Ian Abercrombie
Ian Abercrombie, the British stage actor best known as Elaine's boss Mr. Pitt on Seinfeld, has died. He was 77.
Abercrombie died Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from complications of kidney failure, according to the Los Angeles Times. He had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma.
See other stars we've lost
Born in England, Abercrombie started out as a stage dancer and made his American stage debut in 1955 in a production of Stalag 17 with Jason Robards. After serving in the Army as part of Special Services in Germany, he returned to acting, appearing in numerous plays, TV shows and films before a seven-episode arc on Seinfeld changed his life.
"Incredibly so," he told CNN in 1998. "I mean, I have been ...
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Rebirth
Most everyone remembers where they were 10 years ago on September 11, as we watched the horrific images and stories unfold. A decade later, many will gather in front of the TV again to watch, remember, reflect — and the broadcast and cable networks are offering a wide range of specials to put the tragedy in perspective.
But there's plenty else happening on TV this weekend. Here's my take on some of the more notable highlights, including the major 9/11 programming:
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Frankenstein
It's aliiive! Well, it could be.
NBC is developing a modern-day remake of Frankenstein, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The project comes from House executive producers Garrett Lerner and Russel Friend for Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun. Universal Studios owns the property rights to Frankenstein, among other ...
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Kenneth Mars
Kenneth Mars, best known for his performance as a Nazi playwright in the original film version of The Producers, died on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. He was 75.
Mars died in his Grenada Hills, Calif., home from...
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Eureka
"In this job, there's no such thing as no such thing."
That clever quip gives us summer Syfy in a nutshell. As spoken by Warehouse 13's glib Secret Service hero Pete Lattimer (the genial Eddie McClintock) to his foxy partner Mika Bering (Joanne Kelly) while both are plastered to a Victorian ceiling by some anti-gravity device or other, we are served the fantastic with a side order of whimsy, with very little ever taken seriously...
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Scooby-Doo
Halloween is one of the few times a year when people actually enjoy being frightened. Whether kicking back with your favorite scary movie of visiting the local haunted house, the thrill of a good scare is undeniable.
But do you remember those days as a kid when it didn't take much more than some loud music and ugly face paint to haunt you at night? Did even cartoons like Scooby-Doo or comedies like Young Frankenstein spook you more than they should have?
If so, we want to know: What TV or movie moments scared you as a kid that, looking back, you just can't explain?
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24's Kiefer Sutherland by Albert Watson/Fox
Jorge Romero, the 25-year-old Chicagoan accused of uploading to LiveDigital.com four yet-to-air episodes of 24, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10.... Also per the Hollywood Reporter, American Dad executive producers Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz have inked a new two-year deal with 20th Century Fox, as part of which they will develop new projects.... Mel Brooks' stage-musical adaptation of Young Frankenstein will price its best weekend seats at $450 a pop, a record high for Broadway, says the New York Post. Good thing TVGuide.com's Raven is getting me in for free. Right, Raven? Raven...?
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Did Mel Brooks deem Cloris Leachman too old for Young Frankenstein? Sources tell the New York Post that while Leachman was a riot when she reprised her role as Frau Blücher in a workshop of the coming Broadway musical, Brooks & Co. feared that, at 81, she wouldn't possess the stamina to do eight shows a week, so they gave SCTV's Andrea Martin the gig instead. Leachman is now literally fighting mad, challenging Brooks (who soon turns 81 himself) to "three rounds in the ring [to] see who's left standing," and has enlisted retired Variety icon Army Archerd to lobby Brooks to change his mind (not to mention avoid a potential lawsuit). Ageism anyone? — Reporting by Raven Snook
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It is time to put on the Ritz. No sooner had the massive flop musical The Pirate Queen shut down production but it was announced that Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein will set up its laboratory (and revolving bookcase, one has to hope) in the Hilton Theatre, with previews starting Oct. 11, followed by an official Nov. 8 Broadway bow. Tickets go on sale July 15, but that is of no concern for me; our resident theater queen Raven is getting me in for free. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
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Darrell Hammond by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC
This summer, Saturday Night Live's Darrell Hammond will make his Broadway debut in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, replacing comedian Mo Rocca in the role of Vice Principal Douglas Panch.... In addition to showcasing numbers from the tuners nominated for best revival and best musical, this year's Tonys will include a special performance by American Idol winner Fantasia, currently starring on Broadway in The Color Purple.... It's a stage smackdown! Producers of a serious adaptation of Frankenstein, described as "a bold new theatrical experience," plan to open their show off-Broadway in October, the same month Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein hits the Great White Way. — Reporting by Raven Snook
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