Saturday, November 19, 2005

"THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE": THE TALE OF A FATEFUL TRIP

There are a lot of TV shows in Toobworld with strong connections to the movie universe. The best example is the 'Star Trek' franchise, with ten feature films that fit right into the chronology for all five TV series.

There are other movies which can be accepted as being a part of the TV Universe - the 1966 "Batman", "Highlander", "The X-Files: Fight The Future", "McHale's Navy Joins The Air Force", "Charlie's Angels", and the most recent example, "Serenity" which grew out of 'Firefly'. There's even an episode of 'Murder, She Wrote' which picked up the storyline of a film noir and brought back the original actors to continue the tale.

Those movies which are remakes of TV series, but without the original casts, don't count. "The Addams Family Values", "Sgt. Bilko", "The Saint", "My Favorite Martian" are a few examples. Conversely, TV series based on movies, like 'Lassie' or 'Stargate SG-1' don't have connections to the movies that inspired them. Not even if they share certain actors playing roles in both, like Gary Burghoff as Radar O'Reilly in both the movie and TV versions of 'M*A*S*H'.

And when even just one actor gets replaced once it becomes a TV series, a movie can be disqualified from making the connection, as was the case with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when it became 'My Big Fat Greek Life'. Once John Corbett's character was replaced by another actor for the TV series, they became two separate worlds.

So for the most part, Toobworld and the "Cineverse" (as Craig Shaw Gardner calls it) remain separate from each other. There are thousands of movies out there which will never have any connection to the TV Universe.

But there have always been a few of those films which I've always wanted to pull into the embrace of TV Land. "The Shootist" starring John Wayne is one such movie. And "The Poseidon Adventure" is another.

And tomorrow night, Sunday, November 20, Toobworld will finally get its own version of the story about the upside-down ocean liner.

With the advancements in technology over the last thirty years since the first version of Paul Gallico's book, this new adventure promises to be better when it comes to the special effects. As for the storyline, there will be some similarities - how could they remake "The Poseidon Adventure" and NOT include the classic shot of the passenger who falls from the floor down into the ceiling skylight? So of course we can look forward to that!

Like Gene Hackman before him, Rutger Hauer is a man of the cloth whose faith is challenged by the disaster. But this time out, Belle Rosen's husband Manny is already dead. And instead of being just a retired cop, Mike Rogo is now updated to working for Homeland Security.

Even the reason for the ocean liner to turn upside down has been revised, with terrorists replacing Mother Nature as the culprit. Since I haven't seen this 3 hour TV movie in advance, I don't know if acting in the name of God instead of an act of God itself rocks the clergyman's boat, but it definitely separates this new version from its cinematic forefather.

And like Martha Stewart would say, that's a good thing. Who wants to go to a concert to hear exact copies of the original songs? If you're going to remake a movie, I want variations that make the return trip worthwhile. Or else, why bother?

So my memories of the original version of "The Poseidon Adventure" - and I LOVED that movie when it came out! - will not be clouded by, nor will they influence, my view of this new adaptation of the book. Come 8 pm, EST on Sunday night, my VCR will be recording NBC's production of "The Poseidon Adventure" while I'm sleeping, so that on Monday morning I can enjoy Toobworld's latest version of a three hour tour.

A three hour tour.......

This won't be the only post I'll be making about "The Poseidon Adventure". Tomorrow, leading up to the movie's presentation, I'll share my wacked Toobworld viewpoint, which may be reminiscent of a controversial essay I wrote in the old Tubeworld Dynamic back in October of 2001.

Stay tuned........

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

"Chaos is out there, and he's lurking beyond the horizon."
Chris Stevens
'Northern Exposure'

Friday, November 18, 2005

PHILLY FLASH

Danny DeVito created one of the greatest TV characters of all time with Louie DePalma in 'Taxi'. In fact, the TV Guide chose Louie as THE greatest of all TV characters. And now he's finally coming back on a regular basis as a new character in 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia'. The show follows a group of friends who own a bar in Philadelphia and was one of the high points of my summer viewing season.

Creator-star Rob McElhenney, was excited by the news. "When John gave me the news that Danny agreed to join the show, I thought it was a joke," McElhenney says. "Getting the news from FX that our show got a second season pickup was fantastic. Getting the news that Danny has signed on to co-star feels like we just hit the lottery."

DeVito will play the father of Dennis and Sweet Dee in ten episodes. The character is a highly successful contractor who moves from his cushy suburban home back to the city, in an effort to recapture his youth and spend more time with his kids.

I think the casting of DeVito is a brilliant idea. ("Brilliant!") But I question the connection for his character. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the show or not, (It only averaged about 1.1 million viewers, which I suppose is good for cable?), but I just can't buy into the idea that DeVito shares any genetic stuff with Dennis and Sweet Dee.

Now, if they were to announce that he was in fact the biological father of the character Charlie..... I'd buy THAT for a dollar!

But I am glad he's coming on board the show, so that more people might sample the show and come around to my way of thinking that 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' is the true heir to 'Seinfeld'.

As FX President John Landgraf said, "Danny's return to regular series television in 'Sunny' speaks volumes about the quality of the show and the talents of the creative team behind it."

'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' returns in June of 2006.

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

iCSI

We've got another bleeder......

From Zap2It.com and The New York Daily News:

CBS, which has beefed up its web content considerably this season, will take another step toward bridging the online and on-screen worlds with next week's "CSI: Miami."

Following the broadcast of Monday's (Nov. 21) episode, the network will unveil a "bonus scene" that will affect events on the show for the remainder of the season. But viewers will have to go to CBS.com to see it. The segment is sponsored by Hummer, which is the maker of the vehicles Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his team all drive....

The extra scene will be posted at 11 p.m. ET Monday and will feature (according to producer Ann Donohue) "a revelation that threatens to tear the team apart and will lead to a shocking conclusion at the end of our season."

Reporter Erica Sykes shares some information with Detective Ryan Wolfe that leads to an undercover investigation within the CSI lab. The primary story in the episode involves the CSI team tracking a group of criminals that are acting out the events of a violent video game called "Urban Hellraisers."

In a way, this is reminiscent of the experiment by the producers of 'Homicide: Life On The Street' which finally fused their two worlds of the TV shift and the online cybershift in an episode in the show's final season.

And we get a nice little addition to the TV Trivia with the video game. I'm sure "Urban Hellraisers" will be found in the stockings of all the good little boys and girls this holiday season in Toobworld.

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

"THE HILLS" ARE A LINK WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC TV

I don't have a clue what MTV's 'Laguna Beach' is, as far as TV shows go. (And yes. I am too lazy to look it up.)

I'm assuming it's one of them dang-fool so-called "reality" shows. And no matter what I may think of the genre, they still belong in the TV Universe. After all, if it wasn't part of Toobworld, then 'Yes, Dear' wouldn't have been able to make a connection with 'Big Brother'.

So now 'Laguna Beach' is spinning off a new show which will focus on L.C. aka Lauren Conrad. The cameras for 'The Hills' will tag along and record L.C.'s "adventures" as she goes to college in L.A. and gets an intern job at Teen Vogue.

I suppose hilarity will no doubt ensue.

Executive producer Tony DiSanto said, "The way I look at it is, 'The Hills' is to 'Laguna Beach' what 'Melrose Place' was to 'Beverly Hills, 90210'."

One can only hope that means Marcia Cross shows up and blows everything up real good.

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

"THE HOSTILE MOUSE"

Last Friday night I was on the amusement park pier in Santa Monica. (It was featured in an episode of 'Eyes' earlier this year.)

It was November 11. Veteran's Day.

Below me on the beach were 2060 little white crosses with candles flickering before them within red plastic cups which provided a blood-red glow after the sunset into the ocean.

Nearby there were also flag-draped coffins which were to be carried in the streets. People were reciting the sad long litany of those lost so far in this wasteful war.

I know the whole event got coverage on CNN the next day.

Sometimes I write up a blog entry and then save it for future publication on a specific day. (I've got a quick little piece ready to go for Thanksgiving on the theme of Hope, Faith, and Wonder.)

And I totally forgot that I was saving a remembrance for Veterans' Day; a tribute to a WWII vet who passed away in 2005. I should have brought it along with me on the trip to California.

So if I may, I'd like to share with you now this overdue honor.....
~~~~~

According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, approximately 1056 veterans of World War II pass away every day. So for this year's tribute on Veterans' Day (Remembrance Day in Canada), I'd like to tip my hat to one particular vet of the Big One in TV Land who must have passed away sometime after July of 2005.

Emil Peterson of Chicago, Illinois.

Based on appearance alone, Mr. Peterson was a meek little man: bald, bespectacled, and betrayed by a high-pitched, quavering voice. As he described himself, Mr. Peterson was a "spineless, wishy-washy pansy face."

In order to make up for the deficiencies in his character (and to help overcome his fears of old age, geese, and upholstery), Emil Peterson enlisted in the Marines when he was about eighteen. [It just might be that his drill instructor was 17 year old Hugh O'Brian.]

He served as both a cook and as a demolition expert. Peterson's finest hour in combat happened on April 12, 1943. The troops went into battle fortified by his stew. As far as Mr. Peterson was concerned, their victory that day could be attributed to his special recipe. (The shrapnel would which he received during the war may have occurred during that battle, but details were never revealed as to how he got it... or where it's located.)

Once the war ended, Mr. Peterson needed to find a new way to confront his anxieties, so he took up the sport of white-water rafting down the Colorado River. He must have gone on those adventures at least once a year, because he was confronted with his biggest fear back on the home-front once he married Doris - known on the pro wrestling circuit as the Masked Avenger of Death.

Even though Doris was a virago of epic proportions who blamed Emil for the troubles of the Middle East, Mr. Peterson had a deep-seated need to be henpecked by her. [I have no information as to whether or not she outlived him.]

Possible links for Mr. Peterson:
'McHale's Navy' - While in the Pacific during WWII, he might have been stationed on Taratuga, where he might have crossed paths with Naval Commander Quinton McHale and his crew.

'Jack Of All Trades' - Peterson might also have bee stationed on Palau Palau. That island had been the location for the legendary exploits of Jack Styles, Thomas Jefferson's spy against the Napoleon in the South Pacific nearly 150 years before.

'Cheers' - It is unknown if Emil and Doris had any children, but he might have had a cousin living in Boston by the name of Norman.

So here's to Emil Peterson, Leatherneck. If ever I wear that chocolate cake-scented perfume, I'll think of him.

And cake.

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby


"I'll have you know I was one of the best Marine cooks in the Pacific.
When the men ate my chipped beef on toast,
They volunteered for suicide missions."
Emil Peterson
'The Bob Newhart Show'

NOTES:
"Hostile Mouse' was the description offered up by director Paul Bogert to help actor John Fielder to get a handle on the role.

This tribute would not have been possible had it not been for the research done by Joey Green for his book "Hi, Bob!", for which he has my thanks.

THE HAT SQUAD: SHEREE NORTH

Sheree North passed away about two weeks ago. She was an actress whose roles seemed to personify those worldly women "of a certain age" who have seen too much; who exude a hard-edged sexiness that could border on the slatternly. For the most part, her characters were the kind of woman teenaged boys hope might take them under her wing and teach them the ways of the world; a charter member of The Mrs. Robinson League.

Maybe that's why she played quite a few women named Gloria - more in keeping with the movie role of Gena Rowland's, not with Sally Struthers' TV character.

Her two best known roles in TV guest spots played upon that perception - as Charlene McGuire in 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', and as Babs Kramer in 'Seinfeld'. [Her role as Dottie Wertz on 'Archie Bunker's Place' definitely filled the bill... and paid the bills while doing it!]

I always wished Ms. North could have made another appearance as Charlene once Ed Asner got the 'Lou Grant' spin-off. And for Toobworld's convenience, I wish she had been available to play the role when another script came along on 'MTM'. I think she may have been tied up with her role on 'Big Eddie', so Janis Paige stepped in. But it just wasn't the same without Sheree North.

As for Babs, I created a unified genealogy for several characters played by Kathleen Freeman which connected 'Seinfeld', 'Topper', 'Columbo' among other shows. Babs Kramer figured into that family tree as her illegitimate daughter by Cosmo Topper. [One day I'll rerun that article from the old Tubeworld Dynamic when the generic Kathleen Freeman character gets an honorary induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame.]

It's like Joni Mitchell sang, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." I just realized what a unique presence Sheree North brought to her roles and there's nobody else out there right now who can convey that world-weary allure. Who's waiting in the wings who can someday project that aura? Eva Longoria? Denise Richards? Mischa Barton?

I don't think so.

So here's to you, Ms. Sheree North. You will be missed.

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby

TV SERIES
"Bay City Blues" (1983) TV Series .... Lynn Holtz (1983)
"I'm a Big Girl Now" (1980) TV Series .... Edie McKendrick
"Big Eddie" (1975) TV Series .... Honey Smith

TV MINI-SERIES
"Women in White" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... Lisa Gordon

TV MOVIES
Dead On the Money (1991) (TV)
Jake Spanner, Private Eye (1989) (TV)
Are You My Mother? (1986) (TV) .... Madelyn
Scorned and Swindled (1984) (TV) .... Maxine Wagner
Legs (1983) (TV) .... Ida
A Christmas for Boomer (1979) (TV)
Portrait of a Stripper (1979) (TV) .... Sally Evers
Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979) (TV) .... Lettie Norman
A Real American Hero (1978) (TV) .... Carrie Todd
The Night They Took Miss Beautiful (1977) (TV) .... Layla Burden
Most Wanted (1976) (TV) .... Melissa Dawson
A Shadow in the Streets (1975) (TV) .... Gina Pulaski
The Whirlwind (1974) (TV)
Winter Kill (1974) (TV) .... Betty
Key West (1973) (TV) .... Brandi
Maneater (1973) (TV) .... Gloria Baron
Snatched (1973) (TV) .... Kim Sutter
Trouble Comes to Town (1973) (TV) .... Mrs. Murdock
Rolling Man (1972) (TV) .... Ruby
Code Name: Heraclitus (1967) (TV) .... Sally

TV PILOTS
Then Came Bronson (1969) (TV) .... Gloria Oresko

TV-RELATED FILMS
Madigan (1968) .... Jonesy

TELE-"HISTORICAL" ROLES
Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980) (TV) .... Gladys Baker
"The Great Adventure" playing "Agnes Lake" in episode: "Wild Bill Hickok - the Legend and the Man" (episode # 1.12) 3 January 1964

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Seinfeld" playing "Babs Kramer, Cosmo Kramer's Mother"
in episode: "The Finale: Part 1" (episode # 9.21) 14 May 1998
in episode: "The Switch" (episode # 6.11) 5 January 1995
"The Golden Girls" playing "Virginia Hollingsworth"
in episode: "Ebb Tide" (episode # 5.11) 7 December 1989
in episode: "Transplant" (episode # 1.4) 5 October 1985
"Hunter" playing "Dorothy Nickens" in episode: "Shield of Honor" (episode # 6.8) 2 December 1989
"Freddy's Nightmares" playing "Joyce Burton" in episode: "Bloodlines" (episode # 2.8) 26 November 1989
"Murder, She Wrote" playing "Norma Lewis" in episode: "No Laughing Murder" (episode # 3.18) 15 March 1987
"Matlock" playing "Alice Jenkins"
in episode: "The Don: Part 2" (episode # 1.7) 4 November 1986
in episode: "The Don: Part 1" (episode # 1.6) 28 October 1986
"Trapper John, M.D." playing "Tilly Whiteside" in episode: "The Unholy Ghost" (episode # 6.18) 10 March 1985
"Magnum, P.I." playing "Blanche Rafferty, Luther's Secretary" in episode: "The Return of Luther Gillis" (episode # 4.16) 16 February 1984
"Archie Bunker's Place" playing "Dotty Wertz"
in episode: "Barney and the Hooker" (episode # 1.13) 25 November 1979
in episode: "Archie and the Oldest Profession" (episode # 1.3) 7 October 1979
"Fantasy Island" playing "Julie" in episode: "The Prince/The Sheriff" (episode # 1.5) 11 February 1978
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "Adele Serkin" in episode: "Have I Got a Christmas for You" 16 December 1977
"Westside Medical" playing "Laurie"
in episode: "My Physician, My Friend: Part 2" (episode # 1.10) 18 August 1977
in episode: "My Physician, My Friend: Part 1" (episode # 1.9) 11 August 1977
"Baretta" playing "Amy" in episode: "Big Bad Charlie" (episode # 3.23) 30 March 1977
"Family" playing "Constance Hume" in episode: "On the First Day of Christmas" December 1976
"Marcus Welby, M.D." in episode: "How Do You Know What Hurts Me?" (episode # 7.16) 13 January 1976
"Medical Center" playing "Sylvia Ronston" in episode: "Half a Life" (episode # 6.23) 17 March 1975
"Mary Tyler Moore" playing "Charlene Maguire, Lou Grant's Girlfriend"
in episode: "The Shame of the Cities" (episode # 5.19) 25 January 1975
in episode: "Lou and That Woman" (episode # 5.4) 5 October 1974
"Wide World of Mystery" playing "Mrs. Swimmer" in episode: "The Cloning of Clifford Swimmer" 1 November 1974
"Barnaby Jones" playing "Roxy Morgan" in episode: "Forfeit by Death" (episode # 3.6) 15 October 1974
"Hawaii Five-O" playing "Doris Brown" in episode: "A Hawaiian Nightmare" (episode # 7.2) 17 September 1974
"Kojak" playing "Mrs. Giancana"
in episode: "The Chinatown Murders: Part 2" (episode # 2.2) 15 September 1974
in episode: "The Chinatown Murders: Part 1" (episode # 2.1) 15 September 1974
"Hec Ramsey" playing "Widow Helpinstall" in episode: "Dead Heat" (episode # 2.3) 3 February 1974
"Hawkins" in episode: "Murder in Movieland" (episode # 1.2) 2 October 1973
"Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law" playing "Mrs. Knight" in episode: "The Pool House" (episode # 3.3) 26 September 1973
"Kung Fu" playing "Noreen Gallagher" in episode: "The Third Man" (episode # 1.14) 26 April 1973
"McMillan and Wife" playing "Dr. Marion Voight" in episode: "No Hearts, No Flowers" (episode # 2.5) 14 January 1973
"Cannon" playing "Millie Carroll" in episode: "Stakeout" (episode # 2.5) 11 October 1972
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Bess Tapscott" in episode: "The Men That Corrupted Hadleyburg" (episode # 2.18) 27 January 1972
"Medical Center" playing "Karen Porter"
in episode: "Shock!: Part 2" (episode # 3.16) 5 January 1972
in episode: "Shock!: Part 1" (episode # 3.15) 29 December 1971
"The Smith Family" in episode: "Lost Lady" (episode # 2.4) 6 October 1971
"The Most Deadly Game" playing "Lottie" in episode: "Who Killed Kindness?" (episode # 1.5) 7 November 1970
"The Name of the Game" playing "Mrs. Palmer" in episode: "One of the Girls in Research" (episode # 2.25) 3 April 1970
"Here Come the Brides" playing "Felicia" in episode: "A Hard Card to Play" (episode # 1.5) 23 October 1968
"Mannix" playing "Rose Anderson" in episode: "Comes Up Roses" (episode # 2.2) 5 October 1968
"The Fugitive" playing "Willy" in episode: "The Walls of Night" (episode # 4.27) 4 April 1967
"The Iron Horse" playing "Alix" in episode: "A Dozen Ways to Kill a Man" (episode # 1.15) 19 December 1966
"The Big Valley" playing "Libby Mathews" in episode: "The Man From Nowhere" (episode # 2.9) 14 November 1966
"Run for Your Life" playing "Jeannie Lake" in episode: "The Day Time Stopped" (episode # 2.1) 12 September 1966
"The Virginian" playing "Della Saunders" in episode: "That Saunders Woman" (episode # 4.27) 30 March 1966
"The Loner" playing "Cora" in episode: "Escort for a Dead Man" (episode # 1.14) 18 December 1965
"The Fugitive" playing "Marianne Adams" in episode: "An Apple a Day" (episode # 3.8) 2 November 1965
"Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre" playing "Mary" in episode: "The Crime" (episode # 3.2) 22 September 1965
"Burke's Law" playing "Cleo Delaney" in episode: "Who Killed Rosie Sunset?" (episode # 2.19) 27 January 1965
"Burke's Law" playing "The Maharani of Kooshipoo" in episode: "Who Killed Davidian Jonas?" (episode # 2.15) 30 December 1964
"The Greatest Show on Earth" playing "Gloria" in episode: "This Train Don't Stop Till It Gets There" (episode # 1.28) 14 April 1964
"Ben Casey" playing "Gloria Cooper" in episode: "Dress My D Pretty" (episode # 3.28) 18 March 1964
"The Virginian" playing "Karen Anders" in episode: "Walk in Another's Footsteps" (episode # 2.24) 11 March 1964
"Breaking Point" in episode: "Don't Cry Baby, Don't Cry" (episode # 1.15) 30 December 1963
"The Eleventh Hour" playing "Peggy Lewis" in episode: "There Should Be an Outfit Called 'Families Anonymous'!" (episode # 2.11) 11 December 1963
"Burke's Law" playing "Myrtle 'Gigi' String" in episode: "Who Killed the Kind Doctor?" (episode # 1.10) 29 November 1963
"Gunsmoke" playing "Avis Fisher" in episode: "Lover Boy" (episode # 9.2) 5 October 1963
"Breaking Point" playing "Lisa Adams" in episode: "Solo for B-Flat Clarinet" (episode # 1.1) 16 September 1963
"Ben Casey" in episode: "For This Relief, Much Thanks" (episode # 3.1) 9 September 1963
"The Untouchables" playing "Claire Simmons" in episode: "Search for a Dead Man" (episode # 4.13) 1 January 1963
"Playhouse 90" playing "Suzy" in episode: "Trapeze" (episode # 2.3) 26 September 1957
"Shower of Stars" in episode: "Lend an Ear" (episode # 1.2) 28 October 1954

WHEN TOOBWORLD AND "MARS" COLLIDE

The concept of Toobworld takes it as a given that all TV shows already exist in that alternate universe; it's just a matter of coming up with theoretical "splainins" as to why they connect to other shows. But it is nice when we can learn of definitive proof that a particular series has officially linked to the other shows previously established to exist in Earth Prime-Time.

The guys who chronicle the crossovers via Tommy Westphall's mind (from 'St. Elsewhere') have discovered the link that brings 'Veronica Mars' to the dance. Click on the link "Tommy Westphall's Mind" to learn more about it.

With the link that's listed just above that, "Crossovers via Tommy Westphall", these fellow fanatics have catalogued the rich interplay that unites over 200 TV series. And that forms the backbone for the body of work that goes into Toobworld.

Where we differ is in interpretation. They strictly adhere to the premise that it all takes place only in Tommy Westphall's mind, and they accept only those shows which have made official crossovers.

For Toobworld, the TV Universe was created as a manifestation of Mankind's creative energies; following the examples set by Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague DeCamp, Marvin Kaye, and Craig Gardner Shaw, who explored the universes of mythology, Victorian literature, and B movies, respectively. As I said, it's all in there from TV; it's just a matter of time before it can be proven.

As for Tommy Westphall and that final scene from 'St. Elsewhere', we see it as a matter of interpretation. The series itself was the Reality; the "snowglobe scenario" was the fantasy of an autistic boy staring out a hospital window.

Still and all, Crossoverman and Smashsc have done incredible work over in those two links and I hope you check them out.

Congrats on catching the 'Veronica Mars' link, guys!

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

Thursday, November 17, 2005

SIXED UP

SkyOne has announced that 'The Prisoner could make a return after almost 40 years.

The executive producer will be Damien Timmer, who said that the new series would take "liberties with the original" and would not retain its arty feel. "Although it will be a radical reinvention, it will still be a heightened show," he added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4447216.stm

Coming soon after the unsurprising news that the re-imagined update of 'The Night Stalker' - which had stripped away everything that had given the original its unique character - had been cancelled, I get the feeling that this new version of Patrick McGoohan's classic will not get a warm "Well Come".

But, I'm a nut for the series, so I won't be unmutual. I'm willing to give the new version a chance.

But I know I won't be speaking for the majority..........

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

"Reject this false world of Number Two! Reject it NOW!"
Number Six
'The Prisoner' -
"Change Of Mind"
See what I mean?

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

AND MISS CONGENIALITY IS.....

This being Ye Olde Month of Sweeps, we are feasting rather than fasting when it comes to crossovers in just the first week alone.

Two other shows made interesting connections last week, and both of them linked to current talk shows.

First up was the "Joey And The Sex Tape" episode of the abysmal 'Joey'. In order to head off a spurned ex-girlfriend's threat to release said videotape, Joey had to apologize live on Ellen DeGeneres' show.

Meanwhile, Oprah's best friend Gayle King (I think her job description really is "Oprah's Best Friend"!) helped the four women of 'Hot Properties' get into the Big O's studio. This happened the night following 'Joey' during the episode "Waiting For Oprah". (There is some nice timing in that, since here in the Real World there has been a lot of press about Oprah's 20th anniversary on the air.)

Fictional characters appearing real talk shows has long been a tradition in Toobworld. Here are a few other examples:

'Cheers' - 'Tonight'
'Seinfeld' - 'Tonight', 'Today', 'Live With Regis And Kathie Lee'
'Here's Lucy' - 'Tonight'
'Will & Grace' - 'Today'
'The Nanny' - 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show'
'The Simpsons' - 'Live With Regis And Kathie Lee'

Now THAT's cilantro!

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK

Hi Gang! Hiya hiya hiya!

Your TV Universe Caretaker is back from a trip to the West Coast. So if people have been checking in, I apologize the blog hasn't been updated in a few days.

I'll be letting you in on the TV oriented activities from the trip over the next few days.

Meanwhile......

For the Crossover of the Week, it's a no-brainer: I've chosen the two-part storyline presented on the CBS procedurals 'CSI: Miami' and 'CSI: NY'.

Okay! That was easy. Let's all go out for pudding!

What? You want more? Feh. Okay.....

Henry Darius was a convicted serial killer in New York state. (If there be power in names, then he must have been foredoomed to be a serial killer. Despite the lofty meanings for both names, "Henry Darius" just sounds liek an excuse to be pummelled mercilessly in the schoolyard.)

But Darius had a secret that proved to be his ticket to freedom. Claiming that he also killed somebody down in Miami, the authorities flew him down Florida way so that he could lead them to the body. Darius sabotaged the plane and escaped when it crashed, so that he could continue his killing spree.

So the crossover was set into motion as Mac Taylor from the NY CSI of 'CSI: NY' reunited with Horation Caine of the Miami CSI on 'CSI: Miami', since Mac worked on the original case and knew the mind of Henry Darius.

When Darius took a hostage and returned to New York City, it was Horatio's turn to tag along. But this time it was due more to a promise he made to a young boy whose life had been upended by the Miami murders.

That's the meat of the crossover.

By the way, Horatio Caine will be the first character in the 'CSI' franchise to qualify for induction into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, having appeared on the original 'CSI', ''CSI: NY', and of course, starring in 'CSI: Miami'.

And he didn't have to expose his freckled butt to do it.

As for Mac Taylor, he'll never make it into any mathematical honor society. At the end of the second part, he makes the observation that Darius killed twelve people over 72 hours. But if you kept a running tally, you'll see that the number was fifteen.

So. Now that I've provided the meat of the crossover, now can I have my pudding?

BCnU!
Tele-Toby