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Post by jimsteel on Sept 9, 2017 0:01:17 GMT -5
Jack Keil, the advertising executive who created and gave voice to McGruff, the cartoon hound who exhorts Americans to “take a bite out of crime,” died on Aug. 25 at his home in Westminster West, Vt. He was 94. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Betsy Kluck-Keil, who said he had recently learned that he had pancreatic cancer. Mr. Keil worked on ad campaigns for Toyota, Cheerios and Life Savers during his years with the New York advertising agency Dancer Fitzgerald Sample (which was acquired by Saatchi & Saatchi in the 1980s). But his most enduring work began in 1979, when he spearheaded a pro bono campaign intended to educate Americans on how they could help reduce crime. Mr. Keil (it rhymes with “smile”) decided to try a catchy slogan delivered by an animal mascot, similar to Smokey Bear, who reminds people to prevent forest fires. He told Smithsonian magazine in 1988 that he had considered an elephant, a deer and a cougar before the catchphrase and the dog character coalesced in his mind during a trip back to New York from the West Coast. Continue reading the main story “You can’t crush crime or defeat it altogether, but you can snap at it, nibble at it — take a bite out of crime!” he said. “And the animal that takes a bite is a dog.” Mr. Keil took the idea to his team at Dancer and soon McGruff the Crime Dog, a lanky hound dressed in a trench coat with weary eyes and stubble, was born. Mr. Keil provided the voice, the raspy sound of a detective who had just finished a long, sleepless stakeout. “He wasn’t vicious, not tremendously smart, maybe, but he was no wimp either,” Mr. Keil said. “He was a father figure, or possibly an uncle figure.”
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Post by TTX on Sept 9, 2017 6:48:00 GMT -5
Good old McGruff......RIP
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Post by jimsteel on Sept 11, 2017 0:02:09 GMT -5
Len Wein, the influential comics writer who co-created characters including Wolverine and Swamp Thing, has died. He was 69. DC Comics confirmed the news following an outpouring of tributes from the comics community overflowed online. “Len Wein was one of the most welcoming people and legends in comics from the moment I joined DC eight years ago,” said Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment. “He wrote or edited almost every major DC character — there’s hardly a facet of DC’s world that Len didn’t touch. I, DC, and the industry will miss him and his talent very much. Our love and prayers go out to Christine, his family, and his fans.” Wein was born in New York City and began freelancing with DC Comics around age 20. His career brought him to Marvel Comics, before returning to DC again. He is credited with reviving the X-Men with artist Dave Cockrum. In 2008 he was inducted into the Will Eisner comic book hall of fame
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Post by jimsteel on Sept 11, 2017 0:06:08 GMT -5
Don Ohlmeyer, whose influential television career ranged from producing ABC’s “Monday Night Football” during its 1970s heyday to guiding NBC to No. 1 in prime time two decades later on the strength of programs like “Seinfeld” and “ER,” died Sunday in Indian Wells, Calif. He was 72. His family confirmed the death in a statement, saying the cause was cancer. Mr. Ohlmeyer, a cocksure, creative personality, was well known to NBC when it hired him in 1993 to resurrect its once-dominant entertainment division. After a decade as a disciple to Roone Arledge, the president of ABC Sports, Mr. Ohlmeyer had left to be executive producer of NBC Sports, then formed his own company, Ohlmeyer Communications, to produce sports and entertainment programs. Promised autonomy by Bob Wright, the president of NBC, Mr. Ohlmeyer evaluated the network’s prime-time assets: “Seinfeld” and “Law & Order” were not yet hits, “Cheers” was in its final season and “L.A. Law” was no longer a powerhouse. “When I got there, I used to say there was the smell of death,” he told the Archive of American Television in 2004. That did not last long. Carried along by new series like “ER,” “Friends” and “Frasier,” and the emergence of “Seinfeld,” NBC rose to No. 1 in prime time during the 1995-6 season. And in late night, the decision to help Jay Leno thrive as the host of “The Tonight Show” paid off. Mr. Leno had been chosen over David Letterman to succeed Johnny Carson, and Mr. Letterman’s new show on CBS eventually succumbed in the ratings race. Continue reading the main story But the chain-smoking Mr. Ohlmeyer, who was the president of NBC West Coast, had a fractious relationship with Warren Littlefield, the president of NBC Entertainment, whose power was clipped when Mr. Ohlmeyer arrived. In Mr. Littlefield’s book, “Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV” (2012), written with T.R. Pearson, he said he viewed Mr. Ohlmeyer’s arrival as a vote of “severely limited confidence in me.” Mr. Ohlmeyer kept Mr. Littlefield as his deputy but their personalities were vastly different — Mr. Ohlmeyer was blunt and autocratic, Mr. Littlefield was quieter and more collegial — as were their opinions on the development of hits like “ER” and “Friends.” In Mr. Littlefield’s book, Jack Welch, the chairman of General Electric, which owned NBC then, made clear which executive he valued more. “The thinking was that Warren was a dry hole,” he said. “Ohlmeyer’s personality and charisma made us a bigger force in Hollywood in our view.”
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Post by TTX on Sept 11, 2017 5:04:20 GMT -5
RIP Len, you did some great comic work for sure.
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Post by throwingtoasters on Sept 11, 2017 18:45:17 GMT -5
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Post by jimsteel on Sept 12, 2017 14:47:59 GMT -5
Mark La Mura of 'All My Children' dead at 68 Mark La Mura, an "All My Children" staple for the past several decades, has died. He was 68. La Mura, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1988, began playing Pine Valley's Mark Dalton nearly four decades ago. His most significant storylines included the romantic pursuit of his own sibling, Erica (Susan Lucci) -- he didn't yet know they were related -- and an intervention for drug addiction. Viewers may also know La Mura from dozens of other TV appearances, including roles on "30 Rock," "The Sopranos" and "Law & Order: SVU."
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Post by Crimson Cross on Sept 12, 2017 16:26:20 GMT -5
Jack Keil, the advertising executive who created and gave voice to McGruff, the cartoon hound who exhorts Americans to “take a bite out of crime,” died on Aug. 25 at his home in Westminster West, Vt. He was 94. His death was confirmed by his daughter, Betsy Kluck-Keil, who said he had recently learned that he had pancreatic cancer. Mr. Keil worked on ad campaigns for Toyota, Cheerios and Life Savers during his years with the New York advertising agency Dancer Fitzgerald Sample (which was acquired by Saatchi & Saatchi in the 1980s). But his most enduring work began in 1979, when he spearheaded a pro bono campaign intended to educate Americans on how they could help reduce crime. Mr. Keil (it rhymes with “smile”) decided to try a catchy slogan delivered by an animal mascot, similar to Smokey Bear, who reminds people to prevent forest fires. He told Smithsonian magazine in 1988 that he had considered an elephant, a deer and a cougar before the catchphrase and the dog character coalesced in his mind during a trip back to New York from the West Coast. Continue reading the main story “You can’t crush crime or defeat it altogether, but you can snap at it, nibble at it — take a bite out of crime!” he said. “And the animal that takes a bite is a dog.” Mr. Keil took the idea to his team at Dancer and soon McGruff the Crime Dog, a lanky hound dressed in a trench coat with weary eyes and stubble, was born. Mr. Keil provided the voice, the raspy sound of a detective who had just finished a long, sleepless stakeout. “He wasn’t vicious, not tremendously smart, maybe, but he was no wimp either,” Mr. Keil said. “He was a father figure, or possibly an uncle figure.” I still have a McGruff postal stamp...
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Post by jimsteel on Sept 13, 2017 16:51:24 GMT -5
FRANK VINCENT DEAD AT 78 FROM HEART SURGERY COMPLICATIONS Frank Vincent -- veteran actor known for his roles on "The Sopranos" and several Martin Scorsese films -- died in a New Jersey hospital Wednesday ... TMZ has learned. We're told Vincent suffered a heart attack last week, and underwent open-heart surgery Wednesday. He died during the surgery. Frank was one of the most recognizable character actors -- in the biz for 41 years -- known for his tough guy roles ... especially in mafia movies. Some of his most memorable include Billy Batts in "Goodfellas" and Phil Leotardo -- Tony's nemesis -- in "The Sopranos."
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Post by Powermonger on Sept 13, 2017 17:20:35 GMT -5
FRANK VINCENT DEAD AT 78 FROM HEART SURGERY COMPLICATIONS Frank Vincent -- veteran actor known for his roles on "The Sopranos" and several Martin Scorsese films -- died in a New Jersey hospital Wednesday ... TMZ has learned. We're told Vincent suffered a heart attack last week, and underwent open-heart surgery Wednesday. He died during the surgery. Frank was one of the most recognizable character actors -- in the biz for 41 years -- known for his tough guy roles ... especially in mafia movies. Some of his most memorable include Billy Batts in "Goodfellas" and Phil Leotardo -- Tony's nemesis -- in "The Sopranos." He also played Frank Marino in the movie Casino. Loved the characters he stared in.
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