Fred Topel on Muck Rack

Fred Topel

(He/Him)
Burbank
As seen in: Rotten Tomatoes, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, United Press International (UPI), MSN, MSN Canada, MSN Singapore, Yahoo Entertainment, Yahoo Life, MSN India, MSN Malaysia, MSN UK, Yahoo Canada, Yahoo News Malaysia and
Covers:  Film, Television, Movie Theaters/Exhibition, anything that can be researched (i.e. medical, retirement, RVs, collectibles...)
TCA/CCA member Freelance @UPI, @RottenTomatoes, @DEADLINE, @goldderby, available. Opinions mine & @FranchiseFred’s Co-leader @cafwu He/Him

Get in touch with Fred

Contact Fred, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.

Learn more about Muck Rack

Actions

Share this page

Fred Topel’s Biography

Read Full Bio →

Fred has been a professional journalist since 1999. Some of his first scoops were on the live-action Scooby-Doo movie, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and The Matrix sequels. Even though filmmakers have gotten cagier over the years, he's still busting out scoops on the Die Hard prequel McClane, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, 24 Jump Street (skipping 23 altogether) and more.

Fred interviews the stars and creators of new movies and TV shows every week. Some of the standout interviews include Nicolas Cage, Win…

Articles

Michael Mann’s ‘Manhunter’ final cut has more Hannibal, less clunky dialogue Original

|
By Fred Topel
| Gold Derby
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 27: Michael Mann attends the 33rd Annual Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 27, 2023 in New York City. Get ready for more Hannibal. To mark the 40th anniversary of Manhunter, Michael Mann is releasing a final cut version of the 1986 film, which he premiered Friday night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

'Gomer Pyle,' 'That Girl' star Ronnie Schell dies at 94 Original

|
By Fred Topel
| United Press International (UPI)
June 12 (UPI) -- Actor and Air Force Veteran Ronald Schell died Friday of natural causes in Los Angeles, his publicist confirmed. He was 94. Schell began performing standup at the Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco, Calif. while a senior at San Francisco University. He continued to perform in Las Vegas through his death. Credited as Ronnie Schell, he played Duke Slater on the military comedy Gomer Pyle, USMC.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (28) Issue with article?

Maria Bakalova, Adam Pally not fooled by 'O Orizon' AI Original

|
By Fred Topel
| United Press International (UPI)
LOS ANGELES, June 12 (UPI) -- Maria Bakalova and Adam Pally said the type of AI presented in their film O Horizon, in New York theaters Friday, would not convince them it is sentient. Bakalova, 29, plays Abby, a woman grieving her father (David Strathairn) who buys Sam's (Pally) simulation of him. In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Bakalova said even if AI could accurately simulate a loved one, she could tell the difference.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (27) Issue with article?
See all 45,498 licensed articles (45,541 Total)

Interview

See all 21 answers →

What was your first job as a journalist?

The Palisades-Post in Pacific Palisades, CA

Have you ever used a typewriter?

As a kid, but by the time I was in high school it was all computers.

How is social media changing news?

Too many sites ceded their readership over to Twitter and Facebook. We should focus on making the website a destination again.

Actions

Share this page

Is this you?

As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile

Get in touch with Fred

Contact Fred, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.

Learn more about Muck Rack
 •  Privacy  •  Terms  •  Security and Legal  •   •   •   • 

© 2026 Muck Rack

SOC 2® Certified