Author: Herbie J Pilato

Writer, Author, Producer, Actor, Singer/Songwriter, Lover of Life

Herbie J Pilato: The Thespian Ten Commandments, I to V

act-as-ifby Herbie J Pilato

Writers must understand actors, and actors must understand writers.  The two professions go hand-in-hand; and the more one knows about the other, the better.

As both a writer and an actor, I’ve established a list of “rules” to which an actor must adhere when performing, which I call, THE THESPIAN TEN COMMANDENTS, which I instructed my students to follow when I was teaching acting back in New York.

For sake of clarity and space, let’s narrow it down to ten, the first five of which we will explore in this post (and the second five in the next post). read article

Herbie J Pilato: “I’ll mumble for ya’?”

9TpooenTEby Herbie J Pilato

I can’t understand a lot about contemporary television programming, but what I can’t understand the most – is the dialogue.

Everybody mumbles, and talks too low.

It’s all like a bad episode of Seinfeld (of which there were only a few)! read article

Herbie J Pilato: Today’s Animated Superhero Shows: Loud and Unclear

surferboyby Herbie J Pilato

Like many a young geek in the making, I grew up loving superheroes, in comic book form, on TV or at the movies (although back in the day, all there was on the big-screen was Christopher Reeve’s tower presence in the Superman films).

On television, in particular, there was the live-action genius of Adam West as Batman; The Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man (for a moment or two) in prime-time.

On Saturday mornings, with specific regard to animation (in the 60s) there was Space Ghost and SuperFriends; Iron Man, and Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four.  With the 70s arrived live-action editions of Captain Marvel and Isis; Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, among others. read article

Herbie J Pilato: On Commercial Failure

commercialsby Herbie J Pilato

I don’t know when it happened, but it happened – and it’s been bad ever since…

Commercials have taken over the world.

The number of commercials during TV shows has definitely increased. read article

Herbie J Pilato: 1973 TV – My Favorite Year

1973tvguideby Herbie J Pilato

Sunday night with Mannix and Barnaby Jones.

Monday night with Gunsmoke,  Here’s Lucy, The Doris Day Show and Medical Center.

Tuesday night Maude and Marcus Welby, M.D. read article