The Essentials (TCM)
The Essentials is a weekly film showcase on Turner Classic Movies airing Saturdays at 8pm EST, spotlighting a specific movie and containing a special introduction and post-movie discussion. The spotlight movie is often replayed the following Sunday at 6 pm EST.
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[edit] Host
The Essentials was originally hosted by Rob Reiner, followed by fellow producer/film director/actors Sydney Pollack and Peter Bogdanovich. In May 2006, hosting duties were taken over by Robert Osborne and Molly Haskell. Carrie Fisher replaced Haskell when The Essentials returned for its new season in March 2007 following its annual "31 Days of Oscar" festival. Rose McGowan replaced Fisher for the 2008 season starting in March after the 2008 "31 Days" festival. On October 23, 2008, TV Guide reported that Alec Baldwin would replace McGowan for the 2009 season.[1] He remained on the program for the 2010 season. In March 2012, Drew Barrymore will take over the role of co-host for the program's twelfth season[2] .
[edit] Essentials, Jr.
A spin-off showcase, Essentials, Jr., airs in the summer months on Sunday nights at 8 pm ET. The featured film is chosen for its appeal to families with young children. The original host was Tom Kenny; he was replaced for the second series by co-hosts Abigail Breslin and Chris O'Donnell. John Lithgow hosted the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The Summer 2011 season will be hosted by Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live fame.[3]
[edit] SNL Parody
Beginning in 2010, Saturday Night Live started doing a recurring parody of this show with Robert Osborne (Jason Sudeikis) as the host. In the sketch, Osborne would talk about a movie and present some found footage that ended up on the cutting room floor. For instance, It's a Wonderful Life was originally meant to be a Chanuka movie called "This, You Call a Wonderful Life?!"
Appearances:
- November 10, 2010 Anne Hathaway/Florence and the Machine - The Wizard of Oz
- November 18, 2010 Jeff Bridges/Eminem and Lil' Wayne - It's a Wonderful Life (filling in for Robert Osborne was Ben Mankiewicz played by Bill Hader)
- January 29, 2011 Jesse Eisenberg/Nicki Minaj - The Bride of Blackenstein
- March 5, 2011 Miley Cyrus/The Strokes - The Sound of Music
[edit] References
- ^ Alec Baldwin to Co-Host TCM's The Essentials" TV Guide. October 23, 2008. Retrieved on October 24, 2008.
- ^ "Hosts". TCM Presents: The Essentials. http://www.tcm.com/essentials/hosts.html. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ Bill Hader Joins Turner Classic Movies This Summer as Host of TCM ESSENTIALS JR. Turner Classic Movies press release (May 4, 2011). Retrieved on May 21, 2011.
[edit] External links
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