News & Current Events

Pernell Roberts (b. 1928) (actor) Although an accomplished stage actor, Roberts is best known to television audiences for his role as Adam Cartwright on Bonanza (1959-65), and as the title character in the series Trapper John, M.D. (1979-86) — a spinoff of the movie MASH — for which Roberts received an Emmy nomination. Zelda Rubinstein (b. 1933) (actress) She acted in many films and TV shows from the ’80s through the 2000s, but Rubenstein will be forever remembered as quirky medium Tangina in Poltergeist (1982) and its 1986 and ’88 sequels. Her unique voice was heard as narrator on another […]

Because I write vampire novels and Katherine Ramsland is an expert on modern vampire culture, cults and serial killers, our paths have occasionally crossed. We recently met at a Dracula convention in Windber, Pa., where we were both staying in a small former hotel rumored to be haunted. So, when we connected for an interview for the Investigation Discovery three-part series American Occult, airing with back-to-back episodes on Oct. 30, it was like continuing our last conversation — which was, no surprise, also about forensics. No surprise because Ramsland is both a forensic psychologist who has worked with former FBI […]

In the months after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the levees that protected the city were breached, causing a disaster of epic proportions in one of America’s most famous cities, Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee documented the aftermath in his HBO film When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. In four powerful, mesmerizing hours of television, Lee presented the stories of survivors, who — in their own words — told of the death and devastation they had witnessed. There were tales of heroism and of heartbreak, from the everyday people who lent a hand when it seemed the […]

For many, the image of dolphins is linked to the TV series Flipper, in which a dolphin was the friend of a young boy. The “smile,” the antics, the good-natured sounds all made people want to see these beautiful creatures close up. The series led to the creation of SeaWorld and other aquatic-themed parks across the country. And his involvement with the series is also former dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry’s greatest regret and led to his life’s passion of dolphin rescue. For his feature-length documentary The Cove — which exposes a dolphin slaughter that takes place each year near Taiji, […]

Journalist Lisa Ling is a perfect example of what a modern woman can accomplish when afforded the chance to realize her full potential. Highly intelligent and talented at her profession (she reports for everything from National Geographic Explorer to The Oprah Winfrey Show), and brave and determined while getting the story (she recently went undercover in North Korea), Ling began making full use of her skills and opportunities when she was 18 and became one of the youngest reporters for Channel One News, and then rose to become the network’s senior war correspondent before the age of 25. But while […]

James Brown (b. 1933) (musician) Memorable works: “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag”; “I Got You (I Feel Good)”; “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”; “Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine)”; “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World”; “Living in America”; “Please, Please, Please”; “Night Train” Joseph Barbera (b. 1911) (producer/writer/director) Memorable creations (with William Hanna): Tom and Jerry; Huckleberry Hound; The Flintstones; The Jetsons; Scooby-Doo; Yogi Bear; Jonny Quest; Secret Squirrel; Magilla Gorilla; Top Cat; Quick Draw McGraw Other memorable works: Good Will to Men (1955 animated short, Oscar nominee); Space Ghost (1966-68); The Banana […]