In one of the commercial breaks for 'Monk', there was a blipvert for the Swiffer. Soon after that word from their sponsor, Mr. Monk asked for a Swiffer to check the dust gathering on the nose of some bust.
Nothing unusual in that for 'Monk'. They've combined commercials with product placement before on that show. Off-hand, I can remember one with a heavy emphasis on Glad trash bags.
But here's the kicker. During 'Psych', there was a promo for 'Monk' which was obviously a dream sequence for the detective. People with perfectly manicured lawns using a bevel to make sure the hedges were even; pet owners wearing outfits to match their pets.
And all of the little school girls who were cleaning the parking meters usually touched by Monk were using Windex to wipe them clean.
Shozbot! That had to be a first - product placement within a promo!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Friday, January 26, 2007
3 ZONKS OF "VERONICA MARS"
'Veronica Mars' came back from its winter hiatus this week, and challenged Toobworld Central (without even being aware of our existence, no doubt) with three Zonk attempts in the episode "Show Me The Monkey!"
First up:
When it comes to the game shows, talk shows, variety shows, news programs and reality programming of the real world, Toobworld has their (nearly) exact duplicates as well. So 'The View' as seen by us can also be viewed by TV characters like Dick. And for them, Rosie O'Donnell is now a member of 'The View' team.
From 1977 until 1990, TV America was terrorized by a misunderstood monster that was known as "The Hulk". The Hulk was actually a scientist named David Bruce Banner, who had given himself an accidental overdose of gamma radiation. And when he got really agitated or even angry, you wouldn't like him when he was angry. That's because the rise in such emotions would trigger his transformation into the Hulk.
The Hulk showed up all across the United States in Toobworld, from New York City to Oregon, so the whole country was aware of his existence. But for over fifteen years, he's not been seen or heard from. A generation is now growing up in Toobworld for whom "The Hulk" is nothing more than a boogeyman cited to get them to go to sleep or eat their beets.
And that's why Mac was able to joke about the Hulk, when for her parents the green-skinned behemoth was a real threat.
Charlie Townsend's detective agency exists in the same TV dimension as the Keith Mars detective agency; same state, in fact. So even though Veronica should be aware of "Charlie's Angels" as her Dad's professional rivals and from news reports about their exploits, she should NOT know them as a TV show.
The two theatrically-released movies based on the TV show (with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu as Charlie's latest angels) fall into the same category as "Maverick", the ten 'Star Trek' films, and the 1966 movie version of 'Batman'. They are films which extend the TV Universe into the realm of the movies, the "Cineverse".
Had the voice of Charlie Townsend been provided by anybody other than John Forsythe, or if the three actresses were recreating the roles of the originals, we could have just ignored the two movies as having no connection to Toobworld. Instead, they brilliantly went the sequel route and these three angels were just the latest in a long line of operatives working for Charlie.
And that means that Time marches on for them still. It's been almost four years since the last "Charlie's Angels" film, so what have they been up to during that time?
It's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that they subjected themselves to the scrutiny of a TV reality series.
Here in the real world we've seen "reality" shows about restaurants, airlines, funeral parlors, motorcycle repair shops, and even one about a bounty hunter. So why not one about a detective agency? And perhaps Charlie's reason to allow the intrusion is because it ties into a case that he's working on.
If so, it would be to this show that Veronica was referring, not the original 'Charlie's Angels' , nor to the movies.
Three Zonks averted! Neptune, California, is safe once more.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
First up:
"What are we? On 'The View'?
Who am I, Rosie O'Donnell?"
Dick Casablancas
Who am I, Rosie O'Donnell?"
Dick Casablancas
When it comes to the game shows, talk shows, variety shows, news programs and reality programming of the real world, Toobworld has their (nearly) exact duplicates as well. So 'The View' as seen by us can also be viewed by TV characters like Dick. And for them, Rosie O'Donnell is now a member of 'The View' team.
"All that's missing is a big hole in the wall shaped like the Hulk."
Cindy "Mac" MacKenzie
Cindy "Mac" MacKenzie
From 1977 until 1990, TV America was terrorized by a misunderstood monster that was known as "The Hulk". The Hulk was actually a scientist named David Bruce Banner, who had given himself an accidental overdose of gamma radiation. And when he got really agitated or even angry, you wouldn't like him when he was angry. That's because the rise in such emotions would trigger his transformation into the Hulk.
The Hulk showed up all across the United States in Toobworld, from New York City to Oregon, so the whole country was aware of his existence. But for over fifteen years, he's not been seen or heard from. A generation is now growing up in Toobworld for whom "The Hulk" is nothing more than a boogeyman cited to get them to go to sleep or eat their beets.
And that's why Mac was able to joke about the Hulk, when for her parents the green-skinned behemoth was a real threat.
"All we need is one more angel and we've got a show!"
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Charlie Townsend's detective agency exists in the same TV dimension as the Keith Mars detective agency; same state, in fact. So even though Veronica should be aware of "Charlie's Angels" as her Dad's professional rivals and from news reports about their exploits, she should NOT know them as a TV show.
The two theatrically-released movies based on the TV show (with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu as Charlie's latest angels) fall into the same category as "Maverick", the ten 'Star Trek' films, and the 1966 movie version of 'Batman'. They are films which extend the TV Universe into the realm of the movies, the "Cineverse".
Had the voice of Charlie Townsend been provided by anybody other than John Forsythe, or if the three actresses were recreating the roles of the originals, we could have just ignored the two movies as having no connection to Toobworld. Instead, they brilliantly went the sequel route and these three angels were just the latest in a long line of operatives working for Charlie.
And that means that Time marches on for them still. It's been almost four years since the last "Charlie's Angels" film, so what have they been up to during that time?
It's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that they subjected themselves to the scrutiny of a TV reality series.
Here in the real world we've seen "reality" shows about restaurants, airlines, funeral parlors, motorcycle repair shops, and even one about a bounty hunter. So why not one about a detective agency? And perhaps Charlie's reason to allow the intrusion is because it ties into a case that he's working on.
If so, it would be to this show that Veronica was referring, not the original 'Charlie's Angels' , nor to the movies.
Three Zonks averted! Neptune, California, is safe once more.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE TV CHARACTERS
The BBC has confirmed that Sir Derek Jacobi will be in at least one episode of 'Doctor Who' in the coming series, the second season for David Tennant as the Doctor.
But they would not confirm that he plays a character called the Professor who helps the Doctor and his new assistant, Martha Jones, to save the Earth. (This was a report that came from the Mirror.)
So there's still some hope for one of my recent Wish-craft ideas which I've been puttering with - that Jacobi might reprise his role as the Roman Emperor Claudius, which he portrayed in the adaptation of Robert Graves' "I, Claudius".
At 68, he's certainly at the right age to play the role now with little make-up to achieve the illusion.
Claudius - as played on TV by Jacobi - is one of several TV historical characters I'd love to see the Doctor encounter, especially since the original purpose of the show was for the Doctor to visit historical time periods and meet the legends out of the past.
As for others, how about Al Swearengen & Seth Bullock - characters portrayed by Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant respectively in 'Deadwood'?
And it doesn't have to be limited it to historical characters. Established TV characters throughout the history of Toobworld could be met by the Doctor - just so long as the original actor was around to play the role, of course!
Here are some examples:
Brisco County, Jr. - The encounter would have to take place early in the 20th Century of course, to account for the aging of Bruce Campbell. The man's still in great shape, I'd say, but ten plus years have taken their toll. ('The Adventures Of Brisco County, Jr.')
Willow Rosenberg - Gallifreyan science must mesh pretty well with the rules of magic; otherwise, how else could the sonic screwdriver resurrect "Ursaslab" in "Love & Monsters"? So helping out the lesbian witch battle demons at some hellmouth might seem like business as usual for the Doctor. ('Buffy The Vampire Slayer')
Ross Geller - Working with the nerdy paleontologist would be a great way to cash in on the popularity of 'Night At The Museum'. Alien of choice? The Silurians and/or the Sea Devils, of course. ('Friends')
Jake Axminster - Wayne Rogers' private eye would now be working in a Los Angeles inundated with flower power, so both he and the Doctor would feel out of place, out of time. And it'd be great if they had to deal with as crazy a hippie character as Benjy "Blue Boy" Carver of 'Dragnet' infamy. ('City Of Angels')
Conor - There must be plenty of opportunity for the Doctor to find alien influence in the legeds that grew out of fifth century Ireland. Good luck though on getting Heath Ledger to come back to the small screen to once again play Conor! ('Roar')
Mickey Bricks & crew - Maybe Jamie or Albert could part the Doctor from his sonic screwdriver or even better, his psychic paper. And in exchange for their giving it back, he could help them pull a con on some alien who's done Mickey wrong in some way.
What would be especially great about this team-up would be the Doctor looking at Danny Blue and wondering, "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" ('Hu$tle')
Emma Peel - Of course, we'd be dealing with the talented amateur Mrs. Peel as she is today in 2007 (or nearabouts in either direction on the timeline). I gotta say, I'm really looking forward to seeing Dame Diana Rigg in 'Extras' next Sunday on HBO! (Lucky all of you who've seen the episode already over in the UK.) ('The Avengers')
Jean Luc Picard - Isn't it about time for Television Sans Frontieres? Let's have a grand crossover between 'Doctor Who' and 'Star Trek'! I think they'd make for a great combination! ('Star Trek: The Next Generation')
Geoffrey Tennant - Fancy a trip to Canada in the TARDIS, Martha? And while they're oot and aboot, perhaps they could take in a Shakespearean play in New Burbage. Their theatre is known for its share of ghosts, as Oliver Welles can attest. The setting would make for a great return visit by the Gelth!
By the way, there would have to be room found for some kind of in-joke regarding Geoffrey's last name! Also, if the producers ever should look beyond to Canada for a future Time Lord, Paul Gross might just fit the bill. And his wife, Martha Burns would be great for a return of Romana in a new regeneration! ('Slings & Arrows')
So there you have it, just some more fantasy wishing from this televisiologist. A great way to pass the time on this very cold day!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLES LANE!
Charles Lane is a character actor who's been around forever, or so it seems. The movie most frequently mentioned for him is "It's A Wonderful Life" - his character worked for Mr. Potter.
But for Toobworld, he was Homer Bedloe on 'Petticoat Junction', Lucille Carmichael's first boss on 'The Lucy Show', and Judge Petrillo on 'Soap'. (That character might have been related to Sophia Petrillo of 'The Golden Girls'.) Those are just a few of the many roles he created for the TV Universe.
If you don't know him by name or recognize his credits (listed at imdb.com), you'd recognize his description - flinty, sour-pussed, mean, weaselly and wearing wire-framed glasses. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine that he was ever a young man.
Playing such old characters certainly must have agreed with him; it's possible that it acclimated him to the fact that eventually he would become old, because today we're celebrating his 102nd birthday!
He's been out of the public eye for about two years. His last appearance was at the TV Land Awards after he turned 100, and he let the industry know that he was still available for work. I loved that!
Happy birthday, sir! Toobworld would be a poorer place without you.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
But for Toobworld, he was Homer Bedloe on 'Petticoat Junction', Lucille Carmichael's first boss on 'The Lucy Show', and Judge Petrillo on 'Soap'. (That character might have been related to Sophia Petrillo of 'The Golden Girls'.) Those are just a few of the many roles he created for the TV Universe.
If you don't know him by name or recognize his credits (listed at imdb.com), you'd recognize his description - flinty, sour-pussed, mean, weaselly and wearing wire-framed glasses. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine that he was ever a young man.
Playing such old characters certainly must have agreed with him; it's possible that it acclimated him to the fact that eventually he would become old, because today we're celebrating his 102nd birthday!
He's been out of the public eye for about two years. His last appearance was at the TV Land Awards after he turned 100, and he let the industry know that he was still available for work. I loved that!
Happy birthday, sir! Toobworld would be a poorer place without you.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Thursday, January 25, 2007
PASSAGES: E. HOWARD HUNT
"This fellow Hunt... he knows too much."
President Richard M. Nixon
June, 1972
President Richard M. Nixon
June, 1972
E. Howard Hunt was in charge of the disasterous Watergate break-in which led to the downfall of Nixon and his administration.
In the Television Universe, Hunt looked like an actor in the Real World named James Greene and like an actor named FJ O'Neil. Since the Howard Hunt that looked like Greene was first seen in 1978, he is the one from Earth Prime-Time. Earth Prime-Time/Remake can claim the Watergate burglar who looked like O'Neil, as he first appeared in in 1982.
James Greene (I) (E. Howard Hunt)
. . . "Blind Ambition" (1979) (mini) TV Series
F.J. O'Neil (Howard Hunt)
. . . Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (1982) (TV)
E. Howard Hunt died Tuesday in Miami at the age of 88.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
BOOK BEAT
For Gary Russell's new book ("Doctor Who: The Inside Story"), the show's producer Russell T. Davies has provided the afterword. In it, he stated that the long-running sci-fi series is perhaps the most documented program in the history of Television.
Hello? 'Star Trek', anyone?
There should be a "Thunderdome" grudge match to settle the matter!
I'll bet 400 quatloos on 'Trek' as the winner. With the caveat that I establish the current monetary exchange rate for quatloos into dollars.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Hello? 'Star Trek', anyone?
There should be a "Thunderdome" grudge match to settle the matter!
I'll bet 400 quatloos on 'Trek' as the winner. With the caveat that I establish the current monetary exchange rate for quatloos into dollars.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
MISSING LINKS: DRESDEN & KOLCHAK
'The Dresden Files' is like that guy you knew back in school who was amiable enough, fun to hang out with, but you knew he was never really going to amount to much. Still and all, there are worse ways to spend an hour on a Sunday night, and luckily it repeats later in the evening so that you don't have to miss watching 'Rome'. (Or if you MUST - 'Desperate Housewives'. ugh.)
I gave up on reading urban fantasy some years ago, but I used to devour whole series in the genre. My favorites in the field were Simon Hawke and Esther Friesner, and the all-time best will be Charles deLint. But I must have dropped out of the game before the Dresden series by Jim Butcher came along, so I can't say how well the show will hold up in comparison, nor do I know what to expect. (Which is probably a good thing - I gave up reading the Harry Potter books because they were ruining my experience at the movies. I'll probably go back and read them after the movies run their course, to fill in the blanks and enrich the experience.)
As Rob pointed out in his blog "The Medium Is Not Enough" (link to the left): "the magical rules of 'The Dresden Files' universe are relatively new and interesting." Yet at the same time, nothing contradicts the rules of magic that were laid down in shows like 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', 'Charmed', and even 'Bewitched', which is of importance in Toobworld. (At least so far - I've only had the debut episode to build on.)
Readers of this blog know that my criteria for watching a TV show are different than from most other "televisiologists". I'm more interested in how a show melds with the overall TV Universe, Earth Prime-Time, than with artistic merit. So shows like '24' or the updated version of 'Battlestar Galactica' aren't all that interesting to me, even though they are admittedly gripping and well-done, because they both had to be placed in alternate dimension foster homes.
On the other hand, I'll tune in to a shoddy sitcom in hopes of finding that link that will make it an official component of the main Toobworld. (If I'm lucky - as was the case with 'In Case Of Emergency' - it's one and out.)
So even if I found 'The Dresden Files' to be real schlock, still I would continue to watch it in hopes to get that one tidbit of TV trivia or possible in-joke that could be construed as an actual crossover to some other show.
And considering the location for this series, that might prove easier than expected, considering the show is about a private eye/wizard for hire in the modern world.
Chicago is proving to be quite promising for the world of urban fantasy. I can't say for certain that there are no earlier examples, but I think it all kicks off with the original 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker' series. (The first TV movie, based on the book, was set in Las Vegas - 'CSI' tie-in if ever there was one! - and the second movie was based in Seattle, where I'm sure many of the victims ended up in the morgue at Seattle Grace of 'Grey's Anatomy'!)
But there is also 'Cupid' (although the series didn't last long enough for us to find out whether Jeremy Piven's character really was the Greek god of Love or just some nutjob), and 'Special Unit 2', a show that could be considered the forerunner to 'Torchwood'. (Now there's a fantasy crossover devoutly to be wished!)
Here's one theoretical link I've already forged for 'The Dresden Files', with Darren McGavin's old TV show.....
When 'The Night Stalker' was remade as a new series two years ago, with Stuart Townsend now assaying the role of the crusading reporter who investigates the supernatural, I had no choice but to plop it into the dimension of TV remakes. Maybe I could have done some theoretical song and dance (with a little seltzer down my pants) in order to keep both versions in the same universe in much the same way as I did for the two televersions of Lt. Columbo, both Bert Freed's original portrayal in "Enough Rope" and the better known classic of Peter Falk's.
One way to go for Kolchak would have been the son carrying on the work of the father, perhaps. Except that the new version also recast the role of Tony Vicenzo. Having two characters with the same names as those from the original series stretched credulity, even in a TV show about vampires, headless bikers, werewolves, and moss monsters.
But in that first episode of the remake, there is this really interesting cameo by Darren McGavin as the original Carl Kolchak. As Townsend's version walks into the newspaper office, we see McGavin in the foreground in his trademark seersucker suit, just getting such a rush out of the fact that he's there at all.
What we're actually seeing, however, is a digitally inserted McGavin as Kolchak; the image was lifted from some scene to be found in the original series (perhaps even from the original TV movies).
Until 'The Dresden Files' came along, I had nothing to bolster this theory, but here's my splainin now:
Carl Kochak - the original played by McGavin - was magically teleported into the dimension where the new Kolchak resided. In essence, he had become a "Slider". But instead of sliding through the dimensional vortex with Science, Magic was used for the transport.
For all I know, he's there still, making himself a new life. That would splain why we don't see him around anymore in the main Toobworld. And the fact that it's because his portrayer, Darren McGavin, passed away last year doesn't enter into it. When he was seen in that cameo, Kolchak didn't show any signs that he had significantly aged since the last time we saw him (because the clip was from the show 25 years or so earlier).
It could be that Kolchak stumbled across a story about the fountain of youth, or he was blessed/cursed by some demi-god with immortality. That's an unrecorded adventure for some fanfic writer. I just like to think that Kolchak - as played by Darren McGavin - not only outlived his portrayer, but that he will always be around, somewhere in the overall TV Universe.
And thanks to Harry Dresden, he got the chance to see how his dimensional doppelganger lived.
That's my splainin, and I'm sticking to it!
As for 'The Dresden Files', since they've already infested the Windy City with wizards, skin-walkers, and ravens who can take on human form, here's hoping that one day we'll see Harry Dresden encounter a gnome. That would be sweet if I could then link that character to Carl the gnome from 'Special Unit 2'. (Could it be that Carl took that human name as an alias instead of his true magical name in honor of a certain reporter from the INS?)
As Mushrat would say in 'Deputy Dawg', it's pozz'ble. It's pozz'ble.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
I gave up on reading urban fantasy some years ago, but I used to devour whole series in the genre. My favorites in the field were Simon Hawke and Esther Friesner, and the all-time best will be Charles deLint. But I must have dropped out of the game before the Dresden series by Jim Butcher came along, so I can't say how well the show will hold up in comparison, nor do I know what to expect. (Which is probably a good thing - I gave up reading the Harry Potter books because they were ruining my experience at the movies. I'll probably go back and read them after the movies run their course, to fill in the blanks and enrich the experience.)
As Rob pointed out in his blog "The Medium Is Not Enough" (link to the left): "the magical rules of 'The Dresden Files' universe are relatively new and interesting." Yet at the same time, nothing contradicts the rules of magic that were laid down in shows like 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', 'Charmed', and even 'Bewitched', which is of importance in Toobworld. (At least so far - I've only had the debut episode to build on.)
Readers of this blog know that my criteria for watching a TV show are different than from most other "televisiologists". I'm more interested in how a show melds with the overall TV Universe, Earth Prime-Time, than with artistic merit. So shows like '24' or the updated version of 'Battlestar Galactica' aren't all that interesting to me, even though they are admittedly gripping and well-done, because they both had to be placed in alternate dimension foster homes.
On the other hand, I'll tune in to a shoddy sitcom in hopes of finding that link that will make it an official component of the main Toobworld. (If I'm lucky - as was the case with 'In Case Of Emergency' - it's one and out.)
So even if I found 'The Dresden Files' to be real schlock, still I would continue to watch it in hopes to get that one tidbit of TV trivia or possible in-joke that could be construed as an actual crossover to some other show.
And considering the location for this series, that might prove easier than expected, considering the show is about a private eye/wizard for hire in the modern world.
Chicago is proving to be quite promising for the world of urban fantasy. I can't say for certain that there are no earlier examples, but I think it all kicks off with the original 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker' series. (The first TV movie, based on the book, was set in Las Vegas - 'CSI' tie-in if ever there was one! - and the second movie was based in Seattle, where I'm sure many of the victims ended up in the morgue at Seattle Grace of 'Grey's Anatomy'!)
But there is also 'Cupid' (although the series didn't last long enough for us to find out whether Jeremy Piven's character really was the Greek god of Love or just some nutjob), and 'Special Unit 2', a show that could be considered the forerunner to 'Torchwood'. (Now there's a fantasy crossover devoutly to be wished!)
Here's one theoretical link I've already forged for 'The Dresden Files', with Darren McGavin's old TV show.....
When 'The Night Stalker' was remade as a new series two years ago, with Stuart Townsend now assaying the role of the crusading reporter who investigates the supernatural, I had no choice but to plop it into the dimension of TV remakes. Maybe I could have done some theoretical song and dance (with a little seltzer down my pants) in order to keep both versions in the same universe in much the same way as I did for the two televersions of Lt. Columbo, both Bert Freed's original portrayal in "Enough Rope" and the better known classic of Peter Falk's.
One way to go for Kolchak would have been the son carrying on the work of the father, perhaps. Except that the new version also recast the role of Tony Vicenzo. Having two characters with the same names as those from the original series stretched credulity, even in a TV show about vampires, headless bikers, werewolves, and moss monsters.
But in that first episode of the remake, there is this really interesting cameo by Darren McGavin as the original Carl Kolchak. As Townsend's version walks into the newspaper office, we see McGavin in the foreground in his trademark seersucker suit, just getting such a rush out of the fact that he's there at all.
What we're actually seeing, however, is a digitally inserted McGavin as Kolchak; the image was lifted from some scene to be found in the original series (perhaps even from the original TV movies).
Until 'The Dresden Files' came along, I had nothing to bolster this theory, but here's my splainin now:
Carl Kochak - the original played by McGavin - was magically teleported into the dimension where the new Kolchak resided. In essence, he had become a "Slider". But instead of sliding through the dimensional vortex with Science, Magic was used for the transport.
For all I know, he's there still, making himself a new life. That would splain why we don't see him around anymore in the main Toobworld. And the fact that it's because his portrayer, Darren McGavin, passed away last year doesn't enter into it. When he was seen in that cameo, Kolchak didn't show any signs that he had significantly aged since the last time we saw him (because the clip was from the show 25 years or so earlier).
It could be that Kolchak stumbled across a story about the fountain of youth, or he was blessed/cursed by some demi-god with immortality. That's an unrecorded adventure for some fanfic writer. I just like to think that Kolchak - as played by Darren McGavin - not only outlived his portrayer, but that he will always be around, somewhere in the overall TV Universe.
And thanks to Harry Dresden, he got the chance to see how his dimensional doppelganger lived.
That's my splainin, and I'm sticking to it!
As for 'The Dresden Files', since they've already infested the Windy City with wizards, skin-walkers, and ravens who can take on human form, here's hoping that one day we'll see Harry Dresden encounter a gnome. That would be sweet if I could then link that character to Carl the gnome from 'Special Unit 2'. (Could it be that Carl took that human name as an alias instead of his true magical name in honor of a certain reporter from the INS?)
As Mushrat would say in 'Deputy Dawg', it's pozz'ble. It's pozz'ble.....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"I've got all this useless information at the tip of my fingers."
Flynn Carson
"The Librarian"
MISSING IN ACTION: HOLLY ELLENBOGEN
TV news reporter Holly Ellenbogen has been excised from 'The Class' roster. No longer on the show, she's missing from the opening credits where the little kids morph into their adult versions.
Not that she was in much of the sitcom by the end of her run; there really wasn't much the writers could probably do with her while she was saddled with that effeminate heterosexual caricature of a husband.
And it's not like she'd have to be part of the others' lives forever, just because she reconnected at a third-grade reunion party and maybe had her ex-boyfriend (now gay) over for Thanksgiving dinner. People easily drift away and never come back into the lives of others with much stronger bonds than these people shared.
It's just that it feels somewhat orwellian about the way her character just disappeared; wiped clean from even the publicity pictures that once contained her image in the group.
What's especially disturbing is that if the show's creators don't address the issue of her absence, disturbed people like me will be left to fill in the blanks. And considering how we last saw her - being threatened by Richie's crazy, violent wife, - it's not hard to imagine that Holly Ellenbogen has gone from being a news reporter to becoming a news story. She's probably providing the nutrients in some pastoral piece of Pennsylvania countryside by now.......
Just sayin', is all.
By the way, she may not have been that interesting a character and everything about her was TOO sitcom/cartoonish, but at least Holly Ellenbogen had one of the best names to come along in Toobworld for some time.
Nothing I hate more than those boring TV names like Tim Taylor, Bob McKay, even the names for otherwise classic TV characters like Andy Taylor and Mary Richards! The last name of "Ellenbogen" just made it more of a challenge to do one of those theories of "relateeveety" for Holly......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Not that she was in much of the sitcom by the end of her run; there really wasn't much the writers could probably do with her while she was saddled with that effeminate heterosexual caricature of a husband.
And it's not like she'd have to be part of the others' lives forever, just because she reconnected at a third-grade reunion party and maybe had her ex-boyfriend (now gay) over for Thanksgiving dinner. People easily drift away and never come back into the lives of others with much stronger bonds than these people shared.
It's just that it feels somewhat orwellian about the way her character just disappeared; wiped clean from even the publicity pictures that once contained her image in the group.
What's especially disturbing is that if the show's creators don't address the issue of her absence, disturbed people like me will be left to fill in the blanks. And considering how we last saw her - being threatened by Richie's crazy, violent wife, - it's not hard to imagine that Holly Ellenbogen has gone from being a news reporter to becoming a news story. She's probably providing the nutrients in some pastoral piece of Pennsylvania countryside by now.......
Just sayin', is all.
By the way, she may not have been that interesting a character and everything about her was TOO sitcom/cartoonish, but at least Holly Ellenbogen had one of the best names to come along in Toobworld for some time.
Nothing I hate more than those boring TV names like Tim Taylor, Bob McKay, even the names for otherwise classic TV characters like Andy Taylor and Mary Richards! The last name of "Ellenbogen" just made it more of a challenge to do one of those theories of "relateeveety" for Holly......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
THE AQUAMAN ADDENDUM
No, it's not a Robert Ludlum title.....
Medium Rob writes one of my favorite blog discoveries from last year, "The Medium Is Not Enough", which looks at both English and American television. And for me, a great clearing house for links about 'Doctor Who'. (Check it out! You'll find the link, as always, to the left.)
So Medium Rob wrote in yesterday to set me straight on the Aquaman issue:
It was Alan Ritchson in both Aqua and Justice, so that's only two incarnations of AC to deal with.
Later he added:
My hazy memory recalled last night that the Mercy Reef pilot originally called for Will Toale to play AC and Justin Hartley took over from him. I don't think they'd actually filmed anything with Toale, so I don't know what kind of meta-universe he lives in as AC.
This splains why I remembered three actors in connection to the role, but the IMDb.com only listed two for the three appearances linked to 'Smallville'. It's a good reason why I shouldn't pay any heed to news items about upcoming projects until they're actually about to be broadcast.
Let's just take Will Toale out of the mix straight off. He's a What-Iffer we don't have to give any consideration.
The 'Smallville' episode which first introduced Arthur "AC" Curry as Aquaman ("Aqua") was a back-door pilot for a possible spin-off. But when it came time to film an actual pilot for a series, the producers decided to start fresh - not only with a new actor to play "AC", but also with a concept that would sever ties with 'Smallville'.
However, the pilot - "Mercy Reef" - was never broadcast. It would have wound up in that limbo dimension with all the other unaired pilots never to be seen had it not been for its release on the web at video outlets like YouTube (and available on iTunes as well, although I coujld be wrong about that.)
Ten years ago, I would have said that only shows that were broadcast on TV could become a part of Toobworld, but the concept of Television has been evolving, so that internet access should probably be accepted as well.
At any rate, Alan Richson returned as "AC" in this latest episdoe of 'Smallville', while Justin Hartley (now the Green Arrow in 'Smallville') was "AC" in "Mercy Reef", which had no connection to 'Smallville'.
So it's easy enough just to discount the "Mercy Reef" pilot as being in some other dimension of Toobworld. By the Trident of Poseidon! It could be submerged in the oceans of the main Toobworld itself, me hearties!
Suddenly I want to sing about pineapples under the sea......
And Alan Richson can rightfully reclaim his Life Aquatic to be the one, the only Grou- er, Aquaman.
For that dimension, at least......
And now I'll wash my hands of it all......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Medium Rob writes one of my favorite blog discoveries from last year, "The Medium Is Not Enough", which looks at both English and American television. And for me, a great clearing house for links about 'Doctor Who'. (Check it out! You'll find the link, as always, to the left.)
So Medium Rob wrote in yesterday to set me straight on the Aquaman issue:
It was Alan Ritchson in both Aqua and Justice, so that's only two incarnations of AC to deal with.
Later he added:
My hazy memory recalled last night that the Mercy Reef pilot originally called for Will Toale to play AC and Justin Hartley took over from him. I don't think they'd actually filmed anything with Toale, so I don't know what kind of meta-universe he lives in as AC.
This splains why I remembered three actors in connection to the role, but the IMDb.com only listed two for the three appearances linked to 'Smallville'. It's a good reason why I shouldn't pay any heed to news items about upcoming projects until they're actually about to be broadcast.
Let's just take Will Toale out of the mix straight off. He's a What-Iffer we don't have to give any consideration.
The 'Smallville' episode which first introduced Arthur "AC" Curry as Aquaman ("Aqua") was a back-door pilot for a possible spin-off. But when it came time to film an actual pilot for a series, the producers decided to start fresh - not only with a new actor to play "AC", but also with a concept that would sever ties with 'Smallville'.
However, the pilot - "Mercy Reef" - was never broadcast. It would have wound up in that limbo dimension with all the other unaired pilots never to be seen had it not been for its release on the web at video outlets like YouTube (and available on iTunes as well, although I coujld be wrong about that.)
Ten years ago, I would have said that only shows that were broadcast on TV could become a part of Toobworld, but the concept of Television has been evolving, so that internet access should probably be accepted as well.
At any rate, Alan Richson returned as "AC" in this latest episdoe of 'Smallville', while Justin Hartley (now the Green Arrow in 'Smallville') was "AC" in "Mercy Reef", which had no connection to 'Smallville'.
So it's easy enough just to discount the "Mercy Reef" pilot as being in some other dimension of Toobworld. By the Trident of Poseidon! It could be submerged in the oceans of the main Toobworld itself, me hearties!
Suddenly I want to sing about pineapples under the sea......
And Alan Richson can rightfully reclaim his Life Aquatic to be the one, the only Grou- er, Aquaman.
For that dimension, at least......
And now I'll wash my hands of it all......
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Monday, January 22, 2007
LOOK SHARP! FEEL SHARP! BE SHARP! ZOE SHARP!
Here's something offbeat for the League of Themselves:
In the real world, Zoe Sharp is a mystery novelist with a successful line of mysteries to her credit which feature her character Charlie Fox.
Here's an edited version of her bio from her website:
In 1988, on the strength of one accepted article, Zoe Sharp gave up her regular job to become a freelance photo-journalist, and has been making a living writing and photographing ever since, mainly for the motoring press.
Her professional writing career took off in 2001 with the publication of the first Charlie Fox book - Killer Instinct. This was followed by Riot Act (2002) and Hard Knocks (2003). In 2004, Charlie Fox found herself in Florida in the breakneck thriller First Drop, published by Piatkus in the UK (2004) and by her new American publishers, St Martin's Press, in September 2005.
Zoë lives in Cumbria, and is married, but says she would rather have a motorbike than children. Her hobbies are sailing, fast cars, (and faster motorbikes), target shooting, travel, films, music, and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She and her husband, Andy, who is a non-fiction author, have just finished self-building their own house.
But in Toobworld, the televersion of Zoe Sharp had an altogether different destiny. And I used the past tense for a reason......
Here's an excerpt from the description of Friday night's episode of 'Psych':
Henry reminds Connors about an old case of a woman named Zoe Sharp, who was killed by a mountain lion, but Connors always thought it was murder.
Henry tells [Shawn] that Zoe Sharp was Crocker's assistant and there was a rumor that they were having an affair. There wasn't any proof and Connors was always upset they couldn't nail Crocker for her death.
So, in the TV Universe, Zoe Sharp must have moved from England to Santa Barbara, California, and instead of becoming a mystery writer, she worked for the owner of a chain of family-oriented restaurants.
Zoe Sharp's onscreen life certainly didn't measure up to that of her real life, which is not how it usually goes in Toobworld. And getting killed as well o'bviously made it worse - especially when your corpse is eaten by a mountain lion.
The blame can be traced to her friend and fellow author, Lee Goldberg, who was a driving force behind 'Diagnosis Murder' and has written episodes of 'Monk'.
Turnabout is fair play, so maybe a character named "Lee Goldberg" should suffer an equally gruesome demise in the next Charlie Fox mystery!
Just sayin', is all....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
In the real world, Zoe Sharp is a mystery novelist with a successful line of mysteries to her credit which feature her character Charlie Fox.
Here's an edited version of her bio from her website:
In 1988, on the strength of one accepted article, Zoe Sharp gave up her regular job to become a freelance photo-journalist, and has been making a living writing and photographing ever since, mainly for the motoring press.
Her professional writing career took off in 2001 with the publication of the first Charlie Fox book - Killer Instinct. This was followed by Riot Act (2002) and Hard Knocks (2003). In 2004, Charlie Fox found herself in Florida in the breakneck thriller First Drop, published by Piatkus in the UK (2004) and by her new American publishers, St Martin's Press, in September 2005.
Zoë lives in Cumbria, and is married, but says she would rather have a motorbike than children. Her hobbies are sailing, fast cars, (and faster motorbikes), target shooting, travel, films, music, and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She and her husband, Andy, who is a non-fiction author, have just finished self-building their own house.
But in Toobworld, the televersion of Zoe Sharp had an altogether different destiny. And I used the past tense for a reason......
Here's an excerpt from the description of Friday night's episode of 'Psych':
Henry reminds Connors about an old case of a woman named Zoe Sharp, who was killed by a mountain lion, but Connors always thought it was murder.
Henry tells [Shawn] that Zoe Sharp was Crocker's assistant and there was a rumor that they were having an affair. There wasn't any proof and Connors was always upset they couldn't nail Crocker for her death.
So, in the TV Universe, Zoe Sharp must have moved from England to Santa Barbara, California, and instead of becoming a mystery writer, she worked for the owner of a chain of family-oriented restaurants.
Zoe Sharp's onscreen life certainly didn't measure up to that of her real life, which is not how it usually goes in Toobworld. And getting killed as well o'bviously made it worse - especially when your corpse is eaten by a mountain lion.
The blame can be traced to her friend and fellow author, Lee Goldberg, who was a driving force behind 'Diagnosis Murder' and has written episodes of 'Monk'.
Turnabout is fair play, so maybe a character named "Lee Goldberg" should suffer an equally gruesome demise in the next Charlie Fox mystery!
Just sayin', is all....
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY TV CHARACTERS
The Comics Continuum contacted Al Gough, the executive producer of 'Smallville', and asked if there would be a spin-off featuring the superheroes who appeared in the recent episode "Justice".
"No plans for the moment for a Green Arrow spin-off. Sorry," Gough said in response. "No plans to bring the entire Justice League back this season, but you may see several members toward the end of the season!"
So as it stands now in that alternate dimension (shared by 'Smallville' and 'The West Wing'), Green Arrow, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Impulse (who should be called Flash, I'm sorry!) are off on their quest to shut down Luthorcorp.'s secret project known as "33.1".
One thing that wasn't addressed in the episode was that Aquaman had undergone a change in his physical appearance. If I'm not mistaken, this was the third alteration. (Although his second "regeneration" was in the unaired pilot - but which was available for viewing online. That actor is now playing the Green Arrow in the show! Such headaches for the televisiologist!)
In the real world, of course, the reason is due to recasting. But for that alternate dimension of Toobworld, Aquaman aka "AC" may have been exposed to the equivalent of the theoretical meteor that altered the appearance of Ginger Grant of 'Gilligan's Island' in the main Toobworld.
If that dimension's version of the island also sank beneath the waves, that meteor might have poisoned the ocean's waters and continued to affect human physiology once Aquaman got too close to it.
Just an idea for now, and as it's all part of a different dimension from the main Toobworld, it's not really a high priority at this time.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"No plans for the moment for a Green Arrow spin-off. Sorry," Gough said in response. "No plans to bring the entire Justice League back this season, but you may see several members toward the end of the season!"
So as it stands now in that alternate dimension (shared by 'Smallville' and 'The West Wing'), Green Arrow, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Impulse (who should be called Flash, I'm sorry!) are off on their quest to shut down Luthorcorp.'s secret project known as "33.1".
One thing that wasn't addressed in the episode was that Aquaman had undergone a change in his physical appearance. If I'm not mistaken, this was the third alteration. (Although his second "regeneration" was in the unaired pilot - but which was available for viewing online. That actor is now playing the Green Arrow in the show! Such headaches for the televisiologist!)
In the real world, of course, the reason is due to recasting. But for that alternate dimension of Toobworld, Aquaman aka "AC" may have been exposed to the equivalent of the theoretical meteor that altered the appearance of Ginger Grant of 'Gilligan's Island' in the main Toobworld.
If that dimension's version of the island also sank beneath the waves, that meteor might have poisoned the ocean's waters and continued to affect human physiology once Aquaman got too close to it.
Just an idea for now, and as it's all part of a different dimension from the main Toobworld, it's not really a high priority at this time.
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Sunday, January 21, 2007
GAY BLADE
Singer-songwriter John Mayer has come up with his own solution/punishment for Isaiah Washington in regards to his use of a homophobic slur towards his co-star TR Knight:
Make Washington's character, Dr. Burke, gay.
"What better way for an actor to get to the roots of his discrimination than by portraying the very the subject of his own ire for the remainder of his contract? That'll learn ya!"
And have him come out on Frasier Crane's radio show!
Sorry, I'm so selfish.
Does this suggestion by Mayer remind anybody else of the "Twilight Zone" movie? I'm thinking of the story with Vic Morrow, as the bigot who ends up as the various ethnic types he used to belittle.
Of course, in the real world, Vic Morrow (one of my favorite actors, thanks to 'Combat!') lost his life filming that movie when a helicopter fell on him and two small girls during a scene.
You can't have that kind of resolution if ABC and Shonda Rhimes decide to get rid of his character permanently - 'ER' might have something to say about plagiarism.
Dropping a helicopter on a doctor? Been there, done that.
But maybe they should drop him into some kind of high-speed rotary blade that cuts him up into itty-bitty bite-sized chunks.
Know what you'd have then?
Burke Slaw.
Thank you! I'll be here all week!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Make Washington's character, Dr. Burke, gay.
"What better way for an actor to get to the roots of his discrimination than by portraying the very the subject of his own ire for the remainder of his contract? That'll learn ya!"
And have him come out on Frasier Crane's radio show!
Sorry, I'm so selfish.
Does this suggestion by Mayer remind anybody else of the "Twilight Zone" movie? I'm thinking of the story with Vic Morrow, as the bigot who ends up as the various ethnic types he used to belittle.
Of course, in the real world, Vic Morrow (one of my favorite actors, thanks to 'Combat!') lost his life filming that movie when a helicopter fell on him and two small girls during a scene.
You can't have that kind of resolution if ABC and Shonda Rhimes decide to get rid of his character permanently - 'ER' might have something to say about plagiarism.
Dropping a helicopter on a doctor? Been there, done that.
But maybe they should drop him into some kind of high-speed rotary blade that cuts him up into itty-bitty bite-sized chunks.
Know what you'd have then?
Burke Slaw.
Thank you! I'll be here all week!
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
THE (SITCOM) LIFE OF BRIAN
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams couldn't have been too pleased with how he was portrayed on this past Thursday's '30 Rock' - as a drunken, lecherous satyr with an obsession over his rival Katie Couric which manifested itself in graffiti.
Kenneth the page had wiped most of it away, but we did see scrawled on his dressing room wall:
Williams himself was never seen, but he didn't have to be. The state of disarray in his dressing room pretty much summed up the man as a fictional being. Still, that's all it takes to add to the presence of his tele-version in Toobworld - some kind of reference to his or her existence.in a fictional series. Appearances on talk shows and comedy shows like 'Saturday Night Live' and 'The Daily Show' don't do much to fill out his "resume".
But this "appearance" on '30 Rock' is the step in the right direction, even if it pissed him off.
After all, he doesn't want it getting around that Katie Couric got into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame and he didn't, does he? (Katie already has three appearances as her herself, the minimum requirement for membership - 'Murphy Brown', 'Cheers', and 'Will & Grace'.)
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
Kenneth the page had wiped most of it away, but we did see scrawled on his dressing room wall:
KAT
COU
SUC
COU
SUC
Williams himself was never seen, but he didn't have to be. The state of disarray in his dressing room pretty much summed up the man as a fictional being. Still, that's all it takes to add to the presence of his tele-version in Toobworld - some kind of reference to his or her existence.in a fictional series. Appearances on talk shows and comedy shows like 'Saturday Night Live' and 'The Daily Show' don't do much to fill out his "resume".
But this "appearance" on '30 Rock' is the step in the right direction, even if it pissed him off.
After all, he doesn't want it getting around that Katie Couric got into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame and he didn't, does he? (Katie already has three appearances as her herself, the minimum requirement for membership - 'Murphy Brown', 'Cheers', and 'Will & Grace'.)
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
AN EXHULTATION OF "HEROES"
This week's Entertainment Weekly has a great story about the return of 'Heroes' to the NBC sked on Monday (1/22) at 9 pm. Based on that, this Inner Toob essay does contain a spoiler....
With the introduction on Monday of Christopher Eccleston's "Invisible Man", there will be a "large element of mythology" revealed. According to Tim Kring, the show's creator, we're about to learn "that there was a whole previous generation of heroes and they had adventures of their own".
This being a blog about the TV Universe in general, its' my contention that we've seen some of these previous heroes before in other TV series.
Here are a few others who should be included:
MUTANT X TEAM - As the powers might be regarded as the result of some kind of mutation, the team of heroes from 'Mutant X' are all likely candidates for consideration.
JIMBO COBB - Something of a drifter, Jimbo Cobb would be the "Prime Mover" (if they used code names) as he had the power of telekinesis. Like many of the current roster of heroes, he found himself in Las Vegas, where he saw how his powers to move objects could corrupt even his best friend. Since that time in the early sixties, Jimbo kept his abilities to himself, using them only in an emergency, like saving people in a car crash.
If he's still alive in the TV Universe, Jimbo Cobb would be in his mid nineties. (The man who portrayed him, Buddy Ebsen, passed away just a few years ago.) ('The Twilight Zone' - "The Prime Movier")
BEN RICHARDS - Because of rare antibodies in his O-negative blood, race car driver Ben Richards was basically immortal. This made him a target of billionaire Arthur Maitland, whose family had been obsessed wiht the aging process since back in the days of 'The Wild, Wild West' ("The Night Of The Sedgewick Curse").
It's more than likely that Ben and his brother Jason were killed years ago by those desperate enough to do anything to gain control of the Richards brothers' blood platelets. ('The Immortal')
ROB ROBERTS - Not all of these mutations result in powers. Some, like Rob Roberts, find themselves born as hideous monsters. And like Sylar, Rob Roberts had a craving for human brains. (Although we still don't know if Sylar eats them, Rob Roberts was always "Hungry" for brains.)
Rob Roberts was eventually gunned down by two FBI agents who worekd in the Bureau's 'X-Files' department.
Rob Roberts may not have even been human. He might have been some off-shoot of humanity raised as a human; perhaps a denizen of one of the many underground empires in Toobworld.
This phenomena is not limited to Earth Prime-Time. The dimension in which 'Smallville' takes place has shown that Lex Luthor is already committed his financial resources in studying the enhancement of "people with capabilities".
Well, those are just a few suggestions as to who else might be considered similar to the current crop of 'Heroes'. Whom might you suggest as a member of Homo Superior?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
With the introduction on Monday of Christopher Eccleston's "Invisible Man", there will be a "large element of mythology" revealed. According to Tim Kring, the show's creator, we're about to learn "that there was a whole previous generation of heroes and they had adventures of their own".
This being a blog about the TV Universe in general, its' my contention that we've seen some of these previous heroes before in other TV series.
Here are a few others who should be included:
MUTANT X TEAM - As the powers might be regarded as the result of some kind of mutation, the team of heroes from 'Mutant X' are all likely candidates for consideration.
JIMBO COBB - Something of a drifter, Jimbo Cobb would be the "Prime Mover" (if they used code names) as he had the power of telekinesis. Like many of the current roster of heroes, he found himself in Las Vegas, where he saw how his powers to move objects could corrupt even his best friend. Since that time in the early sixties, Jimbo kept his abilities to himself, using them only in an emergency, like saving people in a car crash.
If he's still alive in the TV Universe, Jimbo Cobb would be in his mid nineties. (The man who portrayed him, Buddy Ebsen, passed away just a few years ago.) ('The Twilight Zone' - "The Prime Movier")
BEN RICHARDS - Because of rare antibodies in his O-negative blood, race car driver Ben Richards was basically immortal. This made him a target of billionaire Arthur Maitland, whose family had been obsessed wiht the aging process since back in the days of 'The Wild, Wild West' ("The Night Of The Sedgewick Curse").
It's more than likely that Ben and his brother Jason were killed years ago by those desperate enough to do anything to gain control of the Richards brothers' blood platelets. ('The Immortal')
ROB ROBERTS - Not all of these mutations result in powers. Some, like Rob Roberts, find themselves born as hideous monsters. And like Sylar, Rob Roberts had a craving for human brains. (Although we still don't know if Sylar eats them, Rob Roberts was always "Hungry" for brains.)
Rob Roberts was eventually gunned down by two FBI agents who worekd in the Bureau's 'X-Files' department.
Rob Roberts may not have even been human. He might have been some off-shoot of humanity raised as a human; perhaps a denizen of one of the many underground empires in Toobworld.
This phenomena is not limited to Earth Prime-Time. The dimension in which 'Smallville' takes place has shown that Lex Luthor is already committed his financial resources in studying the enhancement of "people with capabilities".
Well, those are just a few suggestions as to who else might be considered similar to the current crop of 'Heroes'. Whom might you suggest as a member of Homo Superior?
BCnU!
Tele-Toby
"You're like a X-Man or something!"
Crab Man
'My Name Is Earl'
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