Category: News

In Memorium: Sitcom Writer Reinhold Weege

Farewell, Reinhold Weege. Our condolences to his family.

Reinhold Weege is dead at 63 – by Team TVWriter Press Service

The creator of the quirky 1980s NBC comedy series “Night Court,” who also wrote and produced for ABC’s “Barney Miller” and worked on a number of other high-profile TV shows, has died, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Reinhold Weege was 63.

Weege was a staff writer and producer on “Barney Miller” before he left the show to start “Night Court.” The new series went on to a nine-season run, winning seven Emmys and earning a total of 31 nominations. Reege was a part of four Emmy nominations for outstanding comedy series — one as a member of the team behind “Barney Miller” and three for “Night Court.” read article

Disney Allies With Netflix – Is This the Start of a New Showbiz Paradigm?

Last week Netflix blew the minds of those who have always regarded it as being near death and bought exclusive U.S. rights to films from Disney Studios. Not only will Netflix be carrying new content, it also has non-exclusive streaming rights to older films such as DUMBO and POCAHONTAS.

According to the L.A. Times and New York Post, the 3 year deal will cost Netflix in the neighborhood of $350 million a year when it starts in 2016. (The streaming of older material starts immediately.) read article

LB: Goodbye to the Stage Deli

35 years ago I had lunch there with Rocky Graziano and we talked about a project based on his boxing career. 25 years ago I had lunch there with a couple of elite investigators for the Manhattan D.A.’s office and we talked about a project based on their crook-collaring careers. Before, in-between, and after, I had several interesting sit-downs with Norman Mailer, when he told me all about how to run my career.

The Stage Deli, in Manhattan, was without a doubt the best delicatessen in which I’ve ever eaten. It closed down last month, though, on November 29th. As one of the co-owners, Paul Zolenge, is reported by the New York Times to have said, “It’s a sad day for New York.” read article

BATES HOTEL’s Carlton Cuse Wants You

…To design the show’s opening “credits.” Well, the press release says “credits,” but we’re thinking it probably means “titles,” no?

Anyway, here’s the skinny. A &E Network has put out the call for fans to help create the opening title sequence for BATES MOTEL, a prequel to the Hitchcock-Joseph Stefano (hey, he’s the writer!) classic, PSYCHO. read article

This Just In From the U.S. Gov

…Cuz you can’t write if your head isn’t in the right place. And your head isn’t in the right place if you’re worried about, you know, the whole world dying:

So there ya go. After all, if you can’t trust our elected leaders and their minions who can you – oh, wait. Crap…