TV Fact #188 – March 31st, 2015:

“Luck” (2011-2012) has an ironic title given the unfortunate misfortune that occurred that led to it’s early cancellation after only 9 episodes, even with good ratings and good reception. It had nothing to do with that but rather the safety of the animals used in the film.

The safety of the series’ working environment was called into question by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA criticized “Luck” over the injury and euthanization of two horses during filming for the pilot and the seventh episode. As the American Humane Association (AHA) said both racehorses, and I quote, “stumbled and fell during short racing sequences”, and also that, “the horses were checked immediately afterwards by the onsite veterinarians and in each case a severe fracture deemed the condition inoperable.”

HBO pointed out that precautions had been taken with each horse being, as they quoted, “limited to three runs per day and was rested in between those runs.” However, on March 13, 2012, HBO agreed to suspend all filming involving horses while investigations took place over the death of a third horse. This was only the start as the AHA insisted the stoppage remain in effect until a comprehensive investigation was completed for it was also noted the horse’s injury did not occur during filming or racing. The following day, HBO canceled the series, saying that while it “maintained the highest safety standards throughout production … accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future.”

It was unfortunate that, at the time of the show’s cancellation, the second episode of the second season was in production with footage shot for the second season that still has not been released publicly. “Luck” was a good show, but luck itself was unfortunately not on its side.

Movie Fact #807 – March 31st, 2015:

Yesterday, I spoke of the continued saga to come about the 1995 film “Heat”, particularly about one of the greatest team-ups of all time: Actor Al Pacino, who played the character Lt. Vincent Hanna, and actor Robert De Niro as the character Neil McCauley, the professional thief Hanna is tracking. Besides the fact Pacino and De Niro were director Michael Mann’s first choices for their respective characters, this film was hyped even more because of their team-up.

Could you blame them? This was the first film to ever feature both De Niro and Pacino acting together. While they both starred in “The Godfather: Part II” back in 1974, they never shared the screen together, as split chronology prevented this with Pacino playing Michael Corleone in the year 1958 and De Niro played a younger version of Michael’s father Vito Corleone in the early 20th century. So, when this movie was finally released, even its advertising material promoted the film as a De Niro/Pacino “showdown.”

As you can guess, both brought their A-game and their talent. In an interview with Pacino on the DVD Special Edition, Pacino revealed that for the scene in the restaurant between Hanna and McCauley, Robert De Niro felt that the scene should not be rehearsed. This was so that the unfamiliarity between the two characters would seem more genuine. Mann agreed, and shot the scene with no practice rehearsals. That restaurant scene was filmed at Kate Mantilini in Beverly Hills and today you can still sit at the table where De Niro and Pacino sat. They also both happen to be regulars there.

Did you know that director Michael Mann made the movie as tribute to a detective friend of his in Chicago. former Chicago police officer Chuck Adamson, who obsessively tracked and killed a thief (who was also named Neil McCauley) he had once met under non-violent circumstances? That’s the perk of having actors like Pacino and De Niro in your film. To bring such a tribute to vivid and realistic life. Cause when the “Heat” is on, you need your biggest guns to win the fight.

Quote #807 – March 31st, 2015:

“It’s a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.”

– George Clooney, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

TV Fact #187 – March 30th, 2015:

The series “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin” (1954-1959) was shot on the set of the director John Ford’s 1948 western “Fort Apache”. And people think we don’t recycle and reuse enough.

Movie Fact #806 – March 30th, 2015:

In June of 2002, the scene from 1995’s “Heat” involving the shootout after the bank robbery was shown to United States Marine recruits at MCRD San Diego as an example of the proper way to retreat while under fire. And tomorrow, March 31st of 2015, you’ll enjoy the continued movie fact about this film and how it’s leading co-stars were always meant to share the screen together.

Quote #806 – March 30th, 2015:

“How can you know who you are till you know what you want?”

– Anna Kendrick, “Into the Woods”

TV Fact #166 – March 29th, 2015:

The theme of being lost in translation doesn’t just apply to different languages bu broadcast history apparently. “The Bernie Mac Show” (2001-2006), for example, celebrated its 100th episode on February 3, 2006 with the episode “Bar Mitzvah Crashers” (Season 5, Episode 16) despite the fact that the actual 100th episode was not aired until March 31 with the episode “What Would Jason Do?” (Season 5, Episode 18). I guess some wires got crossed?

Movie Fact #805 – March 29th, 2015:

You want to talk about things getting lost in translation? Try to see what happens when a movie title itself can’t be translated. The 2005 film “Hustle & Flow” had the two words “hustle” and “flow” in the title and as concepts of both hustle and flow are unique to African American culture, it turned out to be nearly impossible to find proper translations for international release of the film. This meant the title couldn’t be translated directly. For example, the Russian translation of the title meant “The fuss and the torrent”.

Quote #805 – March 29th, 2015:

“People change and things work out.”

– Miles Teller, “Whiplash”

TV Fact #165 – March 28th, 2015:

“Empire” (2015-Present) was not the first time that lead actor Terrence Howard, who plays the lead character Lucious Lyon, and lead actress Taraji P. Henson, who plays his on-screen wife Cookie Lyon, starred together as love interests. They previously starred in the 2005 film “Hustle & Flow”. Howard played the lead character DJay and Henson played the character Shug.