Milburn Stone

Watching Carrie Preston in this, I became aware what a really good actress she is. Before, I was kind of, yeah, she does a great Elsbeth. But my mind never went beyond that. Now I think she could play just about any character, comedic or non, and be awesome. I actually formulated the silent thought, “I want to see what she does next.” I’m sure she didn’t come out of nowhere even if she did for me. My next step is to go to wikipedia, imdb, and ibdb to catch up.

I loved this episode. Have never seen Billy Magnussen before (is he somebody in NY theatre?) but he was a terrific (and very funny, not silly-funny) villain. A real discovery for me even though I’m sure I’m just late to the party. Just one question related to the story. So, when the jail lady is making an inventory of Elsbeth’s belongings, something or other gives Elsbeth an epiphany that solves the case. What was that something? Joining the millions who are sad to see Carra go. Maybe the Elsbeth PTB are cooking up a new show called Kaya?

Even as is, the episode already screamed—er, that guy, the elephant in the room we’re talking about. Episodes air weeks after they’re shot, but even so, this had to be shot after the pachyderm took office, or at least after it was known he would be taking office. I’m guessing the former. Like, 2-3 weeks ago. It reminded me of the Kings’ The Good Fight, which was not at all afraid to build plot developments around the horribleness of the elephant. Courageous, in fact. As for the show lasting long enough, good point. Shari Redstone is desperate to stay on the mastodon's good side, because apparently she doesn’t have enough money. I’m often amazed Colbert is still on the air.

Was she kissing up to her husband's boss?

All is forgiven, show. This was a good one.

The typo at the beginning of that is the least of its problems.

You have a lot of company here, including me. I don't want the show to be only comedy (as this one basically was); I want to either really like the victim, really hate/fear the villain, and preferably both. I want some kind of suspense. The pilot episode had it. A sympathetic victim, and Adrien Brody (with a side of Benjamin Bratt) remains the best villain the show has had. I hope they can at least come close to matching that. A couple of villains last year did at least approach it. The plot of this one was so convoluted, I can't even understand the posts here that are trying to make sense of things!

I hope that if TCM goes away, we lovers of classic movies will have a different place to go within the Movies area of Primetimer. Perhaps a topic within that section titled They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To: Classic Movies. I don't think we should create that topic now, because it will split the discussion, but obviously we should be prepared to do so.

This may be old news to some, but I'm just reading now on Puck (a news site that covers media; I'd link to the story but it's behind a paywall) that Zazlav has made it all but official that WBD is going to spin off its cable brands (like TCM), and that the most likely buyer will be a small linear company or--worse--a hedge fund that will gut the assets for whatever value they can extract. The story is dated two days ago.

This is bringing me back to the Foster Hirsch book Hollywood in the Fifties, which has substantial material about the blacklist. I was just reading last night the material in which he basically asked us to put into context the caving of the moguls to HUAC re the Hollywood Ten and the blacklist. The Hollywood operation of all the big studios was in service to the New York operation, because New York was where the money was; and Wall Street and the big banks needed the moguls to cave. He does ridicule and condemn Jack Warner for his egregious testimony before the committee, but says the moguls in general had no choice but to blacklist as they did.

But aren't we glad he hasn't? So unfair that we have to wait until March 2026 for the trial!

Thanks for this recommendation, @EtheltoTillie. I didn't know about this movie. I've heard Eddie Muller and Alan Rode mention Marsha Hunt as sort of a "Queen of Noir."

One suggestion for "better content": Bring back the Warner Bros. cartoons of the forties and fifties, you idiots!

To me he's the best actual TV journalist on the air. (As opposed to "pontificator.") The one who conveys a sense of curiosity when he interviews somebody. Actually wanting to know the answer--what a concept!

He was funny in that movie as I recall. (Not just "supposed to be funny.") Could it be the only comedy on his résumé?