There's going to be a spin-off series from 'Doctor Who' next year - 'Torchwood', which will star John Barrowman as the omnisexual Captain Jack Harkness, the 52nd Century adventurer who starred with the Doctor and Rose for the last five episodes of 'Doctor Who' last season.
But now comes word from the English newspaper The Sun that there will be another spin-off as well, one featuring Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 as himself. (They made a pilot once before, 'K-9 And Company', but which wasn't very successful.)
The BBC won't comment at this time, but Russell T. Davies, the writer who reinvigorated the 'Doctor Who' series, has said in the past that there are some other ideas floating about for spin-offs.
Here's how The Sun played out the story:
"Doctor Who's robot dog K9 and ex-sidekick Sarah Jane Smith are to get their own spin-off show, TV Biz can reveal.
We told how BBC bosses are bringing back K9 for an episode in the Timelord's new series. Now it has emerged that the pooch and Sarah Jane, played by Elizabeth Sladen, will also star together in their own children's series.
An insider said: 'It would have been a shame to put K9 back in his kennel, so we've come up with an idea for another drama. It's early days but K9 and Elizabeth Sladen are inseparable characters. There are loads of things we can do with 'Doctor Who'. It's one of the most popular shows on TV and viewers can't seem to get enough of it.' "
You'd think the English would remember that the character is named The Doctor; it's the show that's 'Doctor Who'. Why they would call him "Doctor Who" makes me think The Sun must be the British equivalent of the New York Post.
And if so, who can trust what they report? So I'll just wait for confirmation on this from other sources before I start celebrating.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
(Full disclosure: Sarah Jane Smith is my favorite of the Companions.)
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
THE HAT SQUAD: DANA REEVE
It's stories like this that make me question God's reasoning....
Dana Reeve, the widow of the American actor Christopher Reeve, has died at the age of 44, only 18 months after the death of her husband.
Mrs Reeve was a singer and actress who appeared on Broadway and in various films and television series. But she was best known as a campaigner for better treatments and possible cures for paralysis through the Christopher Reeve Foundation, named for the late "Superman" star.
She announced last August that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she had never smoked. She died last night.
Dana Reeve was born in New York City, the daughter of a cardiologist. She studied acting in California and married her husband in 1992, three years before the horseriding accident that left him as a quadriplegic.
She won much admiration for the support she gave to her husband until his death in October 2004 and continued to campaign for his foundation until her death. The foundation has distributed more than $60 million in research and personal grants.
The couple had a son, Will, who is now 13.
[From the Times Online]
Here's hoping Dana has been reunited with Chris, and my prayers and best wishes go out to their son, Will.
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
TV MOVIES
The Brooke Ellison Story (2004) (TV) .... English Professor
TV SERIES' RECURRING ROLES
"Oz"
- Works of Mercy (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- The Bill of Wrongs (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- Obituaries (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- A Cock and Balls Story (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
"Feds"
- Somebody's Lyin (1997) TV Episode .... Meg McClure
- Do No Harm (1997) TV Episode .... Meg Shelby
[More than likely this is the same character; Meg may have married or divorced and reverted to her maiden name between episodes.]
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
- The Faithful (2001) TV Episode .... Melanie Grasso
"Law & Order"
- Barter (1997) TV Episode .... Susan Tashjian
- By Hooker, by Crook (1990) TV Episode (as Dana Morosini) .... Camilla
[Thanks to the IMDb.com]
Dana Reeve, the widow of the American actor Christopher Reeve, has died at the age of 44, only 18 months after the death of her husband.
Mrs Reeve was a singer and actress who appeared on Broadway and in various films and television series. But she was best known as a campaigner for better treatments and possible cures for paralysis through the Christopher Reeve Foundation, named for the late "Superman" star.
She announced last August that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she had never smoked. She died last night.
Dana Reeve was born in New York City, the daughter of a cardiologist. She studied acting in California and married her husband in 1992, three years before the horseriding accident that left him as a quadriplegic.
She won much admiration for the support she gave to her husband until his death in October 2004 and continued to campaign for his foundation until her death. The foundation has distributed more than $60 million in research and personal grants.
The couple had a son, Will, who is now 13.
[From the Times Online]
Here's hoping Dana has been reunited with Chris, and my prayers and best wishes go out to their son, Will.
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
TV MOVIES
The Brooke Ellison Story (2004) (TV) .... English Professor
TV SERIES' RECURRING ROLES
"Oz"
- Works of Mercy (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- The Bill of Wrongs (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- Obituaries (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
- A Cock and Balls Story (2000) TV Episode .... Wendy Schultz
"Feds"
- Somebody's Lyin (1997) TV Episode .... Meg McClure
- Do No Harm (1997) TV Episode .... Meg Shelby
[More than likely this is the same character; Meg may have married or divorced and reverted to her maiden name between episodes.]
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
- The Faithful (2001) TV Episode .... Melanie Grasso
"Law & Order"
- Barter (1997) TV Episode .... Susan Tashjian
- By Hooker, by Crook (1990) TV Episode (as Dana Morosini) .... Camilla
[Thanks to the IMDb.com]
Monday, March 6, 2006
CROSSOVER OF THE WEEK!
It's probably not much of a surprise as to what the Crossover of the Week was....
But there was nothing really special about the crossover either. In this pilot episode, it had an air of been there/done that: This is the same set which was used by Dick Wolf's earlier attempt, 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury' (which I liked). And the atmosphere that Wolf was ham-handedly going for was better served in past productions by David E. Kelley.
Although the series doesn't carry the 'Law & Order' prefix as was also the case with 'Deadline', it does have stronger ties to the mothership of the franchise than that newspaper drama did. (All 'Deadline' had going for it was a tenuous link via the "New York Ledger" newspaper which is seen on occasion in the other shows.)
'Conviction' has Stephanie March reprising her 'SVU' character of Alexandra Cabot to be the ADA den mother to this habeus of young lawyers who are more involved in their personal issues than they are in the cases they prosecute.
Another link was forged by the quick cameo by Fred Dalton Thompson as the District Attorney, Arthur Branch. With his regular role on 'Law & Order', (which was also a regular gig on 'Trial by Jury'), and with guest appearances in the other shows in that Dick Wolf corner of the universe, it should be no surprise that D.A. Branch will be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame later this year as we salute 'Law & Order'.
At any rate, that fast on-and-off-stage cameo was just par for the course, because it's probably not much of a crossover. But like I said, no surprises are to be expected there.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
CONVICTION
&
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
&
LAW & ORDER
&
LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
&
LAW & ORDER
But there was nothing really special about the crossover either. In this pilot episode, it had an air of been there/done that: This is the same set which was used by Dick Wolf's earlier attempt, 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury' (which I liked). And the atmosphere that Wolf was ham-handedly going for was better served in past productions by David E. Kelley.
Although the series doesn't carry the 'Law & Order' prefix as was also the case with 'Deadline', it does have stronger ties to the mothership of the franchise than that newspaper drama did. (All 'Deadline' had going for it was a tenuous link via the "New York Ledger" newspaper which is seen on occasion in the other shows.)
'Conviction' has Stephanie March reprising her 'SVU' character of Alexandra Cabot to be the ADA den mother to this habeus of young lawyers who are more involved in their personal issues than they are in the cases they prosecute.
Another link was forged by the quick cameo by Fred Dalton Thompson as the District Attorney, Arthur Branch. With his regular role on 'Law & Order', (which was also a regular gig on 'Trial by Jury'), and with guest appearances in the other shows in that Dick Wolf corner of the universe, it should be no surprise that D.A. Branch will be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame later this year as we salute 'Law & Order'.
At any rate, that fast on-and-off-stage cameo was just par for the course, because it's probably not much of a crossover. But like I said, no surprises are to be expected there.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Sunday, March 5, 2006
MUSEUM PIECE
For the second time in three weeks, I went to the Museum of Television & Radio. When it gets to be this time of the year, I find I go more often as my yearly membership comes close to renewal time.
This trip I wanted to check out certain shows in connection to Don Knotts and Darren McGavin. Not just because they recently passed away, but because these have been shows I've always had on my "must check out" list.
As a member, I can choose four shows for one session, so I figured to split it evenly between both subjects. But I was less successful with Don Knotts. I wanted to see the premiere episode of 'The New Andy Griffith Show' in which Andy played Andy Sawyer, the new mayor of Greenwood, North Carolina.
But in that first episode, Goober and Emmett show up from Mayberry and they act like they've always known Andy Sawyer. And then Don Knotts shows up as an unnamed character, but by the way he's dressed and the way he talks and the fact that he calls Andy "Ange", you know it has to be Barney Fife!
Unfortunately, they didn't have that episode, so I watched a different one from that show just to get the feel of it. It was homespun, gentle humor, in a way a clone of the old 'Andy Griffith Show' (but with a wife and two kids). What dragged it down was co-star Anne Morgan Guilbert.
Don't get me wrong - I like her a lot in everything else I've seen her do. But her character was written as being so worn-down and depressing, I half expected her to fit in better in the rowboat of "An American Tragedy"!
Also in the guest cast of "TJ In The Strawberry Business" were Malcolm Atterbury as the town miser type, and a very young Willie Ames as the friend of Andy's son.
I'll have to find out if I can recommend that they track down that pilot episode. I think it's a more interesting episode for the collection with some televisual historical value!
I also came across an episode of 'Dobie Gillis' in which Don Knotts guest-starred as the father of Dobie's girl-friend. His wife was played by my second favorite TV character actress, Kathleen Freeman. (Ruth McDevitt holds first place in my heart!) And his daughter was played by Denise Alexander of 'General Hospital' fame. (She played Dr. Leslie Webber once upon a time.)
In "Rock-A-Bye Dobie", Knotts played Edmund Metzger, the curator of the County Museum, as though it was a run-up to his role as Mr. Limpet. He even had the same kind of glasses. Mr. Metzger was a meek milquetoast until he'd suddenly go into a paroxysm of nervous shock - usually right after his wife splashed water in his face.
As for McGavin, I picked out one of his starring roles and one of his many guest appearances. First up was 'The Outsider', a private eye loner role created by Roy Huggins who created 'Maverick' and who would go on to rework the private eye genre to better success with 'The Rockford Files'.
I never saw 'The Outsider' when I was growing up. Checking its schedule for its one year on the air, 1968, I see it played on Wednesday nights at 10 pm. For a 13 year old kid, I was probably already trundled off to bed, but even if I had stayed up, I'd have probably chosen to watch Jonathan Winters' show.
What surprised me most was that it was an NBC show. Everything about it had the feel of an ABC program. This episode was titled "As Cold As Ashes" with Keye Luke as the guest star. It had an interesting blend of real world history with Toobworld which I'll write up soon.
The other show was an episode of 'The Bold Ones - The Lawyers' which I've wanted to see ever since first reading about it in TV Guide back in the early 1970s. In "The Invasion Of Kevin Ireland", McGavin played an executive who lost his job; wasn't too worried about getting back into the game at some other corporation; but then found it impossible to get employment anywhere save finally as a trucker. He lost his cars, lost his home, even lost his wife to divorce, and it turned out that his problems stemmed from a report on him by an investigative firm that was full of factual errors.
I already knew how it was going to end, but the impact was not lessened by that. It was a pretty powerful performance by McGavin.
(Thanks to Richard Holbrooke of the Museum for helping me get to see that episode. It's available only upon request by a member of the MT&R and he put it through under his name since I had already closed out my checklist on the computer. But it was also filed wrong - McGavin's character is named "Ireland" in the title, but the computer had it as "Iveland". I forgot to remind them to fix that.....)
When I was there on the Sixteenth, I saw three shows with no particular agenda in mind. First up was 'Carson's Cellar' from Thanksgiving time, 1953 starring Johnny Carson. His guest was Jack Bailey of 'Queen For A Day'. It was the most cheapjack set you could imagine and the script was pretty slapdash in its idea of humor, but you could see the energy radiating from Carson.
Then there was episode 5 of "Lorna Doone" on 'Once Upon A Classic' (hosted by Bill Bixby). I chose this out of sequence episode from 1976 because Patrick Troughton, my favorite of the time-traveling Doctors, was in the cast as Councillor Doone. He was practically unrecognizable in the grizzled, bushy beard he sported.
I also watched the first episode of 'Coronet Blue' again. This was in error, as I wanted to see something new from this show, (I must have clicked when I should have scrolled!), but "A Time To Be Born" was still enjoyable. There's a great crossover reference to another one of Herbert Brodkin's productions, 'The Nurses', in the use of Alden Hospital, and Frank Converse did a great job with this character.
I just wish there had been a way to wrap this mystery series up so that we could have found out exactly what was the meaning behind the phrase "Coronet Blue". I think it still could be done as part of an episode in some other TV series, using clips from the old show to accentuate what transpires in the present.
I wrote about this idea back in my old website "The Tubeworld Dynamic", but it got dashed with cold water by Tod Goldberg. But I think he's wrong; I think it could still work, especially with the use of clips intercut into the modern update of the story. This type of thing worked once before with an episode of 'Murder, She Wrote' which continued the story from an old film noir.
One thing that struck me while watching it this time around was that there is some kind of similarity in features between the young Frank Converse and Mark Valley, formerly of 'Keen Eddie' and now in 'Boston Legal'. And that got me thinking that unless the character has already been on 'BL', maybe Converse should play the father of Brad Chase.
And it's just wild enough of an idea for a show like 'Boston Legal' that maybe Brad's father turns out be Mark Alden of 'Coronet Blue'!
I realize now that I never did get around to writing up my experience while in California of visiting the Los Angeles site for the Museum of Television and Radio.
What I saw:
'Maverick' - "The Quick And The Dead" which featured Maverick's encounter with Doc Holliday.
'Doctor Who' - "Attack Of The Cybermen" (episode one). This had a nice reference back to the very first 'Doctor Who' story, "An Unearthly Child", as the Sixth Doctor and Peri landed in I.M. Foreman's junkyard. It also tied in to a Fifth Doctor adventure, "Revenge Of The Daleks" with an appearance by the character of Lytton.
And then I watched the pilot episode of 'The Green Hornet', as the guest star was Lloyd Bochner who had passed away just before my trip West.
As for the museum itself, I prefer the NYC version. The computers have been updated (It may have since been updated at the LA branch as well.), and the room in which you can watch at the consoles is more private and has darker lighting so that you can focus on your choices better.
Plus I prefer elevators to long, rising slopes to walk up!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
This trip I wanted to check out certain shows in connection to Don Knotts and Darren McGavin. Not just because they recently passed away, but because these have been shows I've always had on my "must check out" list.
As a member, I can choose four shows for one session, so I figured to split it evenly between both subjects. But I was less successful with Don Knotts. I wanted to see the premiere episode of 'The New Andy Griffith Show' in which Andy played Andy Sawyer, the new mayor of Greenwood, North Carolina.
But in that first episode, Goober and Emmett show up from Mayberry and they act like they've always known Andy Sawyer. And then Don Knotts shows up as an unnamed character, but by the way he's dressed and the way he talks and the fact that he calls Andy "Ange", you know it has to be Barney Fife!
Unfortunately, they didn't have that episode, so I watched a different one from that show just to get the feel of it. It was homespun, gentle humor, in a way a clone of the old 'Andy Griffith Show' (but with a wife and two kids). What dragged it down was co-star Anne Morgan Guilbert.
Don't get me wrong - I like her a lot in everything else I've seen her do. But her character was written as being so worn-down and depressing, I half expected her to fit in better in the rowboat of "An American Tragedy"!
Also in the guest cast of "TJ In The Strawberry Business" were Malcolm Atterbury as the town miser type, and a very young Willie Ames as the friend of Andy's son.
I'll have to find out if I can recommend that they track down that pilot episode. I think it's a more interesting episode for the collection with some televisual historical value!
I also came across an episode of 'Dobie Gillis' in which Don Knotts guest-starred as the father of Dobie's girl-friend. His wife was played by my second favorite TV character actress, Kathleen Freeman. (Ruth McDevitt holds first place in my heart!) And his daughter was played by Denise Alexander of 'General Hospital' fame. (She played Dr. Leslie Webber once upon a time.)
In "Rock-A-Bye Dobie", Knotts played Edmund Metzger, the curator of the County Museum, as though it was a run-up to his role as Mr. Limpet. He even had the same kind of glasses. Mr. Metzger was a meek milquetoast until he'd suddenly go into a paroxysm of nervous shock - usually right after his wife splashed water in his face.
As for McGavin, I picked out one of his starring roles and one of his many guest appearances. First up was 'The Outsider', a private eye loner role created by Roy Huggins who created 'Maverick' and who would go on to rework the private eye genre to better success with 'The Rockford Files'.
I never saw 'The Outsider' when I was growing up. Checking its schedule for its one year on the air, 1968, I see it played on Wednesday nights at 10 pm. For a 13 year old kid, I was probably already trundled off to bed, but even if I had stayed up, I'd have probably chosen to watch Jonathan Winters' show.
What surprised me most was that it was an NBC show. Everything about it had the feel of an ABC program. This episode was titled "As Cold As Ashes" with Keye Luke as the guest star. It had an interesting blend of real world history with Toobworld which I'll write up soon.
The other show was an episode of 'The Bold Ones - The Lawyers' which I've wanted to see ever since first reading about it in TV Guide back in the early 1970s. In "The Invasion Of Kevin Ireland", McGavin played an executive who lost his job; wasn't too worried about getting back into the game at some other corporation; but then found it impossible to get employment anywhere save finally as a trucker. He lost his cars, lost his home, even lost his wife to divorce, and it turned out that his problems stemmed from a report on him by an investigative firm that was full of factual errors.
I already knew how it was going to end, but the impact was not lessened by that. It was a pretty powerful performance by McGavin.
(Thanks to Richard Holbrooke of the Museum for helping me get to see that episode. It's available only upon request by a member of the MT&R and he put it through under his name since I had already closed out my checklist on the computer. But it was also filed wrong - McGavin's character is named "Ireland" in the title, but the computer had it as "Iveland". I forgot to remind them to fix that.....)
When I was there on the Sixteenth, I saw three shows with no particular agenda in mind. First up was 'Carson's Cellar' from Thanksgiving time, 1953 starring Johnny Carson. His guest was Jack Bailey of 'Queen For A Day'. It was the most cheapjack set you could imagine and the script was pretty slapdash in its idea of humor, but you could see the energy radiating from Carson.
Then there was episode 5 of "Lorna Doone" on 'Once Upon A Classic' (hosted by Bill Bixby). I chose this out of sequence episode from 1976 because Patrick Troughton, my favorite of the time-traveling Doctors, was in the cast as Councillor Doone. He was practically unrecognizable in the grizzled, bushy beard he sported.
I also watched the first episode of 'Coronet Blue' again. This was in error, as I wanted to see something new from this show, (I must have clicked when I should have scrolled!), but "A Time To Be Born" was still enjoyable. There's a great crossover reference to another one of Herbert Brodkin's productions, 'The Nurses', in the use of Alden Hospital, and Frank Converse did a great job with this character.
I just wish there had been a way to wrap this mystery series up so that we could have found out exactly what was the meaning behind the phrase "Coronet Blue". I think it still could be done as part of an episode in some other TV series, using clips from the old show to accentuate what transpires in the present.
I wrote about this idea back in my old website "The Tubeworld Dynamic", but it got dashed with cold water by Tod Goldberg. But I think he's wrong; I think it could still work, especially with the use of clips intercut into the modern update of the story. This type of thing worked once before with an episode of 'Murder, She Wrote' which continued the story from an old film noir.
One thing that struck me while watching it this time around was that there is some kind of similarity in features between the young Frank Converse and Mark Valley, formerly of 'Keen Eddie' and now in 'Boston Legal'. And that got me thinking that unless the character has already been on 'BL', maybe Converse should play the father of Brad Chase.
And it's just wild enough of an idea for a show like 'Boston Legal' that maybe Brad's father turns out be Mark Alden of 'Coronet Blue'!
I realize now that I never did get around to writing up my experience while in California of visiting the Los Angeles site for the Museum of Television and Radio.
What I saw:
'Maverick' - "The Quick And The Dead" which featured Maverick's encounter with Doc Holliday.
'Doctor Who' - "Attack Of The Cybermen" (episode one). This had a nice reference back to the very first 'Doctor Who' story, "An Unearthly Child", as the Sixth Doctor and Peri landed in I.M. Foreman's junkyard. It also tied in to a Fifth Doctor adventure, "Revenge Of The Daleks" with an appearance by the character of Lytton.
And then I watched the pilot episode of 'The Green Hornet', as the guest star was Lloyd Bochner who had passed away just before my trip West.
As for the museum itself, I prefer the NYC version. The computers have been updated (It may have since been updated at the LA branch as well.), and the room in which you can watch at the consoles is more private and has darker lighting so that you can focus on your choices better.
Plus I prefer elevators to long, rising slopes to walk up!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, March 4, 2006
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
What good is having a blog about TV if you can't use it to trumpet the upcoming work of friends in the business?
Thomas J. O'Leary, who played "The Phantom Of The Opera" on Broadway, has moved out to the City of Angels to try his hand at the work to be had out there.
Here's a little heads-up he sent along regarding this coming Monday:
My first TV audition in LA actually yielded a job! I have a cute scene in the first half hour of this Monday night's episode of Related, an hour-long show on the WB channel that's about four sisters growing up in Manhattan -- sort of a toned-down version of Sex in the City.
I play the role of Mark, of Mark and Mike's Catering Service. We have a short and, maybe, funny scene with one of the sisters. You can always get more info on the show at tv.com.
Enjoy! --Tom
Tom has played a psychiatrist on 'Law & Order', and appeared as himself - in "Phantom" garb - to do an outro for 'Wheel Of Fortune' during one of their Broadway weeks. (That was about five or six years ago, I think.)
So this will "mark" my first time watching 'Related'. I should have done it sooner if I'm ever going to sample all the offerings that go into the fabric of the TV Universe. But better late than never, and at least I'll have one good reason to enjoy the experience!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thomas J. O'Leary, who played "The Phantom Of The Opera" on Broadway, has moved out to the City of Angels to try his hand at the work to be had out there.
Here's a little heads-up he sent along regarding this coming Monday:
My first TV audition in LA actually yielded a job! I have a cute scene in the first half hour of this Monday night's episode of Related, an hour-long show on the WB channel that's about four sisters growing up in Manhattan -- sort of a toned-down version of Sex in the City.
I play the role of Mark, of Mark and Mike's Catering Service. We have a short and, maybe, funny scene with one of the sisters. You can always get more info on the show at tv.com.
MONDAY, MARCH 6TH, AT 9 P.M.
ROLE OF "MARK"
ON THE WB SHOW, 'RELATED'
Enjoy! --Tom
Tom has played a psychiatrist on 'Law & Order', and appeared as himself - in "Phantom" garb - to do an outro for 'Wheel Of Fortune' during one of their Broadway weeks. (That was about five or six years ago, I think.)
So this will "mark" my first time watching 'Related'. I should have done it sooner if I'm ever going to sample all the offerings that go into the fabric of the TV Universe. But better late than never, and at least I'll have one good reason to enjoy the experience!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
WISH-CRAFT: 'THE WEST WING' FINALE
Several former stars of NBC's 'The West Wing' will make cameo appearances for the show's final segments, including the Emmy-nominated Rob Lowe, Mary-Louise Parker, Anna Deavere Smith, Emily Proctor, Marlee Matlin, Gary Cole, Tim Matheson, Timothy Busfield and Annabeth Gish.
Maybe it's because they're not considered "stars", but I hope this list doesn't mean we won't be seeing Nina Siemaszko Elizabeth Moss in the run-up to the finale as well. As the Bartlet daughters Ellie and Zoey, respectively, I would have thought that in the final days of their father's administration they'd both be there - if just for the obligatory photo op sessions which will end up in the Bartlet Library.
Speaking of the Bartlet family, I just wish we got the chance to see President Bartlet's mentioned but never seen brother. A great opportunity for storylines was squandered when he never showed up on the series. We didn't necessarily have to have another Moon Reagan or Billy Carter or Roger Clinton, but surely something could have developed by his presence in the White House.
There's another reason we should be seeing Zoey again - where in Sam Hill (or rather, Capitol Hill) has Charlie Young been for most of this season? He still works in 'The West Wing', and that's the name that the show bears, so let's get back to the people we know who still work there!
I also hope we'll see Allison Smith one last time. I would think that as Leo McGarry's daughter, Mallory O'Brien might put in an appearance in tribute to her father's memory. It would also be nice if this sad event brought her back into contact with the returning Sam Seaborn; I always had hopes for that relationship.
Two other names I'm hoping will show before it's all over - Lily Tomlin and Roger Rees. Surely Debbie Fiderer has to be involved, as she is the President's personal secretary. But I'd also like the one last chance to see British Ambassador Lord John Marbury bound into the room half-crocked to pay his respects to the memory of Leo, a wonderful butler.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Maybe it's because they're not considered "stars", but I hope this list doesn't mean we won't be seeing Nina Siemaszko Elizabeth Moss in the run-up to the finale as well. As the Bartlet daughters Ellie and Zoey, respectively, I would have thought that in the final days of their father's administration they'd both be there - if just for the obligatory photo op sessions which will end up in the Bartlet Library.
Speaking of the Bartlet family, I just wish we got the chance to see President Bartlet's mentioned but never seen brother. A great opportunity for storylines was squandered when he never showed up on the series. We didn't necessarily have to have another Moon Reagan or Billy Carter or Roger Clinton, but surely something could have developed by his presence in the White House.
There's another reason we should be seeing Zoey again - where in Sam Hill (or rather, Capitol Hill) has Charlie Young been for most of this season? He still works in 'The West Wing', and that's the name that the show bears, so let's get back to the people we know who still work there!
I also hope we'll see Allison Smith one last time. I would think that as Leo McGarry's daughter, Mallory O'Brien might put in an appearance in tribute to her father's memory. It would also be nice if this sad event brought her back into contact with the returning Sam Seaborn; I always had hopes for that relationship.
Two other names I'm hoping will show before it's all over - Lily Tomlin and Roger Rees. Surely Debbie Fiderer has to be involved, as she is the President's personal secretary. But I'd also like the one last chance to see British Ambassador Lord John Marbury bound into the room half-crocked to pay his respects to the memory of Leo, a wonderful butler.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Friday, March 3, 2006
A FRIENDLY REMEMBRANCE
The Academy Awards, the Oscars, will be handed out Sunday night, and one of the films up for awards is George Clooney's production of "Good Night And Good Luck". Clooney co-wrote the script, co-stars in the picture, and directs the movie. "Good Night And Good Luck" is his look at a pivotal piece of Television history: Edward R. Murrow's confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy, played out over the airwaves on 'See It Now'.
David Strathairn has been nominated for Best Actor for his uncanny embodiment of the newsman Murrow. That his portrayal's only quibble could be that even though he nails the modulation in Murrow's voice but not its timbre shows that he really captured the essence of the man.
More than likely he'll lose to an actor playing another real-life figure - Philip Seymour Hoffman as "Capote", a role that is flashier and eye-catching and supposedly a risky one to have taken. Maybe so; I've seen how the Academy gestalt has voted in the past. But for my part, I think Clooney's production has done a better job in bringing an historical period, and the people who lived it, back to life.
Based on the movie, Clooney would seem to have a normal, healthy ego as he's willing to let the others, most notably Strathairn as Murrow, shine in the scenes in which he also appears as producer Fred Friendly. He understands the true meaning of the role he is playing, had he been nominated for this rather than for his work in "Syriana": he is supporting the lead.
But the contributions Friendly made in the battle against McCarthy's demagoguery in real life should not be discounted. His role was just as important as Murrow's. Murrow's face led the charge and was on the front lines on people's TV sets; Friendly marshaled the troops and the resources to back him up. And when the bleep inevitably hit the fan, even though they were successful in their goal, Friendly stood with Murrow to take the heat equally.
I'm bringing this up because today marks the eighth anniversary of Fred Friendly's death. I never met the man, but my brother did in 1988-89, when Bill was going to Columbia for his master's in journalism.
To mark his passing, I'd like to share a few paragraphs from his obituary in the New York Times, written by Eric Pace:
As a CBS News producer, Mr. Friendly and his longtime partner, Edward R. Murrow, virtually invented the news documentary on television, pioneering such techniques as the use of original film clips, live, unrehearsed interviews, and the use of field producers who supervised reporting on location. He won 10 Peabody Awards and numerous other prizes for television journalism.
A big, imposing man who hurled ideas and opinions around like Olympian thunderbolts, Mr. Friendly, as both producer and president of CBS News, stood at the center of some of the most influential and contentious moments in the early history of television journalism. His work included the best-remembered documentary ever produced, Mr. Murrow's dismantling of Senator Joseph McCarthy and his demagogic anti-Communist campaign inside the United States Government.
He also produced Mr. Murrow's other groundbreaking documentaries including ''Harvest of Shame'' in 1960, an expose on the hardships of migrant workers.
Later, as president of CBS News from 1964 to 1966, he clashed frequently with the network's management over his efforts to get more news on the air. His often caustic criticisms of what he maintained was the television networks' lack of commitment to quality news coverage continued through the years.
''TV is bigger than any story it reports,'' he said in a 1966 interview. ''It's the greatest teaching tool since the printing press. It will determine nothing less than what kind of people we are. So if TV exists now only for the sake of a buck, somebody's going to have to change that.''
In his post-CBS career, as a professor at Columbia University and a writer on television affairs, Mr. Friendly was a forceful defender of the First Amendment and argued in favor of fairness and integrity in electronic news coverage. As broadcast consultant to the Ford Foundation on television, he strove to improve news coverage by public television stations.
- ERIC PACE
THE NEW YORK TIMES
3/05/1998
As "Good Night And Good Luck" heads towards the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't just Murrow that was remembered.
BCnU......
Tele-Toby
David Strathairn has been nominated for Best Actor for his uncanny embodiment of the newsman Murrow. That his portrayal's only quibble could be that even though he nails the modulation in Murrow's voice but not its timbre shows that he really captured the essence of the man.
More than likely he'll lose to an actor playing another real-life figure - Philip Seymour Hoffman as "Capote", a role that is flashier and eye-catching and supposedly a risky one to have taken. Maybe so; I've seen how the Academy gestalt has voted in the past. But for my part, I think Clooney's production has done a better job in bringing an historical period, and the people who lived it, back to life.
Based on the movie, Clooney would seem to have a normal, healthy ego as he's willing to let the others, most notably Strathairn as Murrow, shine in the scenes in which he also appears as producer Fred Friendly. He understands the true meaning of the role he is playing, had he been nominated for this rather than for his work in "Syriana": he is supporting the lead.
But the contributions Friendly made in the battle against McCarthy's demagoguery in real life should not be discounted. His role was just as important as Murrow's. Murrow's face led the charge and was on the front lines on people's TV sets; Friendly marshaled the troops and the resources to back him up. And when the bleep inevitably hit the fan, even though they were successful in their goal, Friendly stood with Murrow to take the heat equally.
I'm bringing this up because today marks the eighth anniversary of Fred Friendly's death. I never met the man, but my brother did in 1988-89, when Bill was going to Columbia for his master's in journalism.
To mark his passing, I'd like to share a few paragraphs from his obituary in the New York Times, written by Eric Pace:
As a CBS News producer, Mr. Friendly and his longtime partner, Edward R. Murrow, virtually invented the news documentary on television, pioneering such techniques as the use of original film clips, live, unrehearsed interviews, and the use of field producers who supervised reporting on location. He won 10 Peabody Awards and numerous other prizes for television journalism.
A big, imposing man who hurled ideas and opinions around like Olympian thunderbolts, Mr. Friendly, as both producer and president of CBS News, stood at the center of some of the most influential and contentious moments in the early history of television journalism. His work included the best-remembered documentary ever produced, Mr. Murrow's dismantling of Senator Joseph McCarthy and his demagogic anti-Communist campaign inside the United States Government.
He also produced Mr. Murrow's other groundbreaking documentaries including ''Harvest of Shame'' in 1960, an expose on the hardships of migrant workers.
Later, as president of CBS News from 1964 to 1966, he clashed frequently with the network's management over his efforts to get more news on the air. His often caustic criticisms of what he maintained was the television networks' lack of commitment to quality news coverage continued through the years.
''TV is bigger than any story it reports,'' he said in a 1966 interview. ''It's the greatest teaching tool since the printing press. It will determine nothing less than what kind of people we are. So if TV exists now only for the sake of a buck, somebody's going to have to change that.''
In his post-CBS career, as a professor at Columbia University and a writer on television affairs, Mr. Friendly was a forceful defender of the First Amendment and argued in favor of fairness and integrity in electronic news coverage. As broadcast consultant to the Ford Foundation on television, he strove to improve news coverage by public television stations.
- ERIC PACE
THE NEW YORK TIMES
3/05/1998
As "Good Night And Good Luck" heads towards the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't just Murrow that was remembered.
BCnU......
Tele-Toby
"LOST" IN THOUGHT
I've often (too often?) stated that one of the basic tenets of Toobworld is that life continues in the TV Universe even when we can't view it. During the commercials, after cancellation, and even before a series is first broadcast.
And it's always nice when somebody else echoes that sentiment.
This is from "Feathers McGraw", a poster at 'The Fuselage' which is the official bulletin board for fans of 'Lost':
*I always hope that they are exploring off-camera. I hope Kate at least took all of the flashlights. I would hope that they at least opened all the doors! *
Feathers was referring to the third Dharma Initiative hatch discovered by Claire, Kate, and Rousseau in this week's episode "Maternity Leave".
I second the suggestion, and would only add that sooner or later I wish the characters would all just sit around the campfire and share the bits of knowledge that they each have. Kate should tell them all about the fake beard and filthy clothes found in that hatch; Charlie, Locke, and Mr. Eko should all tell about their encounters with the "monster"; Jack and Sawyer should describe Alex so that Claire might tell if it was the girl from her memories, etc.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
And it's always nice when somebody else echoes that sentiment.
This is from "Feathers McGraw", a poster at 'The Fuselage' which is the official bulletin board for fans of 'Lost':
*I always hope that they are exploring off-camera. I hope Kate at least took all of the flashlights. I would hope that they at least opened all the doors! *
Feathers was referring to the third Dharma Initiative hatch discovered by Claire, Kate, and Rousseau in this week's episode "Maternity Leave".
I second the suggestion, and would only add that sooner or later I wish the characters would all just sit around the campfire and share the bits of knowledge that they each have. Kate should tell them all about the fake beard and filthy clothes found in that hatch; Charlie, Locke, and Mr. Eko should all tell about their encounters with the "monster"; Jack and Sawyer should describe Alex so that Claire might tell if it was the girl from her memories, etc.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
A SPRINKLING OF JIMMIES
Before he was seen skipping down the woodland path in the first episode of 'H.R. Pufnstuf', we knew nothing about the earlier life of Jimmy; we didn't even know his last name! (According to the 1970 movie version, "Pufnstuf", Jimmy was having a bad day at school; getting kicked out of the school band by the witch of a band director.)
And once he was whisked off to Living Island by Witchiepoo's boat, we never learned anything more about his past life back home in England.
I'd like to make the suggestion that his name was Jimmy Fulton.
In 1967, Jack Wild played "Jimmy Fulton" in a two-part episode of 'Z Cars': "You Want 'Em, You Get 'Em". I'm still searching for details about the story, but according to the BBC Online archive, the episode no longer exists. Its tape was probably wiped clean like so many episodes of 'Doctor Who'.
"Auntie Beeb" was a right bitch back then.
So far I've only found an extensive cast list courtesy of the IMDb.com and this summary from TVTome.com:
"DCS Miller has forced DI Hudson, under the threat of being sent back to a little desk job at H.Q., to tell him about an armed attempt to 'knock off' a prison van and release its occupant."
In the cast listing, Jill Riddick is listed as "Marilyn Fulton", and Barry Linehan played "Arthur Fulton". Since Linehan was born in 1925, and Ms. Riddick was one of the three children in 'Not In Front Of The Children' in 1970, I'm assuming Marilyn was Jimmy's sister and Arthur was their father.
Perhaps Jimmy knew something, saw something in connection to the attempted hijacking of the prison van; maybe the family was being held hostage by those involved.
Unless Jimmy Fulton died at the end of that two-parter, I see no reason why he can't be the same character to be found later hanging out with H.R. Pufnstuf and Ludicrous Lion. Even if he had been leading a life of crime, the supposition could apply; juvenile delinquents can mend their ways.
Let's say Jimmy Fulton was in trouble with the Law, and Detective Chief Inspector Charlie Barlow nicked him for it. There's still a two year stretch where he could have served his time in a juvenile hall, giving him plenty of time to be out gamboling in the glade.
And if he had been represented by Horace Rumpole down at the Old Bailey, chances are good he'd have served even less time, if at all.
If Jimmy Fulton was a street urchin-thief, that could splain how he came into possession of the magically alive flute named Freddie. But from wherever Jimmy may have filched the flute, Freddie must have been glad to be free of the place - from the first moment we saw them together in 'H.R. Pufnstuf', Jimmy and Freddie were already fast friends.
Maybe Freddie just liked the way Jimmy blew him......
Sorry. I couldn't resist.
So. If Jimmy is the same character in both shows, do you know what this means? 'Z Cars' can be linked to 'CHiPs'!
It's twue! It's twue! In an episode of 'CHiPs', Mayor H.R. Pufnstuf had traveled to America from Living Island and was pulled over by Jon and Ponch for driving without a license. And it had to be the REAL H.R. Pufnstuf and not some guy in a suit, because in the real world the guy in the suit (Robert Gamonet) only provided the bodily movements; Lennie Weinrib supplied the vocals. Here we had both in the same package and so therefore it's the real deal.
And with all the connections to other shows made possible by members of the League of Themselves, especially Milton Berle, 'H.R. Pufnstuf' and 'Z Cars' can be officially considered linked in the TV Universe, and not just floating about randomly in the cosmos.
I KNEW you knew that.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
And once he was whisked off to Living Island by Witchiepoo's boat, we never learned anything more about his past life back home in England.
I'd like to make the suggestion that his name was Jimmy Fulton.
In 1967, Jack Wild played "Jimmy Fulton" in a two-part episode of 'Z Cars': "You Want 'Em, You Get 'Em". I'm still searching for details about the story, but according to the BBC Online archive, the episode no longer exists. Its tape was probably wiped clean like so many episodes of 'Doctor Who'.
"Auntie Beeb" was a right bitch back then.
So far I've only found an extensive cast list courtesy of the IMDb.com and this summary from TVTome.com:
"DCS Miller has forced DI Hudson, under the threat of being sent back to a little desk job at H.Q., to tell him about an armed attempt to 'knock off' a prison van and release its occupant."
In the cast listing, Jill Riddick is listed as "Marilyn Fulton", and Barry Linehan played "Arthur Fulton". Since Linehan was born in 1925, and Ms. Riddick was one of the three children in 'Not In Front Of The Children' in 1970, I'm assuming Marilyn was Jimmy's sister and Arthur was their father.
Perhaps Jimmy knew something, saw something in connection to the attempted hijacking of the prison van; maybe the family was being held hostage by those involved.
Unless Jimmy Fulton died at the end of that two-parter, I see no reason why he can't be the same character to be found later hanging out with H.R. Pufnstuf and Ludicrous Lion. Even if he had been leading a life of crime, the supposition could apply; juvenile delinquents can mend their ways.
Let's say Jimmy Fulton was in trouble with the Law, and Detective Chief Inspector Charlie Barlow nicked him for it. There's still a two year stretch where he could have served his time in a juvenile hall, giving him plenty of time to be out gamboling in the glade.
And if he had been represented by Horace Rumpole down at the Old Bailey, chances are good he'd have served even less time, if at all.
If Jimmy Fulton was a street urchin-thief, that could splain how he came into possession of the magically alive flute named Freddie. But from wherever Jimmy may have filched the flute, Freddie must have been glad to be free of the place - from the first moment we saw them together in 'H.R. Pufnstuf', Jimmy and Freddie were already fast friends.
Maybe Freddie just liked the way Jimmy blew him......
Sorry. I couldn't resist.
So. If Jimmy is the same character in both shows, do you know what this means? 'Z Cars' can be linked to 'CHiPs'!
It's twue! It's twue! In an episode of 'CHiPs', Mayor H.R. Pufnstuf had traveled to America from Living Island and was pulled over by Jon and Ponch for driving without a license. And it had to be the REAL H.R. Pufnstuf and not some guy in a suit, because in the real world the guy in the suit (Robert Gamonet) only provided the bodily movements; Lennie Weinrib supplied the vocals. Here we had both in the same package and so therefore it's the real deal.
And with all the connections to other shows made possible by members of the League of Themselves, especially Milton Berle, 'H.R. Pufnstuf' and 'Z Cars' can be officially considered linked in the TV Universe, and not just floating about randomly in the cosmos.
I KNEW you knew that.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"Well, I'll be hornswaggled!"
H.R. Pufnstuf
'H.R. Pufnstuf'
H.R. Pufnstuf
'H.R. Pufnstuf'
Thursday, March 2, 2006
FAMILY FEUD: THE SKORZENYS
I think most people know that Chris Carter gives credit to 'The Night Stalker' as the inspiration for 'The X-Files'. And in the past decade and a half, that inspiration was then passed down to other shows - 'Strange Luck', 'Strange World', and currently, 'Supernatural', among others.
But it wasn't just the rumpled hero bucking against the system in a search for the dark Truth that has inspired other TV series. The villain of 'The Night Stalker' has also served as a "role model".
In 1987, the creators of 'Werewolf' named Chuck Connors' character "Janos Skorzeny" as a tip of the hat to the vampire played by Barry Atwater.
That's the Trueniverse story. Here's how it could have played out in Toobworld......
Captain Janos Skorzeny had been "embraced" into the werewolf bloodline by Nicholas Remy less than two thousand years ago. Skorzeny must have been from the Balkans, perhaps of coarse peasant stock. Unlike Remy, he didn't use the immortality he gained to better himself, but instead he became as hardened and depraved and as vile as the most rabid of beasts.
At the same time, the Family Skorzeny must have prospered in Romania over the centuries, so that by the end of the 19th Century, there was some fortune attached to the name as well as prominence.
However, the Skorzenys tempted Fate when they named their child after the legendary forebear who mysteriously disappeared more than a millennia before - Janos.
If the records cited in the TV movie 'The Night Stalker' wre to be taken at face value, Janos Skorzeny II was born in 1899, making him over seventy years of age when Kolchak confronted him in Las Vegas. But if Skorzeny's physiology was preserved at the time he was "embraced by the Kindred", then it must have happened back in the 1950s, as Skorzeny had the appearance of a man no older than in his mid to late fifties.
I may be wrong on this, but I think Janos Skorzeny had been a vampire for far longer than just a couple of decades, perhaps even a century or more. So I believe that he created his own paper trail back in 1899, choosing that date to be "born" with an eye to the future. He must have foreseen, perhaps after an encounter with Sherlock Holmes, that eventually everyone would be filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, and numbered.
So it's possible that he had already been a vampire for centuries, but not documented by the modern world until 1899. As such, it makes for interesting speculation that at some point in the long stretch of their "lives", the vampire Janos Skorzeny eventually crossed paths with the werewolf Janos Skorzeny. But even though they may have been bound by blood, each of them would have realized that their own existence in the shadows of the human world could be compromised by any notoriety attached to the other's identity.
If they did meet, I doubt that it would have been a very amicable family reunion.
And even though "Underworld" exists in the comic book and movie universes, perhaps this encounter sparked the long-running enmity between these two supernatural races.
It's interesting that within the framework of this theory, the character who was created first in the real world came into existence after his namesake in Toobworld.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
But it wasn't just the rumpled hero bucking against the system in a search for the dark Truth that has inspired other TV series. The villain of 'The Night Stalker' has also served as a "role model".
In 1987, the creators of 'Werewolf' named Chuck Connors' character "Janos Skorzeny" as a tip of the hat to the vampire played by Barry Atwater.
That's the Trueniverse story. Here's how it could have played out in Toobworld......
Captain Janos Skorzeny had been "embraced" into the werewolf bloodline by Nicholas Remy less than two thousand years ago. Skorzeny must have been from the Balkans, perhaps of coarse peasant stock. Unlike Remy, he didn't use the immortality he gained to better himself, but instead he became as hardened and depraved and as vile as the most rabid of beasts.
At the same time, the Family Skorzeny must have prospered in Romania over the centuries, so that by the end of the 19th Century, there was some fortune attached to the name as well as prominence.
However, the Skorzenys tempted Fate when they named their child after the legendary forebear who mysteriously disappeared more than a millennia before - Janos.
If the records cited in the TV movie 'The Night Stalker' wre to be taken at face value, Janos Skorzeny II was born in 1899, making him over seventy years of age when Kolchak confronted him in Las Vegas. But if Skorzeny's physiology was preserved at the time he was "embraced by the Kindred", then it must have happened back in the 1950s, as Skorzeny had the appearance of a man no older than in his mid to late fifties.
I may be wrong on this, but I think Janos Skorzeny had been a vampire for far longer than just a couple of decades, perhaps even a century or more. So I believe that he created his own paper trail back in 1899, choosing that date to be "born" with an eye to the future. He must have foreseen, perhaps after an encounter with Sherlock Holmes, that eventually everyone would be filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, and numbered.
So it's possible that he had already been a vampire for centuries, but not documented by the modern world until 1899. As such, it makes for interesting speculation that at some point in the long stretch of their "lives", the vampire Janos Skorzeny eventually crossed paths with the werewolf Janos Skorzeny. But even though they may have been bound by blood, each of them would have realized that their own existence in the shadows of the human world could be compromised by any notoriety attached to the other's identity.
If they did meet, I doubt that it would have been a very amicable family reunion.
And even though "Underworld" exists in the comic book and movie universes, perhaps this encounter sparked the long-running enmity between these two supernatural races.
It's interesting that within the framework of this theory, the character who was created first in the real world came into existence after his namesake in Toobworld.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
THE HAT SQUAD: JACK WILD
The BBC Online is reporting that Jack Wild died just after midnight at the age of 53. Wild had been suffering from mouth cancer and his tongue and voicebox had been completely removed. Nourishment had to be injected through a tube into his stomach.
At the age of 16, Jack Wild was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, having played the Artful Dodger in 'Oliver!'. It's a sad run-up to this coming Sunday's Oscar telecast, and I wonder if they'll be fitting him into the memorial segment.......
But for those of us who visit Toobworld, and especially those of us of a certain age, he'll be best remembered as Jimmy in 'H.R. Pufnstuf', that trippy puppet/live action sojourn on a real 'Fantasy Island' known as "Living Island".
We started off the week losing a Fife; we come to the end losing the friend of a flute......
The show has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, thanks to exposure on TV Land a few years back, and the release of a DVD boxed set. (The character of H.R. Pufnstuf will one day be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, most likely via the Birthday Honors.
Our memory of Jimmy will be a lasting image in tribute to Jack Wild.
I would hope the picture of him in his later years, which can be found at the BBC Online obituary, spurs people to either give up smoking or not take up the habit at all. (I would have thought it was a picture of Zelda Rubinstein had I not been informed otherwise......)
Said his friend and agent, Alex Jay: "Even in his drinking days, he was always very careful about being photographed with a drink or cigarette in his hand because he didn't want to encourage young people."
BCnU......
Tele-Toby
TV SERIES
"The Ravelled Thread" (1980) TV Series .... Gegor
"H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969) TV Series .... Jimmy
"Knock Three Times" (1968) TV Series .... Jack
TV MINI-SERIES
"Our Mutual Friend" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Charley Hexam
TV RELATED MOVIES
Pufnstuf (1970) .... Jimmy
TELE-HISTORY
"Unsolved Mysteries"
- Agatha Christie (1994) TV Episode .... Passerby
The Queen & the Welshman (1966) (TV) .... Edmund Tudor
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"The Onedin Line"
- A Woman Alone (1972) TV Episode .... Peter Thompson
- Cry of the Blackbird (1972) TV Episode .... Peter Thompson
"Thirty-Minute Theatre"
- First Confession (1969) TV Episode
"Z Cars"
- A Matter for Thought: Part 2 (1968) TV Episode .... Boy
- You Want 'Em - You Find 'Em: Part 2 (1967) TV Episode .... Jimmy Fulton
- You Want 'Em - You Find 'Em: Part 1 (1967) TV Episode .... Jimmy Fulton
"George and the Dragon"
- The Season of Goodwill (1966) TV Episode .... The Carrol Singer
"The Wednesday Play"
- A Game, Like, Only a Game (1966) TV Episode .... Peter
"Out of the Unknown"
- Come Buttercup, Come Daisy, Come...? (1965) TV Episode .... Danny
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
"Sigmund and the Sea Monsters"
- The Wild Weekend (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973) (TV) .... Himself
"The Red Skelton Show"
- Episode dated 15 December 1969 (1969) TV Episode .... Himself
[Thanks to the IMDb.com]
At the age of 16, Jack Wild was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, having played the Artful Dodger in 'Oliver!'. It's a sad run-up to this coming Sunday's Oscar telecast, and I wonder if they'll be fitting him into the memorial segment.......
But for those of us who visit Toobworld, and especially those of us of a certain age, he'll be best remembered as Jimmy in 'H.R. Pufnstuf', that trippy puppet/live action sojourn on a real 'Fantasy Island' known as "Living Island".
We started off the week losing a Fife; we come to the end losing the friend of a flute......
The show has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, thanks to exposure on TV Land a few years back, and the release of a DVD boxed set. (The character of H.R. Pufnstuf will one day be inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, most likely via the Birthday Honors.
Our memory of Jimmy will be a lasting image in tribute to Jack Wild.
I would hope the picture of him in his later years, which can be found at the BBC Online obituary, spurs people to either give up smoking or not take up the habit at all. (I would have thought it was a picture of Zelda Rubinstein had I not been informed otherwise......)
Said his friend and agent, Alex Jay: "Even in his drinking days, he was always very careful about being photographed with a drink or cigarette in his hand because he didn't want to encourage young people."
BCnU......
Tele-Toby
TV SERIES
"The Ravelled Thread" (1980) TV Series .... Gegor
"H.R. Pufnstuf" (1969) TV Series .... Jimmy
"Knock Three Times" (1968) TV Series .... Jack
TV MINI-SERIES
"Our Mutual Friend" (1976) (mini) TV Series .... Charley Hexam
TV RELATED MOVIES
Pufnstuf (1970) .... Jimmy
TELE-HISTORY
"Unsolved Mysteries"
- Agatha Christie (1994) TV Episode .... Passerby
The Queen & the Welshman (1966) (TV) .... Edmund Tudor
TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"The Onedin Line"
- A Woman Alone (1972) TV Episode .... Peter Thompson
- Cry of the Blackbird (1972) TV Episode .... Peter Thompson
"Thirty-Minute Theatre"
- First Confession (1969) TV Episode
"Z Cars"
- A Matter for Thought: Part 2 (1968) TV Episode .... Boy
- You Want 'Em - You Find 'Em: Part 2 (1967) TV Episode .... Jimmy Fulton
- You Want 'Em - You Find 'Em: Part 1 (1967) TV Episode .... Jimmy Fulton
"George and the Dragon"
- The Season of Goodwill (1966) TV Episode .... The Carrol Singer
"The Wednesday Play"
- A Game, Like, Only a Game (1966) TV Episode .... Peter
"Out of the Unknown"
- Come Buttercup, Come Daisy, Come...? (1965) TV Episode .... Danny
THE LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
"Sigmund and the Sea Monsters"
- The Wild Weekend (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973) (TV) .... Himself
"The Red Skelton Show"
- Episode dated 15 December 1969 (1969) TV Episode .... Himself
[Thanks to the IMDb.com]
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
THE NEW "AAAAAAAAY-IDA"?
'Happy Days' has joined 'The Brady Bunch' and 'Gilligan's Island' in crossing over from the TV Universe into the fantabulous universe of musical theatre.
For alls I know, this could be the dimensional point of origin for the demon Sweet, from that musical episode of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'. (Crossover Hall of Fame inductee, October 2005)
I have to admit that I was never a fan of 'Happy Days', at least not after the first year when it was revamped to play to its fan fave strengths. So I don't think I'd really enjoy seeing a musical version of those characters played out on stage.
And based on the review by Charles McNulty in the Los Angeles Times, I don't think I'm the only one.....
"[The] photo-album prelude turns out to be the show's high point. The problem rests largely with [Garry] Marshall's book, which stretches the sappiness of a reunion special to the marathon length of five episodes, enough to make anyone long for the reprieve of commercial breaks."
But if you do want to see it and you're in the LA area.....
"Happy Days"
Where: Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank
When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays
Ends: March 12
Price: $25 to $37.50
Contact: (818) 955-8101
Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Aaaaaay!
Tele-Toby
For alls I know, this could be the dimensional point of origin for the demon Sweet, from that musical episode of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'. (Crossover Hall of Fame inductee, October 2005)
I have to admit that I was never a fan of 'Happy Days', at least not after the first year when it was revamped to play to its fan fave strengths. So I don't think I'd really enjoy seeing a musical version of those characters played out on stage.
And based on the review by Charles McNulty in the Los Angeles Times, I don't think I'm the only one.....
"[The] photo-album prelude turns out to be the show's high point. The problem rests largely with [Garry] Marshall's book, which stretches the sappiness of a reunion special to the marathon length of five episodes, enough to make anyone long for the reprieve of commercial breaks."
But if you do want to see it and you're in the LA area.....
"Happy Days"
Where: Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank
When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays
Ends: March 12
Price: $25 to $37.50
Contact: (818) 955-8101
Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Aaaaaay!
Tele-Toby
TV CROSSOVER NEWS (now with snarky flavoring)
According to a report from SpoilerFix.com, 'Joey' will appear on 'Inside the Actor's Studio' with James Lipton during an upcoming episode.
When I read that, I quickly pushed myself away from my desk before the expected cry of "Lipton sold out!" (I get banged up pretty badly from those knee-jerk reactions.)
But surprisingly, nothing happened.
And then I remembered - Lipton already sold out by having people like Barbara Walters as a guest on his show.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
When I read that, I quickly pushed myself away from my desk before the expected cry of "Lipton sold out!" (I get banged up pretty badly from those knee-jerk reactions.)
But surprisingly, nothing happened.
And then I remembered - Lipton already sold out by having people like Barbara Walters as a guest on his show.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
NEW @ TOOBWORLD CENTRAL
I picked up for myself the new 'Action' boxed set of the first (and only) season. From what I've been reading, this will be one time when I actually listen to the commentary tracks - the backstory dish on what went wrong sounds like it'll be really interesting.
Ileana Douglas might disagree, though, from what I'm hearing....
That was all I got for myself this trip. It was more of shopping excursion for others. For my year old nephew, I picked up "Bambi II" and "Lady And The Tramp", both of which came with goodies: a "Bambi II" poster and a Lady stuffed doll.
I asked for a Tramp toy, but apparently they ran out of them yesterday! It makes sense to me - like the scalawag characters played by Clark Gable and others, Tramp makes for a great icon for how America sees itself.
As for the poster, Tommy's dad can probably use it for target practice when he's not hunting for the real thing.....
I also picked up an Alec Guinness classic - "The Man In The White Suit". Not for myself, although I should get a copy someday, but for a Korean professor of fabrics and textiles whom I met a month ago. Figured I'd better get it for her before she returns to her homeland this summer.
I didn't think of it until long after leaving FYE, but I should have checked to see if they had "Duel" in stock. There's a Dennis Weaver project that would be worth repeated viewings. (I do have the first season boxed set of 'McCloud' in the Toobworld library.)
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Ileana Douglas might disagree, though, from what I'm hearing....
That was all I got for myself this trip. It was more of shopping excursion for others. For my year old nephew, I picked up "Bambi II" and "Lady And The Tramp", both of which came with goodies: a "Bambi II" poster and a Lady stuffed doll.
I asked for a Tramp toy, but apparently they ran out of them yesterday! It makes sense to me - like the scalawag characters played by Clark Gable and others, Tramp makes for a great icon for how America sees itself.
As for the poster, Tommy's dad can probably use it for target practice when he's not hunting for the real thing.....
I also picked up an Alec Guinness classic - "The Man In The White Suit". Not for myself, although I should get a copy someday, but for a Korean professor of fabrics and textiles whom I met a month ago. Figured I'd better get it for her before she returns to her homeland this summer.
I didn't think of it until long after leaving FYE, but I should have checked to see if they had "Duel" in stock. There's a Dennis Weaver project that would be worth repeated viewings. (I do have the first season boxed set of 'McCloud' in the Toobworld library.)
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
McGAVIN'S ENTERPRISE
Darren McGavin had the face for hard-boiled, inner-city stories, drama and comedy, which could also work well in period pieces of Americana (most notably "A Christmas Story" and "The Natural").
Even with the "Westerns" in which he was involved, his characters didn't seem to have lost touch with the influence of Life back East.
But it's hard to picture him doing all-out, star-hopping science fiction. The sci-fi subsets of horror and the supernatural... of course, he was a natural fit. But on board a rocket ship to outer space?
He did have a big part in the adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles", but even then his storyline played out more like a modern Western.
Still, out of all the many guest appearances he made in TV series, I was surprised that with all the 'Trek' shows, they never got around to casting him in any of them. It's not like they never used actors you'd never expect to see in a space saga - Brian Keith, Jason Alexander, Sarah Silverman. And I think Darren McGavin might have played some kind of character, be it human or alien, who would fit right into the environs of 'Deep Space Nine'.
At any rate, Toobworld believes that in a small way, one of Darren McGavin's characters played a role in the heritage of 'Star Trek'.
Captains of the various incarnations of the starship "Enterprise" have mentioned the many ships of the past which bore that name. They speak of these past vessels as thought it is a family tree, and their starship is the latest in that lineage.
In "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", the Enterprise crew even got to visit one of those earlier ships - the aircraft carrier Enterprise which was docked in 1980s San Francisco when they journeyed back in Time.
Whether it be clips during the opening credits for 'Enterprise', or artwork decorating the captain's quarters in a later starship bearing the name, we've seen that aircraft carrier displayed; as well as a clipper ship and others who were known as "Enterprise".
But they always seem to overlook the 'Riverboat' which was piloted by Grey Holden. Trueniverse splainin? Economics. Somebody would have to be paid for the rights, I imagine. (That's also the reason why they never could just come right out and say that 'The Prisoner' known as Number Six was actually the 'Secret Agent' John Drake.)
But I'm under no such constraint here in Toobworld. And although we didn't see the particular illustration of the riverboat adorning the captain's walls, that doesn't mean he wasn't aware of the contribution made by the "Enterprise" to the expansion of the West.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Even with the "Westerns" in which he was involved, his characters didn't seem to have lost touch with the influence of Life back East.
But it's hard to picture him doing all-out, star-hopping science fiction. The sci-fi subsets of horror and the supernatural... of course, he was a natural fit. But on board a rocket ship to outer space?
He did have a big part in the adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles", but even then his storyline played out more like a modern Western.
Still, out of all the many guest appearances he made in TV series, I was surprised that with all the 'Trek' shows, they never got around to casting him in any of them. It's not like they never used actors you'd never expect to see in a space saga - Brian Keith, Jason Alexander, Sarah Silverman. And I think Darren McGavin might have played some kind of character, be it human or alien, who would fit right into the environs of 'Deep Space Nine'.
At any rate, Toobworld believes that in a small way, one of Darren McGavin's characters played a role in the heritage of 'Star Trek'.
Captains of the various incarnations of the starship "Enterprise" have mentioned the many ships of the past which bore that name. They speak of these past vessels as thought it is a family tree, and their starship is the latest in that lineage.
In "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", the Enterprise crew even got to visit one of those earlier ships - the aircraft carrier Enterprise which was docked in 1980s San Francisco when they journeyed back in Time.
Whether it be clips during the opening credits for 'Enterprise', or artwork decorating the captain's quarters in a later starship bearing the name, we've seen that aircraft carrier displayed; as well as a clipper ship and others who were known as "Enterprise".
But they always seem to overlook the 'Riverboat' which was piloted by Grey Holden. Trueniverse splainin? Economics. Somebody would have to be paid for the rights, I imagine. (That's also the reason why they never could just come right out and say that 'The Prisoner' known as Number Six was actually the 'Secret Agent' John Drake.)
But I'm under no such constraint here in Toobworld. And although we didn't see the particular illustration of the riverboat adorning the captain's walls, that doesn't mean he wasn't aware of the contribution made by the "Enterprise" to the expansion of the West.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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