hollywood q&a
By Adam Thomlison
TV Media
Q: Why isn’t Richard
Moll still doing things? He
was always the best part
of “Night Court,” so I as-
sumed he’d be getting roles
forever.
A: Well, you weren’t wrong.
It’s just the type of roles that
have been giving him a profile
problem.
Richard Moll was a fan
favorite as Bull Shannon in all
nine seasons of “Night Court.”
The always-serious but good-
hearted Bull was never a lead
character, but he often got the
best lines.
That sort of role in a smash-
hit sitcom can be an actor’s
blessing and curse. It gave
Moll a very high profile but left
him typecast as a gentle giant
(though his combined six-foot-
eight frame and infectious
smile didn’t help matters).
That’s all an explanation for
why he never quite reached,
let alone beat, his “Night
Court” fame again. However,
that’s not to say he hasn’t
been busy.
He’s been taking supporting
roles pretty steadily since then,
so that today he has a whop-
ping 173 different films and TV
shows on his resume.
They’ve mostly been com-
edies — such as notable turns
in 1996’s “Jingle All the Way”
and the cult-favorite 1999
indie film “But I’m a Cheer-
leader” — but he’s also kept
up a sideline in horror cinema.
Some of his best roles have
been in places where the two
genres meet, including big-
screen hits “Scary Movie 2”
(2001) and “House” (1985).
That also describes his most
recent role, in last year’s
schlocky, Christmas-themed
horror comedy “Slay Belles.”
That’s not to say Moll hasn’t
tried to stretch his legs, so
to speak — they haven’t all
been imposing characters
that played on his size. In the
aforementioned “But I’m a
Cheerleader” he played an
activist rescuing gay teens
from a conversion camp, and
in 2003’s “Cats and Mice”
he played a cross-dressing
brothel owner. He’s even gone
the heartwarming route as
12 | Screentime
STREAMING THIS WEEK
Big Jim in “Thomas Kinkade’s
Christmas Cottage” (2008).
In an interview with People
magazine back in 2003, Moll
summed up his approach to
working as an actor: “The
more work the better, as far as
I’m concerned.”
spoof. They star as best friends who get wrapped up in a bullet-riddled
chase across Europe after Audrey (Kunis) gets dumped by her boy-
friend (Justin Theroux, “The Leftovers”), who, unbeknownst to her,
is a CIA agent. Car chases, knife fights and shootouts abound as the
girls flee pursuers across Europe’s finest cities, from Vienna to Prague
to Amsterdam to Berlin. The flick won Favorite Comedy Movie at last
year’s People’s Choice Awards and the leads’ performances have
earned positive words from critics. You can stream it Friday, June 28.
Q: When will the His-
tory Channel reshow “Van-
ished,” the movie about
strange disappearances in
the national parks?
A: It has no plans to yet, but
that’s not to say it won’t. And
what is “Vanished” about if
not choosing to believe?
“Vanished” is a feature-
length special starring David
Paulides, who was already
known to History viewers as
one of the talking heads in its
hit series “Ancient Aliens.”
I don’t want to give away
the ending, so I’ll just say that
the documentary also comes
to a pretty otherworldly expla-
nation for a number of disap-
pearances from American
national parks.
It aired just twice on the
U.S. History Channel, on Jan. 5
and then again the next night.
However, that “U.S.” bit I put
in there gives reason for hope.
The Canadian version of
History (which has different
ownership but keeps the
same branding and many
of the same programs) has
shown a bit more faith in the
special, airing it multiple times
between January and March
on the main channel and its
spinoff channel, H2.
Furthermore, the fact that
he had already appeared in
“Ancient Aliens” suggests
there’s a chance, at least, that
both History channels may
want to stay in the David Pau-
lides business. Also, the special
was made by Prometheus
Entertainment, the company
behind “Ancient Aliens” and
fellow History hit “The Curse
of Oak Island.”
In the meantime, all I can
say is keep watching the
listings — for when History
watches the skies.
“True Grit” (2010)
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June 19, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald
The cast of “The Chosen One”
By Jacqueline Spendlove
TV Media
NEW ON NETFLIX:
“The Chosen One” (“O Escolhido”)
This Brazilian thriller follows three young doctors who travel to the
Pantanal, a sprawling tropical wetland in Brazil, to provide vaccina-
tions against a new mutation of the Zika virus. The job is no easy one,
however, as the residents of the secluded community they’re working
in reject modern medicine, putting their faith instead in an enigmatic
healer who has a supernatural ability to cure disease. Secrets and mys-
teries unravel for the newcomers as “The Chosen One” (Renan Tenca,
“3%”) and his fervent devotees force them to entertain a power be-
yond their scientific understanding. The series premieres Friday, June
28.
“Mike Epps: Only One Mike”
Netflix’s latest standup special drops Tuesday, June 25, and shines a
spotlight on Mike Epps, the irreverent and inappropriate comedian
known for roles in “Next Friday” (2000) and “Friday After Next”
(2002), “The Hangover” (2009) and the short-lived “Uncle Buck” TV
series. The no-holds-barred show comes from Constitution Hall in
Washington, D.C., as Epps riffs on his childhood dyslexia, the highs
and lows of raising four daughters, the wisdom of the elderly and
more.
“Dope” Season 3
The new season of this insightful docuseries streams Friday, June
28. The show gives a frank look at the war on drugs in America and
beyond, providing a view from both sides of the drug trade, from the
perspectives of dealers, law enforcement officials and the users and
addicts caught in the middle. Past episodes have looked at the heroin
epidemic in Baltimore, the influx of drugs being smuggled in from the
Caribbean, meth addiction in Indiana and more. Each episode delivers
first-hand accounts and interviews from those involved in the trade:
new and longtime users, high-profile and small-time drug dealers
speaking from behind masks, and cops fighting a never-ending battle
to keep the problem at bay.
Some big names are attached to this Coen brothers Western, which
streams Saturday, June 29. Besides being executive produced by Ste-
ven Spielberg, it counts Jeff Bridges (“The Big Lebowski,” 1998), Matt
Damon (“The Martian,” 2015) and Josh Brolin (“No Country for Old
Men,” 2007) among its stars, as well as an absurdly talented Hailee
Steinfeld (“The Edge of Seventeen,” 2016) who, at 13 years old, was
chosen from 15,000 other hopefuls gunning for the key role of Mat-
tie Ross. The frontier tale follows the gutsy young Mattie as she and
boozy lawman Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) set out to track down the
man who murdered her father. The film was nominated for heaps of
awards, including 10 Oscars, and though it didn’t take any of those
home in the end, it definitely warrants a watch and a rewatch.
NEW ON HULU:
“Juliet, Naked” (2018)
This charming romcom is based on the novel of the same name by
Nicholas Hornby, the same writer responsible for books-turned-
movies “High Fidelity” (2000), “About a Boy” (2002) and “Fever
Pitch” (2005). Rose Byrne (“Spy,” 2015) stars as Annie, a woman in an
unhappy relationship with Duncan, played by Chris O’Dowd (“Brides-
maids,” 2011). She finds herself drawn into an unlikely romance
with Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke, “Training Day,” 2001), an obscure
American musician of whom Duncan is an ardent fan, after she posts
a negative review of one of his albums, impressing him with her hon-
esty. The movie is an easy summer watch with a great cast, and you
can stream it Monday, June 24.
“Diane” (2018)
This drama did well for itself at its world premiere at last year’s Tribeca
Film Festival, where it won Best Cinematography, Best Narrative Fea-
ture and Best Screenplay. Mary Kay Place (“Being John Malkovich,”
1999) plays the titular Diane, a woman in her 70s with not much going
on in her life beyond taking care of others. When she’s not feeding the
needy at the local soup kitchen, she’s playing cards with her terminally
ill cousin (Deirdre O’Connell, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,”
2004) or checking in on her opioid-addicted son (Jake Lacy, “I’m Dying
Up Here”), who just wants her out of his hair. It’s a sad but moving
look at an everywoman trying to avoid facing the memories of her
past, and Place shines in the role. You can watch it Saturday, June 29.
“Motown Magic” Season 2
This animated series brings the sounds of Motown to life for a young
audience. Executive produced by Motown legend Smokey Robinson,
the family-friendly series follows Ben, an imaginative boy who uses
his magic paintbrush to bring his neighborhood’s colorful street art
to life. Creator Josh Wakely acquired worldwide rights for Motown
music to feature in the series, and each episode is backed by hits from
Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The
Supremes and more as Ben and his pals have adventures and learn life
lessons. The second season is available Friday, June 28.
NEW ON AMAZON PRIME:
“The Spy Who Dumped Me” (2018)
“Saturday Night Live” darling Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis (“That
‘70s Show”) make up a winning team for this action/comedy spy
Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis in a scene from “The Spy
Who Dumped Me”