be adding some Lifetime TV series from the
library and current shows on Lifetime, to its line-up,
starting March 1, 2004:
Weekdays, starting 3/1/04 on LIFETIME: REAL WOMEN:
2:30PM "Caroline in the City" (Mon-Sat)
3:00PM "Suddenly Susan"
3:30PM "Ellen" 7 days a week:
4:00PM "Suddenly Susan "
4:30PM "Ellen"
5:00PM "Intimate Portrait "
6:00PM "Party of Five"
7:00PM "Once and Again" Effective, Monday, March 29, 2004, Sci-Fi Channel will
add "Knight Rider" to its weekday line-up again,
weekdays at 5 p.m. ET replacing "Hercules." "Highway to Heaven"
is leaving Goodlife TV on October 1st. Don't panic, the show was very
popular and is expected to return to cable soon after. Effective
Monday, March 8, 2004 Lifetime get will add "Laverne & Shirley "
at 11:00AM (replaces "Mad About You") and noon (replaces "The Golden Girls"),
both "Mad About You" and "The Golden Girls" will stay on the
schedule at their other times, as shown on Hallmark
Channel Schedule Grids. The acclaimed cult hit "My
So-Called Life," starring Claire Danes and Jared Leto will air Friday Nights at 8:00PM
on "N." "The N" is the nighttime version on Noggin, another spin-off of
Nickelodeon. "My So-Called Life," starts April 2nd and
will be preceded by two episodes of "Degrassi: The Next Generation."
"Night Court" and "NewsRadio" are finally coming back to
cable, after a two year layoff. A&E's spin-off
channel, The Biography Channel will add reruns of
"Night Court" and "NewsRadio" starting this March. It
could be only for a limited time, since A&E/Biography
loses the rights to both shows after this fall. A&E
first aired the "Night Court" in January 2000 and "NewsRadio" in October 2000. Now they will "burn off"
on The Biography Channel.
Effective, March 1, 2004 on THE BIOGRAPHY CHANNEL:
(Series Programming Listed Only)
Weekdays:
11:00AM "L.A. Law "
12:00PM "Murder, She Wrote"
1:00PM "NewsRadio"
1:30PM "Night Court"
5:00PM "L.A. Law" (repeat of 11AM)
6:00PM "Murder, She Wrote" (repeat of Noon)
7:00PM "NewsRadio" (repeat of 1PM)
7:30PM "Night Court" (repeat of 1:30PM)
11:00PM "NewsRadio"
11:30PM "Night Court"
3:00AM "NewsRadio" (repeat of 11PM)
3:30AM "Night Court" (repeat of 11:30PM)
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