TV Chatting

As you’ve probably read a million other places, Oscar-winning actor Charlton Heston died this weekend at the age of 83.

I wasn’t exactly a fan of Chuck’s rightwing politics (though he was a supporter of civil rights in the 1960s) or his bombastic style in the Biblical “sandal epics” of the 1950s and 1960s.

But Chuck had a pretty good sense of humor–even about himself–and that in my book goes a long ways.

In 1993, he hosted that bastion of liberalism, Saturday Night Live, and was frankly funny as hell, making fun about himself along the way.

He even took on his “greatest” role and line from Planet of the Apes–“Get your filthy paws off me you damn dirty ape!” In his monologue, he wakes up surrounded by an audience of, well, apes, who proceed to ask him questions.

Female Ape Audience Member: Yeah, are you some kind of talking mutant?

Charlton Heston: Nooo! I just said I’m not a mutant! I’m a human being! From your past, when human beings spoke! [ male ape audience member stands ] Yes.. yes?

Male Ape Audience Member #1: Uh.. are there.. are there other talking mutants?

Charlton Heston: I told you I am not a mutant! You don’t understand! [ points to another ape in the audience ] Yes.. over here.

Male Ape Audience Member #2: Where do you keep your tribe of talking mutants?

Charlton Heston: [ exasperated ] I don’t think you’re paying attention to what I’m telling you! [ points to another ape ] Yes? Yes?

Male Ape Audience Member #3: Yeah, uhh.. am I crazy, or are you a, uh.. [ extended pause ] ..are you a human?

Charlton Heston: Yes! Yes, I am!

Male Ape Audience Member #3: Then, where the hell did you learn to talk like an ape, you damn mutant?!

Charlton Heston: This is insane! [ pushes the apes away ] Let go off me! [ looks around ] Lorne? Lorne! Is Lorne here?

[ two other member of the ape army drag a shackled, yet highball-holding, Lorne Michaels before Heston ]

Lorne Michaels: There you are. Just play along - the apes are a great audience! They’re crazy about humans!

He also suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and no one deserves that. Rest in peace, Chuck. And tell death to take its damn dirty paws off you.

Photo: May 5, 1986 file photo of Charlton Heston at home in Los Angeles, California. Heston announced that he may have Alzheimer’s disease in a taped statement, August 9, 2002.

Technorati Tags: Charlton Heston, NRA, rightwinger, SNL, Saturday Night Live, Planet of the Apes, good humor, civil rights

Bad news for virtual post-Armageddon Kansans: CBS’s Jericho is dead.

A blurb from The Hollywood Reporter:

CBS cancels ‘Jericho’
CBS has nuked “Jericho.” Producers have been told the show is ending its run on the broadcast network, sources said. CBS will air the season finale on Tuesday with an ending that helps give closure to fans.

No more faux irradiated Kansas to kick around anymore on the TV schedule.

Photo: Jericho back in happier times. Actress Ashley Scott\attends the “Jericho” First Season DVD launch party held at Crimson Hollywood on October 2, 2007 in Hollywood, California.

Technorati Tags: Jericho, CBS, Kansas, mushroom cloud, Armageddon, Ashley Scott, Crimson Hollywood, Hollywood

This just in from the Wall Street Journal:

The negotiating committee of the Writers Guild of America voted unanimously to accept a new tentative three-year deal with the major Hollywood studios, according to a person familiar with the situation, clearing the way for final approval of the agreement by film and TV writers who have been on strike for more than three months. The full board is meeting to discuss and vote on the contract, this person says. The WGA has scheduled a press conference early this afternoon in L.A. to talk about the contract.

• FOR MORE INFORMATION, see: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120256914656156471.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

Photo: Francis Fisher and writers outside Prospect Studios on the first day of the WGA strike, November 5, 2007, in Los Feliz, California.

Technorati Tags: WGA strike, writers’ strike, Hollywood, WGA, Writers Guild of America

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