by ringfire211 » Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:24 pm
Does anyone know if Jack Lord's footprints are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? As a character actor in the movies he probably wasn't big enough to receive a star, but I would think as the star of the longest running crime drama (at the time) a star would be warranted. I was just watching a rerun of VEGA$ and the trivia said that Robert Urich (the star of that show) got his star sometime in 1995, so I got to wondering if Jack ever got one. Like Lord, Urich wasn't a big movie actor but was pretty big on the small screen. Anyone have any idea?
by RickNewportBeach » Mon Nov 28, 2016 9:50 pm
Footprints in cement are at The Chinese Theatre. You're talking about a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Blvd. No JL does not have one. The stars are a publicity stunt. Celebrities that are chosen by the committee are required to pay for the star if they accept.
by ringfire211 » Tue Nov 29, 2016 9:35 am
Ah ok. Sorry, looks like I mixed up the footprints with the star. Didn't even know they were separate - never been to Hollyweird. But I guess I'm not too surprised that Jack got neither. You have to play the Hollyweird game and Jack wasn't into that and pretty much kept to himself. Plus the big brass weren't too fond of him and only kept him around because he brought in the viewers and kept up the CBS ratings.
by Mr. Mike » Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:07 am
Ringfire, interesting you mention Robert Urich. This excerpt from Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into TV says that he holds the record for being on the most TV shows that were flops.
by ringfire211 » Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:27 pm
Interesting find on Urich there. When I went to high school there was a kid who was a big SPENSER: FOR HIRE fan. It was through this kid's talking about the show that I discovered who Urich was. I myself have never seen the show but from what I can tell it's supposed to be pretty good. A gritty mid-to-late 80s detective show set in Boston. I'll have to get around to it at some point. As for VEGA$ I've only seen one episode a few weeks ago on a channel that was running it (hence why I even started this thread). Typical late 70s Aaron Spelling stuff. I've also seen a few episodes of SWAT which I'm actually surprised to find on that list in the article. It may have only run for 2 seasons but apparently it has quite a following and I bet more people remember it than VEGA$. The theme song is a rocking classic!
As for the genuine failures on that list many of them I've never heard of but I do remember his last 2 in the 90s (before his untimely passing) THE LAZARUS MAN and LOVE BOAT: THE NEXT WAVE. Never watched them but I do recall them. I believe the former aired on FOX at some weird time on Saturday mid-day while the latter definitely aired on UPN. I remember that network well because there were 2 shows in the late 90s that I used to watch that aired on that network - THE SENTINEL (with Richard Burgi) and VIPER (yes that snazzy 90s sports car!!). Both were crime drama/action shows with a tinge of sci-fi. VIPER was basically KNIGHT RIDER for the 90s.
One of the earliest things that Urich was in was the excellent DIRTY HARRY sequel MAGNUM FORCE where he played one of the 4 vigilante motorcycle cops that go head to head with Harry Callahan. Along with Urich were 2 other young up-and-comers playing the vigilante cops, David Soul (who in 2 years would hit it big on STARSKY & HUTCH) and Tim Matheson. Robert Urich by Mr. Mike » Tue Dec 13, 2016 10:34 pm
Actually, Spenser for Hire is available from Warner Archive, all three seasons, and it's currently on sale:
http://www.wbshop.com/search.do?query=urich
by ringfire211 » Wed Dec 14, 2016 12:25 pm
I'm not looking to buy it. Checking it out through Netflix would be my best bet. I never purchase anything without seeing it first. I really MUST love something strongly enough to consider a purchase, otherwise my house would be filled with tv shows and movies. I hate cluttering up the house with stuff I won't watch again.
by North » Thu Dec 15, 2016 10:59 am
Didn't Urich do those battery ads about knocking them off his shoulder or something?
by honu59 » Thu Dec 15, 2016 11:57 am
You may be thinking of Robert Conrad, who did commercials for Eveready batteries in the 1970s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMb8C5vqSUM
by Steven from Miami » Thu Dec 22, 2016 11:14 am
I'm all for Jack Lord getting a star on the Walk of Fame, but I am much more interested in Jack receiving a published biography in an actual book. The Great Man has been dead nearly twenty years, yet no biography exists.
Of course, quality classic television books in general are few and waaaay far between, so I'm not holding my breath on Jack getting a decent, tough-but-fair biography on what was at the same time a public and quite personal life.