Having a hissable, recurring villain adds that special something to any TV procedural.
Elijah Stone has been filling that role on The Rookie, tormenting members of the LAPD's Metro Division over the past two seasons (although it feels longer).
Sadly, complex villains such as Stone have recently become less of a thing on broadcast TV.
Let's look at the famed Hawaii Five-0 villain, Wo Fat, as a case study.
During the series' original run, Wo Fat was a crime boss, a red Chinese spy who answered to Peking (it was a different time) and served as the primary enemy of Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord).
Wo Fat (portrayed by Khigh Dhiegh) hung like a dense fog over that version, appearing in 15 episodes over nine of the show's 12 seasons.
In the rebooted series, Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) was a crime boss and former Chinese Ministry of Interior agent. appeared...
Elijah Stone has been filling that role on The Rookie, tormenting members of the LAPD's Metro Division over the past two seasons (although it feels longer).
Sadly, complex villains such as Stone have recently become less of a thing on broadcast TV.
Let's look at the famed Hawaii Five-0 villain, Wo Fat, as a case study.
During the series' original run, Wo Fat was a crime boss, a red Chinese spy who answered to Peking (it was a different time) and served as the primary enemy of Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord).
Wo Fat (portrayed by Khigh Dhiegh) hung like a dense fog over that version, appearing in 15 episodes over nine of the show's 12 seasons.
In the rebooted series, Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) was a crime boss and former Chinese Ministry of Interior agent. appeared...
- 4/1/2024
- by Dale McGarrigle
- TVfanatic
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "The Manchurian Candidate"
Where You Can Stream It: The Roku Channel
The Pitch: "Raymond Shaw is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."
The recent death of Angela Lansbury and the 60th anniversary of "The Manchurian Candidate" this week have put the film back on the radar just in time for the U.S. midterm elections in early November. When "The Manchurian Candidate" first hit theaters in 1962, it was not far removed from the Second Red Scare, and the Cold War was still in full swing. The movie spoke to mid-20th-century fears like the specter of McCarthyism yet it was also remarkably prescient about the future of politics.
In "The Manchurian Candidate,...
The Movie: "The Manchurian Candidate"
Where You Can Stream It: The Roku Channel
The Pitch: "Raymond Shaw is the bravest, kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."
The recent death of Angela Lansbury and the 60th anniversary of "The Manchurian Candidate" this week have put the film back on the radar just in time for the U.S. midterm elections in early November. When "The Manchurian Candidate" first hit theaters in 1962, it was not far removed from the Second Red Scare, and the Cold War was still in full swing. The movie spoke to mid-20th-century fears like the specter of McCarthyism yet it was also remarkably prescient about the future of politics.
In "The Manchurian Candidate,...
- 10/26/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Fans of both Hawaii Five-0 and Hawaii Five-o are due for some déja vu when the current CBS series pays homage to the original — as seen in this exclusive photo from the Season 9 opener.
To mark the franchise’s 50th anniversary, Five-0 is retelling the story from the 1968 pilot, which ran in two parts and was titled “Cocoon.” As such, showrunner Peter M. Lenkov got to share a writing credit with the late Leonard Freeman, creator of the original series.
In both versions of the “Cocoon” story, Steve McGarrett (then Jack Lord, now Alex O’Loughlin) braved a torturous sensory...
To mark the franchise’s 50th anniversary, Five-0 is retelling the story from the 1968 pilot, which ran in two parts and was titled “Cocoon.” As such, showrunner Peter M. Lenkov got to share a writing credit with the late Leonard Freeman, creator of the original series.
In both versions of the “Cocoon” story, Steve McGarrett (then Jack Lord, now Alex O’Loughlin) braved a torturous sensory...
- 8/29/2018
- TVLine.com
William Castle’s 13 Ghosts (1960), 13 Frightened Girls, Homicidal, and Mr. Sardonicus are coming to Blu-ray in two double features from Mill Creek Entertainment! Both double bills will be released on July 5th.
From Mill Creek Entertainment: “13 Ghosts (1960) – B&W – 85 minutes – Not Rated
Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Martin Milner, Rosemary DeCamp. Donald Woods, Margaret Hamilton
When an eccentric uncle wills a huge, ramshackle house to his impoverished family, they get the shock of a lifetime. Their new residence comes complete with a spooky housekeeper, plus a fortune in buried treasure and 12 horrifying ghosts.”
13 Frightened Girls (1963) – Color – 88 minutes – Not Rated
Murray Hamilton, Joyce Taylor, Hugh Marlowe, Khigh Dhiegh, Charlie Briggs, Norma Varden
The girls of a Swiss boarding school have one thing in common — they are all daughters of diplomats. One in particular finds out that she has a knack for espionage, and uncovers the murder of a Russian diplomat. Now she...
From Mill Creek Entertainment: “13 Ghosts (1960) – B&W – 85 minutes – Not Rated
Charles Herbert, Jo Morrow, Martin Milner, Rosemary DeCamp. Donald Woods, Margaret Hamilton
When an eccentric uncle wills a huge, ramshackle house to his impoverished family, they get the shock of a lifetime. Their new residence comes complete with a spooky housekeeper, plus a fortune in buried treasure and 12 horrifying ghosts.”
13 Frightened Girls (1963) – Color – 88 minutes – Not Rated
Murray Hamilton, Joyce Taylor, Hugh Marlowe, Khigh Dhiegh, Charlie Briggs, Norma Varden
The girls of a Swiss boarding school have one thing in common — they are all daughters of diplomats. One in particular finds out that she has a knack for espionage, and uncovers the murder of a Russian diplomat. Now she...
- 4/13/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
It's the classic paranoid conspiracy that won't go away... and that seems less impossible with every passing year. Laurence Harvey is a remote-controlled assassin, and Frank Sinatra seems to be under a little hypnotic influence himself... or are we just imagining it? John Frankenheimer and George Axelrod concoct a masterpiece from the novel by Richard Condon, a movie about conspiracies, that may be hiding more secrets in plain sight. The Manchurian Candidate Blu-ray The Criterion Collection 803 1962 / B&W / 1:75 widescreen / 126 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date March 15, 2016 / 39.95 Starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish, John McGiver, Khigh Dhiegh Cinematography Lionel Lindon Production Designer Richard Sylbert Film Editor Ferris Webster Original Music David Amram Written by George Axelrod from the novel by Richard Condon Produced by George Axelrod, John Frankenheimer, Howard W. Koch Directed by John Frankenheimer
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson...
- 3/22/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
The sequel to the epic Julie Andrews road show picture wasn't a hit, but it tells a good story of its own. Charlton Heston is okay but the central character is a Chinese immigrant played by Tina Chen. Against all odds, the peasant matriarch survives plagues and leprosy to found a family dynasty for the new Hawaii. The Hawaiians Blu-ray Twilight Time Limited Edition 1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 134 min. / Ship Date February 9, 2016 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Charlton Heston, Tina Chen, Geraldine Chaplin, Mako, John Phillip Law, Alec McCowen, Miko Mayama, Virginia Ann Lee, Chris Robinson, Naomi Stevens, Keye Luke, Khigh Dhiegh, Mary Munday, Harry Townes, Lyle Bettger, James Hong, James Gregory, Harry Holcombe, Victor Sen Yung Cinematography Lucien Ballard, Philip Lathrop Film Editor Byron Brandt, Ralph Winters Original Music Henry Mancini Written by James R. Webb from the novel by James A. Michener Produced by Walter Mirisch Directed by...
- 3/1/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Hammer horror fans are in for a treat, as respective collections of five William Castle films and five Hammer horror movies are coming out on Blu-ray in August, and The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant has been set to come out on Blu-ray.
The William Castle and Hammer horror collections will respectively come out on DVD August 18th from Mill Creek. The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant, meanwhile, is slated for release later this year by Kino Lorber. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for further updates.
From Mill Creek: "Iconic horror director William Castle created a simple, but winning formula for his films: a little comedy, a lot of scares, a preposterous gimmick, and a clear sense that fright films should be fun. This even meant Castle would, like Alfred Hitchcock, appear in his trailers and even the movies themselves. Though his career spanned 35 years and included everything from westerns to crime thrillers, he'll...
The William Castle and Hammer horror collections will respectively come out on DVD August 18th from Mill Creek. The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant, meanwhile, is slated for release later this year by Kino Lorber. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for further updates.
From Mill Creek: "Iconic horror director William Castle created a simple, but winning formula for his films: a little comedy, a lot of scares, a preposterous gimmick, and a clear sense that fright films should be fun. This even meant Castle would, like Alfred Hitchcock, appear in his trailers and even the movies themselves. Though his career spanned 35 years and included everything from westerns to crime thrillers, he'll...
- 7/31/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Westwood - The master of sensual European cinema golden years have a tint of blue. UCLA just hosted retrospective of Radley Metzger’s films. His most important films are being released on Blu-ray. He’s about to take the director’s chair as he approaches 83.
His masterwork Camille 2000 was just released Blu-ray with an extended version from Cult Epics. The 1969 update of Dumas’ The Lady of the Camellias takes place in an esoteric Italy. The restored high definition transfer gives a detailed look at that magical time. The Party Favors had a chance to chat with Radley Metzger about the release.
Trailer provided by Video Detective
Radley is a true independent filmmaker. He owns the rights to his films instead of selling them off to distributor. He’s not at the mercy of an indifferent studio executive to keep his cinematic legacy available. The first question had to be...
His masterwork Camille 2000 was just released Blu-ray with an extended version from Cult Epics. The 1969 update of Dumas’ The Lady of the Camellias takes place in an esoteric Italy. The restored high definition transfer gives a detailed look at that magical time. The Party Favors had a chance to chat with Radley Metzger about the release.
Trailer provided by Video Detective
Radley is a true independent filmmaker. He owns the rights to his films instead of selling them off to distributor. He’s not at the mercy of an indifferent studio executive to keep his cinematic legacy available. The first question had to be...
- 8/5/2011
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Tough-talking Iron Chef boss Mark Dacascos is set to join the cast of TV remake Hawaii Five-0.
The Chairman of the hit reality TV cooking show, which pits top chefs against each other, will play supervillain Wo Fat on the hit cop series.
Khigh Dhiegh played the reoccurring role of the Chinese bad guy in the original TV series, starring Jack Lord and the recently deceased James MacArthur.
The Chairman of the hit reality TV cooking show, which pits top chefs against each other, will play supervillain Wo Fat on the hit cop series.
Khigh Dhiegh played the reoccurring role of the Chinese bad guy in the original TV series, starring Jack Lord and the recently deceased James MacArthur.
- 11/11/2010
- WENN
It's Election Day, and U.S. citizens are heading to the polls! In celebration of our blessed freedom, "Extra" has put together a list of some of the best political movie quotes. Check em' out! And get out there and vote!
Top 20 Political Movie Quotes'Man of the Year' (2004)
"Politicians are a lot like diapers. They should be changed frequently, and for the same reasons." —Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams)
'Swing Vote' (2008)
"All the world's...
Top 20 Political Movie Quotes'Man of the Year' (2004)
"Politicians are a lot like diapers. They should be changed frequently, and for the same reasons." —Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams)
'Swing Vote' (2008)
"All the world's...
- 11/2/2010
- Extra
James Marsters plays a pretty convincing bad guy in the pilot of CBS' new "Hawaii Five-0." So convincing, in fact, that what happens to him in the show probably isn't the last word on the character.
(Spoilers for the pilot and Marsters' character below, so proceed at your own risk.)
Zap2it asked "Five-0" executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Peter Lenkov if the new show would have a character similar to Wo Fat (Khigh Dhiegh), the long-time nemesis of Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) on the original series.
"One of the first things we talked about is how do we get Wo Fat into the show," Lenkov says. "If you think about Victor Hess" -- the villain played by Marsters ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Caprica") in the series premiere -- "having gone off that barge and not surfacing [in the climax of the episode] -- I think you can truly believe Victor Hess can be a Wo Fat character in our franchise.
(Spoilers for the pilot and Marsters' character below, so proceed at your own risk.)
Zap2it asked "Five-0" executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Peter Lenkov if the new show would have a character similar to Wo Fat (Khigh Dhiegh), the long-time nemesis of Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) on the original series.
"One of the first things we talked about is how do we get Wo Fat into the show," Lenkov says. "If you think about Victor Hess" -- the villain played by Marsters ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Caprica") in the series premiere -- "having gone off that barge and not surfacing [in the climax of the episode] -- I think you can truly believe Victor Hess can be a Wo Fat character in our franchise.
- 7/29/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Hamsterdam, MD - News at 4:20. As part of the celebration for the upcoming season of Weeds, Glick University polled over 4,000 Americans about what TV News personalities they wanted to see get high during a broadcast.
Naturally there were ground rules including the disqualifications of news organizations that contain notorious on air potheads. This meant no votes were collected for the cast of The Daily Show, Colbert Report and Fox and Friends. You think Steve Doocey is sober? Hard to think that any of those folks have eyes that aren’t pied 24-7.
10, Bill O’Reilly (Fox News) had a lot of folks who reacted that it’d be like, “Dude, I’m getting high with dad.” Of course this initial elation is cut down with the horrifying fact of “Dude, I’m getting high with dad and it’s just not someone I need to party with.”
Rick Sanchez...
Naturally there were ground rules including the disqualifications of news organizations that contain notorious on air potheads. This meant no votes were collected for the cast of The Daily Show, Colbert Report and Fox and Friends. You think Steve Doocey is sober? Hard to think that any of those folks have eyes that aren’t pied 24-7.
10, Bill O’Reilly (Fox News) had a lot of folks who reacted that it’d be like, “Dude, I’m getting high with dad.” Of course this initial elation is cut down with the horrifying fact of “Dude, I’m getting high with dad and it’s just not someone I need to party with.”
Rick Sanchez...
- 7/23/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
The William Castle Film Collection (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, $80.95) includes eight pictures produced and directed by master showman Castle. In Part One of this lengthy DVD review, I dissected four of them—13 Ghosts, Homicidal and the two best, The Tingler and Mr. Sardonicus. Believe you me, it was a ghastly business! As Sardonicus would say, “I have known a ghoul—a disgusting creature that opens graves and feeds on corpses.” Like a DVD reviewer. See here.
In this epic conclusion, I am fitted out with a Strait-jacket (about time!) and also chronicle Zotz!, 13 Frightened Girls and The Old Dark House, the three Castle entries new to DVD (which lack the short, individual “making of” documentaries accompanying the other five). Only two of these eight flicks were shot in color (Girls, House); theatrical trailers are included with all of the movies. And that’s all you need to know as we continue—in amazing Screamarama,...
In this epic conclusion, I am fitted out with a Strait-jacket (about time!) and also chronicle Zotz!, 13 Frightened Girls and The Old Dark House, the three Castle entries new to DVD (which lack the short, individual “making of” documentaries accompanying the other five). Only two of these eight flicks were shot in color (Girls, House); theatrical trailers are included with all of the movies. And that’s all you need to know as we continue—in amazing Screamarama,...
- 10/21/2009
- by no-reply@starlog.com (David McDonnell)
- Starlog
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