Sunday, May 19, 2019

"This is Farrah Fawcett" ABC News documentary remembers America's golden girl 10 years after battle with cancer


"This is Farrah Fawcett" ABC News documentary remembers America's golden girl 10 years after battle with cancer

ABC News presents a two-hour primetime special on America's golden girl Farrah Fawcett. From that iconic red bathing suit poster to her role in the hit show Charlie's Angels, Fawcett took the 1970s by storm and captivated the nation with her every move. But in 2006 Fawcett was confronted with her biggest challenge when she was diagnosed with cancer and began an aggressive fight for her life. Now, almost ten years after her passing, ABC News reports on her life, career, fame and lasting legacy, told through new interviews with those who knew her best and rare footage from the intimate video diaries of her fight against cancer. "This is Farrah Fawcett" airs on Thursday, May 23 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Check your local listings.

The two-hour documentary features new interviews with actress Jaclyn Smith, Fawcett's co-star on Charlie's Angels; Alana Stewart, Fawcett's close friend who helped record her cancer battle for the two-hour documentary Farrah's Story; Bruce McBroom, the Hollywood photographer who shot Fawcett's iconic swimsuit poster; Mela Murphy, Fawcett's confidant and hairstylist; and Dr. Lawrence Piro, Fawcett's primary physician; and Dr. Ursula Jacob, Fawcett's physician in Germany who used alternative treatments for her cancer. The documentary also includes Barbara Walters' landmark interviews with Fawcett and with Ryan O'Neal, Fawcett's partner at the time of her death.

After attending the University of Texas Fawcett moved to Los Angeles and began her professional career. Fawcett first appeared in television commercials but quickly began starring in TV shows and then movies. Fawcett continuously sought out projects that she found challenging and worthwhile, including her groundbreaking roles in the films The Burning Bed and Extremities, which both exposed the dark truth of domestic violence and helped shine a light on victims. Fawcett's final project was Farrah's Story, which documented the harsh realities of cancer treatment. The film aired just weeks before Fawcett passed away at age 62.

The special is produced by ABC News. David Sloan is senior executive producer. Muriel Pearson is executive producer.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

The memorable shampoo commercial starring Penny Marshall and Farrah Fawcett



Penny Marshall’s acting and directing career was decorated with legendary roles and memorable projects.
Penny Marshall
Marshall, who died Monday (December 19th, 2018) at the age of 75, got her acting start next to one of Corpus Christi’s most iconic former citizens, the late Farrah Fawcett, when both were aspiring actresses trying to make their way in Hollywood.
Marshall’s first television appearance was in a Head & Shoulders beautifying shampoo commercial filmed in 1972. She was hired for the role of a woman with basic brown hair playing opposite a then-unknown Fawcett and her glamorous blonde locks.
It’s been reported in many stories over the years that Fawcett has some empathy for Marshall before the commercial started filming. Fawcett reportedly crossed out the word “homely” for Marshall’s on-set placard and replaced it with a card that read “plain” to make Marshall feel better about her role as her roommate Lucy.
“I did my first commercial with Farrah when she first came out here (in Los Angeles),” Marshall told Entertainment Tonight in an interview several years ago in a commercial available on the You Tube channel Commercial Jukebox. “Guess who had the dandruff.”
The two remained friends throughout their lives. Fawcett passed away in 2009.
“I knew her before she was ‘Farrah,’ and I was anybody, ” Marshall said before her death.
Marshall got her start with a role as “Myrna Turner,” the secretary of Oscar Madison from 1972-74 on “The Odd Couple” that was developed by her brother, Garry Marshall. Her brother also served as the creator in her most memorable recurring acting role in “Laverne & Shirley” from 1976-83.
It led Penny Marshall to say that her unconventional appearance in Hollywood led her to having issues over the years.
“I just cannot bring myself to accept that the homely person on the screen is me,” Marshall told TV Guide in 1976. “I grew up believing an actress is supposed to be beautiful. After I saw myself in a Love, American Style segment, I cried for three days. I’ve had braces put on my teeth twice, but they did no good.”
Marshall’s fans certainly didn’t feel that way. And Fawcett tried to make sure she didn’t share any insecurities when they filmed their commercial together.
Entertainment Tonight is seen on KZTV at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 p.m. on Saturday.