Readers continue to reflect on the Emmys and say goodbye to Curtis Hanson
The final Emmys snub
Regarding “The Emmys” [Sept. 19]: The omission of my father, Pat Harrington Jr., from this year’s “In Memoriam” piece at the Emmy Awards was a complete outrage. Since his passing on Jan. 6, the family had been looking forward to seeing his body of work, legacy and iconic character, Dwayne Schneider from the hit sitcom “One Day at a Time” (for which he actually won an Emmy), honored. It was truly appalling that they did not include him in the on-air segment. Typically, an Emmy is given for an outstanding acting performance in an actual television role. And when an actor/actress who won an award dies, they should be given the respect they deserve by being honored by the institution that bestowed that accolade.
Tresa Harrington
Los Angeles
::
The Emmys, Oscars and Tonys all pay tribute to their own who have died since the last awards ceremony. This year, the Emmys noted the departed from September 2015 through last week. Musicians Prince and David Bowie (who both starred in a few movies but no TV shows) and Glenn Frey (a regular actor on “Wiseguy” for one season in 1989) were shown. Consider the number of respected TV Academy members that were missed. I see this as pretty shameless pandering.
Omitted from the tribute:
September 2015: Dean Jones, 84, “Ensign O’Toole”; Judy Carne, 76, “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”; Martin Milner, 83, “Adam-12”; Yogi Berra, 90; Pat Woodell, 71, “Petticoat Junction.”
October 2015: Kevin Corcoran, 66, “Disney’s Wonderful World of Color”; Ralph Andrews, 87, game show producer; John Backe, 83, former chief executive of CBS; Charles Herbert, 66, “Wagon Train.”
November 2015: Nathaniel Marston, 40, “One Life to Live”; David Canary, 77, “Bonanza.”
December 2015: Howard West, 84, producer of “Seinfeld”; Beth Howland, 74, “Alice.”
January 2016: Pat Harrington Jr., 86, “One Day at a Time” (first TV appearance in 1949). Mike Minor, 75, “Petticoat Junction.”
February 2016: Burt Nodella, 91, Emmy-winning producer-writer of “Get Smart.”
March 2016: Robert Horton, 91, “Wagon Train”; Peter Brown, 80, “Lawman”; Richard Bradford, 81, “Man in a Suitcase; ” Joe Garagiola Sr. 90, Major League Baseball on NBC; James Noble, 94, “Benson.”
May 2016: Burt Kwouk, 85, “Last of the Summer Wine.”
June 2016: Ronnie Claire Edwards, 83, “The Waltons.”
August 2016: Sagan Lewis, 63, “St. Elsewhere”; Marvin Kaplan, 89, “Alice.”
At least they noted the deaths of lifelong favorites Noel Neill (Lois Lane) and Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen) from the ’50s classic “Adventures of Superman.”
Steve Smith
Azusa
::
Regarding “The Emmys” [Sept. 19], I was one of the courtroom artists covering both the criminal and civil trials of O.J. Simpson. I was privileged to see the emotional, heartfelt lawyering by prosecutor Marcia Clark, and I find it incredibly ironic that two decades later, Sarah Paulson won an Emmy for her “performance” as Clark in “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” using dialogue that was taken from the televised trial.
Mona Shafer Edwards
Los Angeles
::
While I am the first to make or laugh at a joke, I was appalled at Jimmy Kimmel’s lack of thought regarding one bit during his Emmy hosting gig (I adore him, usually). When doling out his sandwiches, he made a joke about “gluten and gluten free” and another about peanut allergies. However, there is nothing funny about gluten allergies and the diseases affected by it, nor are the sufferers “annoying.” The same with peanut allergies. Say you’re sorry, Jimmy, and use your celebrity not to mock but to educate.
Ellen Chris
West Hills
One director who knew L.A.
Regarding “An Appreciation: ‘L.A. Confidential’s’ Curtis Hanson Was a Classicist, Chameleon Among Directors” [Sept. 22]: I first knew Curtis (he was “Chip,” then) in the early ’60s, when he tooled around Los Angeles in his restored ’39 Lincoln-Zephyr (the “green hornet”). Even as a teen, his encyclopedic grasp enriched this city with a noirish romanticism. That he was able to express his vision in “L.A. Confidential” is a perfect legacy. To this day, I can’t go down these streets without noting landmarks — some still here, most long gone — he acquainted me with. He will hover like a ghostly docent.
Michael Jenning
Van Nuys
A boss book from the Boss
Regarding “Read How the Boss Got the Job” [Sept. 26]: Very impressive review of Bruce Springsteen’s book “Born to Run.” Insightful.
Paul Daniels
Costa Mesa
Kenneth Turan reviews “The Magnificent Seven,” starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Haley Bennett. Video by Jason H. Neubert.
Seven-sword ‘Samurai’ salute
My sincere compliments on your amazing tribute to “Seven Samurai” and its creator, Akira Kurosawa [“Inspirational ‘Samurai’ Simplicity,” Sept. 25]. Each time I return to it, I gain new insights into the interactions of people searching for intimacy in their lives and in the lives of their communities. If space did not allow the notation of all seven actors, I would have liked for you to have singled out Takashi Shimura, who portrayed the organizer and leader of the samurai. His was the most universal of characters and would be welcome and familiar to all cultures. In any event, thank you for a superb essay.
John R. Shiban
Westlake Village
::
Regarding “‘Seven’ Redo Is Handsome but Lifeless” [Sept. 23]. Compared to the monochromatic cast of the original, the new version of “The Magnificent Seven” is really a milestone for diversity in film. I don’t think there is a single non-Japanese actor in “Seven Samurai.”
Fred Janssen
Long Beach
Appreciating the appreciation
I just wanted to thank you for your wonderful appreciation of playwright Edward Albee [“Edward Albee Let His Dreams Out to Play,” Sept. 25]. It restored my faith that theater is not dead in L.A. Until reading the appreciation by Charles McNulty, I did not know that Albee thought so highly of Samuel Beckett, also one of my favorites in the Theatre of the Absurd. Your appreciation of Albee was greatly appreciated by this reader.
Allen P. Wilkinson
Laguna Woods
Tom Hanks stars as Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in Clint Eastwood’s new film.
Hopefully, they were fee-free
Regarding “In Safe Hands” [Sept. 9]: After seeing “Sully,” the story of the pilot who made an emergency landing on the Hudson River, my wife wanted to know how much the airline charged for the flotation devices handed out.
Dave Goodwin
Los Angeles
Now, who’s ‘Overrated’?
Regarding “Underrated / Overrated” [Sept. 25]. Really, Chris Barton? You think “The Beatles: Eight Days A Week — The Touring Years” is overrated? I think your opinions are overrated.
Erica Simmons
Los Angeles
If he likes film, she’ll go see it
Just a shoutout to Justin Chang for his reviews, written with flair and knowledge of film. I trust his judgment completely.
Ellen Butterfield
Studio City
Novel birth of Saroyan classic
Regarding “Easing Back After ‘Big Ride’” [Sept. 24]. Meg Ryan may have “discovered” William Saroyan’s “The Human Comedy” — at least for herself — but before it was a novel, it was a screenplay. After a rewrite by Howard Estabrook, it was made into a 1943 film. Saroyan wrote and published the novel just before the film came out.
Worley Thorne
Sherman Oaks
The complete guide to home viewing
Get Screen Gab for everything about the TV shows and streaming movies everyone’s talking about.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
