News

Before "Austin Powers," "Johnny English," and "Top Secret!" there was "Get Smart," the 1960s spy sitcom that mined the genre for laughs when the James Bond and "Mission: Impossible" franchises were still in their infancies. Co-created by comedy legends Mel Brook and Buck Henry, "Get Smart" ran for five seasons from 1965 to 1970, earning seven Primetime Emmys and plenty of other accolades along the way.

Stand-up comedian Don Adams starred as Maxwell Smart, the sometimes inept top-secret agent who regularly held the fate of the world in his hands ... and often almost fumbled it. By his side was the beautiful, super-cool Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon), who loves Maxwell despite his clumsiness and penchant for messing up missions. The central trio was rounded out by Edward Platt's The Chief, the supportive leader of the intelligence agency Control, which employed both Agent 99 and Maxwell.

"Get Smart" inspired a follow-up film, sequel TV show,...

Robert Zemeckis’ “Used Cars” opens with a slow, patient push-in on a man tinkering around under the dashboard of a used car, eventually achieving the goal of rolling back its odometer. He’s whistling “Hail to the Chief” as he works; the opening title music that follows is a rousing rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The messaging here is not subtle: America, circa 1980, is a used car lot. Appropriately enough, at the year’s end, it would elect a used car salesman President.

Continue reading ‘Used Cars’ At 40: How The Cynical Black Comedy Became A Preview Of The Reagan Era at The Playlist.

We all know that the Doom Patrol is getting their own series, but the characters are making their big live-action debut in the upcoming fourth episode of DC’s Titans. The episode is called “Doom Patrol” and DC Universe has released the first promo spot for it.

This first promo gives us our first look at the Doom Patrol team in action and I kinda like the freaky cool designs of the characters.

The Doom Patrol consists of Brendan Fraser as Robotman, April Bowlby as Elasti-Woman, Diane Guerrero as Crazy Jane, Joivan Wade as Cyborg, and Matt Bomer as Negative Man.

You can check out the promo spot below:

Doom Patrol is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved group of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered...

Some new set photos have surfaced from DC Universe's live-action Doom Patrol series and these give us our best look yet at the character Robotman. I absolutely love his look because it’s right out of the comic books!

Robotman is being played by Brendan Fraser in the series. He’s not the guy wearing the suit but he will be providing the voice and appear in flashback scenes as Cliff Steele.

Cliff Steele is a former race car driver who was in a crazy accident that left his body uninhabitable. Cliff’s brain was saved by the mysterious Dr. Niles Caulder and he lives on in a powerful robotic body.

I’m looking forward to seeing some official photos of these characters, but in the meantime check out the photos from the set here:

We have lots of amazing photos of Robotman on the set of #DoomPatrol! See...

'James Bond' actor Timothy Dalton will play 'The Chief' aka 'Dr. Niles Caulder', in the DC Comics live-action superhero adaptation "Doom Patrol", streaming on the new 'DC Universe' digital service in 2019:

'...'Dr. Caulder' is a pioneer in medical science, searching the world over for those on the edge of death in need of a miracle. Brilliant, but controversial, Dr. Caulder will stop at nothing to help those he believes are in need, including his collection of strange heroes known as 'The Doom Patrol'..."

"...'Doom Patrol' is a re-imagining of one of DC's most beloved group of outcast superheroes including 'Robotman', 'Negative Man', 'Elasti-Girl' and 'Crazy Jane', led by modern-day mad scientist 'Dr. Niles Caulder' aka 'The Chief'.

"The Doom Patrol's members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities -- but also left them scarred and disfigured. 

"Traumatized and downtrodden,...

Some set photos have surfaced from DC Universe's live-action Doom Patrol series and they give us our first look at the main characters in the film, which include Dwain Murphy's Negative Man, Brendan Frasier's Robotman, April Bowlby's Elasti-Woman, and Diane Guerrero's Crazy Jane. Personally, I think the costumes that I'm seeing here for Negative Man and Robot Man look pretty cool. I'm sure they'll look even better in the series after all the post-production work is done. This is just such a fun team of characters and I'm really curious to see how this series turns out. Check out the photos below and let us know what you think of the look of the characters.

First look at Robot Man, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, and Crazy Jane on the set of DC Universe's Doom Patrol! pic.twitter.com/R7ZDNRCWmY

— Walt (@UberKryptonian) September 1, 2018

The series also stars...

Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black) has been cast in the role of Crazy Jane in DC's upcoming live-action Doom Patrol series. She is one of the lead characters in the series.

Guerrero’s Crazy Jane is described as "an unlikely hero suffering from the world’s most severe case of multiple personality disorder. Each of her 64 distinct personas manifest a different super power making Jane the Doom Patrol’s most powerful member…and also its most unstable."

Guerrero seems like a great actress to take on the role. She will join April Bowlby as Elasti-Girl and Kelsy Grammer, who is in talks to play Dr. Caulder. This group of heroic outcasts also includes Robotman, and Negative Man. Together these rejects find themselves on a mission that will take them to the weirdest and most unexpected corners of the DC universe. Here's the synopsis:

Doom Patrol is a re-imagining...

A familiar face from Orange Is the New Black is headed to DC's forthcoming digital service.

Diane Guerrero has joined the live-action cast of the Svod service's Doom Patrol series. Guerrero, who has played Maritza Ramos in multiple seasons of the Netflix dramedy, will co-star in the Greg Berlanti-produced drama opposite April Bowlby.

Doom Patrol is described as a reimagining of one of DC's most beloved group of outcast superheroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Woman (Bowlby) and Crazy Jane (Guerrero), who are led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). The drama picks up after the events of ...

DC Entertainment is in the process of developing a handful of series for their upcoming streaming service. One of the first series to be released on it is Titans and that will introduce a group of superhero outcasts known as the Doom Patrol. Shortly after Titans, there will be a spinoff series that focuses on those Doom Patrol characters.

That team of Doom Patrol heroes consists of Elasti-Girl, Robotman, Negative Man, Crazy Jane and Cyborg and they are led by Dr. Niles Caulder, aka The Chief.

According to That Hashtag Show, the creative team wants to cast Kelsey Grammer in the lead role of Dr. Caulder and he’s perfect for it! Here’s a description of the character that was offered:

Eccentric, brilliant, paternal, and mysterious. The Chief is a noted scientist, wealthy investor and, of course, leader of The Doom Patrol. The Chief rescued each member of his team from horrific accidents,...

Warner Bros Television will produce a live-action adaptation of DC Comics' "Doom Patrol", that will stream exclusively with a 13-episode order on Warners "DC Universe" digital service:

"...'Doom Patrol' is a re-imagining of one of DC';s most beloved group of outcast superheroes including 'Robotman', 'Negative Man', 'Elasti-Girl' and 'Crazy Jane', led by modern-day mad scientist 'Dr. Niles Caulder' aka 'The Chief'.

"The Doom Patrol's members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities -- but also left them scarred and disfigured. 

"Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence and to protect Earth from what they find. 

"Part support group, part superhero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them. 

"Picking up after the events of 'Titans',...

Warner Bros Television will produce a live-action adaptation of DC Comics' "Doom Patrol", that will stream exclusively with a 13-episode order on Warners "DC Universe" digital service:

"...'Doom Patrol' is a re-imagining of one of DC';s most beloved group of outcast superheroes including 'Robotman', 'Negative Man', 'Elasti-Girl' and 'Crazy Jane', led by modern-day mad scientist 'Dr. Niles Caulder' aka 'The Chief'.

"The Doom Patrol's members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities -- but also left them scarred and disfigured. 

"Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence and to protect Earth from what they find. 

"Part support group, part superhero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them. 

"Picking up after the events of 'Titans',...

Admittedly, I’ve never seen reason to subscribe to any sort of streaming service, but the upcoming DC Universe initiative may change that. Boasting animated series such as Young Justice: Outsiders and Harley Quinn, while not ignoring the live action side of things by bringing Titans and Swamp Thing along for the ride, Doom Patrol can now count itself among the latter art form. Needless to say, that’s a whole lot of incentive to sign up.

Funny enough, even though the band of misfits making up the Doom Patrol predate Marvel’s X-Men in the comic book realm, it was those merry mutants who ultimately went on to find more mainstream success. That said, if you dig what’s been going on over at the House of Ideas, this may be something you’ll want to give a try.

What’s also noteworthy is that DC Universe is showing...

DC Comics’ “Doom Patrol” is coming to small screens. The cult classic superhero team is getting a live-action series on DC Universe, the upcoming digital service from DC Entertainment.

“Doom Patrol,” from “Frequency” showrunner Jeremy Carver and Berlanti Productions, has received a 13-episode series order and is slated to debut in 2019.

The series follows a group of outcast superheroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). Each members has suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. The show will serve as a follow-up to the first DC Universe original series, “Titans,” starring Brenton Thwaites as Batman sidekick Robin.

Also Read: Make These Comics Into Movies (Podcast)

Created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani, the Doom Patrol characters debuted in DC’s “My Greatest Adventure” in 1963 and have...

King of the DC TV universe Greg Berlanti has a follow-up to his previously announced Titans at DC Universe. The joint venture of Warner Bros Digital Networks and DC Entertainment has given a 13-episode direct-to-series order to hourlong live-action drama Doom Patrol, a reimagining of the beloved superhero DC characters, from Berlanti and Warner Bros TV. Doom Patrol begins production this year for a 2019 premiere on DC Universe..

Jeremy Carver (Supernatural) will pen the series based on the DC characters originally written and drawn by Arnold Drake, Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.

The series Doom Patrol is a re-imagining of the beloved group of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr. Niles Caulder (The Chief). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief,...

Don’t let its title fool you — the newest addition to DC Universe is a lot more fun than it sounds.

The streaming service, which will play host to previously announced originals like Titans and Swamp Thing, has given a 13-episode series order to Doom Patrol, TVLine has learned.

Described as a “re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved groups of outcast superheroes,” Doom Patrol will feature the likes of Negative Man (played by Dwain Murphy), Elasti-Girl (played by April Bowlby) and Crazy Jane, under the guidance of Dr. Niles Caulder aka “The Chief” (played by Bruno Bichir).

All...

DC Comics' superhero team "The Doom Patrol", will appear in the currently shooting "Titans" live-action TV pilot:

The original 'Doom Patrol' debuted in DC's "My Greatest Adventure" #80 (June 1963), created by writers Arnold Drake, Bob Haney and illustrator Bruno Premiani, consisting of super-powered 'misfits', whose powers caused them alienation and trauma.

Dubbed the 'World's Strangest Heroes', the first team included 'The Chief' aka 'Niles Caulder', 'Robotman' aka 'Cliff Steele', 'Elasti-Girl' aka 'Rita Farr' and 'Negative Man' aka 'Larry Trainor'.

In the "Titans" TV pilot, actor Brenton Thwaites plays 'Dick Grayson', aka 'Robin', former protege of 'Batman'.

Cast also includes Alan Ritchson as 'Hank Hall'/Hawk', Minka Kelly as 'Dawn Granger'/'Dove' and Lindsey Gort as 'Detective Amy Rohrbach'.

"Titans", developed by Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, will debut in 2018 on DC Comics' new direct-to-consumer digital service.

"Titans" Original Casting Call Breakdown:

"...Male,...

As reported by Variety, British actor Tim Pigott-Smith died last week on April 7. Variety doesn’t have a cause of death, but Pigott-Smith was set to play Willy Loman in a touring production of Death Of A Salesman that was supposed to open this week, so his death was apparently unexpected. Pigott-Smith was 70.

In England, Pigott-Smith had a long and successful career with memorable appearances in everything from The Hour, The Chief, and a handful of original Doctor Who episodes in the ‘70s. However, he was probably best known for playing Police Superintendent Ronald Merrick in the 1984 series The Jewel In The Crown, which told stories about the final days of the British Raj in India after World War II—a role that earned Pigott-Smith a Best Actor award at the BAFTAs in 1985.

Here in the United States, Pigott-Smith is better known for his movie roles ...

Writer, publisher and TV producer who made drama for children and adults

Ruth Boswell, who has died aged 86, “got into telly” after a job reading unsolicited scripts for Atv during the early 1960s. She went on to script editing and producing in Atv’s children’s department, where she made the series Timeslip (1970) and The Tomorrow People (1973). Her instinct for storytelling, combined with her own knowledge of loss in childhood, gave her insight into children’s emotional development through the arts.

She later moved into adult drama at the BBC, where she and her husband, Greg Stewart, a psychiatrist, helped to develop Maybury (1981-83), a series about people with mental health problems, written by Shane Connaughton and featuring a young Kenneth Branagh. Then she moved on to Anglia TV to make the series The Chief (1990-95) with Tim Pigott-Smith and Martin Shaw. She also produced a feature film, The Run of the Country...

Thanksgiving is a specifically and peculiarly American occasion and although we on this side of the pond are generally aware of it, either because of films like Free Birds, or because of a healthy interest in Us sports, or through the avalanche of Thanksgiving-themed tweets from those we follow within the Twittersphere, it tends to pass us by.

But in the interests of North Atlantic harmony and in order to try to extend an olive branch of fraternity and put all that Boston Tea Party business behind us, it seemed appropriate to acknowledge and even celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing a few things for which we can all be thankful – American, British and everything else besides.

We could list all of the films we are thankful for, but that would take a while. We could say we are grateful for certain actors or directors, but in such matters of taste and...

You don't have to be familiar with the first two series of this early-90s police drama to enjoy the many charms of this, the third. The Chief would subsequently survive a further two seasons and, while five years on ITV is no guarantee of quality, this was warranted if the quality of this instalment is anything to go by.

Anchored by a steely yet likable lead performance from Martin Shaw as Chief Constable of Eastlands police Alan Cade, the show's combustible mix of personal, political, and policing issues -- together with some disarmingly topical themes -- add up to an engrossing six-parter.

The opening two episodes dramatise the changeover from The Chief of the first two series --John Stafford (Tim Piggot-Smith), leaving to investigate shady shenanigans by fellow policemen in London -- to the newly appointed Cade. This gives the uninitiated a welcome crash-course in the programme's set-up and character relationships.