TCM's new programming block, Noir Alley

Well, I suppose it's not really new, as many years ago TCM had a noir film running either Saturday or Sunday mornings, I can't remember which that's how long ago it was. I want to say it was called "Darkness After Dawn". Anyhow, the new series, called Noir Alley, will be hosted by Eddie Mueller, who rather arrogantly calls himself the "King of Noir". Movies will start at 10:00 AM on Sundays. This first Sunday sees the Humphrey Bogart version of The Maltese Falcon. While it's a great movie, it's one that I don't think of as a noir. Then again, the question of what actually is a noir and what isn't is one that's been going on for a long time.

In the meantime, it also looks as though The Essentials is finally no longer with us. There's nothing on the TCM website about it and the movies on Saturdays don't all seem like they'd be candidates for The Essentials either. I also assume Robert Osborne is retired, but the TCM just isn't making it official for whatever reason. He's going to be 85 this spring and hasn't been on the channel in a year, for heaven's sake.