– I am probably the only one in the entire universe who liked “Cop Rock,” the musical police show. Is it available on video, or will it ever be televised again?
Actually, you’re not, since we’ve heard from others who have an affinity for the decidedly unique program from “NYPD Blue” mentor Steven Bochco that lasted just half a season on ABC. Though it’s not on video, the existing episodes have been edited together into a set of two-hour “movies” that cable’s Arts & Entertainment Network (A&E) has shown a few times, sometimes in the wee hours. We don’t know when the next time might be, but you might do well to keep an eye on that channel’s listings. It’s interesting now to note some of the performers who came out of “Cop Rock,” since they included James McDaniel (now on “NYPD Blue”), Anne Bobby (Ira’s current girlfriend on “Mad About You”) and Vondie Curtis-Hall (“Chicago Hope”) … as well as Bochco’s wife, Barbara Bosson, who will co-star in her husband’s new show “Murder One” on ABC this fall.
– Do you know whether there is an actor named Antony Alda? I’m pretty sure that name was listed among the guest stars on a “M+A+S+H” rerun I saw recently.
Indeed there is an Antony Alda … and as you might guess, since it was “M+A+S+H” that you saw him on, he’s the brother of that show’s star Alan Alda. Not unlike their father Robert, he was featured on the series from time to time, signifying a healthy and well-intended case of nepotism.
– Our crowd remembers a made-for-TV movie entitled “California Split,” starring Elliott Gould and George Segal. Can you find out if it will be shown again?
Actually, the tale of a couple of compulsive gamblers was a theatrical movie, released in 1974 … and directed by veteran filmmaker Robert Altman (“M+A+S+H,” “Nashville”), who has made a big comeback in the last few years with “The Player,” “Short Cuts” and “Ready to Wear.” We’ve found “Split” to be shown occasionally on cable’s WTBS and TNT, and even though we haven’t seen it listed there lately, scanning those channels’ listings seems to be your best bet.
