TVSquad

Ted Kennedy died early this morning at age 77. Healthcare for everyone was one of Kennedy's major causes and it has been going on for quite some time. This clip is from a 1997 episode of Chicago Hope. It features Ted Kennedy and Ron Silver (he died this year too). What a great actor Silver was.

[via TheWrap.com]

It's still odd to think about Ron Silver, who died of cancer earlier this week, being gone. I mean, sure, cancer can hit anyone at any age, but it's odd to see it happen to someone in a fairly recent show, and one that I watch a lot of (thank you, DVD sets). I felt the same thing when another West Wing cast member, John Spencer, died a few years back. That was even more shocking because he was still on the show at the time.

West Wing creator/writer Aaron Sorkin pays tribute to Silver in Time. He says that Silver was not only the type of actor who was very generous ("someone who's there for the piece and not for himself"), but one that would make the other actors laugh and get into a good mood between takes.

"The Indians in the Lobby"
Originally aired on November 21, 2001

There are so many ridiculously great episodes of The West Wing, trying to pick one out is like trying to pick out the best note in a piece by Mozart. But since it's November, I figured I'd choose the best of the show's Thanksgiving Day episodes, "The Indians in the Lobby" (and yes, fans of "Shibboleth," I love that one too, but this one has just a little bit more.)

It's Thanksgiving, and President Bartlet is making the stuffing ...

I've been hearing about this show for years, and now through the magical superwonders of You Tube, we can finally see it! Heat Vision and Jack was a comedy in the late 90s from Ben Stiller that starred Jack Black as an astronaut (ahem) who gets superpowers after a space accident, and fights crime with the talking motorcycle (voice of Owen Wilson), powered by the mind of his unemployed roommate. And if that description doesn't already have you laughing, it also stars Ron Silver, "as himself."

Funny opening from Stiller too: "Let's change cameras...as a person you admire, I'm giving you permission to appreciate this show. I'm also offering you my personal guarantee that it's going to knock you back onto your coal-mining asses. And that's a promise you won't be hearing from Georgie Lucas."

Who knows if this show could have maintained itself over several episodes, but judging from the pilot, I'd certainly rather watch this on FOX than The Loop or Free Ride.

[thanks to Bryce for the tip!]