Coslough Johnson, the Emmy-winning writer who worked with his late older brother, Arte Johnson, on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and wrote for two variety shows toplined by Sonny and Cher, has died. He was 91.
Johnson died March 23 of prostate cancer at a nursing facility in the Thousand Oaks area, his wife, Mary Jane, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also worked on sitcoms including The Monkees, Bewitched, That Girl, The Partridge Family, Good Times, Flo, Operation Petticoat and Cpo Sharkey and on cartoons featuring Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, The Flintstones, Voltron and He-Man.
He wrote on the first three seasons (1968-70) of NBC’s Laugh-In, the final three seasons (1971-74) of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and the lone season (1976-77) of The Sonny and Cher Show, those last two for CBS.
Other variety shows on his résumé included The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show...
Johnson died March 23 of prostate cancer at a nursing facility in the Thousand Oaks area, his wife, Mary Jane, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Johnson also worked on sitcoms including The Monkees, Bewitched, That Girl, The Partridge Family, Good Times, Flo, Operation Petticoat and Cpo Sharkey and on cartoons featuring Mighty Mouse, Heckle and Jeckle, The Flintstones, Voltron and He-Man.
He wrote on the first three seasons (1968-70) of NBC’s Laugh-In, the final three seasons (1971-74) of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour and the lone season (1976-77) of The Sonny and Cher Show, those last two for CBS.
Other variety shows on his résumé included The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show...
- 4/1/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It’s time for a new episode of the Awfully Good Horror Movies video series, and with this one we’re looking back at the 1985 horror comedy Transylvania 6-5000 (watch it Here). To find out why we consider Transylvania 6-5000 to be awfully good, check out the video embedded above!
Written and directed by Ruby De Luca, Transylvania 6-5000 has the following synopsis:
Fear and loathing meet hilarity head on as two bumbling reporters try to unravel the mystery of modern-day Transylvania. Along the way they meet a decidedly bizarre assortment of loonies and throwbacks. The lowly servant Radu and even more lowly Lupi. The oversexed vampiress Odette, who has an unnatural penchant for “necking”. The mysterious gypsy, Madame Moravia, who babbles about a werewolf named Larry. And the mad Doctor Malavaqua, who has been carrying on some rather shady experiments. What the reporters uncover is enough to scare the...
Written and directed by Ruby De Luca, Transylvania 6-5000 has the following synopsis:
Fear and loathing meet hilarity head on as two bumbling reporters try to unravel the mystery of modern-day Transylvania. Along the way they meet a decidedly bizarre assortment of loonies and throwbacks. The lowly servant Radu and even more lowly Lupi. The oversexed vampiress Odette, who has an unnatural penchant for “necking”. The mysterious gypsy, Madame Moravia, who babbles about a werewolf named Larry. And the mad Doctor Malavaqua, who has been carrying on some rather shady experiments. What the reporters uncover is enough to scare the...
- 11/23/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
"You've been dealt a bad deal… so don't make it worse." Did anyone know about this? There's a brand new 2022 remake of a classic 1940s film noir film titled D.O.A., premiering soon at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. The original D.O.A., directed by Rudolph Maté & starring Edmond O'Brien, was about a P.I. named Frank Bigelow who is told he's been poisoned and has only a few days to live, so he tries to find out who killed him and why. "While the story shares a title and premise with the original movie… most of the plot elements are original," the director of this new one explains. "With the clock ticking, Bigelow descends into a world of crooks and double-dealers, treacherous women and violent men, slashing through a tangle of conspiracies to figure out who 'killed' him & why." This one stars John Doe as Frank, with Paola Duque,...
- 10/31/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Before "Mork & Mindy" would become a hit television sitcom for CBS, it took root in a guest spot on "Happy Days," inspired by a question from the showrunner's young son: Why can't we put a spaceman on the show? Julliard student Robin Williams, who had previously performed outdoors to passers-by before auditioning for "Happy Days," wowed audiences so much with his alien antics that a spinoff quickly got rolling.
Williams wasn't the first choice for the manic Orkan. Contenders for the role of Mork included actor and comedian John Byner, whose...
The post Mork & Mindy's Creators Picked Robin Williams Up Off The Street appeared first on /Film.
Williams wasn't the first choice for the manic Orkan. Contenders for the role of Mork included actor and comedian John Byner, whose...
The post Mork & Mindy's Creators Picked Robin Williams Up Off The Street appeared first on /Film.
- 7/20/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Harry Colomby, who made the unusual career transition from high school teacher to talent manager at the invitation of jazz great Thelonious Monk, died Dec. 25 from multiple causes at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 92.
Although Monk was his first client, Colomby’s career expanded to film and television, managing both comedian John Byner and actor Michael Keaton.
He was the producer or executive producer of 13 film or TV projects, several of them Keaton movies, including “Mr. Mom.” The brother of Bobby Colomby, founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears and, and jazz trumpeter Jules Colomby, Harry also had six screenwriting credits, including the Keaton feature “Johnny Dangerously.”
In an Instagram post, Keaton paid tribute to his business partner. “Unlikeliest of matches, we thought the same, felt the same and laughed at the same things. He was kindhearted, curious, thoughtful and man, was he funny … I loved him and so did all who met him.
Although Monk was his first client, Colomby’s career expanded to film and television, managing both comedian John Byner and actor Michael Keaton.
He was the producer or executive producer of 13 film or TV projects, several of them Keaton movies, including “Mr. Mom.” The brother of Bobby Colomby, founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears and, and jazz trumpeter Jules Colomby, Harry also had six screenwriting credits, including the Keaton feature “Johnny Dangerously.”
In an Instagram post, Keaton paid tribute to his business partner. “Unlikeliest of matches, we thought the same, felt the same and laughed at the same things. He was kindhearted, curious, thoughtful and man, was he funny … I loved him and so did all who met him.
- 12/29/2021
- by Geoff Mayfield
- Variety Film + TV
With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, if you’re still looking for some gift ideas to win the affection of the horror fan in your life, then perhaps this latest batch of Blu-rays and DVD releases might give you some inspiration. And speaking of amore, Scream Factory has put together a brilliant Collector’s Edition for the original My Bloody Valentine that is a must-own for genre fans, and keeping with the theme, Takashi Miike’s First Love is coming home on both Blu and DVD this Tuesday as well.
We also have other romantic genre offerings coming out this week, too, including Transylvania 6-5000, Cupid, and Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, which is about obsessive love, but love nonetheless.
Other notable Blu-ray and DVD releases for February 11th include Get Gone, Inmate Zero, Rust, Omnivores, and a retro-style Blu-ray for the original When A Stranger Calls by Fred Walton.
We also have other romantic genre offerings coming out this week, too, including Transylvania 6-5000, Cupid, and Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, which is about obsessive love, but love nonetheless.
Other notable Blu-ray and DVD releases for February 11th include Get Gone, Inmate Zero, Rust, Omnivores, and a retro-style Blu-ray for the original When A Stranger Calls by Fred Walton.
- 2/10/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Network: Amazon.
Episodes: 12 (hour).
Seasons: Two.
TV show dates: October 13, 2017 — October 19, 2018.
Series status: Cancelled.
Performers include: Aaron Mahnke (narrator); Colm Feore, Adam Goldberg, Robert Patrick, Holland Roden, Campbell Scott, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Kristen Cloke, Jason Davis, Joe Knezevich, Bethan Anne Line, Clark Moore, Cathal Pendred, Caroline Arapoglou, Michael Bullard, and John Byner.
TV show description:
Based on the podcast from creator Aaron Mahnke, the Lore TV show is an episodic horror anthology. Each episode delves into the real people and stories which inspired modern myths and legends.
Narrated by Mahnke, the series uses a combination of documentary footage, historical mixed media, and cinematic scenes to delve into the origin stories behind the...
Episodes: 12 (hour).
Seasons: Two.
TV show dates: October 13, 2017 — October 19, 2018.
Series status: Cancelled.
Performers include: Aaron Mahnke (narrator); Colm Feore, Adam Goldberg, Robert Patrick, Holland Roden, Campbell Scott, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Kristen Cloke, Jason Davis, Joe Knezevich, Bethan Anne Line, Clark Moore, Cathal Pendred, Caroline Arapoglou, Michael Bullard, and John Byner.
TV show description:
Based on the podcast from creator Aaron Mahnke, the Lore TV show is an episodic horror anthology. Each episode delves into the real people and stories which inspired modern myths and legends.
Narrated by Mahnke, the series uses a combination of documentary footage, historical mixed media, and cinematic scenes to delve into the origin stories behind the...
- 7/29/2019
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Tony Sokol Jan 2, 2019
Bob Einstein, Curb Your Enthusiam's Marty Funkhouser and Albert Brooks' older brother, was part of TV comedy history.
Comedy veteran Bob Einstein, who wrote for the controversial The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour but is best known for his turn as Marty Funkhouser on Curb Your Enthusiasm, died at age 76 following a recent cancer diagnosis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Einstein’s death was confirmed his younger brother, Albert Brooks. “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever,” posted on Twitter.
"Very sad," Curb Your Enthusiasm writer David Mandel tweeted. "Got to work with him on #Curb. Had heard he was sick. Will never forget him telling @jerryseinfeld the dirty joke about the newlyweds." Costar, actor and comedian Richard Lewis also eulogized on social media.
Since making his debut in season 4, Einstein...
Bob Einstein, Curb Your Enthusiam's Marty Funkhouser and Albert Brooks' older brother, was part of TV comedy history.
Comedy veteran Bob Einstein, who wrote for the controversial The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour but is best known for his turn as Marty Funkhouser on Curb Your Enthusiasm, died at age 76 following a recent cancer diagnosis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Einstein’s death was confirmed his younger brother, Albert Brooks. “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever,” posted on Twitter.
"Very sad," Curb Your Enthusiasm writer David Mandel tweeted. "Got to work with him on #Curb. Had heard he was sick. Will never forget him telling @jerryseinfeld the dirty joke about the newlyweds." Costar, actor and comedian Richard Lewis also eulogized on social media.
Since making his debut in season 4, Einstein...
- 1/2/2019
- Den of Geek
Bob Einstein, the actor best known for his Super Dave Osborne character, has died at the age of 76, TheWrap has learned.
Einstein’s brother, actor and comedian Albert Brooks, also confirmed the news of Einstein’s passing on Twitter on Wednesday. “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever,” Brooks wrote.
An L.A.-born actor, writer and comedian, Einstein made first made his name as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” alongside the likes of Steve Martin and Murray Roman before transitioning to performing as the bungling Super Dave Osborne character in the 1970s.
Also Read: 'Mean' Gene Okerlund, Legendary WWE Interviewer, Dies at 76
Einstein first debuted the character, a sunny, naive and frequently-injured parody of daredevil stuntmen like Evel Knievel, on John Byner’s variety show in 1972 and later recurred on...
Einstein’s brother, actor and comedian Albert Brooks, also confirmed the news of Einstein’s passing on Twitter on Wednesday. “R.I.P. My dear brother Bob Einstein. A great brother, father and husband. A brilliantly funny man. You will be missed forever,” Brooks wrote.
An L.A.-born actor, writer and comedian, Einstein made first made his name as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” alongside the likes of Steve Martin and Murray Roman before transitioning to performing as the bungling Super Dave Osborne character in the 1970s.
Also Read: 'Mean' Gene Okerlund, Legendary WWE Interviewer, Dies at 76
Einstein first debuted the character, a sunny, naive and frequently-injured parody of daredevil stuntmen like Evel Knievel, on John Byner’s variety show in 1972 and later recurred on...
- 1/2/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Stars: Andrew Divoff, Tammy Lauren, Robert Englund, Ted Raimi, George “Buck” Flower, Reggie Bannister, Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Chris Lemmon, Wendy Benson-Landes, Tony Crane, Jenny O’Hara, Ricco Ross, John Byner, Gretchen Palmer, Angus Scrimm | Written by Peter Atkins | Directed by Robert Kurtzman
Special makeup supremo Robert Kurtzman directs this 1997 homage to 1980s horror, and while its gross-out effects are impressive, the plot, characters and script leave much to be desired.
Wishmaster opens in 12th century Persia, and a royal party in chaos: people are mutating, skinning themselves, turning inside out, that sort of thing. It seems the king has made a deal with a Djinn, a mythical demon who will grant three wishes. On the third wish, a portal will open and the Djinn (plural) will be unleashed and take over the world of men. Or something. Thankfully, this Djinn is banished thanks to an opal made of blood.
Special makeup supremo Robert Kurtzman directs this 1997 homage to 1980s horror, and while its gross-out effects are impressive, the plot, characters and script leave much to be desired.
Wishmaster opens in 12th century Persia, and a royal party in chaos: people are mutating, skinning themselves, turning inside out, that sort of thing. It seems the king has made a deal with a Djinn, a mythical demon who will grant three wishes. On the third wish, a portal will open and the Djinn (plural) will be unleashed and take over the world of men. Or something. Thankfully, this Djinn is banished thanks to an opal made of blood.
- 3/13/2018
- by Rupert Harvey
- Nerdly
Stars: Andrew Divoff, Tammy Lauren, Robert Englund, Ted Raimi, George “Buck” Flower, Reggie Bannister, Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Chris Lemmon, Wendy Benson-Landes, Tony Crane, Jenny O’Hara, Ricco Ross, John Byner, Gretchen Palmer, Angus Scrimm | Written by Peter Atkins | Directed by Robert Kurtzman
Wishmaster is one of those movies that is a treat for horror geeks. Featuring some of the genre’s most iconic actors part of the fun is hunting out all the Easter eggs that are so easy to spot. The question is, on revisiting the film, does The Djinn (Andrew Divoff) still have what it takes to make your dreams come true?
When a Persian statue of Ahura Mazda is broken, a red jewel is discovered within. Given to Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren) to evaluate for auction, she accidentally awakens the Djinn inside. While capturing more souls inside the jewel, he chases down Alexandra with the aim...
Wishmaster is one of those movies that is a treat for horror geeks. Featuring some of the genre’s most iconic actors part of the fun is hunting out all the Easter eggs that are so easy to spot. The question is, on revisiting the film, does The Djinn (Andrew Divoff) still have what it takes to make your dreams come true?
When a Persian statue of Ahura Mazda is broken, a red jewel is discovered within. Given to Alexandra Amberson (Tammy Lauren) to evaluate for auction, she accidentally awakens the Djinn inside. While capturing more souls inside the jewel, he chases down Alexandra with the aim...
- 3/2/2018
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
DVD Release Date: Oct. 8, 2013
Price: DVD $29.98
Studio: Somerville House/Entertainment One
Bill Maher takes the mic in The Best of An Evening at the Improv.
Television’s wildly popular An Evening at the Improv originally premiered as a series of one-hour shows in 1982 on A&E and featured the hottest stand-up comics of the day.
Somerville House’s four-disc, 12-hour collection The Best of An Evening at the Improv features the hysterical work of more than 100 comedians culled from the first 52 hours of the series, including spots by such beloved old-school shtick-meisters as Milton Berle, Shecky Greene, Shelley Berman, Jackie Mason and Mort Sahl alongside such soon-to-be-superstars as Jerry Seinfeld, Howie Mandel, Jim Carrey, Richard Lewis, Bob Saget, Arsenio Hall, Billy Crystal, and Bill Maher.
The Improv Club opened its doors in Los Angeles in 1974, the second Improv venue to be opened by founder Budd Friedman following his original outlet in New York City.
Price: DVD $29.98
Studio: Somerville House/Entertainment One
Bill Maher takes the mic in The Best of An Evening at the Improv.
Television’s wildly popular An Evening at the Improv originally premiered as a series of one-hour shows in 1982 on A&E and featured the hottest stand-up comics of the day.
Somerville House’s four-disc, 12-hour collection The Best of An Evening at the Improv features the hysterical work of more than 100 comedians culled from the first 52 hours of the series, including spots by such beloved old-school shtick-meisters as Milton Berle, Shecky Greene, Shelley Berman, Jackie Mason and Mort Sahl alongside such soon-to-be-superstars as Jerry Seinfeld, Howie Mandel, Jim Carrey, Richard Lewis, Bob Saget, Arsenio Hall, Billy Crystal, and Bill Maher.
The Improv Club opened its doors in Los Angeles in 1974, the second Improv venue to be opened by founder Budd Friedman following his original outlet in New York City.
- 9/5/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Fantasy author Lloyd Alexander was beloved for his imaginative series, the Chronicles of Prydain so anyone who read the series, originally released between 1964 and 1968, were no doubt apprehensive to see the entire story collapsed into an 80 minute animated feature from Walt Disney.
The filmmakers decided to focus on the second book, The Black Cauldron, and substantially altered characters, settings, and events so when it opened July 24, 1985, fans of the material were not happy. Worse, people unfamiliar with the source material were not particularly entertained leading to a box office collapse. That this film came at the tail end of a period where creativity was clearly lacking meant that it looked and felt like a generic Disney animated film. Jeffrey Katzenberg arrived on staff just prior to the film’s release and he could merely nip and tuck sequences, but recognized their most expensive feature to date, and the first to use computer-generated animation,...
The filmmakers decided to focus on the second book, The Black Cauldron, and substantially altered characters, settings, and events so when it opened July 24, 1985, fans of the material were not happy. Worse, people unfamiliar with the source material were not particularly entertained leading to a box office collapse. That this film came at the tail end of a period where creativity was clearly lacking meant that it looked and felt like a generic Disney animated film. Jeffrey Katzenberg arrived on staff just prior to the film’s release and he could merely nip and tuck sequences, but recognized their most expensive feature to date, and the first to use computer-generated animation,...
- 9/16/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
This is the second part of an interview with producer Marsha Posner Williams. In the first part, we discussed how Williams began her career in television, working on the legendary ABC sitcom, Soap.
As one of the few people to work on the show from the very beginning to its untimely cancellation, Williams shared some of the casting challenges behind the scenes, her first-hand experience with the picketing and controversy surrounding the show, production challenges, and personal memories of the very talented cast, like Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Robert Guillaume, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Jay Johnson, and Billy Crystal.
In the second part of the interview, Williams talks briefly about other Soap alumnae like Ted Wass, Jimmy Baio, Diana Canova, Arthur Peterson, John Byner, and Donnelly Rhodes. She also puts to rest the idea that Soap was intentionally ended with one of...
As one of the few people to work on the show from the very beginning to its untimely cancellation, Williams shared some of the casting challenges behind the scenes, her first-hand experience with the picketing and controversy surrounding the show, production challenges, and personal memories of the very talented cast, like Katherine Helmond, Robert Mandan, Robert Guillaume, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Jay Johnson, and Billy Crystal.
In the second part of the interview, Williams talks briefly about other Soap alumnae like Ted Wass, Jimmy Baio, Diana Canova, Arthur Peterson, John Byner, and Donnelly Rhodes. She also puts to rest the idea that Soap was intentionally ended with one of...
- 12/29/2009
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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