Did You Know: TV and Movie Trivia

Here is the next piece in my ongoing “Did You Know” series of articles, covering trivia tidbits for both TV and movies.

I would love to know if you knew about any of the following:

TV TIDBITS

What do actress and TV talk show host Aisha Tyler, and actors Greg Kinnear and Joel McHale have in common?

They were all hosts of the comedy-talk show series Talk Soup which aired on the cable network E! from 1991 to 2002, or what later became known as The Soup from 2004 to 2015.

Kinnear was the first host of the show from 1991 to 1995. Aisha was the host from 2001 to 2002 while McHale was the driving force behind The Soup during its entire run.

David Castro (Before and After)

Actor David Castro, who plays vampire Raphael Santiago in the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments – based on the book series by author Cassandra Clare – appeared in the Katherine Heigl-led box office movie 27 Dresses. He appeared as young Pedro, the “little brother” of wealthy businessman George, played by actor Edward Burns.

Carter Jenkins (Before and After)

Tonight TV viewers will be introduced to the new series Famous in Love, based on the book by author Rebecca Serle, which tells the story of an ordinary college student Paige Townsen (actress Bella Thorne), as she gets her big break after auditioning for and landing the starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster alongside two of the industry’s hottest young actors: Jordan Wilder (actor Keith Powers) and Rainer Devon (actor Carter Jenkins). Avid TV viewers might recognize Carter for his role in the short-lived sci-fi NBC series Surface. He has also appeared in the short-lived Viva Laughlin as well as a recurring role in The Following.

Actress Janel Parrish, who is known for playing Mona Vanderwaal on the long-running (but soon-to-end) Freeform series Pretty Little Liars, is also an accomplished musician, songwriter and singer who has been on Broadway. She also appeared in the LA stage musical Spring Awakening.

You can hear her vocal prowess in the video below (that also features America’s Got Talent finalist Brian Justin Crum):

NOTE: Janel isn’t the only talented singer among the Pretty Little Liars cast. Fellow co-star Lucy Hale is quite the accomplished singer, releasing an album entitled “Road Between” in 2014.

You can see the video for the single “You Sound Good to Me” from that album below:

COMMERCIAL APPEAL

The latest commercial for the Mercedes Benz 2017 GLE features actress Emily Foxler Baldoni, who some TV viewers will recognize from the syndicated series Legend of the Seeker as well as guest appearances in episodes of Major Crimes, NCIS: Los Angeles, Castle, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mad Men and Rizzoli & Isles (among many others). She also appeared in an episode of Jane the Virgin, which stars her husband Justin Baldoni.

Check out the commercial below:

Viewers will probably recognize actor Peter Hermann from his myriad of TV roles including the popular comedy Younger, as well as both the long-running series Blue Bloods and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit [which just so happens to star Peter’s well-known wife Mariska Hargitay]. He is also probably recognizable for his commercial work in the numerous commercials for Persil laundry detergent.

You can see just one of those Persil commercials below:

NOTE: Mariska’s parents were also very well-known during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Her mom was blonde bombshell actress Jane Mansfield and her father was former Mr. Universe/actor Mickey Hargitay.

MOVIE TRIVIA

Did You Know…

that one of the first movies that actor James Spader (The Blacklist and Boston Legal) starred in was the 1985 film Tuff Turf, that had the following tagline: “The new kid in school must battle a gang of street toughs after stealing the gang leader’s girl.” The film co-starred Kim Richards, who was one of the most popular child actresses of the 1970’s and eventually became one of the “train wrecks” on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills; and a then unknown Robert Downey, Jr.

NOTE: Check out that great head of hair Spader had in the featured image of the movie’s poster.

Ryan Reynolds (Before and After)

that one of the first box office movies for which actor Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool himself) appeared in was the 2002 National Lampoon’s movie Van Wilder that also starred actress Tara Reid, who was riding a big wave of fame at the time because of the American Pie movie franchise.

Did you know about any of the above trivia? You can check out the previous “Did You Know…” article here.

Please be on the look-out for more “Did You Know” articles in the near future.