John Jakes, the celebrated author known for his historical North and South trilogy that sold 10 million copies and became three ABC miniseries in the 1980s and ’90s, has died. He was 90.

Jakes died Saturday in Sarasota, Florida, his lawyer and literary agent Frank R. Curtis announced.

Jakes, who during his career wrote more than 80 books, which sold more than 120 million copies worldwide, earned $25 when his first short story was published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction when he was 18.

He spent 17 years as an advertising copywriter and creative director before he broke through at age 42 with the 1974 publication of The Bastard, the first of eight paperbacks under the umbrella known as The Kent Family Chronicles. Those books, which depicted American history through the lives of a fictional clan, were written to capitalize on the U.S. bicentennial celebrations that peaked in 1976.

In 1975, with the publication of Vols. II,...

These days, you can’t turn around without finding a new medical drama on TV. Shows like New Amsterdam and 911 follow doctors, firefighters, and emergency service workers as they try to rescue patients and unsuspecting victims from tragedy. But before this overload of medical dramas, one show paved the way for firefighters and paramedics: Emergency! If you watched this show during its original run, you might wonder which Emergency! cast members are still alive.

What was ‘Emergency!’ about? ‘Emergency!’ Season 2: Kevin Tighe and Randolph Mantooth | Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Set in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the 1970s action-adventure medical drama follows rescuers working as paramedics and firefighters. The show debuted as a midseason replacement in 1972, and IMDb lists the series run at 122 episodes in seven seasons and six two-hour TV movies until 1979.

Series creators previously worked on Dragnet and Adam-12, both about policing.

Long before 9-1-1, Chicago Fire, or Station 19, the first responders of Emergency! saved the day. The 1972–77 drama joins Fetv’s schedule tomorrow (airing two hours nightly at 10/9c), but first, this seven-hour marathon showcases the guest stars who popped up alongside firefighter paramedics DeSoto and Gage. Such as: John Travolta The future Sweathog—in his first onscreen role—sweats it out in a Season 2 episode as a badly injured hiker who needs an airlift before a brushfire reaches him. (6/5c) Nick Nolte In one of his earliest parts, Nolte plays a dashing doctor. The Season 3 hour also features NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus as, natch, a football player with a broken ankle. (8/7c) Yvonne Craig and Adam West The Batphone was ringing in Season 4, and these heroes answered the call! Batgirl Craig swung by to play the wife—make that one of the wives—of a bigamist hurt in a traffic accident.

Tim Donnelly, the actor who is best known for playing fireman Chet Kelly on the 1970s TV series “Emergency!,” has died. He was 77.

The news was first shared by the Los Angeles County Fire Museum. Clearly, Donnelly held his television ties to the firefighter community quite dearly.

“We at the Fire Museum are heartbroken as we sure all of you will be as well regarding the following news. It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our friend, Tim Donnelly, this weekend,” a Facebook post read. “Tim, as you know, played Chet Kelly on the show ‘Emergency!’ among many other roles during his acting career. Tim is survived by his daughter, Ashley, two grandsons, his sister Kathleen and his brother Dennis.”

“To all the ‘Emergency!’ fans, we want you to know that he was very excited about coming to the Museum in January for the 50th Anniversary,...

Tim Donnelly, who portrayed the fun-loving firefighter Chet Kelly on all six seasons of the 1970s NBC series Emergency!, has died. He was 77.

Donnelly died Friday at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, of complications from surgery, his older brother, director Dennis Donnelly, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Donnelly had appeared on the Jack Webb-produced shows Dragnet and Adam-12 when he was cast as Chet on the Webb-produced Emergency!, which starred Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe as firefighter/paramedics and Robert Fuller, Julie London and Bobby Troup as doctors.

Working out of Station 51 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Donnelly was on 122 ...

Tim Donnelly, who portrayed the fun-loving firefighter Chet Kelly on all six seasons of the 1970s NBC series Emergency!, has died. He was 77.

Donnelly died Friday at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, of complications from surgery, his older brother, director Dennis Donnelly, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Donnelly had appeared on the Jack Webb-produced shows Dragnet and Adam-12 when he was cast as Chet on the Webb-produced Emergency!, which starred Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe as firefighter/paramedics and Robert Fuller, Julie London and Bobby Troup as doctors.

Working out of Station 51 of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Donnelly was on 122 ...

Our 75th guest! The legendary filmmaker John Sayles joins Josh and Joe to explore some of his favorite movies.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Ulzana’s Raid (1972)

Django (1966)

The Birth Of A Nation (1915)

City Of Hope (1991)

Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980)

The Challenge (1982)

Avalanche (1978)

Eight Men Out (1988)

Piranha (1978)

The Howling (1981)

The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

The Killers (1964)

The King And I (1956)

Time Without Pity (1957)

The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Ben-Hur (1957)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Two Women (1960)

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Spartacus (1960)

Fixed Bayonets! (1951)

The Steel Helmet (1951)

Merrill’s Marauders (1962)

Targets (1968)

Touch Of Evil (1958)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Woodstock (1970)

Crime In The Streets (1956)

The Bad Seed (1956)

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

Fedora (1978)

Dune (1984)

The Cotton Club (1984)

Choose Me (1984)

Raising Arizona (1987)

El Norte (1983)

Yellow Sky (1948)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Irishman (2019)

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (2019)

The Thing (1982)

Chinatown (1974)

Manhattan (1979)

Duck Amuck (1953)

Goodfellas (1990)

Humanoids Of The Deep (1980)

Cockfighter (1974)

Dynamite Women a.k.a. The Great Texas Dynamite Chase...

Previous | Image 1 of 15 | NextTony Dow and Jerry Mathers of TV’s ‘Leave it to Beaver.’

Chicago – The TV, movie and entertainment world is coming back to Chicagoland with The Hollywood Show on March 23rd and 24th, 2019, at the Hyatt Rosemont/Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Ill. The event gives fans and admirers an opportunity to meet and get pictures with celebrities and take advantage of vendors offering show business memorabilia.

Prominent film actor John Cusack will make his first Chicago appearance at The Hollywood Show (Saturday the 23rd only). For nostalgists, Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris of “West Side Story” (1961) are appearing. This year’s show will also focus on some of the biggest TV shows in history, as Richard Thomas (John-Boy from “The Waltons”), Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H), Shirley Jones (“The Partridge Family”) and Dawn Wells (Gilligan’s Island) are set to appear. Also in attendance...

1985: Santa Barbara's Brick & Amy were married.

1995: Loving spinoff The City premiered on ABC.

1998: Guiding Light's Danny met Michelle.

2003: One Life to Live's Blair married Walker."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1942: On Clara, Lu and Em, Emma "Em" Krueger (Helen King) threw a party.

1964: On Another World, Mitchell Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) asked John Randolph to take on Pat Matthew's case. Michael M. Ryan and Gaye Huston made their first appearances as John and Lee Randolph.

1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) panicked when Woodard's ghost appeared.

1979: On As the World Turns,...

1979: Word of Dan Stewart's death spread on As the World Turns.

1984: Days of our Lives' Eugene had a vibe about a plane crash.

1988: Guiding Light's Harley dreamed about the good life.

2008: Lisa Locicero debuted as Olivia on General Hospital."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1948: The Associated Press published a story about the role television might play in the soap opera. Below is an excerpt:

Some uncertainties in the situation were outlined by Adrian Samish, youthful president of Show Productions, Inc. The firm is the producing subsidiary of the Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample agency,...

This weekend sees the release of Escape from Planet Earth, a family film that follows a hapless alien who’s trapped on the dangerous Planet Earth, and his attempt to escape a horrible fate at the hands of the humans. Brendan Fraser provides the voice of Scorch Supernova, the blue-skinned extraterrestrial hero, in a role that sees the loveable actor continue his run of family-friendly movies after Furry Vengeance and Inkheart, and as an aside to his more independent, serious fare such as Gimme Shelter and Breakout.

When we spoke with the actor we expected a straight-forward interview. How very wrong we were; the following conversation includes some singing, a bit of ice cream tasting, and a dash of Charlie Chaplin, proving why Fraser is the go-to guy if you’re looking to give your movie some spark. Read on on and enjoy.

Hi Brendan, how are you doing?

I...

The Good Wife

Created by Michelle King and Robert King

imdb, CBS, Sundays at 9Pm

3.01 A New Day

Directed by Brooke Kennedy

Written by Michelle King and Robert King, based on a story by Meredith Averill

3.03 Get A Room

Directed by David Platt

Written by Michelle King and Robert King, based on a story by Julia Wolfe

3.04 Feeding the Rat

Directed by Fred Toye

Written by Keith Eisner

3.05 Marthas and Catilins

Directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Written by Ted Humphrey

3.06 Affairs of State

Directed by Dean Parisot

Written by Corinne Brinkerhoff

*****

When CBS originally announced The Good Wife it seemed like a terrible idea. Make a TV series about the wife of a fallen politician? The one forced by circumstances and her own ambition to stand by his side and publicly forgive him? Even when doing so means doubling your public humiliation?

Three years in, The Good Wife is by...

The Good Wife

Created by Michelle King and Robert King

imdb, CBS, Sundays at 9Pm

3.01 A New Day

Directed by Brooke Kennedy

Written by Michelle King and Robert King, based on a story by Meredith Averill

3.03 Get A Room

Directed by David Platt

Written by Michelle King and Robert King, based on a story by Julia Wolfe

3.04 Feeding the Rat

Directed by Fred Toye

Written by Keith Eisner

3.05 Marthas and Catilins

Directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá

Written by Ted Humphrey

3.06 Affairs of State

Directed by Dean Parisot

Written by Corinne Brinkerhoff

*****

When CBS originally announced The Good Wife it seemed like a terrible idea. Make a TV series about the wife of a fallen politician? The one forced by circumstances and her own ambition to stand by his side and publicly forgive him? Even when doing so means doubling your public humiliation?

Three years in, The Good Wife is by...

Coming to your TV screen this week are no less than 60 season and series premieres, so we’re changing things up a bit by going daily with The TVLine-Up. (For those who must plan ahead, here is our complete Fall TV premieres calendar, plus I handily summarize what’s coming up the following day.)

But for now, here’s what’s happening on….

Tuesday, September 20

8/7c NCIS (CBS) | TV’s most-watched scripted series promises to kick off its ninth season with five can’t-miss minutes, and a bang. Or Ziva with bangs. (Not sure, my tape was garbled.)

8 pm Glee (Fox) | Nationals shmationals.

Killer Holiday is an independent horror film from director Marty Thomas. In the film, a killer named Spider haunts youths on Hwy. 66 and then into a local amusement park. Here, these friends become trapped in the Spider's web, where every room is full of sharp glass and death. Production on this feature completed in August of this year and now, it has been announced that composer Kurt Oldman (Babysitter Wanted) will score this piece, before a theatrical run October 14th. Oldman has also composed for the horror titles Hot Rod Horror, Robert A. Masciantonio's Neighbor and many others. Michael Copon (Night of the Demons) stars in a film that is sure to put serial killers back on the map. Have a look at the thrilling trailer below.

Release Date: October 14th, 2011 (Limited Theatrical).

Director: Marty Thomas.

Writer: Jon Zuber, and Marty Thomas.

Producers: Michael Copon, Jon Zuber, Marty Thomas,...

First, there was The Gravedigger. Then, Gormogon. Now, Bones‘ Booth and Brennan will go up against… a “tech-savvy foe”?!

Doesn’t sound too menacing, but details surrounding Bones‘ Season 7 big bad have surfaced and he (or she) sounds spooky.

Bones Ep Stephen Nathan describes this new villain as “someone who is an extremely odd and fearless foe,” though “much more… 21st-century” than previous nemeses.

Nathan tells TVGuide.com this “nefarious character” will surface at the end of Episode 6 — aka Emily Deschanel’s final episode before her maternity leave. Once the actress returns for new episodes, “We will follow [the new villain] for a...

Nora and Kitty try to traverse the minefield of their love lives. Meanwhile, we're supposed to get our first glimpse of the kid Kevin and Scotty may or may not try to adopt.

Of course, if they really want to add some excitement to the show, they should consider a few alternatives. Think of what it would do for the ratings if the guys decided to look ... outside-the-box ... for their adoption.

For instance:

Vicky The Robot - Poor Vicky has been sitting on the shelf since they canceled Small Wonder, the worst/best show in the history of TV, and now that Rebecca is gone, Vicky can fill that "almost lifelike" void.

Orphan - You just know Nora wouldn't be able to resist ripping that ribbon off. Then the fun really begins.

Dee - The What's Happening wisecracker would bring much-needed spirit to Kevin and Scotty's lives. And she could annihilate Kitty with one eye-roll.

According to the Internet Movie DataBase (IMDb.com): "The STARmeter rankings provide a snapshot of who's popular based on the searches of millions of IMDb users. Updated weekly, these rankings also graph the popularity of people over time and determine which events affect public awareness."  Here is a listing of some present and past soap stars and their current ranking, as well as some public figures.  Do you agree with the list? Is Lisa Rinna really more popular than President Obama? Weigh in below.   1. Darren Criss (Glee) 3. Leonardo DiCaprio (ex-santa Barbara)4. Johnny Depp (star of Dark Shadows movie)9. Dot Jones (Glee, Venice) 11. Jill Clayburgh (ex-sft)19. Brad Pitt (ex-aw)28. Amber Tamblyn (ex-gh)54. James Franco (ex-gh) 101. Parker Posey (ex-atwt)

119. Jessica Lowndes (90210) 121. Amanda Seyfried (ex-atwt)125. Demi Moore (ex-gh)134. Lyndsy Fonseca (ex Dh, ex-y&R)144. Courtney Thorne-Smith (ex-Melrose Place)157. Morgan Freeman (ex-aw)189. Josh Duhamel (ex-amc)200. Julianne Moore (ex-atwt)208. Paul Wesley (ex-gl)236. Lindsay Lohan...

For Michael Swan Audition Turns Into 'Old Home Week'

By Tracie Powell and Angela Toszegi

What do Michael Swan, Robert Newman, Randolph Mantooth, and Mark Pinter all have in common besides the obvious? They all showed up for the same job interview last week.

“Just came back from the ‘old home week’ audition of all time. All guys I've worked with over the years going back to prime time in the seventies,” said Michael Swan, who portrayed Duncan McKechnie on As The World Turns in the 1980s.

Swan said he was at the audition with Newman (who portrayed the well-loved ‘Josh Lewis’ on Guiding Light) and they were talking about the ill-fated ‘Brad Green’ on Gl and how Mark Pinter took over the part. “His name had no sooner left my lips then (Pinter) walked in the room,” Swan continued. “So great to see him; what a classy and great looking guy.

This week sees the release of several new movies and TV shows, some for the first time ever on Blu-ray. Of the ones coming out this week, we’re excited for a few of them in particular.

These esteemed examples of entertainment include A Nightmare on Elm Street, Pirate Radio, the debut of Voltron Beast King Golion, the thirteenth season of Dallas, the DVD release of the very funny Defendor and the 15th Anniversary Blu-ray of Apollo 13 (pictured above with Bill Paxton, Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise and Kevin Bacon).

Check them out:

Movies

A Nightmare on Elm Street ~ Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Robert Englund, John Saxon (Blu-ray)

Apollo 13 (15th Anniversary Edition) ~ Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise (Blu-ray)

Creature of Darkness ~ Devon Sawa, Sanoe Lake, Matthew Lawrence (Blu-ray and DVD)

Defendor ~ Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Elias Koteas (DVD)

Final Storm ~ Luke Perry, Lauren Holly...

When NBC's Trauma series was first announced, more than a few TV viewers were reminded of the 1970s Emergency! TV show. Trauma Executive Producer Dario Scardapane says that's not a coincidence.

Emergency! revolves around a Los Angeles team of devoted paramedics, doctors, nurses, and firemen who are quick to respond when there's an accident or disaster. The cast includes Robert Fuller, Julie London, Bobby Troup, Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Tim Donnelly, Mike Stoker, Marco Lopez, Michael Norell, and Ron Pinkard.

The series ran for six seasons on NBC, from 1972 until 1977. It was cancelled after 122 installments but members of the cast returned in five made-for-tv movies between 1978 and 1979.

In two of the TV movies, some of the characters visit San Francisco and one of the movies involves two airplanes crashing over a residential neighborhood. Up until...

Nashville - How much is your child’s love worth?

Kiddie country sensation Taylor Swift is coming to town. Just for kicks I checked Stubhub to see how much people were willing to resell tickets to the sold out show. I nearly threw up my Twinkie when I saw quite a few seats priced at $l,200. That’s not a typo. They are expecting some parent to pay $1,2000 for their kid to see a twig with a blonde wig. Since the kid isn’t of driving age, that means the parent is willing to pay $2,400 to make their kid happy. While the seats were on the floor, they were nearly 50 rows back from the stage.

For that price, I expect to be close enough to the stage to know if Taylor Swift wears panties or a g-string. I want to be close enough to use qualify as her Ob-gyn. I...