Today marks the 103rd anniversary of William Hartnell's birth.....
KING MONGKUT
AS SEEN IN:
'Anna And The King'
AS PLAYED BY:
Yul Brynner
From Wikipedia:
Klao Chao Yu Hua (or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut (18 October 1804 – 1 October 1868), was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868. He was one of the most revered monarchs of the country.
Outside of Thailand he is best-known as the King in the play and film "The King and I", based on the 1956 film "Anna and the King of Siam" - in turn based on the writing of Anna Leonowens about her six years at his court.
In his reign, the pressure of Western expansionism was felt for the first time in Siam. Mongkut embraced Western innovations and initiated the modernization of Siam, both in technology and culture—earning him the epithet "The Father of Science and Technology" in Siam.
Mongkut was also known for his appointment of his brother, Prince Chutamani, as vice-king. Prince Chutamani was crowned in 1851 as King Pinklao. Mongkut himself assured that Pinklao should be respected with equal honor to himself.
Mongkut's reign was also the time when the power of the House of Bunnak reached the zenith and became the most powerful noble family of Siam. 
In 1862, on recommendation by Tan Kim Ching in Singapore, an English woman named Anna Leonowens, whose influence was later the subject of great Thai controversy, was hired. It is still debated how much this affected the worldview of one of his sons, Prince Chulalongkorn, who succeeded to the throne. Her story would become the inspiration for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I", as well as the Hollywood movies of the same title, which, because of their incorrect historical references and supposedly disrespectful treatment of King Mongkut's character, were for some time banned in Thailand as the Thai government and people considered them to be lèse majesté (an illegal insult to the king or monarchy).
It's that time of year again, when we all make lists and think back over the past year, in whatever field of interest concerns us, and chronicle the high points and the lows. For the past few years I've been presenting this compilation as an awards show, the Toobits, which of course celebrates my two bits about Toobworld.
I'll just say that it happens right after this shot. It's just a shame that the promos for the new season give it all away......
Even if they weren't on the same network, this would have been a natural. And that's due more to the characters than the story, which is why we also have this category:
Even though the shows were across the country from each other, there was a logical reason for 1TH characters to show up on 'Life Unexpected' - to play at a concert sponsored by the radio station where an LU character worked.
There was a dead Dalek in the background in the Veridian Dynamics basement. It's probably the same one that would be later sold to Henry Van Statton, seen in the 'Doctor Who' episode "Dalek"......
COMEDY
(My only complaint on that one was the episode title. To keep it close to the general theme of school-related titles, I would have called it "Christmas Break". That would also tie in to Abed's break from reality.....)
Originally, I thought this would be a four-part series this year, but by the time I got ready to do Part One, I realized that segment was too large. Hence, the Part One-A.....
The producers of 'Poirot' even improved on Dame Agatha's book by combining two of the characters, which made for a more believable and tighter plot point.
Thanks to the Memory Weave, we were treated to the memories of Sarah Jane and Jo Grant about their individual adventures with the Doctor. Plus, later they caught us up to date on what happened to various other former Companions.
It's always a treat when a celebrity pokes fun at his own reputation.
I get the feeling the producers of this old series with Boris Karloff didn't really want to delve into the realm of the supernatural like the original source material. In fact, the mysteries are rather bland. (Karloff is a delight, however, as the one-eyed Scotland Yard investigator.) But this show could have been so much more, the 'X-Files' or 'Fringe' of its day.
Now we're paying tribute to certain TV characters who joined Toobworld in 2010.....
This was caused by the destruction of the genial android's synth-skin and modification of his skeletal/mechanical structure.
Still more of the presentation of the 2010 Toobits Awards!
According to Hardison, San Lorenzo was a British colony until it gained its independence in 1969. The official language is English (even though all the surnames are Spanish). Less than 300,000 people live on 120 square miles of island. The population of the capital city couldn't even fill the cheap seats at Fenway.
Yes, the guy was a jerk, but he didn't deserve to die - especially not that way. And then to have his death covered up so that his family - if he had any - would never know what happened to him....?
"Showdown At Laramie"
Here 'tis: the final installment of the 2010 Toobits Awards!
Well. Here we go again. •Okay. So. I’m suddenly watching Babylon 5. No. Wait. Sorry. It's just everyday run of the mill shit CGI, besides, Babylon 5 was pretty good sometimes considering that they were using a Sinclair Spectrum and a wad of used toilet roll. •The super-advanced-god-like-scient ists run their most important decisions by a mad old witch. Who’s just babbling away, spouting nonsense as prophesy. Actually wasn’t there a sisterhood of Gallifreyan witches that were cast out countless centuries ago for being retarded? I thought that was a bit mean but then they did know that there was a hated Timelord brain just over the road who was super-duper, mega evil and being cared for by that fucking cock Solon who was trying to create a new body for him. And did NOTHING about it. For centuries. Yeah. Good choice of sounding board. •You can tell that the witch is really deep and spiritual despite her babbling illness because of all the Henna that she’s covered in. I didn’t see it but I’m sure she has one of those red thread bracelets things as well. It all adds deeper layers to her character. •Well he wasn’t going to kill one of the men was he? Fucking bitch should just keep her damned mouth shut. •Re-telling the schism story. The audience has now guessed what is going on but will inevitably have to wait half an hour for the characters to catch up. •The Master is everyone and everyone is the Master. Why are they taking his orders and not trying to kill him and take over? •Shoot the Master and you’ve won. Go on Wilf shoot him while he’s down. You have a gun and he’s unconscious. Shoot him. That’s what you were told you would have to do. You were all prepared to do it. At least make the fucking effort. Shoot him damn it. . . or just run away . . . *sigh* •Who needs a cloaking device when all you need to do is turn the fucking lights off. Can UNIT not afford a telescope? •Why are they flying over the sea instead of just going straight down? They’re in orbit after all. Is it a way of drawing the missiles away from populated areas or an excuse for some crap CG action? •War changes a person. It scars you. Takes away your humanity. You do things you’re not proud of because you have no choice and then have to live with the consequences of those very actions for the rest of your life. You never forget the horror that you’ve endured but more importantly, the horror that YOU inflicted on others. That’s why you always end up becoming a cunt. •Rassilon. The president of the Timelords is Rassilon. I can see the moment now. It’s as clear as day. The main man is sitting there at his computer writing the final episode and he suddenly realises: “Shit. I forgot to give the villain a personality, a motivation, a reason for being beyond simply not wanting to die. Wait. I know. I’ll make him Rassilon. NOW he has a personality and I didn’t even have to try. I’m brilliant I am. The fucking retards British public will love this” •Hera is someone really important to the Doctor. You can tell. It’s going to be a HUGE shock to us when he tells us who she was. •There wasn’t actually any real conflict. No hard choice that had to be made. All he had to do was turn the machine off. He probably didn’t even need to waste a bullet shooting the bloody thing. •Oh. It was Wilf knocking all the time. Oh god. Wilf’s in danger! This is absolutely gripping stuff right here. I’m on the edge of my seat. Hurry Doctor, hurry before it’s too late. Save poor, dear Wilf’s life. Hurry. There’s not much time left he’ll die very soon. Very soon Doctor. He will die very, very soon and only you can . . . ah fuck it. Just waffle on. •Hang on. Hang on. I’m sorry. Let me get all of this clear. He’s got enough time to wander back and forth through time doing all manner of nonsense before he regenerates but not enough time to find a receptacle to contain his regenerative juices thereby negating the need to regenerate? Are we absolutely sure that this wasn’t written by a spastic in a nuthouse sitting in it’s own faeces? •Peter Jackson has a lot to answer for here JUST FUCKING END PLEASE DEAR GOD JUST FUCKING DIE YOU WHINGING COCK. •I know I’ve said this before but this is the thing that is bugging me the most. He’s being all weepy, weepy about having to die but Rusty made sure that he doesn’t need to die. It’s established now and is canon. He doesn’t have to regenerate if he doesn’t want to. All he needs is something to channel the energy into. This is fucking retarded. It’s dumb. It’s really, really fucking dumb. •That’s genius that is. You create a mysterious character with mysterious motivations doing mysterious things who is clearly important to the Doctor and then you don’t tell the audience who. The fuck. She was. Even after the character the audience is supposed to be identifying with ASKS that very fucking question. Or maybe, just maybe she’s going to re-cur and we’ll slowly and surely learn whom this woman really is. I mean why else would you leave an important plot thread like that dangling? Unless you were a completely stupid cunt. •Rose fucking Tyler is back again. I bet Rusty typed this rubbish one handed. •Fucking Ood. •They are really, really struggling to fill the allocated time here. •“I don’t want to die”. This is really just the worst kind of cheap melodrama. They’re trying desperately for pathos and all we’re getting is pathetic. Please just die already. •“Change my dear. And not a moment too soon. That last life was a whinging twat”. And he started off with such promise despite the script quality. •Matt
Smith. Kept hoping it was all just some elaborate subterfuge and that the Doctor was going to regenerate into an actor. Oh well. There’s not much there to really judge him on so I guess I’ll have to wait and see. Ah who am I kidding? I’m done with this panto. •No trailer just an Eight year olds Doctor Who graphic design for the new series. I honestly didn’t think they still made Blue Peter. Oh well. Good for him/her. •Is that your legacy Rusty? Is that it? Christ. Some would say that we should be thankful for you bringing Doctor Who back from oblivion. For giving SF a new lease of life on British TV but no. I’m sorry no. British SF used to be quite daring but now it’s just . . . this . . . •Went to the BBC website to check the above was roughly in the right order and there was a teaser for Smitty. He’s a bit of a battler this one punching, shooting and shouting oh my.
