News

The long wait for Severance Season 2 ended at the end of January, and six episodes of the ten-episode season have arrived on Apple TV+ thus far.

The core four Macro Data Refinement team reunited in the first episode, and they are back to their shenanigans and investigations of the severed basement floor of their Lumon Industries campus. Many needle drops this season happen in scenes that involve motion, whether it be running through the endless white hallways as innies or driving cars in the outie world.

Theodore Shapiro is the series composer of that haunting piano theme that accompanies the animated opening credits of the show. Various tunes glorify Kier Eagan, the founder of Lumon, and the “Defiant Jazz” tune from last season’s pizza party cannot be forgotten. Electronic duo Odesza even recently designed an 8-hour set of “Music to Refine To” for a corporate work day.

Find the...

[This story contains major spoilers from the season two finale of Apple TV+’s Severance, “Cold Harbor.”]

Mark S. murdered Mr. Drummond in Severance‘s season two finale. His finger pulled the trigger of a gun while shifting from innie to outie in Lumon’s elevator, and Outie Mark (Adam Scott) woke up to a fountain of blood streaming from Drummond’s (Darri Ólafsson) throat. Upstairs, Innie Mark had just finished a brutal fistfight with Drummond, which began with the security chief’s near-successful strangulation of Mark and ended with goat lady Lorne (Gwendoline Christie) throwing several key punches.

In the testing floor’s elevator lobby, Drummond’s blood spurted, then bubbled, then pooled around his dead body on the shining white tile. Outie Mark used his blood-saturated tie to circumvent a DNA barrier to rescue Gemma (Dichen Lachman), who in turn guided her husband back to the severed floor, where Innie Mark pushed Gemma through a doorway and then, to the lilting snare...

Television sitcoms and dramas alike tend to take place in similar, familiar settings. There's no lack of shows set in hospitals, police stations, and courtrooms (leaving aside any more low-key shows that are family-driven and thus take place in someone's home), and not just among current TV series. But for a very long time, it was much more traditional that, say, a cop show would have to be a drama; how could a show about the people who arrest criminals and attempt to gain justice for whatever crimes have been committed be funny? To be fair, that question has once again become relevant of late and is directly related to why "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" called it a day in 2021.

For a long time, something similar could be said of courtroom shows for the same reasons. Can you really crack jokes on a series that revolves around accused criminals standing trial? Perhaps it's fitting,...

Throughout its brilliant nine-season run, "Seinfeld" brought a number of celebrities on to play amusing caricatures of themselves. Raquel Welch (star of "Scarsdale Surprise"), Marisa Tomei and "The Velvet Fog" Mel Tormé are just a few big names that got in on the fun, but it's arguable the most memorable drop-ins came from the world of sports. Given that Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David are both massive sports fans, this shouldn't be surprising, but it is interesting that both men managed to get players from their favorite, and very different, New York baseball teams to guest on the show.

David, a well-known Yankees fanatic, prevailed upon newly minted World Series champions Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams to appear on the Season 8 episode "The Abstinence" in 1996. Though not anywhere near a top-tier episode, Jeter and Williams were game and comfortable within the comedy genre – which is not always the case for...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Over its nine-season run, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David enjoyed corralling celebrities to play themselves on the groundbreaking NBC sitcom "Seinfeld." Who can forget New York Mets great Keith Hernandez getting accused of spitting on Kramer and Newman while also finding the time to romance Elaine ("I'm Keith Hernandez")? Or the time George asked Marisa Tomei out on a date before his deceased fiancée Susan had even been buried? And then there's Jon Voight, who once took a bite out of Kramer's arm in a taxi.

"Seinfeld" was delightfully random in its choice of celebrity cameos, but every single one felt like they belonged in the show's off-kilter universe. Raquel Welch, Mel Tormé, and Bryant Gumbel were, for whatever reason, destined to find their way onto the show about nothing. Some cameos were certainly more obvious than others. Considering how...

Chicago – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe Famous In The Future have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play. The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the weekend before Christmas, December 20th, 21st and 22nd at the Den Theatre in Chicago.

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland and JFK were friends – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the series “The Judy Garland Show,” which ran from 1963-64. With the heavy mourning of a nation over the proceedings, Ms. Garland managed to give them the old adage of “the show must go on.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Netflix's Kaos.

The soundtrack of Kaos mixes together contemporary genres with classical music, mirroring the dark comedic, contemporary take on Ancient Greek myths. Kaos is a hilarious, raunchy story that follows three humans who learn theyre destined to fulfill a prophecy that will bring down the Greek gods. The unhinged story thrives partly because it incorporates all the darkest and most twisted parts of Greek mythology but approaches them with a sense of humor. The narrator, Prometheus, helps set the sardonic tone for the series. However, another aspect of the show that contributes to its success is the soundtrack.

The episodes of the Netflix comedy show are packed with songs that shape the tone for the audience. The music that plays with each character in Kaos also reflects their personality. Scenes with Dionysus include eclectic music popular in the LGBTQ+ community. Zeus leans...

It’s not every day that a classic 1980s sitcom gets revived by a major television channel, but that’s exactly what happened with Night Court. Fans of the original series, which aired from 1984 to 1992, were thrilled—and perhaps a little shocked—when NBC premiered a revival of Night Court on January 17, 2023. Rather than rebooting the beloved show, this new series continues the original storyline, focusing on Abby Stone, the daughter of Harry Stone, the quirky and endearing judge who was the heart of the original series.

The revival has proven to be more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. In February 2023, after a successful debut, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on December 23, 2023. The momentum didn’t stop there—by May 2024, NBC had renewed Night Court for a third season, set to premiere on November 19, 2024. With its blend of old and new, the...

Peggy Moffitt, the iconic ’60s model who was also a contract player at Paramount and who appeared in Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up, died at her Beverly Hills home on Saturday from complications of dementia. Her son, Christopher Claxton, confirmed the news to the New York Times. She was 86.

Moffitt’s wide-ranging influence can be traced to the persona she created, often in collaboration with others. Her gamine, modern look was a construct made up of her signature pale skin, harlequin eye makeup, five-point Vidal Sassoon haircut and a sense of humor, all of which she never abandoned.

She had a cultural moment when, in 1964, she posed in a topless swimsuit from designer Rudi Gernreich. The controversial look referenced a schoolboy’s shorts, with thin suspenders rising in a “V” between the cleavage, but nothing else above the waistline. The resulting image, which ran in publications across the world, was condemned...

Prior to creating the hit absurdist sitcom "Night Court," Reinhold Weege was a writer on "Barney Miller" and on "M*A*S*H," for which he received a grand reputation in American television. "Night Court," however, launched him into the stratosphere, as the show was part of the invaluable NBC Thursday night lineup that revolutionized television. "Night Court" came at the end of a block of programming that included "The Cosby Show" (which was responsible for saving "Night Court"), "Cheers," and "Family Ties," and the four sitcoms collectively buoyed the network to new heights. The series was nominated for 12 Emmys during its 1984 to 1992 run, with four wins going to star John Larroquette.

Despite the success of the show, Weege remained an affable, unglamorous, street-level bloke, flaunting his Chicago roots with pride. In the 2022 book "Barney Miller and the Files Of the Ol' One-Two" by Otto W. Bruno, Weege preferred presenting himself as low-fi and unassuming,...

By the time the curtain rang down on CBS’ “The Judy Garland Show” on March 29, 1964, the musical variety show had, in just one season, three producers and three different formats. Despite good reviews from critics and Judy Garland’s devoted fan base, the series wasn’t felled by the mercurial Garland being difficult but by the Cartwrights — Ben, Little Joe, Adam, and Hoss — of NBC’s ratings powerhouse “Bonanza.”

Though “The Judy Garland Show” was cancelled after one season, it certainly has lived on over the past six decades. The show was included in TV Guide’s 2013 list of 60 series that were “Cancelled Too Soon.” It certainly was the series that got away. Not only was the mercurial Garland in top (and emotional) voice, but the show also featured a powerhouse of guest stars from her frequent leading man Mickey Rooney, Ray Bolger from “The Wizard of Oz” and newcomers such as Barbra Streisand.

The Night Court reboot addresses the absence of Harry Stone and actor Harry Anderson, making the fate of his character even sadder. The connection between Anderson and Night Court is strong, as both Anderson and his character were fans of jazz legend Mel Torme and talented magicians. While the original cast members are not referenced in the reboot's pilot, there is potential for future episodes to bring them in and pay tribute to the late stars.

The Night Court reboot reveals the fate of the original series' Harry Stone, and it is made sadder by the true connection to the character's actor, Harry Anderson. The original Night Court was Anderson's first major work as an actor, running for nine seasons as part of NBC's legendary Thursday Night Must See TV line-up. While an episode of 30 Rock tried to give Harry Stone the happy ending he didn't get in the original Night Court finale,...

Paul Scheer thinks Night Court's reboot is successful because it maintains the core premise of the show while introducing new characters. Melissa Rauch's performance as the new judge brings a fresh comedic element to the series and is not compared to the original actor's portrayal. The revival walks the fine line between familiarity and unexpectedness, keeping viewers engaged and caring about the new characters.

Night Court guest star Paul Scheer explains why the sitcom is a rare successful reboot. The show follows Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch), a judge who works at the Manhattan Criminal Court, taking over the night shift from her late father, portrayed by Harry Anderson in the original 1984 series. Along with Rauch, the cast of Night Court includes Kapil Talwalkar, India de Beaufort, Lacretta, Nyambi Nyambi, and John Larroquette, reprising his role as Dan Fielding.

In an interview with Bleeding Cool, Scheer revealed why he...

Tracy Tormé, the vision behind Sliders and an early writer on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has passed away at the age of 64 from complications from diabetes.

Tracy Tormé’s work and contributions within the sci-fi genre made him famous to fans. As per his sister (via The Hollywood Reporter), he “always interested in UFOs — the serious side of UFOs — and in the Air Force pilots who had seen them.” While he only wrote for two seasons on The Next Generation – also serving as story editor – his touch undoubtedly gave the series the thrust it needed to set the tone for the remainder of the series. The greatest success of his career, however, may be Sliders, which he co-created with Robert K. Weiss. Such a following it had developed, when Fox canceled it after three seasons, Sci Fi picked it up for its remaining two. In total, Sliders had 88 episodes...

Tracy Tormé, a UFO expert and son of stylish crooner Mel Tormé who co-created the 1990s series Sliders and was hand-picked by Gene Roddenberry to serve as the head writer on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died. He was 64.

Tormé died Thursday of complications from diabetes in Escondido, California, his sister and brother, actress Daisy Tormé (Superman & Lois) and recording artist James Tormé, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Tormé also was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its eighth season (1982-83); wrote and produced with Travis Walton the fantasy drama film Fire in the Sky (1993), starring D.B. Sweeney and Robert Patrick; and was a consultant on the acclaimed Robert Zemeckis sci-fi drama Contact (1997).

He wrote the original treatment for the Francis Lawrence-directed I Am Legend (2007) and received co-producer credit on that film, which grossed $585.4 million for Warner Bros. Smith battles mutants as the last human in New York...

Brigitte Berman’s Oscar-winning documentary Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got has compelling and intimate on-camera interviews with Artie Shaw, Mel Tormé, Helen Forrest, Polly Haynes, Buddy Rich, Lee Castle, Mack Pierce, Frederic Morton, John Wexley, John Best, and the very forthcoming Evelyn Keyes on her marriage to Artie Shaw. Photo: Anne Katrin Titze

In the first instalment with Brigitte Berman on her Oscar-winning documentary Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got (4K restoration and remastered sound), now screening at Film Forum in New York, we discuss how a Bix Beiderbecke interview with Artie Shaw in 1979 for her film Bix: 'Ain't None Of Them Play Like Him Yet' turned into an opportunity of a lifetime; Artie Shaw’s theme song Nightmare; the provocative titles of his books; his recordings of Frenesi and Cole Porter’s Begin the Beguine; George Gershwin’s Summertime with Roy Eldridge; obsessively buying Patek Philippe...

Chicago – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe Famous In The Future have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play.

The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the week before Christmas, December 15th, 16th and 17th, at the Den Theatre in Chicago.

Desiree Burcum (front of line) as Judy Garland in ‘A Judy Christmas’

Photo credit: FamousInTheFuture.com

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland was a friend of his – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the Judy Garland Show, which ran from 1963-64. With the heavy mourning of a nation over the proceedings,...

The Night Court reboot introduces Abby Stone's mother, Gina, resolving the romantic storyline between Harry and Christine from the original show. The original Night Court series had plans for Harry and Christine to get married, but they were interrupted by the show's renewal and cancellation. Gina Brown, played by Faith Ford, is Abby's mother in the reboot, and her past as a criminal allowed her to connect with Harry and eventually marry him.

Warning: The following contains Spoilers for Night Court season 1, episode 8, "Blood Moon Binga."The 2023 Night Court reboot finally revealed Abby Stone's mother, Gina, and resolved the romance between Harry and Christine from the original 1984-1992 show. The Night Court reboot has proven popular, yet drawn criticism for not resolving many of the questions left unanswered by the haphazard finale of the classic Night Court. Chief among these questions was whether Judge Harry Stone and Public...

“I’m a nerd first,” Colton Ryan quickly points out. In that sense, the actor is having the time of his life on his two recent projects which have connected him with legends in the industry. Ryan recently worked with auteur director Rian Johnson on the hit Peacock series “Poker Face.” He also currently stars in the new Broadway musical “New York, New York,” where he is directed by Susan Stroman while singing tunes by theater icons John Kander and the late Fred Ebb (with an assist from Lin-Manuel Miranda). “From my nerd perspective I’m just elated that I’m even associated with any of these songs,” admits Ryan. Watch the exclusive video interview above.

See Ariana DeBose will return to host 2023 Tony Awards in New York City’s Washington Heights

“New York, New York” is set in 1947. War is over and the city is full of hope as...

Jim Gordon, a drummer who played on Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, died Monday at the age of 77. The musician, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was serving a prison sentence for killing his mother in 1983, died in a state-run medical facility in Vacaville, California. Publicist Bob Merlis confirmed Gordon’s death in a statement, adding that Gordon died of natural causes.

In addition to his incredible catalog of recordings, Gordon is also known for sharing a songwriting credit on “Layla” with Eric Clapton,...

The Night Court reboot revealed that Harry Stone's life was a far cry from the somewhat happy ending that the original series finale suggested. Beyond revealing that Harry Stone was dead, the new series also affirmed that Judge Stone never reconciled with his longtime love interest, Public Defender Christine Sullivan. This revelation greatly disappointed those who had hoped that the Night Court reboot's lead, Judge Abby Stone, would be revealed as the daughter of both Harry and Christine.

Those hopes were dashed by the Night Court reboot episode “Blood Moon Binga,” which introduced Abby's mother, Gina Brown Stone. Played by Faith Ford, Gina was revealed to have fallen in love with Harry Stone after he showed her compassion she wasn't sure she deserved after she was arrested on charges of running an illegal poker game. The two got married after Gina served her sentence, and while no specific timeline...

Situational comedies lean heavily on the absurd at times. Night Court Season 1 Episode 4 is an example where it's best not to ask too many questions about the who, what, and why of any particular context.

On the one hand, the humor of having Dan's first romantic exploit as a widower turn out to be a psychopath's revenge plot deflects a lot of potential emotional angst.

On the other, I don't think we know enough about Olivia and Gurgs to readily accept them as work wives.

One of the hallmark traits of District Attorney Dan Fielding in the 80s was his skirt-chasing, womanizing ways.

He was ridiculous and lascivious and altogether reprehensible. He was also incredibly entertaining, doing much of the comedic heavy-lifting as Larroquette's four Emmy wins can attest to.

So, of course, Dan Fielding Version 2023 has been criticized by some for his more serious and thoughtful (if curmudgeonly) persona.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for the Night Court reboot episode 1

One theory suggests that the central protagonist of NBC's new Night Court revival, Abby Stone is secretly the daughter of Christine Sullivan from the original series. The pilot episode of the new Night Court does not reveal the identity of the newbie judge's mother. However, there is reason to believe that Abby Stone is the daughter of both Judge Harry Stone and Sullivan's public defender from the classic courtroom comedy Night Court.

Played by the late Markie Post, Christine Sullivan was introduced in the Night Court season 2 episode "Daddy for the Defense." Post joined the cast as a series regular in Night Court season 3, and remained with the series until its final episode, where Christine Sullivan is elected to Congress and resigns her court position. She is followed by the redeemed Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), who had realized his...

It’s New Year’s Eve once again over at Trailers From Hell, so you know what that means, fellow cineastes: it’s Val Kilmer’s birthday!

As such, our Kilmer Birthday Committee (of one) will continue its annual tradition of watching one Val classic in celebration. Tonight’s entertainment: the criminally under-seen and intensely silly Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker adventure comedy Top Secret! (1984), a mash-up Elvis musical/spy caper parody picture. This relentlessly unserious entertainment carries special significance for Kilmerphiles, as it brought the world Val’s first-ever feature film role.

Now when Val Kilmer makes his celluloid acting debut, he’s not just some featured extra, or the 12th lead, or whatever. Don’t be silly. He’s the star, damn it.

In Top Secret!, that means he’s Nick Rivers, a Presley-esque rock and roller who finds himself inadvertently at the heart of an attempted hostile overseas takeover. This raucous...

Merry Christmas, one and all, it's time to break out the mince pies (as if you haven't already), pour the prosecco and put on some festive music.

Christmas songs don't always have to be merry – among the most beloved festive tunes are "2,000 Miles" by The Pretenders, which is curiously bleak, and the heartbreak of Wham!'s "Last Christmas".

Of course, there are plenty of upbeat songs on our list, too, from Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to Mariah Carey's"All I Want for Christmas is You".

Here are some of our favourites, from Forties classics to more recent pop hits, to get your Christmas celebrations into full swing.

18) “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” – John Lennon and Yoko Ono

There’s a caveat to the optimistic message of the song’s title. “War is over,” sing a choir of children over festive tambourines, but only, they add,...

Merry Christmas, one and all, it's time to break out the mince pies (as if you haven't already), pour the prosecco and put on some festive music.

Christmas songs don't always have to be merry – among the most beloved festive tunes are "2,000 Miles" by The Pretenders, which is curiously bleak, and the heartbreak of Wham!'s "Last Christmas".

Of course, there are plenty of upbeat songs on our list, too, from Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" to Mariah Carey's"All I Want for Christmas is You".

Here are some of our favourites, from Forties classics to more recent pop hits, to get your Christmas celebrations into full swing.

18) “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” – John Lennon and Yoko Ono

There’s a caveat to the optimistic message of the song’s title. “War is over,” sing a choir of children over festive tambourines, but only, they add,...

Chicago – This year was the 100th anniversary for the birth of the classic movie star/singer/performer Judy Garland. In 1963, as part of her regular CBS-TV variety series, she presented a Christmas episode, featuring her family … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum has created a musical comedy about this historic moment in television, appropriately titled “A Judy Christmas.” The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the week before Christmas, December 15th, 16th and 17th, at the Den Theatre in Chicago. For tickets and more information, A Judy Christmas.

A Judy Christmas

Photo credit: FamousInTheFuture.com

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland was a friend of his – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the Judy Garland Show,...

Grammy-nominated jazz songwriter, singer and pianist Dave Frishberg died yesterday, according to a post on his Facebook page. His wife April Magnusson said he had been battling an illness for several years. He was 88.

Frishberg had a long and varied career that stretched from the Greenwich Village jazz scene of the ’50s to work as a studio musician in L.A. in the ’70s, to cutting his own Grammy-nominated albums and doing music for films and TV.

But his greatest fame came from his involvement with Schoolhouse Rock, a 1973-85 series of Saturday-morning shorts on ABC that used music and rhyme to help kids learn basic facts, with such memorable songs as “Elementary, My Dear”, “Conjunction Junction” and Frishberg’s “I’m Just a Bill”. “I’m Just a Bill” was famously spoofed on Saturday Night Live in 2014.

He wrote and performed other...

The Arthur Freed MGM musical unit gives this 1927 musical remake the old College Try! It’s a vehicle for the wartime sweetheart June Allyson, aided by Peter Lawford, who is quite good if not real musical material. The fun original tunes are joined by a couple of new ones, including an all-time terrific song & dance number staged by Robert Alton and performed by the incredible Joan McCracken. The new restoration does wonders with the 1947 Technicolor and the Wac adds hilarious, eye-opening musical excerpts from the crazy 1930 early talkie version with Penny Singleton. Good news indeed. With Patricia Marshall, Mel Tormé and Tommy Rall.

Good News

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1947 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 93 min. / Street Date January 26, 2021 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Joan McCracken, Patricia Marshall, Ray McDonald, Mel Tormé, Robert E. Strickland, Donald MacBride, Tom Dugan, Clinton Sundberg, Loren Tindall, Connie Gilchrist, Morris Ankrum, Tommy Rall,...

Dale Sheets, a television pioneer and a manager for some of the top names in music, died on Monday in Los Angeles of heart failure at age 91. His death was confirmed by longtime family friend and former business associate Rob Wilcox.

Sheets held many key entertainment industry roles during his 70-year career. An executive with McA Universal Chairman Lew Wasserman, Sheets became the personal manager of such musical artists as Mel Tormé, Vic Damone, Patti Page, Jack Jones, the Four Freshmen and George Shearing.

Sheets’ first client was Tormé, who he engaged with a handshake on a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles.

Sheets focused on promoting Tormé’s gifts as a jazz artist, and booked him to perform for jazz venues, including the iconic Newport Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. After “The Velvet Fog” signed a deal with Concord Jazz Records, he made...

Dale Sheets, the onetime right-hand man for Lew Wasserman at McA and Universal who went on to serve as the personal manager for such singers as Mel Tormé, Vic Damone and Patti Page, has died. He was 91.

Sheets died Monday in Los Angeles of heart failure, his longtime family friend and former business associate Rob Wilcox announced.

In 1954, Sheets was working at United Television Programs when the company was acquired by McA, and Wasserman became his boss. A year later, at age 25, he was the youngest vice president in McA history.

“It didn’t take me ...

Dale Sheets, the onetime right-hand man for Lew Wasserman at McA and Universal who went on to serve as the personal manager for such singers as Mel Tormé, Vic Damone and Patti Page, has died. He was 91.

Sheets died Monday in Los Angeles of heart failure, his longtime family friend and former business associate Rob Wilcox announced.

In 1954, Sheets was working at United Television Programs when the company was acquired by McA, and Wasserman became his boss. A year later, at age 25, he was the youngest vice president in McA history.

“It didn’t take me ...

Night Court was one of the best sitcoms of the 80s, due to its innovative setting peopled with an eclectic group of eccentric main characters whose interactions were comedy gold. The show centered around Judge Harold T. Stone, whose affinity for the fashion and films of the 40s, the music of Mel Tormé, and show-biz magic was loosely based on the personal tastes of the actor who portrayed him, the late Harry Anderson.

Related: Night Court: 10 Things You Never Knew About This Classic Sitcom

A magic aficionado and a lover of practical jokes, Judge Stone often played gags on his colleagues that were hilariously inspired, though some of them fell flatter than a judge’s gavel.

Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy can’t be a cheap show to make. This superhero story is based on an ambitious, colorful comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá and as such it features big action setpieces, depictions of superpowers, and even a talking chimp or two.

Still it’s hard to imagine any portion of The Umbrella Academy’s budget is larger than the music clearance department. The series features a moody score from Jeff Russo but also a truly stunning amount of pop hits. The Umbrella Academy made its musical intentions clear in its first episode with the now-beloved dance scene set to Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now.” And the show’s investment in soundtrack and music has only grown from there.

“Music is such an important thing to me and I really take time to pick the songs,” showrunner Steve Blackman says.

“We...

Refresh for updates… Hollywood took to social media to mourn the death of Harry Anderson, a comedian, magician and actor who was best known for his role on the 1984-93 NBC sitcom Night Court. Shortly after the news was announced, his co-stars from the show Marsha Warfield and Markie Post posted their condolences on Twitter.

“Oh, no! Aw man, I’m so sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family, friends, fans and everyone who loved him. Rest in peace, Harry the Hat, you were my friend,” tweeted Warfield. She also posted a video on Facebook as well as a photo of the Night Court cast on Instagram.

Like Warfield, Post took to Twitter to remember her co-star, saying: “I am devastated. I’ll talk about you later, Harry, but for now, I’m devastated.”

Judd Apatow tweeted how he interviewed Anderson when he was a teenager and said he was “kind,...

“Night Court” alumni and more media personalities have taken to social media to mourn the death of Harry Anderson, who played Judge Harry T. Stone on the ’80s legal comedy.

The 65-year-old actor died at his home in Asheville, N.C., according to a local media report. Police off

icers found his body early Monday morning, according to a report by Wspa-tv, the CBS affiliate in Spartanburg, N.C.

Marsha Warfield, who starred as court officer Rosalind “Roz” Russell alongside Anderson’s lovably quirky Manhattan judge character in “Night Court,” expressed her sadness about the news on Twitter on Monday.

“Oh no! Aw man, I’m so sorry to hear this,” the actress tweeted. “My condolences to his family, friends, fans and everyone who loved him. Rest in peace, Harry the Hat, you were my friend.”

Oh, no!

Aw man, I'm so sorry to hear this.

My condolences to his family,...

“Night Court” star Harry Anderson has died, multiple outlets reported Monday. He was 65.

The actor was found in his home in Asheville, North Carolina, early Monday morning, police confirmed to the local CBS station Wspa.

Anderson earned three Emmy nominations for his role as Judge Harry Stone on the NBC comedy, which aired from 1984 to 1992. Police said no foul play was suspected. A spokesperson for the Asheville Police Department did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Also Read: R Lee Ermey, 'Full Metal Jacket' Actor, Dies at 74

His co-star Marsha Warfield posted a tearful reaction to the news of Anderson’s death to Facebook, saying: “I didn’t know I was going to be this emotional, or I wouldn’t have started this video.”

Warfield said, “he was a good man, he was a good friend. He was kind to me when I first got on ‘Night Court.'”

She also posted on Twitter: “Oh, no! Aw man, I’m so sorry to hear this. My condolences to his family, friends, fans and everyone who loved him. Rest in peace, Harry the Hat, you were my friend.”

Also Read: 'SNL' Finds the Worst Possible Hollywood Reboot (Video)

Anderson’s other credits include Harry “Harry the Hat” Gittes on “Cheers”and Dave Barry on “Dave’s World.”

“Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick mourned the actor’s loss on Twitter as well.

“Nooooooooooooooo! I loved this guy even though I had never met him,” he said. “Loved his comedy, his appearances on SNL (when they still had stand-ups), and Night Court is one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. I hope he is in some magical afterlife doing card tricks with Mel Tormé. #RIPHarry.”

See more reactions below.

Oh, no!

Aw man, I'm so sorry to hear this.

My condolences to his family, friends, fans and everyone who loved him.

Rest in peace, Harry the Hat, you were my friend. https://t.co/fv2yzW4sku

— Marsha Warfield (@MarshaWarfield) April 16, 2018

For some reason, Night Court always filled me as a child with a deep, almost physical melancholy whenever it came on TV.

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 16, 2018

Nooooooooooooooo! I loved this guy even though I had never met him. Loved his comedy, his appearances on SNL (when they still had stand-ups), and Night Court is one of my all-time favorite sitcoms. I hope he is in some magical afterlife doing card tricks with Mel Tormé. #RIPHarry https://t.co/4l2vMz3zdw

— ʞɔiwbɿɒH ꙅiɿʜƆ (@hardwick) April 16, 2018

Rip Harry Anderson. Night Court was one of the best sitcoms ever. You made me laugh a lot (on Cheers also) pic.twitter.com/qLDp7jZbG6

— Jeff Dwoskin – Hashtag Roundup (@bigmacher) April 16, 2018

I loved me some Night Court and I loved "Harry the Hat" on Cheers. Rest in Peace, Harry Anderson. pic.twitter.com/6DnLHamF7U

— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) April 16, 2018

Rip Harry Anderson. Night Court was one of the shows my grandma and I used to watch together. Good times. pic.twitter.com/Bth0vaGJyV

— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) April 16, 2018

Rip to Harry Anderson; the glue that held Night Court together, the fake TV Dave Barry, and the very best Cheers supporting character of all time pic.twitter.com/YzFc37jACw

— Brandon Stroud (@MrBrandonStroud) April 16, 2018

Read original story Harry Anderson, ‘Night Court’ Star, Dies at 65 At TheWrap...

Steve Ross C'mon and Hear: An Irving Berlin July 4th Celebration Birdland Jazz Club, NYC June 26, 2016

In a letter to Alexander Woollcott, Jerome Kern wrote that "Irving Berlin has no place in American Music… He is American Music." What better person to present the art of Irving Berlin than venerable singer and pianist Steve Ross, who presented this great American composer's work in a sterling evening entitled C'mon and Hear: An Irving Berlin July 4th Celebration, at the historical Birdland Jazz Club on Manhattan’s West 44th Street, where he shared the stage with seasoned bassist Jered Egan.

Steve deeply understands the art behind Berlin's voluminous body of work, in a manner unique to himself. His renderings of both well-known, lesser known, and even obscure Berlin songs are historically astute and performed in an exceedingly skillful manner which is at once serious and at the same time carefree. The word...

Turner Classic Movies continues with its Gay Hollywood presentations tonight and tomorrow morning, June 8–9. Seven movies will be shown about, featuring, directed, or produced by the following: Cole Porter, Lorenz Hart, Farley Granger, John Dall, Edmund Goulding, W. Somerset Maughan, Clifton Webb, Montgomery Clift, Raymond Burr, Charles Walters, DeWitt Bodeen, and Harriet Parsons. (One assumes that it's a mere coincidence that gay rumor subjects Cary Grant and Tyrone Power are also featured.) Night and Day (1946), which could also be considered part of TCM's homage to birthday girl Alexis Smith, who would have turned 96 today, is a Cole Porter biopic starring Cary Grant as a posh, heterosexualized version of Porter. As the warning goes, any similaries to real-life people and/or events found in Night and Day are a mere coincidence. The same goes for Words and Music (1948), a highly fictionalized version of the Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart musical partnership.

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

On January 22, 1964, CBS announced the inevitable: The Judy Garland Show would be cancelled after just one season. Though the network stated that the cancellation was so that Judy could spend more time with her family, the subpar ratings and tumultuous backstage difficulties had made the show untenable for the studio. In fact, less than a month after the announcement - after Episode 22 was shot - Judy ended the longest artistic partnership she'd had on the show when she fired Mel Torme. Musical director replaced and show revamped for the fifth time, Judy still ended the series looking and singing like a million bucks.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 22

The Songwriters: Charlie Chaplin (original score), John Turner & Geoffrey Parsons

The Cast: Judy Garland, directed by Dean Whitmore

The Story: The style the show settled on was...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

Full disclosure: I am in the middle of finals hell, wherein I have to write roughly 45 pages and grade exactly 48 exams before I can finally collapse at home for the holidays. So this episode is an especially selfish choice on my part. Since it's been a rocky year, I thought the best choice would be to post the entire episode, so that we could come together over a warm Christmas computer and spend the holidays with Judy.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 15

The Songwriters: Various, arrangement by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Liza Minnelli, directed by Dean Whitmore

The Story: Call me a sap (and I am), but I cannot watch Judy Garland sing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" while she and her children watch fake snow fall out of a studio set window.

 Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

So it may not look like it offhand, but today's episode marked another big shift in the rocky history of The Judy Garland Show. After producing seven episodes, firing most of the staff, kicking Jerry Van Dyke to the curb and reformatting the show, Norman Jewison exited as planned after the 13th taped episode. He would be replaced by Bill Colleran, a producer from Your Hit Parade.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 13

The Songwriters: Various, arrangement by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, produced by Norman Jewison

The Story: (My favorite part is the surprise boas at 3:00.) Though Jewison wasn't able to improve the unsteady ratings of The Judy Garland Show, the episodes he produced would set the established characteristics of the show at its peak. More cinematic production, the movement away from sketch comedy,...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

Sometimes, surprises happen. And sometimes those surprises are planted. I'm referring in this case to both the reappearance of Episode 9 on this series, and the "unplanned" appearance of Ethel Merman on the already-iconic show guest-starring Barbra Streisand. Though Merman's big reveal was first suggested as a way to placate both the surprise guest and her not-so-gracious host. Judy may have originally balked at the idea of her Tea for Two guest skipping the tea for some titanic trilling, but when the producers roped Barbra into the skit as well, it went from a battle of egos to a mammoth moment in musical history.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 9

The Songwriters: Various, arranged by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, surprise guest Ethel Merman directed by Norman Jewison

The Story: So,...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

Sometimes, magic happens. When the production team of The Judy Garland Show invited a budding Broadway star to film Episode 9, nobody could foresee the titanic future of the 21-year-old singer. With just one album under her belt - admittedly Billboard Top 10 album - she was perhaps slightly less famous than her co-guest stars, The Smothers Brothers. But when Barbra Streisand sat down to sing a duet with Judy Garland, it was impossible to ignore that something titanic was happening.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 9

The Songwriters: Various, arranged by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, The Smothers Brothers, directed by Norman Jewison

The Story: Barbra Streisand was invited on the show just as her star was rising. Already a well-loved New York cabaret singer, Streisand had stopped the show playing a put-upon secretary in her Broadway debut,...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

Despite the upheaval caused by firing most of the crew only a few weeks before, change was slow to come to The Judy Garland Show. Producer Norman Jewison made incremental changes, first giving writers free reign to make jokes about Judy, then bumping up the presence of guests and side acts, before eventually dialing them back. This show was one of the last to feature Jerry Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke's younger brother who had acted as comic relief for the first few episodes but was critically panned for poking fun at Garland. Already a third of the way through its eventual 26 episodes, The Judy Garland Show was still very much a work in progress.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 8

The Songwriters: Various, arranged by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Jerry Van Dyke,...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

On September 29th, 1963, The Judy Garland Show finally premiered. With a backlog of several episodes already in the can, CBS chose to start the show with the seventh filmed episode, which guest-starred Donald O'Connor. Reviews of Judy were favorable, though reviewers were less enamored of Jerry Van Dyke and the variety show format. But unfortunately the network's fears about Bonanza were realized: The Judy Garland Show garnered a miserable (for the time) 18 rating, compared to Bonanza's juggernaut 35 rating. As always, the network and the production team was left scrambling to make new changes.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 7

The Songwriters: Various, arranged by Mel Torme

The Cast: Judy Garland, Jerry Van Dyke, Donald O'Connor, directed by Bill Hobin

The Story: Despite some dismal Nielson ratings, the Donald O'Connor episode would prove to be a sweet...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

If you watch the full Judy Garland Show from start to finish in the order in which it was filmed rather than the order in which it was broadcast - which is what we're doing in miniature - a few patterns emerge early on. First, there is the legendary talent that crowds the first episodes: besides Judy herself, we've seen Garland reunited with Mickey Rooney, swinging with Count Basie, introducing her daughter Liza, and now she's belting Lena Horne numbers to Lena Horne herself. For any midcentury music geek, this show is the gift that keeps on giving. However, if you push past the fabulous talent to watch the format itself, you'll notice something else: for a variety programme, The Judy Garland Show doesn't have much variety.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 4

The Songwriters: Various,...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

Sometimes, something just flat out cool and unexpected pops up. Something like, say, a titan of jazz music popping up for the second episode of a TV show starring a titan of movie musicals. Though it wasn't reflected in ratings at the time (how good was Bonanza really?), this is one of those moments of pop culture kismet. Though it wouldn't be aired for almost seven weeks, in just the second episode of this small Sunday night variety program, Count Basie guest starred on an episode of The Judy Garland Show.

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode #2

The Songwriter: Irving Berlin

The Cast: Judy Garland, Count Basie, Mel Torme

The Story: As TV intros go, it's pretty basic, but this gives audience and artists the chance to build momentum. What makes this clip so very great...

Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...

The terribly tricky thing about early TV (or really any TV) history is that episodes are often filmed and aired in different orders. Because of the discrepancies in airing schedules, we will be following in the order in which they were shot. After the CBS lawsuit was settled with the agreement that Judy Garland should make a show for CBS, the question became what kind of show to do. It took two years for the usual contract negotiations, delays, and upheavals to settle enough for that question to be decided. On June 24, 1963, Judy Garland recorded the first episode of a variety show titled (unsurprisingly) The Judy Garland Show. 

The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode #1

The Songwriter: Mel Torme (uncredited)

The Cast: Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Jerry Van Dyke

The Story: A musical variety show seemed to...

Last night, with photos of some of the greatest entertainers looking down at him in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room, Billy Stritch -- one of the most talented and creative musicians on the planet -- entertained his fellow Friars. I don't know if the velvet fog ever sang in the Monastery, but the closest you will ever get to his music is to hear Billy Stritch perform his Mel Torme show. It's the definitive interpretation of Mel's extraordinary musical genius, performed by the unequaled artistry of Mr. Stritch.