Recently in USA Today, they ran a list of songs that should comprise the soundtrack for the TV show (and my current mania) 'Lost'.
Among the songs chosen were some that appeared in episodes, others that just have the right theme for a particular scene or character.
With the first cut chosen, I've left the description and the sample lyrics. But if you want to read the whole article, (and the reasons for some of the choices) go to:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-02-23-lost-songs_x.htm
Guns N' Roses, Welcome to the Jungle
"Sure, it's a little on the nose. But upon reading the lyrics, it's like Axl wrote it just for packrat Sawyer:
Welcome to the jungle
It gets worse here everyday
You learn to live like an animal
In the jungle where we play
If you got a hunger for what you see
You'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want
But you better not take it from me"
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Run Through the Jungle
John Legend, Burning Down the House (Talking Heads cover)
Talking Heads, Psycho Killer
Biz Markie, Shove This Jay-Oh-Bee
Will Smith, Just the Two of Us
Thompson Twins, Doctor, Doctor
The Police, Message in a Bottle
Peter Murphy, Cuts You Up
Pearl Jam, Leash
Def Leppard, Animal
Driveshaft, You All Everybody
Weezer, Island in the Sun
Lou Reed, Perfect Day
Joe Purdy, Wash Away
Bobby Darrin, Beyond the Sea
Willie Nelson, Are You Sure?
Patsy Cline, Leavin' on Your Mind
As of this past week's episode, we can also add a song called "Delicate" by Damien Rice. Perhaps it should end the CD in the exact same way it ended the episode: cutting off abruptly as if the batteries have died.
After reading the article, this is what I wrote to the editors of USA Today:
'Jayme Deerwester's column about the "Lost" soundtrack could have used a Peter Gabriel number.
Either "In Your Eyes" due to all the episodes that begin with a closeup of a single eyeball, or "Shaking The Tree" which is a nice feel for any of the women and the strength they find within themselves while in the jungle.'
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, February 26, 2005
NEWS BLIPS
The subway between Grand Central Station and Times Square is going back in time to promote the return of 'Deadwood',' HBO's hit, gritty series about the Old West.
Starting March 1 and running for at least one month, the interior of a three-car S train will be redecorated with fake wood, tiles and even faux cushions to look like western-saloon train cars.
The second season of the popular drama debuts on March 6.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's some news combining two different aspects of Toobworld - The League of Themselves and multiverse connections:
Part time pain-in-the-neck, full time genius, Larry David ['Curb your Enthusiasm'] might be set for a role in "Spider-Man 3", says a scooper for Aint it Cool.
David told BBC Radio 4 that he had been asked to film a part in the forthcoming - still a good year or so away - second sequel to Sam Raimi's original money spinner.
Hard to think of David playing anyone other than himself, so chances are we'll be seeing just that - a cameo as himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NBC has ordered a pilot for a comedy starring 'Saturday Night Live' head writer Tina Fey, while ABC has given the go-ahead to a project featuring former 'SNL' cast member Chris Kattan.
The untitled Fey project will star the Weekend News Update anchor as the head writer of an 'SNL'-like variety show, focusing on her efforts to control a volatile star and executive producer. She also wrote the pilot and will serve as an executive producer.
ABC's untitled Kattan comedy centers on an egocentric consumer reporter (Kattan) who thinks the world revolves around him. Kattan will serve as a producer.
~~~~~~~~~~~
NBC has ordered a pilot for 'Notorious', starring Tori Spelling as a version of herself in the period immediately after 'Beverly Hills, 90210', with her character depicted as an underdog in the un-celebrity world that she desperately tries to be a part of.
If there's going to be references to her old TV show and/or other projects, this show sounds like it's going to be one big Zonk! nightmare.
Starting March 1 and running for at least one month, the interior of a three-car S train will be redecorated with fake wood, tiles and even faux cushions to look like western-saloon train cars.
The second season of the popular drama debuts on March 6.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's some news combining two different aspects of Toobworld - The League of Themselves and multiverse connections:
Part time pain-in-the-neck, full time genius, Larry David ['Curb your Enthusiasm'] might be set for a role in "Spider-Man 3", says a scooper for Aint it Cool.
David told BBC Radio 4 that he had been asked to film a part in the forthcoming - still a good year or so away - second sequel to Sam Raimi's original money spinner.
Hard to think of David playing anyone other than himself, so chances are we'll be seeing just that - a cameo as himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NBC has ordered a pilot for a comedy starring 'Saturday Night Live' head writer Tina Fey, while ABC has given the go-ahead to a project featuring former 'SNL' cast member Chris Kattan.
The untitled Fey project will star the Weekend News Update anchor as the head writer of an 'SNL'-like variety show, focusing on her efforts to control a volatile star and executive producer. She also wrote the pilot and will serve as an executive producer.
ABC's untitled Kattan comedy centers on an egocentric consumer reporter (Kattan) who thinks the world revolves around him. Kattan will serve as a producer.
~~~~~~~~~~~
NBC has ordered a pilot for 'Notorious', starring Tori Spelling as a version of herself in the period immediately after 'Beverly Hills, 90210', with her character depicted as an underdog in the un-celebrity world that she desperately tries to be a part of.
If there's going to be references to her old TV show and/or other projects, this show sounds like it's going to be one big Zonk! nightmare.
Friday, February 25, 2005
FROM HUGHNIVERSE TO BLIPVERSE!
My thoughts on the Super Bowl commercials brought forth another great email from Hugh Davis. And it would be selfish of me if I didn't share it with whoever might be out there reading this. (Besides the two of us!)
Toby:
Your latest take on the Super Bowl ads has me thinking that its time to announce the discovery of a new world: The Blipverse. It's a bridge universe, really, allowing connections between different worlds, although it is a sub-set of the televerse first and foremost. In it, the laws of physics are even less stable than in the televerse; its inhabitants are also more prone to be Serlinguists.
The nature of the world tends to be intense dramatic concerns with generally quick resolutions, a sort of Deus Ex Machina motif. It's a world in which animated characters, talking/dancing/singing/etc. animals, and puppets all interact easily with humans.
The Blipverse has actually existed for many years, and it originally actually was seen intersecting with the televerse, as commercials were built into shows. There are plenty of Cineverse interactions--the Pierce Brosnan James Bond for Diet Coke, for instance, or Alfred from the Batman movies for Diet Coke--and many of these connect to comics and superheroes and science fiction. The Droids from Star Wars advertise SW toys (later followed by a variety of Darth Vader ads, including the Energizer Bunny Spot, and a Taco Bell ad with the Droids, Vader, Chewbacca, and Storm Troopers); Ferengi and Romulans from ST advertise Hallmark ornaments; Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure) of four Superman movies and Supergirl advertises Super Powers figures. These then are windows allowing universes to merge.
I think the most remarkable Blipverse spots for mergings come from the Batman On*Star ads. Clearly, these connect the Batman movies to the small subset of Televerse that comes from commercials. They are visually tied without a doubt to those movies, plus Michael Gough is in there as Alfred. The actor playing Batman in them then played that role in a flashback sequence on Birds of Prey, so it links Cineverse to Televerse, and, since Mark Hamill gave the Joker's voice in this and the WB animated show, there's a further Toon tie that can all be brought forth thanks to Blipvert spots.
(The Blipverse can also be seen superheroically way back, with Superman and Jimmy shilling for Kellogg's Pep).
I'm brought to this realization from your discussion of how the Marvel heroes in the Check Card ad aren't the TV or Movie versions. That's right--they are the Blipverse versions. Spiderman has appeared in live-action on the Televerse in the 1970s--both the tv-movie specials and as part of The Electric Company (easily one could argue these are the same) and in animated versions in each decade since the 1960s, but his Blipverse incarnation has also been there in live-action form. A theme park ad from the late 1990s had him battling Doc Octupus atop a plane, for example.
The key to show that the Blipverse has live action versions of these superheroes today is another ad, however, from three or four years ago. A milkman pushed a doorbell at a mansion and is dropped through a trapdoor into a hidden room. It turns out he's at Avengers Mansion and is being interviewed for a possible spot on the super-team's roster.
The Milkman, however, has no powers...he just provides milk, which gives you strong bones. Interviewing him were the Hulk (who might be connected to the Cineverse Hulk, seen in Blipverts for Mountain Dew two summers ago), Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, and (key here) Captain America, Spiderman, and Thor. These Blipverse inhabitants then are the ones seen again in the most recent SuperBowl spot.
Oh, and Underdog did appear in a cereal commercial (Frosted Cheerios, which flopped) six or seven years ago which also featured, among others, Reggie Miller of the NBA and James Doohan, who, though not labelled as such, did appear to be playing Scotty, as he made a "can't take anymore" comment.
Hugh
PS
You haven't mentioned the Simpsons SuperBowl episode yet, with the celebrities getting showboat training from Homer. Among others, it included Warren Sapp (who's been in some NFL Network ads this year for "Space Raiders," an SF version of the Oakland team) and Yao Ming (who appeared, albeit with someone else voicing him) on Static Shock!
Toby's Take:
Hugh's got too many good ideas of his own regarding Toobworld that he really should be doing a companion blog of his own! If you agree with me and want to read more of his theories and ideas, help me light the fire under him - write us a comment to this blog entry and let Hugh know you'd like to see more of his ideas on a regular basis!
Toby:
Your latest take on the Super Bowl ads has me thinking that its time to announce the discovery of a new world: The Blipverse. It's a bridge universe, really, allowing connections between different worlds, although it is a sub-set of the televerse first and foremost. In it, the laws of physics are even less stable than in the televerse; its inhabitants are also more prone to be Serlinguists.
The nature of the world tends to be intense dramatic concerns with generally quick resolutions, a sort of Deus Ex Machina motif. It's a world in which animated characters, talking/dancing/singing/etc. animals, and puppets all interact easily with humans.
The Blipverse has actually existed for many years, and it originally actually was seen intersecting with the televerse, as commercials were built into shows. There are plenty of Cineverse interactions--the Pierce Brosnan James Bond for Diet Coke, for instance, or Alfred from the Batman movies for Diet Coke--and many of these connect to comics and superheroes and science fiction. The Droids from Star Wars advertise SW toys (later followed by a variety of Darth Vader ads, including the Energizer Bunny Spot, and a Taco Bell ad with the Droids, Vader, Chewbacca, and Storm Troopers); Ferengi and Romulans from ST advertise Hallmark ornaments; Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure) of four Superman movies and Supergirl advertises Super Powers figures. These then are windows allowing universes to merge.
I think the most remarkable Blipverse spots for mergings come from the Batman On*Star ads. Clearly, these connect the Batman movies to the small subset of Televerse that comes from commercials. They are visually tied without a doubt to those movies, plus Michael Gough is in there as Alfred. The actor playing Batman in them then played that role in a flashback sequence on Birds of Prey, so it links Cineverse to Televerse, and, since Mark Hamill gave the Joker's voice in this and the WB animated show, there's a further Toon tie that can all be brought forth thanks to Blipvert spots.
(The Blipverse can also be seen superheroically way back, with Superman and Jimmy shilling for Kellogg's Pep).
I'm brought to this realization from your discussion of how the Marvel heroes in the Check Card ad aren't the TV or Movie versions. That's right--they are the Blipverse versions. Spiderman has appeared in live-action on the Televerse in the 1970s--both the tv-movie specials and as part of The Electric Company (easily one could argue these are the same) and in animated versions in each decade since the 1960s, but his Blipverse incarnation has also been there in live-action form. A theme park ad from the late 1990s had him battling Doc Octupus atop a plane, for example.
The key to show that the Blipverse has live action versions of these superheroes today is another ad, however, from three or four years ago. A milkman pushed a doorbell at a mansion and is dropped through a trapdoor into a hidden room. It turns out he's at Avengers Mansion and is being interviewed for a possible spot on the super-team's roster.
The Milkman, however, has no powers...he just provides milk, which gives you strong bones. Interviewing him were the Hulk (who might be connected to the Cineverse Hulk, seen in Blipverts for Mountain Dew two summers ago), Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, and (key here) Captain America, Spiderman, and Thor. These Blipverse inhabitants then are the ones seen again in the most recent SuperBowl spot.
Oh, and Underdog did appear in a cereal commercial (Frosted Cheerios, which flopped) six or seven years ago which also featured, among others, Reggie Miller of the NBA and James Doohan, who, though not labelled as such, did appear to be playing Scotty, as he made a "can't take anymore" comment.
Hugh
PS
You haven't mentioned the Simpsons SuperBowl episode yet, with the celebrities getting showboat training from Homer. Among others, it included Warren Sapp (who's been in some NFL Network ads this year for "Space Raiders," an SF version of the Oakland team) and Yao Ming (who appeared, albeit with someone else voicing him) on Static Shock!
Toby's Take:
Hugh's got too many good ideas of his own regarding Toobworld that he really should be doing a companion blog of his own! If you agree with me and want to read more of his theories and ideas, help me light the fire under him - write us a comment to this blog entry and let Hugh know you'd like to see more of his ideas on a regular basis!
GUAVA GEORGE GUESTS!
As an "Iddiot" in the Idiot's Delight Digest, I've come across Toobworldian musings from many of my fellow Iddiots. Recently "Guava George" posted this piece about an upcoming show on ABC and its multiverse beginnings.........
Stephen Bochco, creator of NYPD Blue, put out a novel in 2003 called "Death By Hollywood" about a screenwriter who kills his wife’s lover. Lots of in-jokes in the book, including references to NYPDB and the fact that the story in the book is turned into a screenplay by one of the characters. Integral to the plot is a short story called "First Dog," written by Bobby, the screenwriter character.
In the short story, a writer named Ron is working on a script late at night, when his girlfriend’s dog Bob starts talking to him. Bob gives an idea for a screenplay called "First Dog," about a talking dog who becomes President. Ron’s response is lukewarm, so a few days later Bob gives him another idea, which Ron turns into a hit show about a professor who’s really a spy.
After that, Bob says nothing to Ron for a couple of years.
Then one day he gives Ron another idea. Here’s the last paragraph of the short story:
"Well," Bob says," there’s this one idea I’ve been working on, it’s about this tough cop who gets blinded in a gun battle, and he’s too young to retire, he still wants to be a cop, so he gets this guide dog named Bob…"
It would give away a huge plot twist to say what happens next, but I can say that, in the novel, the show Bob describes is eventually created and called "Blind Justice."
"Blind Justice" starts on ABC in a couple of weeks.
Guava George
Stephen Bochco, creator of NYPD Blue, put out a novel in 2003 called "Death By Hollywood" about a screenwriter who kills his wife’s lover. Lots of in-jokes in the book, including references to NYPDB and the fact that the story in the book is turned into a screenplay by one of the characters. Integral to the plot is a short story called "First Dog," written by Bobby, the screenwriter character.
In the short story, a writer named Ron is working on a script late at night, when his girlfriend’s dog Bob starts talking to him. Bob gives an idea for a screenplay called "First Dog," about a talking dog who becomes President. Ron’s response is lukewarm, so a few days later Bob gives him another idea, which Ron turns into a hit show about a professor who’s really a spy.
After that, Bob says nothing to Ron for a couple of years.
Then one day he gives Ron another idea. Here’s the last paragraph of the short story:
"Well," Bob says," there’s this one idea I’ve been working on, it’s about this tough cop who gets blinded in a gun battle, and he’s too young to retire, he still wants to be a cop, so he gets this guide dog named Bob…"
It would give away a huge plot twist to say what happens next, but I can say that, in the novel, the show Bob describes is eventually created and called "Blind Justice."
"Blind Justice" starts on ABC in a couple of weeks.
Guava George
HEAD'S UP FOR GOD
Recently, former detective Adrian Monk met the rock band Korn while stuck in a mult-car pile-up on Highway 101.
Julie Treeger, daughter of Monk's assistant Natalie, had to go to the bathroom really bad and they were granted the use of the facilities on Korn's tour bus.
That was less than a month ago.
And now, one of the band members, Brian "Head" Welch, has announced his retirement from the band because he has found religion. As such, he couldn't go on playing the type of music Korn was known for, but he wished his mates well as their roads took separate routes.
So....
In Toobworld, what was it that caused the tele-version of "Head" Welch to be reborn? As he and the other members of Korn met Monk and Julie, they are no longer considered to be the same people as those in Korn here in the Real World. And therefore, the reasons for their actions can often be ascribed to fictional events.
Because this life-changing decision was made after another life-altering event like the traffic jam caused by a murder, I think it's possible that Mr. Welch took stock of the situation, reevaluated his purpose in Life, and decided that perhaps he had a higher calling.
And after seeing what Mr. Monk was like, maybe "Head" remembered a basic tenet to live by:
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Julie Treeger, daughter of Monk's assistant Natalie, had to go to the bathroom really bad and they were granted the use of the facilities on Korn's tour bus.
That was less than a month ago.
And now, one of the band members, Brian "Head" Welch, has announced his retirement from the band because he has found religion. As such, he couldn't go on playing the type of music Korn was known for, but he wished his mates well as their roads took separate routes.
So....
In Toobworld, what was it that caused the tele-version of "Head" Welch to be reborn? As he and the other members of Korn met Monk and Julie, they are no longer considered to be the same people as those in Korn here in the Real World. And therefore, the reasons for their actions can often be ascribed to fictional events.
Because this life-changing decision was made after another life-altering event like the traffic jam caused by a murder, I think it's possible that Mr. Welch took stock of the situation, reevaluated his purpose in Life, and decided that perhaps he had a higher calling.
And after seeing what Mr. Monk was like, maybe "Head" remembered a basic tenet to live by:
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
GATES MAKE FADE-IN
After all the hoo-ha over the "art" project erected by Christo in New York's Central Park played out in the news of the Real World, 'The Gates' made its debut in the fictional world of Television.
Ephram and Andy Brown were on a Central Park West rooftop last weekend, overlooking The Gates, which can be seen in the episode.
According to the Daily News, even though the scene on the rooftop was the last good moment for the father and son, it was a fortuitously happy time to be ensconced high above Central Park, just in time to witness the unfurling of more than 7,000 saffron-draped gates in Central Park.
Christo claims they are saffron in color, anyway. I saw them up close and personal. They're orange. Time and again I read or heard somebody describe them as Home Depot and/or a car wash. In fact, I half-expected to see the late Earl Hindman stick his ghostly head partially up over a fence and intone something about Home Depot, like he used do as a voiceover for their commercials.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
PS:
The subject heading is proof that I'll stoop as low as I can go to get a pun!
Ephram and Andy Brown were on a Central Park West rooftop last weekend, overlooking The Gates, which can be seen in the episode.
According to the Daily News, even though the scene on the rooftop was the last good moment for the father and son, it was a fortuitously happy time to be ensconced high above Central Park, just in time to witness the unfurling of more than 7,000 saffron-draped gates in Central Park.
Christo claims they are saffron in color, anyway. I saw them up close and personal. They're orange. Time and again I read or heard somebody describe them as Home Depot and/or a car wash. In fact, I half-expected to see the late Earl Hindman stick his ghostly head partially up over a fence and intone something about Home Depot, like he used do as a voiceover for their commercials.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
PS:
The subject heading is proof that I'll stoop as low as I can go to get a pun!
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK (1)
In sports, one expects there to be a certain amount of trash-talking out there, but generally you don't trash the folks on the same team.
Apparently the rules are different in network TV.
Ed Bernero, the executive producer of 'Third Watch' said that this past Friday's crossover between his show and 'Medical Investigations' was "a rarity in network television, in that it's a crossover that actually makes sense."
In comparing his show to 'Medical Investigations' (probably the most boring name for a TV show EVER!), Bernero continued, "We deal with medical stuff. We have paramedics. We don't have Boston detectives going to Las Vegas."
Ouch! 'Crossing Jordan' and 'Las Vegas', you've been served! Snap!
Dr. Stephen Connor and Dr. Natalie Durant of 'Medical Investigatons' were summoned to New York City to help deal with a possible outbreak of a plague - hemmorhagic fever from Africa. One of the first victims was paramedic Carlos Nieto, who had been spattered by the bloody phlegm of a jewelry store robber.
Investigating that crime and trying to help the NIH to track down the accomplice [the main carrier of the disease] was the grunt work for Detective Faith Yokas. It carried over into the following hour on 'Medical Investigations', which also chronicled the treatment for Carlos and other victims of this plague.
For that second hour, fellow paramedic Holly Levine also made the crossover as she stood vigil outside the ICU for her on-again, off-again lover Carlos.
According to the story in the Daily News about the crossover, this was a sign that the Peacock network was investing in both of these series. And like Bernero said, this was a crossover that made sense. Even if the 'Medical Investigations' team did have to travel to another city, at least that's what they do in every episode. (In the past, 'Law & Order' would have to travel to Baltimore to cross over with 'Homicide: Life On The Street'; 'ER' had to come to the Big Apple from the Windy City for their crossover with 'Third Watch'; and then there's always that 'Las Vegas' in Boston team-up with 'Crossing Jordan'.)
So how come after six years on the air, 'Third Watch' has yet to do a crossover with either one of the three 'Law & Order' series? 'Third Watch' has cops, it has firemen, it has paramedics. And all of them already in Manhattan.
What more do they want for shows that deal with the criminal justice system?
'Third Watch' characters should even be showing up in the new member of the 'L&O' team, 'Trial By Jury'. Professionals in all three fields could be called to testify in cases.
Well, there's always next year. As Molly Price, who plays Detective Yokas said in the Daily News, "They've moved us all over the map and no matter what they do to us, we always have this hard core vigilantly loyal audience. We're like a cockroach; they just can't kill us."
Speaking of Ms. Price, our congratulations to her for her portrayal of Faith Yokas in this crossover. She becomes the first member of the 'Third Watch' cast to become eligible for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, as she was also involved in that earlier storyline with 'ER'.
So we have a tie for the best crossover of the week. And in keeping with an idea lovingly ripped off from 'Futurama', we'll prioritize them by calling one "Crossover Of The Week A" and the other "Crossover Of The Week 1".
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Apparently the rules are different in network TV.
Ed Bernero, the executive producer of 'Third Watch' said that this past Friday's crossover between his show and 'Medical Investigations' was "a rarity in network television, in that it's a crossover that actually makes sense."
In comparing his show to 'Medical Investigations' (probably the most boring name for a TV show EVER!), Bernero continued, "We deal with medical stuff. We have paramedics. We don't have Boston detectives going to Las Vegas."
Ouch! 'Crossing Jordan' and 'Las Vegas', you've been served! Snap!
Dr. Stephen Connor and Dr. Natalie Durant of 'Medical Investigatons' were summoned to New York City to help deal with a possible outbreak of a plague - hemmorhagic fever from Africa. One of the first victims was paramedic Carlos Nieto, who had been spattered by the bloody phlegm of a jewelry store robber.
Investigating that crime and trying to help the NIH to track down the accomplice [the main carrier of the disease] was the grunt work for Detective Faith Yokas. It carried over into the following hour on 'Medical Investigations', which also chronicled the treatment for Carlos and other victims of this plague.
For that second hour, fellow paramedic Holly Levine also made the crossover as she stood vigil outside the ICU for her on-again, off-again lover Carlos.
According to the story in the Daily News about the crossover, this was a sign that the Peacock network was investing in both of these series. And like Bernero said, this was a crossover that made sense. Even if the 'Medical Investigations' team did have to travel to another city, at least that's what they do in every episode. (In the past, 'Law & Order' would have to travel to Baltimore to cross over with 'Homicide: Life On The Street'; 'ER' had to come to the Big Apple from the Windy City for their crossover with 'Third Watch'; and then there's always that 'Las Vegas' in Boston team-up with 'Crossing Jordan'.)
So how come after six years on the air, 'Third Watch' has yet to do a crossover with either one of the three 'Law & Order' series? 'Third Watch' has cops, it has firemen, it has paramedics. And all of them already in Manhattan.
What more do they want for shows that deal with the criminal justice system?
'Third Watch' characters should even be showing up in the new member of the 'L&O' team, 'Trial By Jury'. Professionals in all three fields could be called to testify in cases.
Well, there's always next year. As Molly Price, who plays Detective Yokas said in the Daily News, "They've moved us all over the map and no matter what they do to us, we always have this hard core vigilantly loyal audience. We're like a cockroach; they just can't kill us."
Speaking of Ms. Price, our congratulations to her for her portrayal of Faith Yokas in this crossover. She becomes the first member of the 'Third Watch' cast to become eligible for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, as she was also involved in that earlier storyline with 'ER'.
So we have a tie for the best crossover of the week. And in keeping with an idea lovingly ripped off from 'Futurama', we'll prioritize them by calling one "Crossover Of The Week A" and the other "Crossover Of The Week 1".
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK (A)
It looks like the return of Detective Mike Logan to the 'Law & Order' sector of the TV Universe was welcomed by more than just crossover fans. There was incredible spike in the ratings for last Sunday's episode of 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'.
Just like another New Yorker who looks exactly like him, Logan is "Mr. Big".
Some might think this crossover would have the taint of "been there, done that" about it; 'L&O' characters are always jumping back and forth between shows. But Mike Logan had been off the flagship since 1995, and as probably the second most popular detective ever on the show, he's always going to draw an audience.
Technically, this isn't a crossover between 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', however. Mike Logan's life has evolved since he left that parent show; like all characters in Toobworld, just because we couldn't see him anymore, that doesn't mean his life just stopped.
Actually, this would be counted as a crossover between 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and 'Exiled', the 'Law & Order' TV movie. That's where we got our last update on Logan's life and career after being banished from the 2-7 to the investigative wasteland of Staten Island.
And this crossover served as a forecast of what's to come, because Detective Logan is joining 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' next season to give Detective Goren a break. Each of them will be doing eleven episodes each.
We also got a glimpse near the end of the episode how their methods of investigation differ. When they were trapped in the detention center's lockdown by the bad apple correction officers, Mike Logan cowboyed up; he was hot-headed and defiant, promising to take out at least one of them before they could take him down.
And as for the others, "well, that's what the death penalty is for, gentlemen."
But Goren was subtle, incisive. He got into each of their heads, using psychology to play them against their ringleader so that one by one, they each laid down their batons and walked away from the confrontation.
I'm hoping their individual episodes continue with this demarcation between their styles of operating. When Jack Kelly was first brought into 'Maverick' to play Brett's brother Bart, the scripts still seemed to be interchangeable; either actor could have assayed the roles. Only later did Bart's episodes gain their own voice.
But Goren's method of detection isn't for the bull-headed Logan, so I hope they don't try to force Chris Noth to act as though he's a substitute Vincent D'Onofrio.
And I also hope they get him his own partner so that Kathryn Erbe as Detective Eames can catch a break as well.
(As for Jamey Sheridan and Courtney Vance? They're slacking off enough as it is. No break for them!)
Might I suggest Dana Eskelson, the actress who played Logan's partner on Staten Island? She was able to hold her own against Noth and since she's a relatively unknown, she doesn't bring much by way of preconceptions about her as a person to the role of Detective Frankie Silvera.
I think I speak for most in the audience in that what we know of her, we only know from her role in 'Exiled', but as such I found her refreshing.
But failing that, I think Molly Price as Detective Faith Yokas on 'Third Watch' would make an excellent addition to the 'Law & Order' team. It wouldn't be the first time they brought in a character from an outside show. (Helloooo, Munchkin!)
Not that I'm wishing ill on her home show of 'Third Watch'! In fact, if this past week is any indication, she'll probably have a place to continue as a detective for a long time to come.
I'm just saying, is all........ But it does bring me to the other Crossover of the Week.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Just like another New Yorker who looks exactly like him, Logan is "Mr. Big".
Some might think this crossover would have the taint of "been there, done that" about it; 'L&O' characters are always jumping back and forth between shows. But Mike Logan had been off the flagship since 1995, and as probably the second most popular detective ever on the show, he's always going to draw an audience.
Technically, this isn't a crossover between 'Law & Order' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent', however. Mike Logan's life has evolved since he left that parent show; like all characters in Toobworld, just because we couldn't see him anymore, that doesn't mean his life just stopped.
Actually, this would be counted as a crossover between 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' and 'Exiled', the 'Law & Order' TV movie. That's where we got our last update on Logan's life and career after being banished from the 2-7 to the investigative wasteland of Staten Island.
And this crossover served as a forecast of what's to come, because Detective Logan is joining 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' next season to give Detective Goren a break. Each of them will be doing eleven episodes each.
We also got a glimpse near the end of the episode how their methods of investigation differ. When they were trapped in the detention center's lockdown by the bad apple correction officers, Mike Logan cowboyed up; he was hot-headed and defiant, promising to take out at least one of them before they could take him down.
And as for the others, "well, that's what the death penalty is for, gentlemen."
But Goren was subtle, incisive. He got into each of their heads, using psychology to play them against their ringleader so that one by one, they each laid down their batons and walked away from the confrontation.
I'm hoping their individual episodes continue with this demarcation between their styles of operating. When Jack Kelly was first brought into 'Maverick' to play Brett's brother Bart, the scripts still seemed to be interchangeable; either actor could have assayed the roles. Only later did Bart's episodes gain their own voice.
But Goren's method of detection isn't for the bull-headed Logan, so I hope they don't try to force Chris Noth to act as though he's a substitute Vincent D'Onofrio.
And I also hope they get him his own partner so that Kathryn Erbe as Detective Eames can catch a break as well.
(As for Jamey Sheridan and Courtney Vance? They're slacking off enough as it is. No break for them!)
Might I suggest Dana Eskelson, the actress who played Logan's partner on Staten Island? She was able to hold her own against Noth and since she's a relatively unknown, she doesn't bring much by way of preconceptions about her as a person to the role of Detective Frankie Silvera.
I think I speak for most in the audience in that what we know of her, we only know from her role in 'Exiled', but as such I found her refreshing.
But failing that, I think Molly Price as Detective Faith Yokas on 'Third Watch' would make an excellent addition to the 'Law & Order' team. It wouldn't be the first time they brought in a character from an outside show. (Helloooo, Munchkin!)
Not that I'm wishing ill on her home show of 'Third Watch'! In fact, if this past week is any indication, she'll probably have a place to continue as a detective for a long time to come.
I'm just saying, is all........ But it does bring me to the other Crossover of the Week.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
PRICE IS SIGHTED
As a promotional stunt to ensnare more viewers to their entire week's schedule during February sweeps, CBS repeated a stunt from last year. Their 'Early Show' weatherman, Dave Price, popped up in a different show on each of the five weeknights.
The point was to find all of his appearances and hopefully win a prize.
I'm to cynical, callow, and okay, lazy to put in that kind of effort. But I did see him in one of the CBS shows only because I'm a big Danica McKellar fan and she was the guest star that night.
Price showed up in a quick exchange with one of the Navy forensic investigators in an elevator. They were discussing the scientific merits of the groundhog seeing its shadow, but Dave couldn't get the guy to accept the common wisdom. (And don't expect me to repeat it - I can't remember if it's six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow or not.)
As his character wasn't identified by name, and since it was a weather-related cameo, I've got no problem with considering his appearance to be as himself. Perhaps "Dave Price" was in that high-level Naval office building in order to do prep work for an upcoming report on 'The Early Show'.
I'd be curious where he showed up on the other nights, and whether or not he could have been appearing as himself.
Let me know!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
The point was to find all of his appearances and hopefully win a prize.
I'm to cynical, callow, and okay, lazy to put in that kind of effort. But I did see him in one of the CBS shows only because I'm a big Danica McKellar fan and she was the guest star that night.
Price showed up in a quick exchange with one of the Navy forensic investigators in an elevator. They were discussing the scientific merits of the groundhog seeing its shadow, but Dave couldn't get the guy to accept the common wisdom. (And don't expect me to repeat it - I can't remember if it's six more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow or not.)
As his character wasn't identified by name, and since it was a weather-related cameo, I've got no problem with considering his appearance to be as himself. Perhaps "Dave Price" was in that high-level Naval office building in order to do prep work for an upcoming report on 'The Early Show'.
I'd be curious where he showed up on the other nights, and whether or not he could have been appearing as himself.
Let me know!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
DAYNA TV TIME
One of the harbingers of Sweeps Month is the sighting of TV show hosts popping up on other TV shows. And when they appear as members of the League of Themselves, then it can be considered a crossover.
For example, Dayna Devon of 'Extra' does a series of features which she calls 'Dayna TV' in which she makes appearances on a wide variety of programs. (Not all of them turn out to be fictional shows.)
This time around, it was a soap opera that was graced by her presence. Ms. Devon was spotted in Corinth, on an episode of 'All My Children'. Of course, later that night, the actual crossover was busted all to hell on 'Extra', when she showed the behind the scenes activities of what happened while she filmed her part.
But left standing on its own, the 'All My Children' appearance builds up her resume for the League of Themselves.
So it was a nice try; we give her runner-up status as Miss Congeniality.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
For example, Dayna Devon of 'Extra' does a series of features which she calls 'Dayna TV' in which she makes appearances on a wide variety of programs. (Not all of them turn out to be fictional shows.)
This time around, it was a soap opera that was graced by her presence. Ms. Devon was spotted in Corinth, on an episode of 'All My Children'. Of course, later that night, the actual crossover was busted all to hell on 'Extra', when she showed the behind the scenes activities of what happened while she filmed her part.
But left standing on its own, the 'All My Children' appearance builds up her resume for the League of Themselves.
So it was a nice try; we give her runner-up status as Miss Congeniality.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
NO SOAP, VIDEO
I endured the chore of watching 'Joey' this week (and that's hardly a ringing endorsement, is it?) in order to see if it could help me in reconciling the view of daytime TV in prime time shows.
For many years, references to soap operas on Toobworld have been to fictional shows - 'As Thus We Are' (from 'Love, Sidney' - my all-time favorite fictional soap opera title), 'All Is Forgiven' (from the sitcom of the same name), 'Those Who Care' (from 'The New Dick Van Dyke Show'), 'The Days Of The Week' ('SCTV'), and 'As The Stomach Turns' ('The Carol Burnett Show').
(Personally, this is the type of show I prefer. I'd rather enrich the TV Universe with fictional materials to keep it distinct from the Real World.)
But lately, more and more shows are referring to real soap operas, mostly as punch lines on sitcoms. I guess they are trying to make it appear that their own shows are real while all the others are fake.
One recent example would be in the medical drama 'House'. Dr. House would rather be watching 'General Hospital' than working the clinic. And it he doesn't just limit it to the daytime soaps: "I don't need to watch the O.C., but it makes me happy."
A fictional character getting a job on an actual soap opera may have started with 'Love, Sidney', when Laurie Morgan was hired for four episodes of 'Another World' after doing a commercial for Amore Soap. After that, she moved on to play a sapphic homewrecker on the fictional 'A Time For Loving' before landing her big break in 'As Thus We Are'.
But it was Joey Tribbiani's stint(s) on 'The Days Of Our Lives' that has proved to have the biggest impact. As Dr. Drake Ramoray, his adventures on that Real World soap opera fueled several plots of 'Friends' and has been referenced several times on his spin-off, 'Joey'.
He has interacted with several actors from the soap who were portraying themselves, (and even the creator/writer for the show, James Reilly). But more often than not, we've met fictional actors who have no counterpart in our own world.
Best example from 'Friends'? Susan Sarandon appearing as Jessica Lockhart, the drama queen who was slated to be written off the show with a death scene. Her character's brain lived on in the body of Joey's character, Dr. Drake Ramoray.
This past week, Joey had one last shot at glory in connection to that gig on 'DOOL', as he sometimes called it. He was up for a Daytime Soap Award for best death scene. While at the awards dinner broadcast, we were introduced not only to other actors on 'Days Of Our Lives', but also to actors who were appearing in 'General Hospital', 'One Life To Live', and 'Passions'.
And all of them were fictional.
And based on the clips shown from their shows, the plotlines were also faked. For example, Dr. Ramoray was stabbed to death in the OR by his nurse who wanted to make sure he couldn't save the life of the patient. Had he really been a character on 'Days Of Our Lives', Reilly would have written him off during that year-long murder storyline in which major characters were bumped off in imaginative ways. As it turned out, the victims were all still alive, and being held prisoner on an island.
Since it was established on 'Friends' that James Reilly was no fan of Joey Tribbiani, it would have been easy to just leave his character of Dr. Drake Ramoray behind on that island.
So that's how we can avoid a Zonk when it comes to the mention of real-life soap operas in other shows. They may share the same title, but there is no real connection between the two versions.
Dr. House still Zonked with that mention of 'The O.C.' though. I would have given him a stern talking-to, but he scares me with that cane of his. Especially if he hasn't been taking his Vicodin......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
For many years, references to soap operas on Toobworld have been to fictional shows - 'As Thus We Are' (from 'Love, Sidney' - my all-time favorite fictional soap opera title), 'All Is Forgiven' (from the sitcom of the same name), 'Those Who Care' (from 'The New Dick Van Dyke Show'), 'The Days Of The Week' ('SCTV'), and 'As The Stomach Turns' ('The Carol Burnett Show').
(Personally, this is the type of show I prefer. I'd rather enrich the TV Universe with fictional materials to keep it distinct from the Real World.)
But lately, more and more shows are referring to real soap operas, mostly as punch lines on sitcoms. I guess they are trying to make it appear that their own shows are real while all the others are fake.
One recent example would be in the medical drama 'House'. Dr. House would rather be watching 'General Hospital' than working the clinic. And it he doesn't just limit it to the daytime soaps: "I don't need to watch the O.C., but it makes me happy."
A fictional character getting a job on an actual soap opera may have started with 'Love, Sidney', when Laurie Morgan was hired for four episodes of 'Another World' after doing a commercial for Amore Soap. After that, she moved on to play a sapphic homewrecker on the fictional 'A Time For Loving' before landing her big break in 'As Thus We Are'.
But it was Joey Tribbiani's stint(s) on 'The Days Of Our Lives' that has proved to have the biggest impact. As Dr. Drake Ramoray, his adventures on that Real World soap opera fueled several plots of 'Friends' and has been referenced several times on his spin-off, 'Joey'.
He has interacted with several actors from the soap who were portraying themselves, (and even the creator/writer for the show, James Reilly). But more often than not, we've met fictional actors who have no counterpart in our own world.
Best example from 'Friends'? Susan Sarandon appearing as Jessica Lockhart, the drama queen who was slated to be written off the show with a death scene. Her character's brain lived on in the body of Joey's character, Dr. Drake Ramoray.
This past week, Joey had one last shot at glory in connection to that gig on 'DOOL', as he sometimes called it. He was up for a Daytime Soap Award for best death scene. While at the awards dinner broadcast, we were introduced not only to other actors on 'Days Of Our Lives', but also to actors who were appearing in 'General Hospital', 'One Life To Live', and 'Passions'.
And all of them were fictional.
And based on the clips shown from their shows, the plotlines were also faked. For example, Dr. Ramoray was stabbed to death in the OR by his nurse who wanted to make sure he couldn't save the life of the patient. Had he really been a character on 'Days Of Our Lives', Reilly would have written him off during that year-long murder storyline in which major characters were bumped off in imaginative ways. As it turned out, the victims were all still alive, and being held prisoner on an island.
Since it was established on 'Friends' that James Reilly was no fan of Joey Tribbiani, it would have been easy to just leave his character of Dr. Drake Ramoray behind on that island.
So that's how we can avoid a Zonk when it comes to the mention of real-life soap operas in other shows. They may share the same title, but there is no real connection between the two versions.
Dr. House still Zonked with that mention of 'The O.C.' though. I would have given him a stern talking-to, but he scares me with that cane of his. Especially if he hasn't been taking his Vicodin......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
MAKING THE CUT
Except for 'Enterprise', UPN has been , for me, mostly a network out of sight and out of mind. I'm just not the targeted urban audience demographic to whom most of their other shows cater.
But as bruising as it might be for my ego, just because I don't watch the shows, that doesn't mean they aren't popular. And one of them, 'One On One' starring Flex Alexander, has proven to be so popular that it has spawned a spin-off.
'Cuts' is set in a Baltimore barber shop which has Tiffany Warner as the new manager after her hair-care mogul of a dad buys the place. Determined to change the place into a day spa for women, Tiffany goes toe-to-toe with Kevin Washington, the guy who used to run the place, until they make a compromise so that the workplace becomes both a barbershop and a day spa.
Apparently, hilarity will ensue.
I thought this was going to prove to be an easy write-up, but as I'm doing my research, it appears I jumped to conclusions.
According to the two episodes of 'One On One' that launched this series, Kevin is the brother of Mark Washington, a sportscaster in Baltimore. I don't think we had seen Kevin on the show before because he had been a "hairdresser to the stars" out in Hollywood. But now that he'd fallen on hard times, he came back thinking he could run the old family business of the barber shop.
But now with the new show 'Cuts', Kevin's last name is suddenly "Barnes". And Jack Warner, the hair-care mogul, is no longer played by David Garrison, but instead by Corbin Bernsen. That at least was easy to splain away - Apparently a quantum leaper from the future must have leapt into his life long enough to alter Tiffany's life.
That's my splainin and I'm sticking to it.
As for the name change for Marques Houston's character of Kevin? I'll have to do more research on that. (The IMDb.com doesn't even have the show listed yet!)
Was he a half-brother, raised by a different mother? Was "Kevin Barnes" his professional name while out in Hollywood and so he decided to go back to using it?
I guess I really will have to pay more attention to this show after all.
Being a Caretaker for Toobworld ain't easy!
PS:
There's only been one other spin-off of note this year, but as I don't watch the show, I didn't feel it was right for me to bring it up before. That was Bravo's 'Queer Eye For The Straight Gal', the logical successor to 'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'. I'm not sure if the Fab Five have made an appearance yet on the sequel, but that would certainly cement their induction into the Crossover Hall of Fame as a group.
I will give it props though, for its tag line on the subway posters:
"TWICE AS QUEER.... TWO NIGHTS STRAIGHT!"
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
But as bruising as it might be for my ego, just because I don't watch the shows, that doesn't mean they aren't popular. And one of them, 'One On One' starring Flex Alexander, has proven to be so popular that it has spawned a spin-off.
'Cuts' is set in a Baltimore barber shop which has Tiffany Warner as the new manager after her hair-care mogul of a dad buys the place. Determined to change the place into a day spa for women, Tiffany goes toe-to-toe with Kevin Washington, the guy who used to run the place, until they make a compromise so that the workplace becomes both a barbershop and a day spa.
Apparently, hilarity will ensue.
I thought this was going to prove to be an easy write-up, but as I'm doing my research, it appears I jumped to conclusions.
According to the two episodes of 'One On One' that launched this series, Kevin is the brother of Mark Washington, a sportscaster in Baltimore. I don't think we had seen Kevin on the show before because he had been a "hairdresser to the stars" out in Hollywood. But now that he'd fallen on hard times, he came back thinking he could run the old family business of the barber shop.
But now with the new show 'Cuts', Kevin's last name is suddenly "Barnes". And Jack Warner, the hair-care mogul, is no longer played by David Garrison, but instead by Corbin Bernsen. That at least was easy to splain away - Apparently a quantum leaper from the future must have leapt into his life long enough to alter Tiffany's life.
That's my splainin and I'm sticking to it.
As for the name change for Marques Houston's character of Kevin? I'll have to do more research on that. (The IMDb.com doesn't even have the show listed yet!)
Was he a half-brother, raised by a different mother? Was "Kevin Barnes" his professional name while out in Hollywood and so he decided to go back to using it?
I guess I really will have to pay more attention to this show after all.
Being a Caretaker for Toobworld ain't easy!
PS:
There's only been one other spin-off of note this year, but as I don't watch the show, I didn't feel it was right for me to bring it up before. That was Bravo's 'Queer Eye For The Straight Gal', the logical successor to 'Queer Eye For The Straight Guy'. I'm not sure if the Fab Five have made an appearance yet on the sequel, but that would certainly cement their induction into the Crossover Hall of Fame as a group.
I will give it props though, for its tag line on the subway posters:
"TWICE AS QUEER.... TWO NIGHTS STRAIGHT!"
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Monday, February 21, 2005
THAT WAS THE TOOB WEEK THAT WAS
This being February, it's Sweeps month - that quarter of the year when the networks get to adjust the rates they charge for their commercials based on their ratings. And to boost those ratings, they bring out the big boys: specials, special guest stars, spectaculars, the Super Bowl, the Oscars, mini-series, movies, alarming news reports, and of course, crossovers and spin-offs.
This past week was a particular busy one for Toobworld - two official crossovers, at least one unofficial one, and a spin-off. Plus all the little stuff to enhance and enrich the TV Universe, and a few new members in the League of Themselves to boot.So let's take a look-see at what we got this week.......
This past week was a particular busy one for Toobworld - two official crossovers, at least one unofficial one, and a spin-off. Plus all the little stuff to enhance and enrich the TV Universe, and a few new members in the League of Themselves to boot.So let's take a look-see at what we got this week.......
Sunday, February 20, 2005
AN IN-ADVERT-ENT CROSSOVER
Jill Nicolini is the helicopter traffic reporter for WPIX Channel 11 in New York City. But if you flip around the dial, you can see the former Playboy model on other local TV stations in a commercial for Lucille Roberts' health clubs. In this blipvert, Ms. Nicolini is billed as a health club reporter, so in the grand Toobworld scheme of things, she's obviously covering both kinds of "news" for the station.
It just happens that the health club news is being played out on the other stations, doing the work for WPIX.
Anybody who's been around Toobworld for awhile knows that I'm a tele-anarchist; that I believe in TV without borders. But out in the real world, the suits don't like to see that sort of thing happen.
(Look at the stink ABC and FOX made when David E. Kelley wanted to do a crossover between his own shows 'The Practice' and 'Ally McBeal'.)
Ms. Nicolini filmed the ad before she was hired by WPIX, so the station has no problem with a conflict of interest. And they probably find the situation funny.
In fact, according to Richard Huff in the New York Daily News, a Channel 11 spokesman said that "If Channel 7 wants to put Channel 11's traffic reporter on their station, and identify her by name, we're not going to complain."
An article like that will more than likely lead to WABC Channel 7 yanking the ad from airing now. It will be a localized form of revenge after other stations pulled a car ad which featured Dennis Franz back in the day when the soon-to-vanish 'NYPD Blue' was white-hot in popularity.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
It just happens that the health club news is being played out on the other stations, doing the work for WPIX.
Anybody who's been around Toobworld for awhile knows that I'm a tele-anarchist; that I believe in TV without borders. But out in the real world, the suits don't like to see that sort of thing happen.
(Look at the stink ABC and FOX made when David E. Kelley wanted to do a crossover between his own shows 'The Practice' and 'Ally McBeal'.)
Ms. Nicolini filmed the ad before she was hired by WPIX, so the station has no problem with a conflict of interest. And they probably find the situation funny.
In fact, according to Richard Huff in the New York Daily News, a Channel 11 spokesman said that "If Channel 7 wants to put Channel 11's traffic reporter on their station, and identify her by name, we're not going to complain."
An article like that will more than likely lead to WABC Channel 7 yanking the ad from airing now. It will be a localized form of revenge after other stations pulled a car ad which featured Dennis Franz back in the day when the soon-to-vanish 'NYPD Blue' was white-hot in popularity.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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