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Sherlock's movie success harks back to Brett's glory days

John Scott Lewinski — 2010-01-07T16:01:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, British TV, Private Eye Shows, Features, TV Shows on DVD

The new action-oriented reboot of Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr. is making a killing at the box office -- and rightfully so. It stays true enough to its source material while injecting just enough quirky energy into Holmes' world to update the franchise.

But, here's hoping the movie's success leads some folks back to rediscover the single greatest production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories -- the Granada and PBS Sherlock Holmes series of the 80s.

To most Holmes fans, Jeremy Brett (right) was the perfect actor playing the role he was born to fill. He had the look, the voice and the mannerisms most readers envisioned when reading "The Red Headed League" or "The Speckled Band."

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Judge Sotomayor doesn't know her TV law history

Danny Gallagher — 2009-07-16T12:04:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Reality-Free, Private Eye Shows, Features

If you're one of the few remaining dissenters who doesn't think Sonia Sotormayor is qualified to serve on the nation's highest ranking court, don't blame President Obama. Don't blame any of her law professors or mentors. Don't even blame the left wing media.

Blame Perry Mason.

The Supreme Court nominee said before the Senate and the Judiciary Committee that the old Perry Mason show inspired her to seek a life in upholding the law.

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Daughter claims Peter Falk has Alzheimer's

Danny Gallagher — 2008-12-17T21:02:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Private Eye Shows, Features, TV News

A legendary actor in the television industry, nay, the entertainment industry has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Peter Falk's daughter, Catherine, filed for conservatorship of her father's affairs. She claims the actor's condition has gotten so bad that he "requires full-time custodial care for his health and safety."

So far the family hasn't released an official statement confirming the daughter's claims and nothing has been confirmed or denied on the actor's official website. Either way, everyone here at TV Squad wishes him and his family all the best.

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Susan Saint James gets a star - VIDEO

Jane Boursaw — 2008-06-12T09:41:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Private Eye Shows, Features, TV News

Remember Susan Saint James? She was honored this week with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and it's about time, I say. The 61-year-old actress is pictured here, with husband Dick Ebersol.

California First Lady Maria Shriver was on hand to compliment Saint James for her decades of volunteer work to support the Special Olympics and people with disabilities.

Saint James told ET, "When your name gets called, it's indelible, it's permanent. It's just a compliment of the highest order."

So let's go back a few years to honor this talented actress (this is where David Letterman starts stroking his chin and the picture gets fuzzy)...

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AmericanLife: It's swell

Jane Boursaw — 2008-06-09T10:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Food/Home/DIY, Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Private Eye Shows, Features, TV Schedules

While channel-surfing on my little office TV last week around 1 a.m., looking for something to keep me company, I stumbled across an episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (star Richard Basehart, pictured), followed by Combat!.

"What is this channel that plays all these old shows I remember as a kid?" I asked the TV Gods.

"It's AmericanLife," they replied. "They feature classic family shows aimed at Baby Boomers -- shows like Remington Steele, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Lost in Space, and Welcome Back, Kotter."

Ok, the TV Gods didn't really say that. I looked it up on the AmericanLife Web site, not to be confused with Showtime's This American Life, the fab documentary series hosted by Ira Glass.

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Retro Squad returns, new and improved

Keith McDuffee — 2008-06-06T10:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Arrested Development, Site Announcements, Retro Squad, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, The X-Files, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Reality-Free, Cheers, Frasier, Six Feet Under, Star Trek: Original Series, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Super Friends, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, British TV, Private Eye Shows, Features

The "big" shows are over, and now the typically low-key summer TV schedule begins. Oh sure, there are some real gems in there that are still airing or will start soon, but overall the excitement is nothing like the September-through-May period. Maybe people are ... gasp ... going outside to enjoy the sun?

It's been two years since we first delved into the world of Retro Squad, so we're back now with what we believe is a better format. Rather than pick a few shows and only review one season from each throughout the summer, we're doing theme/show weeks. These weeks will not only have standout episode reviews from any past season, but we'll have themed lists, Vs., interviews and videos. There are only so many weeks in the summer, so we can't cover all of your favorites, but I think there's something for just about everyone here. Check out the schedule below, after the jump.

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