Westerns, 2015, Etc.

[eldritchhobbit]

Heads up to my friends in the US who are fans of Westerns! (I know there are several of you out there.) Tomorrow the PBS series Pioneers of Television has a special episode devoted to Westerns, and it will include new interviews with Robert Conrad of The Wild Wild West and Linda Evans from The Big Valley, among others. The episode also will focus on Fess Parker, James Garner, James Arness, and other stars of classic series.


A few other links of possible interest:

* From The Christian Science Monitor: "Sherlock Holmes: He's back! Sherlock Holmes will return to the written page in a new novel authorized by the Arthur Conan Doyle estate."

* Liam Neeson is voicing Qui-Gon Jinn for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which makes me ridiculously happy: here's an exclusive clip from Entertainment Weekly.

* From Book Chick City: "YA Fiction: Category or Genre?"


Since my students are watching this in my course on dystopian thought, it seemed like a good time to share Epic 2015 again here. Note that all of the innovations described through 2004 (including Reason's personalized magazine covers) are true. Check out the 1984 reference...



"Have you guys gone out today? If you haven't gone out today, please go out today. It's an incredible day. Take a look at this."
- Epic 2015

Comments

[madkestrel.livejournal.com]

Even though Artemis Gordon was my favorite character on WWW, I still wanted to marry Robert Conrad when I was a teenager. *grin*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! :)

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Awesomecakes! Just by chance I caught the Sci Fi episode. Can't say it taught me anything new, but it was interesting seeing them talk about/to people that tend to be overlooked and poo-poo'd in those sorts of things.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yes! I caught in just enough time to see it, but not early enough to give the heads up to anyone else. I agree: the interviews were the best part. I'm looking forward to this one.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I saw Conrad in the previews after last week's show. I can't wait to see it! The SF episode was enjoyable. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Me, too! I enjoyed the SF one, as well; I didn't find out about it in time to give a shout out, but I was very glad to see it. It was nice to see recent interviews with so many of the castmembers of the various shows.

[sittingduck1313.livejournal.com]

A handy resource I got for Christmas is The Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns. It lists Westerns of all media which employ fantastical elements. Summaries are brief, but it's a good way to find out how to fill up your Netflix queue.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, this sounds wonderful! I need to get my hands on a copy of that. Thanks for the recommendation.

[alitalf.livejournal.com]

I missed the 1984 reference - would you be so kind as to jog my memory?

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You bet! (It goes by rather fast.) The name on the Googlezon ID card is Winston Smith. :)

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

Gotta see that! Too bad Ross Martin won't be available for interviewing, he was always my favorite! But my hubby says he saw a preview which featured Ed Ames (for Daniel Boone) and that's all I need to know to be camped out in front of the TV!

My favorite shows to watch as reruns were pretty much all westerns except for Star Trek -- Bonanza, Daniel Boone, High Chaparral, Big Valley. Fun times!

Thanks for the heads up!

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

Oops, forgot to mention Wild Wild West, duh!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wish Ross Martin was still with us... :(

Ed Ames, too? This is going to be great! I was raised on SF and Western reruns, so we have a lot of shows in common, I think. ;)

[morfin.livejournal.com]

My wife pointed out to me that in every episode of WWW, Robert Conrad winds up shirtless and tied up (she also frequently mentioned the tight black leather chaps). I never noticed this watching it when I was growing up, but after that, I see it in every episode. Especially the one where the villain is wearing a black leather jacket and is Tex Baxter!!!! (my God, what would Mary and Murray say?).

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

ROFLOL! He most definitely lost more shirts than Captain Kirk, that's for sure.

Oh my goodness, those chaps...!!!

I can't even begin to form a proper reply to the Ted Baxter in black leather image. *cackles*

I suppose the producers knew what would bring the female audience (and portions of the male audience) back every week.;)

[cyloran.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the heads up! I'll definitely have to try and catch it.