The other day I filled my cookie card with 12 stamps and was rewarded with a free cookie. Last year I used points from my local grocery store to give me a sizable discount off a waffle iron. I use airline points to get free flights, and points earned at the theater for free movie tickets. Programs like these are designed to reward customers for being loyal — they're designed to keep people coming back.The home entertainment industry seems, for the most part, designed to screw its loyal customers. "Oh, you bought the regular edition of the movie? Hah! We have a super-duper special edition with 20 minutes of new material, new extras and other awesome stuff you'll want because you're a fan of the movie." I'll admit to falling for the trap a number of times; I own two copies of The Bourne Identity on DVD (and another on HD DVD); two copies of Criterion Collection's Brazil release (because the first wasn't anamorphic); I had two versions of Last of the Mohicans before I sold one; an...
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In honor of Father's Day, we've put together a list of 10 of the most memorable TV dads, all of which you can enjoy again and again on DVD. — Gord Lacey10. Homer Simpson, The SimpsonsHe's been on TV for 19 seasons, entertaining us with his beer-enhanced antics, zany adventures, and love of donuts. If nothing else, he gets credit for parenting three kids that never age. Buy The Simpsons at Amazon.com!9. Andy Taylor, The Andy Griffith ShowWhen you’re an elected official charged with keeping the town safe, you could easily lose sight of your duties at home. But Andy always understood that the most important badge he wore was the one as Opie's dad. Buy The Andy Griffith Show at Amazon.com!8. Tony Soprano, The SopranosTony got a gold star for heading up two families: the one at home with Carmela, Anthony and Meadow, and his other family with Paulie, Silvo and Bobby. What's a father if not a protector? Buy The Sopranos at Amazon.com!7. Al Bundy, Married with ChildrenAl put in l...
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Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island (he also wrote the catchy Brady theme song), got his well-deserved Hollywood Walk of Fame star Friday. With Florence Henderson (who played Mrs. Carol Brady) and Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island) at his side, Schwartz joked that the Oscars had gotten the title of this year's Best Picture winner wrong. "Who says this is No Country For Old Men?" he joked. At 91, the kid's still got it!In honor of Schwartz's achievements, here are my 15 all-time favorite Brady Bunch episodes, in chronological order. (You're lucky I stopped at 15. I could probably rank 100 by memory.)"The Honeymoon": This is the pilot, in which Mike and Carol get married and combine their families, including three boys, three girls, a cat and a dog (who basically ruin the wedding)."Lost Locket, Found Locket": There was not a dry eye in the O'Connor household when we found out that Alice sent Jan the locket because she's a middle child too....
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Allan Melvin, a popular character actor best recognized for his roles on The Phil Silvers Show (as Cpl. Henshaw), All in the Family (Archie's bud Barney) and The Brady Bunch (Sam the butcher), on Thursday died of cancer, reports the Los Angeles Times. He was 84.Melvin's 50-plus year career also included guest appearances on such TV shows as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show and Gomer Pyle: U.S.M.C.; voicing Magilla Gorilla and Popeye's Bluto; and playing "Al the Plumber" in 15 years' worth of Liquid-Plumr commercials.Melvin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Amalia; a daughter, Jennifer Hanson; and a grandson.
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A fun little survey released by Lifetime Products, Inc. — no, not the creator of weepy movies but the world's leading manufacturer of folding tables — says that 31 percent of adults want TV mom Claire Huxtable cooking their Thanksgiving dinner. Carol Brady came in second (with 27 percent), though you know Alice is the one really working the magic behind that island.Other findings from the survey:• Peg Bundy is the TV mom you most want far, far away from the stove.• Speaking of the Bradys, Marcia is the brood member you'd most like at your kiddie table. (Jan came in second; cry me a river.)• Adults and children alike voted Miley Cyrus the child star they most want seated at the kiddie table. (Perhaps only so they can sell the folding chairs next to her for $2,000 a pop.)• Today's kids prefer High School Musical's Gabriella (51 percent) to Sharpay (19 percent), while Drake beats Josh (45 to 37 percent).
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