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Rob DesHotel, the television writer-producer who worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, That '70s Show, True Blood, Mike & Molly and most recently Man With a Plan, has died. He was 52.

DesHotel died from a suspected heart attack.

The writer, who graduated from Webster University with a degree in media communications in 1988, worked early in his career as a writers' assistant on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara from 1990-1991. But when he graduated to a full-time writer, he worked primarily in the comedy genre, penning scripts for the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete, the NBC sitcom Hope ...

An age-old argument is whether art imitates life or life imitates art. 

While I'd argue that these days art takes its cues not from art but from society's vocal minority that exists on social media, cues have been culled from social media, dinner discussions, CNN, local news markets and more on Tell Me a Story Season 1 Episode 1.

This is an episode of television that when (if) watched ten or 20 years from now will be very dated.

Hand to heart, I hope more than anything that's the case even if we're plowing into stories loosely based on classic fairy tales.

What I didn't share in the preview review for Tell Me a Story were the details of the retelling of Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel. The longer they sit with you, the more haunting they become in hindsight.

For a premiere titled "Hope," there isn't...

Could Miguel Ferrer become a posthumous Emmy nominee for “Twin Peaks: The Return”? The veteran character actor died of throat cancer in January 2017 after he shot the Showtime revival, in which he reprised his role as FBI Agent Albert Rosenfield. The TV academy often rewards stars who have died with nominations for their final performances, so could Ferrer compete for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor? Despite a long list of TV credits including “The Stand” (1994), “Crossing Jordan” (2001-2007), “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2012-2017) and many more, he never earned an Emmy nomination during his lifetime.

Ferrer first appeared in the original “Twin Peaks” in a recurring role as an abrasive and sarcastic FBI forensics specialist assisting Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) in his murder investigation in the title town. And he also appeared in the 1992 prequel film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.” The 18-episode limited run in 2017 found him...

1976: Ryan's Hope's Delia talked her way around Frank's suspicions.

1999: Passions premiered on NBC.

2001: As the World Turns' Simon found Katie on an island.

2002: Stephanie Gatschet debuted as Tammy on Guiding Light."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bert Bauer (Charita Bauer) met Leslie Jackson (Lynne Adams).

1966: New head writer William J. Bell's first Days of our Lives script aired.

There's a lot of talk about another Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that getting released next week, which has somewhat overshadowed Ant-Man and the Wasp for the time being. However, that's all about to change as the July release date fast approaches. In a new interview, Evangeline Lilly reveals that much of the movie will focus on the search for Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet van Dyne character, the original Wasp and mother of Hope as well as wife to Hank Pym.

In the first Ant-Man movie, it was believed that Janet van Dyne was dead after entering the Quantum Realm. But questions arose when Paul Rudd's Scott Lang went into the Quantum Realm and survived after going subatomic. Now, Evangeline Lilly says that Ant-Man and the Wasp will further explore the Quantum Realm in an effort to find Janet. She had this to say.

"Scott entered the Quantum Realm in...

1961: As the World Turns Lisa clashed with Ellen.

1967: Jonathan Frid debuted as Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows.

1990: General Hospital's Robin tried to save Casey.

1991: Another World's Jake wanted another chance with Marley."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1961: On As the World Turns, Lisa Hughes (Eileen Fulton) told her in-laws, Chris (Don MacLaughlin) and Nancy (Helen Wagner), she was convinced they were having a boy.

Akahige, Amarcord, Aleksandr Nevskij among Venice Classics titles; Bertrand Tavernier selects four films.

Akahige, Amarcord, Aleksandr Nevskij and A Matter of Life and Death are among 21 titles announced today to screen in Venice’s (September 2-12) Classics section, which will reveal further titles later this month.

Director Bertrand Tavernier, who is to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award, has selected and will present four films for the Classics strand: Pattes Blances (White Paws) by Jean Grémillion, La Lupa (The Vixen) by Alberto Lattuada, Sonnenstrahl (Ray of Sunshine) by Pál Fejös and A Matter of Life and Death by Michael Powell and Eric Pressburger.

The 21 restorations:

Akahige (Red Beard) by Akira Kurosawa (Japan, 1965, 185’, B&W), restoration by Tōhō Co., Ltd.

Aleksandr Nevskij (Alexander Nevsky) by Sergej Michajlovič Ėjzenštejn (Ussr, 1938, 108’, B&W), restoration by Mosfilm

Amarcord by Federico Fellini (Italy, 1973, 123’, Color) restoration by Cineteca di Bologna with the support of yoox.com and the...

The rapid strides taken by auteur Turkish cinema in recent times owes not a little to the daredevil, pioneering spirit of Yilmaz Güney who left a message to succeeding generations that they can achieve great things only if they are prepared to abandon the beaten track and set their sights on challenging summits.

Yilmaz Güney (1937 – 1984)

The seventy-fifth birth anniversary this year of Yilmaz Güney (1937 – 1984), the stormy petrel of modern Turkish cinema, is certain to set the Bosphorus on fire. Güney’s phenomenal many-sided genius made him a force to reckon with when he came to direction after a long stint as Turkey’s most popular film hero. But in the post-Second World War history of the Turkish State and society, Güney occupies a higher place than just that of a trail-blazing film personality. His strong sympathies for the inhabitants of the ‘lower depths’ – a recurring theme in his films – combined...