Peter Horton: 'thirtysomething' lacked big 'but'
Although "thirtysomething" was, in many ways, a pioneer of dialogue-heavy dramas with introspective characters, Peter Horton says he's not sure the show could be made the same way today.
The actor, who played Gary Shepherd on the late-1980s show, says it lacks a certain ... something.
"In this market there are so many choices to have something to stand out," Horton says, "like, 'I'm a mother, but I sell pot,' or 'I'm a father but I'm a meth dealer.' There's always a 'but' attached to a plot. 'thirtysomething' was just about people in their 30s."
The first season of "thirtysomething," which premiered on ABC in September 1987, is now available on DVD, with the remaining three seasons to come later. The show wasn't a huge ratings success, but its devoted followers and critics lauded its realistic look at the life of a group of baby boomers creeping into middle age.
The cast says the making of the show was life imitating art: The world they were living in as thirty-somethings was the same one they portrayed. Even more so for actors Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig, a young married couple in real life.
"Definitely during 'thirtysomething' we got much better at working together," says Olin.The couple laughingly admits they once cleared the set during an argument while taping. "We were more volatile in our thirties," admits Wettig.
Dylan's Christmas album will be for charity
Bob Dylan is releasing his first Christmas album, and in the spirit of the holiday season, the legendary performer is donating his royalties to charity.
A statement by Columbia Records says "Christmas in the Heart" will be released Oct. 13.
Dylan's U.S. royalties will go to the organization Feeding America. It's estimated that will help feed 1.4 million families during the holidays.
The 68-year-old singer says it's a "tragedy" that people go to bed hungry, and he hopes he can bring "food security" to people in need. Dylan also plans to donate all his future international royalties to charities overseas.
