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2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Several people hurt in Akron crash
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
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A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Rich Heldenfels
Published on Sunday, Apr 06, 2008
Gene Wilder's overall cinematic output is not marked by consistency, its marvelous moments mixed in with many duds (including an unsuccessful TV series).
But when he was on, there was more than enough to merit tribute from Turner Classic Movies on Tuesday.
Watch his unfettered behavior in The Producers (the original, good movie, not the adaptation of the musical) or his absolute commitment to his performance in Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask. Or his Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Or Blazing Saddles, or Start the Revolution Without Me, or Young Frankenstein, or his work with Richard Pryor in Silver Streak and Stir Crazy.
There's enough there to forgive Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother and The World's Greatest Lover and the later Pryor films.
TCM will show three of Wilder's films on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning: The Producers at 9:15 p.m., Blazing Saddles at 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. and Start the Revolution Without Me at 2:15 a.m.
In addition, it will air Role Model: Gene Wilder at 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. The hour-long production has Wilder considering his career — as actor, director and writer — and aspects of his personal life in conversation with Alec Baldwin.
It really is a conversation, too, with Baldwin sharing thoughts and experiences of his own. (When Wilder talks about how his first wife — not Gilda Radner — proved a good inspiration for anger in his performances, Baldwin indicates he might use the same technique. Baldwin's split with wife Kim Basinger has been famously nasty.) Although Baldwin at times presses when he should just listen, for the most part he is good at drawing out Wilder — and Wilder says at interview's end that he might not have sat down with someone other than Baldwin.
What Wilder has to say is often interesting, both about his craft and the people in his life. Mel Brooks falls in both areas, as a longtime friend of Wilder and as his collaborator on The Producers, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles; Brooks knew he could call Wilder to be in Blazing on a moment's notice, when the actor signed to play the Waco Kid went into alcohol withdrawal as shooting began.
There also is talk about Radner, who died while married to Wilder and about Wilder's current marriage, which has lasted 16 years. There are memories of working with Pryor (some good, some bad), and of The Producers' Zero Mostel. And more than once it feels as if a topic was covered in even more detail than the show contains. I'm hoping there will be a DVD with more.
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in a blog at http://www.ohio.com. Contact him at 330-996-3582 or rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
Gene Wilder's overall cinematic output is not marked by consistency, its marvelous moments mixed in with many duds (including an unsuccessful TV series).
Get the full article here.
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