Saturday, November 24, 2007

"THE HOGFATHER"

"The Hogfather"
Sunday, November 25th
7 PM EST/6 PM Central
ION Television

Generally, Toobworld is considered Earth Prime-Time, the world where most TV shows actually exist and share the same universe.

But some shows have to be banished to alternate dimensions because they clash with the established rules of the majority. My favorite example? Most TV series will refer to the current President of the United States as being their POTUS as well. But shows like '24', 'The West Wing', 'Prison Break', 'Commander-In-Chief', 'The Agency', 'Mr. President', 'Traveler', etc? Off they go to their own dimensions.

TV shows that are remakes of earlier series end up in a separate dimension because Earth Prime-Time already has a version. 'Smallville', 'Battlestar Galactica', 'The New Addams Family', all fall into that category.

And TV cartoons have the Tooniverse.

Television, like the English language, is this giant maw absorbing everything it comes in contact with. By that, I mean works of literature have been adapted and become part of the TV Universe. The works of Shakespeare, Dickens, Twain, Agatha Christie, Tony Hillerman, Norman Mailer. 'The Martian Chronicles' of Ray Bradbury and 'Between Time And Timbuktu' by Vonnegut. Some of those are part of Toobworld; others are sent packing to the alternate Toobworlds.

Works of fantasy find their way into Toobworld and by the nature of their created worlds end up in alternate dimensions: the works of 'Tolkien' ("The Hobbit"), Mervyn Peake ('Gormenghast'), L. Frank Baum ('The Shirley Temple Storybook' - "The Land of Oz"), and now Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series of books, starting with 'The Hogfather'.

There's no way the Discworld could exist in the world of Earth Prime-Time. Discworld is not only flat, but it's resting on the backs of four elephants who themselves are standing on the back of a giant turle. Having never read Pratchett, I don't know if this is fact or mythology.

As far as Toobworld is concerned, we should get a pretty good idea Sunday night with the premiere of "The Hogfather". In this story, the Santa Claus of Discworld, the Hogfather, is kidnapped by Mr. Teatime (described as a combination of Peter Lorre and Willy Wonka) and so the personification of Death fills in for him.

I guess the Discworld version of Hannukah Harry wasn't available.....

"The Hogfather" aired last holiday season in the UK, so its alternate dimension is already established. Now we finally get the chance to view it for ourselves.

Here's the info again:
"The Hogfather"
Sunday, November 25th
7 PM EST/6 PM Central
ION Television

Click the Hogfather's hat to see the trailer......


BCnU!
Toby OB

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