Author: Herbie J Pilato

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

Herbie J Pilato tells All About the Origin of the Classic Series KUNG-FU

by Herbie J Pilato

Ed Spielman, creator of KUNG FU
Ed Spielman, creator of KUNG FU

Writer/executive producer Ed Spielman is a man for all seasons…TV seasons that is, and a few for the big screen as well.

Spielman, who is also an author and journalist, is the creator of the Emmy Award winning classic TV series, Kung Fu, the first eastern-western which initially aired on ABC from 1972 to 1975, and starred David Carradine as the Asian-American Shaolin monk from the Far East who journeyed through the Old West.

The show’s original 90-minute origin (co-written with Howard Friedlander), debuting February 22, 1972 (on ABC’s popular Movie of the Week series) was “the first American Martial Arts film.” The Emmy award winning series that followed commenced the modern martial arts genre for television and motion pictures, and was honored by Entertainment Weekly magazine as “One of the 100 Best Television Shows of All Time.” read article

Herbie J Pilato Muses on MURDER, SHE WROTE

by Herbie J Pilato

murder_she_wrote_-_nvy_mens_3_3You never really want Jessica B. Fletcher to pay you a visit because, well, your life just might be in danger.

At least your fictional life…if you were a fictional character, as is Jessica, who was portrayed by Angela Lansbury, the ever-grand dame of the performance world, for 12 seasons on the classic television mystery series, Murder, She Wrote (CBS, 1984-1996).

As a professional mystery-novel writer and a (not really) amateur sleuth based in the fictional Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica journeys the world conducting research or seminars, making personal appearances, attending conferences, hosting book signings, or just visiting colleagues, friends and relatives on the apparently very successful salary she earns as a writer (go, J.B.!). read article

Herbie J Pilato Sees NASHVILLE & SWITCHED AT BIRTH

Late to the Party: What Makes “Nashville” and “Switched at Birth” Great Television
by Herbie J Pilato

ABC-Nashville-PosterKudos to ABC and ABC Family for doing TV right!

From the fall of 1989 to the spring of 1993, ABC aired the TV show titled, LIFE GOES ON, about a family who just so happened to have a son with Down syndrome (played by the amazing Chris Burke) became the first series, family-geared or otherwise, to feature a weekly character with a disability. Chad Lowe later joined the series in his Emmy-winning role as Jesse McKenna (who was diagnosed with HIV-virus, which developed into full-blown AIDS), and the already-ground-breaking series made further historic strides.

Further back in 1975, Robert Altman directed the Oscar-winning (for Best Song) critically-acclaimed feature film, NASHVILLE, which interlocked the country and gospel musical lives of those living in the Tennessee country musical capitol. read article

Herbie J Pilato: Make ’em Laugh

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Or
Why Comedy is King – Even in Drama
Or
The Importance of Being Funny – Beyond Comedies
by Herbie J Pilato

Back in the day, classic television shows, and feature films for that matter, made time for humor to balance the drama. After World War II, as big-screen movies became darker and edgier (which today’s productions seem so intent on embracing and displaying), humor began to vanish and was labeled as too old-fashioned.

Humor, however, is a substantial part of life, not to mention sanity – and its inclusion in all creative properties, for the big-screen or small, the live stage or the recorded word or musical lyric, is imperative for a well-rounded presentation and production, particularly when a writer seeks to ignite interest and/or showcase their wares on TV – the most intimate of all mediums.

It’s all about connecting with the audience, viability and likeability….just like when dating – and making the attempt to show your best-side to your potential new romantic interest; in other words: getting someone to like you. read article

Why M*A*S*H Didn’t Mesh In Later Years

MASH-tv-show

by Herbie J Pilato

The classic TV series M*A*S*H, which gave the world Alan Alda and a band of brilliant actors (and which was based on the 1970 Korean War medical-military feature film dramedy of the same name), originally aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983.

But it was never really the same after its second season. In other words, it wasn’t funny anymore; and in some sectors, it wasn’t considered even likable. It was a good show beyond its sophomore year, but it wasn’t the same show. It was like some kind of bizarro version of original self (which see Superman mythology); kind of like the less-than-worthy spin-off series (AfterM*A*S*H) it spawned after it ended.

So, what happened? Why did the series change? When did the show change? What were the changes? read article