Category Archives: TV and movies

“Like ‘Succession’ with turkey legs and jousting”

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

All right, I guess I should watch that HBO doc on the Texas Renaissance Festival and its founder, George Coulam. To label George Coulam eccentric is such an understatement that it’s like calling Houston summers hot. Yes, it’s true, but … Continue reading →

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At long last, the KLOL documentary

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

IYKYK. As announced exclusively in the Houston Chronicle, the long-awaited 101 KLOL Houston rock documentary, “Runaway Radio,” directed/produced by first-time filmmaker and Texas media blogger Mike McGuff, will be released this month with a special Houston screening in early March. … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve video break: It’s the time of the season

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Time once again for a revered tradition around here, the best reading of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”: As noted before, I’ve been posting this for over a decade, I watch it every year, and it remains one of my … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve video break: The luster of midday

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Hope you’re staying warm and that your pipes haven’t frozen. To celebrate, or to commiserate as the case may be, here once again is my favorite rendition of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”, as performed by cartoon and voice actors: … Continue reading →

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The Hollywood (mostly non-) response to SB8

Posted on October 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest. In May 2021, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed into law SB8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act. It’s the latest, and most contested, challenge to the 1973 Supreme Court decision made in Roe v. Wade, which legalized … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve video break: Time for tradition

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

And that can only mean my favorite rendition of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”: I’ve been posting this on Christmas Eve for over a decade now. I watch it every year, more than once, and I never get tired of … Continue reading →

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Let’s go to the drive-in

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Yeah, I’m down with this. Everything old really is new again. In the midst of ongoing concerns and restrictions over the Covid-19 pandemic, Houston is going back to the future with a new drive-in movie theater. The Drive-In at Sawyer … Continue reading →

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Hollywood’s plans to come back

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve posted a few times about how sports leagues like MLB are making plans to return to action from coronavirus shutdowns. The larger entertainment industry, including TV and movie making, are in a similar position as the sports leagues, and … Continue reading →

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Preserving Texas’ film history

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Cool story. Click play on the grainy, black-and-white image titled simply “Houston Time Service” on the website of the Texas Archive of the Moving Image and you’re treated to a 110-second Houston love story. The film, from the 1940s, is … Continue reading →

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Tuesday video break: It’s Christmas Eve, y’all

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

And that can mean only one thing: Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good afternoon.

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The KLOL documentary

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Of interest to me, and other middle-aged guys like me. This past week Houston filmmaker and blogger Mike McGuff released a trailer for his upcoming film about the late, great radio station, Rock 101 KLOL-FM, and it’s getting Houstonians of … Continue reading →

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And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

As always, my favorite Christmas Eve video: May you and yours get all your Christmas wishes fulfilled.

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Sandra Bullock hurts Dan Patrick’s fee-fees

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Poor little snowflake. Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick is not too pleased that Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock has agreed to star in a movie about former state Sen. Wendy Davis, whose 13-hour filibuster helped stall an anti-abortion bill in … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The night before the night before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

A day early, but what the heck: Not to mix metaphors, but may your days be merry and all that.

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Saturday video break: A right jolly old elf

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

How delightful that today actually is Saturday: Every year I watch this, and every year it makes me happy. I’m especially happy that they made it while Don LaFontaine was still with us. May Santa be good to you and … Continue reading →

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Rick Perry will join “Dancing With The Stars”

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Make your own Tom DeLay joke. Mine is in the embedded image. Former Gov. Rick Perry is joining the new season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Texas’ longest-serving governor will be a contestant in the 23rd season of the dance … Continue reading →

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The Jolanda Show

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Set your DVRs. The Houston school board just got a little more star power. Jolanda Jones, the former city councilwoman who joined the board last week, is starring in a new reality show called “Sisters In Law,” set to air … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The State of New York concedes the existence of Santa Claus

Posted on December 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A climactic scene from one of my favorite movies of all time: That is of course the one true version of Miracle on 34th Street, the original 1947 version. I do not speak of the 1994 remake, but I will … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving video break: It was like the turkeys mounted a counterattack

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The greatest holiday TV episode ever. If you haven’t seen this before, you are in for a treat. And if you have seen it before, you know what I’m talking about: I hope your Thanksgiving is better and less chaotic … Continue reading →

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Adickes documentary

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I’d watch that. Recently local video production company The Storyhive announced details of an upcoming documentary about Houston artist and sculptor David Adickes, the man behind many of the large-scale public art pieces dotting the Bayou City area. The film, … Continue reading →

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Of course the film industry thinks we need more film incentives

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all money to them. Why wouldn’t they think the state should provide more funding for them? A Warner Bros. executive told a panel of Texas lawmakers they would have to pony up more cash for film industry incentives if … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: “Baby clothes. This place has got everything!”

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

A shot-by-shot LEGO remake of the mall chase scene from The Blues Brothers: How awesome, not to mention OCD, is that? Here’s the side-by-side comparison: And the “making of” video: All done by the folks at Bricktease. I am in … Continue reading →

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Film incentive lawsuit

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I can’t wait to see what happens with this. A lawsuit filed by Austin-based filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and the production company behind his film Machete accuses The Texas Film Commission of denying agreed-to financial incentives after the commission decided the … Continue reading →

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The Real Housewives of the Oilpatch

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Sure, why not? A reality television show developer has traveled from California to Texas in hopes of spinning the “Real Housewives” concept into an oil field drama. Matt Stroud, a development producer for CrashHat Entertainment, recently released a casting call … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Charlie Brown School of Dance

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Just watch: Admit it, you always wondered what those dances were called.

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RIP, Larry Hagman

Posted on November 25, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Farewell, JR. J.R. Ewing was a business cheat, faithless husband and bottomless well of corruption. Yet with his sparkling grin, Larry Hagman masterfully created the charmingly loathsome oil baron — and coaxed forth a Texas-size gusher of ratings — on … Continue reading →

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InnerVIEWS

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Congrats to Ernie Manouse for reaching this milestone: Houston-(February 15, 2012) Over the past 10 seasons, the nationally syndicated award-winning series,  InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse hasentertained and informed audiences with interesting, intimate, and revealing conversations with some of today’s most captivating notables. … Continue reading →

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Are you ready for “The Osteens”?

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

When you think about it, the strange thing is that they didn’t already have a reality TV show. Joel Osteen announced Tuesday that he has partnered with Survivor producer Mark Burnett to create a reality TV show that would follow … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: OK Go + Muppets = awesome

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Some things were just meant to happen: Be sure to watch the “behind the scenes” video as well: Thanks to Popdose for the embeds.

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“Miss Representation”

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The above is a preview for Miss Representation, which is showing this Thursday for one night only at the Alamo Drafthouse, West Oaks Mall, at 7 PM. I’ve got tickets for the screening, which is also a benefit for Annie’s … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: We’re off to see the Wizard

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Bobby McFerrin sings “The Wizard of Oz” in seven and a half minutes. It’s even more awesome than it sounds. There’s a more recent version of this performance, with somewhat better video (not having been ripped from someone’s VHS tape, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Seven in seven

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Seven “Harry Potter” movies, summarized in seven minutes: I haven’t seen a Potter movie since the third one – we saw it two days before Olivia was born, if that helps you understand why I’m behind in my movie-watching – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: We the people

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s a little Schoolhouse Rock to get you in the Fourth of July mood: If you’re a true child of the 1970’s, you are incapable of merely saying the Preamble. It simply must be sung. Hope you’re having an excellent … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Magnited States of America, where you are FREE to TEXT in a THE-A-TER

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In case you haven’t seen it yet, another reason to love the Alamo Drafthouse: I wonder if this girl has figured out yet what a spectacle she has made of herself. CNN’s Anderson Cooper picked up on it the other … Continue reading →

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