FILM 1885: THE RIVERMAN

FILM 1885: THE RIVERMAN

TRIVIA: Robert Keppel had been a University of Washington Criminology Professor when he was approached by Detective Dave Reichert to help solve the Green River Serial Murders case. Keppel was a profiler, who had helped track down Ted Bundy. While on death row in Florida, Bundy contacted Keppel offering to find the killer he had dubbed "the Riverman" in hopes that he would get a stay of execution. Keppel then began a series of psychologically grueling and often combative interviews with Bundy. Keppel became obsessed with the case and with Bundy, eventually coercing him to confess for the murders of eight women still listed as missing from his reign of terror. The real life relationship between Keppel and Bundy served as the inspiration for the movie, Silence of the Lambs (1991) staring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. The Green River Serial Killer was finally brought to justice on November 30, 2001 when advances in forensic DNA proved that suspect Gary Ridgway was in fact the killer. On November 5th, 2003 Gary Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first degree murder in a King County, Washington (Seattle) courtroom. Due to a plea bargain centered around Ridgway's assistance in helping authorities find missing victims, Ridgway avoided the Death Penalty.

Robert D. Keppel had watched the film and was very pleased with it. He also praised Cary Elwes and Bruce Greenwood's performances.

Based on the best-selling book, "The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer" by Robert Keppel

FILM 1873: THE WIZARD OF LIES

FILM 1873: THE WIZARD OF LIES

TRIVIA: In order to prepare for her role, Michelle Pfeiffer spent some time with the real Ruth Madoff.

This is one of two films focusing on Bernie Madoff. The other is Madoff (2016). Both films are television productions.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Diana Henriques was the first to interview Bernie Madoff on August 24, 2010, after his incarceration on June 29, 2009. She plays herself in various scenes throughout this movie interviewing Madoff (Robert De Niro), and has said that the resemblance was so uncanny, she got goosebumps just sitting opposite him.

-The film's premiere drew 1.5 million viewers, making it HBO's largest premiere viewership for an HBO film in four years; additional replays and viewings through the network's streaming service brought the film's total viewers to 2.4 million for its premiere weekend.

FILM 1796: THE DELIBERATE STRANGER

FILM 1796: THE DELIBERATE STRANGER

TRIVIA: According to Ann Rule in an updated edition of her true crime novel about Ted Bundy, "The Stranger Beside Me", after "The Deliberate Stranger" first aired on TV, the real Bundy started to receive hundreds more love letters per day. Rule concluded that many of these women who sent Bundy love letters were actually writing them to Mark Harmon, or imagining that Bundy was more like Harmon than he actually was.

The real Ted Bundy continued to claim he was innocent until shortly before his execution in 1989. Bundy provided details of the murders even as he was walked to the electric chair.

Ted Bundy, who was still on death row and appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme court when "The Deliberate Stranger" premiered on TV, refused to watch the movie.

Robert Hays was first sought out for the role of Ted Bundy due to his striking resemblance to Bundy. Hay's rejected the role due to moral issues with the script and respect for the victims families.

Jeannetta Arnette as Mrs. Ritcher is based on Ted Bundy biographer Ann Rule (The Stranger Beside Me), who, fifteen years older, worked with Bundy at a Crisis Center as he (in this movie and real life) listened compassionately to her marital problems. She remained his supporter until the Florida Trials, but still kept in touch.

FILM 1788: PSYCH: THE MOVIE

FILM 1788: PSYCH: THE MOVIE

TRIVIA: Steve Franks has another five stand-alone TV movies planned.

Timothy Omundson suffered a stroke a few weeks before shooting began as a result only appear briefly as Carlton Lassiter. If the sequels happen, he will probably have a much larger presence.

After the decision was made to go ahead without Timothy Omundson, Steve Franks and James Roday "camped out" in a restaurant booth and rewrote the script in 72 hours.

The villain's title, The Thin White Duke, was their way of paying their respects to the late David Bowie. They were fans of Bowie's but were never able to get him on the show.

When Shawn and Gus discover the document on the computer regarding Juliet O'Hara, Shawn makes a joke that Juliet would never be in a Hallmark movie. The actress who plays Juliet, Maggie Lawson, actually did appear in a Hallmark movie entitled "My Favorite Wedding."

The Pony in a Onesie character was voiced by S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, Rumble Fish and Tex, 3 classic 80s movies.

Shawn's character wears a #TeamGrimmie shirt in honor of Christina Grimmie (who had tragicly passed away by a gunshot wound at her concert meet & great). Christina, and her best friend Sarah, were the biggest fans of the Psych tv series, and eventually had befriended the cast, so the main stars decided to honor her in the film.

At one point, Shawn tells Gus to stick to the road, keep clear of the moors, and beware of the moon. This is the same advice given to Jack and David in An American Werewolf in London. Not only was that movie spoofed in an earlier episode, but director John Landis also directed three early episodes of Psych.