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Netflix's Uglies features a clever reference to one of the best episodes of The Twilight Zone, though it's incredibly easy to miss the sly homage. Based on Scott Westerfeld's novel of the same name, Uglies is a dystopian young adult (YA) story that's set in a controlling society defined by government-mandated cosmetic surgery. When the denizens of the City turn 16 years old, they undergo Uglies' Transformation a surgical procedure that turns them into beautiful yet dull Pretties. So-called "Uglies," like Tally Youngblood (Joey King), dream of the day they'll be transformed into carefree Pretties.

However, there's a more sinister aspect to the Transformation. The Smoke, a fringe group of rebels that make up a good chunk of Uglies' cast of characters, discovers that the surgery causes brain lesions. In turn, these lesions are responsible for dulling the Pretties' ability to think freely. Allegedly, the Transformation frees Pretty society from jealousy and hostility,...

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The 1962 sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies" was the first in show creator Paul Henning's unofficial Hooterville Trilogy, a triune that also included 1963's "Petticoat Junction," and 1965's "Green Acres." These three shows were among the most popular of their time and reflected a cultural clash between a growing class of cosmopolitan urbanites and "down home" rural Americans. Working thematically backward, "Green Acres" was about a pair of New Yorkers who move onto a farm, "Petticoat Junction" was about rural hotel owners who often butted heads with a rich railroad executive, and "The Beverly Hillbillies" was about rural characters moving to Beverly Hills. The Hooterville Trilogy was as sure a sign as any that schisms were forming in American society, and Henning was eager to address the injustice of the class divides, often sympathizing with his hillbillies and lambasting the wealthy.

"The Beverly Hillbillies" is the platonic ideal of a high-concept sitcom hook. At its essence, it's simply "Poor folks get stinking rich and move to Beverly Hills." That's probably all CBS needed to hear from creator Paul Henning, who, between 1962 and 1971, exploited this simple premise to the tune of nine seasons and 274 episodes. During this span, "The Beverly Hillbillies" was one of the top-rated shows on TV.

How could such a simple premise, which was never really tweaked, sustain a series for nearly a decade? This question perpetually flummoxed the nation's TV critics, who generally loathed the show, but anyone who gorged on "The Beverly Hillbillies" throughout their formative couch potato years (during its initial run or via syndication) knows the answer is obvious: it's the cast, stupid.

Buddy Ebsen was perfect casting as Jed Clampett, a gentleman of the Ozarks who accidentally discovers oil on his Missouri mountain land...

Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" has likely inspired more nightmares than any other TV series in history. Several of the show's notorious twist endings often revealed horrors and grotesquerie typically not seen on the airwaves in the late '50s and early '60s, leaving younger viewers rattled and afraid. 

The above image, from the episode "The Masks" came at the end of an episode where a quartet of greedy gold-diggers were forced to wear personality-based masks by the rich patriarch they hoped would die. The patriarch does indeed die, but when the characters remove their masks, they find their faces have mutated underneath. That one kept this author up a few nights. 

Other scary faces popped up all across "The Twilight Zone." Many might immediately think of the episode "Eye of the Beholder", which was wholly a close-up of a young woman (Maxine Stewart) waiting to remove her bandages after extensive cosmetic surgery.

Elvis Presley starred in a large number of films, often appearing in multiple movies per year during the 1950s and 1960s. These films featured a mix of recognizable actors and unknowns who would later become major names in the industry. Notable actors such as Dick Sargent, Walter Matthau, Donna Douglas, Charles Bronson, Angela Lansbury, and Barbara Stanwyck appeared alongside Elvis in his movies, taking on both major and minor roles. Even actors who had uncredited or minor roles in Elvis Presley films went on to have successful careers. Examples include Jackie Coogan, Lee Majors, Vincent Price, and Kurt Russell, who made his film debut in an Elvis Presley movie and later portrayed Presley himself in a television movie.

Throughout the 31 feature films that Elvis Presley starred in, there were plenty of opportunity for him to share scenes with notable stars. While the movies of Presley can vary in quality and...

Short of "To Serve Man," the most famous "Twilight Zone" twist ending is probably "Eye of the Beholder." Set in a hospital, the episode follows surgeons and nurses discussing patient Janet Tyler, who's undergone treatment to remove a facial deformity. Miss Tyler's face is hidden behind bandages and the hospital staff are glimpsed only in shadow or from behind — until the third act. It turns out, by the audience's standards, Janet is a blonde bombshell and everyone else is pig-faced. Beauty truly lies in the phrase that gives the episode its title.

Since her appearance is initially concealed, the crew was able to cast two actors as Janet: Maxine Stuart when she's bandaged up and Donna Douglas (future star of "The Beverly Hillbillies") when she's unmasked. (Both actors are no longer with us.)

n 2004, Stuart sat down with the Archive of American Television to discuss "Eye of the Beholder." She...

As beloved as "The Twilight Zone" is, it often gets made fun of for its occasionally shoddy twists. Sometimes the twist is so obvious everyone could see it coming from a mile away, and sometimes the twist feels random and arbitrary. There's a balancing act to making a plot twist both well-foreshadowed yet still surprising, and not all of the series' 156 episodes managed to pull it off.

Then there are the revered episodes like "Eye of the Beholder," which manages a twist that's obvious in hindsight, yet somehow still a total shock on first viewing. The episode follows a bunch of doctors who try to "fix" an ugly patient whose face is bandaged up for the whole first half. "Ever since I was a little girl, people have turned away when they looked at me," the masked woman, Janet, laments. "Funny, the very first thing I can remember is another...

For over two decades, SpongeBob SquarePants has stolen the hearts of young children with his happy-go-lucky attitude, establishing a legacy that's created nostalgic memories and memes for adults today. Since debuting in 1999 on Nickelodeon, the SpongeBob universe has expanded to movies, video games, and other spinoff shows. Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years premiered in 2021 on Paramount+, following a 10-year-old SpongeBob with his friends at summer camp. There he meets the brother-sister duo Narlene and Nobby (voiced by Kate Higgins and Carlos Alazraqui), two narwhals living near the camp.

Higgins and Alazraqui aren't new to the SpongeBob universe. Alazraqui has provided additional voices, including Scooter, in the main series, and Higgins has also voiced other characters in the main series and The Patrick Star Show. They recently sat down with Cbr to discuss the new batch of Kamp Koral episodes streaming on Paramount+. They teased the type of antics the Narwhals...

The 78th annual Golden Globes take place virtually Sunday night on NBC with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey returning as hosts. “Mank,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” “The Crown,” “The Flight Attendant” and “Ted Lasso” are among the top nominees in the feature film and TV categories.

Also in contention is a movie called “Music” that was shot in 2017 and marks the directorial debut of the singer Sia. While it merits a mere 11% at Rotten Tomatoes, it reaped nominations for Best Musical/Comedy and star Kate Hudson. These bids harken back to 1982 when Pia Zadora won New Star of the Year for the well-stuffed turkey “Butterfly.” She also won the Razzie Award for the film which also starred Orson Welles.

And just who was Zadora’s competition for New Star of the Year? Elizabeth McGovern and Howard Rollins Jr. for “Ragtime”; Kathleen Turner for “Body Heat” Rachel Ward for...

When it comes to the Golden Globes, Hollywood's next generation always has a place on stage. Back in 1962, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association decided to profile a daughter or son of one of the industry's most respected talents to serve as Miss or Mr. Golden Globe. What came next was a yearly tradition that has introduced many second and third generation stars. Ever since Eva Six and Donna Douglas kicked things off, several of today's most famous faces were given the opportunity to shine in front of millions of viewers. Melanie Griffith and Laura Dern were given the role back in the '70s and '80s respectively. In the '90s, actors like Joely Fisher and Freddie Prinze Jr....

Summer is here and that means it’s time for racing in the streets. Or, if you’re not Bruce Springsteen, it’s a time for rest, relaxation, and binge watching. For nostalgia fans from various generations, CBS Home Entertainment is offering up a tasty assortment of television series from country comedy to ripped from the headlines detectives to our favorite science fiction.

The gem of the set may be the complete Blu-ray sets of Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation, part of CBS and Paramount’s celebration of Gene Roddenberry’s creation.

Here are the details:

Beverly Hillbillies: The Official First Season

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Synopsis

Join the Clampett family as they move to the most famous zip code in the world when the seven-time Emmy award®-nominated series The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official First Season arrives on DVD April 26 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Bess Myerson, who became the first and, to date, only Jewish Miss America in 1945 before becoming a television personality and entering politics, died Dec. 14 in Santa Monica, the New York Times reported Monday. Myerson was 90.

Born in 1924 in The Bronx, Myerson was crowned Miss America in 1945, the same year she graduated from Hunter College with a degree in music. Myerson used the scholarship money from her Miss America win to finance graduate studies at the Juilliard School and Columbia University.

See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014

After her tenure as Miss America, Myerson embarked on a career in television,...

‘Little’ Jimmy Dickens, the oldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, has died. He was 94.

The singer-songwriter suffered a stroke on Christmas Day and then died of cardiac arrest in a Nashville area hospital, his representative told TheWrap.

See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014 (Photos)

Dickens had been performing at the Opry almost continuously since 1948, and made his last appearance on Dec. 20 as part of his birthday celebration, when he sang “Out Behind the Barn.”

“The Grand Ole Opry did not have a better friend than Little Jimmy Dickens,” said Pete Fisher, Opry Vice President & General Manager. “He...

For Donna Douglas, it sounds as though art really did reflect life in a way. The actress died Thursday at the age of 81 at her home in Louisiana and, while she was easily most famous for playing Elly May Clampett, the beautiful fish-out-of-water niece of an accidental oilman on The Beverly Hillbillies, Douglas enjoyed a fruitful career and in later years reflected on having had the type of life that she never would have dared to dream of having.  Still vivacious and famously platinum-blond, Douglas sat down with E! News back in 2000 and talked about her own small-town roots, none of which made her think she'd one day be a Hollywood star. "I've had unbelievable things happen in my...

Donna Douglas, the former beauty queen who became an icon of 1960s TV, has passed away at age 82. Douglas started as a model in the 1950s and landed small roles in feature films before being cast as Elly May Clampett, the sexy but naive daughter of backwoods millionaire Jed Clampett on the smash hit TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies". The show was met with open disdain by CBS brass, who felt it was beneath the dignity of the network. However, viewers warmed to the Clampett clan immediately and the show became a smash hit that ran for nine seasons. It was still near the top of the ratings when it was canceled in a purge by network executives of its rural-themed hit shows in the early 1970s. Douglas' character was always relentlessly jovial and upbeat on the show and Elly May's penchant for bringing exotic animals onto the Clampett estate generated many laughs.

Marking one of the first celebrity deaths of 2015, Donna Douglas died in her Louisiana home on Thursday (January 1). According to reports, the beloved “Beverly Hillbillies” actress’ cause of death has not been disclosed. She was 81.

Ms. Douglas is best-known for her role as Elly May Clampett, though she also starred on shows like “The Twilight Zone,” “Mister Ed” and “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.”

In addition to her acting gigs, Donna also made headlines for unsuccessfully suing Disney, Whoopi Goldberg and Bette Midler for $200 on grounds that they stole her idea for “Sister Act.” She also won a settlement with Mattel after they used her “Beverly Hillbillies” name and likeness for a Barbie doll.

Donna Douglas, the actress most known for playing the giddy, goofy Elly May Clampett on "The Beverly Hillbillies," has died at age 81 according to several reports. It cannot be overstated what a phenomenon "The Beverly Hillbillies" was. Not only was the comedy the #1 series in America for its first two seasons, but the episode "The Giant Jackrabbit" remains one of the single most watched half-hours in sitcom history. Douglas was essential to the show's rollicking mix, and she remained friends with "Hillbillies" star Buddy Ebsen until his death. Let's take a look back at some of Douglas' finer contributions to popular culture. First of all: Let us enjoy Elly May's bathing suit issues. They are comical and cute. In this veeeery short clip, you get Elly May's full awesomeness in just a single quip. Never forget that Douglas released a couple of singles during her heyday. Here's the tuneful, catchy "He's So Near.

Donna Douglas, the actress who played tomboyish Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, died Thursday in her native Louisiana, according to reports. She was 81. Family members confirmed the death to Wfab-9, telling the news station she died at her home in Zachary, Louisiana, with family members by her side. Douglas earned nationwide fame as Elly May, and told the Associated Press in 2009 that she beat out 500 other actresses for the role in part because the character's story mirrored her humble beginnings as a poor farm girl with Southern roots. Her audition included her expertly milking a goat, per request.

Donna Douglas, the actress who played tomboyish Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, died Thursday in her native Louisiana, according to reports. She was 81. Family members confirmed the death to Wfab-9, telling the news station she died at her home in Zachary, Louisiana, with family members by her side. Douglas earned nationwide fame as Elly May, and told the Associated Press in 2009 that she beat out 500 other actresses for the role in part because the character's story mirrored her humble beginnings as a poor farm girl with Southern roots. Her audition included her expertly milking a goat, per request.

Donna Douglas, best known for playing Elly May Clampett in the classic sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, died on New Year’s Day at the age of 81.

Douglas passed away in her Louisiana home, surrounded by friends and family, her granddaughter tells TMZ.

In addition to her turn as the Hillbillies‘ resident tomboy, Douglas’ extensive television resumé includes roles in McMillan & Wife, Twilight Zone and Mister Ed.

She also opposite Elvis Presley in the movie Frankie and Johnny.

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Donna Douglas, who played Elly May Clampett on the CBS sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies,” died Friday, NBC affiliate Wafb reports. She was 81.

TMZ reports that Douglas died at her home in Louisiana, surrounded by friends and family.

Born Doris Smith in Louisiana in 1933, Douglas appeared on “The Steve Allen Show” and “The Perry Como Show” before rising to notoriety on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” the comedy about a rural family who moved to Beverly Hills after patriarch Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen) struck oil.

Douglas’ agent has not yet responded to TheWrap‘s request for comment.

See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014

The series,...

Donna Douglas -- who famously portrayed Elly May Clampett on the legendary 60s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies" -- passed away Thursday at her home in Louisiana with friends and family by her side. Douglas' granddaughter confirmed the death to TMZ. Donna starred on "The Beverly Hillbillies" for all nine seasons and even returned for the 1981 reunion TV movie. Douglas also appeared in several other iconic TV series, including "Mister Ed," "The Twilight Zone," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,...

Donna Douglas, best known for her role as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, has died, TMZ and other outlets reported on Friday, Jan. 2. She was 81 years old. Family members reportedly confirmed her death to both TMZ and local news station Wafb in Louisiana, where Douglas lived and died. Born in Pride, La., in 1933, Douglas made her first appearances on screen in the late 1950s. Throughout her career, she had parts on the TV series Mister Ed and Twilight Zone, as well as in [...]...

Nominations include Monty Python Live (Mostly), Nt Live’s War Horse and concert broadcasts from Muse and Robbie Williams.

The Event Cinema Association (Eca) has announced the nominations for its 2nd Annual Eca Awards. The ceremony will take place at the Eca Conference on Oct 16 at 17.30 the Genesis Cinema in London.

The awards recognize the achievements at the box office that the event cinema industry has made over the last 12 months, along with awarding excellence in two key areas – programming (aimed at content providers and distribution) and exhibition (for cinemas).

Nominations this year (May 31, 2013 - June 1, 2014) include the British Museum’s record-breaking Pompeii Live in June 2013, which although having emerged several years previously with its Leonardo Live exhibition and subsequent others by provider Exhibition on Screen (also nominated this year for its Manet exhibition) helped established the museum and gallery exhibition in cinema.

Other nominations include the Nt Live’s War Horse, along with the...

FilmOn now has “The Beverly Hillbillies” available for free viewing in their new channel, FilmOn Binge: “The Beverly Hillbillies.” The show was a huge hit through the ’60s and ’70s, and focuses on a country family that comes into money. Here’s more about “The Beverly Hillbillies”: “‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ is an American sitcom originally broadcast from 1962 to 1971, about a poor backwoods family transplanted to Beverly Hills, California after striking oil on their land, starring Buddy Ebsem Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas and Max Baer, Jr.” One of the episodes you can watch during the binge is “Jed Cuts The Family Tree.” Here’s what the episode is about. “Mrs. Drysdale [ Read More ]

The post Watch FilmOn Binge: “The Beverly Hillbillies” for Free appeared first on Shockya.com.

Sosie Bacon may only be 21, but she has a lot going for her. On top of being 2014's Miss Golden Globe, through her father Kevin Bacon, she is connected to nearly everyone in Hollywood - including every other previous Miss Golden Globe, most of whom are also the daughters (or sons) of industry power players. And while some have a connection through their famous parents, others, such as Laura Dern (who happens to have famous parents), are also connected through their own work. Don't believe us? Here's how you get from young Ms. Bacon to all of her famous predecessors,...

We here at ComicMix celebrate all manner of pop culture from today’s obvious hits to the arcane wonders of yesteryear. every now and then we get a notice about something that seems just outside our realm of interest but there’s a thing or two that grabs us. Something like an unaired pilot to the legendary Dr. Kildare series is one of those things. Not only that, but the series gave us Richard Chamberlain as a star (long before he was resurrected for Leverage). The show not only boasted an impressive guest cast, as noted below but it featured some of the best writers working in television including a pre-Star Trek Gene Roddenberry. So, here’s the press release for those who remember and remain interested:

Warner Archive Collection continues to unveil some of the finest series in television history with its release this week of Dr. Kildare: The First Complete Season.

By Lee Pfeiffer

I have always been a great admirer of Paul Henning, the crooner-turned-tv producer/writer of some of the best-loved shows of the 1960s. It was Henning who gave a voice to rural audiences by creating such classic TV series as The Beverly Hillbilllies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. If you revisit any of them today, they remain far superior to most contemporary sitcoms. Henning not only created shows that have timeless appeal, but he also brainstormed the concept of interweaving characters and plot devices between the series- a stroke of genius that brought cross-promotion marketing to new levels. Henning also prided himself on making his country characters eccentric, but never idiotic. They were simple people living simple lives and if they seemed to exist in a time warp, they were all honest, admirable folks. It was always the sophisticated city slickers who would get their comeuppance at...

In every small village around the world, beautiful women in native garb are effortlessly elegant.

Then there are those for whom beauty is anything but simple. They are the results of team glam: stylists, makeup and hair professionals.

And no one does glam better than Hollywood. It's officially glamour's high season as the first of the awards shows kicks off with the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards Sunday, Jan. 13, on NBC, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association votes on its favorites in 25 categories divided between movies and television. As always, the Globes have one distinctive aspect -- the Miss or Mr. Golden Globes, an unabashedly nepotistic role.

It's bestowed upon someone whose parent is in show business. This year it is Francesca Eastwood, daughter of Clint Eastwood and Frances Fisher.

"My mom called me to tell me," Eastwood tells Zap2it. "It is such...

Being named Miss Golden Globe (or the rare Mr.) must be a strange honor — as far as we can tell, it’s basically the Hollywood Foreign Press saying, “Hey, you’re a young, attractive daughter/son of someone famous. Will you please wear this fancy gown and help hand out awards so we don’t have to hire a model?” On the other hand, it’s also sometimes a nice way for a Pyt to get his/her name and face out there. Clint Eastwood’s daughter Francesca was named Miss Golden Globe for 2013 yesterday, and she’ll actually be following in the footsteps of her older sister Kathryn (2005), which is a first. What we’re really wondering is whether the actress — who’s now known mostly due to her mom’s reality show, Mrs. Eastwood and Company — will also be following in the footsteps of the Globe honorees who...

Donna Douglas played Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillibillies for all nine seasons and 274 episodes of the very popular CBS sitcom. The show ran from 1962 until 1971 and was a top 20 show for eight seasons.

She returned to her beloved role in the disappointing reunion movie The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies in 1981, joining Buddy Ebsen and Nancy Kulp.

Douglas later appeared as Elly Mae in The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies, a mockumentary-style tribute that included in-character appearances by Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr., Eva Gabor, Eddie Albert, Louis Nye, and Larry Pennell.

That was aired the same year as the disappointing release of the feature film starring Jim Varney, Cloris Leachman, Dabney Coleman, and Lily Tomlin.

Douglas has returned to her signature just one more time, in a very...

The shortlist for Britain's National Television Awards is out, and it will pit Downton Abbey against Doctor Who for the top prize, though Downton inexplicably received no nominations for the cast. They face off against Merlin and Waterloo Road.  Interestingly, John Barrowman and Eve Myles both got nominations for what to me at least was a very forgettable Torchwood.

Congratulations to couples in Delaware and Hawaii, where civil unions became legal January 1st. It's not full equality, but it's a step forward.

Queerty says a company is planning to bring male-only nude gyms to New York, Sydney and London. They point out that there are women-only gyms, but not men-only in most markets. I know my mother goes to a women-only gym, but I'm pretty sure that it's not naked.

Nigel Lythgoe says that Fox has cut summer staple So You Think You Can Dance down to one episode a week,...

Maybe Elly May is not a millionaire like her papa Jed, but "Beverly Hillbillies" star Donna Douglas has settled a lawsuit she filed over a Barbie doll in her classic TV character's likeness. Douglas, 78, filed a lawsuit against Mattel and CBS's consumer products division in May, seeking a minimum of $75,000 in damages after charging Mattel was "engaging in the unauthorized use" of her name and likeness to sell an Elly May Barbie doll. The actress, who lives in Louisiana, settled the lawsuit on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. Details on...

Actress Donna Douglas, who played the rural character 'Elly May Clampett' on the 1960's TV series, "The Beverly Hillbillies" (which in turn was 'inspired' by cartoonist Al Capp's "L'il Abner" comic strip and the character 'Daisy Mae') has finally settled her lawsuit with Mattel and CBS over a 'Barbie' doll that used her name and likeness.

Douglas received no residuals for her nine seasons on the show, including the subsequent world-wide TV syndication of the comedy series. 

She was seeking at least $75,000 in her lawsuit against CBS and Mattel.

Douglas sued CBS Consumer Products and Mattel Inc., saying that they used her likeness without her permission.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Beverly Hillbillies"...

As her cousin Jethro found out many times, Elly May Clampett may look like a "sweet little gal" but she can hold her own in a fight. That's what CBS and Mattell have found out about Donna Douglas, the actress who played Elly May on The Beverly Hillbillies.

Douglas, now 78 years old, filed a lawsuit earlier this year against CBS Consumer Products Inc. and Mattel Inc. for using her likeness and name on a Barbie doll. She contended that the companies needed to get her permission, failed to do so, and she sought at least $75,000.

In court documents, CBS and Mattel said that they didn't need permission because CBS owns the exclusive rights to the character. The Elly May doll and packaging (with Douglas' photo on it) was part of a TV icon doll series, along with Samantha Stevens (Elizabeth Montgomery) from Bewitched...

The Beverly Hillbillies star Donna Douglas has settled her lawsuit against TV bosses and toy maker Mattel over a Barbie that was created using her character's likeness.

The actress, who played tomboy Elly May Clampett in the long-running U.S. series, launched a legal battle against bosses at CBS Corp. and Mattel Inc. in May after alleging both companies neglected to seek her permission before inking a partnership to make the doll.

She has come to an agreement with the companies' bosses. Her attorney, Philip Shaheen, filed court documents in Louisiana on Tuesday indicating a settlement had been reached, but the details of the case are being kept under wraps.

According to the Associated Press, the 78 year old originally sought at least $75,000 (GBP46,875) in damages.

Photo by puuikibeach

Come and listen to a story about a doll namedBarbie. It seems when you’re at the top of the vinyl figurine heap, everyonewants a piece of you. And the world’s most famous tiny, inanimate blonde bombshellis currently under attack from the actress behind one of TV’s most iconiccharacters — Elly May Clampett.

Donna Douglas, who played the cement pond lover on The Beverly Hillbillies, sued toy manufacturer Mattel this weekafter a themed Barbie that she says bares her resemblance. Donna wants $75,000in damages because she says that Mattel is engaging in unauthorized use of hername likeness and image for the Elly May Barbie. They even allegedly useDouglas’ name in the packaging. Mattel, for their part, says they licensed the Beverly Hillbillies rights through the“appropriate channels.”

Still it’s not that surprising that Donna’supset — she’s still trying to capitalize on the Elly May likeness and imageherself.

Oh, Image Entertainment. How quickly we're growing to love thee. The official specs and artwork for both "The Twilight Zone" Season 2 on Blu-ray and "The Twilight Zone" Fan Favorites DVD Collection have come our way along with the artwork so without further ado ...

From the Press Releases

"Genies, malevolent machines, Santa Claus and The Devil himself. Get ready for more excursions into the fantastic when Image Entertainment releases The Twilight Zone: Season 2 on Blu-ray November 16th. All 29 episodes from the legendary series’ second season have been remastered and will be presented in pristine 1080p high-definition and uncompressed Pcm audio. In addition, the 4-disc set also includes many of the bonus features from the Definitive Collection DVD release, along with hours of new bonus features, specially created for this Blu-ray™ release. Spr is $99.98, and pre-book is October 19th.

Season Two Episodes

King Nine Will Not Return, The Man in the Bottle,...

Chicago – Attention Elvis Presley fans. Coming out a few months after what would have been his actual birthday on January 8th is the “Elvis 75th Birthday Collection” from 20th Century Fox, which includes seven of the King’s films in one set. With a few hits and a few more unheralded gems, the “75th Birthday Collection” has a very low price point (under $6 a movie) that might make it the perfect Father’s Day gift choice for the patriarch in your family.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

With no special features and standard video/audio quality, the only notable thing about the “75th Birthday Collection” is the chance to have seven films from Presley’s career in one affordable set. With only the films that Elvis made under the MGM banner available, instantly recognizable hits like “Jailhouse Rock,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “Girl Happy” are not included (but will be in a massive,...

Elvis Presley holds the throne as “The King” of rock n’ roll. Music was his forte, but he did dabble in film for awhile and the results were a mixed bag. In honor of his 75th birthday which he won’t be able to celebrate for himself (unless you’re an Elvis Lives conspiracy theorist), Fox has released the Elvis 75th Birthday Collection. Presented in 2.35:1 Widescreen (save for Kid Galahad in 1.85:1 and Frankie and Johnny in 1.66:1), the collection shows its age in a few places as Fox seems to have done little to remaster these classics, but overall it’s a nice look at the musician who would be an actor, even if the selection of films leaves a lot to be desired. If the set is good for anything it’s for showing his progress as an actor from his first film ever, Love Me Tender,...

Milwaukee - Henry Winkler is not the Fonz.

He played the coolest guy on Happy Days for eleven seasons. But he doesn’t wear a leather jacket, ride a motorcycle or fix things by bumping them with his elbow. He’s not even Italian. He’s got a life that has gone beyond the Fonz. There’s probably a generation that knows him better for Adam Sandler movies and Arrested Development. On a May evening at the Quail Ridge bookstore in Raleigh, there is a group of kids under 12 years old that know him as the author of the Hank Zipzer books (along with co-writer Lin Oliver).

Many stars of the ’70s sell their tawdry memoirs of behind the scenes perversions. Winkler created a young adult book series that taps into grade school life instead of the action in Arnold’s bathroom. We’ll have to wait for lurid tales of the Hooper triplets.

Warner Bros will adapt the TV series "77 Sunset Strip" into a period feature, directed by Greg Berlanti, from a screenplay by Stephen Chin. Berlanti will also produce with A. Scott Berg and Kevin McCormick.

"77 Sunset Strip" starred actors Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith and Edd Byrnes, based on novels/short stories written by creator Roy Huggins.

The show aired from 1958 to 1964, winning a 1960 Golden Globe Award for best TV series, revolving around La detectives, 'Stuart ("Stu") Bailey', a character Huggins originated in his 1946 novel "The Double Take" and 'Jeff Spencer', a non-practicing attorney. The duo worked out of an office at 77 Sunset Strip, between La Cienega Boulevard and Alta Loma Road on the south side of the Strip.

Comic relief was provided by racetrack personality 'Roscoe' and 'Gerald Lloyd "Kookie" Kookson III', a hipster and aspiring P.I. who worked as a valet parking attendant at Dino's, the club next door to the detectives' office.

In 1962, a truly strange TV show hit the airwaves, The Beverly Hillbillies. The sitcom revolves around a poor mountaineer, Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen), who discovers oil on his backwoods property. Now a multi-millionaire, he's encouraged to move to Beverly Hills with his spunky mother-in-law, "Granny" (Irene Ryan), beautiful daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas), and dim-witted nephew Jethro (Max Baer). They try to understand their strange new surroundings and are aided by selfish banker Milburn Drysdale (Raymond Bailey) and his bookish secretary, Miss Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp).

It may be hard to imagine it now but in its day, The Beverly Hillbillies was a massive hit. Though hated by most critics, several episodes of the series are among the most-watched TV episodes in history, having drawn as much as 44% of the viewing households. A 1964 episode titled "The Giant Jackrabbit" is still the most-watched half-hour program...