Dustin Hoffman-related stories
Posted Mar 9th 2010 11:08AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Celebrities, Ratings, Casting, Reality-Free

Nick Nolte will be joining stars like
Dustin Hoffman in
the upcoming HBO pilot 'Luck.' It says a lot about a premium cable series when they can get movie-level stars to be in them. It says that either the programming is top-notch or the economy is in the crapper. Maybe it says a little of both.
Michael Mann is one of the people behind 'Luck,' and that probably helps in terms of casting. The show is about a disparate group of people at a horse track.
Keep in mind this is only for the pilot. If this gets turned into a series, there is no guarantee about who will stay and who will go.
Nolte's last television appearance was in
'Rich Man, Poor Man' in 1976 (according to his
IMDB profile). He's done a couple of movies since then (a personal favorite remains
'48 Hours'), but you have to admit 34 years is a long time between television roles. 'Luck' is something to look forward to.
Posted Mar 2nd 2010 10:10AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Celebrities, Awards, Casting, Emmys, Reality-Free

In 1965, Dustin Hoffman played Buddy in an episode of CBS's legal drama 'The Defenders.' It didn't cause much of a ripple. He was still an unknown, struggling actor when he landed the role of Benjamin in 'The Graduate,' a role bigger names had all turned down including Charles Grodin, Robert Redford and Warren Beatty. The point is that unlike many young actors, television did not launch the career of two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman.
But Dustin is giving TV another shot.
Dustin Hoffman will star in 'Luck,' David Milch's new series for HBO. Michael Mann has also signed up to direct the pilot, and Dennis Farina and John Ortiz have been cast as well. That's a boat-load of talent and a good indication that HBO is high on the project. Presumably, Hoffman, Milch, Mann and company don't come cheap. Milch's previous work for HBO includes 'Deadwood' and 'John in Cincinatti.'
Continue reading Dustin Hoffman Taking on TV with 'Luck'
Posted Feb 20th 2009 11:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: TV on the Bigscreen, Reality-Free, TV Squad Ten

As much as there have been movies about the theater and movies about movies, the films that have been made about television are some of the best ever. This year alone, there are two movies nominated for Best Picture of the year by the Academy Awards that are all about television --
Slumdog Millionaire and
Frost/Nixon. Without TV, neither of these films would exist. Looking back, here are the films about TV that set the standards by which
Slumdog Millionaire and
Frost/Nixon are measured.
Continue reading TV Squad Ten: The best movies about television
Posted May 28th 2008 3:39PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Programming, Reality-Free

Recently, I wrote about why I respect, admire, and -- yes -- love
Turner Classic Movies. Well, today they've done something else to reinforce my feelings.
On June 2, TCM will air a salute to director Sydney Pollack, showing four of his films. The Oscar-winning director, who was also an actor and producer,
passed away on Monday following a short bout with cancer. It was only a few months ago that the word spread in Hollywood that he was seriously ill. Film critic
Joseph Morgenstern wrote a salute to him on February 2 in the
Wall Street Journal, honoring the man before his death.
Sadly, the cancer that fell
Sydney Pollack was one that didn't respond to treatment.
On Monday, TCM will show Sydney Pollack's directorial debut in features, 1965's
The Slender Thread starring Sidney Poitier and Anne Bancroft. In the same year, he won an Emmy for directing
The Game, part of the
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater anthology series. On TV, he'd also done
Ben Casey and
The Fugitive episodes, learning his craft.
Continue reading TCM schedules Sydney Pollack film retrospective
Posted Mar 15th 2006 10:35AM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Cable, Programming, Music and Variety

Which of these things is not like the other: Al Pacino, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey, Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Tom Hanks,
and... Tim Allen? Bravo
is touting all of
these actors' upcoming appearances with James Lipton on
Inside the Actors Studio (a title that is screaming
for an apostrophe!). Hanks will be the first actor to make a second appearance in the
Studio, while Dustin
Hoffman will be the
Studio's 200th celebrity guest. No air dates are set, but the network says they'll appear
this spring.
While most of the names are impressive, they might also be a bit boring. My favorite guest was
Mike Myers, who did all sorts of voices and had some fun at Lipton's expense.
Who would you like to see
Inside the Actors Studio?