We've seen some strange crossovers in the past when it comes to the TV Universe. There have been movies which either feed into, or which grow out of, Toobworld, like the 'Star Trek' franchise, the 1966 'Batman' movie, or David Lynch's prequel to 'Twin Peaks', "Fire, Walk With Me".
There have also been stories told only on the Internet which provide additional material for the canon of their particular show. Lately these have included 'Rescue Me', 'Battlestar Galactica', 'The Office', '24', 'CSI: Miami', and the 'Doctor Who' "Tardisodes". Coming soon will be an ancillary tale connected to 'Lost'.
And speaking of 'Lost' there was the whole Dharma Initiative experience that played out over the summer and which included an "interview" with an employee of the Hanso Organization and a staged interruption at a comic book convention by the hacker known as "Rachel".
And of course, there are the tie-in novels like the ones Lee Goldberg has been writing for 'Monk' and 'Diagnosis Murder'. Tie-in novels have a long tradition concerning TV shows, with 'Star Trek' probably reigning as the king. (My favorite from this batch was "Ishmael" by Barbara Hambly, which combined 'Star Trek' with 'Here Come The Brides', and with a dash of 'Bonanza' and 'Maverick' along the way.)
Along those same lines have been comic books based on TV shows and not all of them have been sci-fi oriented. Again with the 'Star Trek', but also 'The X-Files', 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker', 'CSI', 'Secret Agent Man', even 'Run, Buddy, Run'!
So this latest multi-verse, multi-media crossover shouldn't be all that shocking, had it not been for the proposed plotline.
According to several online sources for both TV and comic news, Marvel Comics will be teaming up with the producers of the CBS soap opera 'Guiding Light' to introduce a new superhero before he (or she) goes on to glory in the pages of a comic book team-up with Marvel heavy-hitters Spiderman and Wolverine.
Soap operas have been delving into comic book territory ever since Mikos Cassadine tried to freeze Port Charles, NY, with his weather machine on 'General Hospital' back in 1980. Since then we've seen angels, living dolls, demonic possession, underground empires, aliens from the planet Luminos, and Governor Jesse Ventura show up in the various soaps. (And that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface for the old soap standbys like evil twins and characters who return from the dead.)
Not only will the new superhero appear in the town of Springfield and thus gain a Toobword existence, but several of the soap opera's characters will find themselves in the comic book. So they will have become true multi-verse characters like Bilbo Baggins, Mr. Spock, Sherlock Holmes, the Doctor, Radar O'Reilly, and the Pigeon Sisters.
(This is because the townsfolk of Springfield found themselves immortalized in a stand-alone novel back in 2002 called "Lorelei's Guiding Light" which purportedly was Lorelei's intimate diary. It's publication played a significant role in the soap's plotlien for awhile as everyone had to come to grips with their secrets being revealed.)
The superhero will debut on 'Guiding Light' on November 1 and in various titles from Marvel beginning October 25th.
It's an example of synergy in which Marvel and Procter & Gamble (which produces "Guiding Light") are teaming up, with hopes that soap fans will pick up a comic book and that Marvel addicts will tune in to the daytime series.
The comic book will have the Avengers, as well as some of their super-powered foes, showing up in Springfield to determine if the new character has what it takes to join one side or the other. But even though that 8 page story will be found in other comic books beginning with October 26th's releases, it won't be until November 1st when the character is officially introduced on 'Guiding Light' with a reveal of his (or her) origins and powers.
Of all the soap operas out there, how come Marvel teamed up with 'Guiding Light' for this cross-promotional experiment?
It turns out that Shawn Dudley, costume designer for 'Guiding Light' created the wedding dress worn by the superhero Storm of 'The X-Men' for her wedding to T'Challa in his comic book "Black Panther #18". Apparently that first collaboration got both sides to think about other joint endeavors.
As Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada described this new venture, "This is just one more way that we're trying to reach out beyond our usual audience in an effort to expose those who don't know anything about the greatness of comics and hopefully come back with a few new converts. And hopefully some of our fans will find themselves with a new habit as well - Guiding Light!"
Along with the cross-promotional blipverts for Marvel which will run during the episode, (as well as material to be found in the comic books which urge their True Believers to watch 'Guiding Light'), the episode on November 1st will also include plenty of Easter Eggs and perhaps even in-jokes to keep the whole hour interesting.
These are the titles in which the crossover will be appearing:
10/25
CIVIL WAR: CHOOSING SIDES
SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE 11
MARVEL SELECT FLIP MAGAZINE 18
MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE 17
11/1
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN 21
SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK 1
MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE 18
MARVEL HEROES FLIP MAGAZINE 18
11/8
AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL 2
FRANKLIN RICHARDS: HAPPY FRANKSGIVING!
MARVEL ADVENTURES FANTASTIC FOUR 18
11/15
ULTIMATE MARVEL FLIP MAGAZINE 19
ULTIMATE TALES FLIP MAGAZINE 19
EXCELSIOR!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, October 21, 2006
CROSSOVERS: VEGAS, BABY!
I've got quite a backlog of stuff I've wanted to write about this week. Still, I should have mentioned this on Tuesday after seeing my tape of the episode.
Once they landed in the United States, Hiro and Ando rented a car and headed for Las Vegas. They were following the lead provided in the comic book, but Ando was more interested in gambling.
And where did he get the chance to play games of chance?
The Montecito. Star location of the TV series 'Las Vegas'.
It only makes sense. NBC is on a cost-cutting campaign - they fired 700 staffers and delared the 8 pm hour on all nights to be a fiction-free zone (because game shows and "reality" shows are cheaper to produce).
So why not use a set from a TV show you already have in production? And since there are no unions to protect the rights of TV sets, the casino was a lot cheaper to use than bringing in some character from 'Las Vegas'.
This means that 'Heroes' can be linked to 'Las Vegas', 'Crossing Jordan', and 'Passions' officially. Unofficially, in true Toobworld style, there are also the following shows:
'CSI'
'Vega$'
'Lucky'
'Dr. Vegas'
Probably even more shows that my sleep-deprived mind and pain-wracked body (muscle spasm) can't remember which could be added as well.
Feel free to send me your suggestions for links to 'Heroes'.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Once they landed in the United States, Hiro and Ando rented a car and headed for Las Vegas. They were following the lead provided in the comic book, but Ando was more interested in gambling.
And where did he get the chance to play games of chance?
The Montecito. Star location of the TV series 'Las Vegas'.
It only makes sense. NBC is on a cost-cutting campaign - they fired 700 staffers and delared the 8 pm hour on all nights to be a fiction-free zone (because game shows and "reality" shows are cheaper to produce).
So why not use a set from a TV show you already have in production? And since there are no unions to protect the rights of TV sets, the casino was a lot cheaper to use than bringing in some character from 'Las Vegas'.
This means that 'Heroes' can be linked to 'Las Vegas', 'Crossing Jordan', and 'Passions' officially. Unofficially, in true Toobworld style, there are also the following shows:
'CSI'
'Vega$'
'Lucky'
'Dr. Vegas'
Probably even more shows that my sleep-deprived mind and pain-wracked body (muscle spasm) can't remember which could be added as well.
Feel free to send me your suggestions for links to 'Heroes'.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Friday, October 20, 2006
THEORY OF RELATEEVEETY: "LOST"
When Locke brought Eddie into the commune on this past week's episode of 'Lost' ("Further Instructions"), the hitch-hiker was wearing a "Geronimo Jackson" t-shirt which he claimed belonged to his dad.
"Geronimo Jackson" is the fictitious musical group from the late sixties/early seventies who were probably comparable to Charlie's Driveshaft (as in "one hit wonders").
To get a good closeup of the t-shirt picture, checkout this image courtesy of DarkEcho:
Notice the band member standing in the front.
Cuts quite a Sawyerish figure, doesn't he?
Could it be that he is James Ford, Sr.?
We don't know much more about Sawyer's dad than that he was bilked out of his money by the real Sawyer and that he killed his wife and himself.
So what if it turned out that he was a member of "Geronimo Jackson" at one time? Even as a one-hit wonder, the band must have made some money, and the elder Ford might have invested it wisely.
Only to lose it to a con man.....
As Vincent Van Gopher would say, "It's pozz'ble. It's pozz'ble...."
When it comes to 'Lost', this would hardly be the wildest circumstance yet.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"Geronimo Jackson" is the fictitious musical group from the late sixties/early seventies who were probably comparable to Charlie's Driveshaft (as in "one hit wonders").
To get a good closeup of the t-shirt picture, checkout this image courtesy of DarkEcho:
Notice the band member standing in the front.
Cuts quite a Sawyerish figure, doesn't he?
Could it be that he is James Ford, Sr.?
We don't know much more about Sawyer's dad than that he was bilked out of his money by the real Sawyer and that he killed his wife and himself.
So what if it turned out that he was a member of "Geronimo Jackson" at one time? Even as a one-hit wonder, the band must have made some money, and the elder Ford might have invested it wisely.
Only to lose it to a con man.....
As Vincent Van Gopher would say, "It's pozz'ble. It's pozz'ble...."
When it comes to 'Lost', this would hardly be the wildest circumstance yet.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
KIRK SERLINGUA
No, that's not a baseball player from the Dominican Republic....
Another Classic TV character has revealed himself to be a serlinguist, that subset of tele-cognizants who know that they are in a TV Universe, but who also confer, converse, and otherwise hobnob with home-viewing audience. (All serlinguists are tele-cognizent, but not all tele-cognizants are serlinguists.)
The ability is named after TV Giant Rod Serling, who created and hosted 'The Twilight Zone'.
This new serlinguist is James T. Kirk, captain of the starship Enterprise. While being pursued by a Klingon bird of prey, Kirk took a moment to address the audience. His mission? To boldly extol the virtues of DirectTV's crystal clear on screen.
And because TV supposedly will cease to exist at some point in the future, Kirk isn't bothering to pitch his product to the audience of his own era. (With no TV, there's no need for DirectTV....)
No, he's somehow created a serlinguistic wormhole through which he can address different TV characters from the 20th Century face to face.... Over four hundred years back into his own future.
By the way, it appears that this blipvert happened around the same time that Kirk and his crew were battling the mutinous Klingon general, Chang ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"). I base this assumption on the age of the crew, the presence of Spock, and that approaching Klingon "wessel".
Speaking of loose Changs.....
On the other hand, the latest appearance by Kwai Chang Caine III for Yellowbook.com o'bviously is different: he's not practicing serlinguistic skills like Kirk. But instead, he's talking to a man in the same room with him.
Even when it looks as though Caine is talking directly to the camera, the camera actually represents the other man's point of view.
So Kwai Chang Caine is not a serlinguist.
He's just an ordinary schill......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Another Classic TV character has revealed himself to be a serlinguist, that subset of tele-cognizants who know that they are in a TV Universe, but who also confer, converse, and otherwise hobnob with home-viewing audience. (All serlinguists are tele-cognizent, but not all tele-cognizants are serlinguists.)
The ability is named after TV Giant Rod Serling, who created and hosted 'The Twilight Zone'.
This new serlinguist is James T. Kirk, captain of the starship Enterprise. While being pursued by a Klingon bird of prey, Kirk took a moment to address the audience. His mission? To boldly extol the virtues of DirectTV's crystal clear on screen.
And because TV supposedly will cease to exist at some point in the future, Kirk isn't bothering to pitch his product to the audience of his own era. (With no TV, there's no need for DirectTV....)
No, he's somehow created a serlinguistic wormhole through which he can address different TV characters from the 20th Century face to face.... Over four hundred years back into his own future.
By the way, it appears that this blipvert happened around the same time that Kirk and his crew were battling the mutinous Klingon general, Chang ("Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"). I base this assumption on the age of the crew, the presence of Spock, and that approaching Klingon "wessel".
Speaking of loose Changs.....
On the other hand, the latest appearance by Kwai Chang Caine III for Yellowbook.com o'bviously is different: he's not practicing serlinguistic skills like Kirk. But instead, he's talking to a man in the same room with him.
Even when it looks as though Caine is talking directly to the camera, the camera actually represents the other man's point of view.
So Kwai Chang Caine is not a serlinguist.
He's just an ordinary schill......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
OFF THE WATERFRONT
There will no longer be any need for me as a Toobworld caretaker to find a way to have 'Brotherhood' and 'Waterfront', both shows set in Providence, Rhode Island, exist in the same TV dimension. That's because CBS has cancelled 'Waterfront' after four episodes were shot, but before any of them had the chance to be broadcast.
This marked the third series starring Joe Pantoliano (who would have played the corrupt mayor a la Buddy Cianci) to have been cancelled by the Great Eye. But it's the first to never make it to the air. (The other two series were 'The Handler' and 'Dr. Vegas'.)
Those four episodes could eventually find their way onto the TV screens elsewhere; perhaps as fodder for a "Brilliant But Cancelled" limited run on Bravo or some other network, in much the same way as Trio used to do when it was a real network.
In the meantime, 'Brotherhood' will begin shooting a second season for Showtime in March 2007. I don't know if they have a mayoral figure in that show (I think the politician brother is a congressman or city councilman?), but maybe they could work in an appearance by Pantoliano as his "Mayor Buddy" character just as a tip of the hat to 'Waterfront'.
There is at least one show, already cancelled, which doesn't look as though it will ever be cause for Zonking when it comes to its reconciilation with 'Brotherhood'. That would be 'Providence', in whose world we can allow the appearance of the mobbed-up brother.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
This marked the third series starring Joe Pantoliano (who would have played the corrupt mayor a la Buddy Cianci) to have been cancelled by the Great Eye. But it's the first to never make it to the air. (The other two series were 'The Handler' and 'Dr. Vegas'.)
Those four episodes could eventually find their way onto the TV screens elsewhere; perhaps as fodder for a "Brilliant But Cancelled" limited run on Bravo or some other network, in much the same way as Trio used to do when it was a real network.
In the meantime, 'Brotherhood' will begin shooting a second season for Showtime in March 2007. I don't know if they have a mayoral figure in that show (I think the politician brother is a congressman or city councilman?), but maybe they could work in an appearance by Pantoliano as his "Mayor Buddy" character just as a tip of the hat to 'Waterfront'.
There is at least one show, already cancelled, which doesn't look as though it will ever be cause for Zonking when it comes to its reconciilation with 'Brotherhood'. That would be 'Providence', in whose world we can allow the appearance of the mobbed-up brother.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, October 19, 2006
WELCOME TO THE BLUE PUSSYCAT CLUB
It's not what you think.....
Sanrio and Viacom, whose Nickelodeon unit controls the 'Blue's Clues' property, plan to develop a limited edition product line combining the characters of Blue and 'Hello Kitty' for sale at select retailers. Those products should hit the shelves in summer 2007.
Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, told Reuters that Blue, the animated star of the Nickelodeon series, had to be redrawn to tailor her to Japanese tastes and ensure she is compatible with her kitty co-star.
"The character has become rounder and it has been adjusted and modified in a creative way so that Blue works in the Hello Kitty world," she said.
An interesting concept in teamups, but it has no official effect in the Tooniverse. This deals only with merchandizing tie-ins and not with actual cartoons which unite 'Blue's Clues' and 'Hello Kitty' in adventures.
Although I will not be surprised if that should happen......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Sanrio and Viacom, whose Nickelodeon unit controls the 'Blue's Clues' property, plan to develop a limited edition product line combining the characters of Blue and 'Hello Kitty' for sale at select retailers. Those products should hit the shelves in summer 2007.
Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, told Reuters that Blue, the animated star of the Nickelodeon series, had to be redrawn to tailor her to Japanese tastes and ensure she is compatible with her kitty co-star.
"The character has become rounder and it has been adjusted and modified in a creative way so that Blue works in the Hello Kitty world," she said.
An interesting concept in teamups, but it has no official effect in the Tooniverse. This deals only with merchandizing tie-ins and not with actual cartoons which unite 'Blue's Clues' and 'Hello Kitty' in adventures.
Although I will not be surprised if that should happen......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
CAUGHT DEAD ON TAPE
'Picket Fences' is no longer on the air, but if they ever did "ripped from the headlines" stories like 'Law & Order', then this story out of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, would be on the air before the season ended.
Interestingly enough, 'Picket Fences' took place in Wisconsin as well, in a third incarnation of Rome which can only be found in Toobworld. (Apparently, there are two Rome, Wisconsins, in the Real World.)
It's the type of story that still might find its way into a CBS crime drama, specifically, 'Close To Home'.......
I feel sorry for the family of Seth Hammes. It's not the memory of a loved one you want preserved on videotape.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Interestingly enough, 'Picket Fences' took place in Wisconsin as well, in a third incarnation of Rome which can only be found in Toobworld. (Apparently, there are two Rome, Wisconsins, in the Real World.)
It's the type of story that still might find its way into a CBS crime drama, specifically, 'Close To Home'.......
I feel sorry for the family of Seth Hammes. It's not the memory of a loved one you want preserved on videotape.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"EUREKA" IN "LOST", NOT LOST IN EUREKA
In tonight's episode of 'Lost', John Locke pulled over to ask a hitch-hiker where he was heading. The young man responded, "Eureka", as he heard there were logging jobs up there.
More than likely he was referring to Eureka, California, located practically in the heart of the redwood forest territory.
Ah, but that's as far as it goes in Earth Prime. On Earth Prime-Time, farther on just over the border to the north is 'Eureka', Oregon, a secretive place not exactly known for logging... unless it's online.
It's all moot, of course. As it turned out, it was just a cover story.......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
More than likely he was referring to Eureka, California, located practically in the heart of the redwood forest territory.
Ah, but that's as far as it goes in Earth Prime. On Earth Prime-Time, farther on just over the border to the north is 'Eureka', Oregon, a secretive place not exactly known for logging... unless it's online.
It's all moot, of course. As it turned out, it was just a cover story.......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
"LOST" IN THOUGHT: LOST CLAUS
Before her appearance in the season premiere of 'Lost' as Juliet, I don't think I had ever seen Elizabeth Mitchell before. Or if I had, she failed to register with me.
I could check the IMDb.com to be sure, but if you weren't aware of it yet, I am inherently lazy and that effort, to me, constitutes "work".
But in just two episodes of the show, she has dominated my thoughts as to where the show might go. (Which, let's face it, is a waste of time. I have yet to be able to guess where the show was taking me without the help of outside spoilers.)
I think of all the "Others" we've met so far, Juliet is the one that scares me the most. If Ben Linus was as smart as he tries to appear, he should be scared too - I sense some bad vibes between the two of them.
And I fear for Jack, who, as I've stated before, is my nominee for "Lostaway" that won't be seeing the other side of the winter hiatus. There's just something creepy about the way she says "Hello, Jack" that makes me think she'd have no problem dispatching him with an equally icy "Goodbye, Jack".
So have you seen the blipverts for the third Santa Clause movie starring Tim Allen as the jolly old elf? (I think it's called "Escape Claus".) Apparently, Elizabeth Mitchell was in the second movie as the new Mrs. Claus and now she's back for another go-round.
Martin Short is also starring as the villainous Jack Frost, but I see Ms. Mitchell standing there in the commercial and I can't shake the feeling that she's the one that could prove to be the undoing of Santa........
Just sayin' is all......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I could check the IMDb.com to be sure, but if you weren't aware of it yet, I am inherently lazy and that effort, to me, constitutes "work".
But in just two episodes of the show, she has dominated my thoughts as to where the show might go. (Which, let's face it, is a waste of time. I have yet to be able to guess where the show was taking me without the help of outside spoilers.)
I think of all the "Others" we've met so far, Juliet is the one that scares me the most. If Ben Linus was as smart as he tries to appear, he should be scared too - I sense some bad vibes between the two of them.
And I fear for Jack, who, as I've stated before, is my nominee for "Lostaway" that won't be seeing the other side of the winter hiatus. There's just something creepy about the way she says "Hello, Jack" that makes me think she'd have no problem dispatching him with an equally icy "Goodbye, Jack".
So have you seen the blipverts for the third Santa Clause movie starring Tim Allen as the jolly old elf? (I think it's called "Escape Claus".) Apparently, Elizabeth Mitchell was in the second movie as the new Mrs. Claus and now she's back for another go-round.
Martin Short is also starring as the villainous Jack Frost, but I see Ms. Mitchell standing there in the commercial and I can't shake the feeling that she's the one that could prove to be the undoing of Santa........
Just sayin' is all......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
NEW @ TOOBWORLD CENTRAL
Hoping to fill the hours after work but before my doctor's appointment this morning, I went to Coliseum Books and to FYE.
Here's a list of my loot:
"The Discontinuity Guide" by Paul Cornell, Martin Day & Keith Topping
[The Definitive Guide To The Worlds & Times Of DOCTOR WHO]
I already had this in a different edition. I hope it's been updated, but I'm getting the feeling it hasn't been. It definitely doesn't contain anything about McGann, Eccleston, or Tennant.
~~~~~~
'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Volume One.
I read online this week that the Mysties will soon be losing the rights to the movies in this collection, and I'd hate to miss out on pulling out one of these atrocities sometime in the future, only to find out that my well-used tapes have worn away.
Movies included:
"Bloodlust"
"Catalina Caper"
"The Skydivers"
"The Creeping Terror"
~~~~~
TV'S LOST SHOWS: ACTION
A collection of episodes from seven different shows:
'Combat' - "Mail Call"
'Sea Hunt' - "Mark Of The Octopus"
'Fury' - "Joey Finds A Friend", "The Search For Joey", "Joey's Father"
'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' - "The Apprentice", "The Cheney Vase"
'Mannix' - "The Name Is Mannix", "Skid Marks On A Dry Run"
'Peter Gunn' - "Let's Kill Timothy", "The Fuse"
'Wagon Train' - "Alias Bill Hawkes"
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
Here's a list of my loot:
"The Discontinuity Guide" by Paul Cornell, Martin Day & Keith Topping
[The Definitive Guide To The Worlds & Times Of DOCTOR WHO]
I already had this in a different edition. I hope it's been updated, but I'm getting the feeling it hasn't been. It definitely doesn't contain anything about McGann, Eccleston, or Tennant.
~~~~~~
'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Volume One.
I read online this week that the Mysties will soon be losing the rights to the movies in this collection, and I'd hate to miss out on pulling out one of these atrocities sometime in the future, only to find out that my well-used tapes have worn away.
Movies included:
"Bloodlust"
"Catalina Caper"
"The Skydivers"
"The Creeping Terror"
~~~~~
TV'S LOST SHOWS: ACTION
A collection of episodes from seven different shows:
'Combat' - "Mail Call"
'Sea Hunt' - "Mark Of The Octopus"
'Fury' - "Joey Finds A Friend", "The Search For Joey", "Joey's Father"
'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' - "The Apprentice", "The Cheney Vase"
'Mannix' - "The Name Is Mannix", "Skid Marks On A Dry Run"
'Peter Gunn' - "Let's Kill Timothy", "The Fuse"
'Wagon Train' - "Alias Bill Hawkes"
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
THE HAT SQUAD: CHRISTOPHER GLENN
Back in January, I paid tribute to Christopher Glenn upon hearing of his upcoming retirement from CBS News.
Sadly, he didn't get the chance to enjoy a lengthy retirement.... Mr. Glenn passed away the other day from lung cancer. He was 68.
In the caverns of my poor excuse for a mind, his is a voice that will echo forever......
"CBS News Nightwatch" (1982) TV Series .... Anchor
"30 Minutes" (1978) TV Series .... Himself - Host
"In the News" (1971) TV Series .... Himself ( -1978)
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
Sadly, he didn't get the chance to enjoy a lengthy retirement.... Mr. Glenn passed away the other day from lung cancer. He was 68.
In the caverns of my poor excuse for a mind, his is a voice that will echo forever......
"CBS News Nightwatch" (1982) TV Series .... Anchor
"30 Minutes" (1978) TV Series .... Himself - Host
"In the News" (1971) TV Series .... Himself ( -1978)
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
"HEROES": A TOOBWORLD PREDICTION
DR. CHANDRA SURESH IS STILL ALIVE!
That's my belief, anyway. And I think I'll be proven correct in time.
When we first saw the picture of Dr. Chandra Suresh on the back cover of his book, I was pleasantly surprised - it was a photo of actor Eric Avari, who has been seen in 'Stargate SG-1', 'The West Wing', the movie "Independence Day", among many other credits.
I'm not wrong on that. I've met Avari. Back when he was still going by the name of Nari Avari, he came to my apartment once to help celebrate my birthday. He was with Maggi Walker, a friend of mine from college and I believe they eventually got married. (For all I know, they are still together.)
But with this week's episode, we saw the back cover photo again and it was a totally different actor. This fellow had a beard and was wearing the kind of head-wrap one sees with the Sikhs.
When I first saw that picture of Eric Avari, I figured they used him because eventually he would be appearing in flashbacks. To have replaced him like that so quickly, it probably became apparent that they might need him far longer than Avari could commit to.
But during the episode, the ashes of Dr. Suresh were delivered to his son, Dr. Mohinder Suresh, who mentioned that he was shown the bodies of several John Does instead of that of his father.
This kicks in one of the Toobworld rules which comes up all the time in soap operas:
If there is no body, the supposed victim is probably not dead.
Therefore, it's my belief that at some point in the future on 'Heroes', Dr. Chandra Suresh will return to the show.... alive.
I have no inside information on this. It's just my gut instinct from a lifetime of watching TV. And so I could be wrong; it wouldn't be the first time.
But if I'm not, it very well could be that YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT HERE FIRST!
That's my belief, anyway. And I think I'll be proven correct in time.
When we first saw the picture of Dr. Chandra Suresh on the back cover of his book, I was pleasantly surprised - it was a photo of actor Eric Avari, who has been seen in 'Stargate SG-1', 'The West Wing', the movie "Independence Day", among many other credits.
I'm not wrong on that. I've met Avari. Back when he was still going by the name of Nari Avari, he came to my apartment once to help celebrate my birthday. He was with Maggi Walker, a friend of mine from college and I believe they eventually got married. (For all I know, they are still together.)
But with this week's episode, we saw the back cover photo again and it was a totally different actor. This fellow had a beard and was wearing the kind of head-wrap one sees with the Sikhs.
When I first saw that picture of Eric Avari, I figured they used him because eventually he would be appearing in flashbacks. To have replaced him like that so quickly, it probably became apparent that they might need him far longer than Avari could commit to.
But during the episode, the ashes of Dr. Suresh were delivered to his son, Dr. Mohinder Suresh, who mentioned that he was shown the bodies of several John Does instead of that of his father.
This kicks in one of the Toobworld rules which comes up all the time in soap operas:
If there is no body, the supposed victim is probably not dead.
Therefore, it's my belief that at some point in the future on 'Heroes', Dr. Chandra Suresh will return to the show.... alive.
I have no inside information on this. It's just my gut instinct from a lifetime of watching TV. And so I could be wrong; it wouldn't be the first time.
But if I'm not, it very well could be that YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT HERE FIRST!
Yeah, it looks like "JDog" beat me to the punch at TVSquad.com around 4:44 PM today....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
GIACOMO TEEVEE NA NE
Having seen "Casanova" in a 'Masterpiece Theatre' two-parter, I'm ordering the DVD of the original British version. I'm sure there are plenty of naughty bits that never got past the prurient censors at WGBH. Which is not surprising - the phrase "Banned In Boston" has a long tradition.
There have been times in the past when I've placed personal preference at the forefront in my duties as a TV Universe caretaker, especially when it comes to which TV shows belong in the main Toobworld and which ones must be relegated to an alternate dimension.
A case in point - "The Delay-a-Way Plan".
One of my guidelines is that a show's remake muste be shipped off to Earth Prime-Time Delay while the original commands the stage in Earth Prime-Time. These remakes usually reflect the times in which they were produced, just as the originals did in theirs, and so they are set in later time periods than the originals (hence the "Delay").
Despite it being one of the most lauded TV series on the Toob today, 'Battlestar Galactica' can never be considered for membership in the main TV dimension. Not when its "inspiration" (and its sequel, 'Galactica 1980') were on the air a quarter century ago. And not when those two shows, as bad as they could be, are integral to linking at least four other TV series together ('Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman', 'Fernwood 2Nite', 'America 2-Nite', and 'McCloud'). They also provide a theoretical splainin for the Eugenics War and certain scientific advancements found only in Toobworld.
But I have made exceptions in the past. Art Carney appeared in "The Incredible World of Horace Ford" on 'Studio One' one week after I was born. Nearly eight years later, that Reginal Rose-scripted story appeared as an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' with Pat Hingle as Horace Ford, and with an alternate ending.
Even though it came later, I consider Hingle's version to be the official one for Earth Prime-Time. This is because 'The Twilight Zone' is more accessible to the viewing public, thanks to the Sci-Fi Channel, so many years in syndication, and DVD collections. The gestalt of shared memory is a powerful component in keeping the TV Universe "alive".
Another example would be that of Sherlock Holmes, a topic I explored around this time last year. If I consider that "first dibs" guideline to be a hard and fast rule, then Ronald Howard's 1950s interpretation should be the official version of Conan Doyle's consulting detective.
But in the 1980s, PBS presented Jeremy Brett in the role, with adaptations of all the original stories. (He even dressed the part as envisioned by original illustrator Sydney Paget, and not in the deerstalker and cape as most actors following William Gillette have done.) Howard's Holmes only covered a few of those cases, such as "The Red-Headed League". So o'bviously the Brett Holmes is a better realization of the immortal detective and all the other versions of Holmes must be shipped out to new homes.
I bring this up because of Giacomo Casanova, and how torn I am as to which version should be the official legendary lover of Toobworld.
Casanova has had plenty of incarnations on Television over the years since 1971. (Was he too risque a character to be shown before then? Over in the Cineverse, his tale has been told since the Silent Era.) I haven't seen any of those versions, but I can't help thinking that for the most part they must be dry, stodgy, stuff historical dramas, or outright fabrications about his life. (And Casanova surely did enough of that himself in his memoirs.)
However, that 1971 six-part miniseries was written by Dennis Potter, an acclaimed genius among Television writers, right up there with in the pantheon with Chayevsky, Serling, and Rose. And Frank Finlay - whom I first noticed in "The Three Musketeers" - is a fine actor who probably gave mult-shaded life to Casanova. Even without having yet seen it, I think it must be a very appropriate production to represent Casanova in Toobworld. (And reviews which I have found online seem to buttress that belief.)
There are plenty of foreign teleplays on the life of Casanova, most of them in French or German (at least three versions in each, I think). But as a caretaker of the TV Universe, I do take certain liberties based on my own prejudices. And one of these is that English language productions will take precedence over those in a foreign language whenever possible.
And sorry, but that includes the 2002 Italian TV movie "Il Giovane Casanova" starring Stefano Accorsi as Giacomo Casanova, even though it's in the native language of the real Casanova.
It's not like the TV Universe doesn't give me the splainin to back up that claim. After all, whenever time travellers like Mr. Peabody or the Doctor visit some past era in Earth's history, the people they encounter speak English. Now, the Ninth Incarnation of the Doctor claimed this ws due to the effects of travelling in the TARDIS, and Arthur Dent had a Babel Fish in his ear, but how does any of that explain the conversational English of 'I, Claudius'? Who in that cast of characters was a Gallifreyan Time Lord or a hitch-hiker from Betelgeuse in disguise?
Stuart Damon played Giacomo in "A Touch Of The Casanovas" back in 1975, but from what I read about it, the production was geared more towards humor. As such, I have no problem in assigning that version of Casanova's life to the same dimension which houses 'When Things Were Rotten', 'That's My Bush!', and 'The Secret Files of Desmond Pfeiffer'.
(When I first typed that title, my computer crashed and I lost this entire file. Says something about the show, I think.....)
The Richard Chamberlain portrayal of Casanova in 1987 is highly regarded for its irreverent script by the author of the "Flashman" series of books, George MacDonald Fraser. It sounds like the type of production I'd like to give some kind of preferential treatment by placing it in the same dimension as that which houses 'The West Wing'.
As for Patrick Bergin in 'Casanova's Love Letters' which, like the version just shown on Masterpiece Theatre, was televised in 2005..... I suppose the evil mirror universe must have its Casanova as well......
Which brings me to the production written by Russell T. Davies and starring David Tennant and Peter O'Toole as Casanova at different times in his life......
This production seems to have captured most of the significant facts from his 12 volume memoir, "Histoire De Ma Vie" (Story of My Life), with only one major deviation - the faux castrati Bellino was combined with Teresa Cornelys and Donna Lucrezia, by each of whom he had illegitimate daughters. (And that storyline in this production had quite a deviation if you know what I mean, Vern. Nudge nudge wink wink!)
I would dearly love to use this televersion of Casanova's life as it has the best sense of being "Television". RTD's script was lively and had a sense of play that I would think must have captured the spirit of Casanova's memoirs.
Its "televisuality" pervades throughout. Casanova and his manservant Rocco were both tele-cognizant, recognizing and acknowledging that they had an audience watching them. And many times the costumes and dialogue betrayed an anachronistic flavor to better reflect the social mores of those "modern" times. (RTD even threw in a joke at the expense of Aaron Spelling! (Well, he wasn't quite dead yet when this first aired.....)
Add to all of this the amazing number of actors who would go on to appear in RTD's revival of 'Doctor Who' (most notably David Tennant, the Tenth Incarnation of the Doctor as Casanova himself), and this is a production that would make for a pleasant diversion in repeat viewings.
Still, there is that mini-series from 1971 penned by Dennis Potter......
But have no fear! I think I have a way to incorporate both into the main Toobworld!
Potter's production takes place in 1755, as Casanova is jailed in the prison of the Doge's Palace. And he reflects back on his many loves and adventures during that incarceration.
In a similar fashion, RTD's recent version is set in June of 1798, just days before Casanova's death while serving as a librarian for a nobleman in Bohemia. And again, his life is seen in flashback as he relates his story to a young serving girl who works in the same castle.
Here's my solution. Frank Finlay and Peter O'Toole are both playing the same Casanova, but obviously at different points in his life, over forty years apart. It's another one of my "guidelines" that casting changes are acceptable due to the toll taken by aging. The ravages of Time would splain away most of the physical differences, save perhaps for the nose..... And whose to say Casanova didn't resort to some kind of neo-classical nip/tuck to give him a more elegant schnozzola?
As for David Tennant as the younger Casanova, who is seen in the most recent version in the same circumstances as the incarcerated Casanova played by Frank Finlay, that's an easy one to splain away.
He wasn't real.
What we saw was Casanova as envisioned by Edith the serving girl while she listened to the stories told by the elder Casanova. This would splain the telecognizant glances toward the audience - it's addressed to Edith as a visual wink by her sub-conscious when she begins to doubt the veracity of the stories.
It's a conceit I used when I needed a splainin regarding the Zonks caused by the outlandish stories in 'Jack Of All Trades'. The entire series was nothing more than the Munchausen-like tall tales told by Jack Styles in his own memoirs. Otherwise there was no way he could have possibly have met a young and beautiful Catherine The Great or Ben Franklin - who happened to have died about nine years before their supposed encounter in 1801.
We can use the same splainin for Casanova's appearance in a flashback on the adventure series 'Relic Hunter' (one of my guilty pleasures). When we see Dominic Cina as Casanova, what we are seeing is how he appears in the mind of the person narrating the flashback.
In a way, this splainin would also serve for the appearance of Toby Stephens as Casanova in the 2004docu-drama "London". In that case, what we are seeing is a dramatic re-enactment of Casanova's time in England, taken from a historical reference; perhaps as envisioned by whomever is reading that particular book.......
Speaking of Franklin, Casanova met him as well, and I only wish RTD had created a scene to show that. I think they would have made for a great pair of swingers in Paris, hittin' on the ladies!
THE MANY LIVES OF CASANOVA
ENGLISH
Patrick Bergin (Casanova)
Tom Frederic (Young Casanova)
. . . "Casanova's Love Letters" (2005) (mini) TV Series
Richard Chamberlain (I) (Giacomo Casanova)
Toby Rolt (Young Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Casanova (1987) (TV)
Domenic Cina (Casanova)
. . . "Relic Hunter" (1999) {The Book of Love (#1.9)} TV Series
Stuart Damon (Casanova)
. . . Touch of the Casanovas, A (1975) (TV)
Paul Marc Davis (Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2002) (TV)
Frank Finlay (I) (Giovanni Casanova)
. . . "Casanova" (1971) (mini) TV Series
Tony Rosato (Casanova)
. . . "Mentors" (1998) {The Book of Love (#2.8)} TV Series
Toby Stephens (Casanova)
. . . London (2004) (TV)
David Tennant (I) (Giacomo Casanova)
John Sandilands (II) (Casanova aged 5)
Zac Fox (Casanova aged 12)
Peter O'Toole (I) (Older Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2005) (TV)
ITALIAN
Stefano Accorsi (Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Giovane Casanova, Il (2002) (TV)
FRENCH
Jean-Pierre Andréani (Casanova)
. . . C'est arrivé à Paris (1977) (TV)
Michel Le Royer (Casanova)
. . . "Nouvelle tribu, La" (1996) (mini) TV Series
Michel Le Royer (Casanova)
. . . Un coup de baguette magique (1997) (TV)
Roland Lesaffre (Casanova)
. . . "Madame êtes-vous libre?" (1971) TV Series
Jean-François Poron (Casanova)
. . . Siècle des lumières, Le (1976) (TV)
GERMAN
Jean-Claude Brialy (Casanova)
. . . "Schöne Wilhelmine, Die" (1984) (mini) TV Series
Robert Hunger-Bühler (Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2004) (TV)
Wolf Kaiser (Casanova)
. . . Casanova auf Schloß Dux (1983) (TV)
Walter Koeninger (Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Casanova (1981) (TV)
Romuald Pekny (Casanova)
. . . Frag nach bei Casanova (1975) (TV)
It appears that several actors named "Toby" have played the role of Casanova in Toobworld. Can't quite put my finger on why that should be of interest.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
There have been times in the past when I've placed personal preference at the forefront in my duties as a TV Universe caretaker, especially when it comes to which TV shows belong in the main Toobworld and which ones must be relegated to an alternate dimension.
A case in point - "The Delay-a-Way Plan".
One of my guidelines is that a show's remake muste be shipped off to Earth Prime-Time Delay while the original commands the stage in Earth Prime-Time. These remakes usually reflect the times in which they were produced, just as the originals did in theirs, and so they are set in later time periods than the originals (hence the "Delay").
Despite it being one of the most lauded TV series on the Toob today, 'Battlestar Galactica' can never be considered for membership in the main TV dimension. Not when its "inspiration" (and its sequel, 'Galactica 1980') were on the air a quarter century ago. And not when those two shows, as bad as they could be, are integral to linking at least four other TV series together ('Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman', 'Fernwood 2Nite', 'America 2-Nite', and 'McCloud'). They also provide a theoretical splainin for the Eugenics War and certain scientific advancements found only in Toobworld.
But I have made exceptions in the past. Art Carney appeared in "The Incredible World of Horace Ford" on 'Studio One' one week after I was born. Nearly eight years later, that Reginal Rose-scripted story appeared as an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' with Pat Hingle as Horace Ford, and with an alternate ending.
Even though it came later, I consider Hingle's version to be the official one for Earth Prime-Time. This is because 'The Twilight Zone' is more accessible to the viewing public, thanks to the Sci-Fi Channel, so many years in syndication, and DVD collections. The gestalt of shared memory is a powerful component in keeping the TV Universe "alive".
Another example would be that of Sherlock Holmes, a topic I explored around this time last year. If I consider that "first dibs" guideline to be a hard and fast rule, then Ronald Howard's 1950s interpretation should be the official version of Conan Doyle's consulting detective.
But in the 1980s, PBS presented Jeremy Brett in the role, with adaptations of all the original stories. (He even dressed the part as envisioned by original illustrator Sydney Paget, and not in the deerstalker and cape as most actors following William Gillette have done.) Howard's Holmes only covered a few of those cases, such as "The Red-Headed League". So o'bviously the Brett Holmes is a better realization of the immortal detective and all the other versions of Holmes must be shipped out to new homes.
I bring this up because of Giacomo Casanova, and how torn I am as to which version should be the official legendary lover of Toobworld.
Casanova has had plenty of incarnations on Television over the years since 1971. (Was he too risque a character to be shown before then? Over in the Cineverse, his tale has been told since the Silent Era.) I haven't seen any of those versions, but I can't help thinking that for the most part they must be dry, stodgy, stuff historical dramas, or outright fabrications about his life. (And Casanova surely did enough of that himself in his memoirs.)
However, that 1971 six-part miniseries was written by Dennis Potter, an acclaimed genius among Television writers, right up there with in the pantheon with Chayevsky, Serling, and Rose. And Frank Finlay - whom I first noticed in "The Three Musketeers" - is a fine actor who probably gave mult-shaded life to Casanova. Even without having yet seen it, I think it must be a very appropriate production to represent Casanova in Toobworld. (And reviews which I have found online seem to buttress that belief.)
There are plenty of foreign teleplays on the life of Casanova, most of them in French or German (at least three versions in each, I think). But as a caretaker of the TV Universe, I do take certain liberties based on my own prejudices. And one of these is that English language productions will take precedence over those in a foreign language whenever possible.
And sorry, but that includes the 2002 Italian TV movie "Il Giovane Casanova" starring Stefano Accorsi as Giacomo Casanova, even though it's in the native language of the real Casanova.
It's not like the TV Universe doesn't give me the splainin to back up that claim. After all, whenever time travellers like Mr. Peabody or the Doctor visit some past era in Earth's history, the people they encounter speak English. Now, the Ninth Incarnation of the Doctor claimed this ws due to the effects of travelling in the TARDIS, and Arthur Dent had a Babel Fish in his ear, but how does any of that explain the conversational English of 'I, Claudius'? Who in that cast of characters was a Gallifreyan Time Lord or a hitch-hiker from Betelgeuse in disguise?
Stuart Damon played Giacomo in "A Touch Of The Casanovas" back in 1975, but from what I read about it, the production was geared more towards humor. As such, I have no problem in assigning that version of Casanova's life to the same dimension which houses 'When Things Were Rotten', 'That's My Bush!', and 'The Secret Files of Desmond Pfeiffer'.
(When I first typed that title, my computer crashed and I lost this entire file. Says something about the show, I think.....)
The Richard Chamberlain portrayal of Casanova in 1987 is highly regarded for its irreverent script by the author of the "Flashman" series of books, George MacDonald Fraser. It sounds like the type of production I'd like to give some kind of preferential treatment by placing it in the same dimension as that which houses 'The West Wing'.
As for Patrick Bergin in 'Casanova's Love Letters' which, like the version just shown on Masterpiece Theatre, was televised in 2005..... I suppose the evil mirror universe must have its Casanova as well......
Which brings me to the production written by Russell T. Davies and starring David Tennant and Peter O'Toole as Casanova at different times in his life......
This production seems to have captured most of the significant facts from his 12 volume memoir, "Histoire De Ma Vie" (Story of My Life), with only one major deviation - the faux castrati Bellino was combined with Teresa Cornelys and Donna Lucrezia, by each of whom he had illegitimate daughters. (And that storyline in this production had quite a deviation if you know what I mean, Vern. Nudge nudge wink wink!)
I would dearly love to use this televersion of Casanova's life as it has the best sense of being "Television". RTD's script was lively and had a sense of play that I would think must have captured the spirit of Casanova's memoirs.
Its "televisuality" pervades throughout. Casanova and his manservant Rocco were both tele-cognizant, recognizing and acknowledging that they had an audience watching them. And many times the costumes and dialogue betrayed an anachronistic flavor to better reflect the social mores of those "modern" times. (RTD even threw in a joke at the expense of Aaron Spelling! (Well, he wasn't quite dead yet when this first aired.....)
Add to all of this the amazing number of actors who would go on to appear in RTD's revival of 'Doctor Who' (most notably David Tennant, the Tenth Incarnation of the Doctor as Casanova himself), and this is a production that would make for a pleasant diversion in repeat viewings.
Still, there is that mini-series from 1971 penned by Dennis Potter......
But have no fear! I think I have a way to incorporate both into the main Toobworld!
Potter's production takes place in 1755, as Casanova is jailed in the prison of the Doge's Palace. And he reflects back on his many loves and adventures during that incarceration.
In a similar fashion, RTD's recent version is set in June of 1798, just days before Casanova's death while serving as a librarian for a nobleman in Bohemia. And again, his life is seen in flashback as he relates his story to a young serving girl who works in the same castle.
Here's my solution. Frank Finlay and Peter O'Toole are both playing the same Casanova, but obviously at different points in his life, over forty years apart. It's another one of my "guidelines" that casting changes are acceptable due to the toll taken by aging. The ravages of Time would splain away most of the physical differences, save perhaps for the nose..... And whose to say Casanova didn't resort to some kind of neo-classical nip/tuck to give him a more elegant schnozzola?
As for David Tennant as the younger Casanova, who is seen in the most recent version in the same circumstances as the incarcerated Casanova played by Frank Finlay, that's an easy one to splain away.
He wasn't real.
What we saw was Casanova as envisioned by Edith the serving girl while she listened to the stories told by the elder Casanova. This would splain the telecognizant glances toward the audience - it's addressed to Edith as a visual wink by her sub-conscious when she begins to doubt the veracity of the stories.
It's a conceit I used when I needed a splainin regarding the Zonks caused by the outlandish stories in 'Jack Of All Trades'. The entire series was nothing more than the Munchausen-like tall tales told by Jack Styles in his own memoirs. Otherwise there was no way he could have possibly have met a young and beautiful Catherine The Great or Ben Franklin - who happened to have died about nine years before their supposed encounter in 1801.
We can use the same splainin for Casanova's appearance in a flashback on the adventure series 'Relic Hunter' (one of my guilty pleasures). When we see Dominic Cina as Casanova, what we are seeing is how he appears in the mind of the person narrating the flashback.
In a way, this splainin would also serve for the appearance of Toby Stephens as Casanova in the 2004docu-drama "London". In that case, what we are seeing is a dramatic re-enactment of Casanova's time in England, taken from a historical reference; perhaps as envisioned by whomever is reading that particular book.......
Speaking of Franklin, Casanova met him as well, and I only wish RTD had created a scene to show that. I think they would have made for a great pair of swingers in Paris, hittin' on the ladies!
THE MANY LIVES OF CASANOVA
ENGLISH
Patrick Bergin (Casanova)
Tom Frederic (Young Casanova)
. . . "Casanova's Love Letters" (2005) (mini) TV Series
Richard Chamberlain (I) (Giacomo Casanova)
Toby Rolt (Young Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Casanova (1987) (TV)
Domenic Cina (Casanova)
. . . "Relic Hunter" (1999) {The Book of Love (#1.9)} TV Series
Stuart Damon (Casanova)
. . . Touch of the Casanovas, A (1975) (TV)
Paul Marc Davis (Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2002) (TV)
Frank Finlay (I) (Giovanni Casanova)
. . . "Casanova" (1971) (mini) TV Series
Tony Rosato (Casanova)
. . . "Mentors" (1998) {The Book of Love (#2.8)} TV Series
Toby Stephens (Casanova)
. . . London (2004) (TV)
David Tennant (I) (Giacomo Casanova)
John Sandilands (II) (Casanova aged 5)
Zac Fox (Casanova aged 12)
Peter O'Toole (I) (Older Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2005) (TV)
ITALIAN
Stefano Accorsi (Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Giovane Casanova, Il (2002) (TV)
FRENCH
Jean-Pierre Andréani (Casanova)
. . . C'est arrivé à Paris (1977) (TV)
Michel Le Royer (Casanova)
. . . "Nouvelle tribu, La" (1996) (mini) TV Series
Michel Le Royer (Casanova)
. . . Un coup de baguette magique (1997) (TV)
Roland Lesaffre (Casanova)
. . . "Madame êtes-vous libre?" (1971) TV Series
Jean-François Poron (Casanova)
. . . Siècle des lumières, Le (1976) (TV)
GERMAN
Jean-Claude Brialy (Casanova)
. . . "Schöne Wilhelmine, Die" (1984) (mini) TV Series
Robert Hunger-Bühler (Casanova)
. . . Casanova (2004) (TV)
Wolf Kaiser (Casanova)
. . . Casanova auf Schloß Dux (1983) (TV)
Walter Koeninger (Giacomo Casanova)
. . . Casanova (1981) (TV)
Romuald Pekny (Casanova)
. . . Frag nach bei Casanova (1975) (TV)
It appears that several actors named "Toby" have played the role of Casanova in Toobworld. Can't quite put my finger on why that should be of interest.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
See that guy all dressed in green?
I-ko, i-ko, unday
He’s not a man;
He’s a lovin’ machine.
Jockomo fee na-né.
I-ko, i-ko, unday
He’s not a man;
He’s a lovin’ machine.
Jockomo fee na-né.
Monday, October 16, 2006
THE HAT SQUAD: FREDDY FENDER
Singer Freddy Fender died of lung cancer Saturday, October 14th, at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was 69.
During a career that spanned more than four decades, Fender enjoyed success in pop, Country and Tejano music. Born Baldemar Huerta, the son of migrant workers in San Benito, Texas, Freddy Fender was 23 years old when he earned his first taste of success with "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." Although the single was released in 1960, Freddy would have to wait 15 years to see it top the Country chart.
Soon after the song's release, he was arrested for possession of marijuana, and sent to prison for two years. After serving his jail sentence, Freddy worked as a mechanic in New Orleans, but continued to play music on the weekends.
By the early-1970s, he was back in the recording studio, making a string of Number One Country hits that included "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and a chart-topping remake of "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
Freddy's success on the Country charted faded in the 1980s. But, a decade later, he began a new chapter in his career as a member of the Grammy-winning Tejano band, the Texas Tornados, a Tex-Mex answer to the Traveling Wilburys, or as Mr. Fender referred to the quartet: the "Four Dorian Grays." The group also featured Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyer and the late Doug Sahm. Together, they blended rock, Country and various Mexican styles into their songs.
In addition to his music, Freddy also earned critical acclaim for his roles in various television and motion picture projects. Among his TV musical credits are 'Austin City Limits', 'Dinah!', and the 'Tonight' show.
TOOBWORLD APPEARANCE
"Great Performances"
- La pastorela (1991) TV Episode .... Tebano the Younger (pastore)
LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
"The Dukes of Hazzard"
- Bye, Bye, Boss (1981) TV Episode .... Himself
Boss Hogg is kidnapped by an escaped prisoner who is seeking revenge, while Bo and Luke try to get Boss back. Meanwhile Sheriff Rosco is hot on the trail of the Dukes for a robbery committed by the kidnappers. Freddy Fender sings "Jambalaya."
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
During a career that spanned more than four decades, Fender enjoyed success in pop, Country and Tejano music. Born Baldemar Huerta, the son of migrant workers in San Benito, Texas, Freddy Fender was 23 years old when he earned his first taste of success with "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." Although the single was released in 1960, Freddy would have to wait 15 years to see it top the Country chart.
Soon after the song's release, he was arrested for possession of marijuana, and sent to prison for two years. After serving his jail sentence, Freddy worked as a mechanic in New Orleans, but continued to play music on the weekends.
By the early-1970s, he was back in the recording studio, making a string of Number One Country hits that included "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and a chart-topping remake of "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."
Freddy's success on the Country charted faded in the 1980s. But, a decade later, he began a new chapter in his career as a member of the Grammy-winning Tejano band, the Texas Tornados, a Tex-Mex answer to the Traveling Wilburys, or as Mr. Fender referred to the quartet: the "Four Dorian Grays." The group also featured Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyer and the late Doug Sahm. Together, they blended rock, Country and various Mexican styles into their songs.
In addition to his music, Freddy also earned critical acclaim for his roles in various television and motion picture projects. Among his TV musical credits are 'Austin City Limits', 'Dinah!', and the 'Tonight' show.
TOOBWORLD APPEARANCE
"Great Performances"
- La pastorela (1991) TV Episode .... Tebano the Younger (pastore)
LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES
"The Dukes of Hazzard"
- Bye, Bye, Boss (1981) TV Episode .... Himself
Boss Hogg is kidnapped by an escaped prisoner who is seeking revenge, while Bo and Luke try to get Boss back. Meanwhile Sheriff Rosco is hot on the trail of the Dukes for a robbery committed by the kidnappers. Freddy Fender sings "Jambalaya."
BCnU.....
Tele-Toby
CASTING CALL: UP ON DEK
Over the last few years, there have been several TV movies made which are about the lives of the people involved in making some of the hit shows from the 1970s and 1980s. Mostly, these are pretty seamy affairs, with the accent on affairs, which don't seem all that interested in the actual production of the shows unless sex and drugs are involved.
Some of the shows which have received this treatment are 'Three's Company', 'Dynasty', 'Mork & Mindy', and 'Diff'rent Strokes'.
Well, if any of the shows made by David E. Kelley over the years should ever get that "Behind The Scenes" treatment, then I have a casting suggestion for the producers.
Let's say they want to do a "Behind The Scenes: 'L.A. Law'" TV flick. Then the producers should consider John Krasinski of 'The Office' to play DEK.
Take a look at some photo of David E. Kelley; it makes me think of him giving the famous Jim smirk.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Some of the shows which have received this treatment are 'Three's Company', 'Dynasty', 'Mork & Mindy', and 'Diff'rent Strokes'.
Well, if any of the shows made by David E. Kelley over the years should ever get that "Behind The Scenes" treatment, then I have a casting suggestion for the producers.
Let's say they want to do a "Behind The Scenes: 'L.A. Law'" TV flick. Then the producers should consider John Krasinski of 'The Office' to play DEK.
Take a look at some photo of David E. Kelley; it makes me think of him giving the famous Jim smirk.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
BEHIND THE SEEN: VICTORIA RECANO
Near the end of last season, 'The Insider' correspondent Victoria Recano turned up on an episode of 'CSI Miami', playing a TV reporter. According to the IMDb.com and TV.com, she was playing herself.
This past week, just about half a year later, she turned up in an episode of the franchise mothership, 'CSI'. Again, she was a reporter, unnamed, and working for TV station KRAP.
Boy, there's an unfortunate set of call letters in any other market, but in Las Vegas maybe it works. (I guess the cameramen for the station are called KRAP-shooters?)
I don't think Ms. Recano was meant to be appearing as herself in this episode, unless her televersion doesn't work for 'The Insider'. I didn't see the 'CSI: Miami' episode, so I can't say for certain whether or not she really was playing herself in that.
So this could play out either way - Victoria Recano of Toobworld has an identical twin who is also in the business; or her two appearances were the same reporter who was now working in Las Vegas after taking a new job assignment after leaving Miami.
In the fickle world of TV news, that's not unheard of......
Speaking of last week's episode of 'CSI', I tuned in hoping for the chance to lay down some d-ride on K-Fed, aka Mr. Britney Spears. But I have to admit, for what little he had to do, in what turned out to be a small but pivotal role, he did it well.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
This past week, just about half a year later, she turned up in an episode of the franchise mothership, 'CSI'. Again, she was a reporter, unnamed, and working for TV station KRAP.
Boy, there's an unfortunate set of call letters in any other market, but in Las Vegas maybe it works. (I guess the cameramen for the station are called KRAP-shooters?)
I don't think Ms. Recano was meant to be appearing as herself in this episode, unless her televersion doesn't work for 'The Insider'. I didn't see the 'CSI: Miami' episode, so I can't say for certain whether or not she really was playing herself in that.
So this could play out either way - Victoria Recano of Toobworld has an identical twin who is also in the business; or her two appearances were the same reporter who was now working in Las Vegas after taking a new job assignment after leaving Miami.
In the fickle world of TV news, that's not unheard of......
Speaking of last week's episode of 'CSI', I tuned in hoping for the chance to lay down some d-ride on K-Fed, aka Mr. Britney Spears. But I have to admit, for what little he had to do, in what turned out to be a small but pivotal role, he did it well.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Sunday, October 15, 2006
"nip/trek"?
Am I the only one who got a 'Star Trek' vibe from this week's episode of 'nip/tuck'?
Here are the pertinent points from the case file of "Faith Wolper, Ph.D.":
Burt Landau forced his wife Michelle and Dr. Christian Troy to continue their affair, even after they called it off. They had to have sex in his presence. They submitted, but Christian did it with defiance and he urged Michelle to ignore the presence of her husband in the room.
Burt used extortion on them, threatening Michelle with a divorce that would leave her "back in the gutter where I found you". And with Christian, Burt promised not only would he sell the practice and put him out of work, but he would also sue Christian until he couldn't even find a job as a veterinarian in some South American village.
By the way, Michelle Landau is black; Dr. Christian Troy is white.
Over four hundred years later, Captain James T. Kirk of hte Starship Enterprise and his communications officer Uhura were psychically forced to kiss by Parmen, leader of a group who called themselves "Plato's Stepchildren". But they fought against the mental command until Kirk's own psychokinetic powers kicked in and he was able to defeat Parmen.
Uhura is black and Kirk is white. (Or at least, they will be....)
That 'Star Trek' episode was broadcast about forty years ago. But it takes place over four hundred years after the 'nip/tuck' episode. And yet the times in which it aired shaped the attitudes in making that scene, and within the reality of Toobworld, it poisons the attitudes of that future era as well.
Like the song says, a kiss is just a kiss, but the late 1960s were a time of racial turmoil. So it was considered daring, even revolutionary.
Forty years later, and not only doesn't the concept of miscegenation fail to be an issue, but we actually see a simulated sex act! True, it's on a cable network, but still - the Great Bird of the Galaxy probably never foresaw the future as to what could be shown on Television.
Not that I'm complaining. Sanaa Lathan is a lovely woman.......
But the situation is one of the downsides to portraying the Future in Toobworld: eventually the Present Day surpasses it.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Here are the pertinent points from the case file of "Faith Wolper, Ph.D.":
Burt Landau forced his wife Michelle and Dr. Christian Troy to continue their affair, even after they called it off. They had to have sex in his presence. They submitted, but Christian did it with defiance and he urged Michelle to ignore the presence of her husband in the room.
Burt used extortion on them, threatening Michelle with a divorce that would leave her "back in the gutter where I found you". And with Christian, Burt promised not only would he sell the practice and put him out of work, but he would also sue Christian until he couldn't even find a job as a veterinarian in some South American village.
By the way, Michelle Landau is black; Dr. Christian Troy is white.
Over four hundred years later, Captain James T. Kirk of hte Starship Enterprise and his communications officer Uhura were psychically forced to kiss by Parmen, leader of a group who called themselves "Plato's Stepchildren". But they fought against the mental command until Kirk's own psychokinetic powers kicked in and he was able to defeat Parmen.
Uhura is black and Kirk is white. (Or at least, they will be....)
That 'Star Trek' episode was broadcast about forty years ago. But it takes place over four hundred years after the 'nip/tuck' episode. And yet the times in which it aired shaped the attitudes in making that scene, and within the reality of Toobworld, it poisons the attitudes of that future era as well.
Like the song says, a kiss is just a kiss, but the late 1960s were a time of racial turmoil. So it was considered daring, even revolutionary.
Forty years later, and not only doesn't the concept of miscegenation fail to be an issue, but we actually see a simulated sex act! True, it's on a cable network, but still - the Great Bird of the Galaxy probably never foresaw the future as to what could be shown on Television.
Not that I'm complaining. Sanaa Lathan is a lovely woman.......
But the situation is one of the downsides to portraying the Future in Toobworld: eventually the Present Day surpasses it.
Just sayin', is all.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
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