Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)

This detective show involves a doctor working as a consultant for the police, including his detective son

Summary

-Dr. Mark Sloane (Dick Van Dyke) is a doctor at Community General Hospital who helps his detective son solve crimes

Cast

-Dick Van Dyke: Dr. Mark Slone

-Barry Van Dyke: Steve Sloane

-Victoria Rowell: Amanda Bentley-Livingston

-Charlie Schlatter: Dr. Jesse Travis

-Michael Tucci: Norman Briggs

-Scott Baio: Dr. Jack Stewart

-Delores Hall: Delores Mitchell

-Shane Van Dyke: Alex Smith

-Kim Little: Nurse Susan Hilliard

Did You Know?

-The series was only renewed a few episodes at a time, according to Dick Van Dyke

-There was one episode that required a motorcycle stunt. Since the production team didn't have enough money in the budget to perform it, Dick Van Dyke used LightWave 3-D software on his home computer to create the visual effects, since he is a computer animation enthusiast. They were used on the show and he was paid $200 for creating this sequence

-Some were concerned that Dick Van Dyke was considered too old to play a still-working doctor when the series began

-When the series started, Dick Van Dyke was already 67 years old

-Dick Van Dyke decided to retire from the role, so the series only lasted 8 seasons

-When Victoria Rowell was pregnant, between seasons 2 and 3, her pregnancy was written into the role. It was said Amanda was married to a serviceman never seen on the program

-When Scott Baio left the show, it was explained that his character, Dr. Jack Stewart, had left Community General Hospital to start his own practice in Colorado

-To prepare for their roles, Dick Van Duke, Victoria Powell, Scott Baio and Charlie Schlatter all had to use medical dictionaries to pronounce the medical terminology

-In the episode "Gangland", it was said that Amanda was a foster child. In real life, Victoria Rowell, who played Amanda, was a foster child

-Victoria Rowell is a second cousin of singer / actress Beyonce Knowles-Carter

-Prior to becoming Chief of Internal Medicine and doing consulting work with the police, Dr. Mark Sloan was a doctor who worked with the MASH Unit

-This show helped launch the careers of Barry Van Dyke, Dick's son and Charlie Schlatter

-Dr. Mark Sloan served in the US Army, in a medical unit during the Korean War. Dick Van Dyke spent his time in the US Army Air Force during WWII in real life

Sea of Love (1989)

This was the first movie Al Pacino made, after taking a four year break from film after 1985's Revolution. I thought it was very good. I will warn you, though. If you don't like nudity or foul language, this may not be the film for you

Summary

-A detective, who also happens to be an alcoholic, is investigating a series of murders tied to lonely hearts ads in a newspaper. And he falls for a woman who might be the prime suspect

Cast

-Al Pacino: Frank Keller

-John Goodman: Sherman Tuohy

-Ellen Barkin: Helen Cruger

-Michael Rooker: Terry

-William Hickey: Frank Keller Sr

-Richard Jenkins: Gruber

-Paul Calderon: Serafino

-John Spencer: Lieutenant

-Damien Leake: Ernest Guy

-Zachary Michael Simmons: Ernest's Son

-Patricia Barry: Older Woman

Did You Know?

-When Al Pacino's character Frank Keller is trying to court the character played by Ellen Barker, he is rudely bumped into by someone on 5th Avenue. Director Harold Becker stated that this was not in the script. It was completely authentic, caused by a real New York resident. Al Pacino includes this moment into the film and continues on without missing a beat

-The "Meet the Yankees" breakfast that the police use to apprehend criminals was based on a real event

-When this movie is shown on television, Lorraine Bracco was shown as Al Pacino's ex-wife. Her scenes were cut from the final product of the film

-At the time of this film, he was living with his good friend Diane Keaton, She had found the script for this film and convinced him to do it. He was still hurt from doing the 1985 film Revolution and was not sure he wanted to make a return to films. Keaton had informed him that he was not an A-list actor anymore, that offers were not coming in very often, but this was a film he was meant to do. Not only that, he was also going flat broke and going through tax problems stemming from financing a film called The Local Stigmatic with his own money and also not making films for four years. He finally agreed to do this film and it helped him immensely

-Richard Price, who wrote the novel this film is based on, wrote the screenplay with Dustin Hoffman in mind. With him wanting too many re-writes, Al Pacino took over the role instead

-This was Al Pacino's first film after a four year break. His last film before this was 1985's Revolution

-Michael Rooker was cast in this film after his role in the 1986 film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

-This movie is credited with being the film that pulled Al Pacino out of a bad string of movies he had made during the 1980s

-This film was the fourth out of five films Al Pacino had made with Martin Bregman. They are 1973's Serpico, 1975's Dog Day Afternoon, 1983's Scarface, 1989's Sea of Love, 1993's Carlito's Way

-During the undercover scene where Al Pacino and John Goodman's characters are working, that restaurant, O'Neal's, was a real New York City restaurant, owned by actor Patrick O'Neal. It was located near Lincoln Center and closed in 1993, just a year before Patrick O'Neal's death in 1994

-Both Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin attended the same high school, the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. This high school was also featured in the TV show and film Fame

-During the scene where Frank Keller is trying to convince his lieutenant to let him do the sting operation without a wire, he says "What is she gonna do, confess? Shoot me? We're in a restaurant!" Ironically, Al Pacino, who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, appeared in a scene in the first film, where he shoots a cop in a restaurant, which was also said to be impossible

-In a 2007 interview, Ellen Barkin revealed an unknown secret about her love scenes with Al Pacino in the film. She stated that while he is normally a cocky, outgoing actor, when the cameras started rolling, he became shy and bashful. "We never talk about that scene. Al was very shy. I don't think he's comfortable with those kind of scenes. I am. At the time I was anyway. Now I wouldn't be, but I thought it was a good icebreaker in those days."

-Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin starred in another movie together. Ocean's 13, where he plays Willy Bank and Ellen plays his right-hand woman

-Any interior shots were filmed in Toronto while exterior shots were filmed in New York City, most of them being filmed in the Upper East Side

-It was not a mistake that Frank used an incorrect last name in his newspaper personal ad. A police officer undercover would never use their real last name

-In the fancy restaurant scene, the strolling violinist is playing "Strangers in the Night". This song was also featured in the 1983 film Scarface, during the scene showing the shootout

-This is one of four films written by Richard Price, but starring Samuel L. Jackson. They are 1995's Kiss of Death, 2000's Shaft and 2006's Freedomland

-John Spencer played another police lieutenant in the 1989 film Black Rain

25 Iconic TV Shows Transformed Into Movies

For some reason, some people think that TV shows need to be made into movies. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. Jeff Mezydlow on the MSN.com page YardBarker has compiled a list of iconic TV shows that were made into movies

It's all a matter of personal opinion. Whoever wrote this seems to give their opinion strongly. I consider it a matter of personal preference. One person might like it and another may not. As long as you like it, who cares what everyone else thinks

1. The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)

-Penelope Spheeris, who directed Wayne's World, tried her hand at a movie adaptation of the much beloved TV series The Beverly Hillbillies. About a bunch of down home, good hearted folks from the Appalachia region who strike oil and get rich. The TV show was massively successful, but many think the film version was goofy, but in a bad way. Some think that comedic actor Jim Varney as Jed Clampett was not a good idea

2. Car 54, Where Are You? (1994)

-This TV series ran for a few seasons during the 1960s, at a time when police shows were starting to become popular. The movie, however, was a flop. It was thought that adding big names like Fran Drescher (The Nanny), David Johansen (post-New York Dolls) and John C. McGinley would make it work. It didn't

3. The Flintstones (1994)

-The much beloved cartoon about prehistoric life was made in to a 1994 film and was actually very successful. The sequel to it didn't fare very well, but it was during the summer and people like seeing movies during the summer. The movie seemed a lot more mature in content than the family friendly cartoon was. John Goodman and Rosie O'Donnell, cast as Fred and Betty, didn't seem right for the roles

4. Sgt. Bilko (1997)

-The film was a total bomb. It was inspired by the 1950s show of the same name starring Phil Silvers. In this film, Dan Akyroyd, Phil Hartman and Steve Martin appear. Martin plays the main character. Overall, the film did not do well

5. McHale's Navy (1997)

-The original TV show was a funny, lighthearted program of the 1960s. The film version didn't do so well. Ernest Borgnine from the original series starred in it, but other than him, Debra Messing also starred in it along with Tom Arnold, who played the lead role. To this day, this movie has become forgotten

6. Leave It to Beaver (1997)

-Many think the movie wasn't good, despite the high ratings from a lot of film critics. To any fan of the show, Jerry Mathers will always be Beaver, no matter what role he's playing. The parents in the film, Ward and June were played by Hugh Beaumont and Barbara Billingsley

7. Mr. Magoo (1997)

-Leslie Nielsen is one of those comedians who can pull off physical humor in addition to sarcastic humor. When he was cast as Mr. Magoo, the much beloved cartoon character in a film version, the movie was okay at best, but not good

8. Lost in Space (1998)

-The TV series of the same name from the 1960s was incredibly popular, especially when other generations started discovering it via streaming services. Sci-fi films usually go over well with audiences, depending on the storylines. This one, however, didn't fare well among the more popular sci-fi movies. Some think it was the casting of certain actors or actresses to blame for its low ratings

9. The Avengers (1998)

-When people hear "The Avengers" nowadays, their mind might automatically go to the Marvel movies starring the characters Hawkeye, Black Widow, The Hulk, Captain America and Iron Man, certainly not the original TV show from the 1960s. The Avengers was a 1960s British spy TV program centering around two characters-John Steed and Emma Peel. The film was a total disaster. It starred Ralph Fiennes as John Steed, Uma Thurman as Emma Peel and Sean Connery as a villain trying to control the weather

10. The Mod Squad (1999)

-During the late 1960s to early 1970s, cop shows were booming. There was a wealth of options for cop shows, such as Starsky & Hutch, Charlie's Angels, The Mod Squad, CHiPS, etc. On the original television program The Mod Squad, Michael Cole, who played Pete, Peggy Lipton, who played Julie and Clarence Williams III, who played Linc, just looked cool while fighting crime. The movie version, however, simply couldn't compare to the original. Claire Daines, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps just couldn't compare with the original

11. Wild Wild West (1999)

-The original TV show was a sci-fi / spy series. Many think that the film should have done better simply because Will Smith is in it. Not everything he is in will be box office gold. Film critics all but bashed the film. The film version of the classic TV show stars Will Smith and Kevin Kline as two Secret Service agents ordered to protect then president Ulysses S. Grant

-I thought the movie was good. It was a little goofy in some parts, but that keeps things interesting. It's all a matter of personal opinion

12. Inspector Gadget (1999)

-The film version of the highly successful cartoon series did fairly well at the theaters. Matthew Broderick was cast as the lead role and while there were some good choices for fellow cast members, apparently that was not enough to save the film from being good

13. Dudley Do-Right (1999)

-The original cartoon was a spin off of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. Dudley Do-Right is a much beloved character in Canada. It was said that Brendan Fraser didn't give the character his due diligence and even the jokes in the movie seemed forced, not natural. This film was said to be a total bomb

14. S.W.A.T. (2002)

-The original program centered around the SWAT team of a police department. The film version, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell and Jeremy Renner, didn't provide much in the way of action despite the star power

15. I Spy (2002)

-The original series starred comedic actor Bill Cosby and Robert Culp. The film version starred Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson in the lead roles with Famke Janssen along for the ride. One of the thorns in people's sides about this film is that it didn't have much in common with the original TV show. While it's never a bad thing to change things up, fans expected a little more similarity to the TV show

16. Starsky and Hutch (2004)

-It seemed like a good idea at the time. Make a film version of the ultra-popular 1970s cop show. The only problem is that Ben Stiller, who played Starsky and Owen Wilson, who played Hutch, seemed to try far too hard to be like the original pair. The original pair were cool, calm and collected, what some might call "smooth operators." The film version of the detectives were a little too out there and simply not as good as the original. The only thing that made this movie somewhat bearable was the fact that Snoop Dogg took on the role of CI (confidential informant) Huggy Bear

-I can say I saw this and it was not good. The only thing I liked about it was that the original actors, Paul Michael Glaser (Starsky) and David Soul (Hutch) appeared at the end

17. Fat Albert (2004)

-Bill Cosby's life might have fallen apart because of the sexual assault allegations, but Fat Albert is one of the great animated series on TV. When it was considered as a movie, it was a good idea at the time. But many feel that the film version of the much beloved cartoon series simply didn't compare to the original

-I actually liked this. It was funny and whimsical, something that we need more of in today's world

18. The Honeymooners (2005)

-This movie simply didn't do good. Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps took on the roles of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton. Gabrielle Union took on the role of Alice and Regina Hall took on the role of Trixie. The pranks and hi-jinks pulled by Ralph and Ed might have been updated but it simply couldn't compare to the much beloved black and white series

19. Bewitched (2005)

-Will Farrell is a master of comedy. When he's given a chance to re-enact a movie version of a TV show, that is where he seems to falter. In the film Bewitched, he plays Jack Wyatt, an actor playing the role of Darrin Stephens. The whole idea of a show within a movie is simply too confusing. Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell actually received awards for Worst Screen Couple for this film

20. The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)

-Simply put, the movie didn't fare well. Many remember the show as being a down to earth, simple but good show for the time. The movie version simply couldn't compare to the original show. Johnny Knoxville, who played Luke Duke, was a lot better than Sean William Scott, who played Bo Duke. Sean William Scott had just gotten off of the fame of the American Pie series. Jessica Simpson played their sister Daisy Duke, who was, by many, considered a useless character in the movie. The TV show version of Daisy Duke was better. Not only that, but Burt Reynolds played local criminal Boss Hogg. Simply put, this movie didn't fare well

-You're better off just watching the original show and appreciating the unique charm it offers

21. Aeon Flux (2005)

-This sci-fi TV show grew to be a popular show on MTV during the 1990s. Why not cash in on its fame and make a movie? It starred Charlize Theron in the lead role, with a storyline centering around a virus that results in people reinventing themselves for further survival. Dull would be a word best used to describe this

22. Land of the Lost (2009)

-This much beloved NBC Saturday morning program about dinosaurs should not have been made into a movie. Will Farrell already had a bad credit to his name with Bewitched. Now he has Land of the Lost to his name as well. The premise was traveling through a time warp to the era of dinosaurs. Farrell's character Rick Marshall and his friends go through a story that is better left on the TV screen. Critics consider it to be one of the worst mainstream movies ever filmed

23. The Last Airbender (2010)

-This movie is based on the popular children's anime program Avatar: The Last Airbender. There was much rejoicing and celebrating when fans heard that there was to be a movie version of their favorite program. When it came to making the movie, a lot of technical difficulties started popping up. The production seemed rushed and the audience felt denied a chance to draw opinions about the characters. Not only that, but with it taking place somewhere in Asia, many felt it was offensive to feature mostly Caucasian actors and actresses rather than including cast members of Asian descent

24. CHiPs (2017)

-In the late 1970s, early 1980s, CHiPs was a popular cop show starring Erik Estrada (Ponch) and Larry Wilcox (John) as two California Highway Patrols. The film version simply could not compare. Dax Sheppard took on the role of John while Michael Pena took on the role of Ponch and the storyline seemed messy, all over the place

25. Baywatch (2017)

-This was a guilty pleasure for most. It centered around a group of lifeguards working and living in California. It shouldn't be shocking that a movie would be made of this popular 1990s program. Dwayne Johnson played the role David Hasselhoff played on the show. But even having Dwayne Johnson or Zack Efron in the movie was not enough to save it. The plot was messy and weak and the jokes or attempts at humor seemed weak at best

10 Local Laws in Japan That Confuse Tourists from The US

Japan is a destination that often sees millions of visitors each year, a good percentage of them from the US. And, unless these tourists did their research ahead of time, there are bound to be laws and customs that catch them off guard. According MSN.com writer Kathy Haan, here are 10 local laws in Japan that confuse US tourists

1. Bringing in cold medicine

-If you're suffering from a cold, bringing in medication such as Sudafed or Vicks could get you into some legal trouble while trying to enter Japan. There are very strict laws against bringing in medications containing pseudophedrine, which is a common ingredient in cold medicine. Bringing those with you, even by accident, could result in confiscation, a lengthy discussion or even detention by the authorities. Prior to travel, check your medicine against the list of prohibited medications on Japan's Ministry of Health website to ensure you get the medications documented

2. Riding a bicycle after drinking

-Japan considers even a bicycle to be a sort of vehicle. They do not see it as a toy. It's given the same legal responsibilities as a car. And, as such, if you are intoxicated and operating a bicycle under the influence, that's the same as driving drunk or buzzed. Doing this in the US might seem harmless, but in Japan, it's considered a very serious DUI offense. The law is clear as crystal: if you are intoxicated, you don't have all of your faculties about you. You cannot operate a bicycle, come to a full stop or control it safely. The penalties are incredibly severe. It includes fines exceeding one million yen and even potential prison time. The logic is clear and easy to understand: while intoxicated, the person operating the bicycle is a danger to the public, no matter the number of wheels they have

3. Incorrectly disposing of trash

-Japan is known as being one of the cleanest countries in the world. This is in part to a strict approach to waste. Citizens know to dispose of waste material properly. That is why you will be hard pressed to find any public trash bins. Waste material is meant to be taken home and disposed of there. Each municipality has its own set schedule for sorting items into burnables, plastics and glass, which are placed in clearly designated bags for pickup. Do not just casually toss your bottle into the wrong bin or leave trash behind you. This could incur a fine for you. The idea of taking your trash with you shows a massive collective responsibility to ensure the country is clean for everyone

4. Not turning in lost money

-In the US, if you find a lost wallet, this might feel like you just won free money. But if you have a conscience and want to do the right thing, then you'll turn that wallet in to the proper authorities to be reunited with its owner. In Japan, however, finding a lost wallet comes with a legal obligation. You must turn in that lost wallet to the nearest koban, or police box. There will almost always be a police officer posted outside or sitting at the desk inside. It's part of the Lost Property Act, which states that any property found on the street must, without question or doubt, be taken to the nearest koban, or police box, for reunion with its owner. Pocketing the wallet is considered theft. This law helps maintain the social trust Japan is so lovingly known for and it results in a high number of returned items. If the money is not claimed within three months, then it becomes yours legally. This system has such a high success rate because honesty is not the exception to the rule, but default. It's expected to be honest and do the right thing

5. Splashing pedestrians with puddles

-It's common for some drivers in the US to carelessly splash a pedestrian walking along the sidewalk with a puddle if they're driving by, because they think it's funny. That type of careless attitude won't go far at all in Japan. This law captures the Japanese concept of omotenashi, or profound consideration of others. Drivers who soak pedestrians by speeding through a puddle can be issued a fine for inconsiderate driving. It's a legal agreement that being behind the wheel comes with many responsibilities, and one of them being to create as little impact on the people around you as possible. It might seem like no big concern but it reflects the deeply ingrained belief that maintaining harmony all around you requires thoughtfulness and consideration from everyone

6. Challenging someone to a duel

-This might sound made up, but it's not. Challenging someone to a duel is not allowed in Japan. This stems from 1889, when Japan was trying to become a modern country and working to remove all traces of the violence from the feudal samurai era. It still remains as a law today. It protects against vigilantism and marks a clear transition from a feudal era society to a modern, more civilized society. Disputes must be solved with words, not swords

7. Taking photographs in certain temples and museums

-There are some places in Japan that do not allow photography. Look for signs stating that photography is not allowed. If you do not see signs, ask someone. It never hurts to ask because it shows that you are being considerate of that area. And if you ask someone, it will earn you respect from the locals because it shows you are making a conscious effort to be considerate. The reason that flash photography is not allowed in certain shrines, temples or museums is because the flash could damage some of the ancient artifacts. Photography is not allowed in some areas because it is to preserve the tranquility of the space as a place to quietly worship and contemplate, free from the distractions of tourists. The ban is nothing personal; it's just to ensure that the spiritual purpose of the building is maintained. Sometimes the best memories are not ones you catch on camera

8. Smoking outside of designated areas

-In the past, you could light up a cigarette wherever and whenever the mood struck you in Japan. No more of that. Major changes in public health have demanded that designated areas for smokers be created. There are now small, clearly marked areas to smoke, instead of doing it on public streets and sidewalks. Smoking while walking is to be avoided at all costs, as it prevents others from breathing in secondhand smoke and prevents accidents. These rules were created to make the air cleaner and streets cleaner and more pleasant for everyone to enjoy

9. Damaging currency

-Treat the money with respect, as you would the currency in your own home country. Defacing or damaging Japanese yen is seen as a sign of deep disrespect for a symbol of the nation. The law reflects the appreciation for the culture and everything they represent

10. The Unspoken Rule about Not Tipping

-While not a formal rule, there is an unspoken rule that states you don't tip in Japan. Excellent service is provided and considered the typical standard for Japan. As such, staff are often paid good wages to reflect that. Trying to leave a tip will result in confusion and a polite refusal. It will imply that you think the worker is underpaid or that their employer is not paying them enough. The best way you can show gratitude is to say "arigato gozaimasu" to that worker. Pronounced "arigato gozaimas" (the su is silent, as with all Japanese words that end in su), it will translate into "Thank you very much" and it will show the worker you appreciate their excellent service