RonHoward-related stories
Posted Sep 17th 2009 7:07PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Arrested Development, Pickups and Renewals
The last time Opie got involved in a television show, we wound up with
Arrested Development. Now he's hoping he can bring back the funny, maybe this time with ratings. FOX has picked up a penalty-heavy pilot commitment for
Ron Howard's new multi-camera IRS-based sitcom.
Think of it as a classic workplace comedy modeled after the
Taxi formula. And we'll have the added fact that the IRS is despised by the American public. And yet, at the heart of the show is a guy who genuinely thinks he's doing something valuable and important. Beyond this character will be the typical ensemble of wacky co-workers you'd expect.
It's oddly refreshing that this will be done in the multi-camera format; making a strong comeback of late. It's being proven that buddy and family sitcoms can still be funny in this format, so why not the workplace comedy? As much as I love
The Office and
30 Rock, I could handle something more like
Taxi or
NewsRadio from time to time.
Posted May 4th 2009 12:22PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Programming, The Apprentice, Law and Order, Saturday Night Live, The Office, Heroes, Pickups and Renewals, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Upfronts, Chuck, Parks and Recreation
There weren't a lot of surprises at
NBC's "In Front" presentation this morning. As already leaked,
Parks & Recreation,
Heroes, and
Southland have been renewed, joining the already announced
30 Rock,
The Office,
The Celebrity Apprentice,
Friday Night Lights,
The Biggest Loser and
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
There's still no word on
Law & Order's bid for a 20th season,
nor did they clarify the fate of Chuck, though insiders feel confident both will be back. Back on the bubble is
Medium, which was leaked as renewed last night, along with
My Name Is Earl. Their fates are a bit more murky, especially
Earl considering NBC is giving
Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" a prime-time berth, apparently launching NBC's Thursday night.
Continue reading NBC announces four new dramas, two new comedies to fall lineup
Posted May 4th 2009 9:03AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Upfronts, Reality-Free
This leak appears to be unauthorized, but still pretty solid. It looks like the television remake of Ron Howard's 1989 film
Parenthood has been picked up by NBC for next season. Peter Krause (
Six Feet Under, Dirty Sexy Money), Maura Tierney (
NewsRadio, ER) and Craig T. Nelson (
Coach) are on board to star, and that's a pretty solid foundation right there.
The original
Parenthood movie starred everybody who was anybody in the late '80s, including Keanu Reeves, Jason Robards, Jr. and Mary Steenbergen and Steve Martin. It was like
Crash with an extended family, following multiple story lines that all ultimately connected.
Continue reading Now new show pick-ups are leaking out of NBC camp
Posted Jan 29th 2009 9:01AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Pickups and Renewals, Reality-Free
If you're are sick of your TV remaking shows and movies every season, don't fret. Your TV has found a solution: remaking the stuff they've already remade.
NBC has given the big ol' emerald glo-stick to a remake of the movie
Parenthood, a movie that they have already turned into a show.
The show is being produced by Imagine Entertainment, the Ron Howard company that produced and made the original movie. The network has asked for a pilot and former
Friday Night Lights writer-executive producer Jason Katims will breathe life into it.
Continue reading NBC greenlights a remake of a remake of Parenthood
Posted Jan 15th 2009 9:05AM by Richard Keller
Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd, Retro Squad, Reality-Free
January 15th, 1974. It was on this cold winter day (cold, because it was pre-global warming) 35 years ago that the American public was introduced to Richie Cunningham, Fonzie, Potsie, and the rest of the gang of Happy Days. A simple family sitcom, the Gary Marshall-created program would change the face of ABC, as well as television, for the ten years it was on the air, as well as beyond.
Happy Days came at a time when the family comedy was going through an upheaval. Gone were the days of simple shows like
Leave it to Beaver and
The Dick Van Dyke Show. In its place were shows like
All in the Family which turned the typical family comedy on its heels. With Vietnam, a poor economy, and Watergate all weighing down on Americans at that time, the introduction of
Happy Days gave viewers a chance to remember and laugh at some simpler times.
Continue reading Happy birthday, Happy Days - VIDEO
Posted Oct 23rd 2008 4:33PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Video, Celebrities, Reality-Free
I recall a time when Ron Howard was diligently trying to distance himself from the two television icons that made him famous: Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham (from
The Andy Griffith Show and
Happy Days, respectively). Now, thanks to
Funny Or Die and in an effort to get his candidate of choice (Barack Obama, if you didn't know) elected, he is prepared to step back into those two roles. And to do so, he takes Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler with him.
I didn't really grow up with Andy Griffith, but it was quite the nostalgia trip to see Ron Howard and Henry Winkler as Richie and the Fonz again. Winkler seemed to just slip back into the character despite all the years.
Continue reading Opie Cunningham is back - VIDEO
Posted Apr 18th 2006 3:14PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Talent, Celebrities
This poll is from
Stuff
Magazine, which I read for the
numerous pics of half naked or naked women posing on a bed or jumping
around the surf investigative journalism. The mag polled readers about which former child star they'd like to
punch in the face. The results:
Danny Bonaduce - 38%
Corey Feldman - 38%
Dustin Diamond
(Screech,
Saved By The Bell) - 15%
Ron Howard - 9%
OK, I can understand some of those, but
Opie? Opie?!
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