It’s New Year’s Eve once again over at Trailers From Hell, so you know what that means, fellow cineastes: it’s Val Kilmer’s birthday!
As such, our Kilmer Birthday Committee (of one) will continue its annual tradition of watching one Val classic in celebration. Tonight’s entertainment: the criminally under-seen and intensely silly Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker adventure comedy Top Secret! (1984), a mash-up Elvis musical/spy caper parody picture. This relentlessly unserious entertainment carries special significance for Kilmerphiles, as it brought the world Val’s first-ever feature film role.
Now when Val Kilmer makes his celluloid acting debut, he’s not just some featured extra, or the 12th lead, or whatever. Don’t be silly. He’s the star, damn it.
In Top Secret!, that means he’s Nick Rivers, a Presley-esque rock and roller who finds himself inadvertently at the heart of an attempted hostile overseas takeover. This raucous...
As such, our Kilmer Birthday Committee (of one) will continue its annual tradition of watching one Val classic in celebration. Tonight’s entertainment: the criminally under-seen and intensely silly Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker adventure comedy Top Secret! (1984), a mash-up Elvis musical/spy caper parody picture. This relentlessly unserious entertainment carries special significance for Kilmerphiles, as it brought the world Val’s first-ever feature film role.
Now when Val Kilmer makes his celluloid acting debut, he’s not just some featured extra, or the 12th lead, or whatever. Don’t be silly. He’s the star, damn it.
In Top Secret!, that means he’s Nick Rivers, a Presley-esque rock and roller who finds himself inadvertently at the heart of an attempted hostile overseas takeover. This raucous...
- 1/1/2023
- by Alex Kirschenbaum
- Trailers from Hell
The soap opera world was rocked last week when news broke that Roscoe Born, a soap opera vet who has appeared in countless daytime-tv shows, had died.
He was 69.
The family of the actor has now spoken out about the tragic death and revealed that the cause of death was suicide.
"It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the death of our father and brother Roscoe Born," the statement reads.
"The gleaming charisma and creativity that shone through his onscreen performances, fueled his robust songwriting repertoire, and charmed all those around him were matched by a darkness in his life."
It continues, "Roscoe has long struggled with bipolar disorder, a shadow that he succumbed to when he took his own life on Tuesday March 3, 2020."
"We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and memories. We only wish that Roscoe could have seen how much people still carry his daytime villains in their hearts.
He was 69.
The family of the actor has now spoken out about the tragic death and revealed that the cause of death was suicide.
"It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the death of our father and brother Roscoe Born," the statement reads.
"The gleaming charisma and creativity that shone through his onscreen performances, fueled his robust songwriting repertoire, and charmed all those around him were matched by a darkness in his life."
It continues, "Roscoe has long struggled with bipolar disorder, a shadow that he succumbed to when he took his own life on Tuesday March 3, 2020."
"We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and memories. We only wish that Roscoe could have seen how much people still carry his daytime villains in their hearts.
- 3/10/2020
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
The family of soap opera vet Roscoe Born, who died last week at the age of 69, is revealing that the actor’s cause of death was suicide.
“Roscoe has long struggled with bipolar disorder, a shadow that he succumbed to when he took his own life on Tuesday March 3, 2020,” read the family’s statement, which was posted on Facebook. “We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and memories. We only wish that Roscoe could have seen how much people still carry his daytime villains in their hearts. May his death remind us of the importance of opening up conversations around mental illness.
“Roscoe has long struggled with bipolar disorder, a shadow that he succumbed to when he took his own life on Tuesday March 3, 2020,” read the family’s statement, which was posted on Facebook. “We are grateful for the outpouring of kind words and memories. We only wish that Roscoe could have seen how much people still carry his daytime villains in their hearts. May his death remind us of the importance of opening up conversations around mental illness.
- 3/10/2020
- TVLine.com
Roscoe Born, who brought to life many a memorable character across a decades-long daytime-tv career that spanned shows such as Santa Barbara and One Life to Live, has died at age 69.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Roscoe Born’s passing,” friend and business partner Deanna Lynne shared on the Born Roscoe Songs Facebook page. “He was an incredibly talented actor and songwriter. Many who knew him know how dedicated he was to social and political causes. He will be missed forever.”
More from TVLineSoap Opera Vet Marj Dusay Dead at 83Santa Barbara Vet...
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Roscoe Born’s passing,” friend and business partner Deanna Lynne shared on the Born Roscoe Songs Facebook page. “He was an incredibly talented actor and songwriter. Many who knew him know how dedicated he was to social and political causes. He will be missed forever.”
More from TVLineSoap Opera Vet Marj Dusay Dead at 83Santa Barbara Vet...
- 3/6/2020
- TVLine.com
1985: Santa Barbara's Brick & Amy were married.
1995: Loving spinoff The City premiered on ABC.
1998: Guiding Light's Danny met Michelle.
2003: One Life to Live's Blair married Walker."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: On Clara, Lu and Em, Emma "Em" Krueger (Helen King) threw a party.
1964: On Another World, Mitchell Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) asked John Randolph to take on Pat Matthew's case. Michael M. Ryan and Gaye Huston made their first appearances as John and Lee Randolph.
1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) panicked when Woodard's ghost appeared.
1979: On As the World Turns,...
1995: Loving spinoff The City premiered on ABC.
1998: Guiding Light's Danny met Michelle.
2003: One Life to Live's Blair married Walker."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1942: On Clara, Lu and Em, Emma "Em" Krueger (Helen King) threw a party.
1964: On Another World, Mitchell Dru (Geoffrey Lumb) asked John Randolph to take on Pat Matthew's case. Michael M. Ryan and Gaye Huston made their first appearances as John and Lee Randolph.
1967: On Dark Shadows, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) panicked when Woodard's ghost appeared.
1979: On As the World Turns,...
- 11/15/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Simon Brew Jul 12, 2017
We rewatched the classic 1980s comedy, Top Secret! It took surgeons two weeks to wipe the smile off our face...
"Is this the potato farm?"
See related Fargo season 3 episode 1 review: The Law Of Vacant Places
"Yes, I am Albert Potato"
If you're laughing at the quote above, then it's fair to say that you're already a Top Secret! fan. But if you're wondering what that actually means, then chances are you've missed out on one of the very best comedies that the 1980s had to offer.
Now the classic comedy Airplane!, rightfully, has been the beneficiary of some hugely forensic work, just to try and keep on top of its many, many background jokes. In fact, one DVD edition had a special feature just to point out all the things you may have missed on your first, tenth or fiftieth time around. Turns out there were...
We rewatched the classic 1980s comedy, Top Secret! It took surgeons two weeks to wipe the smile off our face...
"Is this the potato farm?"
See related Fargo season 3 episode 1 review: The Law Of Vacant Places
"Yes, I am Albert Potato"
If you're laughing at the quote above, then it's fair to say that you're already a Top Secret! fan. But if you're wondering what that actually means, then chances are you've missed out on one of the very best comedies that the 1980s had to offer.
Now the classic comedy Airplane!, rightfully, has been the beneficiary of some hugely forensic work, just to try and keep on top of its many, many background jokes. In fact, one DVD edition had a special feature just to point out all the things you may have missed on your first, tenth or fiftieth time around. Turns out there were...
- 7/28/2015
- Den of Geek
We rewatched the classic 1980s comedy, Top Secret! It took surgeons two weeks to wipe the smile off our face...
"Is this the potato farm?"
"Yes, I am Albert Potato"
If you're laughing at the quote above, then it's fair to say that you're already a Top Secret! fan. But if you're wondering what that actually means, then chances are you've missed out on one of the very best comedies that the 1980s had to offer.
Now the classic comedy Airplane!, rightfully, has been the beneficiary of some hugely forensic work, just to try and keep on top of its many, many background jokes. In fact, one DVD edition had a special feature just to point out all the things you may have missed on your first, tenth or fiftieth time around. Turns out there were quite a few in my case.
The Naked Gun, made just under a decade later,...
"Is this the potato farm?"
"Yes, I am Albert Potato"
If you're laughing at the quote above, then it's fair to say that you're already a Top Secret! fan. But if you're wondering what that actually means, then chances are you've missed out on one of the very best comedies that the 1980s had to offer.
Now the classic comedy Airplane!, rightfully, has been the beneficiary of some hugely forensic work, just to try and keep on top of its many, many background jokes. In fact, one DVD edition had a special feature just to point out all the things you may have missed on your first, tenth or fiftieth time around. Turns out there were quite a few in my case.
The Naked Gun, made just under a decade later,...
- 7/28/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Odd List Simon Brew 20 Sep 2013 - 07:14
They don't make funny movies any more, right? Wrong. If you're looking for a laugh, then here are some you may have missed...
For this list, blame The Hangover Part III. It was whilst walking out of that film that I got into a chat with someone, who was bemoaning the lack of genuinely funny movie comedies. Certainly, big budget Hollywood comedies have no end of problems right now - with the occasional exception - but I couldn't help thinking of the many neglected gems that had gone through my DVD player over the past decade or so.
As such, I started to put this list together. It's inevitably subjective, as one person's comedy is another person's snore fest. But I've tried to dig out a mix of comedies from the past three decades that have either flown under the radar completely, or...
They don't make funny movies any more, right? Wrong. If you're looking for a laugh, then here are some you may have missed...
For this list, blame The Hangover Part III. It was whilst walking out of that film that I got into a chat with someone, who was bemoaning the lack of genuinely funny movie comedies. Certainly, big budget Hollywood comedies have no end of problems right now - with the occasional exception - but I couldn't help thinking of the many neglected gems that had gone through my DVD player over the past decade or so.
As such, I started to put this list together. It's inevitably subjective, as one person's comedy is another person's snore fest. But I've tried to dig out a mix of comedies from the past three decades that have either flown under the radar completely, or...
- 9/19/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
In a scene from the great 1984 comedy Top Secret!, American rocker Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer) is savagely beaten by East German jailers and falls into a hallucination. He's back in high school, racing around the hallways trying to learn the location of the final chemistry exam. "All the exams are over," a classmate tells him ominously. "Haven't you been to class?" "No!" Nick cries. "No! I haven't studied! I'm back in school! I can't believe I'm back in school!" Then he wakes up to find himself being savagely whipped. "Thank God," he says.HBO's Game Change, about the making and unmaking of vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election, is basically that scene stretched out to feature length — an agonizing experience. You don't need to know the names of political consultants or remember every detail of the campaign to become immersed in it, because in its heart,...
- 3/9/2012
- by Matt Zoller Seitz
- Vulture
Hey, remember that movie that played constantly on Comedy Central about a decade ago? No, not Half-Baked, National Lampoon’s Vacation, or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. That’s right. Top Secret! is now re-released on a special "I Love the 80s" Edition of the DVD.
The brain-child of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, the people behind Airplane! and The Naked Gun, Top Secret! is a double-header parody of both Elvis movies and war movies, featuring American rock and roll star Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer in his first movie) traveling to East Germany to give a concert. Through a series of unfortunate events, he gets caught up with Hillary Flammond (Lucy Gutteridge), a member of the East German resistance, who is trying to break her father (Michael Gough) out of prison with the help of her comrades. As the film-makers wholeheartedly admit themselves, that’s about as far as the plot goes.
The brain-child of Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker, the people behind Airplane! and The Naked Gun, Top Secret! is a double-header parody of both Elvis movies and war movies, featuring American rock and roll star Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer in his first movie) traveling to East Germany to give a concert. Through a series of unfortunate events, he gets caught up with Hillary Flammond (Lucy Gutteridge), a member of the East German resistance, who is trying to break her father (Michael Gough) out of prison with the help of her comrades. As the film-makers wholeheartedly admit themselves, that’s about as far as the plot goes.
- 1/28/2009
- by Anders Nelson
- JustPressPlay.net
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