Flashback

Bruce Campbell








Joe Penny

OK, both these guys are still around and working today. But back in the day, well, you be the judge.

Today is "The Chin's" 52nd birthday. That being Bruce Campbell. I've thought of him as a character actor in a leading man's body, rather like Ben Affleck. His career is like Ben's (or is Ben's like his?) in that they both have been able to do mainstream movies (which pay the bills) and alternative movies (which feeds the soul).

I know I didn't see Sam Raimi's first two Evil Dead movies, so my initial exposure to Bruce was probably Army of Darkness. How could one not love the man who could deliver the line, "Gimme some sugar, baby" with such... conviction. He can also do mad slapstick.

You know, there's a thought. A movie co-starring Bruce and Jackie Chan. That would be amazingly cool! Sadly unlikely, but I send it out into the æther, and who knows?

Next was The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.. Sort of a '90s version of The Wild Wild West, but wackier. I mean, come on, they had a character whose catchphrase was "Nobody touches Pete's piece." Sometimes the show over-indulged in the campiness, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

He's kept busy, appearing on Hercules and Xena and in all sorts of other stuff. At the moment, he's on Burn Notice with younger (but only by about 10 years) hottie Jeffrey Donovan. Long may they connive.

On Thursday Joe Penny will be 54. He and Perry King made quite the impression on yours truly on Riptide. The show was like Magnum squared. Or was it more Dukes meets Magnum? Anyway, loved the show.

Following that, oddly enough, I think I watched Jake and the Fatman more for William Conrad, who I was a fan of since at least the Cannon days. Though having Joe on the show didn't hurt, by any means.

To find out more about Joe, past and present, check this site out.

WoW - Wallpaper of the Week - extra

Jason Brooks


Jeffrey Donovan


A couple more. So earlier this year I devoted time to cast members of The Pretender. This post is of a couple of semi-regulars, who coincidentally have birthdays only a day apart, and whose first names begin with 'J'.

First we'll look at Jason Brooks, who played Miss Parker's boyfriend, and is 44 today. I vaguely noticed him when I watched the show, thinking he wasn't bad looking. I certainly didn't see him before that while he was doing Days of our Lives.

I more than noticed him once he was on Baywatch Hawaii. Yes, even over Michael and the other Jason. Compare and contrast at your leisure. He's stayed employed since then, but not done anywhere near as much shirtlessness, more's the pity. The latest thing he did was a minor role in that movie. If only they did another Baywatch reunion. One can dream, can not one?

Next is Jeffrey Donovan, who'll be 42 tomorrow. He was Jarod's brother Kyle. He did tend to play the psycho. Probably b/c he had this dangerous look and vibe to him. Though once in a while, he did have roles where he wasn't quite so crazy. But through his career, he's always been sexy somehow. It's not like he's classically handsome, and has anyone else noticed the man has no chin? And yet, he oozes this inexplicable animal magnetism.

Finally he found the role that seems to fit him like a glove, Michael Weston on Burn Notice. And who knew how good he looked when he smiled, much less that he was funny? His character has this lovely dry sarcasm, plus he gets to play off Bruce Campbell regularly. Comic genius. I hope the irony of Jeffrey the Chinless Wonder working opposite the "Killer Chin" is not lost on anybody. You know, maybe it's the spy mystique, but Jeffrey's gotten even hotter, if that's even possible. He was featured last year in TV Guide's Hot Bodies of Summer. More to see of that here and here.

I do wish he'd lay off the accents, though; they're so hit or miss. Sometimes they're good. But other times, it sounds like Jeffrey's been taking lessons at the David Boreanaz school of dialect.

WoW - Wallpaper of the Week

Birthday week deluxe!

Tomorrow it's Michael Shanks', of Stargate SG-1 fame. Only on TV could archaeologists look that good. And woo-hoo, he's gonna play Hawkman on Smallville in February!

I don't have wallpapers for them, but Michael shares his birthday with Adam Brody, Don Johnson, Geoff Stults, Stuart Townsend, and Garrett Wang. Not a bad day to be born, apparently.

Wait 'till you get a load of Friday.