KIMMER'S OSCAR PICKS FOR 2020

This season of films was pretty good. I was disappointed in The Irishman, though Joe Pesci was wonderful. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was saved by Brad Pitt. He's nominated for Supporting Actor but should have been in the Lead category. Joaquin Phoenix will most likely win for Lead Actor in Joker. He is always good but how many more Joker movies must we endure?? Enough already...

The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Full List of Nominees

My favorite picks:

Best Picture:

“Ford v Ferrari”

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Joker”

“Little Women”

“Marriage Story”

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

“Parasite”

Lead Actor:

Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

Lead Actress:

Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”

Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”

Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”

Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”

Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

Supporting Actor:

Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Al Pacino, “The Irishman”

Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”

Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Supporting Actress:

Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”

Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”

Florence Pugh, “Little Women”

Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

Director:

Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”

Todd Phillips, “Joker”

Sam Mendes, “1917”

Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”

Animated Feature:

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” Dean DeBlois

“I Lost My Body,” Jeremy Clapin

“Klaus,” Sergio Pablos

“Missing Link,” Chris Butler

“Toy Story 4,” Josh Cooley

NYPD BLUE SEQUEL GETS A PILOT DEAL!

The new show has really big shoes to fill! One of my very favorite series of all time may have a new sequel and I am really excited about the news!! 

A new installment of “NYPD Blue” has scored a pilot production commitment at ABC, Variety has learned.

The new series follows Andy Sipowicz’s son, Theo, as he tries to earn his detective shield and work in the 15th squad while investigating his father’s murder. Original series writers and executive producers Matt Olmstead and Nick Wootton will write and executive produce the new show, with Jesse Bochco–son of “NYPD Blue” co-creator Steven Bocho–executive producing and directing. Dayna Bochco, Steven’s wife, will produce. ABC Studios will produce in association with 20th Century Fox Television.

Olmstead is repped by WME and Bloom Hergott. Wootton is repped by WME and Hirsch Wallerstein.

The original “NYPD Blue” ran for over 260 episodes and 12 seasons on ABC from 1993-2005. The series starred Dennis Franz, David Caruso, Jimmy Smits, James McDaniel, Amy Brenneman, and Nicholas Turturro among many others during its run. The show was nominated for 84 Emmy Awards and won the best drama series Emmy in 1995 and won the Best Drama Series Golden Globe in 1994. Franz also picked up multiple best actor in a drama series Emmys for his role as Andy Sipowicz.

Should the project move forward, it would mark the latest revival or continuation of a storied series to make it to air on a broadcast network in recent years. ABC most recently revived “Roseanne,” which was subsequently brought back as “The Conners” following the firing of series creator and star Roseanne Barr. On CBS, “Murphy Brown” was brought back after 20 years, while Fox has revived shows like “The X-Files,” “Prison Break,” and “24.”

THE STORY OF THE ROYALS PREMIERES AUG 22-23 ON ABC!

You’re Cordially Invited

From ABC and People comes a two-night television event documenting the fascinating lives of the royal family. The Story of the Royals captures the mystique of the monarchy by exploring pivotal moments in the crown’s history up through the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Story of the Royals, a two-night television event from PEOPLE and Four M Studios, debuts on ABC on Wednesday, Aug. 22, and Thursday, Aug. 23. Get ready for a two-night, four-hour prime-time television event documenting the fascinating lives of the British royal family. Featuring an extraordinary panel of experts and voices, The Story of the Royals – Part One airs WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), and The Story of the Royals – Part Two airs THURSDAY, AUG. 23 (9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT) on The ABC Television Network.

Watch on the ABC app from your smartphone and tablet (iOS and Android), computer on ABC.com and connected devices (Roku, AppleTV and Amazon Fire TV).

The Story of the Royals will explore pivotal moments in the crown's history beginning with a simple question: How exactly did we get here? The multipart series captures the mystique of the monarchy through its many loves, losses, extravagances, challenges and charms. With Prince William and Kate's new royal baby and Prince Harry's recent marriage to Meghan Markle, the Windsors have truly begun to modernize and resemble a 21st-century family. "The Story of the Royals" will illustrate that evolution as well as examine the American obsession behind all things royal.

"The Story of the Royals" brings together an impressive company of friends, former staff members and royal experts to help illustrate this fascinating story (listed alphabetically by first name):

This marks the second time that ABC, PEOPLE and Four M Studios (formerly Time Inc. Productions) will partner on a two-night documentary event about the royal family. In August 2017, they teamed up for "The Story of Diana," which marked the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's tragic passing at 36 years old. "The Story of Diana" Parts One and Two debuted to impressive ratings, winning the two-hour timeslot over two consecutive nights.

WATCH 20/20'S THE ROYAL WEDDING: LEGACY AND LOVE

MANSON FOLLOWERS DENIED PAROLE AGAIN

ABC NEWS: Officials denied parole Thursday for convicted killer Patricia Krenwinkel — a follower of cult leader Charles Manson — after considering whether battered women's syndrome affected her state of mind at the time of the notorious murders nearly five decades ago in California.

Krenwinkel, 69, was previously denied parole 13 times for the slayings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people.

The next night, she helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in what prosecutors say was an attempt by Manson to ignite a race war.

The decision on parole came six months after commissioners postponed the latest hearing so officials could investigate whether Krenwinkel was battered by Manson.

"They were willing to discount the level of control through the violence, threats, intimidation that was substantiated by their own investigators," Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, said after the hearing. READ FULL STORY HERE

This woman is a monster': Sister of Manson murder victim Sharon Tate lashes out at Leslie van Houten after former beauty queen turned killer becomes eligible for parole

This is why Debra has started a petition on Change. org hoping to obtain enough signatures for California Governor Jerry Brown to deny Van Houten's parole.

LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday night blocked parole for Charles Manson follower and convicted killer Bruce Davis.

Brown’s rejection issued late Friday night is the fifth time Davis has been recommended for parole by a state panel only to see it blocked by a governor, and continues Brown’s unflinching pattern of refusing to allow anyone from Manson’s “family” to be freed.

On Feb. 1, the parole panel recommended release for the 74-year-old Davis, who is serving a life sentence for the 1969 slayings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea. Davis was not involved in the more notorious killings of actress Sharon Tate and six others by Manson’s group. READ MORE

BARBARA WALTERS RETIREMENT CELEBRATIONS

Even I got a little teary eyed watching the huge parade of tv news women paying tribute to the retiring legend of television news, Barbara Walters...One of the very first women I remember from television was Barbara Walters on the Today show..She was a relief from the stodgy men...Barbara was one of a kind and everyone wanted to be her..My niece when she was little in the early 90s often pretended to be Barbara and would say 20-20 in her version of Barbara's voice! She really is an amazing and unstoppable talent....we'll miss you Ms Walters. xK

Barbara filmed her final appearances on the View which aired a host reunion on Thursday and the legend tribute on Friday with Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton among the surprise guests who showed up to say goodbye. See all the ladies of television news in the video above... After more than 50 years in TV news, Walters is officially retiring, leaving her co-hosting gig on The View, but she'll continue to serve as the show's executive producer and contribute to ABC News on an as-needed basis. 

Barbara Walters joined the ladies at The View on ABC for her last day as co-host today. The journalist filmed her final appearance on the ABC daytime talk show Thursday afternoon in Manhattan, with Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton among the surprise guests who showed up to say goodbye.

After more than 50 years in TV news, Walters is officially retiring, leaving her co-hosting gig on The View, but she'll continue to serve as the show's executive producer and contribute to ABC News on an as-needed basis.

ROCK TV BEGAN IN THE 1960'S: SHINDIG★ HULLABALOO★ AND WHERE THE ACTION IS

Shindig! was the first of a kind in the US- a prime-time rock music TV show that featured live... maybe rehearsed and then taped live... performances by the top acts of the early Sixties.

The Studio band for Shindig were called The Shindogs.. the band lineup was Glen D Hardin Delaney Bramlett Joey Cooper James Burton and Chuck Blackwell. Never knew Delaney was in this group!

Patty Duke on Shindig!

Rolling Stones on Shindig!

The Shindig show, hosted Jimmy O'Neill, was broadcast live on ABC September 16, 1964, with house band the Shin-diggers (later the Shindogs) and the Shindigger dancers (the reason anyone over twenty-five might be watching the show). Most of the 'Shindig' shows were broadcast in glorious black and white.

On January of 1966, a year and a half after the series debuted, it was canceled to make room on ABC's schedule for 'Batman', which was also scheduled to run on two nights a week. Sigh... Oh well, we liked Batman too for a time.

Shindig was an American version of Britain's rock/pop show Ready Steady Go. They featured a lot of British Invasion bands and lots of American music too like Motown, The Birds, Fontella Bass and more. Here is a video of one of my favorite singers Gerry Marsden and Gerry and the Pacemakers "Ferry Cross the Mersey" I got to meet Gerry at the Premiere Center in Sterling Heights in the late 80's. Loved him.

Paul Revere and The Raiders with Mark Lindsay Where The Action Is In 1963, AMERICAN BANDSTAND left the weekday shift for Saturday afternoons. Two years later (1965), Dick Clark created a new spin-off for ABC called Where The Action Is, a half-hour rock 'n' roll show featuring the…

More hits of the day. Buffalo Springfield on Where the Action Is Where The Action Is took viewers to various locations across the US. In addition to Stateside locations, segments were also taped in Canada, Britain and Japan.

One frequent location was Malibu Beach in Malibu, CA, where many of the summer shows were shot. Bear Mountain Ski Resort in Bear Mountain, CA was the frequent site for the winter and holiday shows. Steve Alaimo and Linda Scott were the original hosts.

By 1966, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the house band, took over the hosting duties. That's when the show was it's best. Other series regulars included Keith Allison, Tina Mason, and Jimmy Hubbard. The Action Kids was the series' dance troupe. Where The Action Is was in black and white during its original ABC run.

 

Hullabaloo was a lot like Shindig, and lasted only a year and a half as well, debuting in January of 1965, and continuing until the Fall of 1966. Hullabaloo! in the fall of 1965 was a pretty cool show. It was in color and a bit over produced.

Not as cool as Shindig but we watched our favorite bands anywhere we could find them.  These shows and transistor am radio was all we had to discover new music. No FM, No MTV, VH1 or the internet. Now days the only way I discover new music is on film soundtracks. They rarely announce the names of the bands on the radio.

So if I hear something I really like in a movie I look it up on Amazon for the samplers to listen to. I also really love Playlist.com. It is not a download site it is more of a free jukebox for your favorite tunes. I have lots of playlists for this blog ala the Christmas tunes playing now.

 All of these shows, especially Shindig, captured some of the coolest live songs by the best rock, pop and soul stars, The Supremes, Otis Redding, Beach Boys, and James Brown.

 Read more on RK Florence Ballard and The Supremes Dave Wakeling The English Beat Darlene Love