Viewers of the CBS hit Blue Bloods may feel like they've gone through a time warp when they see executive producer Leonard Goldberg's credit on the screen. One of network TV's most successful execs, he oversaw programming at ABC in the 1960s, produced such hits as Charlie's Angels and Starsky & Hutch with Aaron Spelling in the 1970s and was responsible for some of the most memorable made-for-TV movies of the '80s before heading into film. Goldberg, who turns 77 this month, told us what it's like to be back on the front lines of prime time.
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Bernie Hamilton, best known for his role as by-the-book police Capt. Harold Dobey on ABC's 1970s cop drama Starsky & Hutch, died Tuesday. He was 80.
The actor died of cardiac arrest, Hamilton's son, Raoul, told The Associated Press.
Hamilton was born in ...
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Jeers to The Closer for wasting Paul Michael Glaser. I was psyched when I heard one of my childhood idols would make a rare TV appearance on another cop show, three decades after he policed the streets on Starsky & Hutch. Imagine my disappointment when Glaser was given only two brief scenes as a movie producer/murder suspect — and even those were dominated by Amy Aquino as his vengeful wife. They could've at least let him drive a Gran Torino or something.• Share your own raves and rants about other shows on the Reader Cheers & Jeers discussion board.• We may feature your Cheer or Jeer on TVGuide.com or in TV Guide magazine!
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Question: I have a laundry list of questions about summer viewing: Is Life on Mars going to have a second season, or was it a one-off? (I'm scared to death of the American remake — I'm expecting Starsky & Hutch.) I was disappointed to hear about the bad ratings of Brotherhood — it's too good to be ignored. If there is no second season, will we be left hanging, or does the first series come to some sort of resolution? I know it's early, but what is the likelihood of Vanished making it through the season? Is Fox willing to take a chance based on the success of 24 and Prison Break, or will this be another Firefly/Wonderfalls/Reunion? Finally, what is your reaction to Denis Leary getting an Emmy nomination for acting but not one for writing? As good as he is as Tommy Gavin, his and Peter Tolan's scripts are the heart of that series. How could the writing be ignored?
Answer: There is a second series of Life on Mars, but no word on when BBC America will present
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Question: I'm delighted to see that BBC America will be showing Life on Mars later this month, but I heard that ABC wanted a U.S. remake. I know most U.S. versions of scripted U.K. shows haven't been too successful recently (The Office is the only nonreality show I can think of that has), but given the differences in policing in the U.K. and the U.S. in the '70s, I think this one could stand a chance of being different but good in its own right, rather than a pale imitation. What do you think? Have you heard anything more about the U.S. version?
Answer: All I know is what the trades originally reported, that David E. Kelley was interested in developing this provocative premise for American TV. Backing up for those unfamiliar with the show, which premieres on BBC America July 24: Despite the title, Mars isn't a sci-fi show, though it does have a heavy fantasy element. It's about a detective who is hit by a car and wakes up back in 1973, where he's still a cop, but now operating in a
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