Peter Falk’s Daughter Fought to See Him Before He Died, and Changed the Law Because of It
TLDR: Peter Falk was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 and placed under the conservatorship of his wife Shera Danese. His adopted daughter Catherine Falk … Read more
James MacArthur, the Real Story of Danno From “Hawaii Five-O”
TLDR: James MacArthur was adopted as an infant by actress Helen Hayes and playwright Charles MacArthur, grew up in a household shaped by grief after … Read more
Alan Kay Won “Alone” Season 1, Then Lost Everything and Started Over
TLDR: Alan Kay was a corrections officer from Blairsville, Georgia, when he won Season 1 of Alone in 2015, surviving 56 days on Vancouver Island … Read more
Why “The Addams Family” Was Cancelled After Just Two Seasons
TLDR: The Addams Family was cancelled by ABC in 1966 after two seasons and 64 episodes, primarily because its ratings had declined significantly in its … Read more
Jack Lord, the Real Story Behind Hawaii Five-O’s Unforgettable McGarrett
TLDR: Jack Lord was born John Joseph Patrick Ryan in Brooklyn, changed his name using ancestral surnames, turned down both Felix Leiter in the Bond … Read more
The Original “Addams Family” Cast, Where Are They Now, and Who We Have Lost
TLDR: The original The Addams Family ran for two seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1966 and produced one of television’s most enduring ensemble casts. … Read more
How to Apply for “Alone” on the History Channel, and What They Are Really Looking For
TLDR: Applying for Alone requires sending an email to the casting team with your survival background, then passing a boot camp that narrows twenty candidates … Read more
“Alone” Winners – Where Are They Now, and What Winning Actually Cost Them
TLDR: Winning Alone on the History Channel comes with a $500,000 prize that shrinks significantly after taxes for American contestants. Most winners have struggled to … Read more
John Astin Played Gomez Addams, and His Real Life Was Just as Dramatic
TLDR: John Astin played Gomez Addams in the original 1964 series and is now 95 years old, the last surviving principal cast member. His marriage … Read more
The Best and Worst “Columbo” Episodes, According to Critics and Fans
TLDR: The best Columbo episodes are almost entirely from the original NBC run (1971-1978), with Peter Falk’s personal favorite being “Any Old Port in a … Read more
“Book ’em, Danno” Origin, Meaning, and How Three Words Became Iconic
TLDR: “Book ’em, Danno” was conceived by Hawaii Five-O series creator Leonard Freeman as a rhythmic, clinical way to close each episode’s investigation, scripted from … Read more
“Mrs. Columbo” Was a Spinoff Peter Falk Hated, and It Showed
TLDR: NBC launched Mrs. Columbo in February 1979 starring a 24-year-old Kate Mulgrew over the strong objections of series creator Richard Levinson, series co-creator William … Read more
Why “Bewitched” Was Cancelled, and the Real Reason It Ended So Abruptly
TLDR: Bewitched did not end because ABC cancelled it for poor ratings. The network had already renewed the show for two additional seasons when Elizabeth … Read more
Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur on “Bewitched”, and the Complicated Life Behind the Laughs
TLDR: Paul Lynde appeared in only 11 episodes of Bewitched across the show’s entire eight-season run, but Uncle Arthur became the most instantly quotable recurring … Read more
How Columbo’s Raincoat, Car, Dog and Catchphrase Were Born
TLDR: The raincoat was Peter Falk’s own coat, bought at a Spanish store on a rainy New York day in 1967. The Peugeot was spotted … Read more
The Original “Hawaii Five-O” Cast, Where They Are Now, and Who We Have Lost
TLDR: The original Hawaii Five-O ran from 1968 to 1980 with a core cast that has almost entirely passed away. Jack Lord died in 1998, … Read more