Venganza Media Gazette

‘Corn Connection’ finds A-lister among ‘Harvest’ players

Every actor has to start somewhere, and somewhere is often low-budget horror.

There are plenty of examples; Leonardo DiCaprio in Critters 3, Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander in The Burning, and Jennifer Aniston in a film Now Playing Podcast donors can hear about very soon.

As for this week’s Now Playing Podcast review of Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, we managed to find some famous faces among the cast. Okay, make that one star, some genre actors and a couple of extras you might recognize if you watch a lot of bad flicks.

But I’m not here to reprint IMDB resumes; the Corn Connection shows you where to find the actors and actresses within the Now Playing archives. So let’s get going.

Charlize Theron (Young Woman/uncredited) – Alien Retrospective Series

Harvest was Theron’s first film, before she went on to become a superstar in movies like Mighty Joe Young, The Legend of Bagger Vance and Aeon Flux. Also Monster.

It’s crazy to think that an actress like Theron was only referenced on Now Playing Podcast once, but it’s true; back during the 2012 donation drive, when the hosts covered Prometheus as part of the Alien Retrospective Series. Unfortunately, that series is no longer available.

Michael Ensign (Father Frank Nolan) – Superman Retrospective Series

Ensign is an actor you’ll recognize, although maybe not for his role as a newscaster in 1978’s Superman. I’m sure he gets more looks from fans who loved him as the snooty hotel manager in Ghostbusters, or in his role as the evil bus driver in License to Drive.

Ed Grady (Dr. Richard Appleby) – Children of the Corn Retrospective Series

Does it count if your Now Playing moments came twice in the same retrospective series? Because that’s the case with the late Mr. Grady, who played the same character in the second installment, Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice. Maybe someday the hosts will cover Grady’s role in The Notebook.

Rance Howard (Employer) – Psycho Retrospective Series

Howard, like Theron, has had roles in major blockbusters (his son is Splash director Ron Howard). Howard, like Theron, only appears once in the entire history of Now Playing Podcast (1998’s Psycho). And Howard, like Theron, appeared in a donation series that’s no longer available on the main feed (bummer).

Rif Hutton (Arnold) – Star Trek Retrospective Series

Hutton’s resume includes a long list of television and film credits, but only one of those movies was featured on Now Playing Podcast. So look for his role as a Klingon guard the next time you sit down to watch Star Trek: Generations.

Anthony Hickox (Hans, also executive producer) – Return of the Living Dead Retrospective Series

Hickox appeared as Dr. Hickox in Return of the Living Dead 3, another film that’s currently locked in the Now Playing Podcast archives. But he’s also a director, with a resume that includes Waxwork, Waxwork 2: Lost In Time and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth.

Brian Peck (Jake Witman) – X-Men Retrospective Series, Return of the Living Dead Retrospective Series

Peck’s resume lists a number of genre films, but his role as Hot Dog Stand Patron in X-Men and News Reporter in X2: X-Men United made him part of the Now Playing universe. He also appeared in the first three Return of the Living Dead films as the characters of Scuz, Special Zombie and Ballistic Technician, respectively. Unfortunately, those Living Dead shows are locked away in the vault.

So there you have it. A few more recognizable actors than the previous Corn film, but many who only have connections to Now Playing donation series’. Wondering how you can become a donor? This way.

Did we miss anyone? If you spot an actor or actress with a connection to Now Playing Podcast leave a comment and help a fellow listener!

September 3, 2014 Posted by Jason Latham | News, Now Playing Podcast | aeon flux, Alien, anthony hickox, brian peck, charlize theron, Children of the Corn, children of the corn III, critters 3, ed grady, Ghostbusters, hellraiser 3, jason alexander, jennifer aniston, legend of bagger vance, leonardo dicaprio, leprechaun, license to drive, michael ensign, mighty joe young, monster, Now Playing Podcast, prometheus, psycho, rance howard, return of the living dead, rif hutton, seinfeld, star trek, Stephen King, Superman, the burning, the final sacrifice, the notebook, urban harvest, waxwork, X-Men, x-men 2 | Comments Off on ‘Corn Connection’ finds A-lister among ‘Harvest’ players