That was me. When I'm not running NBC I like to see if there's support for our shows on message boards by cutting them down. If the proletariat is willing to fight for our shows I consider it an opportunity. Your excitement did warrant a renewal.

AVC has had a special relationship with KFC for a long time.
http://www.avclub.com/artic…
http://www.avclub.com/artic…

The gadget is a pressure fryer. Not the same thing as a pressure cooker but a lot of people try adding oil to a pressure cooker to duplicate KFC and get hurt because splosions.

Those two are as good for choices as any for "overweight Hungarian" but McGavin was the man for the redesigned role. If you want to see an actor go from excited at series start to quickly disillusioned check the news articles from back in the day.
http://www.darrenmcgavin.ne…

Mike Tyson Mysteries
The one project Polanski is willing to come to the U.S. to direct.

Matheson mentions from that interview yesterday that the Jeff Rice book had Kolchak as an overweight Hungarian so I can only imagine how the casting would have gone if they kept that.
http://www.emmytvlegends.or…
http://www.emmytvlegends.or…
http://www.emmytvlegends.or…
(interviews on the movies/series with David Chase, …

Why don't they hire from the comments especially with many commenters doing regular reviews?

"Kaplan got into a contract dispute with the producers and started sitting out whole episodes."
Need to see if there's a VH1 Behind The Kotter on this. Gabe would just show up and start practicing his poker playing while they kept calling for him to act?

Hey, you were looking for the obit yesterday, so you get some slack for still wondering where it was today.

My money's on Stephen Shortridge with his chilled out painting career while Travolta taunts The Reaper in a jumbo jet.

Michael York is also a correct answer.

how they talked Travolta out of appearing in his airline pilot uniform is a show biz mystery.

A pre-Trapper John Gregory Harrison. Franko for now will have to settle for him in Trilogy of Terror.

Also- The idea of Mr. Kotter playing this poker stud seems shocking, but he pulled it off well.

I was hoping it's on youtube but no luck- the Duel DVD release from about 10 years back has a 30 minute feature with Spielberg on the making. He's mentioned he couldn't film this again in the amount of time (less than two weeks) even if he wanted.

Reminder to check update on Franko's job search. Hoping Exotic Dancer audition details are plenty.

His first credit isn't until 1974, so doubtful he had anything to do with Duel.

Supplementals-
Looks like an interesting book recently came out: (can preview at google books)
Steven Spielberg and Duel: The Making of a Film Career

The animation style brings back memories of Mister T, featuring Bulldozer, Mr. T's bulldog with a similar mohawk.

Marcia Strassman and Jack Bruce.
http://www.rollingstone.com…