TV Obits: Goodman, Wilson, Love
A roundup of TV people from in front of the camera and behind the scenes who have passed away.
- Dody Goodman: She was a comic and character actress who appeared on several TV shows, including Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, The Tonight Show, St. Elsewhere, Diff’rent Strokes, Murder, She Wrote, The Phil Silvers Show, Punky Brewster, Alvin & The Chipmunks, and The Love Boat, and was in movies such as Grease and Splash. She died at age 92.
- Gerald Wilson: He was an editor on several TV shows over the years, including Bewitched, Serpico, Adventures in Paradise, Gunsmoke, and The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, as well as the miniseries Washington: Behind Closed Doors. He was also an editor on movies such as A Farewell To Arms and Mind Over Murder. He died at age 93.
- Kermit Love: He was the co-creator of the Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Mr. Snuffleupagus. He also played Willie the Hot Dog vendor on the show, and Jim Henson named Kermit The Frog after Love.. He was also an acclaimed choreographer and costume designer. He died at age 91.
Jon Voight joins 24
Oscar-winner Jon Voight, father of a certain actress called Angelina Jolie, will return to the small screen this fall. The actor, who recently appeared in movies such as National Treasure and Transformers, was cast in an important role on FOX’s hit series 24.
The 69-year-old actor may be best known for his movies but he is no stranger to TV. He appeared in a handful of made-for-TV movies, in mini-series such as the 1993 Return to Lonesome Dove in which he played lead character Capt. Woodrow F. Call, and in series like Gunsmoke for example.
Slight spoilers after the jump!
TV Guide reports that Voight will make his first 24 appearance in the two-hour prequel special to air on November 23 on FOX. He will then appear in most of the episodes of the second part of the series’ seventh season starting in January 2009. Since around 10 episodes of next season have been completed, expect Voight to appear on the show around episodes 11 to 13.
Voight will need to channel his inner baddie for the role because he was cast as the evil doer of the season. Supposedly, Tony Almeida’s will not be as bad as Voight’s character will. Not much more is known about the character but The Hollywood Reporter says that he’ll be behind the terrorist threat Jack must try to stop.
Simpsons Do Have a (Cash) Cow, Man
For the Simpsons cast, it’s less d’oh and more dough. Finally.
After months of negotiations that, until now, have put production on the latest season on hold, the voices of Springfield’s finest (and not so finest) have signed a new four-year deal with 20th Century Fox, bumping up the top cast’s salaries to roughly $400,000 per episode.
The new payday takes effect for the just announced 20th season of the series, which goes into production this morning, and which puts the show on par with Gunsmoke as the longest running prime-time series in TV history.
Though the new per-episode salary is slightly less than the reported $500,000 the group originally collectively sought, it’s a big boost from the $300,000 per episode the regulars were previously receiving.
In addition, Dan Castellaneta, who provides the voice of Homer Simpson and has penned several episodes of the series, has been made a consulting producer.
But while most of the gangCastellaneta, Julie Kavner (Marge), Nancy Cartwright (Bart), Yeardley Smith (Lisa) and Hank Azaria (Moe, Apu, et al.)is expected back on the studio lot today to kick off the first table read of the slightly truncated yet historic season, one key figure may be MIA.
A last-minute hitch prevented Harry Shearer from reupping with the rest of the cast, and it’s unclear whether his voiceand those of Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders, among otherswould be heard at the table read.
Because the lengthy negotiations cut into potential production time, the upcoming season will be comprised of just 20 episodes, rather than the usual 22.
It’s also unclear how much longer the show will go on. While the voice cast is now contracted for four more seasons, the series itself has not been renewed beyond 2008-09.
Which means the actors may be going from dough back to d’oh sooner than they think.
Suzanne Pleshette dead at 70
I was just at the supermarket and saw the headline in one of the gossip mags that Suzanne Pleshette was on her death bed, and now I hear that Pleshette has died of cancer at the age of 70.
TV fans will remember Pleshette from her role as Emily Hartley, wife of psychologist Bob Hartley on CBS’ The Bob Newhart in the 70s. She reprised the role in the classic final episode of Newhart. Pleshette appeared in several other TV shows as well, including a role as Mark Feuerstein’s mom on Good Morning Miami and James Garner’s love interest on 8 Simple Rules, as well as guest spots on Columbo, Will & Grace, The Name of the Game, Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Invaders, It Takes A Thief, The Fugitive, Wild, Wild West, and several others.
On the big screen, she appeared in The Birds, The Shaggy D.A., The Lion King II, The Power, Support Your Local Gunfighter, and many films.