Latest news with #Columbo
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The A-Team' Producer's Former SoCal Estate Lists for $20 Million
Almost 25 years after he died from melanoma at age 69, Stephen J. Cannell is still making headlines. The Laguna Beach estate of the prolific TV writer, director, and producer has popped up for sale, with an asking price of $20 million. Built in 1947 and recently remodeled, the residence sits amid a secluded enclave within the Woods Cove neighborhood, with the listing held by Shauna and Leita Covington of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. A Los Angeles native, Cannell worked at his family's interior design business before selling his first script for It Takes a Thief to Universal Studios in the late 1960s. Despite suffering from severe dyslexia, he went on to write for crime shows such as Columbo and Ironside, and served as a story editor for Adam-12. Ultimately, as head of his own studio, he both created and co-created some of the small screen's most beloved shows of all time, including The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, 21 Jump Street, Silk Stalkings, The Commish, and The Rockford Files, the latter of which won an Emmy in 1978. More from Robb Report This New Experience Lets You Stay in a Megayacht and a Mediterranean Villa or Alps Chalet This $65 Million Florida Mansion Has Both Indoor and Outdoor Pools This New Wellness Center in Rwanda Wants to Help You Unwind After a Long Day on Safari Though he also penned several bestselling mystery novels, he might be best remembered for his iconic insignia after the ending credits of his TV shows: a short sequence of a pipe-smoking Cannell typing feverishly, then ripping a page from his typewriter and tossing it in the air. RELATED: A Rare Coastal Compound in SoCal's Orange County Just Hit the Market for $50 Million Fully walled and gated with a street-side two-car garage, the four-bedroom, five-bath property is perched high atop a nearly quarter-acre bluff overlooking the rugged Orange County coastline, with a landscaped courtyard out front and private steps in the back leading down to a peninsula jutting into the Pacific Ocean. A Dutch door opens into the stucco and brick-accented structure, which features roughly 4,700 square feet of space and numerous French doors that create a seamless indoor-outdoor feel. Among the highlights is an entry foyer sporting a sky-lit stairwell. From there, a spacious coffer-ceilinged great room holds a living room with a two-way fireplace that connects on the other side to a bookshelf-lined office where Cannell worked on many of his hit shows. There's also a family room, plus a dining room that flows via a butler's pantry to an eat-in kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, a quartz-topped island, Thermador appliances, a wine cooler, a Shaws farmhouse sink, and a bay-windowed breakfast nook flanked by a large white brick fireplace. RELATED: This $3.85 Million Laguna Beach House Has a Deck With Stunning Pacific Ocean Views A posh primary suite occupying the entire upper level comes with a fireplace, a mini-bar, a balcony offering coastline views from Palos Verdes to San Diego, a separate office, four closets, and a spa-inspired bath with a soaking tub and a sauna. A secondary kitchen, a fireside living room, and a mirrored fitness area can be found on the lower level, which spills out to a backyard showcased by an in-ground spa, a barbecue station, and a grassy sitting area bolstered by a soaring pole donning the American flag. In addition to the Laguna Beach home, Cannell's three children still maintain his former primary residence in Pasadena. His eighth-grade sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Marcia, passed away last of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Ian Ward: It is not my job to give opinions, why would anyone want to hear them?
Late one evening in March 2001, Ian Ward was about to go to sleep when he received an unexpected phone call. A producer from Sky Sports was scrambling to fill a gap in their punditry team for the following day's Test between England and Sri Lanka. 'They asked if I'd fill in,' Ward recalls. 'I meant to say no – I was knackered – but somehow 'yes' came out. 'They said: 'Oh, great. We'll send a car for you in about four hours.' I'm looking at the watch going: 'What?' I didn't realise it was overnight.' Ward had never considered a media role before. As pundit, he was in a delicate position. Ward was on the threshold of the England Test team – he would win five caps the following summer – yet was now being asked to critique it. 'That was weird,' he recalls. 'I was sat in a bloody chair giving my expert opinion on Nasser [Hussain] facing Murali [Muttiah Muralitharan]. People at home probably thought – probably still think – who is this bloke? 'I'd never seen a TV studio. I just thought, 's---, look at this'. The amount of people, the amount of screens, the technology it takes to get the pictures back from Columbo. I thought, this is pretty cool.' From playing to presenting In between playing engagements for Surrey, where he was an integral part of the side that won three County Championships from 1999-2002, Ward started to commentate during the summer. In the winter of 2002-03, he moved into a different chair: from pundit to presenter. Ward's first engagement could hardly have been less glamorous: presenting South Africa's ODI against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. 'Gus Fraser was my guest for a five-minute build-up, which just scared the c--p out of me – and it was over in a flash,' Ward recalls. 'It's amazing how nervous I was then. Barney Francis, my first boss at Sky Cricket, came and said: 'You will never watch any television programme again in the same way.' He was absolutely right.' As his broadcasting career developed, Ward often watched footage of himself back 'to try and learn and improve'. He particularly admired Steve Rider and Des Lynam as hosts, especially the way that they brought out the best of their guests. 'I remember someone saying about another presenter: 'He commands the studio.' I thought: 'I don't want to command the studio. That's a load of old c--p. I should be there asking the questions and facilitating.'' Another phone call, this time far less unexpected, sealed Ward's new career. In 2006, Vic Wakeling, then the managing director for Sky Sports, called up Ward asking if he wanted to join full-time; Sky had gained the exclusive rights to home England Tests. Ward requested that Sussex release him from his contract two years early. He retired from professional cricket aged 33. Such a playing career almost eluded Ward. After playing a solitary first-class game for Surrey aged 19, he was released by the club. While playing club cricket and coaching at East Molesey, he cleaned planes at Heathrow. 'When you say you're cleaning planes, people assume you're wiping the windshield. No, I'm cleaning the detritus that people leave behind. And believe me, people leave a lot of horrible stuff. 'When you get up out, and you walk to the door and you're looking left to get off the aircraft, you never look back. Look back. You'll see what people leave behind. It's vile.' Ward retains an uncomfortable relationship with planes: he is 'petrified' of being in the air. Returning from the Champions Trophy earlier this year, he exchanged messages with Mark Wood, another nervous flyer. 'Woody was in business class, and I'm back in wherever. And, of course, it helps if I have a couple of drinks, to calm the nerves. 'Woody texted me saying: 'I'll send you a little present back later.' And just after we'd taken off one of the pursers from the business class cabin came back with what looked like a latte. He said: 'Present from Mr. Wood.' I opened it up and it was full of champagne. Woody, you absolute star.' 'End of an era?' 🤔 'Mixed messages haven't helped!' 💬 'Wise not to make any rash decisions!' 💭 Ian Ward, Eoin Morgan and Michael Atherton discuss what went wrong and what's next for England after their early World Cup exit... ❌ — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 4, 2023 Life behind the microphone For most people, retirement from professional cricket means life slowing down; for Ward, it has meant life speeding up. On Test mornings, Ward arrives at the ground around 8am, and even earlier on day one. Really, though, his preparation begins several weeks earlier. The pre-match show before the first Ashes Test in 2023 was 'a month in the planning', he recalls. During match days, 'I've always got something in my ear, somebody talking in my ear, or the commentary is on,' Ward explains. 'You take your earpieces out at the end of the day, and then you walk down the street, and it's noisy and loud. You get into the room, you shut the door and you can just shut the outside world out for a couple of minutes, because you're constantly bombarded with information. That's your first peace and quiet of the day.' Ward's work does not end when he concludes Sky's on-pitch coverage at 7pm. Then, either on WhatsApp or at the bar, the conversations about the next day's coverage begin. At the end of the Headingley Test, which ended late on day five, Ward and Nasser Hussain willed Michael Atherton, their colleague who conducts the post-match presentations, to hurry up. 'Nasser and I look at our watches going: 'We ain't making this train.' We ended up with myself, Nasser and Ravi [Shastri] sprinting through Leeds, dragging our suitcases, trying to get the last train home,' Ward says with a chuckle. 'It's not glamorous.' In a commentary box brimming with men who enjoyed glittering playing careers, Ward sees his role as asking questions more than answering them. 'I've got opinions on techniques and games. It's just not really my job to voice them. 'We've got four international captains in there, and Stuart Broad. Why would anyone want to hear from me? So I understand that, and I agree with that, because I wouldn't want to hear from me. But I should be able to at least ask a question that is absolutely relevant. 'I very much see my role as asking the questions and just letting some of the brilliant cricket brains we've got explain the game. It's about them, not me.' To Ward, a series of abusive messages on Twitter were evidence of a job well done. 'A guy a few years ago now didn't like how I did it and kept sending me abusive tweets. I never replied, just chuckled, but I couldn't bite my tongue any longer. He said: 'What is the point of Ian Ward, other than to hold a microphone to let others speak?' And I replied saying: 'Thank you, that's the biggest compliment I've ever had.'' The master of masterclasses Sky's masterclasses do not only show the best of the great players interviewed; they also show the best of Ward as a broadcaster. His favourite masterclass remains the first that he ever did, with his long-time colleague Shane Warne in an indoor school at Durham. 'We got going and Warnie absolutely delivered. And it was like: 'This bloke is different gravy.' 'We are very lucky that we have time, and also some very good tools, which makes it easier to explain things and also to show whoever it might be. Warnie was the first one we ever did. We can go back and show deliveries, and then you can explain them. Warnie, being the genius that he was, could then go and bowl them.' While Channel 4 pioneered the masterclass, Sky's resources allow for far broader depth. 'They take an inordinate amount of work from the real hard-workers, the people behind the scenes, to get the footage. Because I want something from years ago, they've got to go back into the archives. 'They spend months digging it out. They get the 20 clips and I probably end up using five of them. They probably sit there swearing and throwing things at me.' While doing masterclasses, 'your brain's working 1000 miles an hour', Ward explains. 'Live TV can get challenging because things might be going on in your ear or changing, but you've got to listen to what the person you're interviewing is saying, because otherwise you don't ever react.' As well as making for compelling TV, the masterclasses also serve a broader purpose. After Ward did a masterclass with Ricky Ponting at Lord's, 'pretty much all of the county academies came round and said: 'We want a DVD of that.' So hopefully they're educational.' The masterclasses have given Ward a deeper appreciation of the game's very best, too. Never was this truer than when visiting Brian Lara at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago. In a warm-up, before filming, Ward gave Lara 12 throwdowns. 'He didn't even remotely hit the middle once. Then he took his gloves off. He laid his bat up against the net. He looked up at the mountain. He said 'okay let's go'. Put his gloves back on, that mindset change, and he was fabulous. He kept middling it. He would say 'I've got four shots I can play to this particular delivery' – absolutely incredible.' Ward cherished his playing days. But he now belongs to a rare category of cricketers, better known for their lives after playing. 'I only played five Test matches. Put it this way, I don't know how many Test matches I've presented – it'll be well over 100.' And Ward has helped to illuminate each game, one question at a time.
IOL News
14-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Authorities urge public to keep distance from Columbo the elephant seal
The George Municipality, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), confirmed that a seal, affectionately known as Columbo, has been resting at Victoria Bay for a few weeks now. Image: Supplied AUTHORITIES have appealed the public to keep their distance from Columbo the elephant seal, who has been resting at Victoria Bay, after a suspected intoxicated person deliberately provoked the animal leading to a chase and aggressive behaviour, endangering volunteers and beachgoers. The George Municipality and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said the immature male Southern elephant seal, currently around four to five years old and estimated to weigh approximately 500 kilograms, has been resting at Victoria Bay for a few weeks now. Columbo can be identified by a white spot on his left eye and a green tag on his hind flippers marked '0196'. Columbo was first recorded on the South African coast in November 2023 near Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, where he remained ashore for a month to moult. Since then, he has returned to Victoria Bay on three occasions, with the most recent haul-out beginning on June 3, 2025 - his longest stay to date at 37 days and counting. 'During his current stay, Columbo has developed noticeable behaviours, such as 'fighting' with rocks, which has caused his teeth to wear down and led to the formation of an integumentary shield (a thickened patch of skin) on his chest,' the municipality and department said. Columbo is monitored during the day by volunteers from the Stranding Marine Animal Rescue Team (SMART), while a nearby security guard keeps a casual watch at night. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'However, the seal remains vulnerable to harmful human interactions, including people attempting to disturb or provoke him, sometimes for social media content. 'One recent incident involved a possibly intoxicated individual deliberately provoking Columbo, leading to a chase and aggressive behaviour towards this individual and endangering volunteers and other beach users.' Following several expert consultations, including marine biologists, veterinarians, and state officials, authorities said it was agreed that the best course of action is to leave Columbo undisturbed at Victoria Bay. 'Attempts to move or chase him into the ocean were considered risky, both to humans and the animal, and could cause distress or injury. Euthanasia is not justified in this case, as Columbo is not ill or suffering.' Members of the public have been advised to stay at least 20 metres away from the seal at all times, keep dogs on a leash and well away from the seal and to report any suspicious or harmful behaviour toward the animal to the relevant authorities or SMART volunteers on site. 'We appeal to all residents and visitors to treat Columbo with kindness and respect, and to help ensure that Victoria Bay remains a safe space for both people and wildlife.' Cape Times
Metro
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
You can finally binge the crime show 'the internet should be screaming about'
If you love old-school crime shows like Columbo or Murder She Wrote, then you're in luck. There's a series created by Rian Johnson – the movie mastermind behind the Knives Out films – that's essentially a modern version of those shows, which just wrapped up its second season. It's called Poker Face and it stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a woman with a very unique gift. Charlie is a living lie detector capable of sniffing out bullsh… lies from anyone and everyone. The series follows Charlie as she travels the US solving murders and other crimes as she tries to stay ahead of the mob, who want her dead. Intrigued? Well, you can watch both seasons of Poker Face now if you're subscribed to the streaming service NOW. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If, however, the premise doesn't interest you, then perhaps the stacked cast will. In just two seasons and 24 episodes, Poker Face has attracted some of the biggest stars in Hollywood to shine their metaphorical light on the series. How big are these stars? Well, so far we've had appearances from (deep breath) Adrien Brody, Ron Perlman, Jameela Jamil, Tim Blake Nelson, Nick Nolte, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cynthia Erivo, Giancarlo Esposito, Justin Theroux, among many, many, many more. If that's not enough to convince you to check out the show, then maybe the glowing critics' reviews will. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a critics' score of 98% while the second has 96%. Writing in their Daily Telegraph review, Ed Power described the series as 'gripping and grisly' while Barbara Ellen wrote in the Observer that the show was a 'droll, self-aware game of TV Cluedo in which the viewer gets to peek at the cards'. It's not just critics who enjoy the show, though. On X @iimaryam35 asked, 'Why isn't the internet screaming about #PokerFace? Natasha Lyonne is a human lie detector solving weekly murders with 70s vibes, calling herself 'just some guy'??? Created by the Knives Out guy. It's SO good.' More Trending @AngelHuracha meanwhile wrote 'I need Natasha Lyonne to win her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for #PokerFace now.' Meanwhile, on Reddit, mattyhegs826 declared ''Poker Face' is an absolute gem of a show. Would be blowing up if it was on a larger streaming service. cmai3000 agreed, saying, 'Great show, very clever and good acting. I like how the show lets the viewer share the 'super power' of the main character.' View More » Both seasons of Poker Face are available to stream now on NOW. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: WWE Evolution 2.0 UK start time on Netflix for all-women's show MORE: 'It's a one season banger': Your favourite underrated true crime shows MORE: 24 years ago South Park crossed a line and was never the same again
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Narbonne says City Section perpetual football trophy is missing again
It's another case for Tracker, Magnum, P.I. or Columbo. The City Section perpetual football trophy is missing — again. The last time this happened was after Narbonne received the trophy in 2018 for winning the Open Division title. Birmingham won the trophy in 2019 but never got to display it because it went missing until discovered in 2021. It was sticking out of a dumpster in Torrance, handed over to the Southern Section office, then presented to the City Section and cleaned up. Narbonne won the trophy again last fall but was asked to return it in May after having to vacate the title because of rule violations. The City Section is still waiting for it to be returned. 'They said it's not where it's supposed to be,' City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos said when asked where the trophy might be. If the trophy can't be found, Narbonne will be sent a bill to replace it, Lagos said. 'We're putting out a call for all good Samaritans,' Lagos said. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
