colonial

At our island of misfit theaters, we're not premiering "Downhill." Instead, we're getting a remake of another popular European film. And this one actually looks decent (based on the Belgian film "Hasta La Vista") ... But we also have the weird and the headscratchers premiering this weekend as well. I previously mentioned "First Lady" a few weeks back -- one of the actors in that film is actually doing a Q&A after a screening this weekend. Then there's these ... CAMP COLD BROOK -- this was apparently scheduled to be released two years ago, which is pretty much a bad sign. AFTER MIDNIGHT -- not just any monster movie, folks. A "romantic monster movie," according to the PR sheet I got at work. Filmmakers are doing a Q&A after a screening here this weekend as well.

RIP Paula Kelly, veteran film, TV and Broadway star who most of my generation remember for playing the first public defender on "Night Court" (pre-Ellen Foley and Markie Post) ... She earned an Emmy nomination for her work on "Night Court," but left the show after one season for unknown reasons.

2000: Random jobber team action as The Shane Twins take on The New South (an Australian and an African-American who I believe did a "Confederate soldiers" gimmick in the indies). 1994: Vader in a 4-on-1 handicap match because he can.

So I got a note at work today about a new film that's getting a "limited engagement" at our misfit cinemas on Valentine's Day. I present ... FIRST LADY: A MODERN FAIRYTALE Starring: Corbin Bernsen, Nancy Stafford, Stacey Dash The only thing I understood about this trailer is that Corbin Bernsen apparently went nutzo at a Party City just before Halloween. Learn more about this alleged film at https://www.firstladymovie.com/ -- seriously, I need to sign up to be a Golden Raspberry Award voter just for living here.

Legendary TV executive Fred Silverman has died at 82 ... https://deadline.com/2020/01/fred-silverman-dies-legendary-tv-executive-producer-was-82-1202847035/ Ran CBS, NBC and ABC at one point or another in the 70s and 80s, and was one of the first execs to understand the power of demographics and spinoffs to create TV hits. The shows he greenlit during his tenure are a Hall of Fame of the small screen -- All in the Family, MASH, Mary Tyler Moore, Hill Street Blues, Soap, Roots. Also gave David Letterman a daytime talk show with the promise that, if it failed, he would go to late night.

Premiering today at our islands of misfit cinemas, we have The Gentlemen, The Turning and, well, this ... JOHN HENRY Terry Crews realizes being muscular means starring in your own B-level action flicks, while Ludacris looks …. different.

Disney Channel is known for creating new stars -- Shia LaBeouf, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff. Now the channel looks to do the same for … Blue Demon Jr. https://deadline.com/2020/01/ultra-violet-blue-demon-blue-demon-jr-star-superhero-luchador-action-comedy-cast-contingent-pilot-order-disney-channel-1202837297/

Premiering today at our misfit theaters, it's Bad Boys 4 Life, Dolittle and …. uh, this ... INTRIGO: DEATH OF AN AUTHOR It's the first in a film trilogy based on books by a Swedish author who's not Stieg Larsson. The other two films are apparently awaiting release in the U.S., so I'm sure one of our theatres is keeping a room warm. Alas, Ben Kingsley is only in this one -- he got enough money for a new roof on his house.

Weird question I hope one of you can answer. I was watching a match on RAW from January 1993 featuring the Steiner Brothers. During the match, Vince McMahon made mention that then-Buffalo Bills lineman Mitch Frerotte may soon be coming to the WWF. A quick Google search reveals that a few newspapers made mention that Frerotte was very interested in giving the WWF a try, and he had a look the WWF liked (6'3", 280, motorcycle enthusiast, a blonde mullet that would make Ricky Morton proud). I didn't watch much wrestling during that time, but it appears Frerotte was mentioned more than once across multiple shows. Then, silence. Was the WWF close to actually signing Frerotte? (UPDATE: Further searching reveals Frerotte suffered a neck injury while in training camp for Seattle in the summer of 1993, ending his athletic career. Still I'm curious if the WWF was close to signing him in early 1993 before he opted to keep his football career going). JD

Thank you for the kind words. Living close to a 55+ community feels like a time warp at times -- I just consider the theaters a throwback to, say, a 1970s drive-in where you get your "A" picture along with something "B" or below to start. The theater being renovated is about 20 years old -- they are going to add some modern-day film-going conveniences -- more legroom, cupholders, etc. The other theaters are 10 and 2 years old, respectively. The latter has a "barn" theme with a long-wide hallway once you leave concessions -- four theaters on each side of the hallway. I learned quickly through family that live here that the movies are picked by the people who run the town, and they have a fascination with a few genres and styles. They're big on classic film festivals, free matinees for the grandkids over the summer, etc. They also have a fascination with all things Britain, so we get our fair share of UK films that barely make a blip in England, let alone here. Same thing when it comes to films with a holiday theme or are family friendly. And film studios know that if they want to release a movie "on VOD and with limited release," they can count on these theaters to provide a screen. Same with films that are released "exclusively on Netflix" or a similar streamer -- if the studio wants to write in the books that it got a theater release, they just call us. Two more examples from last Christmas, when I visited family and started considering my move down here and reuniting with my daughter ... AMERICAN RENEGADES This is a movie that, per Wiki, cost $77 million to make. Its release was then delayed more than two years before Lionsgate opted for the "VOD and limited cinema release" route. Despite the title, JK Simmons may be the only American actor in the movie. BERNIE THE DOLPHIN It's Dolphin vs. Kevin Sorbo in the dumbest movie showdown ever. This was apparently followed up on last month with "Bernie the Dolphin 2" which our theaters, alas, never received.

Looking at the tributes for La Parka, I was genuinely surprised (in a good way) to see CMLL tweet its condolences.

From the "people on YT have too much time on their hands department" … 70s detective show fans rejoice, it's the "Cannon" guest star megamix ...

Some sad news here at our cinemas of misfit films … one of the theaters is closed indefinitely for renovations. So with only two movie houses instead of three, does that mean the end of getting films that, well, get a cinema release here solely to fulfill a contractual agreement? Nope. REALITY QUEEN There's no middle ground with mockumentaries. They're either laugh out loud funny or a steaming pile. When Denise Richards and Mike Tyson top the trailer, chances are it's the latter by a mile.

Edd "Kookie" Byrnes, the Luke Perry of the Greaser set, has died at 87. He made combing one's hair bigger than sliced bread ... Younger people may remember Byrnes as the "National Bandstand" host in "Grease" ... He also hosted the first two pilots for "Wheel of Fortune" in 1975, where he showed up to the studio drunk as a skunk and couldn't remember the difference between vowels and consonants (in his memoir, he alleged a producer caught him pacing the hallways between tapings, furiously trying to remember which letters were vowels) ...

Per Meltzer, Lanny Poffo, Doug Gilbert and Shane Russell (Lance's son) will represent their late family members on Wednesday. I recall reading that Brian Christopher was married and had children (this was per an article on Jerry Lawler's lawsuit regarding Brian's death -- the article did not have any comments from Brian's wife -- unsure if she's in touch with anyone wrestling wise or keeps contact with Lawler or anyone else in Brian's family). Brian's brother was a jack-of-all-trades on the Memphis wrestling scene (Kevin Christian was his TV name, IIRC) -- perhaps he could represent Brian if possible. Meltzer is reporting that longtime Memphis stalwarts Randy Hales and Brandon Baxter worked with AEW officials to "put this together" -- there are definitely some holes (no Brian, Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantel, Tommy Rich or Jerry Jarrett), but it's a good lineup.

Wrestles as "Vanilla Vance" in Georgia -- trained at QT Marshall and Glacier's Power Factory school outside Atlanta.

Going back a ways, I recall when Disney Channel was a premium network similar in scope to HBO or Showtime. This was the 80s to mid-90s. The programming was a lot more varied -- you would get, say, travelogue shows on Disney parks, ambitious (albeit family friendly) movies and miniseries, classic Disney TV shows and films (Dean Jones movies and "Zorro" reruns were commonplace). I even recall them bringing back the "College Bowl" game show with Dick Cavett hosting! Now, thanks to my daughter's viewing habits, I can see it's the same six shows on repeat. Another oddity from the 80s -- on Sundays, Lifetime would cede its programming day for medical-related shows. Not shows like "Dr. Pimple Popper" or "Botched", but actual medical training and educational programs "for doctors, by doctors." Am I the only one who remembers ESPN ceding three or so hours of its morning schedule for a business news show back in the 80s? As a kid growing up in the 80s, USA Network was great during the day with "Cartoon Express" (primarily short-lived 70s cartoons like "Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch" and "Devlin") and 70s-80s game show and court show reruns.

RIP Jack Sheldon, jazz musician best known for his singing on two iconic "Schoolhouse Rock" shorts ... And he made fun of one of his iconic characters on "The Simpsons" ...

Radio shock jock Don Imus has died at 79.

At my three area cinemas of misfit films, we are showing the new Star Wars movie. We're also getting the new … Steven Seagal film ...' Seagal and DMX, together again. Plus these two artistic endeavors ... THE GREAT WAR -- Historical inaccuracies abound in this "Saving Private Ryan meets 1917 meets The Asylum" film. MOB TOWN -- There's only one man capable of bringing down an organized crime ring, and that man is ….. David Arquette?!?!? On the Brightside, we're getting screenings of "The Irishman" here.

Ascension would be a decent fit for NWA or even Impact, if they opt to keep teaming post WWE. Harper as a big heel hoss in AEW would be worth a watch. He could also fit as a gaijin upper carder in AJ or NOAH. GoD seem a bit stale at the moment in NJ. Adding Hunico could freshen things up.

Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street, has died at 85.

Forget who reported it initially, but I recall reading that Sapp was in line for the spot that went to Monty Brown in WWECW but Sapp wanted too much money.