Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Monday, April 23

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, April 22nd, 2018. I'm writing this from the Twin Cities, where AllYourScreens HQ is running on lemonade and Oreos.



'AUSTIN POWERS' ACTOR VERNE TROYER DIES AT 49
Verne Troyer, an actor best known for playing Mini-Me in the Austin Powers series, has died, according to a statement posted Saturday on the actor's official Facebook page. He was 49.

The statement read:

It is with great sadness and incredibly heavy hearts to write that Verne passed away today.

Verne was an extremely caring individual. He wanted to make everyone smile, be happy, and laugh. Anybody in need, he would help to any extent possible. Verne hoped he made a positive change with the platform he had and worked towards spreading that message everyday.

He inspired people around the world with his drive, determination, and attitude. On film & television sets, commercial shoots, at comic-con’s & personal appearances, to his own YouTube videos, he was there to show everyone what he was capable of doing. Even though his stature was small and his parents often wondered if he’d be able to reach up and open doors on his own in his life, he went on to open more doors for himself and others than anyone could have imagined. He also touched more peoples hearts than he will ever know.

Verne was also a fighter when it came to his own battles. Over the years he’s struggled and won, struggled and won, struggled and fought some more, but unfortunately this time was too much.

During this recent time of adversity he was baptized while surrounded by his family. The family appreciates that they have this time to grieve privately.

Depression and Suicide are very serious issues. You never know what kind of battle someone is going through inside. Be kind to one another. And always know, it’s never too late to reach out to someone for help.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Verne’s name to either of his two favorite charities; The Starkey Hearing Foundation and Best Buddies.



'THE KARATE KID' RETURNS TO THE BIG SCREEN FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
Moviegoers across the country will be practicing their "wax on, wax off" skills when the beloved "Karate Kid" saga returns with an exclusive, one-night cinema experience featuring the original 1984 classic, "The Karate Kid," coupled with an exclusive advance screening of the first two episodes from the new YouTube Red Original Series, "Cobra Kai," based on the Karate Kid franchise. This special event screens in cinemas nationwide for one night on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. local time. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in nearly 700 select movie theaters.

Originally hitting theaters in 1984, "The Karate Kid" received critical acclaim as a heart-stopping yet endearing underdog story following the friendship of high schooler Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his apartment maintenance man turned martial arts trainer Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), as Daniel prepares to take on arch-rival Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) in the All Valley Karate Tournament. Through Miyagi's teaching, Daniel learns important life lessons, overcomes adversity and ultimately faces his opponent in an epic match. An instant commercial success, the film spawned a franchise of memorabilia, three sequels, a television series, and a 2010 remake featuring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.

In the highly-anticipated return of two iconic characters, the arch-rivals from the legendary "Karate Kid" film reunite in Cobra Kai." Now living in the affluent hills of Encino, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) leads an enviable life with his beautiful family, while running a successful string of car dealerships throughout the valley. Meanwhile, his high school adversary, Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), whose life has taken a rocky turn, seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. Their lives inevitably become intertwined and the rivalry is reignited, setting forth the next generation of "karate kids" in "Cobra Kai," a YouTube Red Original Series. 



IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Here is some of our stories from over the weekend:

1) AT&T Is Launching A $15-Per-Month Skinny Cable Service

2) A Guide To Niche Streaming Video Services

3) Q&A: Bella Dayne Talks 'Troy: Fall Of A City'



WHAT'S NEW ON TV TONIGHT:
1) The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2018 (CBS)
Music superstar Christina Aguilera will duet with James Corden in a new "Carpool Karaoke." Also in the special, MOM’s Anna Faris and Academy and Emmy Award winner Allison Janney, THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Kunal Nayyar and YOUNG SHELDON’s Iain Armitage will join Corden for "Crosswalk the Musical: The Sound of Music." Corden and bandleader Reggie Watts will kick off the special with a Bruno Mars-inspired musical number, and Corden will share some of his favorite moments as host of "THe Late Late Show." This marks the third primetime special for "The Late Late Show with James Corden." The 2016 and 2017 editions both earned Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety Special.

2)  'Dead Of Night' Series Premiere (Investigation Discovery)
This series features nail-biting, true stories of victims working the graveyard shift who are thrust into real life nightmares. A killer lies in wait to strike the most vulnerable, those alone in the dark. When the sun sets, the body count will rise. The premiere episodes is entitled "The Graveyard Shift," and in it a convenience store clerk working the graveyard shift is on edge after a string of murders are committed within blocks of her store. Soon her worst nightmare becomes reality when she comes face-to-face with a twisted and deranged serial killer.

For a rundown of all the new episodes of television premiering tonight, click here.



NEW ON MONDAY:
A Review Of NatGeo's 'Genius: Picasso'
Few painters have been as awe-inspiringly prolific as Pablo Picasso. One of the most influential and celebrated artists of the 20th century, his career spanned more than 80 of his 91 years, during which time he produced an estimated 50,000 works. His passionate nature and relentless creative drive were inextricably linked to his personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and ever-shifting political and personal alliances. Constantly reinventing himself, Picasso always strove to innovate and push the boundaries of artistic expression, leading to his worldwide renown as a genius.

Antonio Banderas brings to life the artistic career of the titular artist: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz Picasso. Joining him as the younger Pablo is Alex Rich, who rejects academic study and joins the circle of young bohemian artists and writers struggling to make it in early 20th century Spain and France.



YOUR LONG READ FOR TODAY:
For months, Fox News’s Sean Hannity has promoted Henssler Financial and its Principal and Managing Director, Bil Lako on his radio show. But during all that time, he never mentioned that he also has a financial interest in Hennsler Financial:

Hannity’s involvement with Henssler Capital is shielded via his use of a shell company, SPMK II, based in Georgia. Shell companies such as the one managed by Hannity are typically able to keep their beneficiaries secret, however when a company enters into a Limited Partnership, the representative of the company must sign official documentation. In 2007, Hannity certified to the Georgia Secretary of State that he is the Manager of the General Partner SPMK II.


I'll be back with another one tomorrow. If you have any feedback, send it along to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and follow me on Twitter @aysrick.