Latest news with #TheTwilightZone
NBC News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Syracuse professor shows how bygone pop culture references can bridge generations
SYRACUSE, New York — University professor Bob Thompson has been 'teaching television' for about 40 years, tracing his interest in watching the tube back to reruns of Groucho Marx. 'That to me, is a medium and an art form different from any other art form in its own unique ways,' the Syracuse professor says. On a Tuesday 18 years ago, Thompson hosted an informal get-together to watch unedited TV broadcasts — beginning with the Kennedy assassination news breaks, but later transitioning into lighter content. In the following Tuesdays, Thompson would introduce episodes of 'Howdy Doody' ('ran for president … didn't win'), 'Mr. Ed' ('about a talking horse!'), and 'The Flying Nun' ('about a nun who flies!'). Other days have featured viewings of 'MASH,' 'The Twilight Zone' and the early days of YouTube. His joy in the class comes from the intergenerational sharing of pop culture. In its current form, 'Tuesdays with Bleier,' a reference to Thompson's dedicated university program on TV, sparks conversation among students and faculty of all ages and backgrounds — including janitorial staff. 'To be able to connect with people who are much older than you about stuff that they watched when they were a kid, and see them light up about it. It's really beautiful,' said Yasmin Tiana Goring, a Syracuse graduate student. Goring is also Thompson's teaching assistant. His students have left his classes with new cultural reference points, helping them at times connect with their parents. 'Out of context, I would text my mom and be like, have you seen 'Mork & Mindy' before, or ALF,'' said Sam Turin, a sophomore who brought his parents to the spring semester's final Tuesday showing. Thompson recalls that the 'Howdy Doody' class inspired one student to talk about it with his grandmother, who was in the latter stages of dementia. She began to sing the song from the show. Often, the lectures are less about the shows than the context they were originally made and viewed in. For Thompson, the class serves as a 'Trojan horse,' one where attendees watch TV for fun, but learn something about pop culture — and the world at large — along the way. 'If you want to understand the country we live in, you have to understand its presidencies, the wars that if it's fought, its political parties. But you also have to understand its lawn ornaments, its love songs and its sitcoms,' Thompson says.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gillian Anderson Openly Addresses 'X-Files' Reboot Rumors
As David Duchovny endlessly skeptical Fox Mulder so often told us, the truth is out there -- and so too is the possibility of a long-discussed continuation of The X-Files. As nostalgic viewers might recall, The X-Files focuses on the ongoing investigations of F.B.I. agents Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and his skeptical partner, Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Grappling with the unexplained phenomenon they encounter through the agency, the two baffled government agents slowly unravel one mystery after another related to alien travelers, secret societies, and horrifying mutant serial killers. Dominating network television throughout the 1990s, The X-Files managed to become one of the hottest sci-fi series in TV history, maintaining as iconic a place in modern pop culture as The Twilight Zone before it and Lost after it. With up-and-coming director Ryan Coogler -- the filmmaker behind such popular projects as Black Panther, Creed and, most recently, Michael B. Jordan's Sinners -- currently eyeing a remake of the classic sci-fi series, former X-Files star Gillian Anderson has officially weighed in on Coogler's plans for a reboot. In a recent appearance on ITV1's This Morning, the 56-year-old Emmy winner said of the reboot, "I spoke to [Coogler], and what I said was, 'If anyone were to do it, I think you are the perfect person, and best of luck." As to whether she might reprise her role as the contemplative Agent Scully, Anderson revealed that she had told Coogler to "call me" if he had any ideas for bringing the character back to television. "At some point, if the phone rings and it's good and it feels like the right time, perhaps,' Anderson said of her potential return to the series. Previously, The Crown actress had teased the possibility of portraying Scully in a future reboot from Coogler. During Anderson's appearance on the Today show last year, she teased, "I think [Coogler is] really cool and I think if he did it, it would probably be done incredibly well. And maybe I'll pop in for a little something something."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor George Wendt dies at 76; Norm on 'Cheers' went to high school in Wisconsin
George Wendt, the beloved "Cheers" actor who died May 20 at age 76, went to a Jesuit prep school in Wisconsin before finding his calling in comedy. Publicist Melissa Nathan, a representative for Wendt, confirmed in a statement for USA TODAY that Wendt died in his sleep early on May 20 — the 32nd anniversary of the final "Cheers" episode that aired on May 20, 1993. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the statement read, asking for privacy for Wendt's family. "He will be missed forever." Born in Chicago, Wendt was the second-oldest of seven children in a well-off family. According to a 1984 interview with The Milwaukee Journal, his family sent him to Campion High School in Prairie du Chien when he was 13 "to be groomed for success." (Campion closed in 1975.) "I didn't particularly want to go," he told The Journal, "but our neighbors all sent their kids there and they went on to become doctors." The experience saved him later "when I screwed up in college," he added. According to his Second City page, Wendt had a 0.0 grade point average at the University of Notre Dame. "The admissions director from Campion had moved on to take the same job at Rockhurst College when I applied there," Wendt said. "I'm sure he broke every rule in the book to get me in." After college, Wendt returned to Chicago and, in 1975, joined Second City, the legendary improvisational comedy troupe that has been the launching pad for scores of comedians and actors. Wendt left Second City in 1980 and, in 1983, was cast in the role of Norm Peterson, the witticism-spouting barfly on "Cheers," which ran for 11 seasons. Among his other memorable roles was as Bob Swerski, one of a group of Chicago Bears superfans in a recurring sketch on "Saturday Night Live," usually including "SNL" cast member and Madison native Chris Farley among the diehard fans of "Da Bears." His scores of other credits include appearances on TV shows ranging from "The Twilight Zone" to "M*A*S*H" to "Fresh Off the Boat," and in movies including "Fletch" and "Spice World." But it was as Norm that Wendt was most remembered. He reprised the character in cameos on several other sitcoms, including "Cheers" spinoffs "Frasier" and "The Tortellis," and voiced animated versions of Norm on shows like "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons." According to Variety, Wendt is survived by his wife and three children. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: George Wendt, 'Cheers' star who went to school in Wisconsin, dies
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tom Brady sparks social media firestorm for Hulk Hogan opinion
Tom Brady sparks social media firestorm for Hulk Hogan opinion Tom Brady and professional wrestling being mentioned in the same breath is like something out of "The Twilight Zone." It's like oil and water—something that never mixes. Yet, somehow, that stopped being the case after the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback picked World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan as the greatest WWE wrestler of all time. Brady was asked the question during a recent appearance on Logan Paul's "Impaulsive" podcast. The sit-down interview, which lasts a little over an hour, includes multiple topics, such as Brady's relationship with Bill Belichick, Antonio Brown's mental health, the Patriots' Super Bowl LI comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons and Shedeur Sanders falling down the 2025 NFL draft board. However, it was Brady choosing Hogan as his WWE "GOAT" that effectively sparked a social media firestorm. "Hulk Hogan," said Brady, when asked to name the greatest WWE wrestler of all time. That pick enraged the pro wrestling diehards, who quickly went to social media to roast Brady. To be fair, no one even knows the extent of Brady's pro wrestling knowledge. He was just answering a random, rapid-fire question on a podcast. Hogan is the most famous wrestler of all time. So it's no surprise that Brady or anyone else would pick him. With that said, the former WWE star's popularity has taken a major nosedive over the last decade. Back in 2015, a tape leaked with Hogan using a racial slur and admitting to being "a racist, to a point." He also dropped more racial slurs and expressed concern that his family would be reincarnated into a black family. WWE initially cut ties with Hogan, but he was eventually welcomed back into the company several years later. Here's what pro wrestling fans were saying about Brady's Hogan opinion: Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Longtime Eagles critic breaks character by offering unexpected praise for 2025
Longtime Eagles critic breaks character by offering unexpected praise for 2025 NBC analyst Chris Simms says the Philadelphia Eagles are the most well-built football team this century. Who remembers that Twilight Zone television show? First aired in 1959, it ran until 1964 but found its way into syndication, which is probably where you 'old-schoolers' found it. A reboot came in 2019. It didn't last long, maybe two years, but if one didn't know any better, they might swear they landed in an episode featuring the Philadelphia Eagles. For the uninitiated, The Twilight Zone dealt with the eerie and downright illogical. If you're still having a hard time picturing it or if you're younger, think Black Mirror in standard definition. Some episodes mentioned aliens, and others carried several twists and turns. There was an intentionality at being bizarre. If it existed today, for instance, they might cook up something about the Dallas Cowboys winning another Super Bowl. They say death and taxes are inevitable. Perhaps we can amend that theory because FS1's Nick Wright and NBC Sports' Chris Simms have made derogatory comments about the Birds. But since we're on the subject of bizarre, you won't believe this. Simms had something nice to say about the Eagles recently. Chris Simms offers a very flattering take on the Philadelphia Eagles. At the time of this story's release, the NFL's official schedule was still a couple of days away. However, we've been informed of the first game. The annual Thursday night opener will air on NBC and Peacock and feature the 133rd meeting between the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. To celebrate, NBC Sports mainstay Chris Simms appeared on Up & Adams. We have never seen him be as complimentary to Philly or Jalen Hurts. You heard it for yourselves. That was a Jalen Hurts comment. That settles it. This must be an episode of The Twilight Zone. The next thing we know, Nick Wright will join in at the love fest. If that ever happens, it's time to lock the doors and close the blinds. This is what happens, though. To the victor go the spoils. Sure, Simms mentions that Philly would win the most recent Super Bowl. Maybe he did, and most missed it because trust us on this. There were droves of Birds fans who began tuning him out because of the negativity. Once, he didn't even name Hurts among the NFL's top 32 quarterbacks when he was one of the 32 starting NFL quarterbacks. Credit him for changing his tone. Don't hold your breath expecting Nick Wright to do the same. To discuss the number of times that both have made us feel like pulling our hair out would require another feature. They've been overly critical of everything from Philly's fan base to Jalen Hurts. Wright was very vocal in stating that Philly would lose Super Bowls 52 and 59. In January of 2018, Wright once said that every team in the playoff field except the Eagles had a shot at winning the Lombardi Trophy. He also said Philly would be a footnote in the Kansas City Chiefs' three-peat. That being said, maybe these guys are good luck charms. Wait! Does that mean we don't want Simms complimenting the Birds?
