James Arness’s Gunsmoke marshal, Matt Dillon, made his first appearance on television in 1955. So did Hugh O’Brien’s dandified Wyatt Earp...But only one of these iconic TV characters’ chronological contemporaries is still with us and, amazingly, still getting work. That would be Kermit the Frog...

2015

Sep

'THE CIVIL WAR' RETURNS IN UNCIVIL TIMES By Noel Holston

Almost 40 million people saw at least part of The Civil War when Ken Burns’ multipart documentary premiered in September 1990...It’s coming back Monday, September 7, for a special anniversary encore on PBS. Two things will be different...

2015

Aug

MORTON DOWNEY JR. FINDS HIS FANGS By Noel Holston

Contrary to his atomic-fireball TV persona, the Morton Downey Jr. I knew was a pussycat. A pussycat o’nine tails sometimes, but a pussycat all the same...

2015

Aug

A PATRIOTIC SALUTE AND COMBAT SMOKE WITH JON STEWART By Noel Holston

Liberals who have American flags (a larger contingent than our more conservative fellow citizens typically acknowledge) are likely flying them at half-mast to mark the retirement from Comedy Central of Jon Stewart...

2015

Feb

BOB SIMON: 1941-2015 By Noel Holston

The news hit hard – and then the irony. Bob Simon, the decorated journalist and 60 Minutes mainstay, was dead, killed in an automobile crash Wednesday in New York City. Simon had survived as many war zones and hot spots in his 47-year career as any reporter alive...

2015

Jan

THE ULTIMATE SHOW BIZ COUP: PEGOT By Noel Holston

Only a couple of artists can claim a PEGOT – Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony...

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